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Coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife Vicky enjoy a happy moment during a press conference for an announcement of their donation to UT.
Saying they feel “blessed” by their longtime association with the University of Tennessee, Phillip Fulmer and his wife, Vicky, decided it was payback time Tuesday.
The UT football coach and his family had been in talks with university officials for several years about making a significant donation.
It was just a matter of when and how much.
Those questions were answered when the Fulmer family officially committed to making a $1 million gift to UT.
“The University of Tennessee has opened every door I’ve ever been able to walk through,” Fulmer said after a press conference held Tuesday on campus.
“We’ve been very blessed to be at UT for more than half of our lives.”
The donation, among the largest ever made to a university by a coach, will be split equally between academics and athletics, used to support scholarships, athletic facilities and programming.
Vicky Fulmer admitted she originally wanted the donation to be anonymous.
Conversations with former UT president Dr. Joe Johnson and family friends Jim and Dee Haslam helped convince the Fulmers their public gift could help kickoff the “Campaign for Tennessee” fundraiser scheduled for launch next spring.
“I feel like a gift is a gift and this has been a little uncomfortable for me,” Vicky said. “We want the attention on the university and not on us.
“We’re not making the gift for any other reason than to support the University of Tennessee and make it a better place for the students of tomorrow.”
Fulmer has been affiliated with the university for more than 30 years, as a player, coach and parent of four UT students.
“It testifies to the kind of character person he is,” UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said of Fulmer. “He understands he has been blessed and he has an opportunity to help those who come behind him with his generosity.
“The thing about Phillip is he’s deeper than most of the people in the public realize.
“Those of us who get to know him more understand he’s a kind individual, a determined individual and a giving individual.”
For Fulmer, it seemed like a natural step to take as he begins his 15th season as head coach with a road trip to California on Saturday.
“We have worked hard to achieve a level of success and we want to share that success with the past, present and future students and faculty so that others can be blessed as we have been blessed,” he said. “UT certainly helped me expand my horizons as a student athlete.”
Fulmer began coaching at Tennessee in 1980 and became head coach in 1993.
His 1998 team won a national championship and his contract pays him nearly $2.1 million a year through the year 2013.
Tennessee president Dr. John Petersen called the Fulmer gift another example of the “family atmosphere” at UT.
“We’re here to celebrate a relationship that has spanned almost 40 years,” Petersen said. “We’re fortunate that Phillip Fulmer came to us from Winchester, Tenn., in 1968.
“Every Vol fan has benefited from Phillip’s dedication.”
As part of the gift, Vicky Fulmer will have a fund started in her name.
“In honor of her dedication and loyalty to me and the university,” Phillip Fulmer said in a statement, “a fund will be started in her name to support work with obese children, an area she has a long and heartfelt commitment for.”
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Comments » 28
Sheepscape writes:
Good to hear.
Taylor writes:
Wow! Huge gesture by the Fulmer family. That's outstanding news! What a classy Coach, we are very fortunate to have him.
spikevol writes:
CR... this is hardly the first time Fulmer has given money to the University.
eefor10c writes:
CRVol, Why do you torture yourself in this way. If you don't like Fulmer and obviously do not want the Vols to do well, why do you read this information? Fulmer gave a million, Pearl has given $100,000. In case you don't know math that's ten times the amount. Fulmer has won a national championship. Hopefully Pearl will but to date he has not. Also, on the article about Ainge you think that the fact that he was not at the KICKING Scrimmage was significant --Don't think he is counted on for that and was probably studying film. You do know the difference in a kicker and a QB, I hope. Don't get your hopes up yet--I'm sure you will be sorry if the Vols win any games this year!!
Einstein writes:
I and UT thank you Phil and Vivke.
vol88 writes:
That should earn him some points with the VASF. Maybe he can get a sweet parking pass now.
Seriously, nice ge$ture, coach. Go Vols!
Volchaz writes:
This just shows where Phil and "Vivki's" hearts are. GBO.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Glad to see Coach giving back to the University that has been so good to him. This is truly putting your money where your mouth is. Way to lead by example Coach.
Thanks for everything!!
GO VOLS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
sandboxpup#222155 writes:
Just another reminder that there are many outstanding coaches over at our University. $1 million is an enormous amount of money...I don't care who you are. Many thanks to Coach Fulmer and his lovely wife, "Vivki".
DadwasaVol writes:
Classy move by the coach. For those that want Fulmer out, and there seems to be plenty of you, please submit your candidates for replacement. I've heard no suggestions so far, just female dogin. Here's something to consider: Scenario #1 - Let's say we replace Fulmer with Chavis. Well Cutcliffe might not stay with us and then we are stuck replacing both OC and DC at once. Is that possible to do without disruption? Scenario #2 - Let's say we hire Ron Zook to replace Fulmer. Would either Chavis or Cut stick around for that? I hate both scenarios. Can any of you complainers come up with some candidates for us since you are so sure there is something better out there? I'll be waiting for your responses.
rmb4vols#241491 writes:
With all the problems in college sports (Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky to name a few), Phil Fulmer has kept a clean program; given UT football back their pride; given the NFL a pipeline of rookies; and has been one of the winningest coaches in modern colledge football. When I think of Phil, I think of John Ward because he loved what he did, he was best at what he did, and he loved UT sports and he gave back.
VolMoment writes:
CrVol is a sick, sick person. I guess if Pat Summitt gives some, Cr will find some elementary comment to go along with his elementary life.
Thanks Phil and Vicky and coach Pearl. Your donation come from the heart, it doesn't matter who is first. I don't give to charities because my neighbor does.
Back to the heart thing, CRVol can not understand when somebody says they gave because they have a big heart. The reason is because you have to have one to understand that statement.
knoxmike56#261027 writes:
Posted on previous article running on knoxnews:
You all are unbelieveable. When you donate 50% of your annual salary to a charitable cause or whatever, then you can critique, whine and belly ache. Sure, he makes a lot of money but it's all relative. Take that $100K salary of yours and write a check for $50,000 to the school, or cancer research and you can talk. Yes, to some teacher making $22,000 per year, YOUR salary seems steep...so go on and do it. Have some of you given 10%, 20% or how about 30-40% of your salary to say, your school system in your neighborhoods?? - for your kids benefit? I swear, if this guy gave his entire net worth to the school, some of you would say, "well, it's about time...he owes us that for keeping Randy Sanders a year too long!" Sheesh, cut the guy some slack. Whether you want to admit it or not, he DIDN'T have to do this regardless of how much he makes. And, by the way, his football program is directly responsible for HUGE donations across the board from alumni to our school - (north of $50MM annually) - like it or not. I'm not aware of any other schools where they have this kind of support, in this magnitude, from their coaches - none. Pete Carroll makes over $3.5MM per year (so far $12MM at USC) - I didn't see his name on any donor list there. Oh, that's right he's won a couple of NC's so he shouldn't have to. I'm proud of our program and our school. Cut'em some slack - and GO VOLS!!! Thanks Phil & Vickie!! ..... (...sorry to vent) P.S That's $1 Mil AFTER tax!
inquiry writes:
We have the three best top coaches in the top sports in my opinion.. Fulmer, Summitt and Pearl.. what could you ask for in classy people like them anyway.. they're only human, and they've all had their ups and downs, but you know reading this tonight shows me that Fulmer means business at Tennessee, so who don't think that Summitt and Pearl are also great assets at Tennessee.
Who do you want, Steve Spurrier?? (NOT)
ODA751 writes:
Nice job coach.
eefor10c writes:
Six posts from crvol on the one article (note the lower case letters, it's on purpose). Maybe if we ignore him he will go away. He doesn't offer much anyway!
Southland writes:
CRVol needs to stop. Negative, negative garbage all the time.
b1407#207053 writes:
AS FELLOW VOL PARENTS, WE THANK THE FULMER'S. WE SPEAK FOR THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PARENTS WHO KNOWS THIS WAS FROM THE HEART..THANK YOU ALSO FOR BEING JUST ONE OF US "A VOL"...
tractoronthepole writes:
I have been an avid forum reader for the past 3 months. Why does anyone comment on CRVOL's posts, don't you know that it only gives him the upper hand. Do you have to have a J.R. to love to hate (thats Dallas for you young posters). He has a good post about once ever other article give hime credit then and let it go, let him become a Vol Fan or let him go please.
FWBVol writes:
I join all the other Big Orange fans in thanking Phillip and Vicky Fulmer for giving such a wonderful and heartfelt donation to our great university. As others have said, I don't think Phillip Fulmer owes UT anything. He's been loyal to UT for the better part of 40 years and has brought us one of our only two consensus national championships in football. I honestly believe some people that pose as fans would try to run off the General. The only thing PF is guilty of is not being able to equal his own success fast enough for the so-called fans. There are a lot of Hall of Fame coaches, Bobby Bowden and Tom Osborne included, that didn't win a national title as quickly as Phillip Fulmer. And coach Beamer at Virginia Tech still is seeking that first title. Thanks again Coach. Go BIG ORANGE!!!
TommyJack writes:
CR...perhaps your time would be better spent learning to distinguish between "no" and "know".
Another typo???
BuckFama writes:
Thanks, Phillip and "Vivki"!
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
Right On Tracto-I don't know why people waste their time responding.....Thanks Coach Fulmer AND Coach Pearl....GO VOLS! 3 DAYS!!!
Colliervol writes:
Some of you guys should have learned by now that there is no arguing with somebody that has an agenda on a certain issue and has already made up his mind about a situation or a person. I would have thought you would have learned that with DSA and Ralphie on the old site.
I mean think about it. We go 13-0 and win an NC and folks like this still will give no credit and insist that it's because of Clint Stoerner and Marcus Outzen that we won the title. (Never mind that Billy Ratliff shoved the AR lineman back into Stoerner and caused the fumble. And if FSU couldn't overcome an injury to their QB, too bad. That's the breaks of the game. Maybe their depth just wasn't good enough to stay competitive.) If they'll denigrate the program after a championship, why worry about what they say after a few losses. Their credibility is shot so why worry? I'm certainly not.
DSaVol writes:
Leave it to Collier to make an argument nearly 10 years old! And I guess YOU haven't made up your mind on this subject? Hey moron - what's your boy done since the Miracle of 98???? Oh that's right - he's beaten all those directional schools and low-end conference teams to keep that almight winning % up. WHERE'S THE RINGS?????? WHAT'S THE RECORD AGAINST FL-GA-AUB-LSU???? This "ELITE" coach of this "ELITE" program hasn't won a BIG game in nearly 10 years! I guess when all else fails - just buy some damned security!
TommyJack writes:
CR....While you're at it, learn the difference between a typo and stupidity. Improper use of "no" vs. "know" is NOT a typo, bonehead.
Colliervol writes:
You guys are a laugh a minute. As if we didn't know where you come from about Phil Fulmer. Just like Elvis, your credibility on that subject has left the building.
And, by the way, the 1998 story is simply an EXAMPLE of somebody trying to denigrate a good achievement just because they don't like the person who achieved it. (You do understand what the word EXAMPLE means, don't you?) It is very much the same as doubting that Fulmer is sincere in making a one million dollar donation. Same principle. You just don't like Fulmer no matter what he does and will take any opportunity to attack him. We get it. Next subject.
DSA, from our conversations in 2005, you know my position on Fulmer. Try to bring something better than saying he's "my boy". I said then that he gets two years to turn the program around and that's still the track it's on. Nothing more to say until he succeeds or fails.
N_Knox_Vol writes:
They should have never made this website free. People like CR crawl out of the woodwork.
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