Vol Report
Audio
- Phillip Fulmer, QB Erik Ainge and LB Jerod Mayo address the media
- Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe talks to the media
- Defensive coordinator John Chavis talks to the media
- DT Demonte’ Bolden talks to the media – Part I
- DT Demonte’ Bolden talks to the media – Part II
- Dave Hooker interviews WR coach Trooper Taylor
Blog
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Tennessee Stat Book
Tennessee's wild, unpredictable ride through the 2007 football season will have a predictable finish no matter what the team accomplishes or fails to accomplish in its bowl game. And the fallout will be predictable, too.
The Vols will finish in the second half of the top 25 at best. They won't play in a BCS bowl.
Bottom line: most preseason predictions were on target.
But the Vols weren't a consensus pick to win the SEC East. That was a pleasant surprise for UT fans, particularly in light of their team's 1-2 start and blowout losses to Florida and Alabama.
One surprising championship didn't lead to another. Instead, the 21-14 loss to LSU in the SEC championship game, reinforced the perception that UT's program can only ascend so high.
Some UT fans can accept that. They will savor a division title, a comeback from a 1-2 start in the first three weeks, and a near upset of a national championship contender Saturday night in the Georgia Dome.
Other fans will view the season and the championship game differently. They will bemoan UT's status in the SEC. In a best-case scenario, their Vols can make the SEC championship game, but they can't win it.
The more demanding fans also will have a different spin on the loss to LSU. Never mind that the Tigers are national championship contenders. They played the game without their starting quarterback and played the second half without their best player, All-American defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.
The division among UT fans translates to detractors and supporters of Coach Phillip Fulmer. Depending on which camp you're in, Fulmer is the longtime leader of a successful, stable program or he's a 20th century coach who's way past his prime in the new millennium.
One camp or the other may gain new recruits depending on how UT performs in its bowl game. But win or lose, UT will enter the 2008 season as it began the 2007 season - with a divided fan base.
No one should be more aware of that UT athletic director Mike Hamilton.
Hamilton recently indicated that Fulmer deserved a contract extension and raise based on his team's accomplishments this season. The athletic director might want to rethink that.
Fulmer is making more than $2 million a year. At that salary, shouldn't an occasional division title - even a conference championship - be expected? And at $2.2 million a year, wouldn't you expect your coach to come within three touchdowns of his biggest rivals?
If Hamilton financially rewards Fulmer for this season, he won't help his coach's popularity. Even some fans who say they support Fulmer are opposed to his getting a raise for winning nothing more than a division championship. That was obvious when listeners to the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page, were polled on the subject.
A raise and/or contract extension qualifies as a vote of confidence from the athletic director. It says the program is in good hands and is headed in the right direction.
Is that the message you want to send?
Answer: It depends on which fans you ask.
Based on starters returning, UT should field an improved team in 2008. But so should every other championship contender (i.e., Florida, Georgia and South Carolina) in the SEC East. All three of those teams will have an open date before playing UT.
Florida and Georgia should be the preseason favorites and the highest ranked teams in the SEC. And that should be fine with UT's coaches and players, who seem most comfortable in an underdog role.
Some fans are comfortable with that, too. They take heart from unexpected division titles and near upsets of college football's best programs.
Other UT fans remember when they cheered for one of college football's best programs.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 123
DroopyDrawers writes:
I am tired of losing to Florida and LSU.
Adams, you are weak when you put Georgia in front of The Vols. Why don't you move to LSU?
You write one good column every month. The rest are bad. Go Home.
bobbyutvol writes:
THANKS FOR A FUN YEAR COACH FULMER THE VOLS NEVER GAVE UP. EAST CHAMPS GEORGIA AND FLORIDA CANT SAY THAT. GO VOLS
BigVolinCarolina writes:
There was no better time for us to beat LSU than this past Saturday--their best lineman and starting QB were sidelined and we still couldn't get it done.
As long as AD Hamilton "expects UT to win a conference championship every 4 years", then we'll keep getting the same thing we've gotten this decade: MEDIOCRITY.
2001 season aside, we've been average. When you're average, you're just as close to the top as you are to the bottom.
Is that enough for you, Vol fans? It's sure not with me. I don't expect perfection, but I do expect fundamentals, heart and a good gameplan EVERY game. We don't get that every game--and we haven't for the past several years!
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
BigVolinCarolina:
Amen and Amen!
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
Here in SC, the two main schools are Clemson and South Carolina. Clemson has a history of success, but the same split exists regarding Tommy Bowden and what he has (and hasn't) done in his 9 or 10 years there. He has only lost twice to SC, but that is pretty much the only rival Clemson has, other than Florida State. FSU is down, so victory over them is pretty much expected each year. South Carolina sucks so bad that the rivalry is in name only. Clemson's level of competition isn't on the same level. Carolina plays in the SEC, but it doesn't matter who their coach is, they have and will always be a mediocre team at best. They still have the same ignorant fan base that sells that place out every year, although that might be about to change. Point is, Tennessee is and has always been looked at by people here as a football powerhouse. They are always expected to have success. The 5-6 season a few years ago was the first non-bowl season in what, 17 years? Parity is greater now in college football than ever before. Week after week there are upsets, and you have to look no further than this season. To win a division title in the SEC is an amazing feat, and UT did it this year. Didn't they do it in 2003, too? I agree that FLA and UGA are on the rise again, but they had plenty of bad seasons after Spurrier and Dooley left. UT has a nice history of success, including a NC and several division championships within the past 10 years. Some of those division championships would have turned into SEC championships if it weren't for one or two plays. Last night was a prime example. If Ainge hadn't been picked and UT had held on, can you imagine the screwjob done to the rest of the college football world? Good, consistent top recruiting classes? I see the lack of intimidation factor just like many of the critics post here, but I don't see too many teams in college football who ARE intimidating anymore. I don't see how anyone could look at the losses this year (all of which were early), then look at the injuries, depth and experience issues facing the team that we all knew about coming in, look at the outcome and the promising future and NOT feel good about the job the coaches and players did to turn the season around. 1-2 to start with, finish 9-3 with a DC and come within a gnat's hair of winning the championship in the toughest conference in college football, bar none? Some Vol fans don't know how good they have it. It's time to appreciate the job done this year by the coaches and players, win this bowl game, support the Vols in the years to come and show pride in being a Tennessee Volunteer!!!
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
I'm just happy we made it to the SEC championship. The way the year started, and then the blowout at Tuscaloosa...I would have never dreamed we'd have been in the Championship game.
It does suck to get whipped by LSU and Florida consistently. But we have some GREAT talent coming back. I mean seriously, there's alot to look forward to.
Next year, if we don't wind up in the Championship game...something is really wrong. Just look at our depth. Take a look...
QB - Crompton...is he ready to show the goods?
TE - Can Jeff Cottam and Luke Stocker step up their game?
OL - All should return. All solid starters.
WR - All should return. All solid starters.
RB - Foster and Hardesty with 2 years of SEC play under their belt, running behind our GREAT OL. Foster plays his way into 1st round NFL next year.
DT - Starters returning, got better as the year progressed this year.
DE - Can our 2nd string man up into 1st stringers?
LB - Should Mayo return, we should have to best 2 LB's in the league.
DB - We are going to be so deep in the secondary that the loss of Hefney will not be felt.
P - Another Colquitt, another season. 'Nuff said.
K - Sophmore that had an explosive Freshman outing. Nothing lacking here.
PR/KR - Rogan already proved himself, and Wardlow can still block kicks. Nothing lacking here, either.
Sure, alot of Vol fans are leaning on the basketball team now. But I'm sure that we'll have a magnificent football team next year. If Crompton is everything that people have said he is, then the Gator game should be a real treat next year.
Go Vols!!!
abrown#232236 writes:
Adams --your comments about what Phil should do for 2mil are silly. How many other 2 mil coaches are there in the conference? 4 or 5? They don't all get to win every year? While you may or may not be right, your argument is logically flawed.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
cwisenhower:
Maybe a bit optimistic, but I mostly agree.
As a Fulmer supporter, I do expect to see us stronger next year. I have supported him and the team all year and I am sure that neither team nor coach is satisfied with where they are at now.
As the fans, we also are not satisfied. I said all year that Coach Fulmer needed another year to show whether the critics were right. I will still support him next year... but we ALL expect to see improvement and not stagnation.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
I'm as disappointed as the next guy, but you lose all credibility when you claim that a 9-4 record, an SEC East title, and #16 in the BCS Standings is "mediocre".
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
We'll kind of put closure on this season and make it a kick off to next year," Fulmer said Sunday. "We have a chance to win 10 ballgames and send the seniors out in fine fashion."
Anyone else see the double speak in this statement?
Oh!
He means stay the course!
Play the seniors and lose again.
Yup.
Great start for next year!
Good thing we didn't have to play any Gators,Tide,or Bears, the last half of the season!
JUST KEEPING IT REAL!
BigVolinCarolina writes:
What does an SEC East title give you? Really, c'mon!
If you don't think we're mediocre, check out how many teams have 4 losses...quite a few.
GIVEHIMSIX writes:
very nice column; i think ainge's legacy will be as a 2nd tier quarterback who couldn't win big games. he choked against pressure and tight man coverage. but he is also one of the statistically better qbs in ut history. cutcliffe suddenly seems to have forgotten (and seems not to care)how to establish a run game. i think chavis puts a quality product on the field more consistently than any other coach with his defense (specifically his linebackers). Any high school linebacker in the country should want to come to tn; chavis may prepare them for the nfl better than any other defensive coach in the nation.
Bottom Line: Fulmer earned his job security back this season, but that's it. he still hasn't won anything more than a division title in 9 seasons and counting. i like our program's resilency to prove doubters wrong when we are underated, but that's the highest level ut seems to achieve lately. let's see fulmer win when he is supposed to. next year, you'll see the growth of this year's freshman class, which could end up being one of fulmer's most talented hauls in years. but fl, ga, sc, lsu, auburn, and bama aren't going anywhere either. the rest of the sec has gotten better over the past decade and ut hasn't. fulmer needs to show he can still take this program to an elite level.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
And speaking of "losing all credibility", Coach Fulmer lost a lot of credibility with me when he started making all sorts of excuses after games we lost during the 2005 season. The "we're 1 or 2 plays away from being 10-2 and 11-1" were ridiculous.
Fact: we often know what teams are going to do but we consistently cannot stop it. I hate to say it, but it is true.
I love the Vols and always will, regardless of the record and coach. It's time to man-up or shut-up and quit using the "just wait 'til next year" excuse.
Again, I don't expect perfection; but, we leave too many plays on the field--both offense and defense. We are an average team by SEC standards, no doubt about it.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
I will repeat - I am as disappointed as the next guy. I believe we should have won that game, and I still have a bad taste in my mouth about it. But being 16th out of 120 teams is not, by definition, mediocre.
It may not be very satisfying. It may not be what you wanted. You will, and should, probably aspire to do even better. I am not content with that. I never said I was. But... it is NOT mediocre.
Kwitcherbellyachin writes:
RE: "credibility". I am not talking about Fulmer, or his performance as a coach. I couldn't care less about 2005.
I am talking about the ridiculous assertion that finishing the regular season in the top 12.5% of all NCAA Division I teams in the BCS Rankings, and in first place in your division, and playing in a New Year's Day bowl, is mediocre. It just isn't.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
No extension.I can live with a bump up but no extension.bonzaivol
BigOrangeJeeper writes:
Jon Crompton is a playmaker just like tebow is for florida. We will be really good next year the question is are we really good or great. A second Sec Chapmionship apperance is not far fetched but neither is finshing 4th in the east. I am happy with this season as long as we win the bowl game. An extension is okay but a raise is not somthing I am for.
gotvols writes:
You know Adam's, you Dork!, I was just born in the early 1970's and I don't remember when Tennessee was considered one of the country's best programs until Fulmer took over for Majors. Yeah, Majors was Okay, but how many titles did he win, and I am not talking about SEC. Tennessee did manage to have a couple of good years scattered around, but really. Why don't you just move on. If we treated so called "columnist" such as yourself the way you like to dish it out, you would have been floating down the good ole Tennessee River years ago on a raft made up of all your stupid articles.
rbatten9#231828 writes:
Thanks john for that article you wrote pre-CCG. Really helped us out there.
andy112382#209793 writes:
cwisenhower, I'm with you. Future is bright. GO VOLS!!!
GIVEHIMSIX writes:
is there any update on demetrice morley?
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Hey dash727, quite a name-caller you are. Not a 'Bama fan and never will be.
And I'm not disabled, either. If nothing else, atleast I can spell and write grammatically correct.
Love the Vols and always will. Just tired of 4-5 loss seasons and "wait til next year".
BigVolinCarolina writes:
And Kwitcherbellyachin, your point is well taken and, too, my guess is that we agree on more than you may realize; however, 9-3 is 75%, which is a "C"--or "average".
When you get into the 80% and above, that is different. We are not there and have not been there since 2001, and before that it was in the 90's. That's all I'm saying. We are consistently losing 1-2 more games each year this decade.
I don't think it's unfair to want a university with great facilities, coaches and fan-base to be consistently good. Greatness is rare, but good is very realistic for a program like UT's.
FireJohnAdams writes:
Same ole Adams.....the really disappointing thing for Vol fans is having to read your sorry columns year after year after year.....I know why Coach Fulmer is in the position he's in.....I just can't figure out why you continue to be in the position you're in!
lakedawg#564932 writes:
UT folks,
Your expectations are pretty obviously unreasonable. You played great against GA on
our worst day when fighting for your coach's job,
and that's commendable - but come on, you guys haven't won an SEC championship in 10 years.
UT is an eyelash away from being 6-6 and in the Independence Bowl - the Outback Bowl seems like a good reward for your team. Some of your fans are living in the past - if you want the national opinion of your program, check the rankings (now, and for this entire season). When you lose your QB after this year, who clearly kept ya'll in several games, you might be WISHING for the Outback ! UT's considerable luck this year ran out yesterday, but you're still in a NYD bowl.
Count your blessings. GA would have steamrolled LSU, just like we did in 2005 in the SECC. With the way it was set up perfectly for UT - LSU's
QB out, Dorsey out, coach distraction, etc) -
seems like UT would have been able to win under those conditions. Maybe ya'll can handle Wisconsin.
Lakedawg
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Lakedawg, get outta here and go back to your "dawg house". You're getting awfully close to pushing me over the edge and pulling for Hawaii.
bobo_the_vol writes:
Am I bummed about not being able to say I had an SEC champion-team this year? ... Hell yea.
Am I bummed about losing to Cal, Florida, and those-that-lost-to-LA-lafyette? ... Hell yea.
But I can honestly say that I can't complain about our 4th loss of the Season. You can say whatever phooey you want to about LSU being "distracted" about their coaching-situation. I don't buy it. I've never seen a team in the SEC lose because a coach is distracted. Dumb, yes, ultra/underconservative, yes. But from being distracted? Nah, not in this League. We won a NATIONAL championship in Sander's FIRST GAME as OC .. didn't we?
As for injuries .. yeah, LSU was the ONLY team to have injuries at their best posistions .. How many freshmen did Tennessee start? How many preseason All-American linemen did Tennessee lose? I think the second is the same number as LSU: 1.
We lost this game. It sucks. Its bitter. But we lost it going down fighting. If 2 bad reads hadn't happened we'd be heading to New Orleans to beat LSU fans again. As it is .. they earned it, we lost it, but it's not something to hate the coach for. If we had lost to Kentucky in 5 OTs, would it have been Fulmer's fault? Nah.
But I expect an SEC title next year, Vols.
goodvol1 writes:
Been a vol fan for 40+ years. This phooey of winning 2 bowl games in last 9 years is not acceptable to me! To play before the entire nation and get their tails kicked is not Tennessee football. The coaching staff needs to be changed. Please find a coach who believes in aggressive defense and offense and PLAYS TO WIN INSTEAD OF PLAYING TO KEEP FROM LOSING.
nbt#658986 writes:
Fulmer, go get Randall Cobb from Alcoa High. He is the best QB in Tennessee. Don't let him slip away to Kentucky. GO VOLS!
vol52 writes:
hamilton has painted himself in a corner. I thought he was going to be an upgrade over dad but I now view him as lacking the sac to handle the FB program.
OldNumber7 writes:
dash727 completely missed your point BigVol - I thought it was excellent. It's hard to complain about the job done to pull this team from the grave this year - but why did we get there to begin with? We leave too many plays on the field and don't attack team's weaknesses consistently. I applaud loudly the job these coaches did to get Tennessee here. 2005 was terrible and rock bottom - and after an iffy start this year look what they did.
But it's like this: it will be 2008 next year - 3 years away from the 2005 debacle. If Tennessee gets embarrassed by anyone next year and has to fall backwards into an SEC East title waiting for Florida to lose 3 times I think it's fair to say, most years, it aint gonna happen. Dash, you need to look at arguments from both sides better - single-sided brash attacks make you look more stupid than intelligent. If you aren't happy yet simultaneously upset about that LSU game then your not paying attention. It was an honor to be there, but I have bad news - we lost that game more than they won it, which has become the norm at Tennessee.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Get rid of Cutcliffe and the Vols have a chance next year. Otherwise, I expect we'll finish behind less talented teams.
GoVols77 writes:
Once again, Adams gets it wrong. I say FIRE ADAMS.
First he's wrong in saying that no matter what, "UT will finish in the second half of the top 25." Uh... WRONG. We're 16 now, if we beat Wisconsin, we'll probably move up a few slots, and therefore be in the TOP half of the top 25. Adams, learn basic math. I hope Adams didnt' go to UT; that looks bad for UT since he can't count. But then again, 25 is more fingers and toes than Adams has, so maybe I should give him a mulligan.
Secondly, Adams is wrong to say that UT is not one of the best programs in the country. UT IS ONE OF THE TOP PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY. Yes, we lost huge to Florida and Bama. Show me a team that wins every game every year. LSU lost two games they were "supposed" to win. Oklahoma lost two games to 2 unranked opponents, CO and TX tech.
FIRE ADAMS.
UT is one of the top programs in the country. Florida whipped us because they have a freakish MAN-CHILD for QB, frankly one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Bama beat us because their new coach Saban was able to fire up his team for his first Bama-TN game. Next year will be different, I guarantee you of that.
ORANGEASIAN writes:
Adam's probably feels bad because he wants a raise too.Go back to Lousiana maybe they will be heart felt and listen.
jcoble#224391 writes:
Adams
Why don't you stop writing and start coaching ? What sports did you play and where? Where have you coached?
To you Coach Fulmer's cup is always half empty! You like to stir up negative phooey that only hurts recruiting. GO POUND SAND .You need to get a positive attitude or get out of Big Orange Country.
agentorange writes:
i think this guy just vomits on his keyboard then they post whatever comes out. i've yet to see any real analysis of the season. this is the same stuff the ap writes and can be picked up on a newswire.
rudydog1#205592 writes:
Finally a fan who gets it right! (BigOrangeInCarolina) I bleed "Orange" in Pa (UTK-70). and I can tell you my Penn State friends would like to have the success that Phil Fulmer has had at UT (not withstanding their win in last years Outback Bowl) over the past decade. When 9-4 seasons with a divisional championship are no longer acceptable I think it is time for some "fans" to get a new life or at the very least a new sport. Hell, some are already turning on Coach Pearl for his loss to Texas...
vol52 writes:
tip76, This FAN gives money to the University. He has also bought a total of 18 tickets to SEC championships. He has purchased many more bowl tickets and he is tired of the mediocrity that comes from the football team. mikey does not accept it from other sports so whay doe FB get a free ride? Fulmer get a raise and an extension. Wow.
atlorange writes:
I don't think we need to go through the numbers again (fulmer's abyssmal bowl record, record against ranked, or top 10 opponents). Everyone already knows them.
My question is what was accomplished this year? No one can argue against the fact that we LUCKED into the championship game in the first place. That game was a defining moment. Was Fulmer going to take a step forward and prove fans like me wrong or was he and UT going to 'STAY THE COURSE' of mediocrity. He once again proved me right. We are officially the Arkansas of the East and will be until he is gone.
We will FINISH with 9 wins (his record says that we will lose yet another bowl) just like last year. So, again, what was accomplished? We were lucky to beat SC, Vandy and UK. I would have rather lost those games and been on the hunt for a new coach and some excitement for next year.
Like I said 4 years ago, UT will not win another title of any kind with Fulmer at the helm
vol52 writes:
For the lsu game last year we lost because we did not have Ainge. The year we had Ainge and the results are the same. No more excuses
pdhuff#552644 writes:
rudydog1 - good post. Interesting you would compare Fulmer-Paterno. Two coaches that apparently cannot be dynamited out due to "connection". With the total expenditures of Tenn. Fulmer should be held to a standard of at least a top 10 finish and a higher standard of having coaches who insure that the teams are COMPETITIVE. Continued "falling on your face" outings such as Bama and Fla where they simply "quit" and totally not ready for Cal are unacceptable for many fans. Razor thin wins, but still wins, over average to below average teams as KY, Vandy, SC, etc. are becoming the norm. These games will slowly evolve into losses before your eyes. This coaching staff needs shaking up, whether Phil's well-known loyalties drag him down or not. Sure, you will always lose some games, but lose them competing. Many of us do not think that failing for NINE straight years to win the SEC is "success over the past decade". I believe Phil is now 7 out of 26 against top 15 teams. 26% or thereabout successes does not merit a raise! In most corporations, it would merit the door. They will not beat Wisconsin. 9-5 is under-achieving at a $2,000,000.00 level. Not good enuf!! "Work like heck to get better" is stale.
powert#205805 writes:
I think you hit it on the head this time John. Good article. BigVolinCarolina, you speak for many of us. No question that some think a couple of bowl wins in nine years and not making a BCS bowl on an even remotely consistent basis is good enough. Others of us do not. Just like in the rest of the world, some want to be high achievers and some are hsppy just getting along.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
Adams - You should write an article out the downfall of college football and how that can be traced to the fact that a 2 loss team will have the opportunity to play for a championship. If a playoff system were in place that could be conceivable, but a team lossing to an unranked team the last game of the year and still making it?
What a joke. Oh yea, that team is your almamater and your are the sports editor of the major newspaper in Knoxville. No wonder the articles are slanted.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
I'm one of those UT fans who "remember when they cheered for one of college football's best programs."
In my opinion, Fulmer and the coaching staff start 2008 on probation. With this mid-season reincarnation, they've earned the right to come back and prove they have this program turned around.
But they had better field a true Tennessee football team next season -- one that runs the ball, can stop the run, plays top 20 pass defense, knows how to tackle and finish blocks, etc.
Another contract extension for Fulmer, who just had it extended in March? Absurd. A minor, token raise? Maybe.
vol52 writes:
tngeoff, I am not bashing Ainge. I feel for him and am not happy with his decisions. But last year the word was if we had Ainge we would have won. We had him and the results were the same
mtnvol writes:
Jack A$$ just can't resist mentioning the coach's salary. Let's put your salary out there, John! I'd like to take daily pot shots at it!!!
Mediocre is hiring a "savior" at SC and not going bowling. Stupid is paying $4M for the same 6-6 record you had last year at 1/4 the price (I still love to laugh at that!). "Lucky" is not winning the SECE. "Lucky" is getting beat in the game you HAD to win, but still getting a BCS bowl.
Until some of you folks stop letting this team's W/L record determine your own self-esteem, you'll never be able to enjoy life.
Go Vols, Beat the Cheese-Eaters!
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
mbumburu, Hamilton and Fulmer are both lining their pockets. Do you remember how Hamilton embraced Fulmer after the Carolina game? It used to be that teams upset the Vols. Now, when TN wins it's considered an upset.
b.skelton#207404 writes:
Look at the package Tuberville will be getting at Auburn. LSU has won the West 3 of the last 6 years. $2M for a competitive SEC program is, well, not that much today. Look at what Nutt is getting at Ole Miss. While I agree the coaches salaries are ridulous, $2M by today's standards is average at best in the SEC.
Virgil_Tutwiler writes:
Ever notice that the most beligerent fans on internet and radio seemingly go to fewest games.....Why is that?
As per flyinpro's ridiculos choke comments. I don't think Eric Ainge choked in high school games either. If you can't understand the difference in high school and SEC ball then you are delusional
leedsvol2007 writes:
Adams basic assumption that Fulmer supporters are completely pleased with the lack of national championship contention the last few years is not correct.
I've noticed recently every talk show host and columnist takes pot shots at coaches salaries. Fulmer is by far not the highest paid coach in the SEC. An extension and likely token salary increase will come after this year simply as a sign that he is supported by the administration to help with recruiting.
Will UGA, Florida, and Alabama be better next year. I believe that is correct. Can we control this? I don't think so.
What we can control is what we do. We have to get some of the young guys ready, recruit hard, and compete. The biggest benefit I see out of this season is that the younger players have learned that to win in this league it takes more than talent.
And Fulmer is credited for getting this across.
In years past Nebraska wanted to run off Osborne, Alabama wanted Bryant gone, and Tennessee wanted Neyland out.
All closed out their careers with terrific teams and national championships.
I'm willing to see if Fulmer, Cutcliffe, Chavis et al can do the same.
GoVols!
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