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Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer checks the clock during the Arkansas game on Nov. 10 at Neyland Stadium. The Vols defeated the Razorbacks 34-13 on their way to an SEC East Division championship.
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Tennessee running back Arian Foster looks for an opening against Florida on Sept. 15 at Gainesville, Fla.
Final exams finished up a few weeks ago, but one game remains before Tennessee’s final marks of the season are in.
Here’s a preview of that final grade card for the Vols, who open practice Wednesday in Tampa, Fla., in advance of Tuesday’s Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.
Quarterbacks
Erik Ainge’s senior season fell a touchdown short of the Vols’ ultimate goal of an SEC championship. But Ainge picked up where he left off in 2006, completing 63 percent of his passes for 3,157 yards and an impressive 29 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Ainge took too much blame for the loss to LSU, but he didn’t get enough credit for his consistency throughout the season.
Highlight: Ainge’s seven-touchdown performance against Kentucky.
Low point: His two interceptions against LSU in the fourth quarter of the SEC championship game.
Grade: B
Running Backs
LaMarcus Coker had just 169 yards rushing before being dismissed from the team this year, and this group was still much better than it was a year ago. Who would have made that bet? Arian Foster is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and tallied his first 1,000-yard season. Despite injuries, Montario Hardesty made an impact as well, and freshman Lennon Creer showed plenty of promise for the future. All, told this group deserves high marks for its production.
Highlight: UT’s 211 yards rushing against Mississippi State.
Low point: Its 37 rushing yards against Florida, including a costly fumble by Foster.
Grade: B+
Wide Receivers
This group without a first-round draft pick among them is 128 yards short of last year’s total in the same number of games. Credit Lucas Taylor (1,000 yards) and Austin Rogers (53 catches for 587 yards) for elevating their games. And with Josh Briscoe, Quintin Hancock, Gerald Jones, Denarius Moore and Ahmad Paige, the future is bright.
Highlight: Taylor’s 186-yard performance against Mississippi State.
Low point: Alabama, when Rogers’ four catches for 52 yards was the best performance among the group.
Grade: B
Offensive Line
This group excelled at pass blocking, allowing an NCAA-best four sacks all season. Lost in those numbers, though, is the fact that UT averaged 4.4 yards per carry, an improvement of 0.7 yards per carry from last year. Also made a seamless transition when left tackle Eric Young went down with a season-ending injury against South Carolina. Give Greg Adkins’ group credit for its versatility and improvement.
Highlight: Georgia, when the Vols rushed for 190 yards and didn’t allow a sack.
Low point: Florida, when the Vols averaged a paltry 1.8 yards per carry.
Grade: A
Defensive line
In August, this group was a major question mark. By December, it was a major improvement. Demonte Bolden and Dan Williams can hold their own in the middle, and Robert Ayers came on at end. J.T. Mapu had a disappointing year. Overall this group was better than expected, but it’s not close to the dominant units Tennessee has fielded in the past.
Highlight: Kentucky, when the Wildcats managed just 2.9 yards per carry, the Vols had six sacks and Williams blocked a possible game-winning field goal.
Low point: Cal, when UT was at its most vulnerable up front and allowed 230 rushing yards.
Grade: C
Linebackers
Like the rest of UT’s defense, this group got better as the season progressed. Jerod Mayo was a beast in the middle, especially at the end of the season, when he finished with 49 tackles in UT’s final three games. Ryan Karl also got better as he got healthier, and Rico McCoy fit well on the weak side. All told, an above average group despite its struggles at times.
Highlight: Mayo’s 19-tackle performance in an exhausting five-overtime victory against Kentucky.
Low point: Florida, when UT’s linebackers seemed out of position to defend the Gators’ spread option attack.
Grade: B
Secondary
Seven different players started at least one game due to injuries to Marsalous Johnson and Antonio Gaines. True freshman Eric Berry was unquestionably the best player in the group this year, outshining Jonathan Hefney, who fell short of All-American expectations. Considering the setbacks, give this group credit for what it accomplished.
Highlight: Arkansas, when UT had three interceptions and did perhaps its best job of tackling all year.
Low point: Alabama, when D.J. Hall had 185 yards on 13 catches.
Grade: B-
Special Teams
This group finished better than it started, with the exception of Daniel Lincoln. Punt and kickoff coverage showed marked improvement, and Dennis Rogan emerged to be a real threat as a kick returner, a welcome sight on the Hill. Lincoln earned All-America honors but wasn’t quite as reliable late in the season as he was early.
Highlight: Lincoln’s three field goals against Mississippi State.
Low point: Cal, when UT looked like the Keystone Kops trying to stop DeSean Jackson.
Grade: B+
Coaching
With all the fan unrest, injuries and now coaching turnover, give UT coach Phillip Fulmer credit for keeping this team on track. Players get some credit for their resilience, as do leaders like Chris Brown, Ainge and Mayo, but that came from the top down. To go through all the ups and downs and still come within a few plays of an SEC championship, this should be noted as one of UT’s best coaching jobs by the entire staff.
Highlight: Defensive coordinator John Chavis’ plan against Arkansas.
Low point: UT’s offense against Florida, which never seemed to have an answer.
Grade: A
Overall
It’s hard to remember a season with such a wide margin between highs and lows. The Vols lost to Florida and Alabama by a combined score of 100-37, but produced big wins over Georgia, Arkansas and Kentucky. This is a team that could have been 11-2 and won the SEC or 6-6 and home for the bowl season. But bottom line is the Vols made it to Atlanta and a New Year’s Day bowl game. That’s a very good — but not great year.
Highlight: A 35-14 win over Georgia, which got the Vols to Atlanta and kept the Bulldogs out of the national championship picture.
Low point: A devastating 59-20 loss at Florida and a 41-17 loss at Alabama, which finished 6-6.
Grade: B+
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Comments » 78
pdhuff#552644 writes:
My take would be a "C" for everyone but the O-line and D. Lincoln with "Bs". Mayo would get a "B" along with Berry and Jones. Rest would almost be below SEC average except for heart and will to survive that last five games.
Cutcliff gets a "B". Rest of the coaches are "C" to "C-". Slam dunk "F"s are readiness for Gators and Bama. Whew. tngeoff - I'll give "A"s for staying the course and pounding the rock. I'll give Whitelightning a "A+" for lightening the mood with the strewing of the glazed in Wisconsin. Priceless. And an A+ for the oggs. Sorry TDTN.
Happy New Year. What's your take?
mj54 writes:
Coaching gets an A? So getting blown out by Cal, UF and Bama by 63 points combined, with two of those games not even competitive, not to mention that the Kurt Roper forgot to play our 2nd leading rusher against Bama, Def Coaches not realizing that Jarod Parrish needs to be riding the pine until after the Bama debacle, still merits an A?
I would also lower the WR's grade. They were ok, but nothing specactular. They never made a play the entire year, but they did pretty much what they were supposed to do, but there was no deep threat and no breakaway threat. Plus Kenny O'Neal only ran reverses and Gerald Jones rarely got on the field.
The Defensive Line grade was about right. DT's came on as the year went out, but woefully inadequate play from the DE's.
LB's were pretty good, but Ryan Karl, while hustling very hard, is still one of the biggest liablities on defense we've had since Jason Julian back in 89.
Secondary got better as soon as Slade/Chavis recognized that Jarod Parrish shouldn't be anywhere near the field. Unfortunately in our 3 losses, he started and played signicantly in all 3 of them.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Drew must really be trolling for a job as publicist if he's giving the coaching staff an "A." Coaches who have their teams get blown out by arch-rivals Florida and Alabama get a letter subtracted for each blow out loss. Then, minuses for the other losses and it's "C-" at best. (Won't debit the loss to LSU, although, see below regarding OL's deficiency.) Part of the reason for the OL allowing few sacks is the training that Ainge had by Cut to throw the ball away if the play wasn't there. And, the 4.4 may be better than 2006, but could we run the ball when we needed to? Not really. Had we have been able to run the ball in the championship game, Ainge wouldn't have forced a bad throw. So, C's here, too. All in all, by winning three games by a total of six points, we actually have a record that is better than our team. Win against Wisconsin, with all the academic losses, and I'll upgrade to "B." Not negative, just honestly assessing the season. Go Vols! SAVol
andy112382#209793 writes:
Can't complain about the grades, sounds good to me given the explanations given with each.
Heaven knows when our naysayer buds come posting their sporadic thinking on here they will blast it to pieces, focusing on purely the negative things, though, on second thought they would be on here complaining even during a national title year......heck there are still very sad individuals posting junk like 'we are 4 plays away from 4 losses in 1998'......seriously.....
Can't wait til next season, my football withdrawals will start soon!
GO VOLS!!!
eb502us#225637 writes:
Who is Drew Edwards? Judging by this article and his grading system, sounds to me like he is the Mike Strange of basketball.....totally clueless. Coaching and offensive line an A? If coaching was based on pure luck, then this staff is deserving. Otherwise, it's no better than a C as Cutciffe's dink and dunk offense was only good enough to pad Ainge's stats and make the offensive line (low sacks allowed count)look good. (In defense of the offensive line, they did play well most of the season and are deserving of at least a B, but definetly not an A) I also think the grades for each part of the defense (DL, LB, DB's)are a grade too high. DL was a D most of the season, LB's a C and DB's a C-, due to youth and a senior in Hefney who played poorly most of the year.
zqvol writes:
Great job, especially on the coaches.
kaplan#211944 writes:
Drew Edwards has been the beat writer for two years.
scvols writes:
mj54 and tdtn - You guys make a good point. Coaching got better as the season went along, but these coaches had the experience to know who to start against CAL. We were not ready for FL D or Offense plan, and we were not ready for AL blist. Fulmer and his staff should have gotten a B+ or a B-. Still a great job for taking the team to the SEC Champ game, when we were picked to come in 3rd or 4th in the east.
jevolball7 writes:
If that article,combined with just a tad of common sense,doesn't explain the state run spin? Then Santa didn't bring you what you really needed.(ie...the scarecrow,after the poppy fields,facing OZ)
oldorange writes:
I find it entrtaining to watch the feedback to the coaching gets an A part of your posting. I enjoyed reading your article. I would not attempt to grade the positions, as I enjoy watching the team win or loose. I learned a long time ago that what I thought made not one iota's difference on Saturday, however, I am sure the kids on the website will chide you thoroughly for giving an honest assesment of Fulmers coaching job.
Thanks again, Drew
gray8280#334715 writes:
fat phil is living on a prayer , lucky as hell !
the silent witness will be brought to his knees !
vol52 writes:
I could see a 4 loss team's coach getting an A if the talent pool was slim. But when you have as many top 12 classes as we have had I don't think we should be beating our chest on how good this group of coaches are. If we win at the outback bowl then we can talk. But an A is a joke.
DadwasaVol writes:
TouchdownTN, your commentary is old and worn, negative and painful to hear. I really hope the New Year does you some good, offers you hope. Try connecting with your wife/kids if you have them where, for starters, you can practice seeing the positives in your own family. That positive outlook may even spread beyond your own close circle to friends and co-workers and, eventually, allow you to contribute to sports sites such as this one. Happy New Year.
eduardo writes:
Too high a grade on coaching! Should be lower! They lucked out on 3 of those games against traditional patsies. No way should F$$$lmer get a raise or an extension. Heck he may step down after this second tier bowl game is over. Keep your fingers crossed!
qball77 writes:
Coaches did a wonderful job. Fulmer is the best coach for UT. He has the most loyalty of any candidate we could ever hope for and that is something you cannot buy.
jdcdjc#246285 writes:
I want to see more of Gerald Jones!
Our low spot in the grading should go to the coaching. I firmly believe this is one year where the coaches let the boys down rather than the other way around. I hope we can find us a quarterback that can pull the ball down and run with it. We are getting beaten by teams that have these type quarterbacks. Our highlight in the grades should go to the offensive line.
Go Vols!!!
Ironcity writes:
It has been said coaches are good for a couple of plays a game. Getting blown out is not coaching its just plane lousy play. UT won every game it could with the exception of the SEC championship. For that the coaches did a great job. That said I would reduce the grade because I thought the team gave up against Florida, Alabama and especially Cal.
lnbadger320 writes:
coaching staff an A, we almost lost to vandy, SC and KY. i know KY was a tough team this year, but vandy and SC were pretty weak this year. no excuses for those 2 games and no excuses for bama. how he can give those coaches an 'A' is amazing. we were a few plays and a new seconds away from a 6 loss season.
lnbadger320 writes:
12TIMES, who was bragging about winning the East? you're the only idiot i'm reading on here.
touchdownTN i do agree that our expectations have been lowered greatly.
murrayvol writes:
"This is a team that could have been 11-2 and won the SEC." I must be experiencing a holiday hangover. If memory serves me, we were virtual noshows vs Cal, UF, & Bama. And that makes 3 (losses).
I would give coaching a D+ for the first 7 games and a A for the last 6.
Brama writes:
I would give Ainge a B- at quaterback, Secondary a C, Special Teams a C+, Offensive Line a B & coaching a B: let's not forget about the 3 times that we got blown out and the way the team played in those games
hglover40#234154 writes:
Vol52 - we've had some good recruiting classes, but not as good as FL,GA, or LSU
Ranking by classes
---------------------LSU--UT---FL---GA
5th yr sr------------1----18---2---- 6
sr ------------------2----11---7---- 6
jr-------------------22---4---15----10
so-------------------7----23---2----4
fr-------------------4----3----1----9
See 4 losses doesn't look as bad when you consider we played 3 teams with more talent than us. The loss to Bama was definitely against a team with less talent than UT.
I don't know about Cal's recruiting and where they would fit on this list.
But Saban, Meyer,Miles and Richt also lost to teams with less talent.
invisiblekid writes:
Already been said, but giving the coaches an A is a bit generous in my opinion as well. If they are going to get credit for the remarkable turnaround and staying the course throughout the year, then they deserve the criticism for putting the team in the position of needing that turnaround. Factor in that there is still a bowl game to be played, and I think the grades are premature. If they manage to win the bowl game, then I think the coaches have proven their mettle given all the distractions. All in all, it would be real hard for me to feel all warm and fuzzy about a season with a record worse than last year, no championships, and no wins over Bama or FL.
hglover40#234154 writes:
A comprise for the Fulmer haters and the others(like me) who support coach Fulmer: Support Coach Fulmer until the 2007 class are seniors. If he hasn't won an SEC championship by then, I'll join those wanting a change.
Fulmer has said this may have been the best Fr. class he has ever had; if you can't win one with the best class youv'e ever recruited, it is probably time to let someone else try.
OldNumber7 writes:
An "A" for coaching? You had way too much egg nog. This coaching staff backed itself into a corner and had to rely on pull-it-out-of-their-butts OT wins that could have gone either way. Definetly knocks them down to a B - no way an A.
Also, how do you explain the 6 players not academically qualified for the bowl? Coach Fulmer is a general and must rely on his coordinators to do the gameplanning while he, the leader, the manager, must watch like a hawk the supply line. He must be cognizant of the gotchas that will kill his team at the battle. Fuel supply, food, water, medical aid, and in this case - GRADES! Why is he not engaged with his troops? This is the man that former players say is like a father? What? My father would have been keenly aware of my grades and beat me to a pulp! He dropped the ball big time - and now his team, their troops, the colors, and the frontline is suffering for leadership neglect. Terrible.
tripper writes:
An "A" ? #55 in total offense in the nation, #73 in total defense and #75 in 3rd down conversions out of 119 teams (just to name a few). You may say we lacked talent and you may say we did not execute properly, but in the end it all falls back on coaching. I wish I would have taken Drew's class in college.
invisiblekid writes:
12times has to be one of the most idiotic fools to ever grace this website. No fan of a team that lost to a directional school in LA has any right to talk trash about anything. BTW, shouldn't you be out hunting squirrels to put on the kabob before the Weedeater Bowl?
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Hey Edwards, wanna knuckle up?
jobrando#216494 writes:
This article is by someone that's happy with Tennessee football, and afraid to run this article after the bowl game. There is much more riding on this bowl game than ever before. It's the kick off game for next season.
gohawks1 writes:
TDTN, I don't know if you caught this or not, but 12TIMES is supporting your posts and encouraging others to read them. He is a VOL hater and a bama fan, you know. Something worth thinking about.....
Let's look at this grading thing from a different angle. Grading on a game by game basis, I would assign the following assessment:
CAL = D
SO MISS = B
FL = F
AR ST = B
GA = A
MSU = B
AL = F
SC = D
LA LA = A
AR = A
VANDY = D
KY = C
LSU = B
Using a GPA type scale, that comes to an average of 2.2, or a C for the year.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Posted by hglover40 on December 26, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vol52 - we've had some good recruiting classes, but not as good as FL,GA, or LSU
Ranking by classes
---------------------LSU--UT---FL---GA
5th yr sr------------1----18---2---- 6
sr ------------------2----11---7---- 6
jr-------------------22---4---15----10
so-------------------7----23---2----4
fr-------------------4----3----1----9
See 4 losses doesn't look as bad when you consider we played 3 teams with more talent than us. The loss to Bama was definitely against a team with less talent than UT.
I don't know about Cal's recruiting and where they would fit on this list.
But Saban, Meyer,Miles and Richt also lost to teams with less talent.
_______________________________________
Are you still bringing this up Glover? The margian is not that big between the 4 schools. But I tell you what is, the number of times those teams have finished in the top AP top 10 the past 7 years. Please research this and get back to me. I believe it is quite obvious which of these teams has a big 0 after it. Bottom line: Those schools do well with their talent and UT underachieves. Period. If you want to go strictly off recruiting, the Vols are in major trouble 4 years from now with this upcoming class.
SewaneeVolFAn writes:
I wondered to myself how many of the naysayers would substitute eggnog for orange-flavored koolaid at this time of year when they read the coaching grades in this very fair and accurate article. But I've said it all year; we're lucky to have these coaches, and we're lucky to have Phil Fulmer. (On a side note, I compared the records of Fulmer, Bobby Bowden, and Joe Paterno from 2000, and -- gasp -- Fulmer's was better by a game or so, and we know UT plays a tougher schedule than either of the other two.) The players deserve the credit for what they do on the field, but the coaches are the ones who are responsible for adjustments and improvements, and in those areas, they did one heck of a job over the whole year. I also have faith that Fulmer will bring in top coaches to replace the ones he's lost; we wouldn't be bemoaning the loss of Taylor, for example, if Fulmer hadn't had the vision to hire him in the first place. And Cutcliffe wouldn't be a head coach again if Fulmer hadn't had the good sense to bring him back. Now I'm ready for Phil to bring back BOTH Kippy Brown and Doug Marrone, and hire the Clemson OC, too, and then watch out...
atlvol writes:
Drew Edwards must of had Christmas dinner at the Fulmer's!!
GerryOP writes:
Oh, well! Everyone has an opinion ... and ... Drew Edwards gets paid for his! But, really..... Coaching an A?
bullfrog07 writes:
I agree with most of the grades - not sure the coaches should get an "A" - I'd say an 'A' would be fine for last half of season but include it in with the first half and the best you could give would be a 'B' at best.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
jonathan81254-
You are a clown. I hope that you are not serious with that post.
hglover40#234154 writes:
PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE -
Maybe I put too much value into the difference in our recruiting verses the teams we have to play every year. I just think it would be hard for any coach to play 2 or 3 teams every year with superiour talent to his team and still finish in the top ten.
It would be interesting to take the top ten for the last few years and do a comparison, but I don't have time.
Anyway I don't blindly support Coach Fulmer,
if Coach Fulmer doesn't win an SEC by the time the 2007 class moves on, I'll be ready for a change too.
vol52 writes:
hglover40, The other team had some better recruiting classes. However, coaching can level the playing field or improve a slightly less class. I just don't feel that the results we have had this decade = the quality of the classes and if they do not finish close to the other three teams in the Polls then I lay that responibility at the coaches.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
wow...... mr edwards must still be drinking the eggnog.... you could look at it that in a year that fla, ga, sc, ca and bama was down we went 2-3 against those teams with a senior QB and more seniors than either team.... or you could say that in reality we're a 8 win team every year and when we acheive that we should be happy.... not that ever since the beginning of time tn has played BS teams in nov and padded(spell) fulmer stats for wins and losses.... come on people look how kent, vandy etc finished the season....
but hey the season is over and WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR BUDDY MAN I KNOW WE'LL BE A preseason top 30 team... man that gets me so pumped... but hey the recruiting will be ranked the same..
hglover40#234154 writes:
vol52 -
I think we have played close to what you would expect in the SEC, considering the talent, but I we have definitely under achieved in bowl games. I think has cost us in the final polls too.
I concede that we should have done more with some of the classes we've had. I always put those numbers out there, because some people don't know that we are not the only school in the SEC bringing in good players.
utclassof1992 writes:
My grades, broken down by halves (like anyone really cares)
First Half of the Season-
QBs-C
RBs-B
OL-D
WRs-D
DL-F
LBs-F
DBs-F
ST-B
Second Half
QBs-C
RBs-B
OL-B
WRs-C
DL-C
LBs-B
DBs-C
ST-A
Improvement, but still a great big steaming pile of mediocre. When the SEC starts handing out elementary school participation certificates for just "having the courage to try", I'll be happy. Until then, I'll still be a Fulmer basher. Call me names if you want.
pabashia#208095 writes:
I stopped reading after I saw coaching as an "A."
That's so absurd it's laughable.
missrvrvol writes:
Acceptable grades since we have accepted mediocrity in our program. Hope all the Foolmore supporters enjoy a 3rd place finish in the East next season and a trip to the Music City Bowl! See Ya!
GerryOP writes:
Our footVols are still opening Cracker Jack boxes looking for their SEC East Championship rings. And the "stuff" keeps on sliding off Good Ol' Teflon Phil.
NatiVol writes:
Like most of us, on Christmas I spent a large part of my day talking about what is wrong with Tennessee. East Champions sounds nice, and it is, but we expect more. There is a good chance we expect too much, but we know we have the $$ in our program to get better results. I don't think it is a forgone conclusion that Phil needs to move on, but it is not looking pretty. The west is crazy good with Mississippi sure to improve and Auburn never down for a long time. You know Bama will break out in the next 3 years. The East will be strong with only UK and maybe Vandy taking a step back. So what is in store for the Vols? There is a story on dooms day for Kentucky today, I don't want to see UT get to that in football. I hope we get a strong hire for OC, young, old, spread option type, traditional UT football, whatever, just good. Lets mark the 10 year anniversary of the 98 team with another Championship! Go Vols beat Wisconsin
daddyaxe writes:
MAY HAVE QUIT IN FLORIDA GAME BUT DIDN'T QUIT DOWN THE STRETCH..COACHNG B AT BEST...TOO MANY TIMES WE DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT PLAYERS IN THE GAME...WE WERE IN THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP...SHOULD HAVE WON IT WHILE LSU WAS BEATABLE...WAIT TILL NEW YEARS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AND THEN I WILL COMMENT ON FULMER..HE NEEDS THIS GAME TO SALVAGE A SOMEWHAT LACKLUSTER CAREER AS OF LATE...I AM ALL VOL BUT IT IS TIME TO START SEEING THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE
TommyJack writes:
Clearly he was grading on the curve.
Vol13 writes:
Hilarious! This team was much closer to being 6-6 and sitting at home with their families this bowl season than it was to winning the SECC. Reading garbage like this is why we are now the laughing stock of the SEC and why we are feared by nobody anymore. We have the dumbest and most gullible fanbase in America when it comes to not being able to step back, take off the blinders, and see the reality of the situation. These are the same people that truly believe Fulmer is going to conduct some nationwide search for the best and brightest and hire them. They are also the same people that believe we'll beat Florida in Knoxville next year because we play them at home. Too funny. Their loyalty lies with Fulmer and not with what is best for the overall success of the football program. Misplaced loyalty. People think that Fulmer is the right man for the job because he is won't leave us for another job and grew up in Tennessee. LMAO!!!
The reality is that the 2007 Vols were not a very good football team by their own and by recent SEC standards. We were waxed by three teams as badly as I have seen us get beaten in years. In one season! And two of the three teams (that pounded us) finished 6-6. This is the luckiest bunch on earth and you people are just sitting back whistlin' Rocky Top and telling yourself that everything is A-okay. To those of you who say you only need 4 more years to see if we have problems or not - you are clueless about the current state of this program. Why on earth would you punish yourself by having to endure a full four more years of watching the program crumble to its knees? Have you not seen enough already?
The fact is that Fulmer/UT have sat on their duffs for several years while most every program in the SEC was positioning themselves for long-term success. While they were all getting better by hiring better coaches, recruiting better players, developing schemes that are more effective, and improving facilities - the Vols have done nothing but make excuses as to why we aren't being more successful. And we are now, as fans, being exposed to how good of a coach and manager Fulmer really is. And he's not much of one. The only thing funnier than the Fulmer apologists are the people who think that coaching football is so difficult. LOL!!!!! I doubt there is a coach on the UT staff that would be an A performer in most any F-500 entity. But there are a ton of A performers in the business world that could coach football or any other sport for that matter and do it successfully.
1974Vol writes:
The seasons not over, so let's wait until then to start handing out grades. I think most people, including myself will grade alot differently based on how the bowl game turns out.
nmvol writes:
What planet is this guy on? Overall at best a C except for the defense which gets a D.
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