TAMPA, Fla. — One potential candidate for Tennessee’s offensive coordinator job said he’s staying put, while another could be in line for a promotion.
Citing anonymous sources, The Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Saturday that Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Kippy Brown will become Detroit’s new offensive coordinator with the departure of coordinator Mike Martz.
The News Sentinel reported in Saturday’s editions that Brown was UT’s leading candidate to replace David Cutcliffe, who will take over as Duke’s head coach following the Outback Bowl on Tuesday. A source said talks between UT coach Phillip Fulmer and Brown were centered around who UT hires to reassemble its offensive staff.
Also on Saturday, Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence said he would remain with the Tigers after he interviewed with Fulmer on Dec. 21 in Knoxville.
“At this time, I think it was in my best interest, the university’s best interest and our players’ best interest for me to withdraw my name,” Spence told reporters in Atlanta at a previously scheduled press conference in advance of the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Spence said he wasn’t offered a job at Tennessee.
Fulmer acknowledged that Spence interviewed with the Vols, saying he enjoyed the process — and expects to repeat it with at least two other candidates.
“I had a fantastic day with Rob Spence from 2 o’clock to 10 o’clock nearly that night,” Fulmer said before Tennessee’s practice Saturday morning. “All we did is talk football and schemes and philosophies and people. I don’t get a chance to do that very much. I really enjoyed it. He was very good.
“I’m going to go through that process with two or three other people, as I told everybody on the front end I was going to do, to make sure we get the right person, the right fit.”
Fulmer hopes to have that person in place by the team’s first meeting of the new year on Jan. 8.
“If I don’t, it’s not an end-of-the-world-type thing, but I’d like to have that at least done, if not more,” Fulmer said.
Fulmer said the bulk of the hiring process will take place in Knoxville, but acknowledged that he’s spoken to at least one candidate since the Vols arrived in Tampa on Dec. 25.
Tennessee is also searching for at least one more assistant coach to replace wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who will become Oklahoma State’s co-offensive coordinator following Tuesday’s game.
Running backs coach Kurt Roper is expected to become Cutcliffe’s offensive coordinator at Duke, while tight ends coach Matt Luke will be named offensive line coach.
Those announcements aren’t expected until after Tuesday’s game.
Defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell told Fulmer last Sunday he would remain at UT after being courted by Arkansas to become its defensive coordinator.
Fulmer also did not rule out changes on the defensive staff, when asked Saturday if all four coaches would be back.
“We’re looking at everything that’s out there,” Fulmer said . “Any comment on staffing would be strictly just that. We’re going to evaluate everything.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 109
RockyTopRooks writes:
OK, I vote Fulmer looks for someone with different philosophies than we've had. Thats all. Otherwise what sense did it make to let Taylor leave who could have run the same stuff with Fulmer's help. Am i wrong here?
volman5 writes:
Yeah, Rockytop...I agree. But only to an extent I do not think we need to completly change (we do not need to go through what Nebraska did or anything). But running some variation of the spread..or atleast using the G-gun some more would be an improvement.
Well this morning it seemed as though Kippy was our guy...where do you guys think we go from here, Marrone?
TommyJack writes:
Large One, you're running out of home cooked choices. Think outside the Hill.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TommyJack, still believe his first choice is already with him. We'll see. No interlopers on this staff.
TommyJack writes:
PD: There will be no end to the heat he will get if he does that. But it would be so Pumpkin-like.
I can hear it now..."the right guy as here all along". lol Stay the course.
TommyJack writes:
Pearl-Ball Rocks!
olozbal#646632 writes:
It's Marrone, always has been him. They never really wanted Brown that much in the first place for reasons I won't say here.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TJ- Don't guess ol' Hamilton has dug as deep, YET, as many of the "ites" thought. Might happen, might not. Not many successful pro coaches want to deal with college kids, especially the recruiting. We'll see.
Pearl does rock - liked the slam at the end on the Zags!
fhjm1234#209203 writes:
How about hiring back Sanders. He obviously knows the system. I still am not sure that the biggest problem on offense when he was here was Stephens (O-line) and Washington (receivers). Those guys were not coaching their positions well and the fall guy might have been Sanders.
TommyJack writes:
fhgm: Disagree. PLUS, how could The Big Oval sell that politically..He was bad enough to fire, so let's bring him back..???
glockjockey writes:
When Johnny comes marching home again,HURRAH!,HURRAH!.
jevolball7 writes:
Screw football 4 a day! Bruce Almighty rules this day. Could've won by 20 without all their ticky tack foul shots.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
What the phooey? I thought Kippy was almost a done deal. When the heck did Martz leave? He must have just gotten another head coach shot.
Well, I'm nervous again. Bad stuff happens when I sleep.
Hunter writes:
I am so tired of Fulmer politics. Go out and get somebody with something below the belt who will show some tenacity and keep things fresh. Why would Marrone leave as an OC in the NFL to OC at Tennessee? That move makes no professional sense. My money is on Greg Adkins and a mirror season to 2005 next year - great defense and pitiful offense.
"It's great...to be....a Tennessee Basket-Vol......."
VolsorCat writes:
If they lose again this weekend, all the coaches at Detroit may be looking for jobs, not getting promotions. They are not exactly world beaters the last 10 weeks.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
I still say he may dig up Walt Harris.
TommyJack writes:
TD: Thanks for the timely update..
ONUV writes:
gus malzahn to the rescue
outermonvolia.com
chrisw2967 writes:
Kippy dont even want to come back home. Fulmer was probably going to give him only 20% of the off.
I guess Fulmer will keep trying until he finds someone that will let him control them.
DennisVols writes:
Spence was a waste of time anyway. He seems to like to interview with a lot of teams but always turns them down or withdraws his name. He said last year he did not want to move his family so what made anyone think he was going to change his mind.
Plenty of opportunities are available I just hope that the right one is made.
THE_VOL writes:
Hey Felipe - why not go dig up Vince Lombardi!!?? HAHAHAHAHA this FOOLmer has turned yet another major decision into a BIG TIME circus! Let's see now, half his offensive staff has bolted for lesser programs and he can't get ANYBODY to say yes to come work for him! I hear the guy at Carson-Newman is next on the rapidly dwindling list! Do the right thing FOOLmer - RETIRE!!!
inquiry writes:
ok Kippy is out, I vote let's bring Randy Sanders back
inquiry writes:
And I'm not kidding. Randy Sanders back with a raise and a we're sorry..
pdhuff#552644 writes:
How good does Paul Johnson at GT look now? Just dreamin'. TJ, book it, without an earthquake, Adkins will be trotted out as OJTOC under HCPF.
eduardo writes:
F$$$lmer do us & yourself a favor and just step down after the bowl game no one cares about! Start from scratch and get us a new coach Hamilton!
THE_VOL writes:
BTW, Kippy MUST have been a great candidate - even the LIONS like him! HAHAHAHAHA Only Detroit can muck up a program worse than FOOLMER!
FWBVol writes:
Just becaus the LA Times and some other media outlet is reporting something doesn't mean it's true.
How many times did ESPN report that Les Miles was going to be the next coach at Michigan?
If Kippy is smart, he'll look at the big picture and come back to UT. Being the OC for the Detroit Lions is akin to being the second in command of the Titanic.
Team president Matt Millen has been rumored to be on the hot seat for years. And as VolsorCat stated, if Detroit loses to the Pack tomorrow everyone in the Lion organization might be looking for a job.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TDTN- exactly where are we in this process at this time? Who's on 1st?
vtvol#210290 writes:
Since Mike Martz is now available, why don't we court the "mad scientist." UT would have one helluva an offense that could return to the days of when the Vols would dictate to opposing defenses how the games would be won.
budd#207344 writes:
If Kippy turned it down he is the fool. The next OC has the lead for next HC. If Kippy Brown thinks he is going to be a HC in the NFL he better get a whizzinator for his next drug test.
This is still one of the premier jobs in the country and if an OC comes in and does the job he will get the HC.
nmvol writes:
Fulmer better enjoy the coming season, it is going to be his last as he will hire a stooge instead of a quality coach and the Vols will really stink and this time his connections to the big money won't save his job.
jeremy writes:
Did ya'll see where he said that all the defensive coaches might not stay the same? Please get rid of slade!! If he can't teach the CB'S to look for the ball when the receivers look for the ball he doesn't need to be a coach.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Does anyone how many Outback tickets have been sold? Hamilton has been quite about it.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
jandjhome - not sure of total sales, but as of yesterday about 60-70% of sideline sections had tickets available. Some were reduced prices. Go to tampatribune.com or like sites and look at stadium layout for whats available. Strange that as many as nine in a row were available. Some for $29.00! Hard to say about the crowd.
Madison.com said at least two charters from Wisconsin had left getting away from 8" of fresh snow. One runway still open. Total sales???
invisiblekid writes:
If Martz is let go or resigns, he is already rumored to be in line for the San Francisco OC position. The Lions aren't a terrible team on offense, they have all of those first round receivers to go along with Kitna and Jones who are both serviceable players. I expect Brown is looking at this as another shot to get his name in the spotlight and he has some good pieces to build upon. Looking at it from Brown's perspective, I can't see playing second to Fulmer for another 6-7 years to be the opportunity some make it out to be. Especially if he takes over as OC for the Lions and they have some success.
budd#207344 writes:
I must disagree. If Detroit had such good offensive personnel do you think Brown can get more out of them than Mike Martz? He doesn't even call the plays for a team that has not made the playoffs this century. I am really not sorry he isn't coming.We do not need to be a training ground for OC. we can get someone who has experience.
invisiblekid writes:
BTW, anyone remember Steve Marshall?
invisiblekid writes:
Budd, I suspect Brown would call more than 10 running plays a game, which is something Martz has failed to do on several occassions this season.
invisiblekid writes:
One more thing Budd, if you want to see why Detroit is such a bad team this century, their defensive stats are a good place to start.
vol52 writes:
If Kippy does not come then I would write him off for any future considerations. We should have had a coach lined up by now. ok st and duke have theirs. Maybe it would be better to scrap the rest of them and start over. Phil has been busy with the duke officials.
gillblog writes:
Is anybody watching the Giants v. the Pats????
Our brother-under-the-skin Eli is getting it done!!
imnotwithphil writes:
Seems like the hero St. Philapuss is between a Rocky Top and a hard place...
GerryOP writes:
Greg Adkins, paging Greg Adkins! Telephone call from GOTP! Paging Greg Adkins...
Outdors21 writes:
Who would you like to see interviewed/offered the job?
I dont want: Doug Marrone, Phil Fulmer, or Mike Martz.
I'd like to at least see interviewed: Scott Satterfield (QB coach/co-OC at App St), Calvin Magee (OC at WVU), and Bryan Harsin (OC/QB coach at Boise St).
I know that's a pipedream list because then Fulmer would have to learn new terminology and might get confused by all the intricate, successful stuff...but any thoughts on the list?
DroopyDrawers writes:
Randy Sanders doesn't want to come back to this football program. It is a joke. We are 5-7 at best next year.
invisiblekid writes:
Couple of notes of interest if anyone is still awake: Karl is reportedly going to start and Fulmer is supposedly going to interview the 49er's QB coach Frank Cignetti.
skyhawk836 writes:
Fulmer seems to be working on it.
Do you know if Cignetti has ever coordinated?
Could we really be spanning the football world for a coach?
invisiblekid writes:
Skyhawk, he was OC at UNC and Fresno State, info came from Rivals by way of the Times Free Press.
http://49ers.com/team/coaches_detail....
skyhawk836 writes:
Thanks invisiblekid.
I love keeping up with this stuff.
FWBVol writes:
OK people, what is it, you don't want Fulmer distracted by a coaching search as he gets ready for a bowl game or you want him to have the guy already in place? You want him to go outside "The Family" or you're upset that Brown might be staying with the Lions? I've got three sisters and none of them change their minds as often as some of you.
Here's a thought; many of the people Phillip Fulmer is interested in, and perhaps have had some sort of conversations with, might currently be gettting ready for their bowl games or the end of the NFL season.
There are plenty of good coaches out there who will be more than interested in UT and a good fit for the program.
I wouldn't mind seeing someone with a Tennessee background, but the bottom line is I want the best coaches possible to join the staff.
If Kippy wants to stay with the Lions, I wish him well as he has served the Vols well in the past. If he wants to return to Knoxville, I would welcome him back to the staff.
Here's a thought on an offensive line replacement if Matt Luke does follow David Cutcliffe to Duke, how about Harry Galbreath?
He's currently on staff as a strenghth coach, and is one of UT's best offensive linemen UT in the last 25 years.
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