Phillip Fulmer knows criticism. It comes with the job he's had since 1992.

But Tennessee's football coach has never faced the type of media scrutiny he's faced this season.

Gone is the national championship equity he earned in 1997 and 1998. That was spent during a 5-6 season in 2005.

Now, local and national media are questioning the future of a program that still controls its SEC destiny in November.

In this question and answer, Fulmer, talks about the SEC East race, the media criticism and how important it is to leave the Vols on a championship level.

Q: Did you have any idea the SEC East would be this jumbled?

A: I don't think anybody could have predicted how the season has gone in the SEC East.

At the beginning of the season, you certainly knew Kentucky would be a good team, or a better team. And Vanderbilt, both of them had made progress. You could see that when you played against them the year before.

South Carolina, you felt like was going to be better. And, of course, always at the top of the league, it's tough.

You could have not predicted how crazy it's been and who's beaten who, but that it was going to be a competitive year certainly.

Q: Do you view the parity as a trend or an aberration?

A: It's always a competitive league, but it's different this year because I think guys have cycled themselves up into having good teams.

Q: Do you think media criticism of your program has been fair?

A: I think on a national level that it's more prevalent than it's ever been with all programs. … The abilities to communicate are making things complicated as far as potential distractions to a team.

Q: How much different is that compared to when you first started coaching at UT?

A: You're much more scrutinized than you've ever been.

Q: Athletic director Mike Hamilton said familiarity might actually work against you with some fans. How do you think that affects fans' opinion of your job performance?

A: I'd say they're entitled to their opinion. Everybody's entitled to their opinion.

I would not get into a conflict with fans and people that pretty much aren't familiar with what goes on - on a daily basis in college football, period.

Q: Has that been tough on you and your family?

A: Nobody likes to be criticized. But you go on and do your job and do your job the best that you can. It would be silly if I sit and worried about those things constantly because it distracts you from what you're trying to do.

Q: How close is UT to being at a national championship level?

A: The first thing you've got to do is win the (SEC) East. Then if you can do that, you certainly want to compete for the SEC Championship. If you do that, you're going to be somewhere in that mix. If you get the cart before the horse, you're going to have problems.

We have had some difficulty with injuries this year, particularly in the secondary, going back to last year, which we tried to address in recruiting. We're actually right now probably more talented back there than we were at the beginning of the season. We're just very youthful.

I don't know how many programs in the country could overcome, basically, five starters in a year not being there any longer with injuries and dismissals and things and still have a competitive position like our secondary is shaping up to be.

I'm really happy about that. If we can do that at other positions with the youth on this football team, I think we've got a chance - a real chance - to make a run at the national championship in short order.

Q: How much optimism does the 2007 recruiting class give you?

A: It's as good as we've had here. One, there's a lot of talent in it. Two, they are really, really fine young men. You can go back also to what's now our sophomore class, those two classes together are pretty good.

Q: How much longer do you want to coach?

A: I like coaching. I love being around the players. I really like the preparation for games. I like recruiting. I like all aspects of it, most of all the kids, seeing them grow into manhood.

Q: You've said former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne is a mentor. How significant would it be to end on a high note, like Osborne?

A; I don't know that anybody wouldn't want that. … That's certainly what everybody wants.

Q: In your mind, is that a "have to" for your career?

A: I hope I get a chance to do that. That's what I would like to do, yes.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.