Photo by Joe Howell
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer leads the team to Neyland Stadium on Saturday before the Southern Miss game. Quarterback Erik Ainge wears a cast on a broken finger. The Vols won 39-19, improving their season record to 1-1.
University of Tennessee fans are spoiled rotten, spoiled with teams that fight for championships every year. And, here we are again with a football team fighting for an SEC championship and fans are calling for the head coach’s head.
It’s the old theory that the glass can be either half full or half empty. The are people out there who will put their spin on the numbers to make it look like doom and gloom have set in with the football program. But, when I took the option to order my tickets to the SEC championship, if the Vols can win their last three conference games, it dawned on me how truly ridiculous all this talk is in Knoxville about needing a change at the top.
Tell the University of Nebraska that firing Frank Solich was the best move and I’ll bet you that you would get some Husker fans who would change his opinion from what it was just a few years ago. Notre Dame has gone through more football coaches than Tennessee has basketball coaches over the years and they’re still looking for their savior.
The more I looked at the numbers of the entire athletic program at UT, the more it hit me that we might well be in the middle of one of the greatest times in the program’s history.
For all the trials and tribulations the football team has put fans through this year, the team is still wins over Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Kentucky away from another trip to the title game in Atlanta. And, the Vols should be favored to win each one of those games.
The basketball team will start the season in the top 10. The No. 7 ranking is the highest the Vols have been since reaching number No. 4 in the 1998-99 season. Thompson-Boling Arena has been given a multi-million dollar facelift and in the eyes of some is the most impressive college basketball venue in America.
Las Vegas has also taken note of what Bruce Pearl has accomplished. According to the experts, the Vols have the sixth best odds of any team in the country of winning a national championship.
The Vols odds are 12 to 1 of winning it all this year. The only teams with better odds are North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis, Kansas and Louisville. Teams below the Vols are Georgetown at 15 to 1, Duke at 18 to 1, Arizona at 20 to 1, Kentucky at 25 to 1 and Florida at 75 to 1. Pearl has officially put the Vols on the elite national level and the nation has paid attention.
The Lady Vols are the defending national champions and are the consensus favorites to repeat. Pat Summitt and her Lady Vols will start the season ranked No. 1 again this season. They have the premier player in women’s college basketball who might be the best to ever play the game.
In looking back over the past 15 years, this has the potential to be the best yet. Over that period, the 1997 produced the highest winning percentage among all three major sports of 86 percent. Of 81 games during the 1997-98 school year, the football, basketball and women’s basketball teams won 70. The football team won the SEC championship. The Lady Vols won the national championship and the Vols basketball team finished 20-9.
The winning percentage in 1998 was a little lower at 84 percent with a combined record of 65-12. However, it’s the year that fans look back on because of the national championship in football. The Lady Vols won the SEC championship that year and the Vols went 21-9 and won the SEC East in basketball.
Since the 1998 season, only one year has the overall winning percentage dipped below 70. That was 2004 when the Vols went 14-17 in men’s basketball, the Lady Vols lost five games, and the football team lost three, but played in the SEC championship game.
Look, everybody has a way of taking the numbers of each program and slanting them to win their argument. But, by looking at the numbers and championships, it is possible for the football team to win one this year. It is probably even more likely that we will look back on this year and talk about SEC, and possibly national championships for both the Vols and Lady Vols in basketball.
You can put whatever spin you want to on UT athletics. You can choose to be miserable in the middle of a possible championship season for all three sports and see the glass as half empty. Or, you can do what I’m doing and enjoy what could be one of the best years in school history with championships in several areas.
I’m not so blind to see that the football team has looked less than “Vol-like” against Florida and Alabama in the second halves of both games. But, what is very “Vol-like” is to beat all three teams left on the schedule. If that happens, I’ll see you in Atlanta!”
Mark Packer hosts the Locker Room, presented by Parkwest Medical Center, on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 68
londonvol writes:
Beating Bama, Florida,California is a whole better than beating Ark., Vandy, and KY. It's football, folks not the other sports that is not competitive and hasn't been for a while.
ncvol17 writes:
Mark, love your radio show each day/ Get it in Raleigh and it is a nice way to get SEC news..
carolinavol writes:
Well said! See you in Atlanta!
DarthVol writes:
I love the title. Or more specifically, the use of the word "naysayers". It's usually thrown around here to imply something like..."you know, those ugly vol fans who don't like where they think the program is heading and actually have the nerve to speak about it". Believe it or not Mark, some people have different standards along with different breaking points. Perhaps some have standards that are too high and aren't fair to the coach. But those with a lot of passion for the game and the school get labled as *miserable* when they sound off about it and that's not very fair either. Because some of us actually love the university and college football regardless of how the season is going. And (stay with me on this one) some can even make the distinction between head coach and the program.
But the grumblings are not about one year. There is a history and a career to consider. But you're right, this team does have an opportunity to do something special. For the seniors sake I hope they can take advantage of it. Because if we've learned anything over the past decade, opportunities this late in the season don't come very often under the current staff. And that's the problem.
But please continue to show us the way with more public service announcement type articles for those that might lose the faith in the waves of criticism about their program. You should be proud that you have the courage to not hide behind the "I'm just an unbiased reporter that comments without passion" tag line that so many of the media use around here. I guess your career begins and ends in Knoxville.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
remember the date this article was written....3 tough games yet to play....possible vols will loose all three with the defense that is put on the field...anyway....GO VOLS
PRNDL writes:
That was such a feel good story! Totally ignores the last 10 years. Blames the fans who are tired of 5-6 and 9-4 and such non-sense for an elite program. We are just too demanding, guys! I have been waiting for some whack like him to say that Phil and Company would produce if we paid them like Saban.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Wow, I quit reading after the first line in which Packer says "watching teams that fight for championships".
This year we have limp leg backed into our position. Packer maybe you need to just keep talking about sports on Channel 10 because writing about them isn't your strong spot.
GreerVol22 writes:
Defense still gave up almost 400yds today....not so fast packman.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Way to go Mark. You are about to get grilled for this... but you're dang right!! I used to say that we had great fans. Sadly, I now say we have spoiled fans... some anyway.
GO VOLS!!!
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
What an idiot. What kind of spell does Fulmer have on these people?
chrisw2967 writes:
Did anyone hear Kesling today right before games end , I didnt get to listen to any of except for the last 4 min but what I heard when I turned it on made me want to puke , he said today was a case of 2 different teams from 2 different planets and LL was really out classed , Fulmer must be paying them also. I mean please this is pathetic , you would of thought we was #1 in the nation and LL was #2 in the nation. I dont care if the score was 100 to 0 thats what it was suppose to be. i do know one thing Kesling and who ever the other clown is ,just has no clue at whats going on.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Arkansas is drilling South Carolina and VOLS better have an answer for a defense next week. This article is pure junk by the way.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Give Fulmer a raise and a two year extension
GO VOLS!!!
WIN THE EAST
TXVOLSFAN
whittemores#577495 writes:
AGREE WITH THE ARTICLE!! COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER! WOULD TAKE "FAT PHIL" AND HIS "FAT RECORD" ANY DAY.
eefor10c writes:
You are right Chris. We only beat the Ragin Cagins 59-7. You are probably one of the anti-Fulmer people who tell us what a great coach Spurrier is. Remember, ULL led the Gamecocks before halftime and "only" lost to them 28-14. So if Fulmer is bad and "only" wins by 52 what does that make Spurrier?
tenvolone writes:
Mark Packer, you are WAAAYYY off my friend. Study the stats. It's that simple. Study the stats and once you do, you'll realize how totally preposterous your arguement is! Our football program's a long damn way from where it was only a few years ago and doesn't appear to be improving.
tenvolone writes:
By the way chrisw2967, I did hear Keslings broadcast today and I must say his playcalling skills are on par with our football coaching. Kesling, as nice of a guy as he is, can't hold a candle to the likes of John Ward. Bob calls games like he was selected from the crowd at random and forced in front of the microphone. Did anyone hear his call of the interception return for a touchdown? Wow, anticlimactic!
OldNumber7 writes:
This article sucks. I am tired of these stupid, scared to death of what change may hold remarks like the Solich-Nebraska one. Like you said, everyone scuplts the argument to their taste - and you failed to mention the ton of new coaches that excel at their job. Look at Bama - new coach, one year, and they are as good as anyone in the top 10.
The reason Fulmer's head is on the block is because Tennessee is inconsistent, makes terrible game adjustments, and is poorly prepared. Not to mention they play terrible football more than good football. Throw in that your coach is rich, old enough to retire, and you have a recipe for complacency. I would love to know how Mr. Packer writes this article when Arkansas and Kentucky remain in the headlights. If we get that far, I might actually start to think we could compete in Atlanta - but today, every team looking to win the West would destroy us.
tenvolone writes:
One final comment...the crowd at Neyland Stadium was less than 100,000 today. I can't recall the last time THAT has happened.
utalum04 writes:
Great article. I agree - we have the worst fans in the world and they are spoiled rotten. Look around the country - maybe Florida should fire Meyer for 3 losses too. Or, maybe we could get Charlie Weis to come here - he is doing wonders. The fact is that we just have a bunch of fair-weather fans that I wish would just start pulling for other programs so they can bring them down and tear them apart.
marinevol writes:
Volster, the whiners have had their moments this season, too. They really enjoyed the Florida and Alabama games, but the Georgia and Mississippi State games nearly killed them. The toughest game for them was probably the South Carolina game. They thought they had that one, only to have it snatched away. They've been especially bitter since that one.
marinevol writes:
Now you're talking my language, volster. Careful or you might have a recruiter knocking on your door.
OldNumber7 writes:
It is a great time to be a Tennessee all-around sports fan - but on the subject of Football, you people wouldn't know good football if it slapped you in the face.
marinevol writes:
You're wrong! The last time I got slapped in the face by good football, I knew it. But tell me RocketVol, what's it like constantly getting slapped in the face by negativity? I think maybe it's slapped you silly.
snowvol writes:
Mark, if you had to pick a favorite animal, might it be a sheep? And your personal sheep dog: Fulmer? How many rushing yards do we generally give up every game genius? Now, plug in your underdog Arkansas Razorbacks and Darren McFadden. He is going to run over, around and through Chavis' "defense" which will end any and all talk of the Vols in Atlanta. Mercifully, we will likely be spared any further articles from writers still believing this football program matters on the national football scene. To think folks like you, and some others, are somehow worked up over a woodshed beating of.......Louisiana Lafayette?
Mark it down Mr. Wizard, our beloved Vols finally get the door closed on this magical season by the Hogs next Saturday. And the final home game vs. Vandy -- there'll be even more empty seats than there were today. But hey, we're bowl eligible now!! When it's all said and down, 7-5 sounds about right. I'm told the PetroSun Independence Bowl officials are very high on us. Shreveport in December: Gives you chills, doesn't it?
west_tn_volfan writes:
I really can't picture us being favored over Ark. With our lack of defense and their running game I am afraid things might get ugly next week. I just watched them absolutely shred S.Carolina's D. McFadden had 335 yards rushing. I truly hope we win but I haven't seen anything this season that would make me believe we will stop their running game. Who knows, maybe we will catch them on an off day.
newtonrail writes:
RocketVol, did you say you were getting B@@@h slapped by your boyfriend? Must have, since you are so addled, you've lumped all other posters in one bunch. YOu ARE sick my friend!!
marinevol writes:
There's always hope. Maybe Houston Nutt will suspend McFadden for one game.
chrisw2967 writes:
eefor10c You are probably one of the anti-Fulmer people who tell us what a great coach Spurrier is.
Let me guess Fulmer is your hero eefor10c?
I am not anti fulmer , I just think the game has passed him by , maybe you cant go back to the last 6 or 7 years and see how this coaching has declined and maybe you have forgot how Cal,Fla,Ala. drilled us and we win against Ga and South Car. and you happy and ready to claim us as SEC champs. If we win out and luck up and win the SEC then all will be fine til next year and it starts over. As far as Spurrier goes I think hes a better coach than Fulmer ever thought about being , If Fulmer lost his job right now and Spurrier lost his job also , how many schools do you think would be stalking Spurrier to coach ? Id say Spurrier could take his pick , now Fulmer he would be lucky to get a off line coach offer.So you tell me if Spurrier is better than Fulmer. plus my comment wasnt about Fulmer and Spurrier. Your just ready to defend Fulmer at all cost.wait until the next lost and everything wont be fine again.
skroutyboy writes:
Chris, I agree wholeheartedly with your points, but good Lord my friend, please check your basic grammatical benchmarks and redo your post, with the obligatory Harbrace red marks noted. That being said, does Mark Packer need to check into the Betty Ford Center? The Lady Vols and mens' basketball are propping up his arguments. Let's throw in the womens' softball accomplishments as well. Winning the next three and going to Atlanta? I would bet on that like I would Phil passing on the "hot" sign at Krispy Kreme. I love my Vols, but we're simply not a really good football team. You have to stop people to be viewed as a strong squad. We do not have the personnel nor the coaching to do that and it breaks my heart. Football is fairly simple--as the saying goes, it comes down to blocking and tackling. Sadly, we do more of the former and almost none of the latter, unless it's 20 yards downfield. Fellow posters, please help me figure this one out. How many punt returns and kickoff returns for touchdowns have we allowed since the last one of either of those for us? Just wondering.
ONUV writes:
59-20
41-17
just getting to atlanta isn't good enough. if we win the east and then get beat in the championship game, where does that leave us? 9 years without a SEC title. saban just spanked us with the least talented team he's ever going to field. urban is 3-0 against Fulmer and beat us by 39 points with a bunch of freshmen and sophomore. people like mark packer are encouraging mediocrity, and the people who want change are the bad guys? i just don't understand why people can't come to the reality that somebody can do a better job than fulmer. is it going to take losing to vandy again? losses to arkansas, kentucky, and the bowl game? what's it going to take to clean house and get this program back on the right track?
outermonvolia.com
asleep#212036 writes:
I'm not defending the article, but 59-7 is plenty good enough. The line was 30 and bookies take into account everything imagineable about the game including the distractions of homecoming and Fulmer's propensity to take it easy at the end. If you beat the line by almost double, you've played well, period - the line already accounts for the level of competition. That said, they will still have to crank it up a notch or two jumping back into the SEC. The only thing that bothers me is that if we win the East, that still won't be good enough for some. The losses were ugly, sure, but winning your division is Job 1 and if they do, and it's not good enough, then maybe we are getting spoiled. Who honestly thought we could win the East when the season started with road games at Florida and Alabama and missing 3/4 of our projected starting secondary? Justified criticism is fine and I'm for it, but some credit where credit is due would be cool too. Go Vols!!!
OldBob writes:
The Vols have the greatest program in the country and Fulmer, Summitt and Pearl are the heart of it. Any one calling for Fulmer's head is as complete an idiot as can be. The man is a jewel in a VERY competitive world.
SportsDoppler writes:
Save Tennessee Football!
hglover40#234154 writes:
UT football 1993 - 2003 - 109 wins 28 loses. Probably the best winning percentage by a UT coach in a looooonnnnng time. And who gave us those years???? And for people who say nothing good happened after 1998: 2001 until now - 3rd best record in the SEC. We also played for 2 SEC championship games in the 00s. I think only GA has played in more this decade.
And as for Spurrier out coaching Fulmer, maybe, but go check out the recruiting classes Spurrier had in the early 90(s). It would be interesting to compare the talent at FL and UT from say 92 - 97.
I know from 2004 until now have been not up to the standards Fulmer set early on. And with our defense playing this poorly, I don't expect a championship this year. I hope he can turn it around, if not, and he is ready to move on he should be remembered as one the best coaches in UT history.
HE DOES NOT DESERVE THE AMOUNT OF DISRESPECT SHOWN BY THE HATERS WHO POST HERE!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
hey fignewton and submarine, maybe you would like to tell us all what the positives are? I am still looking for them - for nearly a decade now. Come on you flashes of brilliance you!
Maybe you would like to offer why the Georgia game was positive? Did you see what happened when Richt used misdirection (finally) too late? What do you think Arkansas will do..how about Kentucky? I am very much keeping the Georgia win in perspective. That was a fantastic Tennessee team that day - where are they now? Why didn't they show up for Bama? I am beginning to think it was a complete mirage. You weenies amaze me - and I bet you're pretty young too. Do you remember the Manning years and how we LOST games against Memphis and Florida? Do you recall how our NFL loaded 98 team barely squeaked out several wins that year?
I stand by my statement that Tennessee plays more bad that good football. If you see otherwise, I have nothing to offer you that will help.
hglover40#234154 writes:
Oh... And for people who complain that we are no longer relevant on the national level. Fulmer was the one who made us a team people expected to compete for a national title. I don't recall UT being picked to win it all during the 80s or 70s. Not old enough to remember the 60s.
hglover40#234154 writes:
TouchdownTN - Find a UT coach with any 11 years and a better winning percentage. Then come talk with me. The truth is he is resonspible for those years and should get credit for them. He should also get credit for the way we are playing this year. Not good. This is all I ask that he gets credit for his record.
hglover40#234154 writes:
RocketVOL doesn't like waiting almost a decade for an SEC championship. I started watching the VOLS in about 71 and waited until 98 for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. And who won us that -
FULMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hglover40#234154 writes:
TouchdownTN says -
"Love me or hate me, at least I am consistent. I want more for Tennessee Football than this Bubba we losely call a Head Coach."
Hey TouchdownTN,
I want better than we've had the last 3 years, but you refuse to respect what Fulmer did from 1992 until around 2003 when we really started sliding. I have no problem that you want a change it's your refusal to give credit to those that EARNED IT that makes me argue with you.
Plus you personal attacks and name calling say more about you than they do about Coach Fulmer.
hglover40#234154 writes:
I guess they don't want to discuss Coach Fulmer's winning percentage; Or maybe I mentioned giving credit to someone for their accomplishments and that was something a hater can't do. Where are you haters; have you left the comment area??
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Great feel good story! Bet he and Philapottamus eat Snicker bars together! Can't spin away from 100 given up to Fla and Bama! Can't spin away from Mcfadden, Jones and Co. wearing a rut in Neyland's STORIED PAST (past, etc.)! Can't spin away SLOW-SLOW-SLOW linebackers, NO defensive line talent with NO pressure, can't spin away from young DBs being hung out to dry because of SLOW LBs and POOR DEFENSIVE LINE-PLAY! Can't spin away Fulmer's losing the fire! Team is usually SO FLAT! Go Vols, some how get to Atl inspite of Phil & Co.
hglover40#234154 writes:
Fulmer winning percentage 76.3% over 15 years at UT.
hglover40#234154 writes:
PDHUFF ,
Our defense is bad and fulmer may be losing the fire. I agree %100, but Fulmer helped build that storied past. 1993 - 2003 best years in TN football since the 1940s!!
DooleyNoted writes:
10,000 empty seats for homecoming? I'd say Hamilton wasn't happy with that. Don't buy into the fools gold from Saturday. Arkansas ran for over 500 yards. They must be salivating at the thought of playing against our defense.
londonvol writes:
At the risk of repeating myself, IT IS THE SCORE AND WHO WE LOSE TO, should we the source of our discontent. Tennessee is not on the same level as Florida, Georgia (I knew we beat them), LSU, Bama, Auburn and we should be. If we beat LSU in the league championship I will be impressed and pubicly state way to go PHIL.
BriboVol66 writes:
Fulmer HAS been great for UT. He DID elevate our program to national prominence and he DID have a good record in bowl games and against the SEC elite.
All that said, the bowl record speaks volumes. The last several years we have only been mediocre in those games against solid opponents.
I think that all Vol fans would agree that our basketball future is very bright, but the overall gleem for UT athletics is dimmer because of our football team over the last few years. The arguement that because basketball looks so good coming up, doesn't change that our football program is hurting. We have played 3 solid quarters of football against a quality opponent (2 against UGA, 1 against USC).
I am very thankful for what Fulmer HAS done but not what he IS doing.
jweaver3#395614 writes:
According to Mike it would take 2 more losses for Coach F to be gone.
He will be back with no extension an no raise!!!
GO VOLS!!!
BEAT THE PIGS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
SEE YOU IN ATLANTA
eefor10c writes:
Thank you hglover40. You gave a great presentation filled with facts. As you see the Fulmer haters can't counter this with anything so they counter with name calling and personal attacks.
imnotwithphil writes:
Hey Packer... "Nay Nay Nay!!!!" I am proud to be a naysayer when it comes to UT football. That said, those of us calling for Fulmer's head are generally supportive of Bruce Pearl - so please don't attempt to tie our competent basketball coach to our incompetent football coach. As far as being "spoiled" - please - I've been a Vol fan all my life and have stuck by the team through thick and thin. I don't mind losing... I do mind underachievement, sloppiness, arrogance and generally looking stupid on the field. I don't know what Hamilton is paying you to write articles like this one - but tell him to keep writing checks - you're doing a great job!
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