Having clinched an SEC Eastern Division title, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is in line for a contract extension and a raise, athletic director Mike Hamilton said Sunday.
The Vols (9-3, 6-2 SEC) are headed to the SEC championship game on Saturday in Atlanta.
“Anything we do formally will be after the season is completed,’’ Hamilton said, “but I would say after winning the Eastern Division title, it’s reasonable to expect Phillip will get some kind of extension and change in compensation.
“I feel good about the way we finished. We handled adversity in a good way.’’
Tennessee will advance to the Sugar Bowl if it wins the championship game. If not, Hamilton said he is working with the conference office and bowl directors to assure the best possible invitation.
Several reports have indicated the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta on Dec. 31 would be UT’s destination if the Vols lose to LSU. However, Hamilton said the Cotton (Dallas) and Outback (Tampa, Fla.) bowls are still in play. Official bowl announcements will be made next Sunday.
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Comments » 120
FWBVol writes:
Well said, tngeoff. You might not be able to coach character into a kid, but a good coach can bring out the character of a team. Phillip Fulmer showed he can bring out the character of the kids in this program this year. Compared to what 6-6 Nick at Alabama makes CPF is a bargain.
trap2240#1340138 writes:
Character yeah, but what about x's and o's???? I'm tired of our player's character having to be the deciding factor because the coach has not put you in the best shape, playcalling wise, to win. We blow leads and still play conservative. We are going to the SEC Championship by default. We didn't have to play LSU or Auburn like other members of the east. Why speak on a raise and extension at this point. Say we lose 60-0 to LSU and get torched in our bowl game. Does that make this season a success? That being said, I love the players, but dislike the coaching! Go Vols!!! Phil needs to go 2!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Sorry guys, not going to the Peach bowl..been there done that...No offense, but we've been down that road before and if this is the way it's going to be..I'll just suck it up and stay the course that has been already pre-determined. Go VOLS!
olozbal#646632 writes:
I was one of those guys calling for his head. But you pay for results, and he got them. So he earned it. Congrats Phil.
hueypilot writes:
It takes a big man to change his mind tngeoff. And you've come long way this season. I'm proud of you and all the fire Phillers might just as well find another windmill to tilt at cause he's ours for several more years. I for one, am glad. One of the most exciting games and seasons in many many years of watching the Vols. And mike, if that guy said that, then I'd dispute the fact he's a fan. Let's see, Phil finishes where Meyer, Richt, Spurrier, Turbeville, Saban, wishes they had. All the resident geniuses in the conference down there looking up at ol' Phil who's been in the conference longer than any of them. Boy, Phil sure is lucky.
trap2240#1340138 writes:
Larry Slade needs to be fired before they talk about extensions and raises.
doegem writes:
So this is what passes for excellence in Volunteer football nowadays, merely QUALIFYING to play for the SEC title and a top 15 ranking. The big-time booster says jump and Hamilton jumps. Yeah, let's give Fulmer $3 million and a lifetime contract. 4-11 against Florida -- Yea! Go Vols!
rexxel2004 writes:
Trap2240 We don't deserve to go to the SEC championship because we didnt play LSU or Auburn? Well I guess LSU doesn't deserve to go either because they lost to Kentucky and Ark. Hey didn't we beat both of those teams? Yeah thats right we beat the only two teams that beat LSU. So Who should get to go?
orangeblood writes:
well said trap. no reason for the corners to be playing back 10-15 yards before each snap. But, with that said, i love the orange. Go UT!!! Let's win that ship!!!
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Well said Trap2240. Will there be a banner that says "SEC East" champs hung somewhere? If so, there should be an asterick next to it that says "in a very mediocre and young SEC". The schedule sure set up nicely for the Vols this year.
trap2240#1340138 writes:
i didn't say we don't deserve it I just think the fact that we played some of the weaker West teams it had a lot to with only having 2 conf. losses. Hope we beat LSU, and improve our play in the GA Dome. We have been awful our last 4 or so trips.
GerryOP writes:
Pennington deserves a raise too! It was his article that got ol' PAF's dander up!!
Good job Vols! Two more to go!
GreerVol22 writes:
Maybe a Bonus for winning the East, which should already be a part of his contract, but not an extension...leave that on the table until after he wins the SEC Championship and the Sugar...I'm all for pay for performance but as Ainge put it, this was just the semi's...finals are next.
GreerVol22 writes:
besides, don't be so quick to reward...it's not like Nebraska is calling...
rexxel2004 writes:
Maybe you didnt mean it that way but thats how any person that reads your comment will take it. either way Im glad we are playing this weekend GOVOLS!
99gator writes:
just wanted to include this because many of you are posting it.....
again, congrats to tenn for winning the east. but, a lot of you are saying kudos to fulmer. look who's sitting home. i'd rather be us than them. and while that's true....
well, bama is not ready to compete for championships. florida lost darn near its entire squad from 2006. auburn and georgia are starting freshman offensive lineman.
the school that is disappointed (in a totally crushed way) is carolina. they had a shot this year (coming into the season). they've got no shot next year. not with what the big boys in the division are bringing back.
had florida, auburn, or georgia won their divisions their fans would have considered that their teams overachieved. i know tenn may have overachived too. fl, ga, and tenn were all dealing with various issues this season... which is why the season was so crazy.
and if lsu does not win saturday.... they will be crushed. as they were everybody's odds on favorite. if you look at their senior class you will know why.
the point i am making is tenn winning the east should not have shacked anyone. a lot of people thought they could lose to fl and win the east. just, no one thought they could do it if they lost again. but, no one expected to see tenn be such a schizophrenic squad.
i still say when you look at a staff you think about the future of the program. not one season.
DennisVols writes:
It is hard to call this season anything short of remarkable and with a win next week in the championship game it will be just that. I’ll admit I was one of the supporters for the “Fire Fulmer” clan. The losses to Cal, UF, and Bama were hard to swallow. The taste of the ‘05 5-6 season was still fresh enough to give you bad thoughts about a 1-2 start.
I am also man enough not to whine about how we got an 8-1 finish to this season. Big wins over GA and AR. Yes the hogs were a big win. Just ask last weeks #1 how tough they are to stop on offense. The fact is UT is 9-3 and winners of the SEC East. Those scores in the Cal, UF and Bama games matter no more than the ones in all the wins. Only the record of wins and losses got us a ticket to Atlanta. GA can pound their chest about going to a BCS bowl game. If UT wins next week what do you think will be talked about more over the years? The GA BCS bowl or who has the SEC Title. Titles are won on the field. With the exception if the NC Bowl game no one really cares about the rest. This year it is in AZ, the Fiesta any other BCS bowl is more about money for the universities than any kind of prestige. #2 is always considered the 1st loser in the race and no one ever remembers who came in 2nd.
There will always be the “what if we”, “we should have”, “we didn’t catch that good” excuses no matter what side of the fence you are on. I live in Atlanta and all I can hear today is the Dawg fans bragging they will go to a BCS bowl no matter what. Just a poor attempt to cover the disappointment of having to watch the SEC Championship instead of playing in it.
Many on here said Fulmer’s team would be no better than 5-7 this season, following the UF loss. Guaranteed there would be loses to GA, AR, USC, predictions of possible losses to Vandy and UK. Some of those complain now about how we won those games. Take the wins as wins and quit trying to demean how they got them. After all few will ever remember the scores just the final record. One more win next week and UT is the SEC Champion for 2007 and that is all that will matter.
Go VOLS!!!!!
trap2240#1340138 writes:
We've not been relevant nationally by seasons end in 7 years. I'd like to see that change! Then give Phil a raise or extension. We are stuck in neutral and have been for a while. Looks like Phil will be here a while longer, so I'm pullin for him to get it done!!
rkastens writes:
Yes we are going to the SEC title game and that's always better than not going. However, how in the world do we let KY back into that game? KY should have won it in the last seconds but they proved to be inept at managing the game in the last minute. It looked like we were giving KY any throw they wanted to make in the second half. I realize KY is much improved this year, but there is no reason we should have let them back in this game. This game was a microcosm of our season - part of the time we look dominating and part of the time we look very subpar.
I will always cheer for the Vols no matter who the coach is, but I'm not ready to say "We're back! All is well!" just because we made it to the SEC Championship game. We're going to Atlanta not because we were such a dominant team this year. We're going because FL and GA were as mediocre at times as we were.
There are still issues to be resolved with this program. Whether it is in recruiting, or developing the players we do sign, or devising game plans, or some combination of these; there are issues. If Coach Fulmer is going to get raises and extensions when things go "well" then it is his responsibility to correct these issues.
trap2240#1340138 writes:
rkastens....i couldn't say it any better. Amen brother!!
tenndave writes:
Several Talking Points
Somebody explain to me how Ga is the media darling now.
Why is LSU still so highly rated. They lost two and one of them was at the end of the season to an unranked opponent. Again, media darlings. The media says LSU and USC are the two most talented teams and I think feel like they should be playing for the NC no matter how the season turned out. Media doesn't play a down do they? Us not being relevent at the end is all about press.
Let's see, WHO WON THE EAST IN 2007?? Okay Phil your turn. Answer that!
WE DID, WE DID, NAH, NAH, NA, NAH NA!!!!!!!!!
Go Vols. I predict if we beat LSU we will rise in the ranking to at least 12th or 13th and LSU will fall to at least 8th. Then we will be relevent? Okay not relevant but with a TITLE!!!!!
99gator writes:
tenndave
using "style points", georgia appears to be playing the best football of any sec squad since tenn gave them their beat down.
as for lsu, i completely agree. if i were an lsu fan, i would be furious. a lot of people talkin about how tenn could be 7-5 or 6-6. well, so could lsu. and with their roster.... their is no excuse. but, to play devil's advocate.... they lost two games, both in 3 ot.
1974Vol writes:
rkastens; trap2240 Try this analysis on for size. The program was headed in the wrong direction for several years & PF had lost focus until the 2005 season hit him like a ton of bricks. Chavis had had some good defenses for most of 2000's, but our offense couldn't get out of its own way. Enter Cut and the program starts to get back on the right path. Major injuries and DL going early to NFL get Chief behind the eight ball this year and make AL & FL scores possible. PF is not an X's& O's guy, but Cut is & the way Chief plays defense when he gets experienced athletes his D's are good. PF can manage a program and recruit. Game day coaching is over rated. Most football people will tell you the game is either lost or won by Thursday. So I think the pieces are in place to get back to mid 90's level of play. Only time will tell. In the short term let's just enjoy the moment! Go Vols Beat the Tigers!
dfreeman writes:
rkastens, how much of them coming back in the fourth quarter was due to us consistantly going four and out because our wide recievers couldn't catch a cold?? If Lucas catches that 4th and 3 that was placed perfectly chest high and in his hands that's ballgame!! Go back and watch the game and tell me how many drops in the 4th quarter. Why am I mostly the only person that sees us getting molested everytime we get in the backfield to get the quarterback?? Also, Foster got called for a bs personal foul that cost us 15 yards ON A CHANGE OF OVERTIME! Thank God that didn't hurt us, but why then DIDN'T it go against them when the UK player ripped Eric Berry's head off?? Zebras sucked in this game and our recievers forgot how to catch!!! That's how UK got back into this game!! Play calling was spot on!!! Go Vols!!
OwensboroVol writes:
I still believe that the program is heading in the wrong direction. I may be wrong, but I just think that we shouldn't be having close games with Vandy and Kentucky. We are 9-3 this year, but unless we have super recruiting years from now on it is going to continue to slip. We can't line up and blow people out anymore and I don't want to be bragging about beating Kentucky.
nextyear writes:
Eastern Division is nice, but not meaningful in the long run. We need an SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl victory ... then, we can make sure Phil is appropriately treated ... why discuss this now??? The season isn't over!
trap2240#1340138 writes:
I agree with what you said bout Chavis, but Slade needs to go...as for coach cut...Great QB coach, but a very overated play-caller In my opinion.
TommyJack writes:
a bonus for the East ring, but an extension is insane. Where is he gonna go??? Crazy.
gohawks1 writes:
Heh, heh, heh. I knew this article would stir the emotions of the orange nation.
Like smacking a bee hive with a big ole stick.....
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hamilton, "How we finished"! Errr.... I thought we still had a ways to go. You know its remotely possible we could be 9-5. Just remotely because we seem to be on a "mission from God", ala the Blues Brothers. Also we could be 11-3. Beware the Phil, Tigers, he comes for you. Ck nola.com for LSU fans reaction to Arkie loss! Whew! Miles may as well go to Wolverines. Somehow, Lord, go Vols, amen!
99gator writes:
i don't think there will be parity in the sec next year.
i think fl, ga, and tenn run over the rest of the league. only tests will be each other
jhenson#377512 writes:
No one on this site has been more critical of the schemes, lack of adjustments, and lopsided losses by this coaching staff in recent years than I've been. I still have concerns. I'm not so sure that a 3 loss season which included 2, 3, and 5 touchdown losses (Two of which were against teams that proved to be pretty dreadful), and only one win against a team currently in the top 25 is cause for an extension or a pay raise.
Having said that, I've never booed the team or the coaches and was as proud as I've ever been to be a Vol while leaving Commonwealth stadium yesterday. Oh and for the true "Fulmer Haters" (which I'm not)...you can't blame the UK comeback on Fulmer. At some point, players have to make a block, a tackle, and catch balls that are right in their hands. All in all, a couple of good wins don't completely wipe out 3 dreadful losses, but Phil has made me eat crow and I'd love to continue eating it. He's a class act and a Tennessee boy and has definitely earned another year or two to try and get us back on top...but a raise and an extension...I'm not yet convinced.
Hueypilot, I'll respectuflly disagree with your comments at least in part. You are entirely correct on Spurrier...he must be feeling miserable right now. But I live in Georgia and I can tell you that while certainly the DAWGS would have preferred to be in the SEC championship, they aren't too awfully disappointed at being #4 in the country. And last I checked, LSU, Auburn, and Florida have realized greater success the last few years than we have.
PRNDL writes:
Fulmers contract has financial incentives to win SEC East/SECCG/bowls games. That should be "compensation" enough. Considering how we were totally non-competitive for three games, how inconsistent we have performed later this season (winning two games by a total of three points including Vandy), and considering our record of the last two year (5-6 with no bowl and 9-4 and bad bowl loss) a contract extension shouldn't be considered until end of next year. Then we can consider extensions if we are winning. Hamilton doesn't need to be mortgaging the furure just yet. Besides, this is a business...where's he going to go?
99gator writes:
tdtn
next yr for florida is simple (as fas as schedule goes), beat tenn in knoxville and the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.
i don't know enough about tenn or ga's schedule.
injuries can throw a monkey wrench into everything. but next year, florida will be the deepest they have been in years
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
geez...their are no trophies handed out for winning the eastern sec....must beat lsu to be considered a "good" season....don't for forget the blowouts by bama and fla.... other than a bcs bowl is a down year... this is Tennessee football we are talking here , tradition is deep
Oenoboy writes:
Hmmm. A very mediocre SEC huh? Let’s see here, 3 of the top 10 BCS teams and 5 of the top 25. As usual, tops in the country. If that’s mediocre, the rest of the NCAA is really in trouble.
In case you guys didn’t hear, we won the SEC East which is the toughest division in the toughest conference in the country. There isn’t a sportswriter or coach out there that would dispute that. And considering 3 of the top 15 BCS teams hail from it, I’d like to see someone on here try.
Our winning the East crown requires no asterisks, footnotes, excuses, or debate over the fact we deserve it. We had the best SEC record along with Georgia and LSU and we happened to beat the phooey out of a full strength Georgia team.
By the way trap2240, Georgia didn’t play LSU. They lost to South Carolina (who we beat) and got taken behind the shed by a very well coached Tennessee team.
Fire Slade? You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Maybe you should do a little research and get at least a little knowledge on the subject before posting your emotionally born garbage and asking for the firing of a good man and respected coach.
Slade has lost five of his six best players over the last two years to injuries or discipline issues and has done a terrific job getting three true freshmen (one, Vinson, being a converted WR) playing competitively in the SEC. There isn’t a position coach in the country that wouldn’t have a rough go of it after unexpectedly loosing 80% of their players in two seasons.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
also...well put dlskaggs
99gator writes:
tdtn
that game got ugly and it took on a life of its own. i don't think the score quite reflected the game.
i hate sounding like a homer too, about 2008. but, i can't help it. i'm giddy as hell.
the general thought amongst most gators was.... you better get us this year.
but, i'm no fool. you don't win championships on paper
invisiblekid writes:
Unless I am mistaken, there is the unfinished business of the SEC championship and a bowl game. To paraphrase Hamilton after the AL game regarding all the questions about Fulmer, he talked about the body of work over the course of the entire season. I think that should still apply because there is a world of difference between 11-3 and 9-5 and the way this team lives on the razor's edge, either is possible.
Volfan1 writes:
99gator, your 2008 schedule depends on McFaddin coming back or going pro. You've traded Auburn (who you have trouble with) for Arkansas (at Fayetteville). You still have LSU, so it's not a "gimme" after you play us in Knoxville.
We swap Arkansas for Auburn (at Auburn), not a good thing IMO. I live in Jax, so I know a LOT about UF. UF will return it's key players. We return almost everyone....except Ainge. IF Crompton comes through, ala Tee Martin after waiting for his turn, it should be a whale of a game in K-town.
Georgia....there's the fly in the ointment next year for both of us.
I'm glad to be in Atlanta this weekend!
ONUV writes:
hamilton is in the same crowd that says "let the season play out".
what a bunch of hypocrites.
BigManVolFan writes:
Give Fulmer a raise??? Give Trooper Taylor a rasie!!!! The man turned one of the most inexperienced group of receivers in the SEC into one of the best...Lucas Taylor leads the SEC in receiving yards...Rogers and Briscoe are adequate..Gerald Jones is solid and only getting better....Quentin Hancock is improving every week.....Give Trooper a long contract and a good raise!!!
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Oh, wow. I'd be surprised if there aren't some busted computer monitors and trashed keyboards after seeing the topic of this article. Oh boy oh boy sweet justice!
I hope Fulmer gets a big ole fat raise and a 10 year contract extension. I'd like to see him get 4.1 mill a year...just a bit over Sick Satan in Tusca-losers.
Yeah that would be funny as hell and what would the keyboard commandoes be able to say about it? NAHDAH!!!
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Folks, lets be realistic here. I just picked up the preseason Athlon magazine and they picked the Vols 20th. The only for sure loss that they had was Florida (which was beyond a loss). They had stars next to Bama (bad loss), Cal (Bad loss), and Georgia (big win) as big games. And the rest they labeled as wins. What I and the experts are basically saying is that Tennessee is meeting it's expectations. Not exceeding them. Let's not over due it here folks. Georgia was a big win but otherwise, the season went as everyone planned with 3 huge losses. I guess doing what is expected of you (along with getting your butt kicked 3 times) get's you reaises. Man, would I love that job!
CoverOrange writes:
I would agree with raise and extension if he had beaten Bama, supposedly the very reason he was hired in the first place. A good record against Bama is not good enough.
ONUV, the season ended yesterday. Only championship games and bowl games are left for Tennessee.
injunvol writes:
this is crazy - talk like this before lsu knocks the phooey out of us and then another whipping from some phooey acc team in the chicken bowl - you gotta be kidding me hamilton
nickperkinsalc#627224 writes:
I hope no one affiliated with University of Tennessee Football reads this stuff.
eefor10c writes:
TDtn, Sorry to see that you reverted to the ole Krispy Kreme junk. Apparently you take the approach that you go with the majority of the posters. Your posts after the game were very supportive. Shutyour2240 trap you just described a fair weather FAN. You say you root for the players and not the coaches-thus you gain satisfaction when the Vols lose! Notsoskinny.......you want to qualify our SEC East championship because of the "mediocre and very young SEC East". Would you care to check the BCS standings. Three of those mediocre teams are among the top 15 in the nation and that is just half the conference. Looks like the haters have come out of their cave after licking their uh! wounds all night.In your faces Fulmer haters and Vol downers!
gohawks1 writes:
Athlon had TN at #20, but Lindy's had them at #7.
invisiblekid writes:
At this point, I'll take a couple of more wins on missed FG's TDTN. I don't disagree with you on Slade but have read before where Chavis is steadfast in keeping him so I don't expect him to go anywhere. I think a more intriguing question will be what happens to the MVP of the coaching staff, Cut. There has been some questionable calls here and there but to have this team at 9-3 with one of the worst UT defenses of the past 25 years is a testament to his ability.
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