Vol Report
WVLT video
Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. South Carolina
- When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, 7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Stable or stagnant: If you edit the debate on UT football down to a couple of words, that's what you have.
When the Vols win three consecutive games and show improvement, you hear from fans who appreciate coach Phillip Fulmer's track record of success. When the Vols suffer an embarrassing loss as they did Saturday against Alabama, you hear from fans weary of the repetition.
If you crave stability, the idea of replacing UT's coach of the last 15 years is abhorrent. It's also scary. If you fire Fulmer, whom do you hire? The next Urban Meyer or the next Ron Zook?
In other quarters, stagnancy is just as repulsive. The Vols haven't won an SEC championship since 1998. They're no longer on college football's center stage; even when they win, their act is tiresome.
After the 59-20 loss to Florida last month and the 41-17 loss to Alabama on Saturday, some fans say they're pulling for the Vols to lose, so UT will be forced to make a coaching change. One fan said he would fly his UT flags upside down and encouraged others to do the same until there's a coaching change.
That's a minority. In fact, UT fans are more traditional than most college football fans. They like the idea that former UT player Johnny Majors was the head coach from 1977 through 1992, and that another former UT player has been the head coach ever since.
They see the coaching instability at Alabama since coach Bear Bryant's retirement 25 years ago. They see what happened at Florida when the Gators replaced Steve Spurrier with Zook.
But they see something else when they look at those two rivals.
Florida obviously has made a great hire in Meyer. Coach Nick Saban's track record and what happened at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday suggest Alabama has done the same.
UT couldn't win an SEC title when Florida had Zook, and Alabama had Mike Shula. How do you expect it to win a conference championship with Meyer and Saban in charge of those programs?
The staunchest traditionalists who appreciate what Fulmer has done for the program might settle for less. They can cite the balance of the SEC and parity in college football and say eight or nine wins a year and a bowl invitation qualify as a successful season.
But athletic director Mike Hamilton won't say that. He expects more. And he has seen what his hiring of Bruce Pearl has done for a once-dormant basketball program. Football no longer generates the kind of excitement or even the same anticipation for championships that a revitalized basketball program does.
It's important to remember that UT, regardless of how overwhelmed it looked in the second half against Alabama, still could win the SEC East title. The division is that balanced and that unpredictable.
It's also important to remember that since winning a national championship in 1998, Fulmer's teams often have been at their best when their backs were firmly against the wall. The 5-6 season in 2005 was the exception, not the rule.
Take this season, for example. After a devastating loss to Florida, UT won three consecutive games and looked like a top-10 team in beating Georgia. It's possible this team could win the rest of its games and finish 9-3, maybe even sneak into the conference championship game if Florida stumbles again.
An 8-4 finish would be more plausible. Add a bowl win, and the Vols could match last season's 9-4 record. Moreover, the Vols would return 16 of their 24 starters, including their punter and placekicker, next season.
So fans could be optimistic about improvement, right?
Answer: Not if they consider the competition.
Alabama started only seven seniors on Saturday. Florida is a sophomore- and freshman-laden team. Georgia and South Carolina also will return a large majority of their starters.
With that in mind, I'll give you an early prediction: The Vols will go 8-4 in 2008.
How's that for stability? Or stagnancy?
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 77
cookvol1 writes:
Ya know John,a few weeks ago I looked at the youth on this team and thought 08 could be a title run.Then we beat a mediocre Georgia team by playing Tennessee football,pounding the rock and strong defense.Then we beat,what I thought was a decent Miis. State team and I was thinking I was right on target.But then we see Saturday that this team has regressed and I honestly see this team winning 1 maybe 2 more games this year, and hope we have a new coach come Jan. 1 2008.I now believe what the Florida players said about this team quitting.
ktm589 writes:
Just like our Running backs say when they score....It's time!!!!!!
CharlotteVol writes:
A few weeks ago I watched Boise State play on ESPN. I hadn't seen them play since the Fiesta Bowl upset of Oklahoma. I know they have second tier talent and all, but man - they were exciting to watch. The play calling was innovative, the energy on both sides of the ball and on special teams was powerful, and the coach was right in the middle of it all. That's what I want and that's what our program deserves. Hamilton - go out and find someone at a second tier school who is a proven winner and who puts together an innovative game plan. Give him the keys to the program. Is it a risk? Yes. Is it what we need to return the program to where it belongs? Absolutely.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
John, I reject your entire premise. There's no such thing as stagnation in college football: you're either moving ahead or moving backwards.
The 2006 season was an improvement over 2005. It would appear that 2007 is headed the other way again.
More to the point: which general direction has the program been heading since 1999? Getting better, improving year over year, or moving in the other direction?
vol52 writes:
You don't see the trend down John. Win a bowl? We have been getting plastered by the acc, and recently by the big 10. The most dramatic improvements are by a change in the coach. We will not have a winning season next year if Fulmer is still running the show. It will be interesting to see the fan turn out and reaction to Fulmer at the sc game.
Pullingguard writes:
Don't let attendance at the games fool anyone, what other entertainment is there on Saturday afternoon if you have tickets. What people should do is wear a brown paper bag over their head in portest to the poor coaching job done by Vol coaching. They are fat and placid as they stand on the sidelines. The program is really in flux and unless canges are made it will get only worse. Fulmer should join Bobby at FSU where both resign for the good of the programs.,
chrisw2967 writes:
If Fulmer gets fired which I hope he does , the only direction we can go is forward , we cant go backwards we hit that wall 7 years ago. So really if they hire John Adams to coach its a plus. I just didnt say that did I ? the only place to go is up.
chrisw2967 writes:
Football perspective boils down to two-word choice
I almost forgot the two words Fulmer sucks
Ironcity writes:
I am not a Fulmer supporter and I believe changes have to be made (either with some of the coaches or possibly Fulmer himself if the season unravels completely but the stupidity that is raining down on this board is embarassing. I only hope that most of you are sidewalk alums. I love the fact that if you are not moving forward your moving backwards. I guess with that logic we should have fired Fulmer after his first loss in 1999. Think before you write down idiotic statements.
rootin4volz writes:
"There were 100,000 morons in the stands after the FL debacle. I expect the same 100,000 morons will be on hand for SC"
grvol should have HIS posts removed!! He's the moron...the rest of us are fans of UT football, no matter what, and we'll continue to support the team.
oldbasshead writes:
Do not interpret this as support for the current coaching staff. With all the competition in the SEC for players and wins, what top notch coach would come to Tennessee? UT has to recruit nationally while other schools are able to recruit closer to home. Except for occasional seasons, UT has never been a consistent champion in football. What would be the attraction for a top tier coach to come to Tennessee? Would it be money like Alabama or potential like LSU or Florida. What attracted Spurrier to USC? Just because we want a new coaching staff that will turn the program around doesn't mean we will get one.
rehabnonono writes:
I don't know what Adams is smoking but if Mr.Fulmer ends the season 8-4, then he is a legitimate candidate for SEC coach of the year. After watching Fla-Ky and LSU-Aub play real football, I think we should resolve to graduate student athletes and not become overly concerned about the outcome on the field. There will always be great competition we can watch on television after watching our student athletes and 'stable' coaches compete on the field.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
InvisibleKid, are you out there? Can you help me with rehabnonono's post? Need a translation...
MrBamSeydu writes:
rehabnonono: Either you're the king of sarcasm or you're Fulmer in disguise.
FULMER FOR COACH OF THE YEAR??? I bet you voted for George Dubyah twice too huh? Numbnuts.
Phil Fulmer is right at the bottom of the list of SEC coaches with Ed Orgeron at Ole Miss. BYE BYE FULMER! BYE BYE CHAVIS! Give Cutcliffe the HC job and promote Trooper to OC. Bring in a young, hardcore, veins-popping-outta-the-forehead DC. STOP OFFERING 2* and 3* RECRUITS WITH "POTENTIAL" AND STOP RECRUITING LB'S AND TRYING TO MAKE THEM DE'S OR JUNIOR COLLEGE SAFETIES AND MAKING THEM LB'S! THAT'S A WASTE OF A SCHOLARSHIP!! IF YOU NEED A DE--- GEE WIZ, GET A DE!
BOYCOTT HOME GAMES!!!! I LOVE MY VOLS BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DRASTIC TO MAKE HAMILTON REALIZE WE'RE OVER IT!!!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
PS - If I were Hardesty and Coker, I'd transfer. Those young WR's might want to also because Jon Crompton is garbage. He comes into games for 3 or 4 plays at the end and fumbles or throws a pick. I don't even know if Cutcliff can turn him into an SEC QB.
chrisw2967 writes:
rehabnonono: I know you cant be serious , this a sarcasm right ?
thevol writes:
Yemmusdarb- You are the garbage. Bash the coaches all you want but do not single out players and name call, that is just childish and uncalled for. Please go root for another team.
newtonrail writes:
rootin4, you are nuts. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium doesn't hold 100,000 people, and yes I am one of the True Vols who will be in Neyland Stadium to support the Vols, reguardless of who the Coach is.
andy112382#209793 writes:
yemmusdarb - sounds like a moron, looks like a moron, must be a moron.....
On to better things, getting outcoached in multiple games this season is just unacceptable, I said before the month started that October would probally dictate what happens to Fulmer, the victories were nice, very well can beat USC since offense is not their biggest threat, but Kentucky sure the heck is scary with their QB and our secondary and being humiliated against Florida and Bama was like throwing gasoline at the sun as far as his hot seat goes, I liked someone elses post on another article saying the mojority respect Fulmer and what he has done over the years, but sometimes changes is needed and all things come to an end eventually, that end may be very, very close. I hate that the 'Fulmer haters' on here can't talk about needing a change without sounding like they are 12 years old, but on just the subject alone, I will have to say that time should be near.
GO VOLS!!! I'll bleed orange, win or lose!
BTW, I will be in Knoxville next saturday, this will really test my streak of never seeing the Vols lose in person! See ya'll there.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Andy, you just haven't seen enough games if you haven't seen the Vols lose in person. Like you, I bleed Orange. Rehab. saying that it's so unlikely that Phil will finish 8-4 that he would qualify for SEC Coach of the Year if he pulled off that improbability. I had guessed 8-4 before the year, but after blow-out losses to FL and AL, and the CA loss, I don't see how we can really be favored to beat anyone else on our schedule except ULaLa.I acknowledge that we may win another game or two to finish 6-6 or 7-5. Whoop-ti-doo! Losing as badly as we did to our biggest rivals ought to count as at least two losses, three each if that will convince the Buyout Club to form. I outlined in an earlier post that Phil has failed to prepare our team for the game last Saturday in all three phases of the game: special teams, offense, and defense. I will say that there are no character issues with Phil (like with Franchione). He has represented us loyally and well, but it's time for him to ride his Harley off into the Big Orange sunset! SAVol PS:While I have issues with our POTUS, [especially with that inane decision that allows the 23% of undocumented prisoners to have their cases reviewed, to see if their rights to a (Mexican, or other) consul while in prison were violated. That's selling our country's sovereignty to the Hague International Court], I voted for him twice. As Rush Limbaugh said, the current leading Democratic candidate is good only at controlling 'Bimbo Eruptions,' and she reminds many men of their first, and in some cases, second, ex-wife. Nobody with that experience wants anyone like that with her finger on the nuclear trigger.
DroopyDrawers writes:
Fulmer, MAYBE has lost control of the players. He HAS lost control of the fans.
Tennessee fans pay the bills. It is time for a change. Chavis is terrible.
At times, we were rushing with 3 man front and the remaing 8 could not cover DJ Hall. We made an All-American out of DJ Hall this past Saturday.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Off topic, and this will get deleted.
Doc and Jeff in the Morning might possibly be the absolute worst show on radio that has to deal with sports.
rootin4volz writes:
Newtonrail...I have no idea what the heck you're talking about...The game after the "FL debacle" was in Neyland Stadium, and there WERE 100,000 people there...What that has to do with Ben Hill Griffin stadium is beyond me...ya ding-dong. And didn't I include you in "the rest of us" part of my comment? Ya ding-dong.
cnalumni writes:
Feared_Mustang_Package :
I agree 100%. They are awful.
secten#238516 writes:
Cutcliffe is not the man........please, give me a break.
phi0129 writes:
I'm glad people are finally starting to come around with the Fulmer ain't cutting it thing. A couple of things I noticed Saturday:
1) About 7 min left in the 2nd quarter, 4th and 1 around the AL 40. At this point we had been moving their line all day. On 3rd and 1 we got stuffed (Why put Creer in on this situation for his first play of the game? Real smart!). So we punt and save about 20 yards of field position. This gives AL the last drive of the half (we end up with the miracle 3 before half) and a TD to go up 10 instead of maybe being down by 4. THAT IS TERRIBLE COACHING. You think Saban would've even thought about punting there?
2) STOP PUTTING IN KENNY O'NEAL FOR ONE PLAY AND RUNNING THE SAME f$%##$% PLAY TO HIM EVERY TIME...IT DOESN'T WORK AND GOOD COACHES KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING! Even if they hadn't called it a forward pass the play was going to get stuffed.
Wake up, TN football is dead! Now are we going to stand up and do something about it or stay the course...
asleep#212036 writes:
As for the direction of the program, it's not the losing that bothers me as much as the margins. Good Grief! Our three losses were absolute blowouts, non-competitive by the middle of the 3rd quarter. Even during the 5-6 year, ole Phil was right - a few plays either way would've changed the season. Not this year. To compare, Auburn has 3 losses as well but could have (should have)won them all, so all doesn't seem lost on the plains. Florida's 2 losses both came on the last play of the game, so could've gone either way. UT? Our three losses are by 77 points - are you kidding me? At the point we can't put decent competition on the field, we need to re-evaluate the direction of the program. I think we're there. Go Vols!!!
tennisvol writes:
Stagnant and on a down hill slide!
SoLoBo writes:
Fortunately - UT football will outlive Fulmer.
Unfortunately - I'm afraid Fulmer's tenure will outlive me!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
txsvol, I am up around 20 games attended, I have to make a weekend trip out of it to drive up there and all, so I don't get to as many as I like, but still not like 3 or 4 games.
finn writes:
TNGEOFF, you're not kidding. Listening to the post game fall-out, the current spin is as follows:
1. Poor Fulmer has been betrayed by yet another asst. coach (Dan Brooks)and canning him will solve our problems.
2. Aye Caramba, what a crazy SEC!! Surely no one could expect to win in this environment.
3. 8-4 is the new 11-1.
4. We have no choice but to blame this on parity.
I might have missed it since I stopped listening in disgust after awhile but I didn't hear anyone ask 'WTF is going on with UT and why do we keep getting destroyed when we lose?"
SmokeDog72 writes:
Head Coach of the Tennessee Volunteers 2008 Football Team:
Gary Pinkel.
jacksonvol writes:
I'm tired of seeing old pics of Chavis when he had an afro. Who cares? The "Chief" better get his braves fired up or he will be on the trail of tears.
volmac72 writes:
Does anyone in the state realizes that Fulmer and staff just got outcoached by Major Applewhite (Former Texas QB & now Of. Coord for Alabama)?...YES Cutcliff and Fulmer just got embarrassed & B*&^%-slapped literally by a rookie!!! FORGETABOUTIT!! Mr. Hamilton, Bob Stoops is on LINE 1!
vscebail#247785 writes:
Yeah, I've got a two-word choice for the current state of our football program: F'd up!!!
Southland writes:
Good article by Adams very good. You will not here me say that but one times out of 100. But he is still trying to make people happy at the end. UT will not win out. How can a team as poorly coached and poorly prepared and no heart win the rest of the games? 8-4 next year?? No way 7-5 with a bowl loss at best.
k0605#241765 writes:
CharlotteVol has it right. Get someone that will be creative and innovative. Get someone that will bring excitement back to the program. Just imagine what Knoxville will be like with a football coach that excites the program like Summitt and Pearl do.
surfing_vol writes:
Where, oh where, are all the Fulmerites this week?
I'm sick of being called disloyal by Fulmerites. Loyalty is to the school, not the coach.
Why didn't anyone in K'ville have the guts to put a "For Sale" sign in Fulmer's yard?
bUTchVFL writes:
yemmusarb or whatever your name is. CHILL OUT! I want Fulmer out of here too, but drop it down a notch. There is a reason you are in the stands or at home and not on the sidelines. Go Vols!
texan writes:
This is a good article from you John. Now answer this: Where is Hamilton going to find a Grunfeld in the football fold of letterman to find the next great coach for him at UT?
jweaver3#395614 writes:
VOLMAC, You are dreaming if yo think Stoops would even talk to TN. He is happy and making over $3mil a year. So forget about that. Best best is Jim Leavitt @ so. Fla. or Gruden of Tampa Bay!!! We better be careful of the Zook thing could come bite. There are not a lot of Pearls in football.
GO VOLS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
OldNumber7 writes:
Ron Zook proved he and Fulmer are darn near equals - and to all you weenies who think the next head coach HAS to be from UT...YOUR FOOTBALL STADIUM IS NAMED AFTER A WEST POINT GRAD !!
"Alabama started only seven seniors on Saturday. Florida is a sophomore- and freshman-laden team. Georgia and South Carolina also will return a large majority of their starters"...THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT OUR COACH IS BEING WHIPPED BY HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS.
TeeBall writes:
Fulmer has always been a great recruiter but a lousy coach. He can't motivate a team and he always gets out coached when pitted against the better coaches in college football. Heck, he can't even beat the coaches in his own league, the SEC. He has a losing record against, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, Mark Richt, Les Miles, and Tommy Tuberville. Take away Vanderbilt, Kentucky, and Mississippi State, the perennial doormats of the league, and this guy’s record is mediocre at best. We need a football coach with the enthusiasm and intellect of our basketball coach Bruce Pearl.
hueypilot writes:
Is there anywhere a Vol Fan can get into an intelligent discussion of how we get Fulmer to leave with some of his dignity and how we go about hiring a new leader for UT football?
Phil's past achievements and long tenure with this institution earned him a chance to recover from 2005 and 2006 was a step in the right direction, but a dismal showing against a pedestrian Penn State team was an indicator of things to come. My allegiance to Fulmer was killed in the second quarter from my perch in Tuscaloosa when he elected to kick on fourth and a foot from midfield. At that point in time, what on earth led him to believe our defense could slow down, much less stop Alabama? That call, tho not as obviously boneheaded as Battle's fake punt against Georgia, showed me that Phil doesn't deserve to be the head coach anymore. If you don't think you can make a foot at midfield when your team's game/season/division/conference fate is at hand, then why did you even bother to load the players on the bus?
I am confident that Hamilton didn't just start thinking this through late Saturday afternoon. I am confident he has a list in his desk drawer. It is time for him to pull out that list and call Haslam and Thornton and see if they and their buddies are prepared to pony up and help the Vols to search for someone who can turn this ship around. Given our youth on board and a good recruiting class last year, the largest stadium in the best conference in the country and a rabid fan base with a good football traditon, we have something to sell.
We are not a has-been program like Ole Miss or Texas A & M. We have been in the elite very recently and can get back into that group again,and fairly quickly with the right leadership. Go Vols and let's get on with it, hopefully with a little more class, taste and decorum than is in evidence on this site.
reachkim00 writes:
Go Gamecocks!! The more losses, the sooner Fat Fulmer will be GONE.
Go Lady Vols!! Now there's a real team with a real coach.
cjraney writes:
Pleeeeeease don't replace Fulmer with Cutcliffe. He is great with QB's and expects perfection in practice. However, his playcalling is so inconsistent, sometimes astonishing in its predictability, and he is simply not HC material for a major program. He's not a great recruiter and lacks a certain aggression I feel we need.
I wish:
Chavis-gone
Cuttcliffe-retained as QB coach
Fulmer-retained only in admin position or some
type of recruiting role
Trooper-head of recruiting, plus WR's or a coordinator
The rest I'm ambivalent about. The OL, Tight ends, and RBs look good. The whole Defense is sorry but I believe due to lack of talent on D-Line and lack of experience in Secondary. The LBs have talent and experience and still stink.
I have been supportive of Fulmer and Co. til now. Johnny Majors needed to go, but we treated one of our own Volunteers disgracefully. Let's figure out a respectable way to bring about a change.
cjraney writes:
To those who think Bob Stoops should be our next coach: You're crazy. It would be great but it won't happen.
Successful coaches at major programs don't make "lateral" moves. That is giving UT the benefit of the doubt that the UT job is as desirable as the Oklahoma job. This is the same reason why it's always risky hiring a new coach for a major program--because they are always coming from little-guy schools and untested at the big-time level.
However, it's time for a change and not just Fulmer. Fulmer, Chavis and Cutt need to go.
Go Volunteers!
Volchaz writes:
Stay the Curse: Brilliant!! Everyone has upped the stakes in the SEC, multiple losses abound. Hamilton has some decisions to make after the season.
TriCityVol writes:
10-11 vs SEC teams over the last 21 games says it all.
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Fulmer simply cannot get his team fired up! Control your own destiny and cant get up for BAMA! You play like you practice PERIOD!
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