Tennessee sports information director Bud Ford asked Jim Copeland, who is better known as “Small Mike” on call-in sports talk shows, to leave the athletic complex during Tuesday’s media opportunity.
Ford, who has worked for UT for more than 40 years, said Copeland had not attained proper clearance to attend the weekly event.
Copeland recently began co-hosting a Knoxville radio show on the Horne Radio Network on Saturday mornings. Copeland's theme during his calls is for coach Phillip Fulmer to resign or to be fired.
Ford said Wednesday that he was waiting to meet with Horne Radio officials to resolve the matter.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 59
vol4jesus writes:
No big mike or small mike to speak of or to.....
TNvolunteer writes:
Wow....what can you say...but wow!!
utnutt writes:
THAT IS PRETTY CRAPPY IF YOU ASK ME. LET THE MAN SPEAK HIS MIND. A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT FULMER NEEDS TO BE FIRED. IM ONE THOSE PEOPLE. SHAME ON BUD FORD AND THE UNIVERSITY FOR TRYING TO SILENCE THE DISCONTENT FOR THE COACHING STAFF.
UTFAN1993 writes:
40 years- stay the course...........
Flashman writes:
That's nice! Just keep the Kool-Aid drinkers tossing soft balls at Phil on how he is going to fix it and weed everybody else out....
yeavols#228407 writes:
What's that word when you are asked to leave because you speak your mind? Hint: It's not a Democracy
aj_vol#248433 writes:
Being a longtime disgruntled caller does not qualify 'Small Mike' as a member of the media.
Other than calling for Fulmer's job on every radio show in town for the last 5 years, what entitles Mr. Copeland to attend media day at UT? A newly formed Saturday radio show that will be all about how to get Fulmer fired? I think not.
Bud Ford was doing his job and IMO he did it well.
UTFAN1993 writes:
Can you believe...............
in the last 5 yrs, that U.T. has only given up
2 points more on defense than the Gators
ktm589 writes:
Thats news????
eefor10c writes:
Couldn't have happened to a more deserving "person". I quit listening to sports call in shows because I was so sick of hearing his diatribes against Fulmer and anything related to UT success. His total hatred of Lady Vols of all sports was totally vicious. He was banned from one talk show, so now I can listen without having to wonder when he would spew his venom.
mdvol writes:
Could have just Tasered him.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Slow news day, huh? Next is a column on all local parking violations.
BigOrangeVol29 writes:
I agree with eefor10c completely. I had gotten so sick and tired of hearing "Small Mike" call in every day with the same story about fire Fulmer and how the Lady Vols are completely worthless that I just turned him off. I know he's quit calling my favorite morning show, but only if Geoff in Blount County would do the same I'd be so happy. Small Mike gets pretty vicious with Fulmer and the University in general, I remember last year when he got cut off on Vol Calls. What I can't figure out is how the guy got a radio show.
vlawson#255184 writes:
I guess the rent-a-cops could of taisered him like they do in Gatorland....
orangeblood writes:
small mike runs his big mouth all the time. He needs to shut the heck up and stay in morristown
agentorange writes:
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agentorange writes:
mark may may have said it best when talking about notre dame. "this ain't 1957 when one team stockpiles talent and wins every national championship. usc only has one uncontested title." applies to us too.
tigervol9802 writes:
This is one of the funnier stories I have read in a while. LOL
Gotta give the guy credit, anywhere you go in east or middle TN, all talk radio listeners know who Small Mike is. Granted, nearly all hate him, but he is a talk radio cult icon.
Coach_Joe writes:
Funny Story: A couple of years ago I went to the Little League Coaches Conference that UT has every year. Coach Cut was fixing to speak. Before Cut went into his speech he asked, " Is Small Mike here in the crowd today"?
The year before Cut came back to coach he was on that local morning show on Friday mornings so he knew all about Small Mike.
volhoopsfan001 writes:
Just because 'Small Mike' is brutally honest about the state of Tennessee's program is not a good reason asking him to leave media day. What a joke. If no one is allowed to ask Fulmer the tough questions, then Fulmer and the staff should just read prepared statements and not answer any questions at all.
Titan writes:
I've heard small Mike here in middle TN. There's another guy named Eric that calls the WWTN show in Nashville nearly every day - especially when they're discussing Titans football. He's not really that bad but he calls nearly EVERY DAY. What I can't figure is how these guys always get through - all I get is busy signals or the good old "all circuits are busy" message from Verizon. What gets me is that these guys seem to be of the opinion that everyone WANTS to hear them talk and spout their opinion - that THEY are the show. When Eric calls in, I just change the station for a while and come back later when he's done.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Callers like Small Mike prob. have different numbers where they get right through. Radio loves callers that stir it up, rather than your "I think they should start Crompton cause he's a country boy" call they get from Sneedville everyday.
VOL7 writes:
Bud Ford should've been retired long ago. He has no people skills & is even worse at public relations than Doug Dickey was, if that's possible. Mike Hamilton needs to overhaul the UT sports information department & get different people in charge of sports publicity. Freedom of the press is one of our cherished Constitutional rights. What purpose did throwing a member of the media out of the press conference serve? It obviously simply made huge news that will be talked about on talk radio & in the newspapers for weeks. What is UT afraid of? Basketball practices are all open to anyone, the public or media. Football's secrecy is ridiculous.
mtnvol writes:
Just because small mike is negative doesn’t make him honest, just persistent. And being persistent doesn’t make him right. From a legal standpoint, a public university has the right to ask people to leave if they do not have a legitimate reason for being on campus. “female doging” is not considered a legitimate reason.
From Ford’s POV, I’d do the same thing and so would you; don’t even try to begin to say otherwise! As the SID, it’s his job to place the story in the media and to place the university in the best light. It then becomes the media’s job to determine what news is and what it is not and the report what they see as the truth. A sports call in show does not automatically qualify someone as “media.” Anyone with a microphone and a computer can develop a podcast and call themselves “media.” And as the profit motive plays a bigger role in determining what “truth” is (see the hacks at 60 Minutes), we get muckrakers like Jack A$$ and his mini me Pennington stirring the pot to get a reaction.
To be honest, I gave up on local sports call in shows because of the idiocy on the airwaves.
agentorange writes:
let me rephrase the post that was removed since i don't get knox vegas media in miami- is it little mike or the abbreviation for little richard (eh, hem.) i side with bud ford no matter what.
VOLINSC writes:
small mike is a rank amature.
tony3612#235512 writes:
Small Mike is relentless and carries his thoughts to the extreme,but as far as it relates to Phil Fulmer he has been right on target.He wants his football team to be physical and dominate,striking fear in opponents hearts.He also does not want his team to depend on lady luck to get them to a national title.But there remains the fact that Phil is not directly paid from tax revenues and that alone will allow him and Bud Ford the luxury of avoiding the more irate fans like Small Mike.But if a poll were taken today it would overwhelmingly show its time for Phil to step aside.He has not got a finger on the pulse of his team and in some circumstances,the players just make themselves and Phil look like jack _ _ _ es by laying down like someone without any backbone.UT showed last year that if they dont want someone to dig too deep or ask the hard questions they can simply pull their ticket so to speak.By the way,Gruden would probably at least love the idea of being asked to replace Phil.He came real close to expressing his distaste for the way the current bunch used him for a wiping rag when he was at UT.
sstterry#205746 writes:
"Small Mike" should have to follow the rules just like everyone else! If he isn't smart enough to get the appropriate credentials then he has no right being at the event. It has nothing to do with his attitude or freedom to speak his mind!
BuckFama writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Sheepscape writes:
He's not a media member...hard not to see why Ford ask him to leave.
But the media in this town have fell hook line and sinker for Fulmer's excuses season after season. To his credit, Mike saw this train wreck coming way back when the Vols were getting hammered in Peach Bowls. Right now, he appears to have been perfectly correct.
Anyone who thinks that Fulmer's canned answers to scripted propaganda on Vol Calls is indicative of a truthful press is deluding themselves. Mike and people like him speak their mind because they don't buy the party line anymore.
DadwasaVol writes:
Don't expect UT to be run like a democracy, they can exclude whomever they want. Citizen thrown out of Bush's town hall meeting for his bumper sticker. Heckler gets tasered for asking Kerry tough questions. It's the times we live in.
leedsvol2007 writes:
Small Mike for years has had some type of underlying problem with Fulmer just like Tom from Virginia. Anytime anything adverse hits the program these guys rail against Fulmer. They are like that broken clock that is right twice a day.
If you looked at our program after 2005 there were definitely problems and it was easy to see that 2006 and 2007 were going to be difficult years.
The question is and remains can Fulmer pull it back together and get us headed up the slope to championship calibre play. Personally, as an alum n and fan, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt because of what I feel is an outstanding overall record.
Since the end of 2005 he has brought in Cutcliffe and Adkins who both have had a positive effect on the teams offensive performance. The calibre of offense play has improved since 2005. The receivers may not be as gifted but they are performing at a high level. The offensive line is aggressive and quicker. Neither are at a championship level but they are vastly improved over 2005.
Eric Ainge has gone from a guy who in 2005 looked totally lost to a player in complete command of the offense. And he is mentally and physically tougher. He is playing at very high level despite the finger injury. Credit him for his work but I don't think its a coincidence that his improvement coincided with the return of Cutcliffe. I expect we will see Crompton much improved next year as well.
The offensive line is performing much better on screens and is much better at attacking. They are not at the TVA level but they are playing every play.
The receivers are not dropping the ball, they are in the correct spots allowing Ainge to release the ball to the anticipated cut, and they are blocking downfield. And the talent coming up in last years freshmen class is extremely promising.
The defense we all should have known was going to be a work in process. Henderson and Haynesworth are now playing close to or at All-Pro level. Yet when they were sophomores in the 1999 bowl game against Nebraska they had to come in and play when both of our starting tackles were hurt on the same play. The Nebraska linemen took them apart. It is difficult to dominate the line of scrimmage against talented offensive teams with sophomores.They don't have the experience they need and they have not had 3 years in the weight room like Juniors and 4 years like some redshirt juniors have had. Williams will get better. Demonte Bolden has shown signs.
The secondary is young and now thin. There is not a lot Chavis can do but get them coached up as the season goes on.
Before we run what most outside observers like pro coaches and commentators view as an outstanding staff lets see how the rest of the season plays out.
We can lose to any of the teams left on our schedule but we are also capable of playing with and defeating them as well.
GoVols!
Sheepscape writes:
Leeds...for all those improvements we are 15-12 since 05. It's not working. For all the improvements you list, were aren't getting it done.
Question for you: In what season did we suffer the worst loss of the Fulmer era and the most lop-sided defeat in the UT-UF series. Hint-It wasn't 2005 or 2006. It was a few days ago. This program is reeling.
Colliervol writes:
Leedsvol, I was pretty much with you till Saturday. Posted the following under the Pennington article but I wanted to make sure you guys get a chance to read it. Pretty well sums up a lot of what's been discussed:
If you want to read a good article, go to www.commercialappeal.com and "sports" and then "other columnists". The first article should be Ron Higgins on the coaching situation.
He regurgitates a lot of stats that people have posted on here but he pretty well sums it up as to the ultimate reason a coaching change is needed. And, unfortunately, I can't find many reasons to argue with it. The coach isn't going to change philosophies and the program is stagnant. Same thing occurred with Johnny Majors and it has caught up with Phil now.
It's getting bad when an 82 year old woman can recognize the symptoms and so many folks can't.
volhalla writes:
Well, look at this way: At least he was simply asked to leave. Bud could have tasered him like the officers did the Florida student that was attempting to ask John Kerry a question the other day. Ironically, we could have used some tasers against some other Florida students last Saturday. I had to take a taser hit in the Police Academy and take my word for it, that would have brought Timmy Tebow down. It might have made that whole experience actually pleasant to watch.
Bob2793 writes:
Small Mike has been my favorite caller for years. Thanks for letting me know he has his own radio show. At least he doesn't PF tattooed on his behind. I think he expresses the feelings of many UT fans.
volunteerTY23 writes:
he's a friggin looooooooser.....that clown needs a life.......and tony basilio is an idiot for having him on his crappy b& b in the miday........small mike miguel geta life
ktownvol writes:
Hooray for Bud! In small Mike's pea brain, he actually thinks he's a star--he has to be a loser since all he used to do all day long was call in on every radio show on the Sports Animal and other stations as well and beat the same dead horse over and over again! I'm all for free speech and having your opinion, but he was way over the top and didn't think anyone else was entitled to their own opinion if it was different from his. Get a life, Jim -- and get a REAL job!
joebomb writes:
My blood used to boil when small mike would call into the sports animal. Not any more, atleast the football opinions he had. I'm done defending these coaches.
Sheepscape writes:
The sports animal is state run radio...little more than propaganda.
WVVOLFAN writes:
i heard that small mike was banned from the J&J show in the afternoon, but never heard why. what was the reason he was banned? i know he wants PF gone and female sports was not his favorite either, but what did he do?
DannyVol writes:
If Copeland did not obtain credentials properly, he did not belong there. I have never heard Copeland on the radio, but I will say this:
Defining just who is a member of "the media" has nothing to do with a person's opinion, qualifications, size of audience, forum or whether he/she is respected or liked. If the person has a message and an audience (no matter how idiotic or small), by definition that person is a member of the media.
Again, if he did not properly obtain credentials, he did not belong there. But, if it turns out he was removed merely because of an opinion he holds, then there is definitely a problem.
DannyVol writes:
By the way, here's my message:
Fulmer needs to go before he tramples his own legacy. I'd like to remember him for '98, not for the bumbling of this decade. His philosophies worked well in the nineties, now they are obsolete. Just the other day he stated he will not change a thing and instead "stay the course".
Paterno suffered through some rather lean years and then adapted to survive. Now he's back in the top 10. After several years of UT being a second or third tier SEC East team, for Fulmer to state "stay the course" days after losing by 39 POINTS to our arch rival... It's time.
Colliervol writes:
The key term is not "could have been tasered". It's "SHOULD have been tasered". Would have been fun watching that goof roll around quivering on the ground.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Inky Johnson getting knocked out of football last season didn't help our secondary. Nor did Demetrice Morley flunking out.
Can you imagine Hefney, Johnson, Morley, and Berry back there? That would be a solid group.
aj_vol#248433 writes:
dahudson --> small mike was never banned from the show. I heard he sent an email demanding an apology from Jimmy and when he did not get it he simply stopped calling.
Personally I think it has improved the quality of the show.
Now if only Hitch would stop calling to ask about Maryville's recruiting advantage over Oak Ridge....sheeesh
ktownvol writes:
Actually, he demanded that Jimmy be fired because Jim said Jimmy called him an idiot, I believe Jimmy really said that something he said was idiotic. Apparently they emailed back and forth a bit between Jim/Jimmy/WNML management (apparently it got quite ugly from what I heard!) and Jim ultimately stated that he wouldn't call back anymore until Jimmy was fired -- talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!! What a relief it is that he's gone -- the show IS better without him!!!! I figured he'd give in eventually or he probably thought people would beg him to come back -- NOT!!!!!!
WVVOLFAN writes:
i actually thought he was hilarious and looked forward to his calls. i've stopped listening much because everyone wants to fire PF. I say today is one more day closer to BB season. Bring it on BP. Go, VOLS.
Sheepscape writes:
Yeah really...winter will be pleasant this year.
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
I used to listen to small Mike when he called Mike Kieth years ago. Sorry guys but most of his predictions have come true, and he is dead on about Fulmer.------ Brent Hubbs on the other hand is a mouth piece for UT. If Fulmer were caught at the MOUSES EAR with the entire O line, Hubbs would somehow justify it. HEY BRENT, surely you have tenure by now so cut the phooey. THINGS are what they are, and sometimes the truth hurts.
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