Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Georgia
- When: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
The biggest Georgia game of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer's career was in 1992.
He wasn't a $2 million head coach with a national championship on his resume. He was merely filling in for head coach Johnny Majors. Or so you thought.
The Vols didn't just win that game. They won in spectacular fashion, outscoring the Bulldogs' high-flying offense 34-27.
That victory in Athens over the 14th-ranked Bulldogs, followed by a victory over fourth-ranked Florida on a rainy afternoon at Neyland Stadium, did wonders for Fulmer's image. The career-long assistant coach had led the Vols to back-to-back upsets of nationally ranked teams while his boss recovered from heart surgery.
Suppose UT had lost those games. Would Majors have been fired after returning at mid-season? Would Fulmer have been regarded as head-coaching material?
No and no.
Fifteen years later, Fulmer is about to coach his second-biggest game against Georgia. He's a well established head coach with one national title and two SEC championships.
And his job is on the line.
The Vols haven't won an SEC championship since 1998. They haven't been to a BCS bowl since the 1999 season. They have lost four consecutive games to nationally ranked teams by an average of 18 points. They have lost three consecutive games to arch-rival Florida, whose 59-20 victory two Saturdays ago in The Swamp rocked Rocky Top like few games in UT history.
Granted, Fulmer has had only one losing season. But winning seasons aren't enough at UT. Majors can vouch for that. So can his predecessor, Bill Battle.
In Fulmer's last five full seasons, his record is 42-21. That's similar to the last five full seasons for Battle (38-19-2) and Majors (44-14-3), who were fired. Fulmer and Majors each had one losing season (5-6) during that five-year period. Battle never had a losing season.
The three coaches have something else in common. All three struggled against their biggest rival. After winning his first game against Alabama, Battle lost his last six to the Tide. Majors lost his last seven to Alabama.
Fulmer is doing just fine against Alabama. The problem is that with the advent of divisional play in the SEC, the Gators have surpassed Alabama as UT's biggest rival. Not only has Fulmer lost three consecutive games to the Gators, he couldn't even beat them with Peyton Manning at quarterback.
All the similarities don't guarantee a similar ending. Fulmer still has a coaching chance. That's why the Georgia game on Oct. 6 is so crucial.
The Vols will have two weeks to prepare. They will have the home-field advantage. If they can't win that game, how can they win enough games to save their coach's job?
With a loss, they would be 2-3 with road games remaining at Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi State. They also would have home games against South Carolina, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. I discount Louisiana-Lafayette for obvious reasons. How can you discount anyone else against the Vols?
Mississippi State? Maybe, because the Bulldogs don't have a quarterback capable of exploiting UT's pass defense. Even Vanderbilt, unless it loses too many key players to injury, could be a threat in mid-November.
You can take a different view of that schedule. None of those teams is ranked as high or matches up better against UT's weaknesses as Cal and Florida, who combined to outscore the Vols 104-51. As bad as UT looked in those two games, it has enough talent to beat anybody else on its schedule.
Sure, the odds are against the Vols winning out. Maybe the odds also are against Fulmer winning enough games to convince athletic director Mike Hamilton that he shouldn't make a change.
But Fulmer has beaten the odds before. And he has done it against Georgia.
The odds were against him in his second game as an interim head coach. They were against him again at Georgia in 2004, the week after Georgia had routed LSU, and the Vols had been routed by Auburn. They also were against him last season when the Vols trailed the Bulldogs by 17 points late in the first half.
Never mind the odds. UT won all three games.
Each of those victories led to more victories. In 1992, the Vols beat Florida after beating Georgia. In 2004, they won three consecutive SEC games after a victory against Georgia. Two years later, they defeated Alabama and South Carolina after beating Georgia.
That's the kind of momentum UT needs now. And the coach needs it more than the team.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 119
gotenac#215679 writes:
I have been frustrated since the Florida game by posts on this website and local sport show call-ins. I believe you can be a VOL fan and not support the coaching philosophy. Also, some are blaming a drop in talent for our not so recent demise. Two points against talent being to blame. One, we have had more top ten recruiting classes then many teams in the top 25 in the past nine years. Secondly, look at teams like Rutgers, USF. Boston College, and I could go on. I don't have their recruiting ranking but I would guarantee it is lower than ours. In the college game, player development and game preparation/scheming are more important than raw talent alone and that is why I believe that college football head coaches and assistant coaches make such a big difference. I see no logical/rational argument that can be made for our current coaches. Alabama didn't settle for mediocrity, FL didn't settle for mediocrity, why should TN?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Like I said before, October will surely be the month that decides the fate of our coaching staff. None of us know what will happen, neither Fulmer supporters or haters, all we can do is wait and watch and pull our team through (at least those who bleed orange will pull for them, like me)
GO VOLS!!!
BigUn writes:
I think the final in 92 against UGA was 34-31, but I digress.
Ever since the late 90's I haven't seen UT play with that same energy and urgency they used to have. They used to look excited to play and to be out there and now they look like they could care less and would rather be doing something else most of the time.
I appreciate what all Fulmer has done, but his time has come and gone. Please step aside and let's get someone in here that get the excitement and real intensity and effort back into UT football the way Saban has reenergized the Bama idiots.
Medalist writes:
BigUn, I have also seen the year after year drop in enthusiasm. Why don't we have the same fire as UK, UA, LSU? We need to go to the next level - that is the level Majors had us at. Fulmer's last 8 years are short of Majors last 8 no matter who gets credit for victories over GA, FLA in 92. We forfeit on the field to highly ranked teams, can't win a bowl game, don't field a complete team (no O in 05, no D in 07, never any kick/punt coverage). Hope they win out - hope has replaced confidence.
andy112382#209793 writes:
I think that Georgia game was my first one ever in Knoxville to attend......was that the one where Tennessee kicked a field goal at the end to win?
chadbuckles#235104 writes:
Sure am glad Adams calls who is going to be our coach and who isn't. I just read another article that I told myself I would stop after last weeks stupid articles from Adams. This is my last! We are going to win against GA and have new life. I probably am the biggest negative person when it comes to our football team lately, but I have a feeling that our boys will shine. Its bad when you have a great coach who bring YOUR university to another level, a good family man, and a honest man and you bad mouth him like he is the devil coaching the guys. Shame on all of you!!!
Pullingguard writes:
Fulmer probably knows how important the Ga game is and probably so do the entire cocahing staff. Its expected to beat the good teams and not the lower half.. If the defense stands up they can probably salvage a good season.
hdhurst writes:
Right on Chad! Maybe GA should fire Richt since he has lost to UT so many times recently? Whatever. From my "Sunday morning qb" position, I too have questioned some of the things Coach has done, but overall it comes down to players executing the plays. I have played against some top talent in my life time (much better than me), but I was able to hold my own because of the fire I had in me to reach the next level while the better talent went through the motions. I would have laughed at someone if they said that my fire to excel came from my coach. It's his job to draw up the game plan, but it is up to players to get it done. I am not saying a coach should not or could not be a motivator to rise to the occasion, but the players have to have "the attitude" to get it done when their number is called. As I have said before, CA and FL were long shots for victories before the season started. The exaggerated scores were there due to pre-existing factors: CA had plenty of motivation and firepower since the VOLS manhandled them last year (too much for the VOLS that early in the season), while FL was at the SWAMP and always rises to the occasion when playing UT. Coach or no coach, both of those teams are better than UT right now. Does Coach Fulmer have some correcting/adjusting to do (specifically special teams and defense)..., but I am not counting him out until we the season is a complete failure. I am confident that the big three--FULMER, CUTCLIFFE, and CHAVIS--will do their part to get us back to the GLORY days!! GO VOLS.
Hunter writes:
Don't hire Gruden - never won anything with his own players. Look to New Jersey (Rutgers) for the next one...
tnvolfan4ever writes:
Thank-You jwraymond1, I just scan those long essay's and read the short ones. Thank-You
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Many thanks for this straight talk and analysis, John. Telling it like it is...
Im my view, this game win be won or lost by Georgia's defense against Ainge's arm. If they can keep Ainge from scoring 30, they win.
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
gotenac
Your points are very well taken and are absolutely right on the money. The achievements of this program haven't been close to what they should have been. Like I've said before, anybody who denies this fact is delusional and offering blind loyalty. This is not just about what has already happened this year, but has continued for many years. Anybody can spin the numbers, or give all kinds of reasons for these failures, but you cannot deny they exist. I like many fans have been very unhappy for years, but because of my admiration for Coach Fulmer have been silent. I've heard many times on this forum that what we say here will not make any difference. I respectfully disagree and believe that our voices will be heard only if we do it in a civil manner. I'm very well aware of the accomplishments of days gone by and will never ever forget the wonderful times, but sadly they are beginning to be a faint memory. Coach Fulmer, I will always appreciate the hard work and countless hours you spent away from your family trying to make this thing work. But, your legacy here in most peoples opinion depends on what happens from this point forward.
andy112382#209793 writes:
jwraymond1, does it help any when there are actually these great inventions called paragraphs in the post rather than what looks like one giant run-on sentence?
FWBVol writes:
jwraymond1, are you ADD? Posting Mark Richt's road record on three different stories is a little overboard. All of us know you aren't a fan of Phillip Fulmer, and we get the point.
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
Warning:If you're mentally challenged don't read long post without paragraphs.
andy112382#209793 writes:
FWBVol, you noticed that too, huh?
rileye writes:
bob stoops - we have to get bob stoops out of okla. he is the only one that can bring us back to glory- and we better start talking with him now or that elite program lsu will get him- the race is now on with lsu - miles will go home and fulmer is history
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Fulmer in 1992. A nobody busting his ass to get noticed. Only if he had that same "nobody" fire in him now.
rockytopjeff writes:
maybe Fulmer should look at Mike Gundy, we need that fire and passion. I applaude the Okla State coach. That is what we need, passion and heart, we are lacking in both areas
BahamaVol writes:
andy112382, that was the one where Heath Shuler connected to Ronald Davis across the middle on 4th down to keep the scoring drive alive. Andre Hastings then returned the kick about 70 yards before he fumbled giving us the victory. It was in Athens. What a game. GO VOLS
GreerVol22 writes:
Fulmer will reap what he sows. Very fitting article and spin as this game will expose whether Fulmer really still has what it takes to prepare a sound game plan and demand excellence from the players, or is it simply time to buy a new pole and head to Montana for some fishing...
Vol_Chaps writes:
It seems to me that the major knock against Fulmer isn't so much his game day coaching (not brilliant, but probably average) as much as it is his failure to develop the talent we recruit. Manning was a self-motivator and an active learner, he sought out development and raised the play of everyone around him. Perhaps Manning's presence improved the whole team in the latter '90's...with enough carry-over to win a championship in '98. If that's true then it follows that the kind of teams we've seen since '98 are typical Fulmer teams and the Manning years (+1) we're an abberation largely due to Manning's influence and not the result Fulmer's coaching.
eb502us#225637 writes:
For those who thing we don't have the talent to match up with the Florida's and LSU's of the SEC, think again. There's plenty of talent on our team, it's just not very well coached and our schemes are horrible. The old coaching saying fits well here......"he could beat yours with hisin, and he could be hisin with yours". This applies to almost every coach in the SEC if given the opportunity to coach our team vs. a Fulmer coached team. I have no doubt.
hueypilot writes:
I understand Jw, those long posts have so many,,, what do you call them.....words. and no pictures at all. Anybody that calls for John Gruden to coach the Vols because he married a UT Coed would vote for George Bush because he was the son of a pres...okay, bad analogy. Anyway, don't think Gruden is the answer. He is in fact on very thin ice at Tampa Bay having won with Dungy's team and gone slowly downhill since in the weak NFC, altho you gotta like him letting Keyshawn go a few years ago. Andy, the game you're talking about was '95 shootout between Manning and Mike Bobo that we won on a last second field goal by Hall??? Might have been Hall's first field goal.
tennisvol writes:
You're right in this article. Biggest game for Fulmer in a long time. Two weeks to get ready, home field advantage, and time to heal some of the injuries. Special teams and defense will be the difference and TN is way behind on those two. I'm afraid it is going to be a long Saturday.
TriCityVol writes:
7-5 gets Fulmer fired. 8-4 and he keeps his job.
Go Dawgs!
missrvrvol writes:
Unless we learn to tackle on defense and Heffney learns how to play deep safety protection and run forward on punt returns, it will be a long afternoon against the Dawgs, who will be here to seek revenge.
rockytopcowboy#645263 writes:
First of all, I am and always will be a VOL fan. I watched the replay of Saturday's game on CSS last night. They showed clips of the pre game, and half time speeches. I know they didn't show the entire speech, but what they did show left me speechless. My preacher has a saying when he is on a roll, he'll say "If that don't lite your fire, your woods wet" The two speeches I saw showed me that it is time for a change in Knoxville. There was no fire what so ever in the locker room. Hell, coach Fulmer made everybody hug their team mate next to them before they left the locker room. Even my wife who doesn't watch football said that she was ready for a nap after watching that. Then I watched ESPN and saw a guy named Mike Gundy. Now there's some FIRE!
Sheepscape writes:
Jim Levitt at South Florida is my candidate. Has recruiting ties in Florida, and the special teams I saw on Saturday were crisp. It almost made me weep. He also whipped on Butch Davis...not a coaching lightweight by any means.
hueypilot writes:
Gruden is 45-42 with the Bucs and a sterling 4-12 record last year in the weaker conference of the NFL. That Chuckie thing is way overdone and it's, in my opinion, all there is to him. As for the guys touting Leach from Texas Tech, his DC quit after giving up a pile of points to Oklahoma State.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
I agree with grvol why will 7 or 8 wins save fulmer... you go 5-6 when you start our no 3 in the polls, then 9-3 and lose to a pitful penn state team( 0-4 in recent bowls and some of them were blow outs) and then you follow that up with a 7 or 8 win season. why is that accepatble performance for anyone. the bowl record alone should get him fired much less the recent trend of performance against the top 25.... FACE IT ALL YOU KOOL-AID DRINKING FULMER FANS... WE ARE NOT A TOP 25 TEAM AND HAVEN'T BEEN IN 3 YEARS.............. KEEP THE GOOD OL BOY ATTITUDE OUT OF IT AND MAKE A BUSINESS DECISION THATS RIGHT FOR THE UNIVERSITY
mloaks#222092 writes:
Gruden would be a mistake. If we loose to both UGA and Bama, Phil is gone. Hire June jones from UH and he will turn Crompton into Steve Young...
abingdonvolsfan2 writes:
I fear that grvol is right and Fulmer will pull off just enough wins late in the season to salvage his job and then we will be forced to endure another disapointing season next year!
Carlitovol writes:
grvol - you're on the MONEY! That was exactly what I was thinking as I read the article.
If Fulmer salvages the season and wins just enough games to unexplainably get yet another pay raise and contract extension, next year will be the same-ole, same-ole. We'll get beat by FLA at home and we'll lose to the same top-tier SEC coaches we've been losing to for the past 5 years. Then, probably a pitiful bowl showing.. This once again proves the point that some people just love to swim in the muck of mediocrity.
P.S. Did anybody see the press conference with Oklahoma State's Gundy? Man, that kind of fire is what we need..
Regardless of his motives, I love it when a coach gets riled up and shows intensity and passion like that.. At the least, it's better than the gritting of teeth, grimacing and subsequently clapping like Phil Mickelson just nailed an 18-foot putt... Oh well, I digress....
1bigutfan writes:
mloaks, now that is an interesting idea. "Hire June" hewould be an interesting offensive guy but I wonder on defense.
We need someone who will bring energy back to UT. I am sorry to say that as much as I like Phil he just doesn't motivate. Maybe, he should take a lesson from Pearl.
DennisVols writes:
Watching college football this past weekend it became obvious that a lot of college teams are equally strong or equally weak. The GA-AL stood out as I saw two teams struggle on offense. GA only real threat is running back Knowshon Moreno. Yes I saw the winning touchdown pass which by the way was successful due more too blown coverage than great passing. Stafford has yet to become the “great” quarterback he was predicted to be coming out of TX. He fails to read the defense a lot of times and throws interceptions, as he did this past Sat. I was also amazed the receiver caught the pass. GA receivers have had a problem of holding onto the ball for several years now and this past Sat.’s game was no different.
Alabama sure did not look all that impressive either. Saban will rebuild Bama, the key word “will”. Like most years, polls are based on opinions and the opinion on Saban is he is a great coach. The trouble is right now he has to deal with the talent left him from years of coaching changes, probations and otherwise upheaval in Tide country.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t begin to think the road ahead for UT is easy but the play being shown by their upcoming opponents really is not all that impressive. With continued improvements by UT over this 2 week period they will face a GA team that had a tough game against AL, now must face Ol Miss who took the Gators to the wire. When GA shows up in Knoxville they will be tired and possibly trying to regroup from a 2nd SEC lost (Rebels). The remaining games for UT are all winnable. The competition is no better than they are. It will come down to fundamentals and execution and we have all seen let downs on UT’s side this year.
Keeping it Real
DennisVols writes:
Quit dreaming about Cowher or Dungy or for that fact anyone else coaching UT for right now. Gruden nor the above mentioned coaches have any desire to coach at the college level.
Wake up folks UT has a carved in stone contract with Fulmer till 2013. Unlike Majors who was being paid way less and not under as long a contract. UT was not also paying off over $8 million to past basketball coaches.
Majors nor Battle had a National Championship ring, or a street named after them.
So quit already with the dreaming of these great, but unreachable coaches for this UT football team. Face the reality that UT will in all likely hood finish 10-2 in the regular season and Fulmer will still be the coach. That is the reality so get use to it.
Keeping it Real
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
My personal, "worth a serious look" short list:
Chris Peterseon/Boise State
Bo Pellini/LSU
Mike Gundy/OK St.
Jim Leavitt/Univ. of South FL
Bret Bielema/WI
Mike Leach/Texas Tech
makard#235119 writes:
I keep hearing a buzz about the website www.firefulmer.org taking some action in the form of a petition, but I can't seem to get anything to come up when I visit. Is this the right site or are there others?
DooleyNoted writes:
Gruden is completing a 6,000sq ft vacation house in Sevierville so his wife can be close to her parents. Coincidence or foreshadowing?
DaveVol writes:
I believe we have recruited the talent to win. Our talent is ranked by the same services as the other teams are, and we are usually top ten and top five. Our issues at UT are coaching and schemes. Although I have issues with Grudens style I do believe he is a good coach and can motivate players and can out scheme other coaches. I believe he can win in the SEC. You can't ignore what he did at Oakland.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
If our team had the same fire as UF, UK, etc., then the lashing they're taking from the fans could easily extinquish it. People (and KNS writers) write on here as though they're inside the coaches' and players' minds and know what they think and don't think...or feel. Makes no sense. Also, how does Adams really know Fulmer's job is on the line? Is that what the AD told him? People like to hear themselves talk, and it can make the situation worse. Just some thots. pj
threehundredbowler writes:
Please wait until we have a coaching job open before hireing someone else.When we do hire someone else and I think it could be sooner than later,I do not believe anyone will ask for our recomendations.I would like to see this present staff get the problems corrected.They took us to the top once and hopefuly they will do so once again.Changeing coaches is not as simple as saying you are fired and you are hired.It normaly takes a school two or three hireing and fireings before a correct fit is made.Bruce Pearl and Urban Myers don't come along very often.However I want a winner again at UT no matter the coaches name.I am for the school and I do not care who the head coach is.
DaveVol writes:
I may be wrong but I thought the only subpar class was after the 5-6 season. The one thing all the schools have in common are programs that are now winning. In the ninties, most of those schools except FL were losing. That made it easier for us to go in and steal recruits.
missrvrvol writes:
Money will be the first factor in hiring a coach. If we offer Saban type $$, then we will get our pick. If we offer Fulmer $$, then an assistant or 2nd tier coach. Ask yourself this, are we getting the most bang out of our bucks that we are spending right now? Fulmer supporters will say "But who are we going to hire?.. Hamilton had better act quick or we will be in a 10 yr rebuilding job and be happy with "moral" victorys like Ole Miss and Ms State.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Actually, guys, dlskaggs is right: Fulmer has a contract through 2013 and his entire staff just had their contracts renewed. Fulmer's taken care of for life with that contract. And he just bought some booster equity with his $1M donation (what did he see that made him do this at the very start of this season? hmmm).
I read somewhere it would take around $20M to buy all these guys out at the end of this season.
I really don't see Fulmer & Co. going anywhere unless we have another losing/stinking season. But it's nice to dream and bandy names around...
DaveVol writes:
I believe Fulmer should go, but the question is "Who are we going to go after"? Not an easy answer for me anyway. I hope Fulmer can get things fixed not patched, and retire on top with several SEC and national championships. From what I have seen I don't think that will happen.
snowvol writes:
Trying to figure out a coach, should Fulmer be fired, is akin to calling radio talk shows (I know, I host one) and debating proposed baseball trades: The debate is fun but at the end of the day, no one in hiring positions neither listens nor cares. That said, putting on my Vols hat and wondering aloud like everyone else...Stoops, it was suggested, has not been very successful at OU. Better read up a bit more; the man singlehandedly pulled OU out of a 10 year trash heap, won a national championship and has played for two more. The man is every bit the rectuiter Phil Fulmer is, he's a great defensive mind and will always run an offense similar to Urban Meyer's at Florida. Beyond that, hard to imagine him coming to UT when he's already turned down Florida and Notre Dame. A few seemingly good choices: OC Steve Sarkisian at USC, DC Bo Pellini at LSU and Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach. Sarkisian is a winner, pure and simple. A Norm Chow disciple and a guy Pete Carroll believes will be the next great head coach, for what it's worth. Leach would have to hire a great DC. He's never had that at Texas Tech and that's the big question mark on him. Can you imagine that team, the way they can score points, with a defense; they'd be near-impossible to beat. And Pellini, one of the great defensive minds in the country, would have to hire an OC like a Mike Leach. Jon Gruden is not a community guy and employs an offense more predictable and monotone than what we watch from the Orange and White now. Cowher and Dungy...not happening. And Coach Leavitt...very doubtful, based on how he views his place in that program's history. Then again, USF isn't Tennessee and whether many still understand it or not in view of our recent lack of BCS bowls, SEC Championships or a National Championship, this job is still a premiere job. Easily top ten in America. Should be interesting to watch the off-season play out.
DennisVols writes:
UT’s problem seems to be more on the defense side than the offense as this season has progressed. The one big thing I see missing on UT’s defense is a leader. No Big John Henderson, no Leonard Little’s. J.T. has yet to perform to what we expected before he left on his mission trip, a defensive backfield that even though young has yet to show any signs of a leader that can create that passion we once saw. Coaches can teach techniques but players become leaders on their own abilities. You cannot teach leadership it is something that some have as a quality and other do not. The list of former great leaders at UT, on defense is long and each went on to successful careers in their professional life.
We can post and argue all day long about coaching changes and who should go and who should be hired. That is just a waste of time because no one is going to listen to anything written or suggested here. Adams, Strange and others have the job it seems to be as negative as possible about UT’s chances this year which only fuels the fans fire to want even more.
The fact is that the talent is here, as much as anywhere else, the coaching staff while most agree needs to improve from their recent record, is a stable factor most good recruits want to see. What UT needs the most right now is a leader on the defensive side. One who will hold the others accountable, lead by example and place a hit on an opposing player. When Big John was here we knew were the opponent was running. It was away from him. But it did not matter his play lifted the other around him. Little was mean and nasty on defense. Who out there now has even one of those personalities? Talent is only as good as it’s on the field leadership. UT needs a “get in your face” guy who inspires the other 10 to play above what is expected.
missrvrvol writes:
Seems like 7-5 and an annual 2nd tier bowl loss is good enough for some....
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.