Tennessee Stat Book
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 football coach Phillip Fulmer has seen plenty of stories and columns about his players and program he hasn't agreed with during his tenure.
Most often, Fulmer takes it up with the writer with a phone call or a private conversation following press gatherings.
He has not delivered any sort of tirade approaching the one Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy directed at Jenni Carlson, a columnist for The Oklahoman who wrote a story about the benching of quarterback Bobby Reid, following the Cowboys' win against Texas Tech on Saturday night.
"One of the things I appreciate most about Phillip is he handles every situation with class and dignity,'' UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said. "He's protective of his student athletes, but he's also protective of the institutional image.''
That's why Fulmer doesn't often comment on issues that occur at other schools that don't directly affect his program.
This time, Fulmer - a former American Football Coaches Association President - made an exception.
Here was Fulmer's response when asked about the situation that unfolded with Reid blasting the reporter that has been replayed on national media.
"In my 15 years as a head football coach, I have learned a lot about dealing with the media. I respect that they have a job to do, and some do it differently than others.
"The game of football is a very emotional and passionate game. We establish bonds with players and coaches, much as a parent and child. We see them with their helmets off, as young people growing and learning with experience.
"However, it is important for us to know where emotion should end, and composure and good example and representation takes control.
"I enjoy some columns more than others, and if a coach should critique the columnist you may have a columnist going on a tirade as well. In either case (coach or columnist), tirades are usually not the right course to take or the correct example to the very young men we are trying to influence."
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Comments » 58
mtnvol writes:
OSU's coach was dead-on. Take time to read that article and you'll see it's full of "rumor has it..." and "a source close to the program said...". It came across as tabloid journalism and reminded me of a John Adams article. :-)
Hunter writes:
OSU's coach not only made a statement about the media's sensationalist attitude and belittling student-athletes, but he picked up some serious recruiting "street-cred" in the process.
footballrules writes:
sometimes I look in the mirror and touch myself with my Tee Martin jersey on!!
slojim writes:
football rules,
You made me laugh out loud!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Fulmer doesn't scream and shout at those who want him to be fired.
We should fire him for that!!
Volfan4everr writes:
Football is a passionate sport. We see football, basketball, baseball, and other coaches get all over officials, what's wrong with a coach "manning up" a little. Coach Gundy sure has his player's back(s). Some of these kids never had someone go to bat for them, Coach Gundy hit a homerun.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I want to fire the OSU coach too. I want the names of every D1 coach. I want all these turkeys gone!!
Heck, if we were really using the head we'd start the "Fire Urban" chants. Now THAT makes some sense.
I just fired myself and I'm pretty ticked off about it.
volfanjustin writes:
If I was a player coming out of high school that is the kind of coach I would want to play for, not a boring same ole, same ole, laid back like Fulmer.
SmokeDog72 writes:
football rules,
Just don't touch me when I have my Andy Kelly jersey on.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
I'm with you, jkillebr. Well said.
2000man writes:
Maybe if that chick who wrote that piece about the OSU QB had actually ever played any football then she would know what she is talking about. Otherwise, the only thing she is good for is getting the coach a ham sammich and a beer.
beatlecakes writes:
I watched the EPSN rant by the "I am a 40 year old coach" and I think he exhbited the savvy of a 10 year old. He was embarrassing and was on a flaming say anything rant. This was not a coach that I would respect nor want my son playing for, he can't handle the pressure. A coach has to be smarter than the media and use them to their advantage not call them out in public where they will face the angry wrath of multiple pens. If you think football is violent, try getting one up on a good journalist. It is more brutal than you can imagine or would want to endure. The only profession worse than coaching for the pain of journalism is politics. Fulmer was dead-on on his comments and has always shown an even keel approach in win or lose. He may not be the head coach next year but it will not be because he has lost his cool and unloaded on the media. That non-emotion, quirky ah shucks attitude is the level headed calm unemotional style that allows him to remain in the spotlight and under the microscope that every fan keeps him under. OSU's coach choked, Fulmer can handle the pressure and by our seasons two loss finish may prove a lot of unbilievers wrong or at least in doubt...write about that when it happens! Vols 36, GA 13-Book IT!
smith7206 writes:
Gundy didn't "man up" he "bratted up". Looked to me like she found a sore spot.
If rants get "street-cred" and "street-cred" gets recruits then maybe we need a coach that will either shoot a couple of folks or get shot himself over a stripper. Those actions always send "street-cred" through the roof.
And while I'm at it, if everybody that has never played a single down of college football shut their pie hole (and started getting coaches "sammich and a beer") there probably wouldn't be more than 3 comments here on any given day.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Handling the media is one thing, managing a team is another.You don't throw your players under the bus in public, but I don't want a chaplin for a coach either.On the field or behind closed doors right now at The Big Orange there needs to be some ass chewing going on. Some "come to Jesus" motivational stuff going on. And I mean between players also.I want somebody to be upset about it. And it needs to be evident at game time.If not on the sideline then in the huddle, both sides of the ball. If Fulmer won't do then someone needs to, because Al Wilson doesn't play at UT anymore. Bonzaivol
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
jkillebr: You are speaking both respectfully and logically.
I'm firing you too!
DannyVol writes:
smith7206,
Gundy certainly did "man up". He strongly believed in something and took action. Although "street cred" is the wrong phrase, I bet you that his action won some recruits.
I played football and 3 posts would suck.
sstterry#205746 writes:
Credit to both Fulmer and Griff. Very classy piece!
ggcolyer#634308 writes:
A person that will not stand for something, Will fall for anything. Strut-up Coach.
jimbo37918 writes:
A MAN SHOULD NOT TOUCH HIM-SELF NO MATTER WHAT HE HAS ON BUT I THINK FULMER SHOULD BE FIRED AND HE COULD GO TO MARYVILLE AND TOUCH HIS-SELF MAYBE WITH A MANNING SHIRT ON
GreerVol22 writes:
Good coaches develop kids into good men, overall Phil gets a point...
Great coaches develop kids into good men and even better players...well, at least Phil gets one point.
Trust me, if warm fuzzies about composure, and setting good examples beats Geogia, then I may have to touch myself as well...
txsvol#372416 writes:
What the national media largely missed is that Mike Leach also had a rant about his defense (or lack thereof) in losing to OSU. One of my posts last week, in arguing against replacing CPF with Mike Leach, was that if you score fifty, but give up sixty, you still lose. Subtract 11 and five points, and Leach again made my point last weekend. Sometimes it is 'better to bear the ills we have than to fly to others we know not of.' We still have a chance to salvage this season. Go Vols! SAVol
Mr_Bandman writes:
As a person who works with young people daily, I understand entirely where the OSU coach was coming from, and I don't blame him. He was right, and he was not out of line in his rant. I'm not sure where all the self-righteous "you should be a better example" stuff is coming from----but I'll bet most of it is from people who either don't work with kids or don't have their respect.
Basketball_Jones writes:
One thing I love about this country is The Constitution, which gives us and writers Freedom of Speech. I don't think either one of those people were wrong, they have their opinions and as long as they're stating facts then its ok for a writer to do their job.
I do appreciate the fact the Fulmer never embarasses our program off the field. We might not like the product on the field but we never see in the headlines, "Fulmer with college girls at Frat Party", " Fulmer gets DUI", or anything else to that matter. He handles himself very well off the field and as a fan I appreciate that, now handle his buisness on the field and life will be good.
bigbluevol writes:
It's refreshing to hear that Fulmer will handle things in a private conversation with the writer. That is a very professional way to handle things. I wasn't impressed with the way Gundy handled himself. He lost his cool and provided three minutes of shame to his school and took away from a much needed win by his kids. He has even said he wishes he had had something prepared. It is a nice sound byte though: "I'm a man! I'm 40!" Hilarious.
hueypilot writes:
Someone once said something to the effect that you can never win an argument with people who buy ink by the barrel, and Gundy will ultimately lose this one. As for the female sports reporter, I just don't get it. When I see some little kewpie doll on the sidelines trying to make any kind of relevant comment in a football game, I cringe. It's not that I don't like or respect female journalists, and there are several that I read regularly, but I think the female sports writer bit is forced and awkward, for both the reader and the writer. Fulmer in this article reinforces my statements that if Fulmer is no longer to be the head coach at UT, then his removal must be done with as much dignity and compassion as is possible. Phil has given a lot to the University and they are compelled to treat him with respect.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Coach Fulmer, well said. Thank you.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
it kills me that people think just because we think fulmer is terrible coach that we dislike him. that's just not true.... As i've stated before this is a performance issue not a personal issue.... he is being PAID $2M A YEAR TO BRING US CHAMPIONSHIPS not 8 win seasons and that's why he should be fired. we could pay a new coach less and get 8 wins becasue of our schedule alone so in my mind he is being paid to for the other 4 games..
SO GET OFF OUR BACKS ABOUT NOT LIKING FULMER AS A PERSON....... THIS IS BUSINESS AND BUSINESS ONLY.............. I'VE FIRED A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I LIKED BUT WERE TERRIBLE PERFOMERS AND THATS JUST LIFE...........................
vol52 writes:
Does anyone remember the attack Gary Lundy had from Fulmers wife before the ga game a couple of years ago? The one we fumblen at the ga goal line and they ran it back for a td. That was about some coments Clausen had made.
vol52 writes:
So we can say that if their is dirty work to be done Ms Vicky does?
orangebloodgmc writes:
I actually went back and watched the youtube video of Gundy, and he had some good points that needed to be said, but he went too far in how he said it, too out of control too emotional too unprofessional ... all of which I have been guilty of, myself.
Waterskier, we all love championships but I don't think the majority of the fans expect those to happen every year and count every non-championship year as a FAILURE. As you know, we play in a league with Meyer, Saban, Spurrier, Miles, Richt, Tuberville, etc. and a lot of people gonna be left without a championship every year. Enjoy the good parts.
2000man writes:
I guess all the Fulmer apologists forget how much his players embarrassed the program back in 2005 when it seemed like one was getting arrested every other week. If he was such a good influence on them then they wouldn't have had near the arrests that they did.
Hueypilot makes a good point. Women should be seen and not heard when it comes to football. Suzy Kolber is cute (I want to kiss her), but when she opens her mouth I throw up in mine. Michelle Tafoya? Gah! Holly Rowe? Ugh!
Bring back Jill Arrington and Lisa Guerrero and stand them up by Erin Andrews and let them just hold mics. Don't let them say anything, but let them just walk around on the sidelines. In revealing outfits. Now that would be some good reporting!
DennisVols writes:
Often it is not what we do but how we do it that causes us to be judged.
Being able to control our emotions in times of stress and still being able to make our feeling known is what the difference in success and failure is.
Having been pinned down under enemy fire and being able to control my anger allowed me to defeat those around me who allowed their emotions to control their ability to make the decisions.
Men who let their anger control their actions are weak. I am not saying that you should not be angry, or get mad at a way you feel you have been wronged. Having control over that anger makes you strong, letting it control you shows weakness.
GoVol writes:
Waterskier - I agree 100%. Fulmer's paid to do a complete job, not just part of the job. I like and respect Fulmer and have been a VOL for 40 years, but it's time for a change.
skinalive#242458 writes:
Another article that doesn't have anything to do with anything....brought to you by "Shout", when you want to get the brown out.
CoverOrange writes:
Just watched the Gundy video. Looked rehearsed and scripted. Just remember that the "kid" Reid is 21, not 16.
Read the Carlson column. Lot of innuendo like a political column.
Does remind me of the reports on Troy Fleming and a cell phone and the report last week about a UT player "too tired" to block on a extra point. I'm sure I could come up with some more reports made by the KNS over the years if I cared to.
Carlitovol writes:
Well, whoopdee doo.. If Fulmer was president of the local Boys & Girls Club chapter, I'd be supporting him 100%.
But, unfortunately he's not - he gets paid $2M+ to win football games. You can be the nicest guy in the world, but if you can't win big games at least somewhat consistently, it just ain't gonna work.
Sorry, that's just how I see it.
BOASoldier writes:
I just got through watching the video of a recent practice after the Ark. State game, and at the end Trooper Taylor is talking about the fans and asking them to hang in there and support the team not just for recruiting but to support the players we have on the field.... That is sad!!! People on here talk about not going to the games so Fulmer will get fired.... Listen, if we lose more big games this year the guys with the real money that fund this team and allow these huge facilities will pull their funding because they dont' want to back a loser. When a UT coach has to ask fans to support the team only four games into the season THAT IS PATHETIC. I'm not going to say ya'll should be ashamed. Cause honestly those of you who will not support the young men that go out on that field and bust their butt for this university you all don't mean SH@#. I agree something needs to change and I agree if Fulmer doesn't do it this year he should step down. That is fine call for a changing of the guard, but support the VOLS FOOTBALL TEAM!! you bunch of fair weather panzies. Say what ya'll want to now I wouldn't exchange words with any of you codless skirts. GO VOLS!!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
Not sure I agree with Gundy's way of handling the matter - but sometimes you have to get angry so that people understand how much is upsets folks. A simple now-now-there would never have grabbed serious attention like his emotional-laden impromptu has.
missrvrvol writes:
Ho Hum...Yawn...wake me up after the Georgia disaster in 2 weeks....
BOASoldier writes:
I still believe stick it to the coaches. If a player can say "woah, woah, woah, i don't want to rush anymore cause I am too tired" and the coaches don't chew him a new one then it is on them. It is not on them to raise these young men, but it is on them to put them through hell to make them work hard and to see who really wants to be on that field. and it is on the fans to support the team and help get them a win at home by supporting the players.
volintexas writes:
The "kid" Gundy is defending is 21. He should have saved his "fire" for the Georgia or Troy games when they got pimp slapped and played like the Mama's boys to which the writer alluded. She made a few leaps in the article, but this stuff was getting fed to her through the team. Oklahoma's supposedly "unstoppable" offense has looked like a wreck, except for their performance vs. defenseless Texas Tech. KNS must be hard up for news when they are interviewing Fulmer on stuff like this. How about more on the Dawgs and Vols.
finn writes:
Just about every time Buzz Peterson's name comes up, what is the one thing you usually hear? He was a real nice, likeable guy. He is now a nice guy sitting on his can in SC collecting a fat UT check each month. Nice or not, he couldn't win. For a couple mil, you should be able to get both character and performance. Sure, Phil is a swell guy but he's not paid to be a Wal-mart greeter.
utvols1 writes:
UT football-great brand-below average product. Needed....new leadership.
BOASoldier writes:
That is scary that CR has such a man crush on me that he remembers my stats... that is hillarious. Thanks there CR I knew you secretly worshiped me.
BOASoldier writes:
no... that is CR's wishful thinking ... he likes to call the guys he loves women so that he doesn't feel so bad about it.
bigbluevol writes:
hiresanders the class of 05 was ranked number 1 in the country. The only "average" class, according to the pundits, has been the class after the 5-6 year. If you think my post is "garbage and the editor who let it come out is garbage" I apologize.
BOASoldier writes:
I knew you couldn't forget me... I understand CR, but infatuation isn't healthy son. And I'm just not into your "type" of guy. I hope this doesn't hurt too bad I don't have a problem with your sexual preference of the same gender I just don't personally subscribe to it. I do wish you well though junior. And as for the bareback bull riding... I don't know anyone that puts saddles on bulls... unless you have some other meaning to your inuendo to which I direct you to the comment I made earlier "I just don't subscribe" to that type of behavior. You take care of yourself there Nancy. Your fellow "brothers arm in arm" will need you for future pride marches.
BOASoldier writes:
As you have said so many times to others... I am glad that you are so concerned about my life... thank you CR.
BOASoldier writes:
Mwah ha ha ha ha. That's hell..arious don't know what the Panama City comment's about must be another one of "your people's comments", and you think you know what sports I played and where I went to college that's awesome ... I've never had a stalker before... and a horrible one at that. Quit while your ahead CR ... oh damn you never were... I guess that just means quit now. ha ha ha you sure are funny
vol4jesus writes:
Love American style......Or is that the Loveboat? In reality I think it is "My Favorite Martian." Whatever, don't turn green CR____....ahhhh it is the 'Incredible Sulk!' I'm just so glad ewe all care about each other so much. Be careful not to have a 'tirade' over postings in public like Gumby did.........Oooops that was Gundy. Well Mr. Bill just came over to help me with my knife throwing....you want me to stand where and put out my hand to catch what? I've got to learn to catchem b4 I can throwem huh? Stay tuned children film at eleven...OOOOhhhh
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