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Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer watches as his team gets beat 59-20 by Florida Saturday in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville.
Fulmer's starts
Tennessee Stat Book
Callers have jammed switchboards on talk radio.
Internet servers are smoking from all the posts on message boards.
Columnists have delivered opinions.
A season-opening loss for Tennessee at then-No. 12 Cal got it all started, and a 39-point loss to then-No. 5 Florida two weeks ago threw gasoline on the grill.
But with eight games remaining in the regular season, the man amid all the hoopla — UT coach Phillip Fulmer — is doing his best to ignore the criticism and focus on the remainder of the season.
“You haven’t seen any difference in my demeanor, I don’t think,” Fulmer said this week. “I’m not going to walk around with my head down. I’m going to work, like I’ve always done. We work hard. We’ve done it the right way. Kids graduate, go to school, haven’t had our name in the paper for anything serious in a long time. We’re trying to get back to where we want to be.”
Fulmer knows that passion and interest are part of coaching. He welcomes it, even. But it doesn’t mean he’s immune to the often harsh criticism that has accompanied the unranked Vols’ 2-2 start.
“I deal with it in a real way that you have to deal with it, and that’s what I can control,” Fulmer said. “What I can’t control, I don’t worry about. My administration has been very supportive, I’ve got a great group of good friends and trustees and people that have their wits about them.
“I understand the frustration and the passion. That’s a good thing that people care that much. It’s just a matter of I don’t listen to that stuff. Your wife or the coaches wives, you worry about those folks. But it’s a tough profession that way sometimes.”
The criticism has even filtered down to the players, who have supported their coach when asked.
“We are behind coach Fulmer 100 percent,” offensive guard Anthony Parker said following the Florida loss. “That’s our coach, and we love to play for our coach. We’re going to go out here for these next (eight) games and try to win them all.”
In a perfect world, the Vols wouldn’t face a pair of top 10 teams in their first three games. They’d also be a lot better off in terms of experience.
In the secondary, UT has three first-time starters, two of which are first-year players. It’s a different group than the one the Vols coaching staff envisioned, with Demetrice Morley (academics) and Roshaun Fellows (team rules) being dismissed before spring practice. Cornerback Inky Johnson would also have been a starter were it not for the career-ending injury he suffered in UT’s second game last season.
Both Cal and Florida exploited UT’s inexperienced secondary with talented skill players for big plays, and the Vols rank 91st in the country in total defense and 81st against the run.
Tennessee’s run game hasn’t lived up to expectations, either, and ranks 77th in the country with an average of 132.3 yards per game, That, combined with the end results of losses to Cal, now ranked No. 6, and Florida, now at No. 4, has fired up the fan base.
“You’ve got to go back and you’ve got to look and focus and say why? We’re youthful in spots; we’ve had some injuries, obviously,” he said. “In the defensive front, we’ve had some really good development and we’ve had some guys that really haven’t gotten to the point we thought they would be. They’re coming really well now.”
Where the Vols — and their fans — want to be is back on top of the SEC and back in the national conversation.
It’s been eight seasons since Tennessee last won a conference championship, although UT made trips to the championship game in 2001 and 2004, losing to LSU and Auburn, respectively.
The best way to get there hasn’t changed, either, says Fulmer. But that doesn’t mean methods haven’t been scrutinized and tweaked along the way.
“When we say stay the course, that doesn’t mean that you’re not evaluating everything and changing what you need to change and looking as to where you can be better in any phase, offensively, defensively or in the kicking game,” Fulmer said. “But we don’t panic. We don’t go out and say, ‘We’ve got to change everything to please the fans or please the media,’ and that’s why we’ve been successful. When we’ve had bumps in the road, we’ve fought through them.”
The last time Tennessee faced a bump this big to start a season was in 2000, when it began 2-3 and won its final six games of the regular season to finish 8-3 before losing to Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl.
That season, Tennessee bounced between quarterbacks A.J. Suggs and Joey Mathews before finally settling on starter Casey Clausen and had to replace several major contributors from the 1998 and 1999 teams.
In 2005, the Vols lost four consecutive games in the middle of their schedule and five of their last seven to finish 5-6, Fulmer’s only losing season as a head coach since he permanently took over the program in 1993.
The howling was just as bad then, but the Vols bounced back to finish 9-4 last season.
And four games into this season, Tennessee is close to where it needs to be, Fulmer says.
“This team, we’re getting there,” Fulmer said. “We’re getting to the point where we can say we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our kids are fighting like heck. I mean they’re really battling to be where we want them to be. They don’t want to be giving up 10 big plays a game or an interception for a score or a fumble for a score. It’s a very prideful place, and that’s the reason we will turn it around.”
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton’s stated expectations for the football program are to play for the SEC championship four years in every 10 and win two.
To reach the championship game this year, UT needs Florida to lose twice — and it needs to take care of its seven remaining conference games beginning with Saturday’s game against No. 15 Georgia.
That’s a tough task, considering five of those seven teams (Georgia, Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama and Kentucky) are either ranked or have been ranked at one point this season. Of the other two, Mississippi State upset Auburn on the road earlier this season and Vanderbilt is two years removed from defeating the Vols in Neyland Stadium.
For now, the best way Fulmer sees to secure the big picture is to focus on the eight smaller ones from now until the end of November.
“My goal is to be the best team we can and beat Georgia, and then whoever’s after that, we’ll concern ourselves with that,” Fulmer said. “But get better, so that long term we get better and get ourselves back in the championship mix.”
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 99
BigUn writes:
I was hoping to hear something new in this article instead of excuses.
Instead we get this:
"We’re youthful in spots; we’ve had some injuries..."
Then there is this from the writer:
"In a perfect world, the Vols wouldn’t face a pair of top 10 teams in their first three games. They’d also be a lot better off in terms of experience.
In the secondary, UT has three first-time starters, two of which are first-year players. It’s a different group than the one the Vols coaching staff envisioned, with Demetrice Morley (academics) and Roshaun Fellows (team rules) being dismissed before spring practice. Cornerback Inky Johnson would also have been a starter were it not for the career-ending injury he suffered in UT’s second game last season."
So here we have some excuses about the schedule and then about being young. Can someone please explain that how in an imperfect world, Florida can replace 9 starters on Defense, play True Freshman and Sophomores all over the place and beat us by 39?
This is pathetic and this is why the program is where it is. This constant complaining and making excuses is why we are we are, and that is no where near the Top 25.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Well, it makes sense on a giant part of the struggles coming from Morley, Johnson, and Fellows departing, creating a void in the secondary which hurt us in our losses, in return, our secondary getting beat deep meant we fell behind and had to rely more on passing than running, so our run game has not put up the numbers we would hope....though, Coker appears to be back where he needs to and should be a major factor and Hardesty had been hurt since the opener and now he is back.
The secondary should get better with each game, October will decide a lot for Tennessee, once October is finished we will know a whole lot more about what direction the team should take. If we were 4-0 in October, putting us at 6-2, I would say we are going to be just fine, but if we go 1-3, 2-2, or 0-4, I'd say Hamilton may need to have a strategy on his interviewing process ready to go.
IF we were to change coaches, I would hope we would not go the route of Cowher, or as I saw some suggest, the TCU coach, Iowas coach (they look bad), Rich Rodriguez (very sloppy last night, plus he wont leave his alma mater) just to name a few. Some people jump the gun on 'who is hot' - you have to be very careful about that, look at the coaches history, if you went with who was hot, then we would be hiring Ron Zook who is something like 5-0 now with Illinois, yea, that would be smart......... couple of years ago everyone wanted Beamer ball, they are sputtering along now. Suprised no one suggested Miamis former coach, though, he had absolutely no discipline on that team, wouldn't want that. Changing coaches is never a sure thing, so if we were to make a change, I would hope time was taken to make a smart move, not just grab the most talked about guy at the current time.
utnutt writes:
IM TIRED OF FULMERS EXCUSES WHY THEY CANT GET THE JOB DONE. HE STATED YOUTHFULNESS IN SEVERAL POSITIONS AND INEXPERIANCE. THIS IS BULL@$#@! FLORIDA TOOK A YOUNGER LESS EXPERIANCED TEAM AND HANDED FULMER HIS BUTT ON A POLISHED SILVER PLATTER. IM SURPRISED THAT HE ISNT USEING HIS OLD STANDBY EXCUSE OF WE HAVE LOTS OF INJURIES IN KEY POSITIONS. FULMER IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT YOUNGER PLAYERS NEEDING TO STEP UP WELL THATS WHAT THE FANS ARE DOING. WERE CALLING FULMER AND STAFF OUT! THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND GET THE JOB DONE! MY GUESS IS THEY DONT UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM THEY CANT SEEM TO TEACH IT TO ANYONE ELSE. START LOOKING FOR A NEW COACH NOW! LETS GET RID OF THIS GUY BEFORE HE COMPLETLY RUINS THE PROGRAM!
UTFAN1993 writes:
Iowa coach- Kirk Ferentz- $2.84 million-last 9yrs record: 55-43, 56%...last 2 yrs 4-13. I don't think so.
UTFAN1993 writes:
Mark Richt : one of only 9 Div I coaches to win 60 games in his first 6 seasons.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Well heck, why don't we just go get the winningest coach currently, Dan Hawkins at Colorado, they just beat Oklahoma today.
utfan1993, yea, Ferentz would be a stupid move.
My main point I was stressing was we have to dig deeper and look at the coaches whole career and track record, not just what they have done in the last year or two. Look for a coach who has been consistent, like a Richt, Meyer, etc who can have Tennessee doing great things for the next several years, not just one or two magical years and then fall off the face of the earth because they can't recruit or change their styles to match the changing game around them, etc.
mark.dorr#636777 writes:
I'm a Tenn alum living in Iowa country. Ferentz's last 2 years aren't 2-13.
In 2005: 7-5
In 2006: 6-7
In 2007: 2-3
Sure it's not great but's it not 2-3 in the last 2 yrs. I agree he's not a good choice either.
vol98 writes:
FIRE STOOPS!FIRE STOOPS!FIRE STOOPS!
utnutt writes:
I WISH THEY WOULD FIRE STOOPS SO WE COULD HIRE HIM. I WONDER IF THEY WOULD CONSIDER A TRADE AND HOW MUCH BOOT WOULD WE HAVE TO GIVE. WE COULD THROW IN CHAVIS, CULIFF AND TROOPER LOL.
chadbuckles#235104 writes:
I am sure happy that none of you all have any decision in who coaches our football team! Phil is a winner, and has been his entire life. Go ahead and kick him while he's down. I hope everyone eats their words...acutally when the times turn around and were doing well, Im sure you still be whinning about why didn't win by more points!
Scr$w you all!
UTFAN1993 writes:
CHADBUCKLES...I 'm not kicking Coach Fulmer. I happen to think he's a great coach, with a few more wins in him. I was only trying to get past the same old conversation this group has every day, that being to fire coach and call him names.
yeavols#228407 writes:
It better be the focus of the rest of the season..Kentucky 5-0 #14 , Georgia #15, South Carolina #16...but it has nothing to do with coaching i am sure.
CrankE writes:
“You haven’t seen any difference in my demeanor, I don’t think,”
Which is kind of disappointing given the manner in which the two losses have come this season. I'm not looking for him to go Gundy or anything, but a little more fire in that belly would be promising.
_____________________________
“When we say stay the course, that doesn’t mean that you’re not evaluating everything and changing what you need to change ..."
I sure am relieved to hear THAT. Because as far as I can tell, this team is still making the same type of mistakes that they made last year, and the year before and the year before...
Coach, could you tell us what specific changes are being made in order to improve in any area?
____________________________
"...and looking as to where you can be better in any phase, offensively, defensively or in the kicking game,”
Are we limited to improving only in one area? Or could we be better offensively, defensively AND in the kicking game?
__________________________
The howling was just as bad then, but the Vols bounced back to finish 9-4 last season.
Actually, the howling is worse now. After doing some good things in 2006, the howls died down because Tennessee looked like they were at least on the right track.
In 2007 though, they're going backwards. There's no way to spin the ineptitude inherent in giving up 104 points in two losses. And since they've already canned the people allegedly responsible for the 2005 debacle, the only common thread is Fulmer himself.
_______________________________
Mark Richt has it made at Georgia and has no desire to leave. If he did, UGA knows what they have would gladly pony up to keep him.
vol98 writes:
How many more NC's has Stoops, Bowden, Meyer, Saban, Spurrier, Richt, Brown, (ok forget Carroll), Carr won than Fulmer. Ok i get it. We haven't won a BCS game in awhile and we haven't won an SEC, but Coach's have streaks. Where was all this talk last year after the Cal game. I think fans react too fast and too strong to 1-2 games. We have lost to two top FIVE teams. Granted we want to be a top five team, but it things go in waves (Miami). That being said, if asked this summer I would say we have had 2/3 top five classes last 3 years, we should have the talent. I get sick of seeing teams win with lesser talent (USF/Rut/Cal/WVU?) winning, but are they doing it year in and year out playing the teams we play. I don't think so?
yeavols#228407 writes:
Auburn 7..Florida 0 end of the first...What a great thing..If only..
vol98 writes:
Add Beamer, Tuberville, Tressel, Davis (Butch), Paterno (last 15 yrs)...guys at major programs with major budgets. S#@t ain't easy. Give it time. You may be sorry what you ask for. A Ron Zook.
vol98 writes:
these is the worst/weirdest years for rankings... i think you can truly say that there is parity in college football. USF will be top 12 in their 10th??? year of existence. how do you explain that. you can't rank these teams until mid to late season.there will be ranked teams with one loss that have no business being ranked just because there is no better alternative at this point.
CrankE writes:
Sorry, but I'm not convinced Tuberville is that good. He seems to coach his team up to (or down to) the level of the competition. 2004 season excluded.
jimkennedy33#221644 writes:
If you want to compare Fulmer to a coach...compare him to Johnny Majors, if you are old enough to remember....check out Majors' last 5 years....his record was better (2 fewer wins but also 7 fewer losses) than Fulmers over the past 5 years. Also, check out Fulmers' record against ranked opponents...not good last several years. As a USAF officer and UT alumn ('93) I've served 43 months of my life in remote/isolated locations on 4 continents...and I've gotten up at 0200 to watch the VOLS in Korea and watched on satellite computer in Iraq (now that's tax dollars put to good use!)...so don't get me wrong, I'm as loyal as the next VOL. Anyway, it's just time for new blood...maybe Fulmer, maybe not...but certainly some re-designed schemes. Oh yeah, when did UT last blitz more than 1 extra LB? Remember when we used to send 7 or 8 guys? We don't send them now because we're afraid we'll get burned...heck, we are getting burned even with 7 guys in mid-field/secondary! Send 'em all!
will_jowers#637980 writes:
Amazing how the history-revisionist conspiracy-sniffing crowd continues to try to dredge up the story that Coach Fulmer got Johnny Majors fired. Fact is, Johnny Majors got himself fired. If anyone took time to actually review history, he had a couple of problems. (1) he had a big problem with alcohol. My nephew was on the team then and he said you could smell Johnny's Bourbon Breath from 10 yards away. (2) he was DEMANDING a significant pay raise -- in the midst of a mandated pay freeze where NO ONE ELSE (acutal college professors, adminisrators, counselors and such like) was getting any extra money. Johnny got Johnny fired. Not Phil.
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
This is more patsy journalism. I can't believe I am reading this statement:
"In a perfect world, the Vols wouldn’t face a pair of top 10 teams in their first three games. They’d also be a lot better off in terms of experience."
I say in a perfect world, our team would welcome the challenge of strong scheduling (See the Men's and Women's basketball programs) and we would reload every year. It doesn't hurt your chance to play for a national championship if you lose early. You will not win a national championship when you lose twice in four games the way we have.
That statement reflects poor standards of excellence.
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
By the way jcvet is a genius. I want Steve Spurrier!!! I think he has 6 or 8 good years left.
jimkennedy33#221644 writes:
Will,
Um, I was just comparing stats. Yes, Majors needed to leave, for the reasons you state--I saw him staggering out of Stokely drunk in 1990 with a girl 1/3 his age one night. So yes he needed to go. Fulmer is a good man, and a good coach...but if they don't change something (personnel or schemes) they will continue to have 9-4 records (That's the average over the past 5 years). Not bad, but not good enough.
jimkennedy33#221644 writes:
Or....offer Pat Summitt $10M per year..
slabhand writes:
I'm watching Auburn/FL & can only think that what wins in football @ any level is defense, running, the kicking game and lack of turnovers. In over 50 years of watching UT football, I only see the Vols football team getting worse in those catagories.George Cafego must be rollin' in his grave.
volsfan327 writes:
Where is the Knoxville press to call Fulmer out on some of this stuff! Some of the weaker teams in the SEC that we could always count on for a "W" aren't so weak any more. This is not going to be an easy ride to the end of the season. Coach Fulmer, your demeandor needs to change! 8 years without an SEC championship, not in the Top 25, not to mention, Top 10. Tennessee is 2nd in dollars going to the Athletic Dept, Nebraska is #1, top recruting classes year after year and we can't be consistantly in the Top 25! NO MORE EXCUSES THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Georgia rushed for 300+ yards Saturday against Ole Miss. One would think Chief would be planning something drastic or at least different next Saturday. Would that be an unreasonable expectation, given that we are near the bottom of the barrel nationally in rushing defense?
Yet, we all know we'll see the same ol' same ol' Mustang, etc., etc. Could be a very long afternoon for our defense.
msdyb writes:
GATORS LOST! GATORS LOST! Way To Go AU!
chadbuckles#235104 writes:
Speaking of Focus, FL just loses, and we are back in the hunt. WE MUST have faith!
volsfan327 writes:
It is about time somthing good came out of Alabama! Way to go Auburn! I hope we can do something next week with all these shake-ups today! I don't like not being in control of our own destiny. If we just win, it takes the guess work out.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Kentucky is 5-0, South Carolina # 16, Georgia # 15..let's not get too excited..The only thing we can get excited about is the Gators staying out of our blog..sorry TEBOW..change your superman costume into WONDER WOMAN.
gillblog writes:
I know you are all watching Fla and Auburn.... good thing for Fla, Auburn isn't playing any "young players" in key positions. Otherwise, Fla might be in trouble. Gee, whadyaknow, Fla just lost. Overall, by my count from the TV commentary, Auburn played up to 7 true freshmen at one time in that game.... including the kicker who won the game. Oh, and Auburn also appeared to have at least 2 key starters injured and out of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Yes, truly as coach Fulmer says, young players and critical injuries will definitely contribute to defeat for any football team, well, uh, that is any team that HE happens to be coaching.
UTFAN1993 writes:
Where will Kentucky be in this weeks polls? There are only 6 teams in front of them that have not lost a game.
Pullingguard writes:
After watching other SEC teams our Vols will have to improve drastically to meet the expectations of the administration and the fans.. It galls me for Fulmer to talk about Injuries when UT has probably had fewer than most SEC teams... It's an excuse he uses. Why after 4 games are they just now finding out who can play and make contributions, like in the defensive backfied..It's been said by many, the defensive backfield coach needs to cut-a-chooga after this season. Let him go Fulmer.
Fulmer you would be a much better coach if you would just quit making excuses, hold the coaching staff responsible for developement or get rid of them.
AirForceVol writes:
Hope everyone realizes that step 1 of Phil Houdini's great escape just happened in the swamp. If the Large Orange beats UGA next week, the noose starts to loosen. Atlanta anyone?
chadbuckles#235104 writes:
If memory serves me right TouchdownTN, we also have a Freshman kicker who is actually one of 3 kickers to be PERFECT on the season??? I think he worth a million bucks too!
wheatbarley writes:
"We're trying to get back where we want to be", he says. And then this, "I've got a great group of friends and trustees and people that have their wits about them". Do not EVER talk about the ego of Coach Majors again. Fulmer speaks as if he is invincible. Fulmer is the darling of the big donors, who, unless they get the message that the Vols are non-hackers, he will ride off into the sunset as a "great" Vol, while we remain to be happy with 8 win seasons, and the occasional upset.
ZacharyUTK writes:
"Fire Randy Sanders!"
UTFAN1993 writes:
Fire the ticket takers at the gates
UTFAN1993 writes:
Fire the ticket takers at the gates
andy112382#209793 writes:
Is this a stange season all the way around or what??? Kentucky & USF ranked, ranked teams falling like flies.....
Hey, with Florida losing and playing @ LSU next weekend, lets actually pull for Tennessee, how about that? Start playing defense like we are use to and win our games, the east is up for grabs, and don't tell me 'we are going to lose a few more' because there is no predicting this season apparently (Colorado over Oklahoma?!?) so lets starting pulling for our guys to step it up a notch and start winning like back in the day!
GO VOLS!!!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
I voted that I do not approve of the way Fulmer is coaching this team, for many of the reasons already stated...
That being said, I personally think it's ridiculous to root against our team for the sake of firing a coach... HELLO! If we win out the rest of the season (which I don't think we'll do), then doesn't that mean he's doing a better job? Just a thought...
smith7206 writes:
I don't get this Richt love fest some folks are on...the guy has gone, in the SEC, 5-3, 7-1, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, 4-4 and is 3-1 this year and he's been trending downhill ever since '02.
It's a lot easier to look like a genius in the short term than the long run. Richt may yet prove to be one but he hasn't proven it to me yet.
Whether Fulmer stays or goes I just hope that we, UT alumni and fans, don't become the bammers of the north. That coaching staff was getting late night calls after last weeks loss and I would wager they will be getting more now. Also, let's not forget the class some of them displayed by pelting the GA players with trash (I've heard reference made to whiskey bottles being tossed along with the cups and such) after that game.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Correct oberservation about Majors, he cost himself his job. Don't think that Fulmer did'nt help though. Although Majors still needs his number retired. Also Fulmer has a unnatural ability to cloud men's minds. Craziest thing I've ever seen.I'll throw a name in the coaching pool for you, Pat Hill @ Fresno State.Has passion, plays good defense and comes to play and does alot with not much to work with. But I agree with the point of change just for change's sake is not the answer. Old/current NFL coaches aren't either for the most part (Cowher and Gruden).bonzaivol
DannyVol writes:
The Florida loss tonight (paired with their likely loss at LSU) creates an opportunity in which Fulmer may be fairly evaluated this season.
At the beginning of the season, prognosticator after prognosticator said we would be favored in all but two games, at Cal and at Florida.
With the two-week break, all of our problems should have been addressed (and at least partially fixed) and we will be as good as we will be.
So, winning out should be expected, right? I think so. If we do so, we will likely win the East and Fulmer's seat will be deservedly a lot cooler...and saved.
However, if Fulmer and his staff fails to prepare the team and squanders this opportunity, then Fulmer's seat should burst into flames.
For all of you pro and anti-Fulmer people, it's simple now. This is your chance to allow the results to speak for themselves.
CrankE writes:
jw: Having a 3-1 record against a great coach would be great. But you make Fulmer out to be abjectly incompetent. 3-1 doesn't sound so special anymore. And by the way, Teletubby was at Ole Mrs. for a few years and lost both matches against UT in 1996-97. That makes him 3-3. Great research.
OldNumber7 writes:
Mr. Edwards Columnist Guy, with all due respect, this did not start with Cal. Tennessee has played terrible football for over a decade under Fulmer, and has been embarrassed frequently by obviously better coached squads.
imnotwithphil writes:
Well that article makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. What a great coach. What a great guy. I think we should all just stop worring and learn to love 5-7 seasons. Oh, and I am very happy that our coach is now focused on the rest of the season... as opposed to being focused on what? How to invest the $2.1M that he takes away from the University that he loves so much?
Kingsport_Vol13 writes:
Winning out? Please tell me you're kidding! We do not have a coach who can DEVELOP our talent on Rocky Top. The folks defending Fulmer's job are starting to remind me of the former Iraqi information minister; he claimed the US troops were not in Baghdad when explosions erupted behind him.
This program is in flames and headed for a fiery crash. How can anyone be THIS enamored with failure??? We are tired of excuses and complacency. How could you not be? When you're getting paid millions of dollars per year just to win football games, you would think an auto-fire to be instilled in you. Oh no, just complacency.
For those of you who say we are negative and not willing to give Fulmer time to iron out the wrinkles-he had his time. After the '98 season forward. Ten years with more lackluster coaching. Please... this team is so boring to watch now. He doesn't play the game like the rest of the world. My dad said it looked like old Dobyns Bennett football every weekend.
imnotwithphil writes:
BTW - since we're on the subject of warm and fuzzy articles about our beloved coach... did anyone at the Know Nothing Sentinel follow-up on the free tickets that Dave West purchased for the under privileged youth? Did the AD find 100 deserving youths that actually used the tickets? If so, I'd love to see a little follow-up on that story. If not... then the West article would smack of... well... propaganda. Which is it KNS? Props or Pravada?
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