Mike Hamilton will celebrate his fifth anniversary as Tennessee's athletic director next month.
And you don't have to look hard to find his fingerprints all over the athletic department. Facility upgrades and hiring men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl are two of the top entries on his resume.
Hamilton discussed Pearl, the change in the UCLA game and football coach Phillip Fulmer's quest to best Gen. Robert Neyland on Wednesday on the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page.
On fans being overly concerned that Pearl will leave for another school.
"The thing that we have to get to as Tennessee fans is we have to quit having an inferiority complex about this basketball job. This is a good basketball job.
This has been made better with what Bruce has done in the last three years - significantly better in the last three years - but this is a really good place to coach basketball."
On when fans will move past that inferiority complex.
"In two or three years when Bruce has been here six years and we have maybe been to an Elite Eight or a Final Four or won a national championship and it is clear that he is here for the long haul, and it is clear that our success is here for the long haul, I think that is when we get beyond it.
When you have, prior to Bruce, what was it, five coaches in 15 years? I think it is pretty easy to develop a little bit of that complex. You begin to wonder if it is ever going to happen for us. Well it is going to happen and it is a matter now of having a consistent face on the program, and that is what we are trying to accomplish."
On Pearl's commitment to UT, does it apply to all other schools or just the jobs he's been presented with?
"My hunch is it applies to everything. I can't get inside the workings of a person's mind but I think Bruce realizes that what he has created here is pretty special and he can achieve all of his life's dreams (at UT).
You're selling out a building with 21,000 in there every night and really creating a new legacy. We have had tradition and success at Tennessee but there is another level that we can achieve. Bruce is doing the things that can get us to that next level, so why not create your own thing?
If you go to Indiana, you are following in the footsteps of Bob Knight and if you go to Kansas it is Roy Williams and Bill Self and all the other great coaches that have been there, but why not create your own legacy here at Tennessee, and I think he realizes that opportunity already exists?"
On the discussions Hamilton has had with Pearl about raises.
"A year ago we had the conversation about if we want to have a business relationship or do we want to have a partnership.
A business relationship is you come in and say you want "x" dollars and that is the way it is, and an AD has to make a decision whether they are willing to pay that with what they are getting.
A partnership is a different level beyond that. A partnership is an understanding that you are working together towards an end and you are getting the support you need, and I got your back and you got my back."
On what he says to fans upset about the recent change in UT's football schedule, in which the UCLA game was moved to Labor Day to accommodate television.
"Truly sorry. I know that people buy tickets in advance and in some cases have non-refundable tickets or get change fees and that is something that I am sorry about.
We felt like the exposure for our program was so significant, given that we are a program that seeks national television exposure for recruiting purposes.<0x00A0>We want to recruit nationally, therefore we want intersectional games on national television. That was the overriding factor in the final decision,<0x00A0>to get that national exposure."
On the significance of Fulmer passing Gen. Robert Neyland in all-time wins. Fulmer has 147 career wins. Neyland had 173.
"Neyland is the icon here in football and the gold standard. For Phillip to have the chance to achieve that type of win total is significant for him personally and is significant for the athletic program.
I think that is an aspiration of his. He is 27 wins away, so that is achievable. Once he gets to that level he has to decide if he wants to coach until he gets to 200 wins, which would not be that far down the road."
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 110
rabidvol1998 writes:
200 or bust. Coach will and should stay until he gets 200.
Go Vols
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Tngeoff, interesting article.
Ck out ajc.com - sports click on Mr College Football (Tony Barnhart) discussing the SEC East this fall. The comments are off the chart.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
rabidvol-you are a clown.
GerryOP writes:
Gee, hasn't Fulmer always said that he wanted to stay until he won another NC? Now it comes out that what he is really after is passing Neyland's all-time win record! Interesting.....
murrayvol writes:
pdhuff: Good link. I'll be sure to return when they hit L #3.
CoverOrange writes:
I don't read it that way, Gerry. Just my take, but I think Phil wants both. So if he miracuously won a NC next year he wouldn't automatically call it quits.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
The General was here from 1926 to 1952. With 3 years out for WW II during which he commanded the troops who built the Burma Road, that leaves him with 23 years in which he won 173 games or 7.5 games per season.
Phillip has been Head Coach for 15 years and has won 147 games or 9.8 games per season.
Which is the better record?
Phillip has to work under more severe constraints,also. For example, when Majors went to Pittsburgh from Iowa State in the 70s. his first class had 120 recruits which as seniors, won the national championship. Ncaa constraints have evened up the playing field and the competition is more balanced nowadays as well.
The fans during the Neyland era were truer VOLS than the present group. The local media were better qualified to report in that they supported the programs rather than biting the hand that provided the reason for their existence.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Gerry, did Fulmer say that? Because I don't see that HE said that.
I'm guessing Fulmer's personal goals are probably 1) win a NC, then a distant but much more attainable 2) break Neyland's win total.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
err ggriggs- small point - how many games per year did they play in Neylands era?
Don't know but Neyland may have won 173 out of 230 or so. Some one will know.
How many games has Phil coached in his 15 years?
190 or so, just guessing. Agree that media coverage has changed from facts to seeking sensation.
CoverOrange writes:
GGriggs, Neyland also missed one year in 1935 and missed 5 years in WWII (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) for a total of 21 years. 8.2 wins a year while playing 10.1 games a year. An 81% winning record.
CoverOrange writes:
PDhuff, 213 total for the General. 10 game schedule until 1938 then 10 or 11 from then on.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
tks WD40 -Neyland's record is safe. The winning percentage will never be approached.
Did Hamilton even discuss winning the SEC in football?
rabidvol1998 writes:
So Fulmer may turn out to be only the second best coach in TN history? If he wins 200 and 2-3 more SEC's, with a shot at a NC, he's the best.
Couchdummy writes:
RE: Posted by tngeoff on April 2, 2008 at 8:41 p.m.
Okay.
.............................
OKAY? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? That you can comprehend?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Yawn...Hamilton sets program goals (like winning the SEC every 4-5 years) but he obviously doesn't want to hold Coach Fulmer to this standard. 10 years and counting....
hglover40#234154 writes:
WorkinLikeHeck -
Do you suppose it is easy to win the SEC at UT when these schools have a better recruiting class average since 2001 - GA,LSU,FL. I think it's hard to win any conference when 3 teams in the conference attract more talent. But CPF has gotten us close! Thank God for CPF.
If you think it is easy to win with inferior talent, bring a collie over to Mike Vicks and I'll bring my Rottweiler and we'll see how it goes. :)
LargeOrange writes:
Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on April 2, 2008 at 9:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rabidvol-you are a clown.
I am not one prone to step up to defend Rabidvol, but I have to say to PLEASEGETRID... you are the clown here as well as a negative jerk and an idiot. Did I cover everything, no, but I don't want to get banned, so I will leave it there.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Didn't Hamilton say he wanted us to win an SEC around 2 times per decade but at least play for it once every 3-4 years. We have met the latter goal.
It's hard to win the SEC. In the past 10 years 5 different teams have won it and only LSU has won it more than twice. It's not the Big 12 where Texas and OU are the only real contenders. Or the Big 10 where its Mich or OSU. Or the Pac-10 where its USC and ..... USC.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Brigadier General Robert Reese Neyland has a 21 season record at UT of 172-31-12 for a winning percentage of 80.1% with 6 SEC Championships and 4 National Championships.
Phillip Fulmer has a 15½ season record of 147-45 for a winning percentage of 76.6% with 2 SEC Championships and 1 National Championship.
To put this into perspective...Phillip would have to accrue three 11-1 regular seasons with three SEC Championships (12-1) and three National Championships (13-1) to reach a 79.5 winning percentage and would still be one SEC title and .6% short of the General's record.
If he went undefeated for the next three seasons, won the SEC’s and the National Championships he would end up 189-45 with a winning percentage of 80.8 but would still be one SEC title short of GRN.
...and I’m obviously bored with way too much time on my hands tonight! Pass me a fritter.
dvols writes:
u idiots don't even know what tn football is!
go vols and thanks for coach fulmer!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
"only LSU has won it more than twice"...is this going to be the new excuse? You could say this about any time period in the SEC (Florida in the mid 90s, Auburn in the mid to late 80s, UGA in the late 70s, early 80s, Bama in the 60s and 70s, Ole Miss in the mid 50 to early 60s, etc.). I mean what does that statement even mean?
We have won it once in the past 10 years and that was 10 years ago. UGA, LSU, and Florida have all won it more than us during that time period. But wait a second that's supposed to be beacuse of SEC parity although we still can't win it. YOu'd think parity would throw us a bone every now again, especially with such a great coach as Fulmer. Thank God Tennessee and Florida had the only 2 competent SEC teams in the mid to late 90s (you know the "glory years where we beat Spurrier one time and won 2 SEC titles while playing 2nd fiddle to UF for the majority of the time).
Behind UGA, UF and LSU in recruiting rankings? I am glad recruiting ranking mean so much now to fit your argument. I thought Fulmer could recruit or do you have another excuse?
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
LargeOrange supports underachievers.
LargeOrange writes:
WorkinLikeHeck - we took the eventual National Champs to the fourth quarter to only lose to them by two pitiful turnovers. If that didn't happen and we won the SEC, would that shut you up? No, you would find something else to female dog about, you whiny morons are getting old. We have play two teams, in GA and FL, that are pre-season top ten, that we have to go through plus UCLA on the road. It is probably not going to happen next year either. You guys need to tie your self worth and ego to something else besides Fulmer and winning the SEC and NC every few years. It doesn't happen that often especially in the SEC and you are always going to be whining no matter what happens. If we win it will be because of luck and how the other team didn't do this or that. IF you are so unhappy why do you call yourself a Vol and waste our and your time running down our team?
LargeOrange writes:
PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE doesn't support the VOLS, unless they win every game. Front runner and bandwagon fan.
Gigavol writes:
burntorange, Hamilton came back and added the 'play for one every 3 or 4 years' a year or two later.
Is 10 years of 2nd place better than a couple 2nd place and a couple 1st place finishes? Ask Ohio State.
BigOrangeVol writes:
I know I'd be scared to death to run a Deep Out, Post, Curl or Fly route against our secondary this year. Seeing EB, DeMo, Rogan and Willingham running at you with a full head of steam and blood in their eyes would make me phooey my pants. I sure hope that Slade doesn't screw them up too bad!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
At least we'll know early what to expect on the journey this fall. I may be in the minority but I think the UAB game would have been great to work a few bugs out of a new OC, new system and players new to Clawson adapting.
As far as debating winning the SEC, you either do or you don't. Unfortunately, we have been "don'ts" for a long time. No spinning it. Someone said our current coach has a losing record vs 6 of the 11 current SEC coaches. WD40 will know.
We'll see soon enuf.
Go Vols, make us proud on Monday Nite.
wjackson#226202 writes:
PLEASEGETRIDOF is a tool who only says negative things and has no knowledge of what it takes to coach. He is just a sad piece of a man with a sad attitude.
mtnvol writes:
Kind of like a child..."I'm with you all the way... until you lose and then you're on your own."
And before you say something like "I love the program. That's why I want a winner." Empty critiques and name calling isn't the constructive way to accomplish those goals.
jimr07 writes:
you have to understand about people like GETRIDOF, no one pays any attention to what he says except on here. on here he can come and say all the negative things knowing that it will ruffle some feathers and he can be a big man. this is probably the only place anyone would pay attention to anything he has to say.
It is a shame that he has no credibility. You are right, if we won the NC he would whine about it for some reason.
drwfocus writes:
mtnvol - in 1970 or today I would not want PGRO in my fox hole for exactly the reasons you stated.
Greyback_Vol writes:
I think it would be nice for Fulmer to be the all-time winningest coach at UT. No, he doesn't even come close to knowing defense like Neyland did and he'll never approach the General's winning percentage, but Fulmer is a great represenative of the program. It would also be nice if UT's leader in wins was someone who grew up in TN, played at UT, and was a UT man through and through.
Madkels writes:
LargeOrange...
We once won close games like the SEC championship game. Over the last several years, we don't win them, or beat Florida. Not to mention, getting blown out by Bama in Satan's first year. Wouldn't you like to beat the Gators or LSU every once in a while? Why don't we anymore? You have to ask that question! How many more years will we allow our program to underachieve?
GerryOP writes:
Greyback_Vol, it would also be nice if Fulmer avoided embarrassing losses to historical foes, won a championship, and focused on team and University goals -- championships -- not personal goals -- all-time winningest coach!
2008 could be a pivotal year for Coach Fulmer.
NJVol writes:
I don't think you can compare winning percentages from Neyland's era to winning percentages from Fullmer's.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Posted by LargeOrange on April 3, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WorkinLikeHeck - we took the eventual National Champs to the fourth quarter to only lose to them by two pitiful turnovers.
Did we or did we not lose this game? Aww shucks, well we almost won. IF we would have won that game we would be meeting stated program goals as laid out by Hamilton and thus my complaining would be done.
dvol writes:
Let me get this right. Phil needs 27 wins to pass the man the Stadium is named after and 53 wins to reach 200. If he averages 9 wins a year that is 3 years to break General Neyland's record. Then it will take 3 more years to reach 200 wins. Less than 9 wins a season and it takes even longer. More raises, higher ticket prices, This is just to depressing to think about. I'm going to stop now.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
what's even more troublesome about hamilton is he sounds content to let fulmer ride it out until he beats neyland..... OMG if we have to keep this DA until 200 wins we'll be the laughing stock of the nation... the only school to keep a coach that wins BS games but sux against top 10 teams and lets him stay until he wants to leave.....
so much for pay for performance........
sounds like fla state and penn state and how many championships have they won since the AD took that stance??????????
How many people are going to be happy with 3 losses in 08 and maybe 4????
expect to be average and you will be average!!!!!!
jimr07 writes:
NJVol--you hit the nail on the head. comparison to that era is like comparing a model-T to a Lexus
auttat writes:
CRVol, can you please explain what you get out of your vendetta against Fulmer? Cause, you can talk all you want, but he is STILL the Head Coach.
Least you are persistent. A lesser man would have given up long ago. Your good buddy TDTN did.
TommyJack writes:
Methinks Coach Clawson did not come here to wait on CPF's 200 wins.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Regarding Fulmer's W-L record vs other coaches and top 10 teams.
Do you guys know who has the best record in the league vs. top 10 teams? Auburn's Tommy Tuberville. He's around 12-3 vs. top 10. I don't know what his match-up record with other coaches is (execept 2-0 vs. Meyer). That's pretty impressive. He's hands down the best "big gsme" coach in the SEC.
Now can you tell me how many SEC CG appearances and wins he has? ..... One.
pupvol writes:
didn"t hamilton say last year that the football job here wasn"t one of the best in america! now he"s saying the basketball job is? think about that.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
And to the person that commented on ticket price increases due to Fulmer getting raises.
I got news for you. The ticket prices will increase no matter who the coach is. Fulmer's salary has very little to do with that.
Besides that, look at what some other SEC schools are paying first year coaches. If the Fulmer haters think a "name" coach is going to come here for less than what Fulmer is making you are in serious need of a reality check.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
auttat, who has a vendetta? Fulmer isn't meeting goals. It's really that simple.
FlushTheJohn writes:
Remember guys, in Neyland's day if Marvel comics had a top 10 with you listed at number 1, you could claim a national championship! That is not the world we live in today. It is much harder to win a National or an SEC championship than it has ever been before!
FlushTheJohn writes:
Just to let you know. At every university in the land, there will be increases in ticket prices about every 4 years or so. It is just like everything else in life (tuition, Gas, etc). Get over it!!!!!!!
THE_VOL writes:
Hams is so right about the inferiority complex! It's readily apparent just in the paranoid posts from the vocal minority here!
As for FOOLmer passing Neyland, well he needs 27 more wins - shouldn't take him more than about 5 years to get those!
auttat writes:
CR, I'm just asking what you stand to gain from your constant criticism.
Are you a Tennessee fan? Do you want them to win games? Does your constant criticism change the fact that Fulmer is STILL the coach, and most likely will leave when he is ready?
And, please don't try to throw your facts at me. I know them just as well as you do. I'm only asking what good it does you to harp on them.
TommyJack writes:
Here's a fact. With mediocrity (at most) at the D-tackle positions, we stand NO chance of a ring this year. There is quality at the DB level. Good thing...they're gonna be busy. Yes, I'm a TRUE VOL fan.
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.