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Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer’s finalized $6 million buyout will be paid out over 48 months as originally stipulated in his contract.
At the time of his firing on Nov. 3, UT said it would try to negotiate a longer term.
Under a separation agreement obtained by the News Sentinel from UT on Tuesday, Fulmer will be paid $125,000 a month for the next four years, and he is scheduled to receive his first payment near Dec. 31.
Included in the deal was an agreement that Fulmer would not “interfere in any way with the activities of the university’s football team or athletics department and shall not discourage the current members of the football team from cooperating in the transition to a new head football coach, from remaining active members of the team and from playing to their full potential in all competition events.”
The agreement also says that Fulmer is prohibited from contacting or discouraging recruits being pursued by UT as of Nov. 30.
Also included in the agreement, Fulmer will continue to receive a dealer-provided car comparable to the one he was supplied as head coach for the 48-month of term of his buyout.
He will also receive eight football tickets in a luxury suite and parking passes for home football games with the option to purchase up to 12 tickets to UT away games.
On Monday, UT announced that Fulmer will serve a three-month term as a special assistant to president John Petersen.
Fulmer will earn an additional $12,500 a month in that job, where he will be asked to help Tennessee build and maintain relationships with key donors.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 183
BigMix writes:
THIS SHOULD STOP SOME OF THE CRYING.
ncvol writes:
I hoped they would stop reporting about Phil's buyout. All it does is stir negative comments from those that wanted him fired. Let's move on gracefully and continue to support our team. Go Vols !
TommyJack writes:
It SHOULD stir negative comments...need to point his wide azz down Alcoa Hwy.
ncvol17 writes:
Why would he negotiate a longer time period? Money is devalued every year. The purchasing power of the dollar drops each year so why would anyone who took a class in the school of business think he should gracefully 'lose' money by being paid over a longer than stipulated time period. Why do you think lottery winners take all of the money now and not in yearly installments? Good business sense.
jmatt62 writes:
The buyout is one thing, but to then pay him $12,500 per month for some BS job is another animal altogether. I really like the guy and appreciate all his efforts, but the outflow of cash to the man has to stop, doesn't it?? I'm just sayin!
CrankE writes:
Again, why does he need an additional $12,500 per month for three months as the special assistant to the President-with full UT benefits? Someone having a surgery next year or something?
Personally, I wish they could pay the lump sum tomorrow and be done with this. The 48 month payout means that UT won't be done with Fulmer until December 2012.
Doomsday scenario: Kiff bombs and gets fired within three years. UT has to pay the head coaching salary for three people. One to coach, and two not to coach. Coach Kiffin, we're all behind you-for at least 6,037,500 reasons.
spencer1989#206886 writes:
This is another sign of him being a bitter coach that does NOT love the university as much as he claims....And an ex-coach who cannot admit that it was long over due for him to go.
CrankE writes:
Oh, and with the buyout details now percolating out, it's probably time for KNS to get a hold of Johnny Majors so that we can compare buyouts and Majors can sing us another verse (maybe even the final verse?) of Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me!
shoalcreekvol writes:
Reminds of a Motley Crue song: Coach, don't go away mad, just go away!
I swear he's becoming like a stray dog that someone feeds and then he keeps coming back until the food is cut off. Someone at that school other than Hammy is going to have to grow some nads and learn to tell that man NO. I'm talking to you Petersen (if you need to know what I mean ask your wife. She apparently has a set.)
volnknox writes:
poor coach fulmer, lets take up a extra fund for him, I don't think he has gotten enough money from the university.
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Good gawd, enough of the Fulmer stories. Go away, PLEASE!
Let's move on, we have a new coach that needs our advice. Right?
Go VOLS!!!
montanavolfan writes:
Holy Cow, first this and then the "ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ANOTHER $12K PER MONTH". Where do you go to get a job like this. Hey Phil, how about a bail out loan.
volnknox writes:
he loves the university right fulmer lovers? he bleeds orange? he is true tennessee right?
I think he bleeds green, 6 million and some.
Go away Fulmer, and with these stupid fulmer stories
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
FIRE HIS FAT AZZ AGAIN . FULMERS A PIG , HE'LL EAT ALL THE SLOP .
PreventUT writes:
AD drafts a contract w/ a $6 million buyout + AD fires coach and must pay buyout + AD tries to renegotiate terms of buyout and coach refuses - University offers coach another high paying job - coach accepts = ??...a bitter, greedy coach.
Now that's some funky math.
Moving on...
zqvol writes:
Let go of the Fulmer issues. It is a shame that so many are complaining about his buyout. Let's see, General Motors, ford and Chrysler pay workers to stay home and are getting government bailouts, unions have deals that say who can and can't be laid off, players in professional sports have guaranteed contracts, people in regular jobs get severance pay. The list goes on and on and on and on ad nauseum
If you want to be upset about either the buyout or what he is getting from Petersen direct your vile and wrath to where it is due, Hamilton and Petersen, not toward Fulmer, everyone one of you complaining loudmouths would do exactly the same thing if you had the opportunity, and if you really don't think so then the guy looking back at you in the mirror is both a fool and an idiot.
Tennesseeato writes:
The $6 million is contractual. It was a bargained-for term in a contract between 2 willing parties. We can debate the appropriateness of those types of agreements, but the deal's the deal.
If UT wants to fire Kiffin over the next 2 years, we'll be paying a lot more money to him than we are to Phil.
montanavolfan writes:
Good Luck in the NC, Wait, my mistake your not in it. This is a family matter it your not family you don't matter.
utmdm writes:
Stay much longer and you will be the focus.
eb502us#225637 writes:
I would be surpised that after all this bad publicity, if Fulmer doesn't forego his "3 month salary."
And if he does take it after all the negative (and rightly so) reaction, then I will lose alot of repect for him, private donations paying his salary or not.
kharney#232751 writes:
UT seems to be managed by the same techniques as Ford , General Motors, and Chrysler. It appears that they have forgotten that a University is an institute of higher learning, NOT higher athletics. Isn't his buyout enough money. Think about where UT would have been had Clemson hired Mr. Fulmer to coach their football team. Would this position have been available to anyone else had he said yes to Clemson? I dare say that it would not. Needless spending by the University when their budget simply can not afford it.
TommyJack writes:
Well, well, well. Look who's back. About what I predicted after your azz whoopin.
montanavolfan writes:
Poor Bama fans, but I guess that is the price of success. The Rams have ask for premission to interview Saban.
yeavols#228407 writes:
This is worth posting again..anything for story...Right on Vol in Mich...let's move on
jobrando#216494 writes:
Heck, he will have an endless supply of doughnuts for the next 48 months.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Not really it just shows how greedy the fat one is and just how much he really loves the University. Lying 2 faced heathen
BigMix writes:
"Oh I don't hate Fulmer but, I wish he point his wide azz down alcoa hwy" Are you jealous of Fulmer Tommy Jack?
southernson writes:
yes why does he need 12,500 more a month???? This should finaly show all the Fulmernights who he really is . If he LOVED UT ,like I do he could raise money for them for his 6 MILLION Buy out. He dont give a rats behind about any one but OL Phil and Vicky. Just go away Fulmer,, Just go away
murrayvol writes:
Does anyone else wonder why the powers that be felt compelled to include a "non interference" clause in this agreement?
invisiblekid writes:
Next story should be what type of car Fulmer picks out.
BigMix writes:
It's like cheap carnival entertainment.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Oh, i think that would be quite self explanatory. People talked about the way Majors complained when he was forced out. He had a decent reason. Fulmer should have been gone 5 years ago, but all he has done is cried and moaned about how he was going to turn this thing around. Like you turned it around in 2005 and 2008?
invisiblekid writes:
I would hope that it's standard in these type of situations.
If there was a legitimate need for it in this particular case though,I'd say send the special assistant far, far away for fundraising activities. Maybe Jackson Hole.
BIGEJ writes:
KNS has reeled in some folks with this "news." What better to fill the void than sensationalism news to spark the lemmings to run........so BLAH, BLAH, BLAH....Go VOLS.
Volalumnus writes:
UT is looking for someone that can go out and convince some donors to contribute some big bucks to the academic funds.
Its a win win.
SuperVolfan writes:
Don't let these dorks get you down Coach Fulmer they don't know anything about special assistancing.I think I do though, so let me be the first to put my name in the hat when your three months are up. I would love $12500 a month!!!!!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Amen.
Was this funded by a deep pockets Nooga man as a parting 3 month lasting shot whose son is going to another SEC school on a hacking scholly?
Or....
Jaywine writes:
If he really bleeds Orange why does he need 3 months of green? Its over, lets move on.
volroadwarrior writes:
Don't worry my friends. The Messiah takes office in January and everything will be cool!!!!
Jaywine writes:
Your mirror broke?
proudveteran writes:
That was more Peterson's doing than Fulmer's. Peterson is not well though of by the faculty and earned more anomosity with the dismissal of Fulmer. The funds were "donated" and do not come out of any budget funds for the university. How many of you know that President Peterson is is "deep doo doo" and does not presently have a contract as president of UT as his expired in the summer and has not been renewed. Peterson could and may very well be "cut loose" without any buy outs!!!!!
tnbigg writes:
What? You know me...I - P R O M I S E! Really! I would never interefere!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3173/2...
TommyJack writes:
Not really, Mix. You? I'm also not a hypocrite like the guy who ran our program aground.
ncvol17 writes:
They have added to the original story haven't they? I hope the automobile is donated as well. Luxury box tickets (from a donor)were probably a given if he wanted a place to sit but putting it in an agreement seems a bit much.
I liked Fulmer but this is now getting ridiculous. Give him his buyout and cut ties. Have a donor put him in his luxury box so he can watch games. Let him buy away game tickets.
As they said when leadership changes 'the King is dead long live the King'. Go Kiffin, Go Vols!
wallyinman#208691 writes:
For all of you who feel the need to write horsecrap about Phillip Fulmer, such as "move your fat azz down the road", and all that.....your freakin morons. Talk about a bunch of worthless phooey-bags...you guys take the cake. Why should anyone hold animosity against CPF for accepting his contractual buyout after being fired, mid-season, from the university? What would you dunbasses do?...........let me guess........you would ask the university to please not give you the money owed to you...........Really?........Is that what you guys would do?......I hope to god your mostly stupid 19 year old students, or non alumni........Surely TN graduates aren't as unknowledgable of how the business world works as you appear to be........Most of you "posters" are incredably clueless.... And for whats its worth (apparently you cant figure this out yourselves), fulmer doesn't need $12,500 a month from this short term assignment to the president....Its being done in hopes he will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in fundraising activities for the university.........and he will, but not from you broke, paid by the hour, "fans"......fans? what a joke.
SignalMtnVol writes:
"He will also receive eight football tickets in a luxury suite and parking passes for home football games with the option to purchase up to 12 tickets to UT away games."
I would hope Fulmer will not take up the offer on the football tickets. Talk about crazy ex-girlfriends stalking you. I, for one, can't see why this is even happening. I liked Phil, but this would be like me getting fired from work, and then they told me I could just hang out and watch the new engineer whenever I wanted. Just odd.
tnbuco#393180 writes:
Because his job for the next three months will be insuring that the big money donors who are upset at his firing don't pull their money from the Univiersity.
In case you haven't notice the University is in dire straights for cash!
As for the rest of you losers who want to attack the buyout. It was negoiated, it was triggered when the AD fired him.
If he is greedy than so is every major coach in America!
ckeller18 writes:
As I posted on another article, Fulmer needs insurance. As a college employee he gets medical insurance. You don't expect him to go out and buy his own do you? At his age it would cost he and his wife $700-800 a month. And there is the issure of having to take a physical before he could be insured....he better find another job in 3 months because I doubt he could pass the physical.
HollySpringsVOL writes:
Amen. I couldn't have said it better myself.
Now let Mr. Fulmer do his new job and let's focus on CLK and rebuilding the program back to a national power.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!
FWBVol writes:
The only problem I have with your theory is that with the $125,000 a month he'll be paid as part of the buyout, he can more than afford the most expensive insurance premiums.
As for all those saying he shouldn't take the money, I'm just throwing out a theory, but what if a high dollar donor said they would give UT $500,000, but only if the university hired him for this special assistant position? That some donor also wanted to pay Fulmer's salary.
I don't have any ears in the UT administration so I'm just throwing out a thought. Stranger things have happened, such as people leaving several million dollars to their dog or cat.
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