Posted by 99gator on February 21, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i ask the question because after doing a little research.....majors only had four seasons where tenn lost 2 games or less. tenn won the conference 3 times, two of those were courtesy of a florida probation while majors was tenn's coach.

his first season that he did not lose at least four games was his seventh season as coach.

after six seasons, majors was 35-32-1.

for the most part (with the exception of 2005)......fulmer's worst season is better than a lot of seasons in the majors era.

Posted by Orangeblood13 on February 21, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW
Missed this post article lol. Ya know, seems that the AD has done a masterful job over there and I would think he will do the same with the football head coach. John Adams is a Pig, everyone knows that, so why we so alarmed now that this article comes this early? Go back and look at his articles during the championship season, he still wrote garbage. I am for 1 wanting the program to do better , for the kids playin over there. But who the hell gives a rats ass what this pig writes?
If the man(CPF) don't get the job done, Hamilton will make the call, not some chickenpoop news writer.

Hang in there boys, show em on the field

Posted by Colliervol on February 21, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh Lord, gator. Now you've done it. (Opened the Majors-Fulmer can again.)

Good questions though.

Posted by auttat on February 21, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Majors was rebuilding what Battle tore down. Or, so the legend goes. Truth be told, Majors had iconic status with most fans, as you can clearly see because he is the root of 99% of the hatred directed towards Fulmer, and they were willing to overlook A LOT of flaws.

Was Majors a good coach? Absolutely! But not great. Is Fulmer a good coach? Absolutely! But not great. The reason I stand behind Fulmer, he actually won the big one FOR UT! (Plus he dedicated most of his life to the University, represents the team and the school well, trys to develop kids for success on and off the football field. You know, all the irrelevant bs)

Posted by TommyJack on February 21, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99Gator: Part of it had to do with the Majors' family history at TN. They were (and are) legend.
One even lost his life while employed (after being an All American) at TN.

Posted by FLAVOLS on February 21, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's an opinion - thus his editorial title. Too bad most our fans drink the kool aid too much and can't stand a differing opinion.

Posted by tngeoff on February 21, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack.

E X A C T L Y

Posted by TommyJack on February 21, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vol_in_LSU: I'm willing to consider your point, but it would seem to me to be very bad bidness for the KNS to hire someone just to enflame the Faithful. It's just hard to imagine that Adams' has that much of a h.o. for UT that he would risk his job.
Are you one that would prefer a strict homer? When I was in school, old Tom Siler was the chief columnist at KNS. A good guy was he. But he was the epitome of a Homer. Did I like him? Sure. But I don't think having someone like that in play is necessarily the way to go.
If Adams has an agenda like you suggest, it would appear to me to be career suicide. And what would the KNS have to gain?

Posted by tngeoff on February 21, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack.

Also. It isn't like he snuck this column online when no one at KNS was looking.

Posted by pdhuff on February 21, 2008 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is getting close to time to close this chapter of UT football history, at least in the off-field antics. I hope for everyone's sake that this will do it. No one win's in a DUI. Sad all around. Best of luck to Britton.

Phil didn't need this, we didn't need this and just maybe something good will happen to the program like recognizing the 90% who stay out of trouble and harm's way. You will never stop reporters from reporting and columnists from opining. Rest in peace and quiet, maybe.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on February 21, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99Gator.

You raise the all-important mythical-status question about Johnny Majors and Phil Fulmer.

Truth be told, Johnny Majors earned a spot as a hero in UT lore...being a Hesiman runner-up, he sits pretty close to Peyton Manning's lofty perch. To rate him as a coach, I think his Pitt and Iowa State record must be included as well. He turned both programs around and made Pitt a champion.

I believe that Johnny Majors was a good, if not great, coach at UT. He'll always be reviered in my personal recollections. I'm 35 years old, so Majors and Fulmer are really all I know of UT football. I have faint recollections of hearing "Bill Battle" on WIVK when I was a young'un, but that may have well been post-fact.

I'll never forget my Sugar-Vols team. Probably my most vivid memory as a kid of UT football. I'll also never forget the tailback tandum of Reggie Cobb and Chuck Webb. Carl Pickens will also always be a fond memory of the Majors era.

But all of that ir irrelevant. Johnny Majors was our head coach for a very long time and (as you pointed out) had his failings and lack of production. Even as his tenure peaked in the late 80's/early 90's , he had a few lack-luster seasons of 2005 calibur.

Johnny Majors is proof that no matter how much you love (or hate) a football coach, he is only as good as his players. He will only be able to field a champion X percent of the time AT BEST. There are 119 other schools in Div-Ia competing for the same 5-star recruits with the same intentions on being number one. Tennessee throws a whole lotta money at that goal, and should have higher expectations than most schools, but all in all we've gotten our money's worth with BOTH Phil Fulmer AND Johnny Majors.

Maybe it's time to trade Fulmer in for the next model, but I seriously doubt we'll have this "mythical" perennial champion that some think we're supposed to have.

Posted by thesavageorange on February 21, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Saturday Feb 9th 3 Indiana players arrested.Gamecocks WR Lecorn arrested on drug charge freshman receiver Matt Clements was in the car as well.

LSU QB Perrilloux suspended for rules violation.Bama,Jeremy Elder suspended indefinitely following the arrest of the redshirt freshman on Sunday for two counts of armed robbery.4 Others we're arrested last summer on Sabans watch. Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger will miss the Fiesta Bowl after being sent home from Arizona following an arrest for shoplifting.
Jan. 28 Notre Dame tight end Will Yeatman was charged Wednesday with misdemeanor counts of drunken driving and criminal recklessness after allegedly driving a car on a campus sidewalk with his headlights off in the early morning hours.
FSU puts itself on 2yr probation after scandal.Georgia(and they had more)Pair suspended over alcohol-related charges. For the third offseason in a row, a Georgia player has been arrested in January or February.The're are many more ,but you get my point.Not excusing UT, but the NCAA needs to set a guideline.The common theme in all the reading I've done is not one has been thrown off their team.

Posted by tngeoff on February 21, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff.

I remember one time in the 70's when South Carolina's marching band did a fantastic half time show. Then suddenly, together...they just stopped and walked off the field in a big mob. I guess it was planned but it was strange. That is what the end of this thread will be like. Great thread. Then it just stopped.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 21, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fist this jerk writes this crap and then goes down to alabama and does a talk show with firebaum, alabama must of paid him off like the high school coach to try and get fulmer fired. ADAMS NEEDS TO BE FIRED AND SENT TO ALABAMA TRAITOR, BENNEDICT ARNOLD

Posted by cjraney on February 21, 2008 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2 Sincere questions to any "spiralers"-

If Fulmer goes after '08 season who's the choice for replacement?

What are the expectations for the first 3 seasons & do you think they will be met?

Signed,
A Tennessee-"ite"

Posted by thesavageorange on February 21, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way all of these incidents we're from Dec 2007 till now.Let me add 2 to it.2 Texas A&M players arrested for armed robbery of a drug dealer.OK State player arrested after elbowing an officer in the face.

Posted by TommyJack on February 21, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Geoff: Right. Also, if I'm not mistaken, Adams' has been on the scene there for several years, has he not?

Vol_in_LSU: You mentioned a name. Chuck Webb. The absolute best (briefly)...I said briefly, Faithful. The BEST running back ever to wear the orange. What a waste.

Posted by thesavageorange on February 21, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

volunteer_cowboy , He also spouted it all over a radio station in Georgia.

Posted by budd on February 21, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

for those of you reading this at 6 pm Thursday Adams is now on the radio on ATL.

Posted by VOLnATL on February 21, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Adams was on 680 in ATL this afternoon. Unfortunately, I was not able to listen. I can tell you an hour before, the show was ripping CPF and the leadership of this team and questioning the actions against BC. Anyone in ATL here the show and did Adams run his mouth as bad as he types?

Posted by VOLnATL on February 21, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

still on? thx

Posted by TommyJack on February 21, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Geoff: An Aggie buddy took me to the Cotton Bowl 3-4 years ago. Was my first time to see the Aggies in person. They claim to have best band anywhere, military as you would guess. When their routine was over at halftime, they did the same thing. Just all walked off the field. My buddy said it was routine for them. Very funny, especially in context with their precision marching. A useless tid-bit.

Posted by pdhuff on February 21, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cjraney 5:49 my two cents worth, if Phil should ever leave, on qualified people.
1.Paul Johnson GT
2. Jimbo Fisher-LSU
3. Larry Blankenshipo - Troy St
4. Clawson - Tenn
5. Butch Davis - NC
6. Gary Pinkel - Missouri
7. Jerry Moore - Appl St
8. Jeff Jagodzinski - BC
9. Jim Grobe - Wake Forrest

In no particular order and I'm sure they are others. All hypothetical. Some might not be interested, some might not be available.

The first three seasons 8-9 wins, about what we're doing now. ABOUT. Just some thoughts.

Posted by tngeoff on February 21, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack.

It really was funny. Like you say. Everybody was just looking around like..."What the?" They had done like you say a great prcision routine (although not military) and then when they just abruptly stopped and walked off en masse it was weird but funny!

Posted by IPOrange on February 21, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dang. This thing is like the Energizer Bunny - it just keeps going and going and going.....

At what point will this site implode?

MCLXXXIX and counting.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 21, 2008 at 6:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PDHUFF: only 2 of the 9 being clawson or gary moore would be at tennessee for the long haul the rest are just coach whores like saban, and jimbo fisher is asst. head coach at florida st not lsu

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on February 21, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My #1 choice for UT's next coach:

http://www.scarletknights.com/footbal...

He's young and energetic. Kinda reminds me of Pearl. We need this in K-ville.

Posted by tngeoff on February 21, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You guys ever jeard of the Appalachian Stories called, "Jack Tales?" I've had the book since the late 70's.

Here's one. They are sooooo funny. The character Jack fools everybody with his incredible luck. Anyway...they're interesting. Read one:

http://www.ibiblio.org/bawdy/folklore...

Posted by TommyJack on February 21, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

volunteer_cowboy: Some ho's in the group maybe, but I don't put Paul Johnson in that group. Who wouldn't want to leave Navy for Ga Tech? He's gonna change some minds about the flex-bone at Tech. Wait and see. The man can coach. But I think barring a complete offensive meltdown, Clawson is the heir apparent to CPF.

Posted by IPOrange on February 21, 2008 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack -

Do you pick up many Vols televised games down in your neck of the woods?

Posted by IPOrange on February 21, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gotta agree with the Clawson prediction, TJ, IF he produces (and I think he will). The downside of that scenario is that we'll be looking for another OC. If you could pick that one, too, who would it be? How about Trooper?

Posted by thesavageorange on February 21, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE ,Only problem is ,he is extremely loyal and a Jersey guy.He even made the statement that he thinks they can win a NC there.Agree though, he is one hell of a coach.

Posted by cjraney on February 21, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pd- Thanks for response.
1. Paul Johnson-dont think a QB can take that beating in the SEC long term.
2. Jimbo-signed on as heir to Bowden at FSU.
3.Blankenship-good possibility, some risk.
4.Clawson-have no idea.Like the talk about adjusting to personnel strengths. We'll see.
5. Butch Davis-no thanks.
6.Pinkel-one good season in Big12 north.No thanks
7.Appy ST guy-good possibility, some risk.
8.BC guy-like him ok but somewhat unproven. maybe
9.Jim Grobe-I think the least risky on the list. Plus has shown some loyalty to Wake. I like loyalty.

You want to minimize your risk but coaching change is inherently risky. And once you make a change, the odds of doing it again w/in 3-5 yrs go up significantly. See Bama/OleMiss/Nebraska etc

Posted by pdhuff on February 21, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cjraney 7:17 Thanks -coaching change risky, sure. But are you satisifed with 63% last 3 years? Something needs to be done, the game has passed someone by.

volunteer cowboy - I'd be more interested in winning than, saying we have longevity. Longevity has got us in the mess we're in today. FSU and Penn St are other examples of longevity.

Beatdowns on TV hurt you a whole lot worse than longevity ever helped a team. The course we're staying has run the wheels off this program.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 21, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wait a minute, this jerk adams has everybody saying what if this or that, heck he took the guys scholarship and that alone will stop alot of this crap, but that gene guy from espn even said ut would be crazy to fire fulmer and he does have a very good winning percentage listen guys, if clawson does what is expected of him(sec and national championships and recruits) this will be good times at tennessee and this all will be in the past, lets dont let jerk adams brain wash the VOL NATION. Adams Sucks

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on February 21, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Our current coach and his thoughts on his teams performance the past 6 years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI4otT...

Posted by TommyJack on February 21, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

IP: Get a few games on the telly here. Others I get on vol web radio deal. Kessling does a much better job on BB, IMO. Will be settled in my recliner Sat. with chips and chilly beer. ESPN, I think.
Re Trooper...wish he had been given OC job at Ok St. Would be hard to elevate to a program like ours w/o o.c. experience. I know, it's been done before. Plus, Clawson has no relationship with him (to my knowledge).

Posted by cjraney on February 21, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pd-
Maybe it has passed him by, could be. But there's a good chance the next guy will never "get" what Fulmer has supposedly lost.

My only point is that you get rid of your car to get one that's better. Not one that might be as good, might be worse, but very slim chance its truly better.

No matter what happens in this paper or on this here board, the Vols will compete for SEC title the next 2 yrs. With Coach Fulmer.

Posted by pdhuff on February 21, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

cjraney - compete - What about win? In two years the drought will hit ELEVEN years. LOL

Posted by thesavageorange on February 21, 2008 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This may be far fetched, but if Mike Singletary doesn't get an NFL HC job soon I think some colleges will come calling.Still think it's Clawson's to lose.cjraney, Not sure what to think about next yr, but you may be right.His player's seem to come to life when CPF seems to be on the hot seat.

Posted by rabidvolfan on February 21, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greatest sports article ever wrote in Knoxville John!! Congratulations. This team has become a lot more fun to root against than root for.As long as this clown is our coach I will continue to root against them so we may sooner than later get rid of this problem. John you are great! I will make sure I buy a Sentinel every day just for you!

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on February 21, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack.

I agree. It's a shame that Chuck Webb didn't finish up his career. Was it an ACL injury? Can't remember back that far, just remember he got hurt.

Sometimes I think all this talk about coaches kinda misses a key point. We don't go to UT football games to watch a coach. We go to UT football games to watch our sons, nephews, cousins, grandsons, and "sister's daughter's boyfriend" play for the Big Orange. And if we have no family, we relish the memories of former classmates or local kids who managed to play, walk-on or scholarship.

I do think a coach has a LOT to do with the success or failure of a football team. (Duh)...But I think it has more to do with talent, tradition, and fan support than anything else. Take away fan support, and both coach and player loses his edge. Ever heard the expression "12th man"?

I'm not saying we need to have blind faith in Fulmer or anyone else, but lord-of-mercy, this article is the biggest stinking pile of BS I've ever seen in my life, and some of you are eating it like nanner-pudding. Yuck, can't y'all tell the difference?

Posted by TennesseeTuxedo on February 22, 2008 at 12:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

From my esteemed colleague gmorton:

"A lot of people have the wrong idea about Adams' column...
For a moment, put aside Adams' hyperbole of using current NFL players to prove a point; forget that Fulmer has dismissed players for greater and lesser offenses than Colquit's; and try not to let past disagreements with Adams obscure what is really going on here. The head sportswriter for the hometown paper has unequivocally called for the resignation of the TN head football coach. No one, not even Adams, spits in the face of the neighborhood's biggest kid on a whim or calls for the head of a local icon just to improve circulation for a few days. Adams' column isn't a declaration of war against Fulmer. It's 'terms of surrender' because Fulmer has officially lost the battle of public perception. -gmorton"

Posted by TennesseeTuxedo on February 22, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The reason Adams wrote the column is because he has finally hit the wall like a lot of TN fans have over the last 3 years. They are not anti-UT, but they ARE tired of Fulmer. They are tired and embarrassed by a decade of high-profile arrests and incidents reflecting questionable or poor judgement by players and coaches alike. Tired of making excuses on Fulmer's behalf for Chavis's porous defenses; Sander's mistake-prone offenses; and Cutcliff's uninspired and ineffective play-calling. They are tired of TN teams 'working like heck' only to see them make the same mistakes over and over again. Tired of the endless litany of excuses that Fulmer recites after every loss. Tired of the steady decline of competitiveness with the top echelon SEC teams. They are tired of seeing Fulmer grow complacent and slovenly while this program does the same. They are tired (and envious) of other SEC teams not settling for the mediocrity and familiarity of legacy coaches with dysfunctional staffs and choosing to re-tool with younger, better, coaches that bring a renewed enthusiasm for the game. They are just plain tired of Fulmer because he has stayed to long at the party and the whole thing really just isn't that much fun anymore-gmorton"

Posted by TennesseeTuxedo on February 22, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Sure, Fulmer has countered with new staff hires, but only because he lost key staff members not because he saw the need to manage and improve his organization. He's disciplined his players as individuals and as a team and produced the same net results. In recent years, he's lost close games to bitter rivals and he's been blown out by the same rivals. However, patient and ever-hopeful TN fans have continued to give him the benefit of the doubt. We were certain that things would improve 'next year' because that next great recruiting class was just around the corner. Well, that is until 2005 and, oh yeah, this year, too. The trend is downward on all most every aspect of this program except for the embarrassingly high arrest rate. And that's where Adams comes in. He column officially certifies that appearances in the police blotter are now at least as important to Fulmer's future as appearances in a BCS bowl. I can safely say that it doesn't matter what Fulmer does from this point forward. He has lost the 'high ground' and is simply waiting for the inevitable. In that sense, Adams isn't as much sportswriter as he is historian. -gmorton"

Posted by TennesseeTuxedo on February 22, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnew...

Cosey Coleman arrested. Yet another former Vols dims Fulmer's legacy at UT. Educator Fulmer did not reach Cosey during his time at UT.

Posted by volsvols12 on February 22, 2008 at 2:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Do any of you remember the last time John Adams was a remotely respected journalist (strong emphasis on REMOTELY)? I think it was 2001. Poor little John has to try to make people mad so that people will read his articles and give him some attention; unfortunately, it works.

Posted by FWBVol on February 22, 2008 at 2:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I just reread this column.

Funny thing that maybe someone else picked up on, but I didn't before. Adams is crying like a baby for Fulmer to be fired because of lack of discipline, but he writes, "After an incredible run of arrests in a six-week span, Fulmer could have said the next player found guilty of a crime — no matter what it is — is off the team. Ah, but that wouldn’t be fair to the guilty player, would it?

Forget the player. Think about the program."

Even by the Adams' standard, CPF shouldn't have kicked an arrested player off the team yet.

Adams said CPF should have said "the next player found guilty of a crime." To my knowledge, none of the arrested players have been found guilty of anything yet.

Will they be? Some probably so, but they haven't been yet.

And that's all I've got to say here.

Posted by pdhuff on February 22, 2008 at 3:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It getting time to close this door. Phil has managed to hit another hornet's nest with his reply to Adams. This is exactly what Adam's wanted. I can assure you he has been high-fived by his bosses at KNS and rightfully so.

He has drawn the bear from the cave. Would Bowden or JoPa ever responded to a columnist in writing? Watch carefully for any more responses from Hamilton. As Doug Matthews said, you don't want the athletic director speaking to and for the team.

That skips over someone who's paid big $$$$ to do that.

Beat U of M.

Posted by VOLinDAWGland on February 22, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Adam's appeared on Atlanta sports radio last night to hype his column...what a disgrace. This is more about publicity for John Adam's than anything else. This is about a 'story' that has taken a life of its own as the sports chattering class have to have something to fill the day and love to hear themselves talk. Adam's even called for Tennessee to lose to Georgia next year. JA sounds just like one of those 'men without chests' that CS Lewis coined, whiny and weak and could never hope to be anywhere close to the men that they live to criticize. I've lived in Atlanta for over 20 years and have never witnessed this kind of negativity towards the Dawgs and they went through some lean years after Dooley - Ray Goof, Jim Dummy, etc. Sure there was criticism of the losses and direction of the program, but never this type of personal animosity and the AJC never came out calling for the coaches head...although they do it regularly towards the Falcons and Hawks.

While there is much to criticise, there is also much to admire about Fulmer and the program. I'm mostly disappointed at the tone of these posts, the cynicism, the personal attacks.

Fulmer's tenure is obviously winding to a close, whether it is 1 to 3 more years, it will not be much longer per his own admission. Can't we let him ride this out with some dignity and support? He's earned at least that. Stop giving other programs fodder to dump on us...that's right...YOU.

It's was mentioned earlier and I agree that probably Fulmer's biggest failing is, similar to Bush, failure at PR. Fulmer either just does not have an aptitude for it or he just doesn't care as old school guy who is just focused on football. He's managed to leave it to others to define him and unfortunately for him the others are not friendlies.

Posted by BOASoldier on February 22, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

FIRE JOHN ADAMS, FIRE JOHN ADAMS !!!!!

Posted by TennesseeTuxedo on February 22, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Too many people are worried about Phil Fulmer riding off into the sunset in some kind of fairy tale ending. Too bad that Phil Fulmer doesn't view the UT football program in the same fashion. Hes more concerned about his salary than he is the UT football program winning championships with class on and off of the field.

Posted by qwerty6969 on February 22, 2008 at 10:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Phillip Fulmer is a father. John Adams is not. Adams has never been responsible for disciplining or raising a young man - much less hundreds of them.

At its core, the disagreement between Adams and Fulmer is about the definition of manhood. How does one person train another person to become a man? More importantly, how how does a person BE a man himself?

Knowing what I do about the personal lives of both Adams and Fulmer, I'll subscribe to Fulmer's definition.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on February 22, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

FIRE ADAMS-- HE HAS NO SOURCES ON ANYTHING

Posted by williams7977 on February 22, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It might be more credible if John Adams wasn't gaining off of this type of sensationalism. I moved to Lake Charles, La from Knoxville years ago and am hungry for news about my vols. This is not news, it's a self serving agenda. I would be better off if he would just report the news and let me make my mind up regarding it's seriousness and how it affects me as an alum!

Posted by gtown_vol on February 22, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please retire! Or go "write" for someone else far away. Please?

Posted by 4ss on February 22, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

JA,
I will no longer be reading anything else that you write, nor will I listen to that sports page show in the mornings with your red-headed buddy on the Sports Animal. I think you crossed the line and don't agree with what you did or with what you had to say.

Posted by MillisaAnn on February 22, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I totally agree with Mr. Adams, Fulmer needs to go now ASAP.

Posted by SFguy on February 22, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bravo bravo. i dont know about you, but when my trash is full, i take it out to the dumpster, not let it sit around and coach some football for 9 year too long. and for the all the "he won a national championship" spewers. I remember correctly being i was standing right there when the play happened, Clint Sterner won a national champion for the vols! no fumble no championship. Then ask yourself without that fumble, is fulmer still our coach?

Posted by Vol_in_KY on February 22, 2008 at 1:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, I thought Jerry Tipton (Lexington Herald Leader) was the only writer around who hated the program he covers and bashes them endlessly. However, I do agree with Mr. Adams that Fulmer's discipline has been soft and also favorable to bigger time players.

As for the national reputation, Fulmer Cup is run by Florida guys. In my mind, no one's worse than Louisville -- though they at least have begun kicking people off the team all together.

Posted by getridoffoolmer on February 22, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW this is an awesome article! Ive heard about it but havent been able to read it! That being said everything in this article is TRUE! I know PP came out with a letter today and i generally believe that he cares about the kids but if he cared about them he wouldnt just punish them by there status on the team which he does! his players have NO respect for him and believe if they get in trouble its no biggie! Now we came to what has happened with Britton he got charged with a DUI and only got a 5 game suspension, nevermind his scholarship loss thats nothing to him! Whereas last week 2 were kicked off the team for im sure of far less worse than this! So how anyone can not agree with this article is beyond me?! Yes John Adams is from LSU but who cares he writes the truth a writer isnt always suppose to write good and they write there opinions and why anyone would bash someone else for his opinion is beyond me! if you cant see there is a need for change than i guess you are the ones that will never see the need for a change!

Posted by volfan60 on February 22, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

KNS, you should be ashamed to have such a sorry excuse for a sports writer on your staff!

Posted by franxman on February 22, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow, this is the most active thread we've ever seen on here. It just about melted our data center.

A lot of you may have experienced errors as our servers struggled to keep up. For the time being, we are limiting the comments displayed to the most recent 100 in order to keep the page size reasonable. Rest assured your comments are being saved, and once we get a paging system in place, everyones' comments will be online.

Posted by gavol on February 22, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

KnoxNews needs a change, your resignation John. You are not qualified to make any judgment. You are a true hack.

Posted by gavol on February 22, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Resign John. You don't belong here.

Posted by gavol on February 22, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What are your qualifications John?

Posted by pdhuff on February 22, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

so franxman, Adams vs Phil has set a record. Don't know if its really an honor to be a part of this record or not. But it will roil on.

Phil saw to that when he expressed his sentiments back to Mr. Adams. So much for a quiet basketball time of year, huh.

And in this corner from.........

Posted by pdhuff on February 22, 2008 at 6:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack, this would have never happened at Rice or Vandy.

This has become acharne!

Posted by GOVOLS72 on February 22, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Understand when a column is loosing its effectiveness its time to stir the pot! If Adams doesn’t stay in the light he’ll be swept away. How better to get attention then attack the cornerstone of the Tennessee athletics program and its respected leadership. Look around, football leaders with great character and successfulness are few and far between. But “ho hum” writers are a dime a dozen. GO BIG ORANGE!

Posted by ga_vol on February 22, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow. John Adams should start a column in the lifestyle section of the paper advising parents on the proper way to discipline their children. Now its Fulmer's fault that former players' actions after leaving the program are his fault? Does he also get the credit for all the good actions by other former players? Peyton Manning is one of the most respected players in the NFL. Heath Shuler (although a Johnny Majors recruit was under then offensive coordinator coach Fulmer) is now a United States Congressman. Does he get the credit for that? He has influence on players and their lives, but he can't be held totally responsible for their crimes or their successes. Maybe John Adams should be the one to leave. Maybe the local paper in Tuscaloosa has an opening for a sports/lifestyle writer. Maybe the Knoxville News Sentinel should take responsibility for the actions of it's sports department!

Posted by VOLstuckINky on February 23, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Adams goes on Finebaum radio .... truely tasteless ... radio show for 2/19 hour 3.

I'm no Fulmer-ite, but Adams must be fired now.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 24, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

if you listen to it the insane jerk says the majority of people agrees with him, is it just me or everybody else but i dont see anybody much agreeing with him at all, instead they are calling for adams to be fired, even on all these post 98 percent want adams fired. adams is crazy and its shocked me we havent heard about somebody calling in threats on him. i wouldnt go to West Town Mall if i were him, and he might as well forget UT phone number......

Posted by VOLS4LIFE on February 24, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey John Adams, why don't you pack up your bag and get out of Knoxville? I think we'd all be better off without you.....you can dish it, BUT can you take it?

Posted by tjohnson008 on February 24, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tenn - Your program is comprised of thugs and outlaws - what do you expect? As I have said on earlier comments - - things are getting back to normal. UT - an average program at best and Bama rising to the top.

Bama will teach the new Tenn recruits something about character and allow them to play for a championship - something that could not happen in Knoxville with Fat Phil

Roll Tide

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 24, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tjohnson008: alabama just had a player arrested this morning, front page of the tennessean sports page and yahoo and alabama news paper this is whats said: Alabama safety Rashad Johnson was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly knocking a security guard down at an off-campus bar early Saturday morning, Tuscaloosa police said. Johnson was arrested at 2:55 a.m. at the Legacy bar on the strip near Alabama’s campus, police spokesman Robert Fourt said in a statement Saturday. The 22-year-old Johnson was released on $500 bond shortly after being booked on the misdemeanor charge. Officers had spotted a disturbance outside the bar, which was closing, Fourt said. Legacy security personnel were escorting someone from the bar when Johnson allegedly attempted to intervene and pushed one of the security officers, who fell out the door and onto the ground. Johnson, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference pick, was arrested after a brief struggle, Fourt said. Additional officers from city and university police responded after a large crowd gathered, but no one else was arrested. A Tuscaloosa officer received a minor abrasion to his knee during the arrest, but did not require medical attention. Johnson, a former walk-on, led the Crimson Tide with 94 tackles and six interceptions as a junior. He finished in a three-way tie for the SEC lead in interceptions. He was selected a captain by his teammates after the season. It was the second arrest involving a Tide player in the past week. Defensive lineman Jeremy Elder was charged with two counts of first-degree robbery last Sunday night.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 24, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SOOOO ROLL TIDE B/S. ARMED ROBBERY, SECOND ARREST IN PAST WEEK CAPTAIN OF TEAM. MAYBE FIREBAUM NEEDS TO WRITE A COLUMN ABOUT FIRING ALABAMAS SABAN AND HE COULD GET HELP FROM JERK ADAMS, AND WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT ALABAMA TEACHING TENNESSEE RECRUITS SOMETHING ABOUT CHARACTER???????? TJOHNSON (SHUTUP) POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK!!!!!!!!!

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 24, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJOHNSON you said: "Tenn - Your program is comprised of thugs and outlaws" WELL NOT 1 PLAYER AT UT EVER, EVER, HELD UP AT GUNPOINT A STORE, BANK OR A PERSON ALABAMA HAVING CHARACTER(JOKE)

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 24, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ALABAMA IS THE ONES WITH THE THUGS AND OUTLAWS

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 24, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJOHNSON WATCH THIS IF YOU DARE TO, PLEASE WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JF1-u...

Posted by ggriggs939 on February 25, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The Arkansas game in 1998 was an example of the SEC trying to hamstring the VOLS. When the Arkansas punter
failed to catch the ball, he chased it down and then kicked it out of the endzone. Instead of a penalty for illegal kicking being assessed and the VOLS getting the ball on the 4-yard line, the SEC gave us a safety.
On the play during which Stoerner 'fumbled', Billy Ratliff knocked Arkansas' All American guard into Stoerner and caused him to stumble and lose the ball when he tried to regain his balance. Billy then recovered the ball on the 44-yard line and Travis Henry took the ball to the end zone in a series of carries and won the game. The only 'luck' entailed was having the opportunity to escape the trap set by the zebras.
During the 99 season, the same zebra crew bit us again when they failed to call a penalty for the defensive back holding Cedric Wilson in the end zone.

Posted by Chainsaw on February 25, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Bama will teach the new Tenn recruits something about character and allow them to play for a championship"

In what decade should we look for this sterling character standard to make its appearance? Maybe 2020?

Posted by kantanuuv on February 27, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer's football record stands on its own. He's one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history, not just UT history.

It's true that most major programs have their share of off-the-field incidents. But at this moment in time, UT's problems are orders of magnitude worse than any other. It's obscene and embarrassing. Some of you seem to think Fulmer has some secret program to deal with thug players and we just need to be patient. There are no secrets, and there is no program.

To think it's a coach's job to build a player's character is ridiculous - that was the parent's responsibility. Fulmer is responsible for winning games and protecting/building the program - period. Letting rogue players dominate the psychology of the team and consume critical resources does not protect the program and does not help win games - that's why Fulmer is failing miserably in his job.

Over the past decade many of the old-school SEC coaches have been replaced by young, innovative, dynamic coaches who have had spectacular success very early, some winning national titles - Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Mark Richt. The atmosphere around those programs is absolutely electric. By clinging irrationally to Fulmer because of past performance, UT has lost out on some excellent hiring opportunities. When Fulmer's exit comes, and it will eventually, I wonder if a coach of that caliber will be available.

Posted by dford9 on February 27, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams is a nerd, has always been a turd;
oh excuse me, I meant a nerd (ha-ha-ha). He
continously downs our UT program, our Coach
(Phil), and our school; which is the "Pride
Of The Southland". As far as I'm concerned,
Mr. John Adams can go where it don't snow;
and NEVER resurface~!

Posted by VolnFlorida on February 27, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good job John Adams. Good job!

Posted by rabidvolfan on February 27, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolnFlorida, bless your heart! I can imagine how much a Vol in Florida would like to see a coaching change. Hope for your sake we get one soon. Maybe the team will make a big collapse this year and we can then move on to better things.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on February 27, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OMG, I can't believe u call yourself a fan. Hoping for a team collapse? PATHETIC

Posted by hiresanders on February 28, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer makes Barry Switzer look like Judge Judy. FIRE FULMER!!!

Posted by gregorsamsa2 on February 28, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams should be fired. I hope the University of Tennessee (a) never lets him into another press conference, (b) never grants him any interviews with anyone of importance (c) publically calls on the KNS to fire him. Enough is enough. FIRE JOHN ADAMS

Posted by bigfan502 on February 28, 2008 at 9:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WOW....GUYS...MAYBE VOL PLAYERS COULD BE VICTIMS OF A LITTLE CHICANERY ON THE PART OF BITTER FOES OUT TO THROW A MONKEY WRENCH INTO THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM....RECALL IN THE MID-NINETIES WHEN VOLS RANKED TOPS IN THE NATION IN RECRUITING...WHEN AT A PARTY HONORING THE TOP RANKED RECRUITS, A PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN IN THE GATHERING FIRED A PISTOL INTO THE AIR...SENDING THE CROWD INTO PANDEMONIUM. ARE YOU SURPRISED?IT WAS ASSUMED THAT A VOL RIVAL MAY HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE ACTION, BUT THE SHOOTER WAS NEVER DISCOVERED...SOME THOUIGHT A HIRED PI., FROM OUT OF TOWN M AY HAVE BEEN THE CULPRIT. IN RELATION TO THE CAR TAIL-LIGHT OUT ON A CAR CARRYING AT LEAST TWO TOP RECRUITS...ALL WERE ARRESTED..A KNOCKED-OUT TAIL-LIGHT IS AND OLD POLICE TRICK. ALL KPD OFFICERS ARE NOT RABID VOL FANS>>>COULD THAT HAVE SOME ACT OF RECRUITING SABOTAGE? WE'LL NEVER KNOW FOR SURE...BUT ALL TOP RANKED TEAMS HAVE BITTER FOES IN THE RECRUITING WARS...AND A LOT OF BIG MONEY AND WINNING SEASONS ARE ON THE LINE...BIG TIME. THIS IS JUST TALK TGHAT I HAVE HEARD. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Posted by commonsense32 on February 29, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First off, Let's get this crap outta the way. Fulmer is a joke... Someone said this year is "MAKE OR BREAK" what a crock, I have heard that for at least 5 years probably more.

Second, think about this.... These Men are still kids with close to God status up on the hill, so the think they are invincible, which we know they are not. This has been going on for years it was just the good ole boy syndrome then, the arresting officer would cal CPF, and the conversation would go something like this... Coach I just picked up one of yer boys for driving while he was drunk, what do you want me to do with him? CPF says, bring him to me and I will make sure he pays.. the kid would do a little xtra running, and all is good. Now these younger Cops don't play "good ole boy".

That being said why don't you people forget football just a second. Colquitt obviously has a problem, that needs to be addressed. He is probably an alcoholic, yes that 's right I said it out loud. Get him some help, so he can have a decent LIFE, nevermind football.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 29, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Climer in the tennessean today: Certainly, I've been critical of Fulmer in the past. It's safe to say we've agreed to disagree on a number of matters. But you have to draw the line somewhere. We can be critics, but should be fair.
Adams dredged up issues involving ex-Vols Dwayne Goodrich, Leonard Little, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and Albert Haynesworth, all in the NFL at the time of various indiscretions. Haynesworth was a fifth-year pro when he stomped on Cowboys center Andre Gurode's head. Is that Fulmer's fault? No. Anyway, I guess we've come full circle. For years, columnists have thought we were coaches. Now coaches think they're columnists.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on February 29, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

even Climer thinks adams is a joke!!!!!!!!

Posted by shipperman on March 1, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

People get real, UT backed into the Eastern Division championship. We are mediocre at best, Phil has done a good job, but like Majors, it is time to go. These criminals, er players need a new warden

Posted by speekupmike on March 1, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All this letter contains is recruiting tools used in the worst way someone can! Jon adams is just wanting to throw his YO-YO around in hoping that he can take all the credit when Tn gets there worst recruiting class ever. If that even comes out being true. If everyone would Quit talking about this crappy letter that jon wrote it would probably go away. Jon just stop throwing your YO-YO around Bro.

Posted by cmglassman on March 1, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ-nice call on Webb..he was the best I saw at UT..related to Fulmer he has downgraded our program to punk status..we are considered with the U of Miami, FSU, typical southern type school----all athlete, no education plan...Fulmer is now on the hot seat to compete with the headliners...Meyer--Sabin--Miles--Crooms--Petrino--Richt--Spurrier.How many national schools covet these guys and how many have Fulmer on their short list...UT fan...Fulmer = mediocrity,but hey he is a home boy so let's stay on that horse..even though it is a bonafide loser...I will take ND's 3-9 any day over a 9-4 bowl eliglble team... integrity and honor matter.

Posted by douglasawilliams on March 2, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tell me what large university does not have some of their football players in trouble at some time? Should we fire Bowden because 22 of his players cheated academically? I remember the Oklahoma of the 70' and 80's certainly had many players arrested but I guess winning matters and you can wink at such transgressions. Did not Fulmer kick off the team such NFL caliber players like Ontario Smith and Lemarcus Coker? How many people were calling for the firing of Jimmy Jones at Miami when his players were involved in serious crimes not just DUI's or pot smoking/bar room brawls? Now 18-22 year old young men are prone to lack of judgement and most football programs are going to have some of them in trouble with the law. Let Hamilton decide when to change the direction of the program not John Adams. Mr. Adams has lost his journalist integrity by being blatant of his dislike of Coach Fulmer. Would he of had the courage to call for his job if UT would of had won a national title? I doubt it.

Posted by smbod on March 2, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To the Adams haters - grow up. Y'all sound like Hillary Clinton after Obama calls her on the carpet...whaaaaaaa! The real issue: do we want UT to continue its tradition as a respectable power house? If so, any coach/program that tolerates criminals must go. Get over your fear of firing Fulmer and focus your energy/passion on what's best for the players, their families, and their experience at the school and on the team. He has proven he is not a leader and now is the time to fire him, replace him, and get the program back on track.

Posted by sgtvols on March 3, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

how dare the bum print facts in the paper. doesn't he remember how bad robinson was in 1936?

Posted by Stumps on March 4, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hmmmm. how time has a way of change perceptions.

Majors might have been a great player, but he was a lousy coach. Fulmer got the head job for a reason. What did Majors do at Pitt?

Fulmer is going nowhere, he took TN to the SEC championship game.

Adams must be scraping the bottom of the barrel again for topics. When you're as creative as a block of concrete, and your job is to write for a living, you end up relying on the "bash Fulmer" article way too much, but hey, it's all the guy has. Maybe he's realized that he's peaked with KNS, and he's bitter, or maybe he realizes that he's not as talented of a writer as he once dreamed? who knows, but this sure is a weak article.

Posted by warriorman86 on August 1, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer must go!