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Tennessee men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton came out in support of head football coach Phillip Fulmer in a letter released on line Friday to season ticketholders.

In a column in Tuesday’s News Sentinel, sports editor John Adams suggested Fulmer step down over a recent rash of off-field incidents by UT football players.

“Many of you may have heard of columnist John Adams of the Knoxville News Sentinel writing a piece earlier this week calling for a change in leadership of our football team,” Hamilton wrote in a letter he sends to UT ticket holders on a routine basis. “Mr. Adams’ column is totally misguided and inappropriate. Coach Fulmer has responded in a guest column ... John Adams does not know the Phillip Fulmer I know.

“The education and growth of young men is a tough business requiring tough decisions and tough love. Coach Fulmer understands that. While several off-field incidents with our football team have occurred over the last few weeks, I can assure you these situations are being looked at with a critical eye by our coaching and administrative staff as we dole out punishment, and they are taken very seriously. ...

“An institution could not ask for a better role model in dealing with these young men than Phillip Fulmer. He is a person of integrity and high moral character. This talk of nonsense from Mr. Adams only serves as a distraction from your university’s football team and its goals....”

In his column, Adams mentioned eight UT football players being arrested or disciplined over a six-week period.