Posted by TurboFan on January 11, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As if the 200+ comments on the other article aren't enough to give a clue.

Posted by thesavageorange on January 11, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WD40plusVol ,That's what I was thinking.

Posted by TommyJack on January 11, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll play. Great Hire. Pound the fritter.

Posted by texvol on January 11, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We all said hiring Cutt for the second time was the Second Coming. I wasn't. So not sure. Too early to tell.

Posted by Tenacn on January 11, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am all for giving him a chance. He seems to have a lot of energy to bring to the team. Young blood. Hopefully he will be a good recruiter. I am ready for September already. Go Vols!

Posted by andy112382 on January 11, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't see anything to the argument on where his experience makes it a bad hire, pretty stupid, actually. Does every coach that is good automatically start their career at an SEC school, OSU, OU, USC, Michigan, etc....you gotta start somewhere after all. Plus it isn't where he has experience, it is what he made of it.

After all, the ones who probally vote 'bad hire' are the same ones who wanted someone with NO experience calling plays (Trooper) and than turn around and say Clawson isn't good because WHERE he has experience....doesn't quite makes sense.

Great hire!

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by bigsid4 on January 11, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it was a great hire. I trust that he will give it his all, given his track record. I cant wait to see what things we will do differently. Although, I dont know about the price tag that came with him.

Posted by rockyknox on January 11, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Question: Who was the biggest beneficiary of the changing of the guard on the offensive side of the ball? Ask our DB coach. Fulmer still has some important unfinished business to take care of.

Posted by utwick on January 11, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great hire. Someone out of the UT "family". Fresh ideas. A desire to prove himself in a new environment. Seems to have energy and talent. Will work within current offensive scheme (that won't go away), but will had his stamp to it. New, young blood should bring enthusiasm and shake things up.

Posted by texvol on January 11, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Anyone voting bad hire here needs to go back to his home team site.

Posted by jkrug on January 11, 2008 at 8:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I live in Richmond. You, that live in TN, have to realize that both Richmond & Virginia Commonwealth University are both "mid major/stepping stone schools". John Bellein, HC @ Michigan, & Gary Wainwright, HC @ DePaul, were coaching UR basketball and were called to better programs.
Virginia Commonweatlth's coach Anthony Grant could go UK next year. He would turn around UK by just showing up. This "promotion" from Richmond is typical.

Posted by BigOrangeVol29 on January 11, 2008 at 8:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

On paper, I really like this hire. Clawson seems to be hailed as a man of great character and I think his offense will bring a breath of fresh air to the program. My only concern about the guy is adjusting to the level of recruiting that a D-I school like UT must do. I'm guessing that he'll rely heavily on Drayton to help him since he does have big time recruiting experience.

Posted by TurboFan on January 11, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What if I don't live in TN, jkrug, do I still have to "realize"? J/K.

Good performance at a lower level doesn't guarantee good performance at the higher level but a bad performance at the lower level is too risky. So it is not a bad hire.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 11, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

His team better win the Orange and White game or I'm changing my vote.

Posted by rbatten9 on January 11, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love the hire!

Posted by rbatten9 on January 11, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh and how about we sell out the orange and white spring game? I mean Alabama won't get that record if we do.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 11, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rbatten9 - Great idea. I was at the game that previously held the record and was in Guinness, I want to be in there again.

Posted by pdhuff on January 11, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great hire simply because he isn't "family" (soon to be). Just maybe we'll get some plays that will even surprise us rookies. I'm giving this man a lot of rope and support. He'll need it.

TJ, got the K Kreme bill taken care of. Brought back 4 apple fritters, size of a saucer. Two are left and are in danger from a direct snack attack. Steer the course upward OC David.

Posted by jevolball7 on January 11, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can someone tell me the NFL game times....PLEASE

Posted by rockyknox on January 11, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jevolball7, you have access to the internet but you can't find the time for the NFL games?????????

Posted by rockyknox on January 11, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jevolball7, you have access to the internet but you can't find the time for the NFL games?????????

Posted by tapeworm on January 11, 2008 at 8:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WWST? (What Would Smokey Think?)

Posted by knoxjackson on January 11, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 11, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.
"His team better win the Orange and White game or I'm changing my vote."

lol, that was good

Posted by VOLinDAWGland on January 11, 2008 at 9:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Local Atlanta sports radio was talking about the TN hire today and part time contributor and Falcon WR, Brian Finneran called in to talk about his former coach at Villanova. He was gushing about the guy. Talked about how aggressive his playcalling is; how he designs the offense around the skills of the players that he has; how he turned around a terrible Villanova team in on year. He runs a lot of 3 and 4 WR sets with a lot of crossing routes; works to get one on one miss matches; uses the slot receiver a lot; likes to run 2 RB and 3 WR sets. Finneran caught 80+ passes and 90+ passes his two years with Clawson, one year with a Sophomore QB. Finneran talked about what an intense competitor he is and demanding during the season yet also personable and interactive with his players off the field. That he's a great athlete himself and has a great BBall game and will school most of his players in pick-up games.

Finneran says he's a winner and a great hire by Tennessee.

Perhaps he's everything the urbanlegend is and more without the personality baggage.

Well done Coach Fulmer!

Posted by DennisVols on January 11, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This team has never been bad. Played bad at times very much so. Coach Cut’s unwillingness to expand, add some variety to his offensive schemes cost UT. He did a great job of bringing the discipline back to UT that went away while he was gone but he was always conservative in his play design and calling. His coaching kept us good but stopped us from becoming great.
Clawson appears to have all the qualities of Cut without the liabilities. I am excited that our pro-style offense will start playing like pro.s. Clawson’s teams always are prepared for what their opponents do on defense. Their plays will vary by the type of defense that we face. Not a “One size fits all” offense we have seen over the past. Thinking about all the promising offensive talent we did not see this year. How many years did we have to wait for Mech and Swain to develop before they became stars and then they left the following season. This new staff will develop our talent before they are old enough for the NFL so we can actually enjoy watching them for more than one season.

Posted by KingsportVol on January 11, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bold move by Fulmer.I will not make any more Fulmer jokes until after the season begins.Change is not always a bad thing.This program has needed a makeover for years.Looking forward to next year.Now get in me belly.Go Big Orange!!!

Posted by GrandCanyonVol on January 11, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

DennisVols....I couldn't have said it any better. You are absolutely 100% correct in your post. Thank you for laying it out for all to see!

Posted by ORANGEjayhawk on January 11, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He has TWO national coach of the year awards. Yeah it is at a lower level, which only tells me the talent is thinner. He has the talent and can use what he already has. This guy has more options than your local gas station, how can he not win? Hell our own coach Phil Fulmer coached at the sub-division; did he win a national coach of the year award at Appy State? I don't think he did! Yeah he won a national coach of the year award in 98' but look at the talent and the RUNNING QB he had then. Don't ya'll think (I am country) the talent level is just a tad better? I do. I'm sure CLAWson has a mean claw with his witty grin.
I really dig this guy for what it is worth! He and the new coaching staff will bring down the deathly smoke from the smokies and use it to suffocate our opponents in the upcoming season.

Posted by rbatten9 on January 11, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Man if we make some needed changes on defense I don't know what I'd do.

Posted by BleedsOrangeinMO on January 11, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with Orangejayhawk (I'm in MO.we're almost neighbors). I remember another coach at UT that was from a "mid - major" or "lower level" of college athletics. I'm talking BRUCE PEARL. Seems this new hire brings many of the same characteristics: very demanding of his players on the field, and a father to them off the field. He also has the drive and passion of B. Pearl. B. Pearl used the talent that was here at UT and look what he did with it. (I've thought several times that B. Pearl was going out on the court). If Phil will allow him to experiment to show the players and Phil what he can do then we will be in great shape. I know that FLA and BAMA scored big time on us there were two reasons for that: 1)our offense could not control the ball and use up the clock and it 2) worn our young defense out. Cut was a good QB coach but he was too predictable and conservative for me. He played not to loss. There are those that say Chief should go. He has been offered deals in the NFL for years because he produces great players. Few of the Al Wilsons, were great players when they got to UT but the were coached by one of the best Chief. Our defense was young; but its not anymore. Welcome new coaches!! Now step away from the microphone and get to recruiting!!! P.S. this weekend you would even have to leave campus to do your recruiting. GO VOLS!!! We may have just found a "football clone of B. Pearl)

Posted by PowerT on January 11, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love it! Great Job Phil! Cant wait till September. GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!

Posted by FWBVol on January 11, 2008 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ORANGEjayhawk, check your facts and get them straight, Phillip Fulmer never coached at Appy State. He coached as a grad assistant at UT, then was an assistant at Witchita State and Vandy before returning to UT in 1980. He never won a COY at the small school level, because he was an assistant at Witchita State.

I do think this is a great hire. A young coach wanting to proove he can do it at the highest level. The fact he has been a head coach tells me he's not a yes man.

I believe if Phillip Fulmer wasn't serious about shaking things up he could have stayed in house as some have suggested he would and promoted Adkins to OC.

I think we might see an offense we think we recognize this fall, but that we've never seen before, and that is exciting.

Way to go Coach Fulmer. Welcome to the Vol Nation Dave Clawson.

Posted by RockyTop1 on January 11, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GREAT Hire...Great job by Phil!!

Posted by jh43 on January 11, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm excited. Cut was not agressive. I believe Clawson will be. I think we are in for some real excitement, and I believe our team will be energized with the agressive style.
I hope we can salvage this year in recruiting. Next year will be a banner year after this guy shows that we are going to be an exciting team.
Go Vols!

Posted by TNPilgrim on January 11, 2008 at 11:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"This team has never been bad". Are you kidding me? You obviously didn't watch the Cal, FL and AL games or see them struggle against Vandy and KY. This team was lucky and inconsistant. Hopefully, this new OC will bring a new mindset that will have an effect on both offense and defense, resulting in a winning attitude. Cutcliff had to reintroduce this philosophy when he came back since Fulmer had let discipline and integrity slide. We don't know how Clawson will work out because this coach has neither been in a big-time conference, nor worked against SEC competition. It seems like a reasonably good hire, but the hysterical optimism in some of these posts is a bit premature.

Posted by Cleve on January 11, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I say we play the spider man theme after every first down as the refs are resetting the chains.

Posted by VOLinDAWGland on January 11, 2008 at 11:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a bit of back to the future...the offense I think we're going to see, we used to see when Walt Harris ran the O and Phil Fulmer followed him. Things evolved away from that under Cut, then Sanders, then Cut again. Those that think Phil rules with an iron fist are not watching closely...the problem is that Phil delegated responsibility too much at times. Clawson appears to be a throwback to the future of Harris/Fulmer OC glory days with attacking offenses that featured legit track guys on the edges mixed with smash mouth running up the gut. The only thing that slowed those offenses down was Johny's sometimes overly conservatism particularly against Bama.

The other good thing is that Clawson and the new staff doesn't know better than to get too tight for Florida...in fact Drayton KNOWS FL players put their football pants on one leg at a time just like our boys.

Now let's close out this recruiting cycle.

Posted by Hacksaw57 on January 12, 2008 at 12:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Looks like a good hire just as pdhuff said in his post simply because it gives "new blood" into the Big Orange system plus it seems like it was a critical hire at the height of the recruiting season. Maybe a well orchestrated move by Coach Fulmer. Maybe TouchdownTN has an opinion, but, he is conspicuously absent with his opinion here lately in all this matter.
It's INCONCEIVABLE that he is at a loss for words!

Posted by BigOrangeFan on January 12, 2008 at 2:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by KingsportVol on January 11, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Bold move by Fulmer.I will not make any more Fulmer jokes until after the season begins."

Oh golly, I know the coaches and all the fans on here are glad to hear that KingsportVol is going to give us all a break until the season starts. Wow.

Posted by ORANGEjayhawk on January 12, 2008 at 3:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks for pointing out the Wheat Shockers for me FWBvol. One should think I would know the third biggest college in Kansas. I will send you a little thank you card for keeping me straight. Seriously do you think coach Phil would have won a COY at Wichita State (home of the original pizza hut) or Appy State, even if he were the headman?

P.S. My point still stands that he did not get a COY at the sub-division, regardless he was never the head coach.

Posted by dgb63 on January 12, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I like the hire. I do think it gives a new thinking to the staff. Now we have to wait and see if it becomes a great hire.

Posted by why36knot on January 12, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think this is another stupid poll devised by Hooker and others who are looking for controversial comments to discuss on theri radio programs.

Posted by dgb63 on January 12, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I kind of agree with the poll being stupid. How can we vote on the questions. We don't know if it was a great hire or not. I voted good just because only time will tell if it is great hire or a bust...

Posted by james on January 12, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As a businessman, I voted wait and see, time will tell. I think this is true with most people I hire. They all look good on paper but some turn out above average and some below. Time will tell. On paper, this looks good. I hope the paper transforms to the field. Go VOls

Posted by stevefrommemphis on January 12, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Have any coaches recently moved from success at Division I-AA up to Division I-A? Well, Jim Tressel comes to mind. Like james, I say time will tell; let's be patient and see what happens.

Posted by ellisonfamily on January 12, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I voted purely based on the paper. He looks great there. Of course, time will tell. I just get a sense that this may be a young "Urban Meyer" type talent. If that is the case, could he possibly be around until PF needs someone to follow him after retirement...?

Posted by grvol on January 12, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Can't think less of him simply because he started out coaching at smaller programs. Football is football. IQ is IQ. Sanders started out in the SEC, didn't help his coaching ability any.

Posted by lempga on January 12, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish we had another Newspaper in Knoxville. Adams and his bunch are terrible and certainly anti-Vols.

Dan that covers the Lady Vols is the only one that writes positive articles.

Posted by TommyJack on January 12, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

lempga: Don't see the KNS bias, myself. They aren't paid to be cheerleaders.

Posted by drwfocus on January 12, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"He looks good 'git-en' off the bus." Let's see what he looks like in Jan '09. I am very excited about POSSIBLY seeing something different on offense since the '80s. Very stupid poll.

Posted by oldorange on January 12, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I love the hire. The reasons are several: The guy is young enough to have the experiance and still able to relate to the players. The guy is an up & comer. The guy brings an excellent receiver coach with him

Posted by KingsportVol on January 12, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by BigOrangeFan on January 12, 2008 at 2:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh golly, I know the coaches and all the fans on here are glad to hear that KingsportVol is going to give us all a break until the season starts. Wow.

Great post.Those anti Fulmer guys are stupid.

Posted by FWBVol on January 12, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ORANGEJayhawk, CPF only won his COY at the HIGHEST Level of college football in 1998.

Posted by DennisVols on January 12, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It is understandable that some may have a wait and see approach to the new coaching hires. After all the last several years have been littered with disappointments of a ’05 season, bowl losses, big losses to rivals like UF and Bama.
There is also reason to be upbeat, even positive about UT football. Some improvements have been made since the ’05 fallout, not enough for some but still some improvement. This year’s bowl win over a ranked opponent was the first in many years, going to the SEC championship game was good but winning it would be great.
The fact that Fulmer took the time did not make an offer to someone just to keep them from getting away. He managed this hiring like a professional by not offering the position to the first person interviewed. He looked at many options and all outside the UT family, which was a surprise to many.
Clawson for all we know at this time looks like the perfect cure for what has ailed UT’s football team. The Vols offense under Cut may not have been a weakness but it neither was it a strength. UT’s offense needs new life in it. Not a complete over-haul but a new way of doing what we do right. The field has to be stretched down the middle if you expect the running game to be truly effective. A two back system some of the time so the D-line has to account for more than one runner. Those are just a couple of things Clawson will bring to UT that coach Cut was either unable or unwilling to do. I wish coach Cut all the best at Duke. He will need it.

Posted by sidwalkvol on January 12, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

has touchdowntn weighed in on any of these hires? Or Jamali? Or whoever else... just wondering what the view is from that end of the field (though I see tommyjack is cautiously optimistic...is that fair, tj?).

Posted by TommyJack on January 12, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sidewalk: Very optimistic.

Posted by andy112382 on January 12, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

167 Morons and counting!

Posted by KingsportVol on January 12, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

andy112382 I voted good hire.But because these other people don't share our views on this issue does not make them morons.I'm not the biggest Fulmer fan in the world but I will give him credit.When everyone jumped ship the Captian stepped up.We will see how well he did in the fall.Go Big Orange!!!

Posted by pdhuff on January 12, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack, I have several rolls of fencing if we all start heading for the cliffs with our little sweaters on. But, its great to see something happen.

It should be apparent that NFL coaches (of any ilk) are not enamored with college and its recruiting work. I know we're excited and rightfully so, but I also know the cold fingers of realism are drumming slowly on the edge of the stage. Stay this course, Vols.

Posted by TommyJack on January 12, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PD: Would be more interested in jelly rolls!
Stay this course indeed. kudos to the Big Boy.

Posted by leedsvol2007 on January 13, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was greatly impressed by two things he said paraphrasing he said his goal was to get the ball to playmakers in space and adapt your offense to the talent on hand.

Also, he talked about being balanced in terms of being able to pass against 8-9 in the box and run against more balanced defenses. Not a 50/50 pass run ratio.

The guy is obviously bright and should be a fine recruiter and about the same age as Fulmer when he became head coach. He is young enough to relate and experienced enough to be a fine coach.

It looks like Fulmer hit a home run. Time will tell.

GoVols!

Posted by givim6 on January 13, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

In making a hire, creditials, background check for character issues, and fit with the existing staff are the critical issues.

This guy obviously passed with flying colors. The best predictor of future success is past performance. It is not always 100% accurate, but it is the best the new employer has as a benchmark.

One caveat to all of the above is called the "Peter Principal" where an indivivual has been elevated to 1 level beyond his capability, in which case he would probably fail at his new position.

All of the "markers" for new OC would indicate that he is very capable of moving upward not only from Richmond, but to a HC position in big time D-1. If all of the predicting factors pan out, he won't be at Tn for long. But that's the risk you take when you hire top tier people.

My professional opinion is that this guy is a
"WINNER".

Posted by givim6 on January 13, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sp malfunction in prior post. credentials

Posted by lempga on January 16, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Be a great hire if he and Fulmer step outside of the box and hire Quarles.

Quarles energy can and will help this team. HIRE HIM!

Posted by icecream on January 16, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Spells his name the right way. Loves football. Knows his stuff. It was time to clean house. Good job Phil.

Posted by icecream on January 16, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Quarles should have something to do with play calling. Played for him, and he'll make you think you're invincible. If we are smart enough to get him, it will be the best hire ever.

Posted by bigfan502 on January 16, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

JUST WONDERING IF HE CAN RECRUIT...WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME OF THOSE GOOD VIRGINIA BOYS THAT VA. TECH GETS YEARLY...GEN. NEYLAND ALWAYS LIKED W. VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA HIGH SCHOOLERS.

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

CPF coaches in the toughest division of the toughest conference in major college football. As fine a coach as I'm sure Quarles is... his greatest accomplishment to date is being a very good coach in a state that doesn't have particularly strong HS football.

As for CPF's ability to coach guys up, the record speaks for itself. He works in a state without a ton of blue chip HS players every year and even as good as he recruits he doesn't average a top 5 class over his career. None the less he IS among the top 5 for putting guys in the NFL.

UT isn't considering a bad coach for the TE job as best I can tell... but you can easily support Quarles without taking an unfair shot at CPF.

FTR, every good coach and especially HS coach convinces his players they can move mountains. I played for one like that and we were very good. The coach in Robbinsville, NC while I was in HS won something like 20-22 state championships in his career. While not a dime a dozen... it isn't as unique as you guys seem to think.

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bigfan, Clawson is from NY and has coached in the mid-Atlantic his whole career. He probably has some very good tie ins to NJ, PA, OH, NY, MD, and VA.

UT definitely needs to open Va up.