"Staying the course" isn't just a Phillip Fulmer catch phrase; it's his state of mind.

Through the good times and the bad, Tennessee's head football coach is predictably unflappable.

Ever the persuasive optimist, Fulmer, it seems, could convince economic forecasters that a pending recession is just a figment of their imagination or Republicans that the 2008 presidential election isn't a lost cause.

Fulmer doesn't admit to seeing problems; he professes to welcoming challenges.

So I wasn't surprised by some of Fulmer's answers when I interviewed him about UT's 2008 signing class.

Optimistic? That may be an understatement.

"I think we've got a good base right now and I am pleased with where we are," Fulmer said. "Got several things going on at the end. I think we have a chance to go from a good class to a great class."

That would be quite a leap. At week's end, Scout.com ranked UT's 2008 class as 53rd best in the nation and 11th best in the SEC. Rivals.com ranked UT 39th and eighth, respectively. That ranking hasn't changed much over the past two months but should improve slightly thanks to two commitments the Vols landed over the weekend.

Before UT landed Olive Branch (Miss.) High School linebacker Marlon Walls and Siegel High School defensive lineman Montori Hughes, it had been almost two months since the Vols had received a commitment from a high school prospect.

Fans can't solely blame Fulmer for the mid-winter sluggishness. When David Cutcliffe left his offensive coordinator post at UT for the head coaching job at Duke, he took two coaches with him, including recruiting coordinator Matt Luke. And no one can blame Trooper Taylor for leaving UT for a promotion at Oklahoma State.

It took almost a month to hire four replacements. In that time, the Vols didn't land a single commitment. That's no coincidence.

"It couldn't help but affect us a little bit," Fulmer said.

In that half-staffed time period, Fulmer relied on some ol' recruiting friends, including offensive line coach Greg Adkins and defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks, who have served as recruiting coordinators during their times at UT.

Defensive coordinator John Chavis, defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and secondary coach Larry Slade all pitched in to keep from losing ground.

There's no question that UT lost out on some prospects worried about the coaching transition, but at least Fulmer didn't lose a commitment in the month where he was recruiting coaches as much as prospects.

"The guys that were here - the defensive staff and Greg Adkins and myself - we held on pretty good," Fulmer said.

Have no doubt, Fulmer wants a great recruiting class in 2008, but that's not all he was looking for when he hired four coaches: offensive coordinator Dave Clawson, receivers coach Latrell Scott, running backs coach Stan Drayton and tight ends coach Jason Michael.

"I think we've hired a really outstanding group of coaches that will certainly pay great dividends for us down the road," Fulmer said. "Short term, they've done a really fantastic job. Not only are they trying to help us finish this class, but helping us get a good start on next year's class."

Fulmer can't talk specifically about prospects, as per NCAA rules, but he's used to losing recruits. It comes with the job.

That was certainly the case last week when UT lost out on offensive lineman Kenneth Page from A.C. Flora High School in Columbia, S.C., and defensive tackle Brandon Thompson from Thomasville (Ga.) High School.

Both committed to Clemson. Fans fretted. Fulmer seemed unfazed.

"A lot of times when you start going out of state, recruiting the best players in other states, you don't get everybody that you go after," Fulmer said. "But we've always been able to get our share."

Fulmer's players are making it more challenging to get UT's fair share. The Vols have had five players involved in three incidents with law enforcement in a little more than two weeks. Fulmer, however, didn't seem concerned that the timing of the incidents could undermine UT's 2008 class.

"It doesn't matter whether that's during recruiting time or any other time," Fulmer said. "That's something (good behavior) we expect from our guys. We haven't had very many issues.

"We had a couple of things that happened there at the beginning of the semester by some guys making some poor decisions, but that happens all over the country when you're dealing with young people.

"That's just part of it. It's not something that you like. We don't accept that and we go from there."

Cool, calm and collected, even in the face of one of his toughest recruiting challenges.

Predictable? Perhaps. But that may be exactly what the 2008 signing class needs.

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.