Another disappointing, double-digit loss left Tennessee singing the same refrain.
But the Vols’ 27-6 loss to South Carolina on Saturday, left Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier crowing about the absence of another familiar tune.
“The Tennessee band was there last night, weren’t they?” Spurrier said Sunday afternoon in his weekly conference call with reporters. “I’m used to hearing ‘Rocky Top.’ . . . Maybe they only play that when they score. Usually when you play Tennessee, you hear that ‘Rocky Top’ so often it’s ringing in your brain.”
Tennessee, 3-6 heading into Saturday’s 1 p.m. homecoming game against Wyoming (TV: Pay-per-view), is singing the same old tune about continuing to work and not letting their frustration show.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer said the example must come from the coaches.
“That what’s I started the staff meeting off about,” Fulmer said Sunday night on his weekly teleconference. “Our energy, the look in our eyes, the demeanor and how we approach it in meetings, film sessions, practice and everything, we’re professionals and we have and will continue to be looking forward to playing and excited about getting a win and moving forward.”
For Fulmer, who continues to draw fire from fans and others, it hasn’t been an easy thing to do.
“Anybody that likes Tennessee and cares about what the product looks like on the field is frustrated,” Fulmer said, echoing comments from this year. “I’m disappointed that we haven’t played well. I don’t think I’ve let it show on the practice field or in meetings. The players, they’re disappointed and frustrated, but they haven’t let it show in the game. We continue to get effort and haven’t seen a whole lot of finger pointing or anything like that.
“They’ve done what we’ve asked them to do and what they should do, and that’s continue to work and stay positive, play hard and look forward to what the next challenge is.”
This week’s challenge is Wyoming, which improved to 3-6 with a 35-10 victory over San Diego State on Saturday.
More than the Cowboys, who rank last in the nation but only five spots behind Tennessee with an average of 11.7 points per game, the Vols’ biggest challenge could be finding a way to reach another adjusted goal.
Losses to Auburn, Florida and Georgia wiped out any hope for Tennessee to repeat as SEC East champions.
Subsequent losses to Alabama and South Carolina leave the Vols needing to win their final three games to finish 6-6 for the chance to reach a lower-tier bowl.
Fulmer pointed to several upperclassmen on defense — Robert Ayers, Wes Brown, Dan Williams, Walter Fisher, Ellix Wilson and Rico McCoy — as players responsible for making sure the Vols don’t slide into selfishness.
“They continue to work and fight,” Fulmer said. “The younger guys, they’ll follow suit. That’s what I expect and that’s what I see.”
But after Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, Spurrier saw something different than he’s used to seeing from the Vols.
He also downplayed the significance of his team’s victory over Tennessee, despite the fact the Gamecocks won for just the fourth time in 27 all-time meetings dating back to 1903.
“We didn’t make a big deal about Tennessee,” Spurrier said, noting that his team was a six-point favorite over the Vols. “We were supposed to beat them last night. We could have beaten them by more maybe if our offense had got going.
“Tennessee isn’t what they’ve been in the past.”
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 169
BillsBrother writes:
“Tennessee isn’t what they’ve been in the past.”
Can we hang 21 points on the Cowboys this week?
khelton657 writes:
Spurrier is classless.....taking shots like that at a wounded fellow coach doesn't help his position at all, just makes him look petty..again. And the bad part of it is right now we can't do anything about it...
HeckuvaStandpoint writes:
My Focus is playing FULMER BINGO
www.fulmerbingo.com
Look at the film, play retro FULMER BINGO. Work like heck to get the "Academic Effort" by filling in ALL the squares.....center square, Kick Return is already FREE
jcherrie#219531 writes:
You gotta' love Phil.
Personally, I think he needs to step down. I also give him an 'A' as a recruiter - a 'B' for preparing his team - a 'D' for being the game day coach - and an 'F' for knowing when to step down and spend time with his family.
And my 'D' is not totally justified - that's based on recent years. Phil has won a lot of games by punting on 4-1 and putting the game on the D when the game was on the line - or going for the field goal. Phil has been patient and has the postitive attribute of having "ice in his veins" by being poised when the game is on the line. That patience has won Tennessee a lot of close games.
But somethings changed ... times have changed. Thanks Phil but .....
soccervol writes:
“Tennessee isn’t what they’ve been in the past.” If that doesn't tell you that change is needed fast.
coach75 writes:
that just kept steve from being the new coach because he probably hurt mikey's feelings by telling the truth.
Colliervol writes:
“Tennessee isn’t what they’ve been in the past.”
Well now, that just about says it all, doesn't it? As far as Phil's comments go, I am no longer interested. He has said the same junk since the season started and I'm not sure why anybody even asks anymore. Only he sounds less convincing every time I hear it.
All I'm interested in is the impending announcement and who the next coach is going to be. I think I've been as patient as any fan could be but I have now officially had it. Phil deserves to go out with dignity and our thanks but the operative word there is "go". Time to get on with it.
DogAndPonyShow writes:
Good grief - UTerrible will win big against Wyoming, and the Vol Nation will be back in full force, noting "improved effort", "better offensive production", "blah, blah nick nack paddywack".
Ignore the slow, but constant downward spiral of the last ten years, and next week, a big win over mighty Wyoming (better known to everyone outside of Knoxville as - "who the F"?) will right this ship and have us "pointed in the right direction".
Yeah, the same direction water drains down a toilet.
Hey - on a side note, which mall in K-ville sells those (Big)orange-colored glasses you fans all wear? I've got a fat chick with warts I'm trying to upgrade to a 10.
BillsBrother writes:
Absolutely!
Save this article as a response to anyone that ever writes Spurrier's name as a candidate again.
Colliervol writes:
The truth hurts, doesn't it a.w.? Personally, I don't have an issue with anything he said because it's absolutely true. I only get upset if people are exaggerating with no facts or just flat out lying. He's not doing either.
BillsBrother writes:
Why use the glasses? I'm confident your standards are pretty low.
gobigorange writes:
How many different focuses can one have in a single season?
I thought that was susposed to be the only focus.
DennisVols writes:
We will be lucky to win this game. I hate to say it but the way this team is right now both physically and mentally is going to make winning even the easiest of teams a challenge for UT.
The fact that Fulmer said "We continue to get effort and haven’t seen a whole lot of finger pointing or anything like that."shows that there are bigger problems brewing now.
Pulling Nick after one INT Sat was a BIG mistake and will begin to divide this fragile team. To say it was because he was "not playing hard" and you let a O-line who has not played hard all year, didn't bench Foster after his timely fumbles, let Crompton go 4 games throwing more INT's than TD's and now you chose to "set a tone" with Nick, who by the way was laying flat on his back because he just leveled again due to poor line play.
This is by far the worst coached UT team I have ever seen and the decisions keep getting worse as do the results.
xvolx writes:
he wasnt taking a shot. stateing a fact.
Wawabamaisbetter writes:
OMG!! You have got to be kidding or have bumped your head on the concrete really hard!! Phat Phill came after the coaches at bama and cut a deal to get off with the NCAA and you have the nerve to call Spurrier classless??? hahahahah You deserve him...I hope you don't fire him. Fulmer is your man. Deal with him. wow.
khelton657 writes:
Spurrier did the easiest, most small minded thing he could do, he is only in slightly better shape than Fulmer as far s team performance and hs zero reason to gloat. I am certainly not a Fulmer fan but there was no justification for Spurriers low road remarks.
If you were at work, knew a fellow worker was struggling mightily and was about to lose his job of 20+ years, even if he deserved it you wouldn't make fun of him to everyone in the company. Classless. Hope we can give Spurrier his due next year,Mr QB maker is going nowhere.
thevoice writes:
Thanks!! Tired of the Spurrierites!!! He's pretty petty. He does speak the truth though. It's sort of refreshing to hear a head coach not be politically correct.
GrandmaVol writes:
It never ceases to amaze me, how you bammer f$$$s have your head in the sand. You hate someone who turned your school in for violations. Hello??? Whatever happened to ethics???? You cheated!!! Get over it and move on. Fulmer isn't at fault here, you putz. Your boosters, your players, your coaches are to blame for the problem. Hope no one commits a crime against you,there is a witness and he or she won't come forward. Bet you'd be singing a different tune if that happened, you nitwit.
bigorangeguy writes:
Hopefully UT will win all three games and get some kind of bowl game. Winning out does not save Phill. It is time for a change.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
We have to admit it Vol fans but Spurrier, if he would give us five years...might save us fans for maybe a generation of frustation...I can see a calvacade of coaches coming thru the cycle to no avail...Even three years..then allow him to choose young coach for the future.
et_vol_fan writes:
The O-line is horrible. The special teams are horrible. You got a coach that can't make adjustments in a game. He's never been a coach that can make an adjustment and deviate from the game plan.
Colliervol writes:
News flash. Fulmer (and six other coaches including Spurrier) did exactly what they should have done with Alabama and the junk that was going on. And if it happens again, they should do exactly the same thing. Everybody knows what was going on. It's on the record if you want to read it.
thegreatpumpkin writes:
Something I think that keeps Fulmer here year after year after losses to top ranked SEC opponents is that our schedule is top heavy and Tennessee "appears" to be turning things around at the end of the season when in fact we are playing teams like vandy and ky and the same ole garbage is still on the field it just looks a little better in comparison. The sheep are quick to forget the a s s whippins we take early in the season. I fear the same will happen this year if they somehow pull off 3 wins.
khelton657 writes:
Spurrier ahs lost any fire that he ever had in his youth...he's a golfer..that's where he would rather be. Does he look for even one second like he is enjoying it now ?
ozoney#235138 writes:
anyone notice that welovetennessee hasn't been spewing her normal "it's not phil's fault" the past few articles? think someone finally did the right thing and institutionalised her?
indianacurly writes:
she's commenting on the basketball exhibition ...
TommyJack writes:
Why would it surprise anyone that Spurrier made a classless remark? He's done it for years. He was, is, and will always be a jagoff.
orange_n_blood writes:
I hate Spurrier. I know our team sucks this year and Hell I haven't heard rocky top very much this year. I'm not mad that he told the truth about our team I just hate the man. Any real TN fan can't really want him to coach our team. If they remember anything from when he coached at FL, then they wouldn't say that he should coach our team. SC sucks too so I don't even know why he made a comment. He's right he beat a team he should have. If Wyoming is worse than us scoring wise I predict we will have the first tie since they got rid of them when they finally call the game after 7 overtimes and still no points from either team. Please for the love of god step down Phil. Take a smaller buyout and announce it soon so we can start the process of finding a replacement.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
so most everyone on this board ridicules and demeans this team and some want to claim Spurriers "tenn isnt what they have been in the past" as taking a shot and classless??????--unbelievable seeing hes only agreeing with posters here
khelton657 writes:
Plenty believable, I may get angry at my brother or my son, but if someone else ridicules him in public, be darn certain I will take up for him. It is CS for anyone to ridicule Fulmer now with what he is going through, plus, Spurrier is hardly doing well enough to gloat. Mr offensive genius' time is coming.
Grim1 writes:
oh c'mon guys.....you got to give Steve this one.....HE KICK OUR @$$!!!!!!
classless or not.....HE KICKED OUR @$$.
and he is right....“Tennessee isn’t what they’ve been in the past.”
I think he kind of feels sorry for us.....
.
“The Tennessee band was there last night, weren’t they?” Spurrier said Sunday afternoon in his weekly conference call with reporters. “I’m used to hearing ‘Rocky Top.’ . . . Maybe they only play that when they score. Usually when you play Tennessee, you hear that ‘Rocky Top’ so often it’s ringing in your brain.”
and he only got to hear it 1 time....FROM A STRIPED DOWN VERSION OF THE PRIDE OF THE SOUTHLAND BAND!!! they didn't even bring the whole band to the game.....sad days for UT.
djohnnyg writes:
The way I see it, Spurrier is lobbying for UT job. When he says "Tenn isn't what it used to be" he is trying to say that HE could be the one to fix it. He wants the UT job bad. By trying to make Phil look bad, he increases his chances of being the saviour. He's sending a message to the Knoxville brass; "U guys stink, I'm the guy that will save you".
Taking Phil's job would be the ultimate insult to Fulmer. That's exactly what Spurrier wants. IMO.
khelton657 writes:
Projection - we see something some way and project it onto others. We think the UT job is great, he couldn't care less.
Spurrier has no desire to come to Tennessee, why would he ? He just wants to get SC good enough for one year so he can leave w/o totalling his already damaged reputation, which isn't looking likely.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
That's what the NFl said about Spurrier and Saban when they were there for a year or two. " These coaches weren't what they've been in the past" Funny how these losing NFL coaches come back to their comfort zone, isn't it! What does this say about all the people who have their noses up these two coaches' you know whats. When the meat is hot the cockroaches show up to eat, and guess who's serving dinner? Mr. John Adams. This sorry a.... state of affairs has been going on for years. The goal to destroy the Tennesse Vols football program . They are merely jealous. Just like people ar of our country, and that because of our goodness, generousity, and ability to be ourselves and not sycophantic. We as a fan base always need to speak with hope and faith, believing for the best. All of this negativism has taken it's effect. But it's all an illusion provided by ourselves for ourselves. The rest of the country still believes in us, and the recruits know where to come play. Trust them about Coach Fulmer if you can't trust yourselves. Enjoy the ups and downs, are your lives perfect?
FedUpVolFan writes:
Cheer up!
We are now 7oth in the rankings.
UCLA is 77th!
Stay the course!
FedUpVolFan writes:
^5's WELOVETENNESSEEVOLS !
We where mighty worried about ya last night!
lovinwk writes:
LMAO!!!!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
TN 3
WY 2
It'll be an edge of your seat thriller!
G8RH8R writes:
Wow, indeed! You bammer MF's dont have a clue! If Fulmer or whoever is coaching at UT catches any coach from any school cheating, I hope he turns them in. And if any coach out there catches Fulmer or whoever is coach at UT cheating, I hope he gets turned in.
Why? Because this is about the integrity of the sport as a whole, not just UT vs. Bama.
Every sorry MF at Bama knew what was going on down there. If you can PROVE something at UT was in violation, by all means bring it. And I just don't mean 'prove' by responding with a comment. Your sorry Bammer @$$ better bring documentation or at the very least, a link.
Now, STFU and go back to your housetrailer.
imnotwithphil writes:
“Tennessee isn’t what they’ve been in the past.”
That about sums it up. Although, he could have added that Tennessee will never return to what it once was with the Great Pumpkin at the helm.
Fulmer has counted on his weak November schedule to save him in the past... not this year. Hopefully even the most die hard Philbilly will see that beating Vandy, Wy and Ky to finish 6-6 MEANS NOTHING.
Go Cowboys, go Cats and Go Dores! This is your season to beat the Vols!!!! Or as Paris Hilton likes to say, go ahead and score... everyone else has!
BolivarBob writes:
Spurrier is just stating the obvious.....the thing everybody else is saying...... and they could have beaten us by more....he played very conservative for Spurrier....I'm not worried about winning out....Just winning another game......They say Bush has a 24% approval rating.....what amazes me is how can anybody approve of the hole he's put us in....the only reason I mention that (I apolagize for politics).....are all these idiots approving of Fulmer....Wyoming Week my ---......Pitiful!!!!!!!!!!!
carolinablonde writes:
Bowl Game? Is that some kind of joke? Isn't a Bowl Game recognized as a "reward" for a good, great or fantastic season? Even if "win out" over stalwart programs like Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky are we going to forget the absolute disaster that brought us to our collective knees screaming for mercy? That would be a disgrace.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True - if you don't want Stevie's jabs, don't go over there and smell up the joint! As Jimmy Johnson told Lou Holtz, don't worry about my house, fix your own.
Phixable word games is all we have left.
Hope his buds from Swayback make the long trip safely. They are an offensive juggernaut averaging 11.7 points or so a game.
We hung 9 on Bama.
There was an country music ditty, I believe. that said "Its hard to watch an old love die". Tnbigg would know.
Shreveport in the winter has a nice ring to it. Smell of the docks, sea air and a paper plate with fresh shrimp!
Good read at tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.
Proud to be an American....
blitzshoot writes:
No discipline, no team, no coaching, no expectations, no accountability, no effort, no passion, no desire.
Sounds like the Ole Ball Coach felt sorry for UT's fans mentioning the band and indicating UT is not what it use to be.
Thanks Fulmer. IT's time you are help accountable.
Embarrassing
govols22231 writes:
Hey guys, all of you whiners go put on some pads and play the game. Put your body through the workouts, practice, and games. It is easy to make suggestions from the stands after some brews and stuff. Unless you are true player you do not have a right to judge. I should know for I played for the UT .
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
I know a lot of fans don't like the idea of Coach Spurrier
at UT,but it would IMO be a great hire in the short term. Make no mistake about it with our resources (facilities tradition ect.) he can compete with the elite coaches in the SEC. The ole' ball coach would like nothing better than to be able to whip up on those gaters and this would be a great opportunity to do just that.Some say he don't like to recruit. Just imagine with his reputation,experience and the right assitant coaching staff what could actually happen at a place like UT. I say short term because considering his age I would assume he would like to retire to spend more time with his family in his golden years. This would with his input help to give us time to make the right hire for the long haul. Just a few years ago I myself would never imagine this either, but it seems like considering our circumstances would be a great alternative.JMHO!
shipperman#280095 writes:
I sure as heck wouldn't be bragging about it
carolinablonde writes:
If there is really any confusion all one has to do is look at Spurriers task he inherited at South Carolina and where they are now as opposed to where they were when eh took over and contrast that against our coach - looking at what he inherited and where we are today. Is this the worst team performance in Tennessee football history? Not yet, but we may eclipse that low water mark this year. How proud Fulmers supporters are of him and don't they crow (gamecock like) about what an honorable man he is? Right.
VolFanNGA writes:
Give him a raise I'm tired of this s**t. Go Penn St. Go Gators. Go anyone but Fat A#* Phil and you koolaide drinkers. Go with him all of you suck
carolinablonde writes:
Did you ever hear of a guy named Raynoch Thompson? Ask him what he thinks about things now.
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