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Coach Fulmer takes questions from the media following his announcement that 2008 will be his last season as head coach for the Tennessee Volunteers. Watch »
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Ramon Foster and Eric Berry react to Coach Fulmer's announcement Monday that he will be stepping down at the end of the season. Watch »
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Word of Coach Phillip Fulmer's forced resignation today after 17 seasons leading the University of Tennessee Volunteers football team spread quickly on campus, through traditional word of mouth, text messages and online.
Senior Mark Hoffman, 22, found out about the news this morning via a text message while he was sitting in biology class. After class, he said, there was a buzz in the hallway, and it seemed that most people had reached the conclusion that it was going to happen.
Hoffman, a chemical engineering major, said he felt both sadness and excitement upon hearing the announcement. "I was expecting it, but not expecting it in a good way. On one hand, I'm excited to get someone new. But Fulmer has been here for a long time, and it's a tragic way for him to leave."
Sophomore Thomas McFarland heard about it when his statistics teacher made an announcement during class, and then his roommate sent him a text with the news.
"I was expecting it, especially after the Mississippi State game," he said.
The announcement sparked discussion among other students, McFarland said, and most students were happy about it and seemed to expect the news. "A lot of people think we need a fresh coach," he said.
Freshman Colby Fisher was sitting in class when he heard the news from his girlfriend, who had sent him a message on his Facebook account. He said he was not surprised by the news and thought it would happen sooner.
"I'm happy about it," he said. "He's a good coach, but the game's moved on. It's time for a new coach."
Senior Jenn Buntin, 21, was working on a group project in Hodges Library when one of her friends sent her a text message that said, "Have you heard about Fulmer?"
One of the people in her group pulled up ESPN.com on his computer, which confirmed the news. Buntin said she wanted Fulmer to step down and had been expecting him to do so all season.
"When it hadn't happened all season, I thought it just wouldn't happen," said Buntin, a logistics major. "So I was really surprised."
She said the students in her group were also surprised and excited about the news, and she noticed that many of her friends on Facebook have set their current status to "Yay! Phil is Gone!"
-Compiled by Chloe White
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 19
garyfmtn writes:
The sanctimonious media got EXACTLY what they wanted.....John Adams should be run out of town on a rail and take Johnny Majors with him......I just hope that folks remember this day 20 years from now when the once proud Tennessee football program sinks into the toilet level.....God Bless Phillip Fulmer
jlight#347852 writes:
Why is how the students got the news... newsworthy? Geez.
wskeen#212984 writes:
We'll see whether the game has passed this coach by in about 5 years. We'll see if the new coach, or just as likely, coache"S" (we may go through more than one), will come anywhere near winning 75% of the games over that time period. "Passed him by?" Bull####!!! Seems to me that's what they said about Paterno just a couple of years ago. There's a very good chance that "old has been" will be taking Penn State to the Championship game this year.
olozbal#646632 writes:
I feel horrible about this but it had to happen.
Everyone out there - ask yourselves "Is this program under Coach Fulmer on track to win an SEC or National Championship in the next 2-3 years?"
Does anybody seriously think the answer to this is yes?
If your answer is no, is there anything you see left to do but change direction?
This will be ugly, it'll be more like Michigan's turnover than Alabama's.
golfnut0517 writes:
BWHAAAAA!!!Fulmer was a mediocre coach we were going no where with him!!Feel sorry for him maybe you can loan him a thousand or 2 he hasnt made much off of the university in all the years he has been there????DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET A GRIP IT WAS LONG OVER DUE BYE BYE FAT BOY and please let the door hit you as you leave!!
jwright13#576991 writes:
you're an idiot
born to idiots
you will likely give birth to idiots
wskeen#212984 writes:
Possibly within 3. You just can't prove to me that the game passes by a coach the likes of Phillip Fulmer. He would have found, just like Paterno, the right person to help get the offense back on track. Once that person was making the offense click, Fulmer could have gotten back to doing what he does best. Finding and developing football players. Fulmer hasn't been served well by offensive coordinators since Cutcliffe left in 98. That includes Cutcliffe's second tenure. Although he did make improvements, he was looking for a new head coaching position. Fulmer has had to spend way too much time propping up offensive coordinators since 98. He needed to be evaluating and closing the deal with future volunteers. I sincerely hope they keep him involved in that capacity. That might be the one good thing that could come out of all of this.
hooverd283#563729 writes:
Golfnut and jwright1.. I've always wondered who the dawg and gators fans referred to at Tenn when they spoke of classless rednecks. You've cleared that up..thanks.. I know your parents are proud of you to. How mighty and brave you've become with the click of a key board. GROW UP
SandySpringsVol writes:
The offensive coordinators were hand-picked by Fulmer. He could hire and fire them at will.
Evaluating coaches is also part of his job description. If he continuously hires the wrong people for the job, then he's not doing his job.
Like any manager, a head coach is only as good as the people he's got working for him. Pick the wrong ones or don't train them right, and it reflects on you. Keep doing that over and over, and you won't be a head coach any more.
soddydaisy777 writes:
Close TN football down. so these low life's be low life's
golfnut0517 writes:
Sorry Hooverd283 we dont agree but it is hard for me to feel sorry for someone who makes 2 million+ a year and does not do his job.I am like the average joe i make 20-25 thousand a year and if i didnt do my job good i would be fired............Good ridence Phat Phil wish you had to see what a pink slip and umemployment line looks like but hey you are a millionaire.........Feel sorry for you NEVER!!1
turfgrassalumni writes:
Uh, because the students are the, well how can I put this so an idiot can understand....The school is there because students go to school. That is the purpose of the University in the first place. I know, it exists in your own world so you can have something to do all day on here, but some people think its there for an education. Crazy huh?
CT_VOL writes:
If the players are so mad, they can show us by demolishing their opponents in the remaining games. Now that would be a statement.
Frank
woodwr#217203 writes:
Actually I DO think the Fulmer-Vols might have been back to SEC championship in 2011.
Still can anyone explain how Dave Clawson could take the same stable of Receivers, Running backs, offensive lineman, and with better Fullback-tight-ends and done so badly so quickly?
Remember what Randy Sanders did with true freshmen quarterbacks in 2004?
wskeen#212984 writes:
I agree with you, but that was not my point. My point was that in Phil's early years he put together some phenomenally talented teams. That was what got Tennessee where it was in the 90's. Since 98 he was distracted more than he should have been from that endevor. As to his hiring and firing the right people I think you have to look at his overall record. Yes, he tanked it a few times. He made a few wrong decisions, but in each case found his error and made the proper adjustments. I think he would have done the same at the end of this season as well. But, overall, his record of getting the right people has been much more positive than negative.
I'm afraid Fulmer has been square in the path of the "Perfect Storm". Parity in college football, paticularly in the SEC, the timing of two phenominal hires by Alabama and Florida, losing a top notch offensive coordinator at just the wrong time. and the changes for fans in terms of expanded TV coverage and the Internet. Any one of these events by themselves would not have spelled doom for this coach, but collectively have painted a portrait of a coach out of touch with today's game. That, in my estimation is a shame. Unfortunately there may not be another Saban or Myers available to jump right in and turn this around next year as the consensus seems to expect.
govols22231 writes:
was it really forced, i dont think anybody should be forced to make a decision. that makes me very mad
byobbio writes:
I hope PHilip Fulmer Reads this post:
I don't feel sorry for Fulmer. I think he has had a dream career. However, i am very disappointed at the athletic department's handling of the final few years of his career. At no point did Mike Hamilton offer a vote of confidence or a show of support. You know what he did in the weeks leading up to this? He was on the air discussing the kitty that they had stored away to pay for a head coaching change. What kind of boss does that? That is absolutely absurd. When Fulmer had to replace virtually his entire offensive staff this year, there was never a show of support from Hamilton. You know, this is half the staff. Half the staff! We had a tough time at UCLA. To me, that was expected. They are playing in early Sept, in California, new coaches, new qb, first game, you get the story. Granted, UCLA had some similar nuances, but, this is the first out of the box. The rest of the games were tough, granted. BUt Hamilton should have been right there with Fulmer. Best i can tell, he distanced himself from Fulmer. Maybe he never has seen eye-to-eye with Fulmer, but this isn't his school. It's not his athletic department. He's just a leader. It's definitely not his money. I honestly think he wanted his guy in there to help his "legacy". Granted, he made a great hire in Bruce Pearl. But, do you have to get trigger happy and fire all the major head coaches? I'm sure he'll pick somebody capable of handling the job. And we have a great deal of talent here and on the way, if they all stick. But, I think the fault of this program's demise is not solely on Coach Fulmer. He's a great, great coach. He's the reason we have a modern day national championship. He's the reason so many recruits have chosen to come here. He's built an elite program. Tennessee will move on. WE'll always be a great football school and will always attract top talent. I just hate that we as an entire organization of supporters, fans, administration, and even former players, decided to bail on Coach Fulmer three years ago. Today, i am embarrassed to call myself a UT fan.
BYOBBIO
el_duderino writes:
I'm 21 years old and a senior at UT. I've been following UT football since I can remember. I used to listen to the play by play calls of John Ward with my dad by the fire. I heard through text message and listened to the press conference live on the radio and actually cried when i heard Fulmer's speech, this is all I have to say.....
Coach, all I can remember is you and the Vols running on to the field. Ever since I was a little kid, I can remember John Ward calling the games and you coached. It absolutely broke my heart to hear your resignation speech today. It devastated me. I'm truly grateful for everything that you've done for this school, the players, the teams, and the other coaches. You will forever be a vol and hold a special place in my heart and the hearts of many others. Best of luck on all your endeavors, love you coach.
Go Vols
Greyback_Vol writes:
Well said, el_duderino.
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