After months of rumor and speculation, the news came down today that Coach Fulmer will be stepping down at the end of the season.
Is it the right decision?
Chime in by voting in the poll and post additional comments below or call into the Vol Vent line and let us know your thoughts.
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Comments » 39
Volunatic writes:
Thank you for all you have done for UT Football, Mr. Fulmer!
yeavols#228407 writes:
There is no shame in stepping down from a job you had for 17 years. Money was made, championships were reached, fans were happy for many years. The time has come and nothing stays the same. Since it was a mutual decision, those are always the best. I am glad it didn't turn into another MAJOR problem. Fulmer will always be in the UT family as street names are proof of that. So please media, buzzards, and spinmeisters let's move forward and get really exited for the years to come.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Butch is back, your keepers are looking for you
givehim6 writes:
I do think it's a dission that should have been made a year or 2 ago. But I think Phil needs to be treated with respect! He's done alot for UT. Maybe an advisory panel can be formed to find a replacement, and he can be made chief.
db11_cn writes:
Whatever you do (Knoxville media), please, please do not go ask for a quote from Johnny Majors! It will belittle both [former] coaches and the reporters who do the asking.
Volchaz writes:
The admin wanted to honor fulmer, but i'm not sure he gave them many options.
TommyJack writes:
Yes, the correct decision was made.
Triton1 writes:
I hope it's right, I fear times will not get much better for a while. If we can get the right coach and win immediately, great, I just don't expect that to happen.
GoVol writes:
ButchisBack - you must be Fulmer's daughter.
jasonn1970 writes:
In a word - absolutely.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
db11 - rightly or wrongly, you know that is coming.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
db11 - rightly or wrongly, you know ol' Johnny's going to quote.
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
I will ALWAYS be a Phil Fulmer Loyalist! ...the GREATEST coach in UT history...past...PRESENT...and future.
Take a lesson from PSU everyone. They wanted JoePa out a few years ago, then he righted the ship.
Those who want Fulmer out are just a bunch of fair-weather, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately's.
Nobody will EVER represent Tennessee better than Fulmer has. He is General Neyland in the flesh.
Colliervol writes:
It's a sad day in Knoxville from a number of standpoints. Never a good time to say goodbye to a great coach and a UT legend who has contributed mightily to this university.
But make no mistake. It had to be done for this program to have a chance to get back to where we all think it should be. End of story.
bigorangeman writes:
No
doverton#635371 (Inactive) writes:
Thanks Coach Fulmer for all the wonderful Saturdays in Neyland Stadium,and on the road,and all the great memories you have instilled in my mind and heart.Thank you for all the blood,sweat and tears you have put into this program.You are and always will be a great man and Coach and a true Volunteer. May God bless you and your family in any future endeavors.
THE_VOL writes:
KNS should update this poll...there is no button for HELL YES!!!
Triton1 writes:
Amen brother!
garyfmtn writes:
Did anyone hear Johnny "Where's my bottle" Majors on Packers show??? What a moron.......The sanctimonious media got EXACTLY what they wanted and I hope like hell that folks remember this day in the next 20 years when the program goes into the toilet......
vol52 writes:
Yes and several years late.
griz45acp writes:
UT made a mistake. Mike Hamilton is the one the needs to go. How do you get rid of a coach that is the life and soul of the team. His record speaks for itself. If anything they should have enhanced the current staff especially in the offensive coordinator position. Thank God Chavis is staying. Penn State would never get rid of Paterno, and they have had down seasons. Florida would never get rid of Bowden, but UT gets rid of one of the greatest coaches in college football. You dont throw one of your own under the bus.
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.
playtowin writes:
i feel sorry for david cutcliffe. he had more to do with tenn success than fulmer but fulmer is getting more accolades than he deserves. Cutcliffe is the offensive genius and should be the head coach and this has been a travesty for years.
xvolx writes:
they did if they wanted to keep their jobs.
silvertr6 writes:
Hamilton should be fired for several good reasons. 1.Buyout is outrageously expensive. 2. Contract should NEVER have been extended.
3.Program was out of control three years ago.
Madkels writes:
Jo Pa is 80 yrs old! Fulmer is 58. PSU already has his replacement coaching the team. Jo Pa is only a figure head at this point. We have been on the decline since 2000. I respect coach Fulmer but comparing UT to PSU is unrealistic. Besides, how many top 20 teams have they played this season? FLA or Bama would eat their lunch.
Madkels writes:
His record does speak.... 1992-1998 lost 9 games
1999-2008 lost 31 games
25-28 against ranked teams
ande1139 writes:
I thank it was the right move just not the right timing. The way the players responded at the press conference shows how much they respect CPF. Wish you luck big guy, but it's time to go.
turner_c writes:
Right decision, horrible implementation.
vscebail#247785 writes:
Coach Fulmer did not deserve to go out this way. I think that Tennessee will regret the way that this went down. --It feels like a death in the family.
silvertr6 writes:
Fulmer made it to seem like a family. Hamilton makes it seem like communication is not a part of the family. Very poor communication to anyone who cared. Welcome to the institution, Mr Hamilton.
Looks like many were surprised!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
If I get your point, you seem to be saying that Hamilton should have at least waited until the end of the season to make the announcement. Although I agree with your apparent regard for CPF for all he has done for us in the past and for how much he loves UT, the mood among some segments of the fan base--not least some of the regular posters on here--would have only gotten uglier if the process had dragged out any further.
beavbullvol writes:
Fulmer didn't have enough self-respect to go out any other way. When, as an AD, your hand is forced, you must act or lose your job. Hamilton did what he had to do.
Dollars and cents people, dollars and cents. As long as football is the sacred cash cow of our hallowed institution, filling empty seats at Neyland will always be priority #1.
By the way, has everyone forgotten the $6 million he has coming his way? I have trouble feeling too badly for him.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
The UT administration needs to fire Hamilton for getting us into this situation.
Coach Fulmer should be the A.D.
weisgarber2003#313889 writes:
"Jo Pa is 80 yrs old! Fulmer is 58. PSU already has his replacement coaching the team. Jo Pa is only a figure head at this point. "
Yes, Jo Pa isn't coaching anything and one wonders just how long PSU will allow this Jo Pa charade to continue. Jo Pa is pretty stubborn, but more rational heads at PSU will have to prevail pretty soon it seems and ease Paterno out. This Jo Pa battle of coaching/wins with longevity/Bowden is going to run out one day and Jo Pa will be history. J. P. apparently cannot even get out of the pressbox now and stand on the sidelines because of his legs. And it is likely that Bowden can continue to coach somewhere even if FSU should decide enough is enough.
blitzshoot writes:
uh..yep.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Process is only half complete -- need to see who the replacement is. I will say to Phillip Fulmer: thank you especially for going 11-5 against Alabama. Every one of those victories was special. This is a golden opportunity to evaluate your life and perhaps attempt new goals and adventures, or just relax after 16 years of grueling work. I sincerely hope you enjoy life.
salute_to_the_hill writes:
No it was an awful choice. But what can I do...
Volalumnus writes:
Yes it was the right decision.
I am fairly certain Fulmer was given the message the previous Monday and was encouraged to offer his resignation at the end of the season. Fulmer instead tried to use his ties to big boosters to blunt the effort but after SC Hamiliton had waited long enough.
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