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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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A large number of players were on hand for Phillip Fulmer's press conference, filling up most of the seats in the media interview room at Neyland Stadium this afternoon.
They stood as a group to applaud when Fulmer arrived to make his announcement. The players and assistant coaches were not available for comment either during the conference or after.
However, two players - safety Eric Berry and offensive lineman Ramon Foster - served as spokesmen for the players.
"I feel like I just lost one of my ribs or my kidney," said Berry, an All-SEC performer.
Foster spoke as he watched Fulmer and athletic director Mike Hamilton leave the room.
"That right there wasn't very standup by Tennessee," said Foster. "That's not a way for him to go out. He should be able to go out on his own terms."
More details as they develop online and in Tuesday's News Sentinel.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 94
The_the writes:
Be careful what you ask for UT fans.
ktm589 writes:
I hate it for the players!
flstf writes:
Sorriest bunch of fans I've had the displeasure to be associated with! Classless!
Sauderman writes:
I hate it for him, but He has gotten paid millions so I think he will be OK. Its the way it is. I believe Phulmer should have had more class and Resign without having to be prompted, Now we have Players mad at the University. He has now harmed us.
Hoss44 writes:
Kosmo shut your fat face and move out of your mom's basement
marc_ash#231781 writes:
This is only the tip of the iceberg of what happened during this press conference. Rico McCoy would not leave the stage after numerous prompts and requests to do so. This was his way of saying "make me" move.
Josh Briscoe asked Hamilton directly if firing Fulmer was about dollars, flat out.
When asked if he would transfer, Eric Berry stated "no comment, next question".
This has been and will be ugly. Fulmer game only a select few reporters the opportunity to ask questions, despite a number of others that wanted to ask (even cutting one reporter off in mid question).
As I reported in my blog, defections will occur and will be major.
This is far from over and there is a lot more to come...stay tuned.
BillsBrother writes:
I watched the conference. Foster and Berry were both speaking from the heart. An individual that showed great interest in their personal lives was hurting. The players were not malicious or crude.
They were honest in expressing their feelings. They stood up for their coach and mentor. Despite the statement from Foster, they represented the university well. They were speaking as Tennessee Volunteers.
nyyvol21#669431 writes:
Upset because his coach got fired because he can't block.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/perez/2...
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/perez/2...
volnsc writes:
"Deservings got nothing to do with it, kid. We all got it comin'."
If everyone got fired that you think deserves it, I'm confident you would head up the line. You couldn't carry Coach Fulmer's jock strap.
clausenforheisman writes:
Truly a sad day for the University of Tennessee, the decision will be regretted. This man poured out his heart and soul for his University. I would not blame any of these players for transferring. Hamilton listened to a bunch of loser fairweather fans instead of giving Fulmer the chance to go out on his terms which is what he deserved.
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.
jimmy71#237592 writes:
if you would've blocked somebody...this whole thing and season is on the offensive line
OdessaVol writes:
Kosmo,
you never played ball did you? Your comments confirm that.
playtowin writes:
This comes 5 years 2 late. He is a great person but urban meyer, mark richt and nick saban are all better coaches than he is. Even the LSU coach beat him in the sec championship game with a back up qb. Come on now. Bye phil- and i don't feel sorry for him cause he is gonna get 6 mill. That will dry up those tears.
jwright13#576991 writes:
f$%k off
kilovol writes:
You got no class. Start praying we didn't just open a revolving door.
fulmerfan82 writes:
Anyone with a heart could not watch the press conference and not be moved. Fulmer is a class act, dumb posters will never understand what he has meant to the players and fans. I know KNS can now fire John Adams because he won't have anything to write about. I hope Fulmer doesn't go to Vanderbilt and start kicking us like he did Alabama when he took over Tennessee.
Rebelsfball2008 writes:
Truth hurts....... i do believe that this was a direct result of boosters and disgrunteled fans pressuring the AD for a change..I hope people realise what just happened here because i believe that this could only be the beginning of a massive avalanche.... i have had the opportunity to meet and speak with coach fulmer many times and i have no ill feelings towards him. And i do believe he deserved at the very least 1 more year to stake his claim and to right the ship. After all he has given us we can @ least stand by him and give him a chance to correct the problems.. now with this nasty divorce we could loose recruits and possibly one of the greates players in UT history....only time will tell.good luck in all your future endeavores and dreams coach Fulmer you will be missed..
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Thanks, Kissmo, for showing some real class to some young men who are hurting because they're losing a father figure. Coach Fulmer certainly showed more class during the press conference than some of our wonderful fans are showing.
Personally, I found it hard to watch because he's poured his heart and soul into The Big Orange for almost 40 years, and I hated to see him hurt like that.
Sure, Kosmo, he's got full pockets, but that's not all it's about. Did you watch the press conference? Did you see the pride and hear it in his voice when he talked about all the young men who had come before, and the ones who are here now?
Coach Fulmer is a good man and a class act. Maybe a change needed to be made...maybe now, maybe later. But the deed is done, and some of you got what you wanted. Let's just all hope it was the right decision, and that the right decision will be made for a replacement. As you told Mr. Foster, Kosmo, it'll have to be left up to someone smarter than either you or I.
In the meantime, let these young men mourn the loss of someone who undoubtedly means a great deal to them, and let them vent without us holier than thou fans telling them how they should feel and how they should articulate their disappointment.
I don't think that's too much to ask. As Hamilton said, it's time to show some dignity and respect to Coach Fulmer, but that should also go for the players.
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
99gator writes:
the reaction from the players it natural.
it usually happens in these situations.
1. they blame themselves. if we played well, the coach we like would not have lost his job. so, again, they feel as if it is their fault.
2. they chose tennessee and they chose phil fulmer. so, they are now going into a situation that is a complete unknown. what if they hate the new coach, what if they lose their starting position, etc, etc, etc.
nickreveiz4heisman writes:
my respect for those select group of players who stood out during the press conference went way up. they are taking responsibility for what happened and i commend them for it. thank you fulmer for a great career at ut. was it just me or did fulmer look like he was gonna beat the f*#% out of hamilton?
asleep#212036 writes:
Any time a university gets to this point, it is awkward for everyone involved. When it's an alumnus made good, like Fulmer, it becomes downright painful. Of course the players are upset but they have no history and can only see as far as their NFL careers. Hamilton had to look farther down the road and as well as backwards to where we were in 2001 and where we are now. Nobody older than a true freshman will transfer because they would have to sit out at least a year. They're just upset and when this settles down and a new coach is named, they will be fine. Depending on who the next coach is we may lose very few recruits.
The bottom line is that had Phil been more realistic in his evaluations of his team's talent and potential and less loyal in his retention of sub-par assistants, he could have left on his own terms. His lack of understanding of the recent decline and his refusal to change coaches when necessary made all of this inevitable. I still say Hamilton gave him the deal last year, with the blessing of the biggest boosters, knowing that this was likely and Phil would be much more accepting with that kind of money on the table. For me, Phil will always represent what's good about UT and for that, he deserves our enduring gratitude and respect. Let's hope they had the foresight to at least have a couple of guys pretty well in the fold before they did this. Go Vols!!!
golfnut0517 writes:
His own terms??give me a break he is FAT and RICH off of the university..........GO PHIL fade into the sunset!
filmjr#558361 writes:
We are a sad, immature, pathetic fanbase. My athletic donations will now go to the general scholarship fund of the University.
Footballfanatic writes:
Absolutely Spot-On Correct !!
If you don't do your job - in this case, recruiting, player development,discipline on & off the field, and bottom line- win the big games,there's gonna be a problem keeping your job.
Maybe Ramon Foster, Briscoe, and some more of those laughing hyenas over there would have done their "Jobs Better" things might not have come to this. These guys were either not "Coached Up" or didn't think that what they were being told to do was important, so these are the consequences.
In this case, the results of their actions or inactions, as the case may be, definitely affected the coaching situation. Bottom Line, is when you get this kind of results, this kind of fan apathy, for THAT kind of Money, It ain't gonna be pretty. Players, you think about that before you start critcizing the media,fans, & administration.
jcvet writes:
You love him so much why don't you block someone.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Kosmo...You are a true A-hole. You know nothing about football. Trooper Taylor is not OC. Gundy calls the plays you freakin moron. Go post somewhere else.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
FOSTER ,IS ONE OF THE REASONS HE'S GETTING FIRED .
IceVol writes:
I just hope that we don't regret this. I agree this is unacceptable to be losing like this, but we could end up like Nebraska...perpetual losing seasons. Regardless Phil will be missed and I wish they could have waited till the off season for this.
aketron writes:
Youtube it dude I just watched it.
asleep#212036 writes:
Don't know how you see it but from my (and most of our fan's) point of view, there are several players who SHOULD lose their starting positions and their worries are not without merit. One of Phil's biggest problems was loyalty to upper classmen who weren't performing well and to coaches who, quite frankly, aren't SEC caliber. And I belong to the school of thought that the when the players aren't executing, the head coach is absolutely liable. That's really his only job as the CEO - make sure that everything (assistants, players, strategies, execution, attitude/focus) comes together on game day. He lost the ability to do that and it cost him his job. Class act but lost his edge. I feel badly for him but UT is bigger than any coach, just as UF is (ask one Mr. Spurrier) and the greater good is to change personnel and move on.
ctexorange writes:
Thanks Mike Hamilton and haters of Fulmer. You got what you wanted. I we don't have a SEC championship in 2 years.
fire Hamilton.
gavol2572 writes:
you can find part of it on youtube
knowles writes:
Fulmer has been a great coach, produced lots of good football players, some of which are pros. I am one of UT's biggest fans (for too many years to count) but a lot of fans are being big babies. Fulmer has given too much of time from his family and life to UT to receive this treatment.While it is true everything comes to an end, he should have been given a honorable discharge and a grand exit in the style he lead the team to so many victories.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
I noticed that also, nick. Let's just say there didn't seem to be a lot of love lost between them.
gavol2572 writes:
you beat me to it :)
govols26 writes:
He was a great coach and I'm regretful that he had to leave this way but at the same time I think he did what's best for the program. Thank you for everything Phillip Fulmore!
bigorangeman writes:
How would you fair every saturday?
aketron writes:
Complacency will get you every time-it's a new era in the SEC-a proving ground for players and coaches-Fulmer lived and coaced in the old era and was unwilling to do the things that keep a program vibrant-change-Joe Pa doesn't do that much coaching at PSU-he had the foresight to hire good coaches around him-plus he makes 500,000 instead of 2.9 mil-big difference-unfortunate but the times they are a changing.
jcvet writes:
Get a grip . Tn fans are too loyal to a fault. Only 3 coaches in 40 yrs. Check out everybody else in the SEC. Vol fans are the most loyal by a mile. I"m sick of people cutting the fans down for finally demanding a competent coach!!!!
aketron writes:
Ya gotta love youtube-I looked all over for it then figured well I'll try youtube and see and there, as usual, it was.
soddydaisy777 writes:
now you got your wish. Hope all the players leave, an close down football at TN. Some of you, well just can't say it. Thanks Coach Fulmer!!!
99gator writes:
i agree completely.
i would warn every tenn fan though.....even though i believe this is the right decision.
this is going to take a while to fix. it's going to take a lot of work.
and i can already tell, as there was bitterness over majors' departure. there appears to be bitterness that will need to be overcome over the dismismal of fulmer as well.
bigorangeman writes:
How bout you coach how many wins you gonna give us?
VOLuptuous writes:
way to prove a point....the way some fans are acting is purely classless....I guess there must be some inner guilt in there for that comment to come out
jcvet writes:
OOOOH BOY. The crybaby Fulmerites are out tonight. Losers all!!!
Footballfanatic writes:
While I agree that it is a Sad Day, for things to have come to this, to call some of us "Loser, Fairweather Fans", is something I take offense to. Look, Pal - Bottom Line is, Phil was NOT gonna go out quietly,period. He has proved his Stubborness,Arrogance, and Resistance to change for MANY years now. You and folks like you, can ignore problems, bury your head in the sand, and hope things are gonna get better, and go on your merry lttle way, and according to you guys, everything's gonna be "Just all right".
Hogwash - Stand up, be a man (or woman) tell it like it is, call a spade a spade,
make the hard decisions, and do the right thing- which is what Mike Hamilton & The Administration did today.
Don't like it... Go cheer for somebody else !!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
Who is Ramon Foster?
hahaha
LVVOLJJ writes:
This year seems uncharacteristic of Tennessee football. There must be something that has not yet come to light. The offense hasn't executed and has not been focused. They seem to blow up every time that they get into the red zone or even when they make a few good plays. There have been way too many good passes missed. This has been the hardest to watch Tennessee football in my 50 years. There has to be something more than what we know. Recent years have not been good by Tennessee standards, but, there is a current marked decline in focus. Got to be coaching, and not just Phil. As my mom used to say, "There is something rotten in Denmark". I know how I feel when we lose and it is awful, but, I know I only feel a small fraction of what Phil Fulmer feels. He is and will always be the man that is the most passionate about Tennessee football. I will always give him my honor and respect.
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