Players feeling effects after Fulmer ouster

I am certainly proud of the class of our guys. Compare this to the shameful reaction of the Clemson Players when their coaching change occurred. I feel their pain and hope they know that we support them. Change is always hard. Class acts through and through. I am a bit disappointed that Hamilton seemed to think he had to call a meeting to tell the assistant coaches that he expected them to still do their jobs. What did he think they were going to do act like they were in high school and teach someone a lesson.

Read an almost identicle story in the Tennessean and you might get a different picture.
Different from this story you get the picture Fulmer may have become too much a players coach and has lost control. The next coach will need to be tough, very tough and even some starters may have to be let go to get things back in order.

What if everyone wore ALL WHITE for the final home game of Fulmer's career? We could call it the "white-out"...similar to Georgia's blackout. I think it would:
#1 Show respect to Fulmer
#2 We could "wite-out" this losing season and let the new coach start clean

The Sporting News Today:
"There's a set of other candidates Hamilton might find attractive. Lane Kiffin is the sexy pick, with his USC roots and NFL experience and recruiting prowess. Tim Brewster is winning at Minnesota, only a notch lower on the accomplishment scale than winning at Tech. And Jon Gruden could walk into any recruit's living room, tap his Super Bowl ring on the coffee table and lure the Jimmy Clausens and Michael Floyds of the world to Knoxville.

But Leach owns a couple trump cards on all of them. He's enjoyed long-term success as a major-conference head coach. He'll install an offense favored by top recruits nationwide. And he has no fear -- of administrators, the media, no leanings toward the conventional way of running a football program and being a head man.

The old way hasn't worked for Tennessee in a decade. No one represents new, and different, like Mike Leach. He should be Hamilton's first phone call. And, if Vols fans are lucky, he'll be his last as well."

TX Tech has started to work on an extension for Leach who was upset last year when he was not offered one. His current buyout is only $500,00. This is starting to sound like the direction Hamilton is going to try. Those who spoke out early saying they were not interested well we don't need you anyway. If you don't want to be a Vol and coach in the toughest conference against the best overall coaches then you are too weak spirited for the job.

I wake up hoping Obama's not president. I guess I couldn't have it both ways. Getting rid of the Clinton's was just too good, I guess I have to suffer someone else for a while, until we get back on track. Trail and error it is, Wes, trial and error.

How many Big 12 titles does Leach have? How many times has he played in the conf. title game?

Zero to both, in 8 yrs I believe.

That's stupid.

It seems that certain sports writers have framed Fulmer's last 5-7 years as not that good. And I think that is slightly misleading. So, unfortunately I am going to have to respectfully disagree with your comment.

2001 11 wins
2002 8 wins
2003 10 wins
2004 10 wins
2005 5 wins
2006 9 wins
2007 10 wins
2008 yet to be determined

I wouldn't classify his past 7-8 years as spectacular, but I wouldn't classify them as 'not that good' either. Excluding this year and 2005, winning at least 10 games a year 4 times is above average. The bottom line is the media and uneducated fans have helped contribute to the bias as Fulmer's decline as a successful coach. Fulmer's record speaks for itself, and even though it is not good lately, it is hard to bypass those 10 wins seasons.

Although none of us, whether a Phillip Fulmer supporter or one who wanted him gone, had a physical hand in any of this mess that has happened with Phillip Fulmer, I believe all college football, basketball, baseball fans...not just those of us that bleed Orange...are partially responsible for what is happening in college sports.

We want our college teams to have the success as NFL, NBA or MLB teams and when they don't we treat the coaches the same way the GM of the Rams or 49ers treats a coach that isn't living up to expectations.

Yes, schools throw millions of dollars at football and basketball coaches and those of us that can help with our financial support. There's nothing wrong with wanting our alma mater to do well and win, but at what cost?

We get upset when we live out of state or out of the Southeast and "ONLY" get to see UT play seven or eight times a year on TV because our Vols aren't meeting expectations of the network programmers. There are those of us who are old enough to remember the days before cable and Directv when we were happy to see the Vols twice a year.

It seems as if our society from the media, to the fans and the AD have forgotten the underlying values of college football. We see it when John Adams and other writers rip a coach for not winning enough or in ways their in depth knowledge of the game tells them a man should be running a program. We are so caught up in winning that we make jokes about a man's waistline, and his last name showing ourselves to be the real "Fools." And then some people have the nerve, as they hide behind their keyboards, to question Phillip Fulmer's heartfelt emotions when being removed from a job he has literally given his life to.

I know I've never recruited a kid or conducted a college football practice, and I doubt too many on this site have either. Yes, we have a right to our opinions, but whether we are a CEO of a large company, or a freshman at UT, the fact is not too many people can do what CPF has done for so long as well as he has done it. Until we've actually done the job as well as Phillip Fulmer our opinions, mine included, are worthless. If leading a SEC football team was easy, everyone would coach college football and make millions of dollars a year.

College football is no longer a game, it has been a big business for a long time and I don't think that's a good thing. Phillip Fulmer stands for the fading ideal of the purity of competition. Sadly, that isn't enough any more. Maybe we will find a coach that will win games and fill seats, but I doubt any coach will ever stand for Tennessee and college football the way Phillip Fulmer has the better part of the last four decades.

Well put! It's important to remember....The are not just the "Vols" they are the *University* of Tennessee Volunteers. We make good students, people and lastly players.

Okay, I have to say it. I grew up a Vol, my brother and I are both Alumni, many of my family members are Alumni or at least die hard fans. I have followed this program closely since 1980 and have been at many games in that time and have listened to or watched every game during that time. I LOVE the University of Tennessee...I am currently a doctoral student at UT and spend countless hours on campus. I say all of that to qualify what I am about to say...

Everyone realizes that Coach Fulmer loves UT and the football program. I would argue NO one loves the Vols any more! However, it is obvious to the majority that it was time for someone else to give it a go. I wish Coach Fulmer the very best. I appreciate the class that he appears to be leaving with (unlike bitter Majors who has continuously embarrassed himself). We should celebrate Coach Fulmer’s successes at this time and no longer dwell on the steady decline of the last 10 years (yes even with the yearly wins that someone posted it has been an overall decline). Coach we love you, but “it is time” as John Ward said when he retired.

So to the players…if you love coach so much…if this is such a unified family…for goodness sakes why have you NOT played like it? Come on, you guys have played with almost no emotion, lack of focus, and poor discipline and it has been down right embarrassing at times. I certainly do NOT expect you to play like professionals, but I expect you to play with heart! Eric Berry and very few select others are the only ones that appear to play with heart. The majority seem to be going through the motions. Here is your dilemma…play with emotion and send coach out big the last three games and the question will be...”why now, why not ALL year?” Was it your lack of heart…or the staff’s lack of motivating you? Either way it has led to change.

As I said, I spend A LOT of time on campus…this is the consensus of what I hear from the students (both undergrad and grad), as well as faculty. So not just the uneducated and uninformed fans as some have said, but those that keep up with it closely as well!

Again, coach, thanks for ALL you have done, you ARE ALL VOL, and you did your part to elevate UT football. What is done is done, continue to show your class and love for UT and the students, support the transition (even though you hate it) and you will be lifted high as you leave the hollowed hill. Godspeed as you tackle new endeavors.

GO VOLS!

I must say I have been pleasantly surprised as the more informed, aware Tennessee fans spoke up concerning Fulmer in the echo of his ouster. Too many other Tennessee fans under-appreciate the unique difficulty of Tennessee's position (they will discover it as the Butch Davis' of the world say "no thanks" to the job offer). In today's age, college football is all about recruiting. No team has won an SEC title that wasn't gilled up with NFL draft talent. Why do you think Urban Meyer said no to Notre Dame for the talent-rich Florida program?

18 year old kids tend to stay close to home when they can and, unlike the 90's, the great talents in Texas have a stellar banner program in Austin and good neighbors in Oklahoma, the talents in southern California have USC, the talents in north-central Florida have two quality choices and the talents in Miami love Shannon, the talents in Ohio flock to Tressel, and the talents even in states like South Carolina, Virginia and North Carolina have rebounding recruiters in state at their local schools. In that environment, national recruiting is critical. Fulmer was the best recruiter of out of state talent of any coach in the country the last 17 years, the last 10 years, and the last 5 years, over any time period measured. As the competition increased, his share of that talent diminished, but it was still far above average for Tennessee. He did so by creating a family atmosphere and, ironically, promising kids that Tennessee fans were part of that family that would never shun their local boy, Fulmer.

Now, with our self-absorbed AD, less than informed fans who grew up only in the 90's, and media bashing from less than competent and often non-Tennessee native journalists (who usually cheer for someone other than the orange & white on saturday), we have fallen victim to the "next guy must be better" disease. Ask Nebraska fans what that's been like after Osborne. It can get worse; a lot worse.

The problem sometimes is who you lose to and by how much, and the quality of wins. For example, last year, Vandy led us most of the game and Kentucky took us to 4 OT's. SC came back from 21 down and forced overtime. But the record against the top teams is what really did him in. We weren't even competitive against Florida or Bama for 2 years. When 2 teams play, 1 will win and 1 will lose. But a team with Tennessee's resources and history should not be consistantly blon out by anyone

Coach,
Our family will never forget the sacrifices you made and how you represented UT with great honor. You sir are a parents dream to help mentor and develop their children into men. We can only hope that you choose to stay in some capacity to continue making dreams come true for our young men. We also wish you only the best for you and your family in the future. Good luck and may God Bless!!

I understand the frustration felt by all of us. We are terrible this year. What I don't feel good about is forcing Fulmer to retire a year after we played in the SEC championship game and were competitive against the eventual national champs. It was not his fault that Cut moved on. Not many programs hit the ground running the first year of a new coordinator. I am not saying that I think firing Fulmer was a travesty, but if I were in charge, I would have at least waited until the end of the year. What benefit do we get from announcing this decision now? I think we should have kept him on for one more year, with very specific goals he had to reach in order to stay on (winning the SEC and playing in a BCS bowl). I think I am in the minority here, but Fulmer has given a lot to Tennessee (and yes gotten a lot in return) and I think we could have given him one more chance. I don't want to say that we owe it to him, because Tennessee football is bigger than any one person. But if anyone deserves it, it is Fulmer. He has literally given his life to Tennessee football, and taken it to the highest levels of prominence.
On the other hand if we had been more competitive in our losses, he might have gotten that chance. In the end, I guess he dug his own grave...
I, for one, will always remember the good times.

Well said my friend well said. Good luck COACH.

Sounds to me like the players are going to miss the lack of discipline and the carefree environment. Looks like whoever comes in next year will finally make them work.
The players and coaches dug this hole, they can cover it up. Are people supose to feel sad because the players took the year off and helped create this scenario. Try and one of the last three. I know it may take some work, but maybe you can win one.

Sounds like the players have quit, they are also not owning up to the fact that it was ultimately their poor play that got him fired , "It was mean old Mikey, not me", watching them yucking it up on the sidelines while we were getting drilled turned my stomach. I can stand to lose, but can't stand the way have been losing.

I understand Mike Hamilton is calling for your expert opinion. Your FOOLmer is really getting tiresome. he's out. gone. you and a bunch of Johnny Major's fans have run him off. And your constant reference to his weight. i doubt if you would have the guts to say those things to his face. classless cowards almost never do.

here's your problem....

1. you forgot to include tenn's wins and losses from sec title games.

doing that.....

from 93-01, tenn's sec winning pct is 81.33%. the record being 61-14

from 02-present, tenn's sec winning pct is 58.92%.
the record being 33-23.

and again.....does the future have any bearing on this to some of you.

do some of you just not see, that florida, lsu, and georgia have left you in the dust as a program?

i get the new coord, new qb, etc, etc, etc, excuse. however, that is not an excuse for failing to be competitive and failing to look like they have any clue as to how to play the game.

the only honest way to describe the 2008 tennessee team is pitiful. when the only hope you have in several games to score is an eric berry pick six.....there's just no excuse for that.

I agree the offense is pitiful. But, the defense is pretty good. If UT had an offense, the defense would look much better. Too much time on the field. Let's not say "the team is pitiful". I think everyone gets that PF's record in the last several years is what got him fired, not his overall record. Still say a drop-off in recruiting is what did it. For that, he takes the hit.

It's a little late to wake up.

Either a COMPLETE white out or orange out, but not a mix of the two like on normal gamedays.

Just read the article in the Tennessean. No wonder this team is terrible after reading some of the players quotes.

Suddenly it makes sense why we get such top notch recruits out of high school. Fulmer has recruited the top flight athletes who are selfish and lazy and can see they won't have to work at UT to play like they do other schools.

I also love how after doing nothing since he set foot on campus, Josh Briscoe is sayign the coach would have to prove himself to the team. That sums it up all right there. Maybe he laughed about it after the interview was over.

I would sure love to see Trooper back on the sidelines, hat on backwards and the players feeding off of his energy again. When he left, our offense died!