Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton described the backlash from football coach Phillip Fulmer's ouster as "typical and anticipated".
That doesn't mean it was any easier to take.
"It's been tough because you get your personal emotions and personal feelings involved," Hamilton said Thursday. "You've got personal relationships crossing with professional obligations. I think those are the toughest decisions you have in any job."
Hamilton said he's responded to every fan e-mail he's received since Fulmer's dismissal was announced on Monday.
Hamilton said he's fine with being questioned - to a point.
"I don't mind when people question your decision," he said. "That's part of the process. I mind when people question my integrity because I know who I am."
Hamilton took ultimate responsibility for the Fulmer decision, but added that others, likely administrators and boosters, were mostly in agreement.
"The decisions were made with a lot of prayer, thought, conversations and analysis," Hamilton said. "This is not something that was made emotionally, overnight or without a lot of due process."
Hamilton said difficult decisions are often highly debated.
"There aren't many 80-20 or 90-10 decisions you make as an athletic director," Hamilton said. "To sit here and think there wouldn't be some backlash or some anger or some emotion would be saying that I had my head in the sand."
Hamilton was preparing for backlash whether or not he kept Fulmer.
"There would have been backlash if we had gone a different direction," he said. "I know that. It's not fun. It's one of the parts of my job I don't relish. But I accept that that's part of the equation."
Most of the criticism toward Hamilton concerns the timing of the announcement.
Instead of waiting until the end of the season, Hamilton decided a coaching change was necessary and, therefore, needed to be announced.
"I believe you don't live lies and once you make a decision you've got to live with that decision and you've got to look those individuals in the face everyday," Hamilton said.
Hamilton also maintained the announcement was made early so fans could celebrate Fulmer's 17-year coaching career.
Hamilton said he had an institutional commitment to go to the next phase: a coaching search.
"There's a slight advantage," Hamilton said of making the announcement immediately. "There may be some other coaching searches that come available in the next two or three weeks but at least today there are some individuals that know that the University of Tennessee is interested in them."
Expected backlash or not, Hamilton has learned plenty from the most significant week in his six-year tenure.
"The thing I think I've learned," he said, "is that there's no cookie cutter formula to any of this."
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Comments » 105
Volfan1 writes:
Criticism, Mr. Hamilton????
That could be the least of your worries. Just get ready to call a moving van if you don't pick an instant winner who is a credit to the University in every area, as Coach Fulmer was.
MANVOL writes:
Volfan1
Relax, It was a tough decision that had to be made. The Volunteer family will never unite if you keep pulling for the Phillip Fulmer's instead of the Volunteers. The new coach I am sure will win 8 games a year as that was all Fulmer was required to do.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Agreed, it was never the University of Fulmer.
Good post.
volongulf writes:
Is there anything that can be done to rid us of J Adams? Wouldn't he rather be in LA anyhow?
BillVol writes:
We are blessed to have Mr. Hamilton as our AD. He has made several difficult coaching changes for us, for the better of our athletic program. Overlooked is his firing of Rod Delmonico, who led us to two CWSes. And then there's Buzz Peterson, whom Hamilton canned despite the support Buzz had from Pat Summitt and Fulmer and other big supporters. I believe tennis coach Mike Fancutt was also forced out by Hamilton. Fancutt was a great player for us and coached us to the NCAA final. Our athletic program could not be in better hands. Thank you, Mike Hamilton.
olozbal#646632 writes:
Mike Singletary as head coach!!! You get the discipline, name recognition for recruiting, defensive mindset, and a diversity candidate also. He'll need a Norm Chow or Cutcliffe type paired with him as OC but it'd be cool combo.
I'll admit I have no idea if he's a good coach, or whether he'd keep his pants on during halftime talks, but it'd be worth looking into.
Can you imagine what would happen to Josh Briscoe with him on the sideline? Might need a medic.
MANVOL writes:
Vols CB cited for alcohol, marijuana..How many more great stand up guys this guy coached going to get behind the wheel and drink and drive?
whocares writes:
Medic??
More like a coroner and then mike would get the death penalty. Wouldn't be a pretty site.
avolfan4u writes:
I would encourage you guys who think only a UT bred man is qualified as coach to re-think that. Are you so arrogant that only UT can prepare a person to serve here? What a joke. If you don't believe me, please reference the idiocy of Alabama. They took the route of "only a Bama man" or even stupider (if that is a word) "only a Bear player" and it only netted them a string of losers. We need an immediate impact coach and I don't care where he went to school. Do you really care if he graduated from TN if he wins and we once again can compete in the top tier of the SEC?
avolfan4u writes:
oh yeah, you're very short sighted to think that Adams is our problem. He reports the news. If you can't take truth don't read.
MemphisVol writes:
you've done a great job thus far hamilton. this is the big one though. dont fail us now.
VolsFan3390 writes:
Mr. Hamilton PLEASE HIRE TIM BREWSTER (MINNESOTA)
#1 recuiter and runs the Spread Offense
GO VOLS
bobbarbilly writes:
" You fall into a well and your eyes go crossed...you get kicked by a mule and they go uncrossed...I don't know...."
khelton657 writes:
Good job so far Mike H, sometimes it is lonesome when you have to to do the right thing...
blitzshoot writes:
Thanks Mr. Hamilton for thinking of UT, not just one person or one aspect of what is a great university.
avolfan4u writes:
I want to ask those Fulmer supporters and Hamilton haters one insightful question. How many times have you heard Fulmer mentioned "being on the short list" of possible coaches for ANY SCHOOL OR PRO TEAM? Never. Yeah, that answers everything. So while ESPN and others lament how heartless TN and Hamilton is just consider that no one wants him as their coach. That says it all folks.
utmdm writes:
Come on man. Let's drop the names and move on to the rebuilding.
utmdm writes:
And K is still for Korat - "any of a breed of short-haired domestic cats having a heart-shaped face, a silver-blue coat, and usually green eyes"
After decades of being on the short end, we understand why the green eyes of envy.
utmdm writes:
Maybe T is for Triumph which is what we have done for decades with the kitties up north.
utmdm writes:
Sadly, older than his IQ
FWBVol writes:
I don't know if Mike Singletary would be interested in Tennessee or not as he's now interim coach of the 49ers. I do know that he has, or at least has had, ties in the Knoxville area.
One Sunday morning in the summer of 1999 I noticed a rather imposing looking gentleman at my church in Knox County. I nudged of my friends and asked him if the guy looked like Mike Singletary but he didn't think so. I waited around after the service and went an introduced myself to the stranger and sure enough, it was Singletary. He told me he was in town visiting his in-laws who attended the church.
I'd love to see Singletary at UT if for no other reason that I believe he is a man of integrity that would bring the intensity others have mentioned while running a clean program.
That said, I believe if he's offered the San Francisco job on a permanent basis he'll take it.
While I have supported Phillip Fulmer and would have loved to see him have another year to turn things around, I accept that the deed has been done and it's time to move forward.
I was a Volunteer fan long before Phillip Fulmer was an assistant coach and plan on pulling for my Vols for many years to come.
I still hate the big business side of things though.
UT_VOLS75 writes:
I agree with BillVol. Hamilton knows what he is doing. Fulmer just simply did not have it anymore.. Our program is 10 years behind everyone elses, and I think Hamilton is going to make the right hire to start the new generation of UT football.
balloonman writes:
Dave Hooker is nothing more than an ADAMS STOOGE...the clueless have been provoked.....soon hamiltonadamshooker will all be on the bayou!
sundiver98#346449 writes:
Only a yankee coach for these yankee transplants that did in one of the greatest coache in the south
sundiver98#346449 writes:
It will be delighting watching the next Fulmer Couch team beat Tennessee or maybe we will see him on Sunday soon, Indiana would be happy to have him
sundiver98#346449 writes:
oh yea, while you are at it FIRE KESLING! Hard to stomach losses, double pain listening to this bumb.
BlueTickLady writes:
Need 2 Tic's to Wyoming game. Anyone have some they are not using?
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
My question to you , Mr. TD is this. Is it ok for you to believe that everything's going to work out? And why do things work out? And would have things worked out without people putting their two cents worth in everyday to get rid of Fulmer? And do you know that you guys sound like Alabama fans? And how do yo u know that they are directing your thinking? To them you are mental midgets anyway.
sundiver98#346449 writes:
It would be something seeing Peyton and Fulmer holding the Lombardy trophy in a couple of years
sundiver98#346449 writes:
Mike Hamilton is a lap dog for the gamblers, only spread most of you care about is with your bookee...
VOLKING writes:
WELOVETN, didn't you say if Fulmer was fired you would quit supporting UT and stop posting on here? Please keep your promises. Your blind loyalty to Fulmer is second only to your biggoted posts about Obama. Fulmer is NOT the University of Tennessee and UT is NOT Fulmer. Change happens...make the best of it. We don't always get what we want. Simmer down and take your pills...and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
tnfanincali writes:
So Fulmer is gone. It seems like the Fulmer haters would be happy, but for some reason they are not. You guys need therapy...
MidTennVol writes:
I would love to see you call Coach Fulmer names in front of one of his players right now, you POS punk coward.
MidTennVol writes:
"I believe you don't live lies and once you make a decision you've got to live with that decision and you've got to look those individuals in the face everyday," Hamilton said.
Mr. Hamilton, were you lying a few weeks ago when you gave everyone the impression that you would probably wait until the end of the season to make the decision? Was that disingenuous BS?
tennesseebee writes:
This is a BRILLIANT post, Did Joe-pa or Bowden never have a losing season? I think orange nation will regret this firing. I'm ashamed of how our fans have abandoned our son of Tennessee. He deserved better than this. Oh, and Bill King from Rivals radio: shut the hell up! You are nothing more than a dime-store Finebaum!
bobbarnes writes:
Amen, brother.
franktennessee writes:
When I see post like yours, it makes me think of people who have no class like you and Mike Hamilton. Coach Fulmer has more integrity and honor and class in his little pinky that you or Mike Hamiltonwill ever have. Firing Caoch is a huge mistake. If you had poured your heart and soul into a institution such as our beloved alma mater, which I doubt you are one of us, then you would understand why Coach teared up at the press conference.
Abraham Lincoln said, "If you don't have anything good to say about someone, then say nothing at all and it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt. You sir are in the latter column.
franktennessee writes:
Right on Duke. You are absolutely right. Coach should have been given another year. it is just not right what Mike hamilton has done
txsvol#372416 writes:
Mike Singletary is exactly where he wants to be: an NFL Head Coach, and since he's black, he doesn't cause any problems with the Rooney Rule, like the Rams have with Jim Haslett. But, he is a quality individual. And, I hope he wins big! SAVol
GreerVol22 writes:
Guys, like it or not the timing was good. Agents have to have time to put things together, it's business. Waiting till end of season or after bowls is too late....we are not the only school looking for a coach you know.
hippie60 writes:
Vols go to spread offense, with pro style athletes already recruited. records for the next 3 years 3-9,5-7,4-8, Hamilton out new coach in. Please no spread offense coach! The defensive cords. around the country are getting the hang of how to defense it, anway they see it every other week. It will go away just like the wishbone T.... anybody agree?
CoverOrange writes:
Not picking on Greer, but I've seen many references to this being "a business", which, for the most part, I agree. What I don't understand is how Haslem and Thornton (or any booster) profit from this "business" engouh that it would be in their business interest who was the coach.
Any business majors that would school an engineer?
DadwasaVol writes:
Yes, if you do not like the man you can stop reading him and commenting on him and giving him attention.
ctexorange writes:
Amen Duke. Most of the negative poser's on this site wil b calling for Hamilton's head next year and jumping on the "we should've Kept coach Fulmer" bandwagon. They have no integrity, honor or dignity. How can Hamilton say he has integrity when he gave Fulmer a 7 year contract extension last year. What a Crock.
ctexorange writes:
You can't be serious. Shootings arrest's, drug use,theft,achoholism and assault. These are just a small list of crimes football player across the nation have comitted in the last few months. Get a life man. Move outa moma's basement and read something else besides the News-Sentinal. Try Espn or other major sports outlets. This happens everywhere.
Volalumnus writes:
And next year you would have said another and then another and so forth and so on.
......
Truth is Hamiliton should have done it sooner. Truth is that those complaining about that Hamiliton should have waited to the end of the season would have complained then to. If you are going to do it, the announcement should be during the season unless winning something is still in play.
"powers that be are paid to make those decisions" right.
But now that some of you don't like the decision that was made, you guys are not running around yelling that anymore are you.
Triton1 writes:
It's gonna be pretty tough for Mike to come out ahead on this one. He can't just hire a good coach, even a great one won't do. Of all active coaches Fulmers record ranks third, he's got to top that, or there'll be more backlash.
atlvol writes:
Were you ashamed of our fans after they abandoned Johnny Majors while he was in the hospital having bypass surgery? Johnny had much better success his last five years than Phil. Phil did not have to rebuild the program .... Phil's replacement must rebuild! Johnny was also a son of Tennessee and even had a brother that lost his life on his way to Tennessee football practice as an assistant coach. Fulmer is getting treated with a lot more class than Johnny Majors.
CrankE writes:
It sounded to me like the players found out from ESPN as opposed to someone taking the time to tell them to their face. That's wrong and I lay it at Hamilton's feet. You make the decision, be man enough to tell the players.
As far as cutting Fulmer loose, it was the right decision. You need only look at how the national press responded. They don't have UT's interests at heart, they love kicking Fulmer and UT. Why else would they suddenly be showing Fulmer such love? Lord knows they didn't do it before.
Mike did the right thing and I think at the right time as well. When he fired Buzz, he was undecided according to the press which was astounding to me. He waited until the last buzzer of the last game to see what would happen. (As if Buzz could somehow make up the ground with one surprise win that he'd failed to gain in the previous 4 seasons.)
shipperman#280095 writes:
I didn't know Fulmer had a couch team. I knew he sat on his couch a lot
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