Phillip Fulmer isn’t worried about his future; he’s worried about Tennessee.
That’s why the out-going UT head coach hasn’t considered the many coaching vacancies in college football. Fulmer maintains he is focused only on UT’s remaining games, against Vanderbilt on Nov. 22 and Kentucky on Nov. 29.
“I’ve got two weeks here and two football games here that I’m going to stay focused on and concentrate on,” Fulmer said following Tuesday’s practice, the first of two UT will hold during the off week.
Fulmer has been loosely linked to the Clemson vacancy by an Internet report. He told the News Sentinel last week that he has no interest in the Kansas State coaching job.
During the emotional press conference in which his ouster was announced Nov. 3, Fulmer said he considered himself a coach but would also mull over an offered position in UT’s administration.
Despite a 3-7 overall record and 1-5 in the SEC, Fulmer said his players share his focus and fight.
“In my 17 years I don’t think I’ve had a team that hasn’t fought,” Fulmer said. “But this team — with all the circumstances — has been one of those special group of guys that have that characteristic about them.”
Defensive coordinator John Chavis was stung by the assertion of some media and fans that his team didn’t play hard last week against Wyoming.
“That’s a tough statement to make when you don’t know what they’re walking out there on,” Chavis said Tuesday on The News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page. “Some of them are limping out there to play.
“It’s tough for me to hear those comments. But I think our kids know what I think about them.”
Most of UT’s injuries have centered around the defensive tackles. Before the season began, UT lost Chase Nelson to a season-ending knee injury. Recently, Walter Fisher (toe) and Dan Williams (ankle) also have been sidelined.
“We had to play some guys inside that probably were not ready,” Chavis said. “That’s where we are. We’ve got to get some people healthy.”
For the second consecutive week, Chavis lauded Williams’ effort to play hurt. Williams did not practice Tuesday but is expected to return next week.
Linebacker Ellix Wilson is one of those overlooked players hurting through nine straight games.
Wilson’s once-ailing shoulder is fine; it’s the rest of his body he’s worried about.
“I’ve got a whole lot of injuries,” Wilson said. “I don’t even want to talk about it.”
Saddled with a season with no championships nor bowl bid to strive for, Wilson knows there’s only one reason left to play hard.
“Just pride,” he said. “We’re just playing for pride right now.
“We don’t want to be remembered as the class with the worst class in Tennessee history.”
One more loss and that will be the case. These Vols matched the 1977 team as the only squad to lose seven or more games in a season.
Injury Report: Players who did not practice Tuesday: punter Chad Cunningham (fever), receiver Josh Briscoe (concussion), defensive end Chris Walker (back) and tailback Montario Hardesty (leg). All are expected to return next week.
Defensive tackle Walter Fisher practiced as he fights through a turf toe injury.
Practice Report: Following several missed tackles against Wyoming last Saturday, UT focused on tackling for much of the early portions of practice.
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Comments » 271
AlphaVol writes:
Imagine being married to one the most beautiful women in the world only to one day get dumped by her. How do you so quickly fall for another? ... To Coach Fulmer, who's blood has bled orange nearly all his life, it's got to be that kind of an issue for him.
bugman writes:
of course he isn't worrying, he ripped the university off for 6 million big ones.
FWBVol writes:
I'd love to see Phillip Fulmer stay in the UTAD, but I'd like to see him coach again as well so he could have a chance to go out on a high note, which I think he would.
I really think Clemson would be a perfect fit.
Hoss44 writes:
Go to Clemson coach!!!!
khelton657 writes:
Focusd on tackling...should be focused on blocking....tackling only takes 15 minutes on a Monday
hotrodvol writes:
If he does, he shouldn't have any input, at all.
cltvol writes:
I believe the 'D' has played very well all year except for 2nd half of the UCLA game and most of the GA game. Our D has been good enough to win all other games. Our offense has stunk and special teams have been below par. There has been much said about effort lacking in the team, especially vs. Wyoming, but the D has offered strong effort consistently all year.
TurboFan writes:
"Defensive coordinator John Chavis was stung by the assertion of some media and fans that his team didn’t play hard last week against Wyoming."
Why were they asking him?
fjones1000#209495 writes:
Fulmer is a class act. Of course he's not looking for a job yet. As he says, he's still focused on Tennessee Football.
Once the season's over, he'll take his time to consider where his future lies...
Though he wants to continue coaching, I will hurt seeing him wearing a different hat.
If the jerks on this board cared (and loved) Tennessee half as much as Phil does, it would be enjoyable to read most of this board.
Sincere future success and happiness to Coach and his family!
A true Vol Fan.
AirForceVol2786 writes:
Please Coach, go to Clemson. What ever you do, dont take a job with our athletic department.
utvolz#637682 writes:
No! I hope someone hires him to let him prove himself again as a coach and to also offset our ridiculous buy out figure for him NOT TO COACH! 6 mill? YGBSM! Thanks Mike Hamilton.....
tnbigg writes:
Just win...or else it will be the worst team in Tennessee football history. Stop the words...we've been hearing them too long. Put it up on the field. Win...or it gets worse...and it will be a record that WILL NEVER BE BROKEN...
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Fulmer has been fired and some of you still act as though he is the worst coach in UT history. You got your wish now grow up and show the man a little respect for all he has done.
jobrando#216494 writes:
A class act would be to donate the 6mil back to the University.
MANVOL writes:
If he is worried about Tennessee shut Stan Drayton's mouth up and so he can quit telling our recruits to go else where!
Chartervol writes:
Fulmer is all about babying children. Maybe he could revive the old Mister Rogers show and talk to puppets and toy trains.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
I couldn't agree more with you. He should also apologize for the hours he wasted for me on Saturday the past 6 years. I could have really got a lot of work done around the house instead of devoting my time to watch a bad and unprepared football program.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
big talker, like you would donate it back if it were you--sure you probably have never made any contribution--blame hamilton for the extention/size of the buyout----Fullmer donated a million to the university a year ago and I'm sure more along the way---he didnt have to do that--give him some credit
I agree a coaching change had to be made but you haters just want to keep kicking him when hes down and piling on a guy who loves this school.
wallandhiker writes:
There are idiots and then there are idiots. We seem to have the market cornered. I would love for any of you to say this stuff to Fulmer or Chavis' face. But that's not your style is it?
Real Vol fans can appreciate what the man worked very hard to do at UT. He put in 18 - 20 hour days for years. He won a national championship. He won two SEC titles and 5 more SEC East titles, beating out Florida and Georgia for each one.
He has been fired. He has been humiliated, called names and ridiculed by punks who know absolutely nothing. Leave the man alone and go harass your family or torture the neighbor's pets or whatever it is you do when you aren't polluting this site.
VOLuptuous writes:
get over yourself...you only have yourself to blame for "wasting the past 6 years." It was your own pathetic decision not to get work done around the house or watch a "better" team. go cheer for someone else....we don't need ya
VOLuptuous writes:
amen...my momma once said if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all...wish some of these people could have met her
wallandhiker writes:
VOLuptuous, I would hate to see what some of these cretins would say about/to your dear mother.
sbcheek#336574 writes:
They call them "rebound marriages." The next wife is usually uglier and harder to get along with than the previous one.
firefulmer writes:
The only thing that sorry, pathetic, excuse for a man/coach is focused on: HIS MONEY!
sbcheek#336574 writes:
Injuries? Please feel to correct me if I am wrong but I don't ever remember a football season where the UT coaching staff wasn't moaning about injuries. Even in the good seasons there were always complaints about injuries. Sorry, but the injury excuse, like all the other ones, ain't going to work.
GrandmaVol writes:
Thanks Dude, You said exactly what I was thinking.
philfan writes:
Fulmer did not rip anyone off. His contract clearly stated that he would receive 6 million dollars when he left, and Fulmer is following the terms of the contract. Do you have a job? If so, do you insist that your company pay you what they agreed to pay you, or do you just allow people to walk all over you? You, sir, are totally incorrect.
GrandmaVol writes:
A class act would never have posted this!
thevoice writes:
Does anyone know that Ball State is going to a BCS bowl game? Letterman would be proud.
Rockytop98 writes:
Some of you need to get a life! Fulmer can stay and head up recruiting for Tennessee! He can close the deal on recruits even though he can no longer coach the team. Let him alone and allow the man finish his job with diginity! GO VOLS!!
philfan writes:
I too would like to see him in some capacity with the university. He is a better than average public speaker and could help in a general way with recruiting. In a few years, he would be a great athletic director or a fund raiser. I don't think he would be a very talented coach at some other school. He is to old school for that.
UTME06 writes:
Let me say this, I agree completely that there are some major d!c&head$ being way to harsh on phil... give him a break, I can't believe you all don't feel for the guy. I honestly hope he is our next AD in a few years, and I hope he goes to Clemson and gets himself an ACC championship and a BCS game to ride off into the sunset on.
But give me a break Chavis. We lost to mother pluckin Wyoming. Your D is fine, no one is talking to you... did you give up any points, no. I refuse to believe that in a years time we got that bad. This team has a bad attitude right now, and that's a fact. I'm a huge proponent to support these player, this has got to be insanely hard on them. But don't come out here and tell us how much of a family this team is and how up you are going to be for the game and come out flat like that (I'm talkin to you offense).
My run of the mill fan of a dad was out of his seat and had four fingers up at the end of the third... then he sat down and said "look at our sidelines" he was right, they were over there kicking dirt while WYO was jumping around. This team failed a UT legend in a bad way.
thevoice writes:
Exactly. He deserves a soft landing! I've always thought Hammy knew this, hence the contract extension.
zqvol writes:
Get over it. He did not rip the university off for anything. The athletic director and the athletic board offered him the contract and approved it. If they did not like it they did not have to do it. If someone offered you a contract like that you would have taken it in an heartbeat.
If you want to blame someone for the money blame Hamilton, but since he caused all this mess by jumping the gun, he won't care.
In addition none of the money comes from the University, it is all from the athletic department which is self supporting.
If you are concerned that your money was used, don't give anymore to the athletic department give it to the University through its giving program.
GrandmaVol writes:
You dork!!!! You can critize the coach but you're too stupid to change your user name. He has been fired. Hello???? Could someone teach this idiot how to change his user ID??? Kaplan, where are you when we need you??
tngilmer writes:
NO. You are a University of Fulmer fan, not a University of Tennessee fan. If you were a true UT fan, you could see the truth and the truth is that Fulmer cannot cut it anymore. When Fulmer moves on, please go with him.
zqvol writes:
His contract is different than the assistants, he gets the total buyout no matter what he does in the future. He is getting paid whether he coaches or sits at home, or if he works elsewhere in the UTAD.
tngilmer writes:
You, too, can follow CPF to whereever he ends up. I am sidk of you University of Fulmer fans. If you are not going to be pro UT, please go elsewhere. UT does not need coach worshipers like you.
zqvol writes:
You should have listened to her and learned something.
ncvol17 writes:
I'm sure the university made more than 6 million in merchandising sales in the last 17 yrs. I think I bought about $100,000 worth of stuff after the NC year. If it was ORANGE I bought it. I'm sure others did as well.
tngilmer writes:
A class act is a fan of the University of Tennessee not the University of Fulmer.
zqvol writes:
A class act respect people, Fulmer never did anything to harm you, and never did anything to intentionally harm UT. He earned respect.
He is class, you are trash!
invisiblekid writes:
Everyone else was too focused on working hard.
Seriously, Chavis and his kids have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of this season. Nothing.
Wes Brown, Dan Williams, Walter Fisher, Ellix Wilson, all those guys have been warriors this year and I am still proud to see them in Orange.
tngilmer writes:
That is just the classy response I would expect of a University of Fulmer fan.
woodwr#217203 writes:
Coach Chavis loyally worked as hard for a LOT less money year after year. Several years the Chavis defense has spun gold out of straw while the offense was limping through coaching and QB changes.
He also just got fired by his Alma Mater; He is younger, out of work and with less money in the bank.
Cut him some slack!
tngilmer writes:
This I agree with. Coach Chavis is a class act. It is not his fault that the Head Coach brought in a losing offensive scheme that cost him his job. I think the new coach could do a lot worse than keeping Coach Chavis to run the defense.
wallandhiker writes:
To all you name calling non-UT fans:
Just because we think it's chicken$#@! to call a coach who has won 150 games for the University you pretend to support -- and has already been fired -- a bunch of names while you hide behind an anonymous ID does not make us fans of the coach.
You are pathetic and you would never say this junk to their faces because if they thought you were worth their time they would wipe the floor with your sorry rear ends.
tngilmer writes:
Coach Chavis and his boys probably could. As for Coach Clausen and Coach Fulmer, their offense couldn't even take down Wyoming, or did you miss that game?
beccah816 writes:
You are an idiot. Fulmer is the reason why you have such high expectations of Tennessee football. Just because Fulmer has lost his touch as coach doesn't mean that he wasn't at one time a great coach.You need to learn to some empathy. He is still a person and he has feelings. It wouldn't feel so good if someone talked about you that way, would it?
thevoice writes:
It's possible to be both and it's called humanity mixed with a little Rocky Top. Some folks evidently don't have much of the former. Have been ready for a change for several years, but it doesn't effect my attitude toward Fulmer as a human being. Hatred is a pretty intense word. For those of us who have developed hatred towards Fulmer, wow, you need to find some more hobbies pal. This coming from a UT alumnus and sports fanatic. It's easy to hide behind the computer monitor with your donuts and foolmer comments, but this man deserves a little appreciation. Wake up ya immature knuckleheads. Do you realize how classless you are? Probably not. If you're not happy, stop giving, going to the games, and reading these posts. It's pretty simple. And no, I'm not related to "welovetennesseevols."
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