Fulmer focused on season, not coaching jobs : govolsxtra.com

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.