Even though Tennessee's search for a new head football coach is already two weeks old, it's still the hot topic in all the same places.
But beyond barber shops, bar stools, message boards and talk shows, there's another place where all the rumors are kicked around: Tennessee's locker room.
Whether the chatter involves NFL coaches like Tampa Bay's Jon Gruden and former Oakland coach Lane Kiffin or college coaches like North Carolina's Butch Davis and Texas Tech's Mike Leach, players aren't deaf.
And, according to sophomore Gerald Jones, they're talking about who might replace Phillip Fulmer, too.
"They keep up with it," Jones said of his teammates. "They talk about Gruden. And they talk about Kiffin and possibly Mike Leach. A lot of receivers are talking about Mike Leach, and I can guess why. But that doesn't really mean that much to me right now. Right now I'm worried about getting a victory against Vanderbilt. I don't pay attention to that too much."
Well, except for one conversation over the weekend.
With Tennessee (3-7, 1-5 SEC) off last week before Saturday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff (TV: WVLT) at Vanderbilt (6-4, 4-3), Jones chatted with his close friend and former teammate at Millwood (Okla.) High School, Tramain Swindall.
Swindall is a redshirt freshman receiver at Texas Tech, where he's caught 36 passes in the Red Raiders' wide open spread offense. After catching up, Jones and Swindall's talk turned to Tennessee's coaching search.
"He kind of sounded depressed," Jones said. "He said, 'I heard Coach Leach was interviewing for the job.' I didn't know how to respond to it. I was like, 'Yeah, I heard about it.' I was like, 'That would be bittersweet.' He said, 'What you mean?' I said, 'I'll be happy as hell, but that'd suck for you.' We laughed about that."
For the most part, though, the past three weeks haven't had a lot of laughs.
Following the announcement that Fulmer won't return next season, the Vols lost out on any shot at the postseason with a 13-7 loss to Wyoming. For Jones, who also expressed anger with UT athletic director Mike Hamilton on Sunday night, it's odd to think about playing for a coach other than Fulmer.
"I don't think it's the right time to talk about it," Jones said. "We're focused on Vanderbilt. This is what this week is about. It's not about who's going to be our head coach. We'll worry about that when our season's over with. That's why I don't talk about it. I'm focused on what I'm trying to do, and that's get the victory."
Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who will make his first start since UT's 14-12 loss to Auburn on Sept. 27, said he's avoiding any talk of Fulmer's replacement.
"I actually have no clue how to get on those message boards, so I don't know what's being said," he said.
Defensive tackle Dan Williams can't seem to escape it.
On an almost daily basis, Williams finds himself fielding questions from classmates about who UT's next head coach will be. But players, like media and fans, have been kept in the dark by the administration as the search continues.
"Every day they come up and ask me, 'What do you know?' " Williams said. "And I don't know anything. I just tell them the same thing. I'll find out when you find out. I trust Mike Hamilton that he's going to make a good decision, and me as a player, all I can do is sit back and watch. Once I find out the news, I'll know who it is."
That's when Williams, a junior, will seriously begin thinking about his future.
Through 10 games, he has 40 tackles and leads the Vols with seven quarterback hurries despite being limited since suffering a high-ankle against Alabama. On Sunday, he acknowledged that UT's new coach will play some role in his decision to return for one more year or test the NFL waters.
"Nine times out of 10 when a new coach comes in, he will respect the seniors that are already there," Williams said. "I haven't really thought about it. As the season comes closer to the end, it does come up. It pops in and pops out, but for the most part right now, I'm just focused on Vanderbilt and Kentucky."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 88
volingville writes:
Let's see now, Spurrier just got beat 56-6, worst loss of his career. Auburn loses for 6th time this year. Michigan with new coach dropped their 8th game of the year. Nebraska is 6-4, LSU nearly loses to Troy at home, North Carolina and Butch Davis lose to Maryland. Do I need to continue. We have made a huge error in judgement getting rid of Phil Fulmer. Also, explain why we would pay Butch Davis or Lane (never had a winning season as head coach) Kiffin more money than Phil. Explain why we now charge students to attend football games and cut some university services and can still pay a $6m buyout to our football coach. We have much more serious problems at our University than Phillip Fulmer. I hope everyone is happy!
bcbobcat82 writes:
Bobby Maze is amazing!!! GO VOLS!
vtvol#210290 writes:
Don't worry Dan. Eric Berry, Robert Ayers, and you are safe and can start for anyone. Please come back next year. Your family will need you.
Colliervol writes:
You're about two weeks late with that post. It's over, he's gone and most of us are looking forward to a new day dawning. Feel free to sit around and mope all you like. I, for one, will not.
indianacurly writes:
volingville writes:
Let's see now, Spurrier just got beat 56-6, worst loss of his career. Auburn loses for 6th time this year. Michigan with new coach dropped their 8th game of the year. Nebraska is 6-4, LSU nearly loses to Troy at home, North Carolina and Butch Davis lose to Maryland. Do I need to continue. We have made a huge error in judgement getting rid of Phil Fulmer.
are you serious? in addition to being run out of our house by our 2 biggest rivals, we've barely beaten n.ill and lost to 2 bottom 10 teams in ucla and wyoming. however, i do share your skepticism of kiffin.
tnbigg writes:
Look for a coach? How ignorant...we could end up with a coach who would produce the worst record in Tennessee football history...that would make everybody happy...oh wait...that's what we have...good old blindies...still waiting and wishing to stay the course...work like heck...watch the film...fixable...still...right...
tnbigg writes:
Only 3 losses from 0 - 10 this year so far...who needs a coach?
govols10 writes:
Please let us get a good coach. I don't want to end up like Nebraska, or Miami, or Alabama before Nick Saban, or UCLA, or Notre Dame. Are we in for that?
jamesonfarms#572141 writes:
We're still playing football?
calvolfromkingsport writes:
Something had to be done, but it's amazing that all the
Fulmer haters have gone into hibernation. I guess they're a little tired from all the crowing of the initial firing or maybe the reality of this years' and future years' recruiting classes is starting to set in. Probably won't hear from many of them since they have gotten what they wanted. I wonder if these guys were real or fictional, maybe KNS' shils. Or maybe they were all from bama. Hopefully, they'll support Pearl, as long as he can win.
DennisVols writes:
Yes an our Fulmer lead team is 3-7 with a good possibility of finishing 3-9. Lost bad to thier biggest rivals and even lost to under talented UCLA and Wyoming. I can see how anyone would think it is a mistake to fire coach Fulmer. Heck we should accept losing 7 of the last 8 games we have played against our SEC rivals UF, Bama, GA, Auburn and LSU.
Wake up, quit drinking so much kool aide.
The big mistake would have been to allow this to continue.
BigOrangeinCharge writes:
Look, Fulmer's gone after the season. It's happened. And as much as we owe him for all the years of hard work, loyalty, and winning, it looks like it was time for him to go. The program's slipped from a top 10 football powerhouse to a joke, and as much as people want to make excuses or claim it's natural because Tennessee just can't compete with the big boys anyway (a century of history proves otherwise), this season has shown just how far the program has fallen in terms of talent, discipline, and just plain respectability.
Hopefully the next coach can instill fundamentals and discipline, while also keeping Tennessee's talent in-state (we're not as talent-laden as FL or TX, but we have some big time players here and the current coaches have been letting them slip away for years). This team might not have been good enough for a NC run, but it's far more talented than 3-7 with blowouts to all of our big rivals.
yeavols#228407 writes:
I am not even going to entertain VOLinGville's lamenting screwball remark. Any news on our new coach? The excitment is building..I can feel it..and it's a GREAT FRIGGIN *$*&$_*R FEELING!!
tnbigg writes:
Hey Bro'. Made The Palm Desert Athletic Club one of my new Regional Training Centers and will have them on my 2009 schedule at least four different dates...it will be on my website next week...
tnbigg writes:
Hey Bro...hope all is well...just did a seminar in Marietta today...
west_tn_volfan writes:
Well said!
rockitwithrespect writes:
Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who will make his first start since UT's 14-12 loss to Auburn on Sept. 27, said he's avoiding any talk of Fulmer's replacement.
"I actually have no clue how to get on those message boards, so I don't know what's being said," he said.
if he cant navigate a internet message board, what makes them think he can manage a football game? much less tie his own shoe. (his center is great for that)
gaVOLman writes:
We ARE that right now. Wake up people.
woodwr#217203 writes:
One relevant Question is WHEN to fire the coaching staff.
If they were hanging on to hope of returning, would it have made a difference in preparation for Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
Which would be MORE distraction for the players, knowing the coaches were fired, or wondering?
Those us who have been fired, how was working for your boss after he gave you notice and you had nothing to gain by performing?
Those of us who have fired workers, how do they perform after they have the bad news and not much else to lose?
wyomingvol writes:
One name,
Burt Reynolds...
tnbigg writes:
The Pride of The Southland Band and the Athletic Department plan a stirring tribute on Phulmer Day when we are behind KY (behind KY may be an unusual choice of wording...but for this greatly anticipated celebration...very fitting) at half time. Here is the special tune the Pride will play and a highlight reel of funnies from this season will play on the jumbotron as the Pride plays this special tune honoring coach "F" and his troop...the special video is said to include such memorable moments as McNeil untying an opposing players shoe...Briscoe as the laughing hyena after his critical mistake...Foster laughint it up on the bench after his touchdown fumble at Auburn and many more zany...pure Phulmer coaching showcase moments!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhpOSi...
newtonrail writes:
I can't let that pass. It was time for Fulmer to go. Actually if Johnny had got to stay, we would have still got to the "next level". That said, there is a thing called honor, and Hamilton doesn't have it. He apparently lied to Buzz about timing of firing, and we know he told everyone he would wait until after the season to make a decision on Fulmer. He lied, and it cost us Wyoming for sure and possibly even SC. You are talking about whether the coaches would keep working hard. Sure they would, and would have been able to keep players focused better. If Hammy wanted to get a head start on securing a new coach, I'm sure the Athletic Comm. would have OKed hiring the Search Firm anyway, and they could have done their thing. And Hammy could have kept lying through his teeth about his intentions when asked. He can pay out Millions, but can't fix a towel dispenser in Section Q. At the BB games he comes around to talk to talk to my fellow Bradley Countian whose given millions off the backs of the poor with his Check into Cash Business. What a way to support an AD.
Grim1 writes:
Ah..you know Allen Jones too?
cool.
TALL BETSY RULES!!!
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Yes, yes, very well said. Very very intelligent. Logical not emotional. Not a smart decision. Losing is not everything. It's just a game. Gosh what will be the outcome of it all? Will we even have a team next year that will win any? Will the players still come here? Will Hamilton be able NOW to find a decent head coach? Good grief, time to panic people time to do something about this, NOW! YOU LOST TO WYOMING! DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE IF FULMER HADN'T STEPPED DOWN?
MidTennVol writes:
A television station in Austin, Texas has been reported to have leaked the information that Leach has been offered the head coaching job at Tennessee.
http://www.wdef.com/blog/mike_leach_o...
tntorbett writes:
Robert Ayers is a Senior, last I checked, so it prob'ly doesn't make any difference to him who the coach is next year when it comes to his decission about entering the NFL Draft this year. Eric Berry has one more year before he's eligible to entere the NFL Draft.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Up until this season got out of hand I had to turn the VOLS off. I just could not stand for them to get beat. I told myself this is stupid and now I watch every last minute of every game. There is some merit to be found in some players even if the team loses. Those players still deserve our attention even if the rest of team sucks. I want to be there when the VOLS rebound and it maybe a few years but it will happen. Some other folks on this board need to make this adjustment.
calvolfromkingsport writes:
Great. I guess that means you'll be out this way soon. We'll have to get together, maybe a little golf? Any clues or leanings to who the next coach is gonna be?
hotrodvol writes:
Get Leach the offensive players want him, we need him.
Pay him 2.8mil. per/yr. he doesn't need an OC and pay Charlie Strong 750,000 per/yr. as DC then you will have a great recruiter also.
oske writes:
Fulmer should be relieved of his duties right now! He stabbed his way in and is pouting his way out. P for Phil's pity party! This team is in no way ready to play anybody. This staff is not trying to win on offense. Chavis ought to smack him right in the mouth! It is now and was back in 1992 all about him, not the team. If it were he would be playing the younger players but his stubbornness prevents him from playing Cutcliff's choice for QB (BJ) or anyone else who might benefit next years team with playing experience. He has his bottom lip out! Poor poor Phil! Johnny got $600.00 to leave Poor phil gets 6 mil? My goodness lets get on with the change!
drwfocus#660070 writes:
Get used to it. That is the destiny of the once mighty VOLS.
lomas98 writes:
Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who will make his first start since UT's 14-12 loss to Auburn on Sept. 27, said he's avoiding any talk of Fulmer's replacement.
"I actually have no clue how to get on those message boards, so I don't know what's being said," he said.
That doesn't surprise me one bit. I didn't think Crompton was all together between the ears. Hey Crompton, you do know what a computer is right?
tnbigg writes:
2009 schedule will start in February out there. I'll let you know as soon as exact date is set. As for the coach...I have no clue. I hope we announce soon though...take care!
sampears writes:
Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who will make his first start since UT's 14-12 loss to Auburn on Sept. 27, said he's avoiding any talk of Fulmer's replacement.
"I actually have no clue how to get on those message boards, so I don't know what's being said," he said.
What?! He does not know how to get on message boards? OMG, my 12 year old son can write the HTML for this web site. What does he watch when he "looks at film"? Mickey Mouse? OMG.....wake me up when its over.
Volgrad777 writes:
WeLove-- I continue to be amazed by your blatant lack of reality. That statement was logical??? Yes , we would have lost if Fulmer had still been in limbo, there is no doubt it my mind. Hes past his prime its simple FACT. The record and poor performances speak for themselves. You however do not , you speak for a man i gather you do not know personally nor will you ever for that matter. You speak for him based off of what?? A national championship??? Great , im the first to applaud. However , i speak for the millions of other Tennessee fans and ALUMNI , assuming you are not one, who wish to be proud once again of their university and its athletics. Namely Football. We wish to once again be in the national spotlight and be able to say with pride , yes i attended that game when we won the SEC championship in 2010. The days of old ARE OVER and we long to return to somewhat of what we once were. If Fulmer started us on that trail , great , but its now apparent he cant lead us there and that is a sad fact of life , sometimes we fail and in humility we find out what we are made of. I wish him the best , but now we all need to look to the future. You talk of winning and losing??? How we play the game??? There is a Cup named after Fulmer for the most arrests on one team. Two of our former all american RBs have been arrested for major Coke deals. Your argument is as depleted as your logic. Father figure you say??? Wonderful , i want a COACH , one who wins games , because i believe ultimately that winning breeds success in other areas and success breeds confidence and confidence breeds greatness and so on and so on. So , i say to you , yes Winning is everything. This University is far larger than you or myself or Phillip Fulmer will ever be and its high time we all realized that. WE ARE TENNESSEE.
Topvol writes:
Well, OSKE take some of your own advice, it looks like you haven't let go of the majors thing. I read these post and can't believe the un-educated (about Tn. football or football period)people on here, some of you have no idea about what grade the players are in or who is elgible to leave and then the "Majors" statements. Go back and look oskie Majors was offered a contract, would not sign it and wanted more money (lost to Ala. 7 straight years) when he had a medical problem and was in the hospital the contract was withdrawn..research before you spout off...some of you get on a bandwagon and hear what others are saying and just run with it, you have probably burnt the fries once or twice and they let you stay at your job, your life revolves around you being able to brag about Tn. football (pitiful). The man deserves repect and has done a ton for UT, but you and others show your true mentality with some of your posts. Why would a coach not try to win and why would a player spend all that time and energy and not try (how idiotic) and since you are out there with them, oh thats right you neither play (probably never have) or coach. By the way do you know what the official Tn. fight song is? Did Gen. Neyland win every game? When did Coach C say what his choice for Tn. QB was? Just a rumor you heard and ran with it.
blitzshoot writes:
WORST FOOTBALL SEASON IN UT HISTORY.
volunteerbud writes:
I am very happy he needed to go and has needed to for a long time now. As far as charging the students for their ticket, well that aint right but how else do you think they were gonna pay your beloved Fulmer's new salary every year? He aint worth half the money they gave him to leave.
richvol writes:
The first 5 words of Crompton's statement says it all, "I actually have no clue."
blitzshoot writes:
just a hoax
allntl1#565211 writes:
Fulmer is leaving and a new beginning.
Fans should not worry about recruiting.
Alot of coaches do more with less and no one did less with more than Coach Fulmer.
xvolx writes:
that's because it is coach stealth.
VolsInYourMouth writes:
Have you hit your head? Please put down the bottle my friend, too early in the morning to be drinking that foolmer juice. My gosh, what else has to happen for ppl like you to see the light and that foolmer leaving is a good thing for the kids, university, fans, etc....
RichmondVol42 writes:
Scoring 16 points on the bye week is stretching a little, don't you think?
allntl1#565211 writes:
In response to TOPVOL:
Coach Fulmer has done alot for the school and does deserve a ton of respect but the program has slid and I for one do not want to watch the Vols line up every Sat. and struggle against WY, UCLA, KY, Vandy. the schedule has flipped from the gimme games to the competetive games. The Competetive games are now the UT gets blown out games. Sadly coaches get replaced, here in Louisville Denny Crum was replaced by Rick Pitino but Crum had class and stepped aside. He left with dignity, not kicking and screaming. Crum is a beloved figure here and I believe Fulmer will also. Gotta go turn off my fries I think their burning.
leedsvol2007 writes:
I think what a lot of fans have yet to grasp is the change that has occurred in college football.
In the early seventies the NCAA changed from essentially no scholarship rules either in numbers signed or roster size to 30/120 and allowed freshman to play. The SEC had their own limits for annual signing. Prior to that Freshman football teams played 7 games and players were eligible as sophomores.
They then further limited squads to 25/96 and now have trimmed them to 25/85.
As a result lesser programs are more competitive and programs like ours can have bust seasons. And teams like Alabama can have a few recruits come in and make a mediocre team a great one.
And you don't have a guy like a Jim Maxwell languishing on the bench as a fifth year senior that can come to the rescue when the guys with more athletic talent but less savvy fail.
I don't like directly criticizing players but after watching the replay of the Wyoming game and the rest of the games this season our problem this year is not schemes its quarterback play.
Time and again balls were under-thrown, thrown to the wrong shoulder, behind receivers, low when they should have been high and high when they should have been low.
Whoever the next coach is I hope that he recruits as well as Fulmer has for us and is a better sideline coach.
But that coach will fare no better unless he finds a quarterback who can properly deliver the ball on time to the right receiver and keep teams from packing 8 in the box.
Fulmer's overall track record on quarterbacks has been great during his tenure Shuler, Manning, Martin, Clausen and Ainge have all played at very high levels. For the 2nd time a new quarterback has not played at a high level and it has cost him his job.
Ainge was poor as a sophomore but then became excellent the next two seasons. Perhaps Crompton will for the new coach next year.
GoVols!
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
We are (happy)...thanks for caring.
Go4Two writes:
I beleive football is changing teams that win one year may struggle big time as they rebuild. Since the QB position has become so important replacing quarterbacks can cause good teams to lose in a big way. LSU , Auburn, Tennessee, Kansas, Michigan all had solid seasons last year however all have slipped this year while breaking in new QB's. Look for Georiga to slip next year as they will find themselves with a new signal caller. Watch Texas Tech next year as they replace QB and WR's they will enter the cycle maybe Mike Leach will escape before the web fans move in on him...
RemembertheAlamo writes:
rockit...so, so true. He has been in Knoxville for 3+ years and he has no clue on how to read these posts, how is he passing in school?
RemembertheAlamo writes:
You are so right, this has to be WELOVETENNESSEEVOLS.
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