Poll: What is Tennessee's most memorable victory in the Phillip Fulmer era?

  • News Sentinel staff
  • Posted November 23, 2008 at 10:34 p.m., updated November 23, 2008 at 10:34 p.m.

Poll

What is UT's most memorable win in the Phillip Fulmer era?

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Comments » 70

rockitwithrespect writes:

11/29/08 UK at home- fulmers last win as a vol. go get em coach, and thanks for the memories

FWBVol writes:

They were all great wins and there were so many more such as the 1998 Arkansas game, but I had to go with the Fiesta Bowl win for the National Championship. I'm 50 and it's the only football NC in my lifetime. Hopefully, we'll get another one in the next few years.

Coach, go get those Cats on Saturday and keep your record perfect against the boys in KY blue.

Thanks for all the great years of service to our University of Tennessee.

hotrodvol writes:

The 1998 Florida game was awesome, hugging the wife, high fives to everbody, watching fans storm the field, perfect.

Thanks Coach Fulmer!!!

1TubbyVol writes:

No game specifically for all of them have a special place in my heart. The best memory of coach fulmer was when he took his championship ring off his finger in the summer of 1999 and put it on my 7 year olds. For a brief moment, the boy was made to feel invicible. Watching my sons eyes light up with joy and amazement is something that he and I both never will forget. Fulmer is a man of character and class. An outstanding human being.

Thank you Coach Fulmer.

TommyJack writes:

in response to et_vol_fan:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Clayton purge?

newtonrail writes:

All were good, but didn't get to go to dessert so I voted for '98 win over Gators. No one moved in the Stadium for almost an hour. Just taking it in. Similar to Vandy win in '85. Sugar cubes were thrown on field. Nothing memorable about game except winning it meant we went to Sugar Bowl to set up one my my 3 all time favorite wins over Miami. Second over Notre Dame in '91, and 3rd win over LSU in '59 stopping Billy Cannon at goal line to win 14-13. They actually had 3 other possessions.

shipperman#280095 writes:

in response to et_vol_fan:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

My wife was part of the Clayton layoff too my friend. My most memorable win would have to be the National Championship. My favorite UT win of all time though would have to be 1986 when we humbled Miami in the Sugar Bowl and Fulmer was the OC for that one.
Best wished to Coach

WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:

When he kicked the Knox News Sentinel Sports writers out of the press room. What a glorious day that was! And when he took over for Majors. And when he smoked all of those cigars after the victories against the Crimson Tide. And when we beat Miami 10 to 6. And when we beat the Gators in the Swamp, sending Spurrier to the NFL. And when we beat Michigan in the Bowl Game. Here's to you, PHil Fulmer for not losing any more than you did. And for keeping your troops kicking when we lost so many heart breakers along the way. And you still won 75 percent of your games. We now proclaim you a freed man from the University of Tennessee, go out and have fun with your money, you earned it, and we will all make fun of Mr. Mike Hamilton for it. You have done your share , nothing to feel bad about. And to all of the fans who wanted you fired, go shave and have another beer! And also for the fire Fulmer crowd, we thank you for all of the hard work you spent trying to get Coach Fulmer fired, if you'd used that energy helping your team somehow, oh well, it's all water under the dam now, remember, this is your team now and the future is now yours and Mr. Mike Hamilton's , be sure to show up at all of the games, and root,rrrooottt, for your team. The rest of the big Orange nation will be enjoying our lives, not trying to win every game, but living our lives to the fullest. Al Vedertshan!!!

adamsmith5529#630125 writes:

i remember all these games. we had some good teams. fulmer was one of the best coaches of the 90s, but the times have changed and fulmer has not. MY FAVORITE WAS ARK VS UT 98.
a great come from behind victory.

shipperman#280095 writes:

in response to WeLoveTennesseeVols:

When he kicked the Knox News Sentinel Sports writers out of the press room. What a glorious day that was! And when he took over for Majors. And when he smoked all of those cigars after the victories against the Crimson Tide. And when we beat Miami 10 to 6. And when we beat the Gators in the Swamp, sending Spurrier to the NFL. And when we beat Michigan in the Bowl Game. Here's to you, PHil Fulmer for not losing any more than you did. And for keeping your troops kicking when we lost so many heart breakers along the way. And you still won 75 percent of your games. We now proclaim you a freed man from the University of Tennessee, go out and have fun with your money, you earned it, and we will all make fun of Mr. Mike Hamilton for it. You have done your share , nothing to feel bad about. And to all of the fans who wanted you fired, go shave and have another beer! And also for the fire Fulmer crowd, we thank you for all of the hard work you spent trying to get Coach Fulmer fired, if you'd used that energy helping your team somehow, oh well, it's all water under the dam now, remember, this is your team now and the future is now yours and Mr. Mike Hamilton's , be sure to show up at all of the games, and root,rrrooottt, for your team. The rest of the big Orange nation will be enjoying our lives, not trying to win every game, but living our lives to the fullest. Al Vedertshan!!!

Get a life you idiot.

jobrando#216494 writes:

I like to go back to the 1986 defeat of favored Miami and the vols stopped them for two NT in a row. This was not even close. What a great game for a VOL fan to watch.

pdhuff#552644 writes:

All were good, but two come to mine.

Sugar Bowl win over Miami.

Beating Miami in old Orange Bowl while sitting among fans with gold chains and wife beater shirts. Finding out they sold Miller Lite at the game was a plus. Nearly was able to speak Spanish by the time the tilt was over.

Thanks Phil and godspeed in whatever you do next.

Goosfraba writes:

I'm sitting here reading all these posts while i take a dump and it blows my mind how quickly things change. Don't get me wrong, there are a few honest people still on here, but most everyone that posted before Fulmer was fired were ready to run him out of town. Now that it has happened it seems like everyone wants to talk about how dirty it was and how it was handled was wrong. But it's not the first time someone has been fired in the middle of the season. Fulmer may be a great man and an excellent role model for kids coming out of high school to play football for. But the man isn't running a refining school for boys. He's the head coach at TENNESSEE! A school with great tradition and desire to be the best. What has the man done in the last 10 years? We have a few meaningless bowl wins! Whoopty freakin doo! I wish the best for Fulmer, but the man can not coach like the competition demands him to. In the nineties I believe he could beat teams just based off talent. He doesn't have that advantage anymore and it is showing more than ever. My best example of his lack of coaching ability has to be the UCLA game this year. They had a third string QB, who was a pocket passer, so you know he wasn't gonna be able to run on us. An offensive line that was thrown together at the last minute. And we still played 10 yards off their receivers and hardly ever blitzed. If there has ever been a better time to blitz i would love to see it. And we have one of the best secondaries in the country. Let them boys play man to man and blitz the he@# out of them.

TommyJack writes:

For pure intensity, I would say the AR game in 98 would be hard to beat.

bluetickhoundguy writes:

in response to jobrando#216494:

I like to go back to the 1986 defeat of favored Miami and the vols stopped them for two NT in a row. This was not even close. What a great game for a VOL fan to watch.

Ummmmm.... Johnny Majors was coaching the Vols for that game.... Fulmer WAS the OC though was he not?? Great win in any event... Another win that didn't get mentioned was the '97 SEC championship game vs Auburn.... Tennessee turned the ball over FIVE times and still found a way to win....

bluetickhoundguy writes:

Yet another come-from-behind game that gets lost in the shuffle was the Sugar Bowl win vs Virginia... Who can forget Tony Thompson skying over the top for the winning score? Eric Berry is quickly becoming my all time favorite Vol but Tony Thompson will always be in the top five... Huge heart in a little body!

Triton1 writes:

in response to Goosfraba:

I'm sitting here reading all these posts while i take a dump and it blows my mind how quickly things change. Don't get me wrong, there are a few honest people still on here, but most everyone that posted before Fulmer was fired were ready to run him out of town. Now that it has happened it seems like everyone wants to talk about how dirty it was and how it was handled was wrong. But it's not the first time someone has been fired in the middle of the season. Fulmer may be a great man and an excellent role model for kids coming out of high school to play football for. But the man isn't running a refining school for boys. He's the head coach at TENNESSEE! A school with great tradition and desire to be the best. What has the man done in the last 10 years? We have a few meaningless bowl wins! Whoopty freakin doo! I wish the best for Fulmer, but the man can not coach like the competition demands him to. In the nineties I believe he could beat teams just based off talent. He doesn't have that advantage anymore and it is showing more than ever. My best example of his lack of coaching ability has to be the UCLA game this year. They had a third string QB, who was a pocket passer, so you know he wasn't gonna be able to run on us. An offensive line that was thrown together at the last minute. And we still played 10 yards off their receivers and hardly ever blitzed. If there has ever been a better time to blitz i would love to see it. And we have one of the best secondaries in the country. Let them boys play man to man and blitz the he@# out of them.

In the past 10 years, he won a NC, and since 2000, has posted the second best decade of Tn football. Second, only to his best decade of the 90's. Some of you morons talk about history and tradition when you don't even know the history.

tnbigg writes:

It will be this Saturday...

pdhuff#552644 writes:

in response to TommyJack:

For pure intensity, I would say the AR game in 98 would be hard to beat.

Psshaw, had 'em all the way.

Well, maybe Stoerner slipping on a wet gnat's poot (some say guard's foot) had a little bearing.

GoVol writes:

1st - winning national championship
2nd - the day Fulmer was fired

Volunatic writes:

in response to WeLoveTennesseeVols:

When he kicked the Knox News Sentinel Sports writers out of the press room. What a glorious day that was! And when he took over for Majors. And when he smoked all of those cigars after the victories against the Crimson Tide. And when we beat Miami 10 to 6. And when we beat the Gators in the Swamp, sending Spurrier to the NFL. And when we beat Michigan in the Bowl Game. Here's to you, PHil Fulmer for not losing any more than you did. And for keeping your troops kicking when we lost so many heart breakers along the way. And you still won 75 percent of your games. We now proclaim you a freed man from the University of Tennessee, go out and have fun with your money, you earned it, and we will all make fun of Mr. Mike Hamilton for it. You have done your share , nothing to feel bad about. And to all of the fans who wanted you fired, go shave and have another beer! And also for the fire Fulmer crowd, we thank you for all of the hard work you spent trying to get Coach Fulmer fired, if you'd used that energy helping your team somehow, oh well, it's all water under the dam now, remember, this is your team now and the future is now yours and Mr. Mike Hamilton's , be sure to show up at all of the games, and root,rrrooottt, for your team. The rest of the big Orange nation will be enjoying our lives, not trying to win every game, but living our lives to the fullest. Al Vedertshan!!!

The games you mentioned were definitely good memories. Too bad all of those really good games were so long ago. The '05 LSU game would have been a really good memory, if the team had not completely collapsed over the rest of the season.
One question-- who is Al Vetershan?
Did you mean to say "Auf wiedersehen"?

NO_DIGGITY writes:

in response to bluetickhoundguy:

Ummmmm.... Johnny Majors was coaching the Vols for that game.... Fulmer WAS the OC though was he not?? Great win in any event... Another win that didn't get mentioned was the '97 SEC championship game vs Auburn.... Tennessee turned the ball over FIVE times and still found a way to win....

Walt Harris was OC for the Sugar Bowl win, Fulmer was OL coach. Harris was fired after the first 6 games in 1988 (0 and 6) and was replaced by Fulmer. UT proceeded to go 38-9-2 with Fulmer as OC.

I was in AZ for the National Championship game and that has to be number one for me. Other games may have been more exciting, but seeing us win the NC can't be topped.

rockytop4ever writes:

I would also throw the Arkansas game in '98 out there. And the Florida game from a few years ago when Wilhoit hit the 50 yarder after missing the kick before. Both great games ill never forget. Thanks for the memories coach.

ctownvol writes:

in response to TommyJack:

For pure intensity, I would say the AR game in 98 would be hard to beat.

My most memorable game that I actually attended in person. I still get goosebumps.

bluetickhoundguy writes:

No diggity

Thanks for the fact check... I wasn't sure about Fulmer being OC but I had totally forgotten about Walt Harris!!

pabashia#208095 writes:

You left off the greatest victory - that of Fulmer finally being fired.

AugVol writes:

Regardless of what the anti-Fulmer morons say, he had a lot more significant victories at UT than Majors did. Having said that, the '98 NC game stands by itself. My favorite was the '92 UT/UGA game. UT wasn't supposed to be in that game and they tore UGA apart. I knew after that game how good of a head coach Fulmer was going to be. Second to that was the 2003 Miami game that UT won 10-6 (in Miami). It's also the same game where the Kellen "The Soldier" Winslow Jr. (aka The Idiot) proclaimed his defense of the "U" afterwards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X60mr...).

vol88 writes:

in response to TommyJack:

For pure intensity, I would say the AR game in 98 would be hard to beat.

Yes, the Immaculate Fumble. I had an aisle seat and almost got trampled when everybody around me ran out, then again when they ran back in.

I voted for 98 UF, however. "Pandemonium Reigns!" as John Ward said!

NO_DIGGITY writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

What is funnier and more pathetic is having 3 coaches in one year. One a 56 year old man making it rain in a Nudie Bar. That is some funny stuff.

vol88 writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Not nearly as pathetic as bama's success rate vs. Fulmer.

vol88 writes:

Yeah, that's what I figured. Flame and run, bammer moron.

rabidvol1998 writes:

Butch is Back - interesting stats. Good research. We all long for the good ole days, the ones when the coach was Phil Fulmer, unless you go back to the other good ole days before face masks.

AugVol writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Yea, just like Bear won over some pretty bad UT teams back in the 70's... thanks for bringing that point to the argument(rolling eyes)

vol88 writes:

True, you guys weren't even worth wasting a goalpost on.

vol88 writes:

in response to General_Watermelon:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I was in Sec. II.

A great day for sure!

CoverOrange writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Are you from Canada? The U.P.? Alaska?

Colliervol writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

And whose fault was it that those teams were bad? All you and some boosters have to do is look in the mirror.

I'm like that as I am about UT's national title or the Arkansas game that same season. Doesn't matter a bit how weak Bama was or if Florida State didn't have their starting QB or if Stoerner tripped. At the end of the day, they only ask if you got the job done or not. Doesn't matter how it happened. The record book will always say it and that's the bottom line.

As far as Phil goes, well, let's just say that he has far more happy memories than sad ones when it comes to the Bama series.

Volunatic writes:

in response to ButchIsBack:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Perhaps when your mom makes you move out of her basement, you will understand the pain of NEEDING employment.

djstatik writes:

The miracle at South Bend! 1991 UT 35 ND 34

jsm67vol writes:

in response to TommyJack:

For pure intensity, I would say the AR game in 98 would be hard to beat.

Would agree on this one. Most probably don't choose this one because they were already in the parking lot giving up when UT took that one away from the hogs.

jsm67vol writes:

in response to ButchIsBack:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Yea and maybe they should go ahead and make plans to scale back the size of Neyland stadium to keep the crowd at capacity. You're right about one thing, irrelevant. We can give that distinction to Fulmer also. He brought us to the irrelevant stage and I have little faith that he could have ever brought UT back to glory. UT fell into SEC champ game last year with Cutcliffe at OC. Fulmer is a legend at UT but if he stayed he would not remain as such.

OdessaVol writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I will pull for most SEC teams in out of conference games but you make it tough gooberhead. You got picked on as a kid didn't you?

arkyvol writes:

it wasn't the biggest win, but it was one of the most important. the 1998 arkansas game. without stoerner's fumble and henry's running, the vols would not have made it to tempe and 98 would have been just another one of many good but not great years.

OdessaVol writes:

Living in Florida, the 2001 FL game was very satisfying. Giving Steve his farewell gift from Florida Field and running the ball down the Gators throat all night was sweet. Pre-HC Fulmer, the South Bend miracle was incredible.

cdldoc#211897 writes:

Is there anyway to send Coach Fulmer an email?

gobigorange writes:

Has to be either the 1998 National Championship game or the 1995 Alabama game.Both were great.Will never forget either one.

OrangePower11 writes:

in response to bama987:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Still a long title drought for you, Bammer...don't worry, our new coach will "lube" it up just as good as ole Phil did when he was taking Bama behind the woodshed all those years...

P.S. Congrats on keeping the same coach for damn near 2 complete seasons...progress indeed Bammer.

volfan_in_mississippi writes:

My most memorable game to watch on television would have to be the LSU game after Katrina when we came back to beat LSU in overtime. Did not matter much on grand scale, but it was a thrill to watch. Who would like to have had Rick Clausen at QB this year?

Favorite game I attended was the 5 OT game in Tuscaloosa. The Ala fans were leaving after their possession in 2nd OT.

Goosfraba writes:

in response to Triton1:

In the past 10 years, he won a NC, and since 2000, has posted the second best decade of Tn football. Second, only to his best decade of the 90's. Some of you morons talk about history and tradition when you don't even know the history.

I was talking about since he won a nc. I thought that was kinda of understood. Guess not. And your right there are a lot of morons on here.

threehundredbowler writes:

in response to WeLoveTennesseeVols:

When he kicked the Knox News Sentinel Sports writers out of the press room. What a glorious day that was! And when he took over for Majors. And when he smoked all of those cigars after the victories against the Crimson Tide. And when we beat Miami 10 to 6. And when we beat the Gators in the Swamp, sending Spurrier to the NFL. And when we beat Michigan in the Bowl Game. Here's to you, PHil Fulmer for not losing any more than you did. And for keeping your troops kicking when we lost so many heart breakers along the way. And you still won 75 percent of your games. We now proclaim you a freed man from the University of Tennessee, go out and have fun with your money, you earned it, and we will all make fun of Mr. Mike Hamilton for it. You have done your share , nothing to feel bad about. And to all of the fans who wanted you fired, go shave and have another beer! And also for the fire Fulmer crowd, we thank you for all of the hard work you spent trying to get Coach Fulmer fired, if you'd used that energy helping your team somehow, oh well, it's all water under the dam now, remember, this is your team now and the future is now yours and Mr. Mike Hamilton's , be sure to show up at all of the games, and root,rrrooottt, for your team. The rest of the big Orange nation will be enjoying our lives, not trying to win every game, but living our lives to the fullest. Al Vedertshan!!!

Water flows over a dam,under a bridge.

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