Packer: One last trip out of 'T' a tough moment : govolsxtra.com

As I watched Phillip Fulmer make his way through the "T" Saturday night for the final time, it brought back many memories. It took me all the way back to the first time I was introduced to Tennessee football.

I came to Knoxville in the summer of 1996 from Odessa, Texas. I'd heard about Tennessee football and what an experience Saturdays at Neyland Stadium were all about.

As I arrived at the stadium for the nationally televised game between the Vols and UCLA, I really didn't know where to go. Someone told me where I needed to be to truly experience how special the 'T' was. Since I had a media sideline pass, it gave me the opportunity to get where few people had the chance to go.

So, I made my way to the tunnel on the north side of Shields-Watkins Field. Before anyone else could get into place, I positioned myself right next to the tunnel.

You have to realize that I had never been in a stadium with more than 100,000 screaming people. As I stood there, I noticed the band coming my way. Just as I got wrapped up in the band, I looked to my right and there was Fulmer. With the team right behind him, Fulmer stopped next to me.

Shoulder to shoulder we watched the band march toward us. On the other side of Fulmer was the CBS producer with his headset. We stood there for what seemed an eternity waiting for the green light for the team to follow their head coach on to the field.

All of a sudden the band opened up like the Red Sea and the CBS producer yelled, "Go, go, go." Fulmer began to run toward the opening with his players behind him. At that moment, I was one huge goosebump. I'd never seen anything like it. With light bulbs going off all over the stadium, the Vols headed out for another win.

So, flash forward a national championship, two SEC titles, two losing seasons and a now former coach later. I've watched the Vols run through the 'T' about 75 times, but none like what we saw last night. Once again, I positioned myself next to the tunnel so that I could experience a different entrance by Fulmer.

As I stood there, I thought about what is different now than in '96. The first thing that I thought of were the players following their head coach on to the field. I didn't see anybody that made me think of Peyton Manning, Leonard Little, Chad Clifton, Al Wilson, Joey Kent, Marcus Nash, Jeff Hall. The list went on and on. It dawned on me that the difference wasn't X's and O's, it is the Jimmy's and Joe's.

It also hit me that this morning is the first time in the modern era that Tennessee football has gone a day without a coach. When the change occurred in 1992 from Johnny Majors to Fulmer, the program essentially had two head coaches. You could argue that the program hasn't gone a day without a head coach since 1963.

So much talk has been made about it being the last game for Fulmer, but what about assistants like John Chavis, Dan Brooks and Steve Caldwell. Those three coaches have a combined 48 years of coaching service to Tennessee. Throw in the fact that Chavis played for the Vols for three years (1976-78) and you see why Saturday night was such a tough night for the Tennessee family.

To steal a line from former UT defensive end Will Overstreet, this isn't a funeral, nobody died. But, it is an unparalleled time in UT history. Sure we've heard all the talk of a press conference early in the week to announce Lane Kiffin as the new coach. But, that coach won't be a Vol. He won't be Tennessee through and through.

How many times have we heard the phrase thrown out about Tennessee football being about family? I'm not questioning athletic director Mike Hamilton's decision to make a change at the top. I think there's always a time for change. But, when you see a family member leaving the house, it's always tough. And, watching Fulmer run out for the last time was one of those moments in this program's history that many Vol fans will never forget.

As for Hamilton's decision, you may question the timing, but with a track record like he has he deserves a chance at this. His hire of men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl was genius. His facility improvements have been a huge success. Hamilton has been an excellent athletic director. If you think the decision was tough for UT fans to stomach, imagine how he must have felt sitting up there at that press conference.

Tennessee football is in a place at this very moment that it has never been before. Let's hope it gets back to where it was a decade ago sooner than later.

Mark Packer hosts the Locker Room, presented by Parkwest Medical Center, on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.