© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Features
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group2012 The E.W. Scripps Co.
More news from our local partners » Privacy Policy | User Agreement | About Our Ads
Comments » 43
bjrhodes01 writes:
Once he is done announcing his staff, including Bill Callahan and Wayne Kiffin, I think this poll will be an overwhelming "Yes"!
bjrhodes01 writes:
Once he is done announcing his staff, including Bill Callahan and Monte Kiffin, I think this poll will be an overwhelming "Yes"!
BSweet writes:
I'm taking the wait and see approach. I'm hopefully optimistic, but admit that his unproven track record has me concerned. Time will tell.
Triton1 writes:
Not sure is the only correct answer, only time will tell.
NWGeorgiaVol writes:
I am also taking the wait and see. Hoping for the best.
volinjapan writes:
Looks like another Buzz hire! I'd rather have any college coach that at least has experience, let's face the fact's this guy has no proven college experience that would be expected for a TN football team. He'll be here two years then get a Buzz buyout!
OldNumber7 writes:
Only time will tell. But it is quite possibly the biggest gamble on the list as he has zero track record as college head coach, zero track record as a consistent coach, and zero track record doing more with less. Could be a great one, but Tennessee sure threw a blind dart when it could have reeled in a proven college coach.
carters_dad writes:
the Tennessean is reporting that Fulmer is not ruling out being the head coach at clemson. If fulmer goes to clemson and chavis is his DC, We are in BIG trouble. That would be his way of getting back at UT. He would sure get lots of our would be recruits and could probably sit over there and churn out 10 win seasons one after another. If bowden can start off the season ranked #10 just think what fulmer and chavis could do at clemson!!!!
carters_dad writes:
The UT coach was asked if he would be interested in the Clemson head coach position, and Fulmer did not rule it out.
"If the right place that has the same kind of passion that the Tennessee people have, and I felt like I could have the same kind of passion there that I've had here, then that's something I would look at," Fulmer said.
He was then asked if he has had any contact with Clemson.
"I'm not really at liberty to talk about any of that, nor do I choose to at this particular point," Fulmer said.
thevoice writes:
The last coach for TN didn't have head coaching experience. He lasted for 17 years.
OldNumber7 writes:
You make a good point. But the question is how much was coach and how much was the show that surrounded him. It was obvious through these 17 years that some serious learning curve was absorbed at a heavy cost at times.
volintexas writes:
Silly poll typical of KNS. It is what it is as they say. Time to support this guy and hope for the best, but Orgeron being mentioned as an assistant is scary.
MidTennVol writes:
I've written this elsewhere but, with these new comments from Fulmer and Chavis, will write it again:
Mike Hamilton has condemned his name to infamy in the way he has handled what should have and could have been a graceful, respectful coaching change.
First, he decided to not wait until the end of the season to fire Fulmer. He leaks that news to Chris Low the Sunday after the SC game, throwing the entire program into turmoil.
Second (and utterly sleazy, in my opinion), he leaks news of Kiffin's hire on the eve of Fulmer's last day and "Philip Fulmer Day" at Neyland.
"Somebody either doesn't understand kids or it's not important to them," Fulmer said. "I was afraid of that throwing another wrench in everything." Darn right, Coach Fulmer.
Hamilton has completely disrespected Coach Fulmer and his staff in the way he has handled this. (Coach Pearl, are you paying attention?) And I am a guy who felt Coach Fulmer should have resigned after the 2005 season or at the very latest at the end of this season.
With his treatment of Fulmer, Hamilton has completely destroyed relationships with former players. Think Peyton was loyal to the program because he's an alum -- or loyal to the program because of Coach Fulmer? Don't expect Peyton to be on the sidelines of many games in the future.
Hamilton is not yet a Vol, nor is Kiffin. As Chief says: "It's been a long time since somebody sat at the end of the table that was not a Tennessee guy. People wanted change. They got change."
At least 10 wins per season and championships, Mssrs. Hamilton and Kiffin -- that's the Frankenstein expectation of excellence that this staff is handing to you. It's the Frankenstein that killed Coach Fulmer this year. He and his staff created this monster of expectations. Some of out here remember how excited we were just to become bowl-eligible.
Deliver consistently and you'll perhaps start a new tradition at Tennessee. Deliver consistently and you will start earning your way to becoming a true Vol.
This fan certainly wishes you well and much success, Coach Kiffin but you had better deliver a lot, deliver it fast, and deliver it consistently ... or face Frankenstein.
txvolsfan writes:
Huh!!! A little bitter are we!!! Can you say Prozac??? A little pill will do you.
JayTee writes:
No one will ever be the right hire for the Fulmerites. For the rest of us we will support him.
givehim6 writes:
I'll say yes for now, hopeing this will help in recruiting. But i'll leave one eye opened. Last time I fully got behind a new hire was a guy named "Clawson".
dirtywhiteboy writes:
dude, he's not exactly cranking out ten win seasons here right now and not exactly setting the recruiting world on fire, although he was off to a decent start this year.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
The glass went from half empty to completely empty. Kiffy is not a coach is Hammy is a joke. This might be a good hire if UT had a surfing team.
BigT_Chief writes:
I am cautiously optimistic. The way some people here are bashing Kiffin for having no HC experience, you'd think that people believe HCs are hatched instead of being given a shot at it and building their experience/legacy. Time will tell, but don't bad mouth the man until he has given reason to be bad mouthed and doubted.
txvolsfan writes:
and you base it on pure speculation? What about Mark Richt and Bob Stoops, do you think the same was said about them?
Can't we give the guy a chance and he could be a diamond in the rough!!! He obviously has talent or he wouldn't be able to assemble a staff!!
Mike obviously knew what he was doing with Bruce Pearl!!!
txvolsfan writes:
AMEN!!! Good post
kyvol98 writes:
I think 65 K for "Fulmer Appreciation Day" (even with bad weather) speaks volumes where the program has gotten to.
Stupid poll though. Go winless and it is a resounding "NO", go undefeated and it was the greatest hire ever.
Coach Fulemer is now Ex-coach Fulmer. Let it go.
Last time I looked, ith was a "T" on the side of the helmet, not a "PF"
Homermoosevols writes:
Looks like we got Monty also...He is leaving the BUCS!
kyvol98 writes:
Just reported on ESPN that Peyton Manning was consulted by UT on the Kiffin hire and he signed off on it. Also, Monte Kiffin is coming after the Buc's season.
Make my vote a YES
xvolx writes:
no
thevoice writes:
Actually my point is that the paths leading to a head coach at a major university or in the SEC can take on many different forms. Here's a question: how many UT folks would be ecstatic if suddenly Peyton Manning announced his retirement from the NFL and decided to head coach TN? Probably 99.99%. And what if Al Wilson was hired as the Def. Coord.? Probably the same results. Where did Jim Tressle come from? Mark Richt? Les Miles? Philip Fulmer. Not a HC job, and 3 out of 4 have an NC. I'm just saying a good coach can come from a plethora of backgrounds.
tnvolgrad00 writes:
Wow, a lot of you really like slipping into the SEC champ.(like we did last year) and following that up with a five win season. Wow, I cannot believe what a lot of you are writing. Kiffin hasn't even been introduced yet, and you guys want to send him packing. I used to support fulmer, the first eight years. Listen, you go back and watch, this trend started with Casey Clausen and the 2001 SEC champ. game against LSU. Tenn. football started its downward spiral then. It was time for Fulmer, just not the way it was done, but other than that, you best believe that Meyer, Saban, and Richt are nervous. Of course they and their fans aren't going to say that. How many of you were scared when Meyer came to UF or when Saban went to ALA. Come on people, this guy will be good for UT and he will recruit like heck, to use a fulmer word. The guy can coach, the Raiders were in the right direction, he ran up tempo prac, and had great schemes. He wanted Rex Ryan out and that was one of Al's boys, there is the problem. So get beyond that 5-15 record in Oakland, Fulmer wouldn't have done any better in that situation. Bottom line hate on Hamilton all you want, but I am ready to be the UT it was when I was in school their 95-2000 (NC in football, 3NC w.basketball, and five NCAA tourneys with J. Green and CO.) So if my expectations are a little high, so be it. We once were the best athaletic university in the country and hamilton is getting us back there, just not in a classy way. Go vols and I cant wait to get back on top.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
Anybody, and I mean anybody will do a better job than the clowns we had. Heck, now we might score a touchdown or two in the first half. Fulmer and Chavis are so self absorbed in their own pride, they still don't have a clue that the football program has been in a downward spiral for seven years. Get Fulmer out of Knoxville and keep him away. We don't need him anywhere near our football program. I wonder if Clemson, Miss. St., Syracuse fans are familiar with the phrases "working like heck", "back to the basics" and "we got beat by a darn good football team"?
mbible1utk#324980 writes:
ESPN is reporting Monte Kiffin has signed on to join his son on UT's staff.... we're gonna be running the Tampa 2 next year... this is gonna be great!
Vol_in_Mich writes:
YES (for now, ask me again in three years) Any new coach is a gamble. A lot of us wanted new blood & we have it, so let's support Coach Kiffin & his staff.
Go Vols
volroadwarrior writes:
Let's get behind the new coach and hope Hammy hits another Pearl like home run. I believe we can get some of those recruits to recommit and reel on a top flight QB and some DLs.
I hope we are not having some post Fulmer euphoria where some would view anyone as being an improvement. Let's hope they are.
rabidvol1998 writes:
3 of last 4 have been good. So I say there's a 75% chance this was the right choice.
What will the standard be?
Last 3 years 24-15 with one SEC East Champ. Next 3 should have to be that good at least.
tnbigg writes:
Absolutely a great choice...
utvolzfan76 writes:
Well said! I couldn't have said it better! Even the president of the United States has never been a president before!
shipperman#280095 writes:
Fulmer won't be going to Clemson
volinjapan writes:
Well lets see how long did Fulmer spend in coaching before he took over? We'll just wait and see what happens over the next few years.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree completely! I don't know what the "wl" in that guy's screen stands for, but it couldn't mean anything that actually supports the school or the athletic program.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Meant to include "name" after "screen" in my previous post. On the main topic, there sure are a lot of haters and Nervous Nellies posting on this topic. If Peyton Manning, Pete Carroll, and Jeff Fisher, among many others, think he can do the job, that's enough for me! Who knows, he might fall flat on his face, but let's wait until that actually happens before we start hyperventilating! I certainly like what I have seen and heard so far.
forkball writes:
Stupid poll,a forum for secondguessers. What's done is done, support the coach and success will follow.
yeavols#228407 writes:
I thought we already addressed this issue?
tnbigg writes:
Poll:
Can a little nut become a giant oak?
Yes _____
No _____
BigMix writes:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/3...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33117968...
blitzshoot writes:
Agree. He's under more scrutiny
than the previous coach, in just two weeks.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.