It was a festive atmosphere Saturday afternoon inside the University of Tennessee's Thompson-Boling Arena before the Vols' football game against Northern Illinois.
UT donors gathered for the annual Volunteer Athletics & Scholarship Fund (VASF) Day for a pre-game barbecue and festivities.
There were UT's cheerleaders and the dance team, Smokey, inflatable games, face-painting and even live music by a band called Uncle Funky and Friends.
All the fun, however, seemed to contradict the uneasiness among many UT football fans - and donors - concerning the direction of the program under head coach Phillip Fulmer.
"I do believe there's time for some new blood in the head coaching position, I do," said Chattanooga's Brian Williams, a VASF donor for nine years.
"He's been good, but it's just too conservative. There's been too many times we've played not to lose and we've lost, instead of being aggressive and taking it a full 60 minutes, and I don't see that happening with Phil being the coach."
Williams said he thought the off-season hiring of Dave Clawson as offensive coordinator might be enough of a change.
"We just recently had a change this past year with the offensive coordinator and everything, and it seems like we still have the same situation we've had previous years, being too conservative, not being open with the offense," Williams said.
"I think Phil needs to open up and let the offensive coordinator run the offense like he should."
Murfreesboro's Bob Simerly has been coming to UT football games since 1949, and now makes the drive to Knoxville with his wife, Sarah. They've been VASF donors since the program started and are still on board with Fulmer.
"A lot of it depends on this year," Bob Simerly said. "I think they need to give him the opportunity to finish out this year and see how it goes then."
Harriman's Bill Young is still on Fulmer's side, too. Young is a first-year VASF donor, but previously had season tickets as a UT staff member.
"I've not given up on Coach Fulmer," Young said. "I think Coach Fulmer's a good coach. I think his record speaks for itself, but I think there's going to have to be some changes made, philosophies, recruiting. We've slipped somewhere along the way.
"I believe (Fulmer) can pull it back but it's going to be a tough road. The SEC is a lot harder conference than it used to be. It's harder to get a program back."
Jerry Ward, 54, of Bristol, Tenn., has been a VASF donor since 1985, and he's ready for a new head coach.
"I really think it's going to have to take a change," Ward said. "He's a good guy, a good coach, but I think he's too loyal. You need to make some changes. We haven't improved since the start of this year. It goes back a couple of years.
"Last year it was a good year, but I think it's time for a change."
Many believe Fulmer won't step down under any circumstances, and Ward believes if the Vols continue their slide the coaching situation could get "ugly."
"I would like to see him retire at the end of the year, or before the end of the year,' " Ward said. "He's got a great record, but times have changed. I think he really needs to go ahead and back down, take a job with the A.D. (athletic director) in fundraising or something along that line, but it's time I think (for a coaching change)."
So does Chris Parrott, a 1990 UT graduate and VASF donor since the program started.
"Up until this season I have defended Phillip Fulmer because he was my school's coach," she said. "It's getting harder for me to defend with the performance on the field."
Parrott sees the coaching change that UT made in basketball, hiring Bruce Pearl to invigorate the program, and hopes the football program could find as good a fit.
However, it took UT several tries before finding a Pearl-like fit for the basketball program.
"I predicted at the beginning of the season we'd probably be 5-7," Parrott said. "Again, I respect Phillip Fulmer. I'm so glad he brought my school a national championship (1998), but it's probably time, and I think it would be a good, positive change."
Good Crowd: Mark Ingram, UT's associate athletic director for development, estimated Saturday's crowd at VASF Day to be 5,000 to 6,000.
"We've got a great crowd, which is a tribute to our donors and their support of the program," Ingram said. "We have almost 10,000 donors in the VASF. Generally we have about 5,000 come to VASF Day. I would say we will have that today, if not more."
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Comments » 72
DemocratVol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
vtvol#210290 writes:
It's pretty interesting that almost every donor interviewed was ready for a coaching change. Hopefully, Haslam, Hyams, and Thronton are paying attention.
dvols writes:
ur stupid
copan07#220906 writes:
The "insider plan", as it has been mentioned, is probably not going to work. Mike Hamilton had offered Fulmer the seven year contract because of the timing with the end of Peyton's NFL career.
BillsBrother writes:
A little Nebraska football history
Tom Osborne retires, Frank Solich takes over
1998 9-4
1999 12-1
2000 10-2
2001 11-2
2002 7-7
2003 9-3
Frank Solich Fired
2004 5-6
2005 8-4
2006 9-5
2007 5-7
I don't beleive the VOLS are getting the best from their coaching staff, but do you think the Cornhuskers are second guessing their decision?
chrisw2967 writes:
shouldnt be any mixed reviews , if they all cant agree Fulmer sucks and its time for him to go then there is something wrong.
Just offer him a job to hand out programs or something.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
You can listen to the fans too much. Everybody wants a change. A change in leadership does not automatically mean a change in winning. Watch what you ask for in other words, because you may get what you want. Let Philip coach until he wants to quit or move on, he has done enough for the program to dictate his desires. He knows that he can't coach forever, and he wants to win as bad as you do, maybe even more. That's enough for me. He wants to win for us, somebody else might just want to win for sake of winning> I'd rather have a true blue Vol fan, than all of the Urban Meyer's in the world. Dear Fans, quit letting these arm chair quarterbacks and sportswriters sway your vote and loyalty for this coach and team. If you can't stand it go watch old tapes and wait for basketball season.
AikenVol writes:
Florida Gator History.
Ron Zook
8-5
7-4
7-4
Zook Fired
9-3
13-1 National Championship
9-4
Hamilton showed he could find a winner in Pearl...let Fulmer move on and make a commitment to winning as big as your commitment to raising money.
Meyer is 8-1 against SEC foes.
AikenVol writes:
How do you get that having blind allegiance...is somehow being a fan. I have been a cowboys fan for 20 something years...do you think I thought Dave Campo was the answer? Chain Gailey...absolutely not. You can still be a fan...and voice objection to things such as coaching. In every facet of today, what you have done lately it more important than past accomplishments. Please stop barking at fans...I am the only true fan because I don't want fulmer to leave. Thats foolish!
chrisw2967 writes:
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
You can listen to the fans too much. Everybody wants a change. A change in leadership does not automatically mean a change in winning. Watch what you ask for in other words, because you may get what you want. Let Philip coach until he wants to quit or move on, he has done enough for the program to dictate his desires. He knows that he can't coach forever, and he wants to win as bad as you do, maybe even more. That's enough for me. He wants to win for us, somebody else might just want to win for sake of winning> I'd rather have a true blue Vol fan, than all of the Urban Meyer's in the world. Dear Fans, quit letting these arm chair quarterbacks and sportswriters sway your vote and loyalty for this coach and team. If you can't stand it go watch old tapes and wait for basketball season.
I dont think no arm chair QBs or sportswriters are swaying anbybody , we are watching this team and every other team we have had since 2000 and its only getting worse and yes it is time for Fulmer to go , he shouldnt be aloud to coach for as long as he wants to coach or move on , just because he won a NC 10 years ago doesnt mean he won a life time job. he either wins or gets fired and if your happy with the way things are then you have a serious problem.the last time I checked UT was holding down last place in the eastern division.
AikenVol writes:
So What you are saying is that Mike Hamilton is going to tie the economic future of the football team to Peyton Manning being hired on as a coach? Manning never won a big game here...? Tee Martin won the NC, Tee Martin beat Florida? Thats absurd.
\
Go outside the family and hire a Norm Chow or innovative thinker with a proven record?
jacksonvol writes:
If the football team continues to perform at such an abyssmal level, look for this money to dry up. These rich big wigs have been soaked for huge dollars because we can't produce a competitive SEC team. New practice facilitiesy
FedUpVolFan writes:
Hey!We are now ranked 55th in the nation!
UCLA is 88th.
Go figure!
utchris writes:
For now, everyone should sit back and relax a little. If something does happen with the coaching staff, it will not be until the end of the season. I have heard from a few big money donors that there are those who have already offered to donate the buyout cash. Those same people also say that you will not see a firing, rather a retiring from HC and a transition to Asst AD.
Whether you like Fulmer or not, you have to agree that he has done a lot of good for the University over his time at UT. For that, Hamilton and the powers that be will not alienate him from the program.
cjraney writes:
Will Muschamp is the answer. Please go get him.
chucker6 writes:
I disagree that Fulmer has done a lot of good for UT football. Take away 1998 and look at the last 7 years and you have a middle of the road program at best. Vandy and Ole Miss have recently shown that UT is clearly at the bottom of the conference now and that lies at Fulmer's feet. In any other endeavor, Fulmer would have been fired before now. Companies do not pay leaders the $$ UT pays him for mediocrity (OK, forget Wall St this past week, no company I've been part of does that). The truth of the matter is that Phil Fulmer is killing Tennessee football. He and his staff are doing less with more than any other coaching staff we play against. NIU would kill to have UT's talent, so would Kentucky, Mississippi and Vandy. Care to guess what the limiting factor is then?
VOLKING writes:
Okay, again for the novices....WELOVETN is a little..."different." They are the person who has that weird smile on their face at all the inappropiate times. As I tell everyone, just nod politely, say something like "that's great" and move on to the other posters who see the reality on the field.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Cowboy,
I agree with the Peyton Manning deal. It makes me laugh about as much as the Bill Cowher Jon Gruden crew.
However, what is with all the man love for former USC coaches? What has Chow done aside from Pete Carrol? He was atrocious with the Titans and UCLA is not a beast this year.
Ed Orgeron didn't succeed at Ole Miss and some cats on here insist having Lane "let's try the 76 yard field goal" Kiffin!!
Kiffin may yet be a good coach... but there is no proof yet and I don't know that I want to put my eggs in that basket. I offer no solutions.
FedUpVolFan writes:
I repeat!
55th ranked in the nation!
Nuff said sir.
Crawl back under ya rock.
FedUpVolFan writes:
Sorry!
That post was supposed to be for Cowboy!
imnotwithphil writes:
Most of the 10 win seasons were padded with fluff teams... like Northern Ill. and include close games against SEC powerhouses like Vanderbilt, Kentucky and the Mighty Gamecocks.
BTW - your last sentence should read "Some of these posts or posters are TOO stupid..."
If you're going to label those that disagree with you as stupid... it's best not to spell like a PHILbilly.
imnotwithphil writes:
What's the point of your post? Tom retired while he was on top... In fact, Tom was last seen in 1997 kicking the stuffing out of the Vols in the Orange Bowl on his way to a split National Championship with Michigan.
Nebraska's mistake wasn't to force a coaching change. Nebraska's mistake was to fail to find a competent replacement for Osborn. There's nothing for Cornhusker fans to second guess regarding the coaching change - that wasn't their decision.
Specifically - Nebraska made two mistakes:
(1) They let a coaching legend pick his successor. One should never let an outgoing "executive" pick their replacement.
(2) They abandoned their power option offense and lost the program's identity (sound familiar?).
Here at Tennessee - we have a coach that is failing. He's not on top. He peaked a decade ago. The program isn't doing well - it's in crisis.
If ever there was a time for a program to take a risk on a new coach - that time is now and that program is Tennessee.
OldNumber7 writes:
Are you mad? I would challenge that I have done more FOR UT that Phil has. He walks away with a UT pay check. I walk away giving money the other direction! Everyone who is a true fan makes sacrifice for UT and gives. We expect a lot when UT pays millions of our givings for excellence.
What upsets me about fans comments is when they say Phil's a good coach. Really now? Can you explain our attrocious blocking? What about ball protection? That IS coaching. You can watch the opening snaps of any UT game and see it. Someone like you probably follows the football when you watch - have you ever just watched the right guard? Or how about the center? These guys are getting beat right now by how they position their feet for heavens sake -not talent!
You need to go read "Who Moved My Cheese" and ask yourself if you are Hem or Haw.
abrown#232236 writes:
This isn't about bad bounces -- its about serial mistakes which are all symptoms of a common ailment. We opened our first offensive series with a motion penalty -- and that pretty much sums it up. There is a lack of discipline and fundamentals almost across the board. Foster's fumbles have to do with how he holds the ball. Cutcliffe corrected that, but now that Cut is gone, Foster carries it too low again. The O-line's footwork is pathetic, and they are not playing angles well or getting pad leverage. When Crompton was quarterback, he was dropping back too far, so he was behind whatever pocket might have existed. Also, from an intensity standpoint, we have guys joking around on the sideline during a dogfight with an inferior opponent. Do they even care? Is there no shame? I don't think you would see that on Saban's sideline. Creativity, etc. is nice, but we moreso need a disciplinarian/ taskmaster that teaches fundamentals and insists on execution. We are a sloppy program -- one cliche sums it up: the devil is in the details.
dsbyrd#287440 writes:
Hey! Do you really have to post this after EVERY article?
Go figure!
txvolsfan writes:
sorry can't do anything a democrat suggest!!!
dsbyrd#287440 writes:
Good Lord. You act like you've never seen a Democrat before. You do realize there are more of us than you, don't you?
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/773/fewer...
Go4Two writes:
Demo;
It's funny most posters want to get rid of Fulmer base on the last 8 years however they have no problem pulling the voting lever for George Bush's buddy John.McCain...
cltvol writes:
I think we have a new offense and O-staff that is going to take at least the rest of the year to adjust to. I know that sounds crazy, but I think its that different. Maybe we shouldn't have done it, but we did. I think we stay with Fulmer if he can get 7 - yes only 7 - wins this year as long as we show offensive improvement. Fact is, to go 5-2 from here out the O will have to show improvement. Further - let next year be his true bubble year with @ least 10 W's as the minimum to keep his job.
wkjq#213863 writes:
Forget it butch, anytime you show these guys the truth, they call you an idiot. I'm sure GA,FLA,AUB,LSU et al hasn't played UAB's and NIU's. Fulmer is the second winningest coach in UT history, if not for him, there possibly wouldn't be any glory days to return too.
imw8n4u writes:
Yeah Goeff because this has been so great
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEbZqv...
Go4Two writes:
TNGE
I didn't see 500k job loss or 700mil bailout? However you bring up a good point the people wanted change and voted for it now will they show the same courage.
ctmartin writes:
Is third on that list in the gutter? Appears that Alabama and Auburn are in the gutter.
SFOrange writes:
did anyone see this coming. back before UCLA, there was plenty of optimism around the O-coord hire (from me too)...post the debacle in the Rose Bowl, mostly it was pineed on mistakes...but we got 24pts on the board...at this point 21 looks to be a stretch. the QB change was worthwhile---now what against UGa? I say, keep changing--this years a loss...shake it up.
sassyladyj1974#577435 writes:
So if you owned a company and your money was being used to support this business, you'd be okay with continuing to pay for the performance you've seen.
Because it is my money that's supporting this performane and I'm not okay with it.
I don't take anything away from what he did for the first part of his career, but there is a distinct difference between the first 10 years and so far this second 10 years (we're 8 years into that 10 years, I believe).
The recruiting classes are about the same. We haven't had the same players over that time frame so you can't blame the players (maybe if the performance was lasted couple of years and improved after a certain class left you could blame the players).
What's changed...most other SEC schools have upgraded at the coaching positions and have surpasssed us in coaching ability. We used to win games we weren't suppose to. We used to be a very disciplined ball team. We used to play with a lot of heart and never give up. The only player I see playing that way right now is Berry. Again, if it was only one or two players that were like that, blame the player. When we only have one player that is...it's a coaching problem. They can't motivate and they don't discipline. Did you see Foster and Crompton laughing on the sidelines after the fumble last week? I did and if I was the coach I would have been in their face in a heartbeat and they wouldn't have seen the field again for the rest of the game and would have spent a lot of time running the stairs at the staduim.
Why has Pat Summitt been able to remain near the top all this time? Her bad seasons are not in the top five....i can't imagine her being unranked. It's because she still has the same discipline and motivation that she did when she started. And always expects the best. You'd never hear her say that one of her players were playing well if they performed the way Crompton did. Anyone see Fulmer's halftime interview last weekend?
dvol writes:
Boy, you need help. All Phil wants is that 2.4 million a year and the General's Win record. He deserves neither.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
It does appear that Tenn's mission statement has elevated - beating of Neyland's record and F Foster's surpassing Cheese in rushing---
far above minor things like SEC Championships and BCS bowls.
Any remote chance of a SEC CG trip will flush Saturday if the donkeys don't keep flying. They launched when a QB change took place.
cobbwebb writes:
cowboy , i agree, fans like this i call them the dodgeball fans ! they are the ones that had dodgeball removed from schools because the fat kids or non athletic kids couldnt hang! toughen up chumps! i say win or go home, "everyones a winner no matter the outcome" total bs, winning is everything! who in the heck wants a 4 win football team ? not me! who wants to lose to vandy and kentucky annually? not me! look fulmer is a good guy , and a good coach, he is just not up to par with the rest of the sec anymore, i really want to see him succeed , however i dont see it happening! open your eyes people, we struggled mightily with a northern illinois team! this program has major problems right now, and the biggest one is the fans who refuse to see it , or will settle for mediocrity
cobbwebb writes:
13-9 nuff said!
utvols1 writes:
Well said.
Doobz15 writes:
Alabama hires a good coach:
2007: 7-6
2008: undefeated so far with 2 wins over top ten teams and with a team that is disciplined, ranked #2 in the country
We need a new coach.
Doobz15 writes:
Fulmer's winning percentage against the SEC's current coaches is less than .500. The times have changed. In the 1990's we didn't have to worry about Auburn, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt being good. All of those teams are now better than Tennessee. We beat Northern Illinois 13-9. Give me a break.
FWBVol writes:
I am sorry, but there is no way you can compare Pat Summitt and the Lady Vol basketball program to football, or even men's basketball or baseball.
Pat is a great coach and ambassador for Tennessee, but women's basketball isn't nearly as competitive as football.
Pat basically got in on the ground floor of things at the start of Title IX that allowed her to build a program.
There are only a handful of women's basketball team that come close to UT, but even UConn and the rest aren't in Tennessee's class. It's easy for Pat to walk in and recruit when you can all but guarantee a girl a trip to the final four before she graduates. Yes, that's because Pat has built the program, but the depth and quaility of opponents isn't nearly as strong as it is in SEC football, or football across the nation.
ncvol17 writes:
Hey guys - the big influential donors don't show up to eat a free 3.00 BBQ sandwich. They meet behind doors and sit up in the sky boxes. Until they want a change - no change. Just ask Johnny who left him out to hang ( albiet he hung himself by not buddying up to them when it counted). The big donors direct the program, we pay and watch the end result. We will need to have a horrific season this year and an average one next year to get any fires lit.
I hope those of us following the program for 35 - 45+ years will be around to see better days.
estillspgsvol writes:
BE careful what you wish for! Southern Mississippi had the same complaints about Jeff Bower, and guess what they went out and hired a spread guru to spice up the program, and right now they are 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference, and will be 2-4 after next week. So don't think that hiring a new coach will fix the problem. We as fans are part of the problem because of the image that we are projecting for UT. No matter what offense or defense you run you have to have talent to win, and if we project a bad image of the program, no athletes are going to want to come to UT. Just look at the recent de-commits, they sense instability in the program and changed their minds.
rusty_shackleford writes:
When comparing records, haters love to throw out KY, Vandy and SC as the "fluff" teams that inflate UT's record. Hello? Don't the gators and dawgs live in the SECE and play those same teams year in and year out?
rusty_shackleford writes:
And another thing....
Am I the only one that questions the KNS on who they interviewed? How many people did they talk to before they found three that supported their POV? Were the quotes listed representative of the entire VASF or simply the john adams agenda? If so, fine. But I simply don't trust the media to take what they say at face value!
Sheep - don't take the MSM's word for anything! When they write these type of articles, the "research" is far from scientific and unbiased!
sassyladyj1974#577435 writes:
I don't have to trust KNS...head over to cbssportsline boards and readt the posters on those boards...or any UT boards for that matter. Or walk in to any sports bar when the vols are playing...it's the predominant view. It just took about 3 years too long to get there. We wouldn't be in this place if they'd gotten rid of Fulmer the last bad season, instead of just hiring Coach Cut as OC.
A lot of the people I talk to are donors and live in nashville and didn't go to the event because it wasn't worth the drive to them and they'd rather watch Vandy this year.
Can't blame them. I'm with them.
Will always be a Vol fan...but will never be a Homer...I'll admit when there are problems and there needs to be a change.
spvol writes:
I have been a donor to the VASF and a season ticket holder for thirty-plus years, in addition to being a UT alumnus. All you "fans" who didn't sit through Johnny Majors' abysmal years don't know how bad it can get. Phillip will get it straightened out. Have another beer and play some more Madden Football and let the people who get paid to coach this team do their jobs.
sassyladyj1974#577435 writes:
I see your point on the programs...but you missed mine on the coaching ability.
Let Pat have those guys for a couple of weeks, bet they don't make any more of those stupid penalties because they'll be running until they throw up if they do.
My point is one of the reasons she can maintain the program she has is because of her intensity. It's also one of the reasons that Pearl has done what he has--especially his first year--getting every bit of talent out of that team and overachieving. That intensity is missing from our football progam and the the issue starts at the top.
I won't argue that Phil wants to win or that hit hurts him when he doesnt. But I want to win the lottery and it hurts me when I don't, but guess what...that doesn't mean I'm good at it or that I should keep doing it.
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