Cutcliffe on return to Vols: 'completely silly'

Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer is trying to stay afloat in Knoxville amid talk that he should retire or be fired.

That's prompting speculation of a possible return to UT by new Duke coach David Cutcliffe – Fulmer's former offensive coordinator.

Fulmer is on the hot seat because Tennessee is 3-4 – and in last place at 1-3 in the SEC, with a home game against No. 2 Alabama on Saturday. The offense, without Cutcliffe, has labored this season.

Cutcliffe called any theories or rumors that involved him returning to Tennessee “completely silly.”

The Vols, under Fulmer and with Cutcliffe, were 86-19 with two SEC titles and one national title. Without Cutcliffe, Fulmer's record is 64-30.

“I don’t think anything is going to happen to Coach Fulmer,” Cutclife said of his close friend and former boss. “I’m not even going to speculate on that. He’s such a good friend it would hurt me even to speculate.”

Cutcliffe said he understands why football watchers might connect his name back to the program that he left in December to coach at Duke.

“It’s because of my years at Tennessee,” Cutcliffe said. “That’s why it’s naturally talked about. But it’s not something I could even fathom. Like I said, Phillip Fulmer belongs at Tennessee. I wouldn’t say no or yes to either thought. I wouldn’t want to give credibility to either.”