With Tennessee at 3-5 more than halfway through its season, UT coach Phillip Fulmer's job status is a hot topic.
During his teleconference Sunday night in advance of this week's game at South Carolina (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Fulmer said he didn't think his team has been affected by the speculation and attention surrounding him.
"The guys have played hard and have tried to respond as we've asked them to," Fulmer said. "We haven't had any off-the-field issues or those kinds of things that sometimes come when the players sense something. I think they've really tried to rally and support the staff." Fulmer also said he's confident the Vols can finish strong in their four remaining games.
"I've never gone into a single game that I didn't think we could win," Fulmer said. "We've got our challenges ahead of us as we play South Carolina, Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. My thought process is we're going to get all four of them. We've got to play like heck and play a lot better, particularly offensively, to do that."
Asked about the early exit of fans from Neyland Stadium during Saturday's 29-9 loss to No. 2 Alabama, Fulmer said:
"I thought the crowd was really good, actually, until late in the game. I thought they were very into it. The Vol Walk, everybody had great energy and the stadium was great energy. As it went along, and it was late in the second half and it became apparent that we were going to have a hard time winning, that's (fans leaving) anywhere with any people."
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Comments » 65
tnbigg writes:
Right...
GoVol writes:
I keep waiting for the 'Fulmer Fired' or 'Fulmer resigns' headline...still holding my breath....hurry up MH!!!
tnbigg writes:
Respond as we've asked them to? Look at the record...and the big wins by the Gators, dawgs and bammers...tell me some more Halloween stories...please just don't say "boo" or we'll have anothe excuse...
hotrodvol writes:
Yea, it's a good idea to work on the offense, start by stepping down and taking Clawson with you.
Docrok writes:
I been waiting too long for that
WVVOLFAN writes:
i find it interesting that none of players have spoken out in CPF defense. normally when a coach is on the hot seat, at least some of the players come out in support and blame themselves for the nose dive. I think the silence is deafening....
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Everybody needs to calm down b/c one of two scnearios will play out here.
1) FOOLmer stays.
2) FOOLmer resigns and Cut comes back.
Either way, there is no reason to be optomistic. Hammy doesn't have the stones to make a tough decision that will appease the fan base. I would encourage all of you to become Titan fans and forget about competing for SEC championships. That won't happen again for years.
jeff1vol writes:
This same information was already printed in other articles previously. Oh, well...recycled news is better than NO news.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Your gonna have to wait until at least Nov. 23. ADMH isn't going to pull a Clemson. But I'd be surprised if he isn't already talking to agents.
shoalcreekvol writes:
"We've got to play like heck and play a lot better, particularly offensively, to do that."
OMG, just shut up! Makes my ears bleed every time I hear him say that mess, and I'm one of the few that has supported him. No telling what it does to the CPF-haters.
When's the last time anyone has heard CPF speak in specifics, even X's and O's, about anything? It's just the same old bland nonsense. I get jealous when I hear coaches of other teams speak and I hear actual football dialog, along with a sense of disdain when discussing penalties. With CPF we just get vague generalities and an oh-well-we'll-do-better-next-time attitude about stupid repetitive brainless penalties and mistakes.
IT.....IS.....TIME.....
shoalcreekvol writes:
Some of them did a couple of weeks ago, but I get the feeling they are being sequestered now. I just sense the gates are closing and the drawbridge is being lifted as the time draws near. We'll probably hear less and less from anyone in the castle until there is no more time to stall and the deed is done.
Can't wait for that magical day when the AD appears at the balcony to introduce the new king of UT. Chancellor, President, Trustees are powerful but in Tennessee the football coach is always king.
jasonn1970 writes:
No, No, NO
If you look at MH's track record he won't be foolish enough to retain Fulmer or hire Cutcliffe. He has consistently hired young, enthusiastic coaches and has shown the tendency to make the change when there is any question of a program going in the right direction. As for Cutcliffe, he realizes a massive portion of the fan base won't come back if he replaces Fulmer with Fulmer's long time right hand man.
Imagine_this writes:
You are correct. The day after The Vanderbilt Commodores beat Tennessee, heads WILL roll.
Go DORES'!!!!!!!!!!!!
TommyJack writes:
You're obsessing on Rogers, Naffy. What did he do, vote Republican?
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Even if they go 8-5 this year, it seems to me that Fulmer is incapable of instilling discipline on this team and the team apparently has little respect for him. He's a player coach without the player quality and discipline required to coach that way. This team needs a fire breathing butt kicker and Fulmer just doesn't have that in him.
TommyJack writes:
I would agree that CPF is famous for not playing his best players.
stinky_pinky writes:
Riiiiiighht....
employees that know they're going to get laid off tend to act work as if its "business as usual".
Spare me the BS and give this team and coaching staff a chance to play for something. Give the fans a reason to show their support...much-less show up at all. Give us some hope and do it quick...otherwise we'll continue to circle the drain. Fulmer deservers to go out w/ respect. His team and fans need to show up and support....neither has done it so far this year
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I also think that ol' Chavis is not going to be known as "Bagdad Bob".
Sheepscape writes:
I have a hard time thinking of "plight" and "multi-millionaire" at the same time.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
I have waivered in my decision that Fulmer should resign. I do think he deserves the shot to put together a cohesive offensive attack next season, especially with the addition of the recruits we've landed so far.
I know many of you wont agree with me. Hey, I can hardly agree with myself, but I think it's worth one more year to see if Clawson, Fulmer, etc. can turn it around.
Really, we're not losing a whole lot either way. Expect to be down a few years more when the change is finally made.
givehim6 writes:
I think the SEC teams that have beat us have shown a lot of class by not coming to our site talking trash.
TommyJack writes:
You're right, Major. I firmly disagree.
Sheepscape writes:
What possible improvement do you see? Seriously? Think this through with your head not your heart.
We could lose a lot by not pulling the trigger. Namely, our chance at this ripe crop of potential coaches.
In case you weren't at the Bama game, the fan base has turned and given up. If we don't win the SEC next year and we are having this discussion next year, then those calling for 'one more year' ought to be ashamed.
Tenn_Dawg writes:
givehim6....mama said "don't kick a man while he is down". UT is definately down this year. I certainly understand what the Vol fans are going through seeing how Georgia fans had to suffer through the Ray Goff years. Ray played at Georgia and loved Georgia but he was in over his head. Georgia fans certainly understand the Vol frustrations of winning eight games but the four losses coming against your main rivals for years. We have Donnan to thank for that. If you can't beat UT, UF, Auburn and Tech some then the other eight wins are pretty shallow.
UT has great tradition, great facilities, gulp.....great fans and it is a great school. Hopefully things will look up for you all soon. Please just don't hire Muschamp. I don't know if I can stomach watching a Georgia born and breed leading the Vols to victory over Georgia.
Good luck with South Carolina and Visor Boy!
VolEagle writes:
Look at those "winners" records over the last 10 years, and you will see a bunch of down years also---
VolEagle writes:
What "ripe" crop of potential coaches are you referring to???
cltvol writes:
Willing to bet its over, but if they come back super strong and win out, including a bowl, he will stay. Also believe next year will be much better team with same staff. We would probably beat GA home assuming stafford and moreno go pro. Have the chance to be a top 10-12 team and build for the future run at SEC + top 5/ national champ run, with the existing coaching staff.
If we make coaching change, there is high risk we willhave a few frustrating years as everything gets re-tooled. Overwhelming odds with coaching changes at high (or formerly high level programs) is that the following years get worse. USC, TX, AL, Notre Dame, AL, Neb, GA, LSU, and many others have experienced this.
Realize some posters will say i'm crazy, my dog could coach better, CFP sucks and his supporters suck worse. However, I'm sure the decision makers are very concerned of the risk that negative disruption and brutal decline that accompanies a coaching change.
If we do make the change, and I think we will and need to, I have no idea who the best person for the job is that is hireable. I see a lot of experts that won't to fire CFP, but not a lot of experts with viable replacement names.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
I agree with you, I think he deserves the right for one more year and he got it after the 2005 debacle, in fact he got 3 more years. So lets say he rights the ship next year and a year or two after that he falters again, I guess he will deserve one more year then also. How many "ONE MORE YEARS" should he get?
RemembertheAlamo writes:
TommyJack....I am sorry I responded to the wrong email message....I meant to respond to Major on my last message.
golfnut0517 writes:
The way i gather Phil and alot of his dialog we(fans)couldnt understand X'S and O'S hence the reason he doesnt go into detail(one of Phils'biggest problems is his FAT EGO)
BobbyGraham writes:
i have the solution
Head Coach---David Cutcliffe
OC---Randy Sanders
RB coach---Woody McCorvey
OL Coach---Jimmy Ray Stephens
TE Coach---Greg Adkins
i really feel like we could go places with that line up. i see no weak spots. While we are at it, we could fire Hamilton and let Fulmer be the AD. The gang is back together again and all is well. 1998 here we come.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
I know fellas, the logic seems backwards. But still, I look at it like this...
...
...
...
D@mn...maybe you're right. It's all heart. I respect the guy, and the paternal way he conducts himself with the players, the way he can sometimes recruit, but the times have passed him by.
I just hate to see this all go down so ugly, as I expect it will be when we go 2-6 in the SEC.
golfnut0517 writes:
How much for a nickel bag?Cause what you are smoking must be good!
oldskewlorange writes:
i heard that the recruiting class(09)was ranked #7 in the nation thus far
asleep#212036 writes:
Not only that, we haven't had another full-page newspaper ad from all his former players. You're right - there is total silence from the Hill and it is speaking volumes.
asleep#212036 writes:
Well said. It is sad when loyal alumni such as Goff and Fulmer get to this point but the program should be bigger than any one man - are you listening PSU and Florida State? You guys pulled the trigger on not just an alumnus, but Dooley's son-in-law, right? Talk about stones!!! But like the phoenix, you rose nicely from the ashes (and by ashes, I mean Jim Donnan, lol). We are likely going to face the same thing. I'm just not sure our admin thinks we have sunk low enough - scary! PS, we want to beat visor-boy worse than anyone in the league!
asleep#212036 writes:
And the common denominator which changed those losing seasons into winning ones was a COACHING CHANGE!
DennisVols writes:
When Fulmer's pic. came up on the Jumbo Tron before the Bama game he was booed. It was as if we where playing in AL instead of Knoxville.
The decision won't be public until the end of the season, UNLESS we lay an egg in SC this weekend, which is a possibility. There has been no improvement in the offense all season. The only difference is that Nick is a somewhat better passer. The line that was suppose to be a + has been a big dissapointment, the run game is a non factor, the receivers might not start for any other of the top tier teams in the conference. We may win again this year but each game will be a struggle and in no way represent this university like it should. As Lowe, ESPN, stated earlier this week "They kill themselves with bone-headed penalties, and they generally look like a second-tier SEC team -- the likes of which Fulmer once beat up on with relative ease.".
Sad but true, no way does a UT team from the 90's lose to any of these UT teams over the last 4 years.
I like coach Fulmer, he is a man of good class and character. He would be a successful coach in many programs. The fact is though that he is no longer the right coach for UT.
gohawks1 writes:
I'm ok with CPF stepping down, but I'm not yet ready to send Clawson away. I would like to see what he can do unfettered.
txvolsfan writes:
Glad your not a socialist TJ,
We need rogers to get his brother!!!
gohawks1 writes:
Jason, you haven't been paying attention. Go stand in the corner.
Volaholic writes:
Chavis is the next coach
hufstedler02 writes:
It is very unlikely that a new head coach would keep any of the existing staff members. They typically bring in their own staff.
gohawks1 writes:
huf -
You're right, of course; that is the typical scenario, but I think it's unfortunate. I believe Clawson could be successful here with a short time to fully install his offense and run it the way he wants.
hippie60 writes:
Do we really want M.H. hiring a football coach? Took 3 tries to get a BB coach. This guy is a joke. Fulmer to AD; M.H out the door, This way we keep our recruits and don't poop on one of our on fellow Tennesee brothers.
hippie60 writes:
Right here reading this phooey but I still say that Fulmer needs to stay and M.H. needs to go. Surely Fulmer has to be in bed with Haslam too or he'd been gone 2 years ago...geez
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Pathetic will be some posters if my predict of the Dawgs busting Fla a new one Sat comes true.
Silence will be deafening.
We know, we are there now.
tennesseeike writes:
Okay experts....give me a list of your top five candidates you believe would come to the Hill and replace Coach Fulmer?
Chartervol writes:
hippie60, it was four screwups (Houston, O'Neill, Green and Peterson) before they got it right with Pearl. All four busts were Doug Dickey's. Hamilton struck gold the first time.
TommyJack writes:
Don't see it. But will man-up if worng.
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