It's getting out of hand, Vol fans, and I'm not just talking about what's happening on the field. Quite warm is the hot seat coach Fulmer has been sitting on this season.
Our presidential candidates are not the only ones advocating change. A fan-driven call to replace the UT coaching regime resonates loudly across the radio airwaves and computer chat rooms. The debate also rages on a national scale with analysts questioning the top Vol's ability to get the job done.
Also speaking volumes, declining attendance at home games and those, who are not so faithful, selling their tickets to the highest bidder.
Is athletics director Mike Hamilton ready to auction off the dean of SEC coaches? Phillip Fulmer has, on different occasions, expressed his gratitude for the administration's support.
Hamilton and the administration have yet to reciprocate publicly. That also speaks loudly and it also promotes rumor and innuendo.
Folks, I've heard everything from buyout to a position in the athletic department being given to Coach Fulmer at season's end.
All that does is fuel a fire that could burn the University and serve as a distraction to a team still fighting for whatever respect it can earn.
Would Hamilton and the program be better served declaring in favor of or against the head coach sooner than later? It might just be in the best interest of the coach and a program he admits is bigger than any one person.
As for a potential change, this one would be far more crucial than Hamilton's hire of Bruce Pearl. The hiring of Coach Pearl was a calculated risk, one which obviously panned out. Failure would not have meant the end of the world. It's something UT basketball fans had grown accustomed to.
Some would say Coach Pearl's success has also contributed to the demise of Coach Fulmer, who has struggled somewhat since Pearl's arrival.
So now Vol fans want Hamilton to find the Bruce Pearl of football, but that's easier said than done. A charismatic, successful coach, who'll put fans in the stands, scoring points in bunches, while winning all his games. I'm not sure if that guy exists, but he would need to come darn close after following a coach who's won 150 games and a national championship.
We do live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society, and, yes, the football program is the engine which drives the UT athletic department. However, unlike basketball, this program's winning tradition is what makes a potential new hire critical and anything less than the best would be unacceptable.
Rick Russo is sports director at WVLT-TV.
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Comments » 19
VolinUtah writes:
A decision sooner than later is better. We need to secure the commitments we have for 2009. If they decommit, then that gives the new staff more time to fill those scholarship slots.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Let the heads roll;the sooner the better..Lot's of great potential coaches out there; If we are winning 2 years from now nobody is gonna care about the fat buyout...Graham from Tulsa is going to be high on everybodys list take him now while you can
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
dvol, I anticipate your well thought response to the story given it is by one of your favorite writers.
Volomatic writes:
Graham would be nice. Like to see that offense he has with tulsa in orange next year
smbod#272792 writes:
Bill Cowher -- done.
ande1139 writes:
I say wait. This football team is going to struggle for the next few years. I want Fulmer out as much as anybody, but we do owe the man the rest of the season and a proper farewell. I say the fans should stay until the end of the UK game and give him the round of applause he deserves.
brasilganho#238662 writes:
Just like our economy, our team will struggle for next 1-2 years.
hueypilot writes:
The only way I can see Bruce Pearl's success contributing to the demise of Fulmer is to illustrate that there are good coaches out there that can make a positive impact on a program. But Bruce is a strong supporter of the university. In his first fall after being hired at UT, I saw Bruce and his family walking along the streets of Gainesville before the UT Florida game. Not rolling up in a limo but killing time before a big SEC game. I asked him what's up with that and he said he hadn't been around big time football since he left Iowa and he missed it.
Just look what Bruce has done for this program in the short time he's been here. I know, we could hire another Kevin O'Neill or Buzz, but we could also find another Bruce. I think it's worth trying.
JayTee writes:
It's not a what have you done for me lately attitude.
It's Fulmer's record against top 25 teams in the past 10 years.
As far as hiring a new coach well HECK it can only be an improvement. When you continue in a downward spiral you are going to hit bottom eventually.
NOLAvol writes:
I've about had it with this "fire him--replace 'em--git'erdone" crowd who thinks there's a bushel of coaching candidates out there who can improve on what Fulmer is doing.
So here's my PROVE IT list. Show me a hirable coach who meets ALL these qualifications:
1. Proven ability to recruit nationwide with a limited in-state talent pool. Name me some names.
2. Proven track record attracting and keeping top assistant coaches. Name me some names.
3. Proven reputation for relating closely with other people in the Athletic Department. "Family" is a huge recruiting asset for ALL our teams, male & female. How many times have you heard CBP (and recruits) mention how unusual that it? Are you really ready to screw with that? Name me some names.
4. Proven track record caring for players as people first, athletes second--doing what's best for the player's future 20 years down the road, not just during his years of eligibility. The importance of that goes beyond recruiting and winning the support of parents. Grateful, loyal alumni are the backbone of your program for the next half-century. Name me some names.
5. Oh, yes...Proven ability to win consistently against SEC-quality competition, week-to-week-to-week.
How about it? Got any names, now?
There are a lot of babies (hard-to-find babies by any program's measure) sitting nervously in this tepid bathwater you're clamoring to throw out. Heck yeah, I'm as frustrated as the rest of you! BUT SHUT YOUR BISCUIT-HOLES for second and THINK!!!
I know. There are DOers and there are THINKers. Whether it's a fanbase, a church, or the whole darn country, we absolutely need them both. But there's always a point in the process where, if the DOers we need don't back off and consider WHAT they're actually fixin' to do... well, that's how Nebraska ends up with a Coach Callahan ... or the U.S. with an unknown, unvetted, inexperienced, socialist President.
Politicalopinionsnotwithstanding, demanding change is a FEELING--not a PLAN!
rockydog writes:
You have a well thought out and written post. I would like to offer some counter-points.
1. He is not able to develop the talent he recruits. A lot of it sits on the bench wasted.
2.Keeps assistants that are not doing the job too long. Loyalty is good, but if someone can't get the job done, let them go. Don't be forced into it. ie Sanders - Yes he resigned, but only because he knew the axe was coming.
3.See #2. Family is good as well. He also let some of his protected "family" poison the team with their "me first" attitude. Plays some players over others because of length of time with the program; not on ability.
4. See #2 and #3 (basically the same thing)
5. His record is eroding rapidly. Looking at the numbers quickly confirms this. His termination or resingnation would help him keep his reputation. One must also look at the current crop of SEC coaches, and compare Fulmer against them. He does not compare favorably.
I don't have anything personal against Fulmer. His time has come and way since gone. He needs to resign with dignity so everyone can move on to better things.
NOLAvol writes:
Nice to have an intelligent discussion on this, rockydog! Thanks for engaging the comment.
I must have misled you in my post. I'm not a Fulmer-loyalist per se... I just need to be convinced that there's someone out there who's credibly qualified to bring improvement over what Fulmer has done. My PROVE IT List just lays out the details of what I need to hear to be convinced.
My concern is that we might do even more harm to the program if we fans keep ratcheting up the discontent to the point that Hamilton or others feel forced to make a change prematurely, hiring an "O'Neil" now instead of waiting until a "Pearl" can be discovered or becomes available.
My contention is not whether we OUGHT to do better than we have... it's the question of WITH WHOM could we do better.
Until we have an answer to the question of WHO, we can only further damage the program by demanding an answer to WHEN. I fear if we keep turning up the heat under the skillet before we have any meat ready to put in it... soon enough, we're gonna melt the skillet or start a grease fire!
(And I already regret using a food metaphor in a Fulmer-related discussion...)
Whatcha think, rockytop... are you hearing talk of any coaches out there who would match up to that Prove It List?
Vol_In_Ohio writes:
What about Johnson from Vandy?
NOLAvol writes:
What I know about Johnson impresses me, but I'm fairly ignorant about how he matches up against the 5 questions posted above. Leaving aside whether the BIG Orange alum could stomach the thought of stealing a head coach from Vandy...
...what IS his record in the 5 areas listed above--areas in which we can't afford to lose ground, even while improving other areas?
I know there are people on this forum who know a lot more about college football than I do... I really want to hear WHO has performed at least as well (better is better) as Fulmer has in those 5 areas. Knowledgable fans are the best fans, so somebody... edumacate me!
LostinNCVol writes:
I will put 1 name out there, Butch Davis. I don't know if we can even get him. I have said this name on many occasions. I believe that we can have a coach with the qualities that we all look for. I think that a search committee can help with this as they did with Pearl. I think we must make a change this year or risk irreparable damage. I think putting this committee together now can ensure that when the time comes we will be prepared. I think an announcement about Fulmers "retirement" now can let one of the most valuable coaches in Volunteer history go out with class and a send off worhty of what he has given the Vol Nation. To wait is to risk what he has spent a lifetime building.
NOLAvol writes:
Okay, there's two names I'm gonna study up on.
LostInNCvol, I've wondered too about a better transition--even wondered if Fulmer's successor (if he's not an older, well-established head coach) might be brought on as a coordinator for a year to gain a feel for everything that's already in place and needs to remain, while assesesing for himself how best to bring about the changes he sees need for.
For those who don't remember, when Fulmer, then OC, took over for Majors temporarily, then for good, he had been on staff for several years. The reputation of our program under Majors was that if an asst. coach could put up with Johnny for 2 years, he could then write his own ticket to almost any Division 1 head coaching job. We had incredible turnover among the coaching staff, and it was really putting a limit on our recruiting.
I agree, Fulmer does need to be recognized and appreciated for so many things he did to take our program to the next level, that had nothing to do with coaching on the field. For all the accusations of fat, slow, behind-the-times dunderheadedness... fact is, the man would make a heck of a CEO!
rockydog writes:
No problem NOLAvol. I understand your angst about a possible mishire as well. However, I do believe that UT needs a change. The program has stagnated. There also seems to be a lack of discipline or concern about the team's play. If the player doesn't care, the coach should make him care. I hope Fulmer can leave with dignity and respect. I do believe he has earned that much. I believe we both only want what is best for UT. I always respect that, even if I have a differing opinion. Still hoping they beat SC. GO VOLS!!
NOLAvol writes:
I've been seeing the Tulsa head coach mentioned a lot on other posts as a good replacement for Fulmer. He got beat by SEC powerhouse Arkansas today.
Hmmmm... maybe not.
Volalumnus writes:
"We do live in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society"
How about what have you done for TN football during the 21st century.
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