Poll: What concerns you the most about Tennessee football?

What concerns you the most about Tennessee football?

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Comments » 75

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

All of the above.

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

All of the above!

gobigorange writes:

The coaching staff concerns me most but it isnt a selection.So have to agree with jmbigorange.

DemocratVol writes:

Time to send Mike Hamilton a message. We are tired of being embarrassed on a national stage. We are tired of 8 win contract extensions. We are tired of the largest recruiting budget in all of Division I. We are tired of teams with no motivation, no ambition, no restraint, and no composure.

Sign my petition. I plan to deliver this to Mike Hamilton myself.

http://www.petitiononline.com/UTcoach...

99gator writes:

perspective from an outsider on why the negavols are right and fulmer needs to go.....

1. fulmer has been at tenn since 1992. there should no transition years following a 4 loss season for a coach whose roots have been in the ground that long. alabama had a six loss season last year in saban's first season. alabama is now in the top 10. georgia won the sec in 2005. had a down year in 2006 with a true freshman qb and finished ranked #2 in 2007. florida won the national title in 2006. had a transition year in 2007 and is currently ranked in the top 5 in 2008. i can go on and on. the
point is.....these schools took one season to rebound from losing the talent from a championship team or take the talent from a bad team and make it better. that was it and then they were quickly back in the thick of it the following year. not true at tenn.

2. there is a talent gap.....and its getting wider. if you can't see it, you don't want to. everyone is raving over the current crop of commitments at tenn. bottom line, after all is said and done most of the main competitors tenn has to contend with for an sec title will have better classes.....and this is in what could be a good tennessee recruiting year. and regardless of any talent gap (which, again, exists), fulmer has proven tenn can lose or almost lose games it has no business losing (like ucla 2008).

3. the fan base is fractured to the point where it can not be repaired. the tenn fan base needs to be made whole and frankly, fulmer is no longer capable of this.

4. a valid reason to retain him really can not be made. the only reason this is even debatable is that fulmer won a national title. how many coaches win national titles? who fires a coach who wins a national title at his alma mater? etc, etc, etc. if tennesssee is not the 1998 national champion, there is no question what the decision would be. does one season give someone the ability to coach for life. the comparisons to bobby bowden and joe paterno are bogus. paterno has been at penn state since the 60's. florida state was nothing before bobby bowden. those programs are those coaches. tennessee does not owe its football legacy to phil fulmer. florida state and penn state do owe their legacies to bobby bowden and joe paterno. huge difference.

5. maybe the most important thing on this list.......does anyone believe it will ever get any better? there is no reason to believe the current state of the program will ever improve. none. don't care how you try. there is no reason whatsoever. the only way tenn could get better under fulmer is if catastrophe hit tenn's competitors.....not fulmer improving tennessee to the level of its competitors.

gobigorange writes:

in response to DemocratVol:

Time to send Mike Hamilton a message. We are tired of being embarrassed on a national stage. We are tired of 8 win contract extensions. We are tired of the largest recruiting budget in all of Division I. We are tired of teams with no motivation, no ambition, no restraint, and no composure.

Sign my petition. I plan to deliver this to Mike Hamilton myself.

http://www.petitiononline.com/UTcoach...

I signed it.

rockitwithrespect writes:

i think the offensive play calling isnt too bad. its the execution of the plays that isnt working right now. hopefully someone on the team will step up and start making plays. unfortunately, it all starts with the qb

BoarderVol writes:

The most concerning thing to me is that I find myself not wondering if they will have a winning or losing season...but can they even compete with half the teams remaining on the schedule.

TheFuj writes:

Really the only concern are offense, defense, and special teams. Yes...that is all. We added a very different offense coordinator this year, I really have not seen one play different than last year. I mean really nothing new or different.

BigVolinCarolina writes:

The most concerning thing to me is this: we lose games the same STINKIN' WAY each time and nothing changes. I'm tired of the excuses, and I'm tired of waiting to "fix things" once the season has begun. It's time to start using the off-season to start fixing things.

Players, hang in there. You're busting your butt. You just aren't being put in the right places and taught the right things.

pdhuff#552644 writes:

Spiraling downward.

MillisaAnn writes:

All of the above and I signed the petition too and will e-mail the link to all my friends and family.

invisiblekid writes:

This poll could have easily applied to the last 8 years or so. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Volalumnus writes:

gobigorange
I thought the same, the coaches is what worry me the most.

If they can't put out the product they promise they should give a refund to those with tickets. Then how would they pay for those extensions.

invisiblekid writes:

in response to 99gator:

perspective from an outsider on why the negavols are right and fulmer needs to go.....

1. fulmer has been at tenn since 1992. there should no transition years following a 4 loss season for a coach whose roots have been in the ground that long. alabama had a six loss season last year in saban's first season. alabama is now in the top 10. georgia won the sec in 2005. had a down year in 2006 with a true freshman qb and finished ranked #2 in 2007. florida won the national title in 2006. had a transition year in 2007 and is currently ranked in the top 5 in 2008. i can go on and on. the
point is.....these schools took one season to rebound from losing the talent from a championship team or take the talent from a bad team and make it better. that was it and then they were quickly back in the thick of it the following year. not true at tenn.

2. there is a talent gap.....and its getting wider. if you can't see it, you don't want to. everyone is raving over the current crop of commitments at tenn. bottom line, after all is said and done most of the main competitors tenn has to contend with for an sec title will have better classes.....and this is in what could be a good tennessee recruiting year. and regardless of any talent gap (which, again, exists), fulmer has proven tenn can lose or almost lose games it has no business losing (like ucla 2008).

3. the fan base is fractured to the point where it can not be repaired. the tenn fan base needs to be made whole and frankly, fulmer is no longer capable of this.

4. a valid reason to retain him really can not be made. the only reason this is even debatable is that fulmer won a national title. how many coaches win national titles? who fires a coach who wins a national title at his alma mater? etc, etc, etc. if tennesssee is not the 1998 national champion, there is no question what the decision would be. does one season give someone the ability to coach for life. the comparisons to bobby bowden and joe paterno are bogus. paterno has been at penn state since the 60's. florida state was nothing before bobby bowden. those programs are those coaches. tennessee does not owe its football legacy to phil fulmer. florida state and penn state do owe their legacies to bobby bowden and joe paterno. huge difference.

5. maybe the most important thing on this list.......does anyone believe it will ever get any better? there is no reason to believe the current state of the program will ever improve. none. don't care how you try. there is no reason whatsoever. the only way tenn could get better under fulmer is if catastrophe hit tenn's competitors.....not fulmer improving tennessee to the level of its competitors.

99Gator, I am sure some will try but there are no effective arguments to your points IMO.

I have gotten into some major battles on here over the Paterno-Fulmer comparisons. The numbers on the field don't compare and the contributions to the school don't compare(see the Paterno Library as an example).

SFOrange writes:

Someone (smarter than me) please give me a topline of Clauson's impact on the Vols. What is different that with Cuttcliff? To this casual fan, I think I see some formation differences---but nothing radical. And clearly nothing thats giving any of our opponents a major problem.

DennisVols writes:

They forgot the big one in this poll: Fundamentals
It is the lack of doing the fundamentals that create the fumbles, penatlies, poor passing, poor clock management and poor tackling.
Good coaching teaches the fundamentls even at this level. Good fundamentals do not allow 4 to 5 players to make the same poor tackling tech. on a punt or kick off return.
Good fundamentals do not allow a good running back to continue to make the same mistake for 4 yrs in how he carries the football.
Good fundamentals do not allow your team to make the same drive killing penatlies week after week.
Good fundamentals is what champions do and excatly what UT is not.
Fulmer is a good man, his character is of a level many should have. I said this last year and I repeat it again. It is not as much as Fulmer is a bad coach but he is no longer the right coach.
I have heard about how tough it is recuriting at UT because we have to go outside the state more so than a FL or CAL school. Well if you build a champion they will come to you. There wasn't a shortage of talent when UT was considered a power on the national stage. Why because good and great players want to play for those teams. It has only been in recent years that the recuriting has fallen off and if you look at how others see UT's program you will understand why.
Does Summit have trouble recuritng the best to play? No way, who wouldn't want to play for a team that wins championships regulary. CBP already has a higher grade of talent coming to UT. Why? Because he is a winner.
If a parent was watching the UF game and their kid was considering UT as a choice I would think they would try and steer them away. That was sloppy at best and it is obivious the fundamentals are not being taught,

BigVolinCarolina writes:

As someone told me during my college days at Tennessee:

"If you continue to do what you've always done, you'll continue to get what you've always got. Is that enough?"

That quote couldn't be more fitting right now.

TommyJack writes:

99: Good points.

invisiblekid writes:

in response to SFOrange:

Someone (smarter than me) please give me a topline of Clauson's impact on the Vols. What is different that with Cuttcliff? To this casual fan, I think I see some formation differences---but nothing radical. And clearly nothing thats giving any of our opponents a major problem.

The QB play is significantly worse than last year, that's the only impact I have seen.

govols22231 writes:

we need a new offense and i did sign the petition its just time for a change

BigVolinCarolina writes:

Gatorzz is correct about the MONEY thing. You can bet that when Fulmer's contract was revised last spring that a huge buyout clause was inserted. Wise move on his part--you can't blame him. Not a wise move on Mike Hamilton's part.

Get used to it, folks, unless there's a one-in-a-million turnaround:

1. If Fulmer leaves, it may likely be 3-4 seasons until we'll see major results.
2. If Fulmer leaves, it'll likely be 3-4 seasons until we see a change.

Waldorf writes:

Why isn't "the fat moron head coach" an option?

Michael1204 writes:

gatorzz, the buyout for Fulmer would indeed be extraordinary. If fired after this season, we'd have to pay Fulmer at least $5 million. If the head coach leaves, the staff is usually overhauled too, so that's even more money out the window.

Even though the buyout would be large, you can't keep him JUST BECAUSE of a money issue. In the end, paying Fulmer's buyout could be an investment, really, if a new coaching staff comes in and has success. i.e. Bruce Pearl.

zack83329#523283 writes:

in response to SFOrange:

Someone (smarter than me) please give me a topline of Clauson's impact on the Vols. What is different that with Cuttcliff? To this casual fan, I think I see some formation differences---but nothing radical. And clearly nothing thats giving any of our opponents a major problem.

No. 1 difference: Cuttcliffe scored points

elreytk#224994 writes:

When is Fulmer going to wise up and hire a special teams coach? Good special teams, well coached, could have saved 14 first-quarter points vs. Florida. That would have changed the entire complexion of the game.

xvillefan writes:

Lack of skilled players. One reason for drop off in talent. In the 80-90’s UT had some advantage in recruiting due to high school players knowing the would be playing in front of 95 thousand+ fans in the largest stadium in the SEC. With so many games being televised these days, recruits know they will be still be seen by large audiences. Another reason-lack of a dynamic leader as head coach.
Everyone needs to face reality. Fulmer will not resign and will be the UT coach next year. Hamilton will not fire Fulmer unless some of the big donors ante up several million dollars to buy him out and hire someone like Butch Davis or Bill Cower. Anyone believe that will happen?

volingreensboro writes:

I found this article, sad what the nations opinion of UT is these days!!!!!!

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/con...

FedUpVolFan writes:

in response to volingreensboro:

I found this article, sad what the nations opinion of UT is these days!!!!!!

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/con...

Ty for posting the link to this story.
Makes the most sense of anything I have written or read on here yet!
We are in deep trouble and it hurts!

servinggrant writes:

Heres a few:

-Coaching
-Students paying for tickets
-Poor Execution by players
-Ridiculous cost of tickets, parking, snacks, etc
-Coaches making Millions for horrible records against rivals
-Old donors holding seats, and telling fans to sit down
-Traffic Jams
-HORRIBLE Pay per view quality

I wont be back until the quality goes up. I do support my team and will but i will not give one more cent to the program until i see an attempt to make things better by hamilton.

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

in response to BigVolinCarolina:

Gatorzz is correct about the MONEY thing. You can bet that when Fulmer's contract was revised last spring that a huge buyout clause was inserted. Wise move on his part--you can't blame him. Not a wise move on Mike Hamilton's part.

Get used to it, folks, unless there's a one-in-a-million turnaround:

1. If Fulmer leaves, it may likely be 3-4 seasons until we'll see major results.
2. If Fulmer leaves, it'll likely be 3-4 seasons until we see a change.

I would rather take a step back knowing we will go forward instead of accepting mediocrity. If Fulmer stays this will be the norm. If he leaves we will at least have hope.

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

in response to zack83329#523283:

No. 1 difference: Cuttcliffe scored points

Clawson is only 3 games into this with a QB who is not very good. Cutt was here last year and the gates beat us worse.

BillVol writes:

Write-in vote for Johnny Chavis.

junder13 writes:

99, that was one of the most logical, well thought-out posts I've read since being on GoVols! That's one reason I'm glad you post on here bro, Gator fan or not.

jmbigorangge, you bring up great points too, my friend. Very well put: "I would rather take one step back knowing we wil go forward than accepting mediocrity." I couldn't say it better myself. Also, your point on Cutt is right on. Cutt was a great QB coach but he has a low ceiling as a head coach or offensive coordinator, in my opinion, which makes him perfect for Ole Miss and Duke--he'll make them better than anyone's used to seeing but he's not this great o-coordinator some UT fans want to make him out to be (dink and dunk scheme sucked).

mikejohn11 writes:

Coaching is the biggest concern. I'm in Birmingham and the news down here even reported that the coaching in Knoxville is predictable and has not changed in over a decade and they hate us down here.

hippie60 writes:

Mike Hamilton is a peon he doesn't call the shots about coaching in football. The big donors do. The petition is useless.

jdcvols#230433 writes:

I almost fell out of my chair when Fulmer said we are going to "work like heck" on the phil fulmer show. Doesn't he realize just how stupid he comes across? We are the laughing stock of the nation or maybe nobody cares anymore. We are NOT a factor nationally and probably the 9th best team in the SEC.

xvolx writes:

tenn. needs to fire fulmer and hire spurrier. he surely knows by now that south carolina cannot give him the tools to be successful there. Imagine what he could do with a 2 million budget. greatest off. imagination in football. riverboat gambler. thats what all of us want and he grew up in johnson city, tn. played his highschool football at science hill in johnson city. His roots are in east tenn.. at 63, he probably has 7-8 more years. he started here, why not finish here.

vol52 writes:

Everything from the AD to the water boys and girls.

rusty_shackleford writes:

in response to SFOrange:

Someone (smarter than me) please give me a topline of Clauson's impact on the Vols. What is different that with Cuttcliff? To this casual fan, I think I see some formation differences---but nothing radical. And clearly nothing thats giving any of our opponents a major problem.

Clauson's offense needs a mobile QB. We've got a bunch of drop-back guys that Cut wanted. I watched Richmond v. ASU last fall in the playoffs and the Mountaineers had their hands full with his 100 yard long, 50 yard wide Offense!

I'd like to see Gerald back there full time and watch the O change drastically.....if the HC will allow it! ;-)

luckymacy#423360 writes:

Man, this poll is stupidly blind to the obvious. Did someone on the UT coaching staff set it up to deflect where the real problem is, THE COACHING STAFF? ;-) It's about as incompetently put together as the play execution by the football team.

I challenge someone to put up a poll with coaching staff as an option THEN, as they say, the truth will set you free...

SFOrange writes:

yep, the O looks contained even before a play starts...seems like we have no way to stretch the field.

Richmond is pounding it's 1-AA opponents and likely moves to #1 in the polls this week. Does Dave miss the Spiders?

rockytop4ever writes:

Coaching staff. Everything on that list falls under coaching staff.

givehim6 writes:

None of the above: The coaching!

Gustoly writes:

Coaching staff, most especially the head coach.

vjnd3#219886 writes:

How is coaching not an option?

DeeBee writes:

This list is way too short. The ones listed above should be in once choice, coaching in another, attitude in another, and I could go on, but I won't

BallBreaker1 writes:

Hey this petition thing will not work. The only thing that would is to boycot the next home televised game, Tear up your tickets and empty the stadium. This will get their immediate attention. So we miss a game. So what? Has any been worth our wasted time traveling? I have been a staunch fan for years and years and this is not Tennessee football.
Crompton is nothing but a high school quarterback and the coaches are too blind to see what is front of their faces. Cromptons comments about the fans and the boos show his imaturity. Empty the stadium in front of a live television audience and once and for all show them that we the fans are the supporting (MEMBERS OF "CROMPTONS" FOOTBALL FAMILY! :) Without our money there would be no Tennessee football!

Orange_Julius writes:

Workin' Like Heck....since '92.

jasonn1970 writes:

All of the above plus COACHING!

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