In business, the saying is “change or die.”
In the animal world the name of the game is evolution and adaptation. Survival of the fittest.
In the SEC, I call it the circle of life. It’s natural. It’s always gone on and it always will. New coaches rise and take the place of the old coaches … until newer coaches rise and eventually take their places.
In the nation’s toughest football conference, the landscape is merciless, unforgiving and brutal. And it’s constantly being modified.
Just look at how the SEC has changed over the past 15 years.
In the 1990s, Steve Spurrier and Phillip Fulmer owned the SEC. Sure, Spurrier had the top limb of the tree all to himself, but the view from Fulmer’s perch was pretty darn good, too.
Those two coaches sat back and culled the best talent from across the South. And with that talent, like two massive predators on the African Savannah, they left a trail of bones and carcasses in their respective wakes.
Smaller critters like Joe Lee Dunn, Woody Widenhofer, Rod Dowhower and Gerry DiNardo were no match.
Hal Mumme, Bill Curry, Brad Scott and Sparky Woods were victims, too.
So were Joe Kines, Curley Hallman, Jim Donnan, Ray Goff and Mike Dubose.
But the bodies they disposed of only left vacancies in the food chain. Vacancies waiting to be filled by bigger animals, by better coaches.
LSU, weary of getting pushed around, hired Nick Saban to rebuild them, then Les Miles to sustain Saban’s success. Who do you think was easier pickings: Saban or DiNardo? Miles or Hallman?
Alabama might have stumbled around for a while, but eventually it followed LSU’s lead and brought in Saban to rebuild their program. His recruiting ability is already on display, which is bad news for everyone else in the SEC.
As for Georgia, who would you rather face: Ray Goff or Mark Richt?
Even Kentucky has upgraded from the likes of Mumme to Rich Brooks, a man who once built Oregon into a Rose Bowl-worthy program.
At South Carolina, Woods and Scott were booted and Lou Holtz was brought in first, then Spurrier (albeit the less successful, current version).
The point is this: the league’s pushovers aren’t pushovers anymore. The coaching animals that Spurrier and Fulmer used to feast on are gone, and the new coaching beasts are a whole lot more difficult to take down. Ironically, this evolution in the SEC was brought about by the successes of Spurrier and Fulmer. As a result, their once highly successful methods are less effective.
In Spurrier’s case, his ability to create separation for his receivers, always the key to his offense, has been curtailed by coaches who now put their fastest athletes on defense. Competitors adapted to his methods. The other animals evolved, if you will.
In Fulmer’s case, his brand of conservative football (which every Tennessee coach has embraced since General Neyland’s days) is not as effective without a Peyton Manning, Travis Henry, Al Wilson, or John Henderson to make the big play at crunch time. Fulmer’s forte was always recruiting, but the new coaching animals who have come into the league have done a better job of marking their territory and keeping their local recruits at home.
Now, sadly, both coaches are left to hear boos rain down on them. It happened to Fulmer last Saturday as his team no-showed against bold and brash Florida. It happened to Spurrier last Saturday as his team struggled with tiny Wofford.
“We didn’t all of a sudden get stupid as coaches,” Fulmer said of his staff on Tuesday. And there’s no doubt the man knows exactly what he knew in the 1998 national championship season. He hasn’t forgotten his X’s and O’s.
Neither has Spurrier who won his own national title in 1996.
But they have seen new coaches with new methods (Florida's Urban Meyer and his spread offense, for example) enter the league in the last decade. What experience did either of these men have with him or that?
“Wild Rebel” packages, more intricate zone blitz schemes, “Jack” linebacker positions, recruiting via webcams. New coaches are bringing new ideas into the SEC.
And in this instance, it’s apparent that the championships of the past can actually work against the great beasts of the 1990s.
“I’ve won a lot of games THIS way. Why would I change? I know how to win.”
It’s natural. Who wouldn’t feel that way after enjoying great success?
But that failure to evolve, to adapt to a changing landscape is the reason many animals have become extinct. It’s why many companies have been put out of business by smaller, faster, quicker-to-adapt companies.
Saturday, Fulmer and Spurrier will lead their teams against Auburn and UAB, respectively. Both may win. Both may lose. Either way, both have tough SEC schedules ahead of them. Can they survive?
That’s not a knock on either coach.
That’s just Darwin. That’s “change or die.” That’s evolution and adaptation. That’s the circle of life in the SEC.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 80
alfrizzle097 writes:
first?
alfrizzle097 writes:
I see Pennington's point. Still, change for its own sake isn't worthwhile.
Fulmer will hopefully make the needed adjustments that will allow him to continue getting to the SEC championship game.
TommyJack writes:
Circles and cycles. Phases and stages.
Seahawk writes:
You left Alabama and Gene Stallings (70 wins in 7 years) out of the dominate teams of the 90s. They won a NC and two SEC titles and played in 5 of the 8 SEC chapmionship games during that decade.
TommyJack writes:
seahawk: Good point. A very under-rated coach.
ctownvol writes:
Circle of life, huh? Let's hope some of the prosperity comes back to Knoxville... soon!
murrayvol writes:
Does anyone else remember the scene in "Lawrence of Arabia" as Arab horsemen challenged attacking bombers with swords drawn and turbans trailing in the wind?
Innovation trumps tenacity.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
As always John a very good article. On the subject of Crompton, Sports Writer from Chattanooga was on George Plaster's show in Nashville on Thursday afternoon,he said that he had it from a reliable source that the offense has been scaled back even more this week to accomodate Crompton.
What is next, stop trying field goals?
Lofton4Three writes:
Circle of Life...translation...
Spurrier and Fulmer are both circling the drains, and taking their programs with them.
twin942 writes:
Good article, John. These are accurate points without bashing anyone. Keep up the good work.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Where the playing field is not level, there will always be some on top and those with the most restrictions will always be nearest the bottom.
Then add on more handicaps to those not favored with unfair advantage and those struggling to stay afloat will sink lower and lower.
The Tennessee coaches and players are required to meet ncaa, sec, university, local media and local public standards. Some of the other schools apparently have no standards to meet, not even attendance in classes.
Sheepscape writes:
Care to name these institutions?
63vet writes:
Very good article! Wouldn't you like to scroll down just once without some moron typing 'first'.
thesavageorange writes:
Very well written.
jandjhome, what we are seeing is not Clawson's offense.It's not what he installed in the spring nor what he planned on doing in the fall.Phil always dances w/ the girl he brung , so let's hope that the light bulb comes on for Jon tomorrow.
jcvol#215939 writes:
We need a new punter and work like heck.
DennisVols writes:
One of Darwin's theories was that some animals were just not smart enough to stay alive. This lack of intelligence caused the extinction of some animals. Thus the Darwin Awards are handed out each year to humans who are just too stupid to stay alive.
www.darwinawards.com
Go there if you have not and you will laugh yourself silly reading about other humans who where just not smart enough to survive.
Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. You are either going forward or you are going backward. The earth never stops moving so if we fail to change with the times we are soon left to eat the dust in its wake.
The trouble with change is the “Unknown” aspect of it. UT must venture into the unknown and not be afraid of change.
jasonn1970 writes:
Time marches on. It's now time for Tennessee to adapt.
invisiblekid writes:
Good to see you Savage O. I started seeing the subject of scaling back the offense coming up after the UCLA game and wondered if you had any additional insight on particular problems.
Obviously, Crompton is having trouble on different fronts but I haven't been pleased with the offensive line either. I have also seen the backs whiffing on some blocks. Crompton shares a big part of that responsibility but it isn't entirely him IMO.
It's a bad situation to be in, sitting back and hoping the "light bulb comes on" for Crompton.
I don't buy into a QB switch at this time as a solution either. Crompton got the most practice reps as the starter so there is no guarantee that we would not see the same things with Stephens or Coleman if they got extended playing time.
OrangeAndWhite4Life writes:
Living in Chattanooga I have the opportunity to listen to Gerald Riggs, Jr every Thursday on our local sports call in show (Sport Talk). Yesterday Gerald was asked what his thoughts were on Coach Fulmer and the state of the current football program. Gerald said that he felt that Coach Fulmer had become complacent. Said that he had grown up in Tennessee, played at UT, and won a National Championship there. Said he was not sure that Coach Fulmer still had the fire inside to take the program back to a National Championship contender.
Not sure that I totally agreed with what Gerald said, but some of it definitely made sense. I do think that Coach Fulmer wants Tennesseee to be successful, but also think he may have grown somewhat complacent.
As the rest of the SEC moves forward, we are in real danger of slipping behind (as I feel we have already begun to do so). If we don't "right the ship" it could be a 5-10 yr stretch in order to get back to where the program once was (and can be again).
One last thought...A circle always ends back where it once began. That gives us hope and we all need that daily.
Go Vols !!
VolsRoadRash98 writes:
This is a really good article. I think it sums up what 90% of us have been thinking since 2005.
One thought - unlike Spurrier who calls his own plays on the sidelines, Fulmer's a CEO coach that relies on his OC. As far as "evolution" goes, Clawson's new scheme sure isn't as new and innovative as I had hoped it would be. Auburn's new OC has a completely new spread offense going. This weekend's matchup should be interesting.
piledriver writes:
Adaptation is the word. If Fulmer had resigned in 2000 he'd probably be held in highest regard, like Neyland. It's hard to know something as subjective as staying too long or leaving too soon. Coach Pat Summit adapted. She's still winning championships too.
TommyJack writes:
Exactly what I've been saying. Welcome back brother.
invisiblekid writes:
"The trouble with change is the “Unknown” aspect of it. UT must venture into the unknown and not be afraid of change."
DennisVols, the problem IMO is that, since things didn't work in the first game, they are rejecting that change and switching back to the old reliable offense. And that old, reliable offense may work against the UAB's, KY's, and Vandy's of the world. But when it comes to teams that are on even footing from an ability standpoint, the Vols aren't going to do too well.
I think it's a bad situation that's going to get worse as we go along in the season.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Savage...Why is Fulmer so dead set on sticking with some of these guys. We got playmakers sitting on the bench. After the UAB game i was excited about Creer and the way he played. Fulmer says he's definitely proved he deserves more PT. Then against UF he gets 1 carry. That's a slap in the face. Hardesty gets 5 carries. Gerald Williams never even sniffs the field. Fulmer always talks these guys up in camp and they never play them. I guarantee if Williams, Creer, Poole, Paige were playing for Saban they would be on the field. It's so damn frustrating.
TommyJack writes:
I think you mean devolution.
THE_VOL writes:
As always...PENNINGTON IS THE MORONIC MASTER OF THE OBVIOUS!
BuckheadVol writes:
workinglikeheck.blogspot.com
RockyTop1998 writes:
alfrizzle097 writes:
I see Pennington's point. Still, change for its own sake isn't worthwhile.
Fulmer will hopefully make the needed adjustments that will allow him to continue getting to the SEC championship game.
Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
You just said Fulmer & adjustments in the same sentence. I dont think he knows the meaning of that word.
stinky_pinky writes:
Beat Auburn, Bama and UGA and all is forgotten.
Lose 1 and theres a good chance he'll stick around.
Lose 2 of 3 and there's a good chance he'll resign and go "upstairs".
We can't lose all 3, can we?????
Go Vols!!! I am pulling for Coach Fulmer and the Boys. He's done way too much for him to go out this way. I hope it doesn't happen but if we lose all 3 his termination is inevitable.
The stank
Hudro writes:
Hamilton created his own problem when he gave Fulmer the extension. He will have to sit by until the number of years of the buyout drop down to something affordable. Right now without a big donor stepping forward and offering to fund the buyout I don't think there is enough money to fire Phil and then also hire a new coach in the $3 million range. Check the published AD budgets. Paying off Green and Buzz basically drained the piggy bank. I think the end is still one or maybe two years off.
Hudro writes:
I like your circle analogy as I feel we have come full circle. I have had season tickets since 1981. There was a time when my wife and I would walk to the stadium and wish for the day when we would become competitive with the big boys in the SEC. (recall the string that Bama had on us at one time?) We didn't expect to win all the time but to compete and win our share. For a time Phil took us there---we could go toe to toe with most teams. Now we have come full circle and we are no longer competitive with the 'big boys" and seem content to feast on South Carolina, Ky and Vandy. But even that is not assured any more. I think you have to be a really old old fan to recall a time when Vandy was ranked and we were not.
PennVol writes:
What worked 10 years ago doesn't work today, as Spurrier and Fulmer are showing us. The old way may work a little longer in the Big 10 (Paterno) or ACC (Bowden), but not in a conference where you have 4-5 of the best coaches in the country (SEC). We could easily finish last in the SEC East, after winning it last year.
The problem with Fulmer saying we need to get better (year after year) is that he doesn't know how to get better.
volpreacher writes:
good article. We are stuck in a rut. You know what a rut is? It simply is a grave with no ends in it. Go Vols!
ctmartin writes:
Do Saban and Richt run the new offenses, no they look just like what Alabama and Georgia have been running for years. Systems don't win games. Players do. If you have the right players, you could win with the single wing.
DennisVols writes:
The only difference in a rut and a grave is a couple of feet.
Time to start digging out instead of digging down.
thesavageorange writes:
TommyJack/Ikid, as you know I try to stay positive, and mom always said if you don't have anything nice to say...........Well it's been tough to come up w/ something.
kid, all three teams we have played have been leaving the safety valve wide open.Crompton is out thinking himself.Clawson's offense is designed w/ lots of motion to create mismatches.Even Berry said that Clawson was confusing the DB's & LB's in practice and scrimmages.I guess JC gets confused w/ the movement , so DC isn't using it near as much.He also ran more 4-5 wide sets , but JC holds the ball too long.Basically JC is the hold up.I really believe DC is the answer, but needs someone to operate it efficiently.(needless to say)I really hope JC can turn it around, but if he can't they have to give someone else a shot.
murrayvol writes:
Fulmer and change really don't go together. He says it himself when he alludes to winning a lot of games around here doin' what we do.
Tuberville is embracing some change on the plains. Not working too well yet but I'm betting he gets it done.
jwright13#576991 writes:
who gives a sh^t
what are you, twelve?
THE_VOL writes:
What FOOLmer doesn't or refuses to understand/accept is that YES they have won a lot games "doing what we do." BUT we presently ARE NOT winning alot of games "doing what we do." So his only other response is "we just have to get better." Well, we've been hearing THAT for quite some time now yet we HAVE NOT gotten better. So, it's obviously he refuses to change and is unable to get players to improve to the level necessary. If THAT is not reason enough for a change at the top then this program DESERVES to fall and wallow with the perennial losers!
ozoney#235138 writes:
The program never deserves to lose. Our fans, facilities, and tradition that we've built demands better results that we have been getting for 10 years. The last five are just the next step downhill. Fulmer has been a class act, but the mistakes in situational awareness and fulmer's ineptitude at making sure the most basic of mechanics offensively are adhered to is costing us our reputation and national respect. Nunez leaving is just one indicator of our direction right now. Those with thier heads up thier rears will say "the fans shouldn't have boo'd"..... . That's BS. Anyone who winced as we saw fundamental mistake after mistake that cost us points at key times in all four games this year know that if a kid is called for a false start in a crucial down and distance or a player fumbles inside the five when we're going in for the lead is just plain bad awareness and lack of desire. The kind of desire that says, "We need this. I can't eff up. No matter what I can't hurt my team right now. I will not lose.". It wouldn't be a big deal if those things only happend a couple times in a season, but it's a plague for the Vols. It comes down to coaching people. Bottom Line. Hence the boos.
volroadwarrior writes:
Everyone has an opinion. I don't like losing. But, is a new coach going to suddenly take us to a championship? Maybe, but things could get worse instead of better. The USC and Ohio State losses this year show there is no dominant team at this time. Fla. lost 3 games last year. We beat the tar out of GA, but got our heads handed to us by Cal, Fla and Bama. We came within a bad pass or 2 from winning the SEC. We eeeked out wins over SC, KY and Vandy. Maybe we need a new coach, but a new man doesn't guarantee success. The next few weeks will tell us a lot about the program and coaches.
Colliervol writes:
Nope. The next thing is that the managers are going to haul a sandbox out before every huddle and let JC draw the play in it. That would be about as simple as it could get.
Colliervol writes:
Seriously, is this what we are reduced to? Whining about the "circle of life"? It used to be that teams got goosebumps on their arms when UT rolled into town and they feared coming to Neyland because they knew they were in for a dogfight. Do you think anybody is scared now? Doubtful, because they know exactly what's coming. A disorganized bunch with no imagination or fire, bumbling special teams and very little innovation. A defensive coordinator that will employ a prevent and let you back in the game if they get ahead. An offense that can't seem to find its rear end with either hand. A team with wide receivers, backs and linemen (on both sides of the ball) that PALE in comparison to what we had in the late '90's. Again, I like and respect Phil but there is a bottom line here. Who is ultimately responsible?
Circle of Life? Get me out of here Percy! I can't take anymore.
Volalumnus writes:
I have no doubts that those on here crying and pleading to keep the same old pair of shoes with all the holes would be some of the first to say, Bowden and Paterno need to be coaxed out. They may hve been good in their day but they have nothing new to add and are now holding their programs back.
And Fulmer isn't even in the same stature as they are.
bigOutfan writes:
TN 45
AB 13
GreerVol22 writes:
savage is right, Crompton doesn't have it between the ears to be a Clawson QB. Clawson said as much 2 interviews ago when he was discussing Gerald Jones..why else would the offense be scaled back???
rockytopjeff writes:
Kosmo,
While you may very well make a valid point. I really don't beleive this is the forum to make those types of accusations. Those people that would love to see us on probation, i.e. Bama folks, would love to start forwarding stuff like this to the NCAA. While I understand what you are saying. I beleive it would be best to keep those things out of the public forums.
hsnevin#252694 writes:
This is the best article on the recent and current state of affairs that I have read. I hope the TN coaches read it. The venom for Fulmer is too much. Do you demand the same perfection of yourself when your write that policy or install that software? I hope so. If your answer is no but that Fulmer makes $2M, think again; don't admit that you are a born loser.
GreerVol22 writes:
by the way Pennington....At 9:06 pm your lead was 59-15 over Adams.....
rabidvol1998 writes:
Very well written.
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