Photo by Bob Fowler
John Rice Irwin, left, founder of the Museum of Appalachia and former University of Tennessee football star and coach Johnny Majors chat at the Anderson County Hall of Fame event Thursday in Clinton.
CLINTON - Legendary football coach Johnny Majors says he definitely has an opinion about the woes swirling around the latest edition of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and their coach, but he's keeping it to himself.
Words like discipline and unity, however, seep into his conversation when Majors, who moved back to Knoxville 13 months ago, discusses football and the Vols.
Majors, 73, took the high road and reflected on the excitement during his 29-year coaching career of being part of rebuilding football programs at Iowa State, Pittsburgh and UT. Majors gave the keynote speech at the Anderson County Hall of Fame event Thursday, the year's biggest fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of North Anderson County.
"I didn't have the luxury of inheriting a football program that was on top," he said, "but it was exciting to be part of building a program."
Majors was the keynote speaker Thursday at an event paying tribute to Anderson County residents, living and departed, for community contributions. Honorees at the second annual event:
n John Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia, musician and author, lifetime achievement.
n Margaret Fox Best, who with her late husband, Gene, launched Fox Toyota, business leader.
n The late William Chesney, longtime Lake City High School principal who died in 1977, educator.
n John W. Clark of Oak Ridge, community volunteer.
n The late Sgt. David Connell Jr. of Lake City, killed in action in May 2007 in Iraq, military.
n John Faris, who with his wife, Sonda, own and operate 17 area McDonald's restaurants, philanthropist.
n Josie Hahn, who excelled in track and field in high school and college and was named 2005 Female Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, athletics.
n Charles McRae, who played on Majors' UT teams from 1986-1990, athletics.
n Jerry Shattuck, retired attorney and current vice mayor of Clinton, elected official.
n Jody Wright, assistant principal and athletic director at Fulton High School, coach/youth mentor.
A committee unaffiliated with the Boys and Girls Club of North Anderson County selects inductees, executive director Beth Farrow said. Last year's inaugural event raised $25,000 for the organization, she said.
Bob Fowler, News Sentinel Anderson County editor, may be reached at 865-481-3625.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 42
TommyJack writes:
Be well, Coach.
VOLKING writes:
Look at the grin on him in the photo. What he must be thinking...priceless.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
What goes around comes around.
chrisw2967 writes:
Majors:"I didn't have the luxury of inheriting a football program that was on top," he said, "but it was exciting to be part of building a program."
I think this was a shot at Fulmer, cause when Fulmer took over the talent was already in place.I bet he says look who is laughing now.
nbt44 writes:
Tell Mike Hamilton what you think about Fulmer...
mhamilton@tennessee.edu
pms151 writes:
Mike Hamilton is not the guy in charge.
rusty_shackleford writes:
If memory serves, it was JM's alleged drinking that got him in trouble. Before people get misty-eyed about the good old days, they weren't always so good.
TommyJack writes:
No, but he would put the best players on the field.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
And he chewed a**, when a** needed to be chewed. The man's gotta be in his late 60's, early 70's and he has more fire than Fulmer does to this day.
He didn't have the greatest game plans, but ole Majors brought the fire.
WYLOVER writes:
I am not a fulmer fan but majors didn't exactly crush it. Why do we focus on him at all??
I would rather read a story about a relative of the General's view on the current state of our program.
BrUTalVOL writes:
It's easy, and popular, to pile on Fulmer right now. But let's be fair. And let's admit that time heals many, if not all, wounds. Try to remember the Majors years and what the program was like. And also remember that Majors' demise was not related entirely to wins and losses. Also remember that Fulmer is not the only assistant coach ever to take the reigns when a head coach gets canned.
Majors was a great player and good coach. Yes- he rebuilt UT's football program, but he didn't take over an 0-12 program. The Vols had been in the top 20 as little as 2 seasons before Majors took over. But it was in decline.
It took Majors NINE YEARS to have his team ranked at the end of a season (1985). And from '77 through the end of '84 (8 years!), the Vols spent only 4 weeks in the top 20.
In an attempt to make a comparison fair to Majors, take a look at his last seven years at UT (his best) and Fulmer's last seven years (his worst) and you'll see that Fulmer's record is better in spite of the fact that Fulmer's teams played more ranked teams per year.
So far, this year sucks. And much of it has to do with coaching. Much of it has to do with players' performance. And ultimately, everything falls at the feet of the head coach. But keep in mind that Majors has had to wait A LONG time to get to enjoy his "HA-HA" time at Fulmer's expense.
This post is not meant to denigrate or exalt either man ... just to give a bit of objectivity and fairness.
Vol_Chaps writes:
Coach Majors had his faults and it may have been time for him to go, but the way the University treated him was shameful. The way Majors was forced out was as bad as Jerry Jones forcing out Tom Landry at Dallas. The men were legends, they either leave on their own terms or you make it look like they did. Tennessee has been the poorer for how it treated Majors and I can hardly blame Coach Majors for being bitter.
I hope the University remembers this when Coach Fulmer leaves; please don't unnecessarily embarrass someone who once brought us a national championship...
PennVol writes:
Fulmer should take a look at the 1990 Cotton Bowl when Majors let Carl Pickens play offense and defense. I think he actually won the DEFENSIVE player of the game for an interception.
How about Eric Berry on offense?
auttat writes:
tngeoff, what does anybody stand to gain by Adams' writing an article about what happened? We are losing games now and the whole vol nation is already calling for his head. Even if they did hire Jason Grimsley to crawl through the vents to get the contract off the desk, it's still on Dickey more than Fulmer. Everybody knows Fulmer was threatening to leave, and Dickey wanted to keep him. After that, who cares what happens? It is what it is.
That was 16 years ago. I want to win games now, period. If that means hiring a new coach, then hire a new coach. I couldn't care less about some cold case mystery.
auttat writes:
*happened*
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Vol_Chaps, you are exactly right!
I was a junior at UT when Majors resigned/fired/forced out. Although I thought it was time for him to step aside, I did not appreciate how it was handled. An utter disgrace, it was.
I've always had questions about what "really happened". Regardless of whether you liked Majors or not (personally, I wasn't a fan), the way we punted him was terrible.
I hope no one else has to go through that.
Madkels writes:
At least when a top 10 team came into Neyland, we would either win or make a game of it when Majors coached. Now we do neither.
WYLOVER writes:
great post. I am not a Fulmer fan but I don't understand why worshiping Majors is something that anyone does.
The reality is any reasonable coach can rebuild a program with the type of historical foundations that UT has. The quality of the coach is what makes the difference in it taking 1 - 4 years versus 5 - 10 years. 7 years sounds pretty bad.
It could take that long now......as that is the long-end on how much longer Peyton plays on Sunday. Can't wait to see him back in our program.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Johnny Majors will be the speaker next Saturday at UT's Accounting Day, an annual reunion for graduates of the school's accounting program. Johnny will probably share some pithy, succinct, enthusiastic saying that people will remember and leave laughing about, such as: "Always remember, debits on the left, credits on the right ! ! !"
Among the great Johnnyisms of all time
1. "Make the least of what is gone and the most of what's to come!"
2. "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, what a Merry Christmas it would be!"
3. "Discipline. The kicking game. Pursuit. On defense, remember -- Sammy Sideline is your friend."
4. "I tell the players: 'Make a decision - right or wrong!'"
5. "I tell the players: "Whatever you do, marry up. A bad woman can keep a good man down. Of course, it works both ways. A bad man can keep a good woman down. But, whatever you do, marry up! I know I did!"
Johnny Majors was a great man who loved Tennessee football. He might have remained head coach another 10 years if he could have just defeated Alabama.
Majors emphasized discipline and the kicking game. Fact: In the last 35 or so games, Tennessee has given up the same number of punt returns for touchdowns as Majors-coached teams gave up in SIXTEEN YEARS.
Chartervol writes:
Win or lose, Majors always had an interesting take, and he didn't have to wait for the film, either.
His clenched-jaw feistiness is something we sorely miss. That's what we loved about Majors.
Attackattackattack!
CoverOrange writes:
TNGeoff, do you know the true story or only the rumors of the ture story? In other words, do you really know that there is a behind-the-scenes story to be written?
RJ_Vol writes:
Both coaches(Fulmer and Majors) will take their place among the best the UT has put on the field. Both are known for extremely conservative play calling(anyone remember the 9-6 Bama game), both played for UT, both coached national championship teams, both won conference championships, both had a nemesis (Majors/Bama, Fulmer/UF), both had discipline problems on their teams(anyone remember Dale Carter and Kelly Washington), and both bleed orange. We have been blessed to have roughly thirty years compiled between the two coaches. They have presided over some of UT's best years. My hat is tipped to both of them.
bobbyutvol writes:
A true class act coach Majors was I wonder if the Knife is still in his back that Fulmer put there????
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree that Johnny Majors was a legendary figure in UT history but surely everyone knows what a complex man he is. I returned to K'ville in the summer of 1985 after living away for about 16 years. I was walking downtown when I saw him coming toward me. We were both alone. As we passed, I said something like, "Hi, Coach Majors. I'm glad you're back and thanks for what you're doing to bring the Vols back." He looked up at me--I'm over six inches taller--sort of sniffed and walked on without a word. Now, admittedly, I was and am nobody special, but, fair or not, I have never had quite the warm, fuzzy feeling about him some seem to have. I didn't ask for an autograph or seek a lengthy conversation, simply wished him well in passing, but that was not even worth a mumbled "Thanks" as he walked on. It has been said that a man's character can be judged by how he treats people who can't do anything for him.
DennisVols writes:
That was a part of it but more than anything he was not on good grounds with Thunder and Haslem. Thunder had no love for him at all and they often stood on oppsite sides of issues and how they should be addressed.
If Fulmer is to go either by retirement or firing it will take those 2 putting the pressure on him. As long as Thunder supports Fulmer, and the last I heard he still does, then the firing is not going to happen.
As fans we can write MH and if you know how to let the pwoer brokers know how you feel I would suggest you do that as well. MH will not make the final decision it will be the million dollar club who donate more than any if us combined.
Moaninglikeheck writes:
This is akin to caring what Jimmy Carter thinks about G. W. Bush.
Tweedledum's opinion of Tweedledee.
DennisVols writes:
Fulmer did not stab Johnny. Johnny stabed Johnny.
As I stated earlier Majors and Thunder did not see eye to eye. When Majors had his surgery he was advised to take the year off. Under Fulmer the team won and won big games. Majors got worried based on his relationship with Thunder and decided to come back early and we all know what happened. The team went into a tail spin, lost to Bama again and that was all it took for Thunder to make the call. Had Johnny sat out that year as advised he would have coached another year no matter what Fulmer's coaching did. It was precieved that Majors caused the fall out bcause of his return and cost the Vols. I'm not saying that his coming back early caused it but those who make the decisions thought it did.
The team was playing good football w/o him on the sidelines and failed when he returned so he got the blame.
For the most part Majors was his own worst enemy.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Dennis, You are absolutely right on your take. Johnny supposedly had a major confrontation with Phil (one telling says that he slapped him in front of other coaches), and CPF was planning to relocate to a South Carolina school, taking most of the coaches with him. When Johnny told the story last year, hc claimed that he had a seven year contract extention proposed by Doug Dickey, just before his angina attack while jogging, just before the start of the 1992 season; however, when he had his quadruple bypass, he left the team for four games that we won handily with CPF as the interim coach, and returned, only to have the team play tight against LSU, and then lose close games to Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina. Then, AD Dickey told him that his two options were to become the assistant AD or resign his position. He didn't want to work for someone who had lied to him, so he resigned. Then, CPF took the position as head coach, and retained most of his assistants. I don't know that there was a knife in the back for anyone, but CPF has cultivated the support of the AD and Athletic Board members, who give him more slack than they gave confrontational Johnny Majors. Both are Tennessee legends, and I'm proud of both of them. But, I'm not willing to endure middle of the road seasons for the next 8-10 years so that CPF can have 174 wins to surpass the General in all-time victories! Go Vols! SAVol
rusty_shackleford writes:
OK, let's look:
The "JM Years"
1977: 4-7 (8th in conference)
1978: 5-5-1 (T-4th)
1979: 7-5 (T-5th)
1980: 8-4 (T-4th)
1981: 8-4 (T-4th)
1982: 6-5-1 (5th)
1983: 9-3 (T-3rd)
1984: 7-4-1 (T-5th)
1985: 9-1-2 (1st) Ninth Year!
1986: 7-5 (6th)
1987: 10-2-1 (3rd)
1988: 5-6 (T-6th)
1989: 11-1 (T-1st)
1990: 9-2-2 (1st)
1991: 9-3 (3rd)
1992*: 5-3 (3rd East)
Highest national rank was 4th in 1985 (beat Miami's eyes shut in the Sugar). Ranked in the top 20 6 of those 16 years. CFP has had one (so far) losing season...JM had 3. My earlier comment stands! The good old days with JM weren't always so good.
txsvol#372416 writes:
While I'm glad that Fulmer and the assistants didn't leave for SC or Clemson (I forget which--one of you closer to the scene remember?) in 1992, I wouldn't mind the same scenario in 2008! Johnny's senior year was the first year I followed UT football (1956 was the first year we had a TV set), and I saw both Bill and Bobby play in person. The Majors family is indeed the First Family of Tennessee Football. SAVol
jsm67vol writes:
I agree that Majors will always be an incredible part of UT football history. And though its hard to say it now, Fulmer will also be an incredible part of that history. When Majors was forced out, the program needed a change, new blood. Very few players or coaches ever get the honor of leaving the game "on top." You either resign or you get fired. I respect Majors for his contribution. He took us to the next level when he took over. Fulmer did the same when he took over. The way I see it, Fulmer is now in a similar situation that Majors was in. Fulmer is not going to resign, to get rid of him he will have to be fired. All the reporters (and I use that term loosly) that are now saying its time for a change in Knoxville will be the same ones who will question how UT could get rid of someone with Fulmer's win %. Call it underhanded, backstabbing or whatever you like. The fact is most fans were ready for Majors to be gone, and it seems most fans are ready to get rid of Fulmer. There is no easy way to get rid of a coach who is "such an incredible part of UT football history" even when they need to be gotten rid of.
VolJoe writes:
Majors backed out of speaking at accounting day, its Bob Kesling now.
invisiblekid writes:
"As long as Thunder supports Fulmer, and the last I heard he still does, then the firing is not going to happen."
You said it all right there Dennis.
invisiblekid writes:
"I didn't have the luxury of inheriting a football program that was on top," he said, "but it was exciting to be part of building a program."
And Majors said all he needed to right there. Glad to see him take the high road and not add fuel to what's already turning into an inferno.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
This is the way it is, ask anybody who knows, who has no reason to lie or nothing to gain by twisting the facts. I was glad Johnny was out, Phil showed us the way, and it payed off to a National Championship.
chbradshaw writes:
http://ettuphilip.blogspot.com/
gvegasvol writes:
Brutalvol...GREAT post! Well thought out and written!
DennisVols writes:
Lets not forget the 4-12 record against Bama who by the way was our biggest rivial then and as far as any Vol fan should know still is.
The first game between UT and Bama ended in the 2nd hald when the fans stormed the field and fought over a call made by the referee. Final score 6-6 in 1901
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Exactly my first thought.
You know deep down he's thinking "stay this course".
DennisVols writes:
I agree totally with your thoughts on that. The best thing Fulmer could do for the university is retire from coaching. It is not a money issue and I am sure he could be a part of the university in some capasity.
I had retired from the Army when I was at UT during the Majors days in 82. I worked as a mgr for Wendys in K'ville to pay my expenses. Back then on the Friday night before home games the team would be moved off campus to the Hampton at Ceder Bluff. They would come into the Wendys for dinner. JM was noticed on more then one occasion to smell of booze. I'm not saying he was drunk but you could tell he had been drinking. Majors was 4-12 against Bama and in '82 was the 1st win since '71 and JM's 1st. Back then losing to Bama would get you fired quicker than anything else you could have done.
Moaninglikeheck writes:
et tu phillip...
Hmmm, who is this Bradshaw guy, what are his credentials, and where are sources cited for all of the allegations.
Intermingling of facts with innuendo does not the truth make.
chrisw2967 writes:
pdhuff#552644 writes:
in response to chrisw2967:
Majors:"I didn't have the luxury of inheriting a football program that was on top," he said, "but it was exciting to be part of building a program."
I think this was a shot at Fulmer, cause when Fulmer took over the talent was already in place.I bet he says look who is laughing now.
Exactly my first thought.
You know deep down he's thinking "stay this course".
pdhuff: either that or he is saying "keep working like heck" and he better find those magical charts
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.