Phillip Fulmer always has had a pretty good reason to keep an eye on the NFL draft, and today will be no different.
Fulmer, ousted as Tennessee's coach last season, wants to see if, when and where his former players are headed in pro football.
"I always pay attention to it," he said Friday during the Phillip Fulmer Golf Classic at Willow Creek. "I don't sit and watch every round and every pick. Obviously when I've got guys like Robert (Ayers) and several other guys that have a chance to be drafted, I'll certainly pay attention to it during the day."
Fulmer doesn't have trouble finding his former Vols playing on Sundays.
When NFL teams were gearing up for the 2008 season last June, there were 39 former UT players on active rosters.
Fulmer takes some pride in that.
"We were very blessed to have a lot of guys (in the NFL)," he said. "We were always No. 1, 2 or 3 in the number of guys playing in the league (NFL) every year in the country, so I think we did a really good job of preparing those guys well, not just from a physical standpoint but also understanding the game and how it's played and the preparation it takes in the offseason and how to prepare for a game in the regular season.
"It was important to us. That credibility of guys that are playing in the pros only helps guys that may want to do that come to your program."
Fulmer has seen the draft evolve into a media spectacle as millions of dollars are at stake for drafted players. There are mock drafts everywhere. Analysts critique every pick of every round.
The NFL Draft is nothing like it used to be when Fulmer, who played for the Vols 1968-71, returned to UT in 1980 as an assistant coach.
"More and more as the coverage of the draft has increased and there's more awareness of that, there's more young men that that's (the NFL) kind of their way out, of having a way to make a lot of money and to play professionally," Fulmer said. "Certainly over my 30 years I've seen the importance of it increase."
Fulmer, 58, may have even more interest in the draft in the future. He said he is trying to make a decision on his career direction and has not ruled out coaching in the NFL.
"It's always been one of those things that's been out there," Fulmer said. "I've had a chance to do it on a couple of occasions as an assistant and some interest a couple of times as a head coach, but yeah, that's something you always think about.
"It's kind of the top tier of all the rings (of coaching) that are out there. To coach at that level would be something that is appealing."
Benefit Golf: In its 10th year, the Phillip Fulmer Golf Classic has raised more than $1 million for the Boys and Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley. Former UT defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who played seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans before signing as a free agent with Washington this offseason, played in Friday's event.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 40
Caveman writes:
Caveman say who cares bout NFL...
volhallathunder writes:
Congrats Fulmer, you found something else to pat yourself on the back about, probably be waiting around awhile to see where Foster is drafted though. Good thing you have plenty of time.
ut31#535576 writes:
You're a fool and so are the the other so called "UT fans" who criticize Fulmer on these message boards...He's not our coach anymore so get over it...he's the second winningest ooach in UT history and gave us a national title and 5 SEC Championship appearances...Fulmer ran a clean program for 16 years and kept us out of NCAA trouble, he represented the university with class and loved UT more than any future coach ever will....get a life people...it's about like President Bush haters who don't realize that he's not our President any longer
givehim6 writes:
It' s funny and sad at the same time, i think in fulmore head he thinks he's really deciding what he wants to do. Like he wants to be an NFL coach one bay the phone will just start ringing, and offers will just pour in. Maybe he needs to you know talk to someone.
supersteve17 writes:
And maybe you need to, you know, learn to communicate.
Voltillyafall writes:
What a piece of tripe. PF is not our coach any more. He no longer has a "connection" with the program. This is another moronic fluff piece on this site that keeps PFP's name in front of us. Give it up KNS, he's gone. It matters not whether you like it, or I like it, take heed of the FACT that he is gone.
BTW, PFP is correct in saying UT ranked highly in the number of players in the NFL. Its quite an indictment on the PFP tenure as coach that he and his staff could have so much talent, and yet allowed the program to decay over the past decade.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Wow, I never realized that Phillip had so many Agents here on the KNS board that know the extent of the job offers he's had; or hasn't had. I thought that Jimmy Sexton was his only Agent, who knew! I can tell you this, he has NOT pursued any other coaching jobs to this moment. When Sexton has been contacted suitors have been politely told that he isn't interested right now. He wants the time off to spend with his family, something that he hasn't been able to do for the last 36 years because he's devoted his entire adult life to UT!!! If and when he's ready to step back into coaching he will.
If I were 58 years old, had a net worth of millions, was one of the more successful people of all time in my chosen profession and found myself out of work...I'm sure I'd jump at the first opportunity and take anything that was thrown my way - NOT!
Do you people have the first clue how much he makes for corporate event appearances, celebrity golf tournaments, trade shows, conventions, licensing deals, print advertising, radio & television commercials, speaking engagements and autograph signings? NO, because those aren't things that you have any knowledge about because nobody would pay you do it. Anyone who thinks that he hasn't been offered coaching jobs since November is a total moron!
Why wouldn't he be proud of his former players in the NFL? Why wouldn't he be proud of putting more players in the NFL than anyone else in college football? He wasn't bragging or patting himself on the back, he was stating the facts. You think Kiffin won't throw his chest out and beat the drums if he has a similar record? I bet if your kid starts for his high school sports team you brag and drone on endlessly about him/her to anyone and everyone that will listen.
The simple fact is that if he had hired a competent Offensive Coordinator rather than Clawson we wouldn't even be having this conversation.
You sad little people need to find some outlet more rewarding in your lives than to disrespect and denigrate a man that, along with Pat Summitt, has done more for the University of Tennessee that anyone else in the last three decades! We all understand your ilk; you're simpletons that thought he was the greatest in the World when he was on top and now you've turned on him like Marcus Junius Brutus and hate his guts. We get it; now let it go. The immaturity of this constant bashing is tired, old, unimaginative and frankly embarrassing.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
good post--I was for the change but still we have the most disrespectful "noest" class haters to be found anywere---its an embarrasment we got those that they cant give up the hate even now
panavol writes:
He can pat himself on the back because he earned it!
Everything written on this article is accurate and factual. STFU! LOOSER!
panavol writes:
Thank you Bigorangevol!
I'm behind you 100%.
rockytop_pop writes:
off subject a bit but was wondering if anyone else saw the tee shirts that florida is making up this season about kiffin ? saw them on espn . the front says beatdown the back says...Kiffin....be afraid,,, be very afraid...the beatdowns coming...sept.18 2009
UrbanStopCallingMe writes:
Illiterate fans are reading newspapers are they?
1manningfan writes:
Wow some of you guys are still really bitter about Fulmer, get over yourself's already. Fulmer accomplised alot here at UT. I guess the one's bad mouthing him must be teenage punks that have not been around long enough to know the game of football. The game of football has vicious cycles, go ask Nebraska, Notre Damn, Michigan, USC, Alabama, Florida, Georgia Tech, Washington Huskies...do i need to keep going? Shame on all you punks who kicked Fulmer while he was down, he got fired i think that sums it all up enough. I personally think imo that he would be a solid head coach in the NFL. Go after it Fulmer show Spurrier those deep bombs don't work on every down in the NFL, show him it's smashmouth football at the next level!
Choo Choo uh oh here comes the Lane Train i got to go guys he's picking me up. Were heading to Washington to recruit Jake Heaps! GO VOLS!!!
I Will Give My All For Tennessee Today!
volhallathunder writes:
Lissen A**hole, the KNS just published a story about him. As soon as they and the QB club and all the sheep who followed him off the cliff last year get over him no longer being coach, then MAYBE I'll move on.
volhallathunder writes:
One word for ya: Clemson.
"Lame duck Tennessee head coach Phil Fulmer, speaking Saturday night after the Vols-Kentucky game.
On Clemson...
“This is a very special place and it would take a special place for me to go to ... Being unemployed right now, I’m interested in those kind of jobs, because that’s a special place. Also have been told by a lot of people that I really respect to take some time and think through and not really jump at the first thing and reflect and enjoy the time. My family’s paid a dear price for me to do this job. It’s not without stress of its own. I need to kind of get through all this. It’s kind of been one thing at a time. I needed to get through tonight and take tomorrow and then you try to figure it out from there. But certainly if it’s the right place and it has the same kind of passion that the Tennessee people have and I felt like I could have the same kind of passion there that I’ve had here. Certainly that’s something that I would look at.”
volhallathunder writes:
I suspect he knows as much as some delusional MF who makes false claims to greatness on here.
volhallathunder writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
jasvol writes:
Well stated, Big Orange Vol!
Voluvr writes:
It's great these guys get in the NFL. I think the argument is that in all these years we put so many in the NFL, but it's the NFL that is using this talent to its potential. Back when Spurrier was reaming us, he commenting that Tennessee has 9 that will go pro and we maybe have one.
Great that the NFL benefits, but the old regime for whatever reason hit a wall for a lot of years with the best on the field and maybe through scheme or other rarely seemed to take advantage of it. Fulmer did a great job. I just think his assistants were routinely under par.
FWBVol writes:
It's true that Phillip Fulmer doesn't need coaching to live comfortably for the rest of his life. The six million UT is paying him, plus what he has made, and will get from personal appearances will take care of that. I don't begrudge him one bit for it either because he did things the right way at UT.
People at Penn State were ready to throw Joe Paterno under the bus a few years ago, but he bounced back and has done fairly well. Of course the Big 10 isn't the SEC. I still think Fulmer could have turned things around, but I know he's not the coach and I will support Lane Kiffin unless he has a major violation or until he shows he can't win at UT.
If I'm a Fulmerite because I supported, and still support, Phillip Fulmer so be it. I appreciate the history of UT and SEC football and whether some of you like it or not, most of the coaches that have coached at UT and in the SEC haven't done nearly as well as Phillip Fulmer.
Go4Two writes:
Today's fans love to bash coaches. If Kiffin fails they will turn on him faster than Babe Ruth turned on inside fastball.
stroker writes:
Well said!
TommyJack writes:
Could there possibly be a bigger azz-wipe than Butch on this board?
VolVolFan writes:
This is an awesome cmmentary. These anti Fulmer Haters simply need to let it go!!!! What you really need to do is put all your energy into his Kiffen upcoming fall season. We all know how you guys hate losing, so this should be an interesting upcoming season. I just hope we have enough players left to play. I'm coming from a family that is and has been involved in sports for the last 40 years so give it a rest and put your money where your mouth is (in the stadium this fall)
Voluvr writes:
Yee ole' bloviating braggart, your ostentation and pomp smother your intention of meaningful expression. Put away your thesaurus and consider your audience.
Voluvr writes:
Coach Fulmer, a great man. Also, a good coach in his time. Would Gen. Neyland's game plan work today? No. He's in his 50's, wealthy, accomplished and well beyond the hungry stage at the beginning of his career. For the last decade, what he was deemed "great at" declined. Recruiting. He was never proclaimed a good on field coach. ala the lack of teams that have tried to hire him away including the assistants he hired. Two seasons ago it was common knowledge that he coached from Jackson Hole in the off season. He just wasn't all in toward the end.
You can't argue his body of work. Thank you Coach Fulmer for the great memories. I don't think everyone is criticizing any more than people are saying he should be coach today. Everyone is closer to the middle in agreement than we realize. He's gone as coach, he did good, and his time was up as the game had left him as it does most older coaches.
I personally know people whose interest in the program had waned since the departure of Majors. I don't agree with that either. Although Majors did get more of a raw deal than Fulmer did.
Can't we all just get along?
Voluvr writes:
Shakespeare was a reporter, Mark Twain was a genius! Jerry Clower is not far behind!
volhallathunder writes:
Latest addition to the Gator lineup:
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/col...
the10sevol writes:
Nice post. Who are you and what have you done with the Butch I'm used to seeing? LOL
the10sevol writes:
Well said.
Go Big Orange
the10sevol writes:
Lucky Strike means good taste? Yeah, I'm that old...
the10sevol writes:
Sorry, typo, the motto was Lucky Strike means fine taste, my bad...
the10sevol writes:
I'm (was) a Lewis Grizzard type, myself
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Rolling thru the doldrums.
tnbigg writes:
No
WytheVol writes:
Great post BigOrangeVol! All of these people express all of this hate for a man who TRULY bleeds ORANGE, it kills me. Such a lack of class from our so-called fans... He is gone folks. Lets look forward remembering what he brought our program and stop looking back proclaiming he tore our program down. Good luck to you Coach Fulmer. Go Vols!
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
It is embarrassing all the CPF bashers. I'll take his overall record any day. Complete with zero NCAA sanctions and the respect of his peers. He may have been guilty of reading his press clippings and the program obviously did go downhill. I'm not saying he didn't deserve to lose his job, he did. But respect someone who accomplished what he did. He was raised in Tennessee, a player at Tennessee and won a NC as head coach. That's something to be proud of. Perhaps if he had chosen another OC things would of been different who knows? 2006 and 2007 the VOLS were respectable with Cutcliffe as OC.
Colliervol writes:
I don't really care if Phil coaches again or not. That's up to him and the guy that hires him. If he decides to coach again, good luck to him. It doesn't impact me or UT one way or the other.
I do know one simple fact that is not debatable. Certainly, UT has put a ton of players in the pros. In Phil's heyday, we had one year where something like NINE Vols were taken in the first three rounds of the draft. Now we are down to TWO in the entire draft (if Foster happens to get drafted). And recent years haven't been much better. What does that tell you about the state of the talent in this program? It tells me plenty. That is the key issue that Kiffin and company have to overcome and change.
Voluvr writes:
Fulmer has connections to NFL because of former players in NFL? lol. This would be incorrect. He knows some players that are in the NFL that played for him. He doesn't really have connections to the League or any one team. Just knows some employees.
This is when you write just to write.
Colliervol writes:
Some folks sure spent a lot of time typing and arguing about whether or not Phil has had job offers. How does that relate to the direction of the program now?
I realize there is always going to be the argument of Phil's legacy with some people. I feel his legacy is secure. One of the two greatest coaches we've had, if not the greatest. But I'll leave that to you guys that seem to want to argue about it all the time. I'm more interested in what the future holds than looking backward.
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