The Optimist Club of Knoxville will honor Phillip Fulmer with an Appreciation Day on Friday.
Fulmer, the University of Tennessee’s second-winningest football coach, will be feted at noon at the Foundry on the World’s Fair site.
Among several scheduled speakers is Knox County Juvenile Judge Tim Irwin, a former UT player.
The program will recognize the impact Fulmer had on the community.
Fulmer was head coach of the Vols from 1993 through 2008, when he agreed to a negotiated resignation.
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Comments » 53
TSNSD4UT writes:
Congrats.
Volunatic writes:
Congratulations, Coach Fulmer!
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
How about the Optimist Clubs of Gainesville, Tuscaloosa, Athens, and Columbia?
ctownvol writes:
Is this different from mule day?
PumpVOL writes:
Can this city not let go of the person who DRUG the program down? Fulmer is gone and some people want to keep him around. Absolutely pathetic Judge.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Ignoring the sarcastic juvenile/adolescent "adults" whose puerile existence and self-worth seems to be tied to their inane hatred for Phillip...
Anyone having a genuine interest in the welfare and positive development of Knoxville youth should be encouraged to visit the website at http://www.knoxvilleoptimist.org/inde... and learn more about what the O Club offers (and what you could offer) to the community.
Phillip is honored at numerous functions by a host of different organizations because he has done so much in the Knoxville community, in the State of Tennessee and nationally to raise awareness and help our young people. He is "honored" because he is a sincere and honorable man with impeccable character who has devoted the majority of his life to mentor and help young people.
Conversely, it explains why a lot of you haven't been nor will ever be honored for anything. Thankfully our society doesn't give awards to lazy, infantile cowards... yet.
GREATVOLSAFIRE writes:
yawn zzzzzz's
TideGolf348yds writes:
Has Fulmer's phone rang yet?
That has to be the most quiet office on campus.
Did they rename that street after they canned Fulmer?
hero worship is a signed of an undeveloped society...that is why knoxville is known as hillbilly heaven.
tnvoice#278189 writes:
"Bravo"
golfballs03 writes:
Boo
golfballs03 writes:
He's washed up and a has-been. He needs to know when to call it quits. He would look like a fool to go anywhere else
eefor10c writes:
Thank you Big Orange Vol!!! You said it perfectly. Real Vol fans who have been with the program for years recognize the tremendous job Coach Fulmer has done. In the last 20 plus years he has never paid out $400,000 to a coach who never made it out of the off season.
ctownvol writes:
Be careful not to fall off of your high horse.
Colliervol writes:
He's working under cover full time now to put the death penalty on the Tide. You should be worried now that he has all of his time to devote to it.
Colliervol writes:
"hero worship is a signed of an undeveloped society"
Disregarding the laughable English skills (which, as we know, they don't teach in Alabubba), you really set yourself up on this one. Assuming your statement is true, exactly what does that say about your worship of a dead bear for almost 30 years? It brings to mind those caveman Geico commercials (if they only had mullets).
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Excuse me but in which years did you get your % ????
According to my calculations you may be a little off on more than just your figures.
Hall of Fame coach?
Phil is that you???
Don't you have something else to do today.
Give some of that moeny back you stole from UT!
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
In other news...
Krispy Kreme wants to honor Fulmer as well!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Now that's funny, I don't care who you are! 53 million SEC fans just had a simultaneous stroke at the thought of somebody from the Crapstone accusing ANYONE else of "hero worship" in "hillbilly heaven"!!!
movol53 writes:
I agree!!!
SOME of the poster after you are apparently very young and or just don't get it. Fulmer did turn boys into men during his coaching years. That's way many of his former players signed the ad in the KNS a couple of years ago in his support. So maybe he has lost a step and maybe it is time for him to just ride into the sunset; but that is HIS choice!!! To you negative posters: can't wait until your turn comes to be replaced. It will happen unless you have a "do nothing" job, which I suppect based on the intelligence of your responses, when you get older some young buck will come along to replace you. And you too, will be wondering why? Because you too, will think that you are doing a good job. To use a phrase from previous posts "maybe the game as just past you by". Several of you negative posters could learn alot from Fulmer but I know: you already KNOW IT ALL!!
And that's the point you don't know squat. Phil was loyal to a fault; he was never negative towards anyone (something many of you need to work on) and he never made a personal attack. You negative guys that's all you know how to do!! Some of you state that Fulmer was only a winner because of his record against the "bottom teams in the SEC"; I know you don't want to believe it but he won against everyone at one time or another. Look at any other top coach who was in a conference for very long and you could say the same thing about them. The Ohio State coach does beat Mich. or Mich State every year and neither did Bo defeat everyone when he was at Mich. But you are probably too young or stupid to know the facts. Winning 75% of the time against anyone is a great accomplishment!!!
volfaninutah writes:
I just don't understand the logic of keeping him around after firing him. They have honored him several times. They should have cut the ties with him at that point. With him still around and on the payroll, I don't know if Lane will be looking over his shoulder. Because we all know the history of backstabbing that has gone on in K town! He should get off campus and wait on his check every month.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
WHY IS THIS ON THIS WEBSITE ? SOMEBOBY GIVE FULMER A JOB , OUTA STATE .
BasketVols writes:
I went to the Knox Optimist site and it sounds like a worthwhile group, and their honoree, Phillip Fulmer, does seem to espouse the principles this group sets forward.
Why anyone would have a problem with them honoring Fulmer is beyond me.
VolVolFan writes:
Congrats Coach Fulmer. There could not be a more deserving coach. Most of the posts here probably come from "turncoat" fans who do not have a clue concerning coaching, much less winning. Their concept of winning is watching the game on TV with probably many beverages, and showhow they think if Tenn. is victorious than they claim that victory as though they coached or played the game. If you want to be a "Real" Tennessee fan, support your coaching staff (win or lose) and especially the players on the field or courts. And if by chance some of you, maybe fork out money for a ticket --- sit in the stands and keep your critical mouths shut when a player or coach does not meet with your 3rd grade level of expertise.
mercuryvol writes:
Phillip Fulmer was and is all Volunteer.He brought UT to the pinnacle of college football in as classy and straightforward manner as is possible in todays tainted sports environment.He continues to represent the University in a favorable style that brings credit to my alma mater and for that I will always be grateful.All of us should hope to do as much with our talents as he has done with his.Therefore,he should be receiving honors and we should be continuing to respect him.To do less simply places UT in the same light as those who exhibit their lack of character daily by continually blasting any thing good about those around them."All glory is fleeting."
rocky_topper writes:
maybe they'll present him a mule of his very own so that he can ride off somewhere on it.
TommyJack writes:
You, sir, are an unctuous effer.
rocky_topper writes:
Why would anyone consider paying a $2 million annual salary for a $20K job performance?
He will NEVER be AD at UT!
FWBVol writes:
The only thing most of us on this site, myself included, know about coaching college football is we've never done it.
I would dare say that Phillip Fulmer has bled Tennessee Orange longer than more than half the posters on this site have been alive.
Out of all the head football, baseball and men's basketball coaches in the history of the Tennessee Volunteers only two have won national championships, The General and Phillip Fulmer. But more than the national championship on the football field, Phillip Fulmer has championed causes such as the prevention of teen suicide, the Boys and Girls Club of Knoxville and countless other worthy groups.
I can't think of anyone that deserves to receive an award from the Optimist Club more than Phillip Fulmer.
kiffownsfla writes:
Ive been saying all along he will be the next ad and i believe he will.
ethanfrome writes:
Tide fans hate Phil. That says it all!!!
ethanfrome writes:
Pardon me. They more than hate him. It is an irrational, unexplainable hatred that only a decade of azz kickin' can produce.
mercuryvol writes:
Dead on W-D.Fulmer should never leave the fold.All of us have our time but it also passes us all.FWIW I think CPF's time had passed and we needed someone like CLK but the honor that PF brought to the University should not be diminished now or ever(read:NC98).
ONUV writes:
go away phil
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
I am not trying to pick at you or anything bro cause you are right about most points but...
On the suicide note,
After a few of his games a real UT fan prob thought about commiting suicide if he remained coach much longer.
Some will never forget how terrible a coach he was and how stubborn he was.
Who cares if his blood runs orange and him being all UT that don't have nothing to do with wins and loses!
If he becomes AD some fans may commit suicide!!!!!!!!!!!
spencer1989#206886 writes:
I wonder if the prize mule will be there for Phil to hop on and ride again.....Ride em cowboy!!!!!
Rockytop38 writes:
Congratulations to a man who bled Orange and was a true Tennessee Volunteer who loved the University of Tennessee.
Fulmer's record in 17 years stands for itself. Lets see how long it takes someone else to reach what he did in 17 years.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
LOL!
Philip should give in to his desires and pose buck naked on a white polar bear rug with his prize jewel...a krispy kreme donut!
dvols writes:
well deserved coach!
im just sayin
Need_2_Know writes:
Nice post, I share your sentiments regarding CPF.
He has character.
He brought us a national championship.
He is as genuine as the day is long.
Well deserved, and I hope he and his entire family realize that there are many who respect Phil and his body of work.
blitzshoot writes:
Fulmer and Optimist in the same sentence. What a difference a year makes.
Couchdummy writes:
TJ, I especially like your posts most of the time because of their Will Rogers-like simplicity. Just doesnt sound like you! Are you OK man?
DuckRiverVol writes:
Congratulations to Coach Fulmer... He bacame HC my freshman year at UT. He built the football program up as high as it had ever been... unfortunately he allowed it to drop down to its lowest point ever as well. I wish him the best but Im glad that we have a new regime running the show. Go Vols!!
TommyJack writes:
No offense intended.
nbt44 writes:
Fulmer will be receiving honors from Arbys, KFC, Dunkin Donuts, and Wendys too.
TSNSD4UT writes:
Some alot of folks on here need to grow up thank the man for all he's done respect the man for it and move on,he is an alum and former coach he paid his dues and deserves to be treated with respect,was it time for a change IMHO yes but grow up already people.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Even rocket surgeons have bumps in the road.
Never been known to fall off a Clydesdale after 14 Killian Red's however.
movol53 writes:
I completely agree.
However, I have one thing to add he is and always will be loyal to UT (to a fault).
eefor10c writes:
DrJ, that is for juvenile I assume. You win the prize as the most classless poster. To denigrate Coach Fulmer, a National Championship winning coach who has done more on and off the field than Kiffen ever will, (except run his mouth and commit violations). You should apologize with your equation of the fair weather Volunteer fans with teen suicide. That is possibly the most classless post on this site. I used to enjoy this site when there were posters who would offer insights and thoughts instead of the drivel that shows their lack of class and maturity.
marinevol writes:
"Several of you negative posters could learn alot from Fulmer ..." Do you really think so? Have you actually read their posts? Learning requires some degree of intellect, don't you think? I firmly believe that all these people that are so obsessed with hatred for Coach Fulmer will be the same ones calling for Coach Kiffin's head in a few months, and the Fulmer supporters will be the ones loyal to Kiffin and UT. Just wait and see.
oldvolsfan writes:
it is time to let fulmer ride off in the sunset and hang his donuts or guns up he is history and we need to move on
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