Tommy West, whose nine seasons as University of Memphis football coach rank as the fourth-longest run in school history, was fired today during a morning meeting with athletic director R.C. Johnson.
Johnson's decision came two days after the Tigers dropped a 56-28 decision to Tennessee in Knoxville to fall to 2-7 and assure the U of M of its third losing season in four years. In his nine seasons, West is 49-58.
Johnson said West will coach the final three games of the season beginning with Saturday's Conference USA contest against UAB at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Johnson said in his meeting with West he said he wanted the program ``to go in a different direction.''
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Comments » 108
UMREB1992 writes:
I'm not a huge fan of Tiger High, but I have always been a fan of Tommy West. He was a good player here in the mid 70s, and I hope he winds up coaching again some time soon.
nwcs writes:
How's that for a punch line?
All_Vol_in_GA writes:
Too bad. Memphis is a tough football market, recruiting against Arkansas, Bama, Ole Miss, and of course, Tennessee. Good luck to TW.
WaltGoVols writes:
This is the football equivalent of what Ghenghis Khan said:
"True happiness lies in driving your enemies before you and hearing the lamentations of his women."
Walt
UT '81
atlvolsfan writes:
Now that's funny! I don't care who you are.
cc623 writes:
come on hire Fulmer so when he gets blown out like that he would feel right at home...
ETNTigerFan writes:
Or Conan the barbarian.
Thanks Vol fans, you've done us a favor.
VolunteerLifer writes:
This might be the perfect job for Phil Fulmer - Fertile recruiting grounds and low expectations. I betcha his name gets thrown in the mix.
tennesseebee writes:
They fire him now? They were expecting the Tigers to win or something? Garsh, I hate it because he is a former Vol, but he's done more with the program than most coaches they've had. Good luck, Tommy. GBO!
tennrich1 writes:
Let's be honest here....the Memphis job IS a career killer...it just is!
BhamVol writes:
Lane Kiffin the career killer. One down, many more to go.
PennVol writes:
Tough place to win (for anybody).
PennVol writes:
It would be interesting to see Fulmer's interest if Memphis comes calling, since he's always claimed any future job would be at a school with "strong tradition and a chance to compete at a high level".
ArealVolFan writes:
Its great you guys got rid of a bad coach and all, I mean its what you should do if the job isn't getting done, but honestly who is going to come in and right that ship? I doubt anyone will, Memphis has a terrible stadium, facilities, and athletic dept. No decent coach is going to wind up coaching at a mid level CUSA school.
vol4gzus writes:
Can we grow up and get over "phat" Phil jokes? They are stale and dry now.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Too bad for TW.
On the other hand, I'd like to say that, with all that I am pleased about with our new staff, Phil Fulmer still deserves some respect from TN fans. Very few on here ever give him the respect he deserves.
He's gone. There's no need to kick his name through the mud.
topgun writes:
Please--give it a rest!! Fulmer has done more for UT in a week than you have or will ever do in your entire life--unless you are Pat Summitt, of course.
Why does it give you, and the other supposedly VOL Fans??, such a cheap thrill to blast a loyal UT alum, player, and coach of our VOLS??. GET REAL!! Move on!!
And while all of you are at it, remember that West was a UT football player and is an alum. I wish this VOL and his family, the best of luck in his future career.
GOVOLS!! VOLS win out!!
CoverOrange writes:
Too funny. Tiger fans are suggesting Trooper Taylor and Randy Garner as possible HCs. They should go after Charlie Strong or Turner Gill.
thaclaw writes:
i would love to see fulmer take that job.... memphis is a program where he can succeed
BhamVol writes:
Watch for Larry Porter at LSU. '96 UM grad. Former running back for the UM Tigers. He is the Asst. Head Coach at LSU. Good up and coming coach.
No matter who it is, he'll get his butt kicked 363 days from now when Kiffin and the Vols debut in Memphis.
Go VOLS!!!
woody45#537767 writes:
Tommy West was a former team captain at Tennessee and it must be really hurtful to lose your job after getting beat by your former college team. Tommy is a good guy and he'll recover and still be successful. God bless Tommy and his family during these trying times.
Volunatic writes:
Tommy West doesn't think it's funny.
TommyJack writes:
Don't see any glee in the West firing. Memphis State is a place coaches go to die.
Volunatic writes:
Well, that's a shame. Best of luck to you, Mr. West.
rusty_shackleford writes:
West was the 3rd winning coach and still had a losing record. Not much of a program!
Crime-ridden city; campus in the middle of said crime-ridden city; average academics; lousy stadium; lousy facilities; Ark, Ole Miss, MS ST, LSU, Alabubba and TN all wanting your best talent; ZERO tradition (unless you count cheating at basketball). This is a HC graveyard. No "up-and-coming" coach would want it, IMO.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Who is Randy Garner ?
ETNTigerFan writes:
Tommy West was getting nearly $1million a year. There are plenty of up and comers who would take the job and succeed. Memphis doesn't have near the budget of a UT but still has the 2nd largest budget (behind Utah) of all non-BCS teams. RC Johnson ignored football for years but there is a strong campaign for a new 100yrd indoor practice facility, 12000 sq ft weight room, Big East inclusion, and still rumors of funding for an on campus stadium. BTW,I went to the game on Saturday and was treated with class, as usual, from UT fans in my section.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Campus is actually in a pretty nice area of town. Lowest campus crime rate of any state school in Tennessee.
TommyJack writes:
Sure someone will take the job. Just saying that it's a tuff place to earn your bones.
OrangePride writes:
You are right about the program, facilities, and apparent lack of support at Memphis, AreaFan. But at 1 mil, you might find more coaches than you imagine interested. IF, the administration can convince someone of a renewed interest and support, there are some decent unemployed folks who might take a shot at turning that situation around. The difficulty is going to be recruiting top players to a dump. That really needs to be addressed because that is a tough sell to anyone!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
The "Conan" writers stole from some of the best! There were actually several more quotes in that movie from various historical figures. Can't tell you any more right now since it has been 20 or 30 years, but several of them caught my ear at the time.
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
Make that two. Western KY coach fired today also.
mp28002 writes:
Tommy West is a former Vol and I love to support former Vols. But if you knew him he was not someone that you want to support - former Vol or not. He was low class and I am quite surprised he has lasted this long as a head coach anywhere.
TommyJack writes:
Says who? Evidence?
Voluvr writes:
Western Ky's entire staff was fired this morning too.
DCFloridaGatorz69 writes:
I don't see why any UT fan would want Fulmer to take that job. Fulmer was a good recruiter in his heyday and would make recruiting west Tennessee that much harder than it already is. I'm not sure why Fulmer would want to take that job either. Memphis is not a "championship" caliber team, at least not in football.
WLafIndianavol writes:
Best of luck to former Vol Tommy West.
Mempuss would be stupid not to offer Charlie Strong @ Florida.
GreerVol22 writes:
Don't look now but Kiffin helped out on this one too...
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...
MidTennVol writes:
I hate to see this. Tommy West is a Volunteer, played with Condredge Holloway. Any football coach at Memphis is in a no-win (or very few wins) situation. I graduated from MSU in 1981 and we were arguing then that the football team should be completely dropped and all resources devoted to hoops.
In my opinion, Memphis is NOT a football town. It never has been and never will be (ask the WFL or USFL). Memphis is and always will be a basketball town (from even before the Memphis Tams and ABA days).
Good luck, Tommy West. Always a Vol.
BhamVol writes:
And Charlie Strong would be stupid to take it.
jumby92 writes:
I guess the joke was on him! Good place to send Fulmer; even he can manage to maintain a level of mediocrity in Conference-USA. Saw Fulmer's acting debut on a preview for a new Sandra Bullock film...don't give up your day job Phil...oh yeah, never mind.
arkyvol writes:
the only ball that is important to memphis is round, just as it is at kentucky, duke, kansas, and north carolina, to name a few. oh, every once in a while some whiz is going to show up at one of those places and pull a momentary miracle, but if he's got any savvy, his resume is on the desk of any a.d. where there is an opening and football is a serious business. memphis football is a stopover, not a destination.
tobydude writes:
MP280002....I do not know you therefore I won't resort to name calling or judging as you have done as it relates to Tommy West. I have known Tommy personally for more than 35 years and have always known him to be professional, respectful and a tireless worker. I am honored to call him my friend and former team mate. I wish him and his family the best and I know that he will persevere. You on the other hand.....with your attitude and short sightedness Tommy won't miss you at all. Have yourself a great day!!
bill#1374014 writes:
Hate to see this happen to a former Vol. It didn't help him that Kiffin ran up the score when Memphis had so many defensive starters injured. Crompton has 10 of his TD passes against WKU and Memphis, possibly the 2 worst teams in Div. 1A football.
Colliervol writes:
I'm sure Tommy is quite relieved this morning and probably dancing a little jig. Probably going to get at least a couple of million to exit this disaster of a program.
Now they are talking Gus Malzahn or Trooper Taylor. My vote is Troop. At least they could execute the chest bump properly if they hire him.
MidTennVol writes:
On a completely different note, how about that fantastic photo on the game slideshow (this page and others) of the Tennessee Walking Horse prancing? Is that now a tradition at home games? Man, I hope it is and if it isn't it should be.
Can you imagine a beautiful walker like that going round the field once or twice to start games? Maybe even lead the team through the T every now and then? Hmmm...maybe not...he might leave hoof-divots (or worse) behind him...
Still, did anybody who was at the game see this? Was it at halftime? How did it happen? And was it grand?
memphis_vol_fan writes:
They used to bring one out before every home game. But now only for homecoming.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Kiffin called off the dogs in the third quarter. Those were talking dogs, by the way.
Isn't a QB supposed to feast on the teams he's supposed to beat?
Fryinpansvols writes:
Maybe Tommy West shouldn't have made that joke about CLK and the dog to the Memphis Boosters before the season started. And maybe our boys would have taken it easy on Memphis. Or maybe not! GBO!
west_tn_volfan writes:
Memphis will never compete at a high level in football because they are not committed to it. They have about 25,000-30,000 hard core fans, which is enough to support a basketball program but is woefully inadequate to build a football program. I don't see anyone achieving long term football success there.
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