Former University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer said Monday three factors have to be considered when deciding whether players charged in a crime should be allowed to play or not.
"You've got to do the right thing for the kid and his family and your family - your football family," said Fulmer during a press conference held to talk about his cameo role in the movie "The Blind Side," which opened over the weekend.
Fulmer's comments came on the same day that charges of attempted armed robbery against safety Janzen Jackson, 18, in a botched holdup Nov. 12 outside the Pilot convenience store on Cumberland Avenue were dropped. However, charges against two former players, Nu'Keese Richardson, 18, and Mike Edwards, 18, still stand.
UT coach Lane Kiffin dismissed Richardson and Edwards. A decision on Jackson has not been announced yet.
Though Fulmer did not directly talk about what he would do in the situation of those three players, he said he could empathize with the tough decisions Kiffin has had to make.
"You take a full body of things and you look at them. Not everybody would have the same perspective on things as the guy sitting in the chair making the decision does," Fulmer said.
"From my 17 years, there were a lot of young men that I helped through tough situations that did very well. When it called for it, I made for the decisions that eliminated guys from the program, good players or bad players of whatever they were.
"That's what you have to do. You have to take each one of them individually and make a decision and not be influenced on what somebody else might think."
During one period while Fulmer was coach, the Vols had 11 players either arrested or issued citations during a 13 1/2-month period. The string started shortly before the 2004 SEC championship game and went until the 2005 season.
Terry Morrow may be reached at 865-342-6445.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Tennessee Lady Vols 82, Auburn Tigers 64
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 77
govols082859#1369959 writes:
1st!!
smokies_old_soul writes:
very classy of Coach Fulmer to give such an understanding perspective borne of years of experience.
maybe some folks around knoxville can start showing a little class towards the second greatest coach in tennessee football history - second that is, along with Coach Majors.
VOLinCO writes:
Hollywood has changed you, Phil
just kidding
tensie2004 writes:
who cares what phil fulmer thinks now, have a good life.
graphpro#231211 writes:
Good bye and good riddance...
average coach at best... He owes most of his success to Cutcliff, Garner, and many other assistance. While he was taking the glory and cashing a bigger check. I like what CLK is doing with the salaries of his assistants.
movol77 writes:
Then why bother to post on the subject?
movol77 writes:
Now that we have your take on PF and salaries, do you want to comment on the subject of the article?
KSargent writes:
Phil was great for UT and will always remain a Vol
With your logic ..... we should fire Kiffin now ..... cause I think we have done well this season due mostly to Monte and other coaches ......
Be fair .... can not have it both ways .... and if you wish to be so critical .... sign your post
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
He sure does,mostly all over.
dvols writes:
once a Vol always a Vol!
Rick4UT writes:
I agree with you 100% GO VOLS
mlsoft#228820 writes:
While I pretty much agree with the words Fulmer spoke, I do not remember him handling disciplinary situations very well, and that came back to haunt him later. Fulmer is a class act, but frankly I think it would be best if he just declined to comment on such situations under Coach Kiffin.
mlsoft
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
Who is Terry Morrow and why do we care what Fulmer thinks? After his performance last year, including his performance at his firing presser, he should go away and stay away for 5 years. After that maybe we can appreciate what he contributed to UT football and overlook his performance in his final year as HC ... including his performance in his firing presser.
teedub writes:
I second the Doc - well said.
movol77 writes:
Terry Morrow is a reporter that we can ID by name. "NobodyCares" is a mist at best.
CoachFulmer writes:
I love you Coach Phillip Fulmer. God bless you and live a long prosperous life.
GO VOLS!
WereInTrouble writes:
Why did they interview UT's Godfather of Crime - Phil 'The Warden' Fulmer? He knows NOTHING of discipline but is the master for the lack of it. Over 50 arrests in six years under him. Should have been fired years before he was and those that kept his mafia in place should have been terminated as well.
vicki4237 writes:
I would like to bring something to the attention of everyone....How would all of you like it if there were digs made about your weight and your abilities in your occupation. Phil Fulmer gave alot of years to UT football...good and bad and the current coach will too. Give respect and stop all this bashing because no one can predict what someone will do in any given situation. Kiffin has alot to prove and his decisions about the players in trouble with the law are his alone so maybe everyone should wait and see
hgvol writes:
I care what he thinks. He may not be the current head coach, but he will always be a Vol. Go Big Orange
bobbytodd writes:
Nice comment until you threw Majors in there. I have about as much respect for Urban Meyer as I do for him. Always hated the way he coached. Then when Fulmer was let go he just had to drag his worthless butt onto campus in front of the cameras for a week or so to pee on Fulmer's grave.
ncvol17 writes:
bummer, did Jiffy Lube turn down your raise to get up to minimum wage? CPF will be remembered, written about, and praised 50 yrs from now when you are only remembered by a name on a headstone...Neyland, Majors, and Fulmer will be remembered as the coaches of the late 20th century..accept it...
ncvol17 writes:
yeah right. I am sure UT's legal counsel had no input nor did the President of the university or the AD. That chick was out to get rich by working among the men and waiting to be 'harrassed' by seeing a man's bare backside. Would seeing a woman athlete's backside stunt you for life??? Not me by god.....
wheatbarley writes:
Wheatbarley agree with Witch Doctor. Phil much better this time as former coach. No more about career on rubber chicken tour. Family first. Phil should take pins out of Kiffin voodoo doll. Witch Doctor bones never lie.
murrayvol writes:
Don't hold your breath on that one Doc. He'd have to go through Vicki first.
murrayvol writes:
Good grief!
the10sevol writes:
phil was a class act in my mind until he was fired. he has been so bitter since, and comes across as sanctimonious and only tarnishes his own image. shame, really.
GBO
WereInTrouble writes:
How can you call 'The Warden' a class act? My, how soon we forget he was the worst coach to ever walk UT's sidelines.
tennesseebee writes:
Man, you guys are brutal to a man who loves UT more than anyone. The guy could be bitter like Johnny 'Walker' Majors, but he's not. I hope eventually he gets Hammy's office.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Geezsus, can we get on to the subject at hand?
The Kentucky Wildcats.
I haven't seen Lloyd Carr commenting on Michigan lately, I don't think.
ozoney#235138 writes:
maybe fulmer can start showing a little class and gratitude to the program that made him a millionare, and stop taking shots at that program and an offensive coordinator that he hired.
Ayres_Hall writes:
Wasn't it Coach Majors who called the negative fans "The Legion of the Miserable"?
eefor10c writes:
You Fulmer haters should note that there have been no problems out of the athletes Fulmer recruited since he was fired. The only way you can compare him to Kiffin is to look at the record of Kiffin's recruits. There have been four players in trouble within a week. That is 21% of the players he signed. Please, lets have no more comparison stating how bad it was under Fulmer.
movol77 writes:
1. PF didn't take another shot at the program in this article.
2. The program didn't make PF a millionaire. PF made himself a millionaire by winning a nat'l title. He also gave the school a million back.
All objectivity is lost in hate.
rudy123 writes:
I believe that Phil Fulmer gave a million back to the school, in an effort to buy time. He was
coaching terribly and needed to buy time. It didn't work!!!! It was a good gesture but he still was fired!!!
Southland writes:
good grief Fulmer and staff and players gave us a NC He also helped make UT a national powerhouse. He had the highest winnning percentage in the nation for a long stretch. You guys who live by "what has he done for me lately" are very likely to be the biggest whiners and ingrates I have ever read. Support Bama and leave the Vols alone if you cant give Fulmer some respect. Kiffin hasnt done anything for us yet to brag about. When he does and when he grows up enough enough not to run his mouth like a thug and punk then we should show him respect. Fulmer lost his fire on the job. Some of the rest of us have been guilty of that to. If you want instant gratification then you had better follow some sport other than college football. if you want someone that never misses a beat then you had better look for something other than a human being.
gotvols writes:
I am so sick and tired of hearing the whiners about Fulmer being mistreated and show him some respect. This is a business. He got paid very well to win. That was not his downfall though. The downfall came when he couldn't fill the stadium. If the whiners would have gone to the games and filled the stadium Fulmer would still be the coach. If Kiffen gets to the point that he can't make the program money, he will be gone too. It is all about the money. So next time you say you support a coach, show your support by going to ALL the home games before you whine.
utken1942 writes:
coach fulmer gave his time to UT and derserves a hats off from me, good luck coach
RockinTop writes:
Agree 100%....I lost my respect for Phil when he was traveling around the country at the QB clubs making his snide comments. Real shame.
Go Big Orange!....Great Job Coach Kiffin and team!
cloudodust writes:
No, that would be Randy Sanders or Dave Clawson...
coachbenchpressfakebakes writes:
Whats next?
Randy Sanders discusses the development of Jon Crompton or Wavy Chavy discusses defensive strategies for 3rd and longs.
Seriously why not ask Jerry Green about the state of the basketball program.
bobbytodd writes:
Some are talking trash about Fulmer but you are all kidding yourself if you think Kif is going to be here 15 years from now. I would love to think he will be but I will believe it when I see it.
bobbytodd writes:
Now that's funny...he was a step above the clawfence though.
Go4Two writes:
Back away from the X box
Go4Two writes:
Why make such dumb comments. I know you never lose when playing your X box but dang 152-52. The ONLY N.C. since 1951.. COMMME ONNNN.
give_him_6 writes:
Well said! I'm wih the Doc on this one>
Good Luck Coach
Voluvr writes:
Out of the players he signed the team was pretty desemated. In the last 4 or 5 yrs. there were 22 arrests. That's two short of Urban Meyer.
He was a good coach in his time, but he never really handled the Prima Donnas well..ala...Kelly Washington.
volhome#407234 writes:
Hey, BUT Fan, have you considered eating the words that come out of your mouth? Twerp.
NOTE: This comment rewritten to be suitable for a PG board. I perfer the NC17 version, though.
98vols writes:
How many National Championships did Majors win and SEC championships?
MDiv writes:
Some thoughts:
1) Fulmer was interviewed because he has to help promote a movie.
2) He was asked about the thought process in disciplining players.
3) He gave a good answer to the question. Without a doubt, he maded some bad disciplinary decisions while HC at UT.
4) When you meet with the press to promote a movie, you're somewhat oboligated to answer questions, even the hard ones.
5) I graduated from UT. I supported Fulmer, Majors, Battle, and Dickey, and I support Kiffin. Making fun of Fulmer's weight or Majors' problems with alcohol is small-minded. They both were good coaches in their day and time, and do deserve our respect.
6) Someday Kiffin will leave or be invited to leave. I will respect him and what he did for UT.
GBO
Vol_N_Texas writes:
I wonder what CLK would have done if he were HC when Calquit got his Hit & Run DUI or G. Jones turned a recruit on to a joint? Fulmer was an awesome HC in his day, but the game just passed him by. Good luck Phil in whatever you end up doing. GBO! Spank that Mildcat Bootie
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