LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Phillip Fulmer is impressed with Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett.
In fact, the former Tennessee coach quipped Monday that maybe he should have done more to entice Mallett to transfer from Michigan to the Volunteers.
“We had a chance I think if I’d hired the staff from Michigan,” Fulmer said at a Little Rock Touchdown Club luncheon. “Which looking back, that might have been a hell of a lot better idea than what I did.”
Mallett, who transferred to the Razorbacks when Michigan coach Lloyd Carr retired, threw for 408 yards in a loss to Georgia last weekend. Fulmer was forced out at Tennessee last year.
Fulmer drew laughs when talking about Mallett, and a few more when he casually mentioned a couple promising Southeastern Conference players he said were headed to Tennessee before changing plans after the coaching change. Mississippi linebacker D.T. Shackelford scored on an interception return last weekend, and South Carolina’s Jarvis Giles rushed for 113 yards Saturday night.
“That Shackelford kid ... he was one of our commitments before the change and everything, and I’ll go on the record saying that,” Fulmer said. “Jarvis Giles ... he was another one that we had committed before they let us go.”
Fulmer later talked about a couple of famous Arkansas-Tennessee games from the late 1990s. The first took place in 1998, when quarterback Clint Stoerner’s late fumble allowed the Volunteers to rally for a 28-24 victory en route to the national title.
The following year, Arkansas beat Tennessee by the same 28-24 score on Stoerner’s touchdown pass to Anthony Lucas, who was in the audience Monday. Fulmer said that loss probably cost the Volunteers a chance to play for a second straight national championship.
“That one obviously sticks in my mind,” Fulmer said.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 190
jasonsvols writes:
We got better players after he left, there is no way he would have got a top ten recruiting class, our staff did it in 90 days.
DownTheField writes:
Please edit this headline- my goodness.
baldfan writes:
sour grapes from scorned coach!
jimmy71#237592 writes:
...just can't stop them jowls from flappin
armyvol22 writes:
Hate to see this stuff in the papers. I know it is tough on coach Fulmer, but I hope he doesn't start acting like coach Majors did.
Waldorf writes:
I don't particularly find it funny after watching Mallett Saturday night and watching the idiot Foolmore viewed as a prize recruit in action again for the Vols. I'm so thankful he can laugh about it. I wonder if it brought as big of a laugh as came from me when Foolmore was crying when he got fired.
I really wish UT would revisit changing the name of the street next to Neyland back to Stadium Drive.
Good riddance Foolmore.
Side note for the Foolmorons out there - I hope it is all right to bash Foolmore in an article about him.
utclassof1992 writes:
I would like to think that CPF is trying to have a sense of humor about the dismissal, and that is a good thing for him. However, it would be nice if he would leave these kinds of comments alone right now. It smells of sour grapes, and that is the last thing he needs to worry about. He had a good run, and needs to worry about the future, not the past.
volfan54 writes:
as i see it now, no objective, logical thinking person would ever long for Fulmer again, especially after this weekend. A Fulmer team would have gotten beaten by 40. No regrets! Move on Phil and his illogical followers!
bhjohnso#207063 writes:
Are you serious? If Fulmer stays, we don't get Bryce Brown, Nu'keese Richardson, and Marsalis Teague for sure. And we're not even getting in the hunt for some of the players Kiffin is after with FUlmer as coach. What is Marlon Brown doing at Georgia? Nothing. Tahj Boyd wouldn't play this year anyway either, he's injured. For crying out loud.
Hudro writes:
Who were these talented players that were run off? How many started last year? Morley was the only projected starter as I recall and his issue was more one of his lack of self discipline. The others were role players at best.
CrankE writes:
I'm sure Florida would have only beaten us 3 points with you as the Heck Coach too, Philip. Don't stop believing!
bhjohnso#207063 writes:
no kidding, seriously awkward headline.
Txvol57 writes:
WOW!!! he just cant let it go....What exactly are Shackelford and Giles doing this year?....nothing!....and even if they did come here you could bet that Fulmer was never going to develop them! He is a joke of a coach and the only reason he was successful (in the 90's) was because he benefited from great facilities and what was a pretty weak conference (other that Florida and Alabama)...LSU wasnt much in the 90's, neither was Auburn, Ole Miss, hell...Georgia was terrible until Rodney Garner left UT to go there and recruit. Then Saben went to LSU..then Alabama, Tuberville went to Auburn, Richt at Georgia, Miles to LSU and Spurrier to South Carolina and what happen?.....Fulmer lost lost lost!! Fulmer can be mad all he wants...truth is is that he never would have gotten Brown, Oku, Teague, Richardson, Janzen and so on. Fulmer never would have held the number 1 team in the country to 300 yards and 23 points on their home field. He makes me sick and needs to stop being a little bitc*!!
volfreak#210492 writes:
OMG! Let... it... go...
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
And someone cares?
jimr07 writes:
moron, if they were silent how do you know?
BrassMonkey writes:
Fulmer had kids with the players? LOL
chargervol writes:
Morgan Moses did not qualify. If this new staff wants him, he will be here. Marlon Brown undoubtedly made a mistake, and, I would say he is still kicking himself for that. The Vols have several wr's looking seriously at the program now. I don't think Marlon would have been an upgrade over Teague. Tajh Boyd has already been shown to be injury proned. Boyd is not a pro-style QB. He would not have fit in, unless he was willing to play WR. The ton of talent that left because they didn't want to put in the work to make themselves or the team any better, good riddance. This year the Vols will be at least 7-5. If Kiffin hadn't put together a better recruiting class than was in place before he got here, I could see 5-7 again. This year's class got upgraded, and, it is going to get better. Apparently, you haven't been watching the Vols play this year. The Vols have played at least 12 freshmen that I can think of. You did nothing but babble, DumbMan. If you are a gator fan just say so, don't be skeered. GO VOLS!!!
RealisticVol writes:
Even IF Fulmer had gotten more talented players, he could not seem to develop them. I feel like the Kiffin coaches squeezed out about all the performance that was in the players against Florida. Not bad for only the third game his staff and players have been in together. Oh yeah, and when would they be allowed to play. Fulmer's seniority system was counterproductive joke.
jimr07 writes:
fulmer is just making a spectacle of himself now. i respected him until his recent sour grapes. Phil, how did you do the last ten years? did you feel that you were tenured?
jimmy71#237592 writes:
...it is absolutely beyond ironic that there happens to be a Rivals.com article today stating that we are now in the lead for Morgan Moses - he is at Fork Union Military Academy...
HollisPalmer61 writes:
what exactly do "silent committs" do after a 5-6 season that includes a loss to Wyoming.
silently walk out the door and on to another school?
You are the coach of my adult life and I could not be happier with the majority of your work, but its over now...if thou art nameth the coach in a controversial firing, thou should not be surprised to be fired in a controversial way.
Go Vols...Go CPF...Go CLK
volinlouisiana writes:
Yeah, I still don't know what it means. "Fulmer's kids", is that something like "Jerry's kids?"
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
LMAO @ little jimr who has finally come around to realizing that Foolmore was past his time.
HollisPalmer61 writes:
Everyone sounds like the Gators berating Steve Spurrier for not voting for Tebow...respect the body of work...its over...both sides let it go
why would you call our former coach Fat Phil...that's disgusting to go after a man that gave his life to UT football
It was time for him to go, but the venom should stop at his last press conference.
MANVOL writes:
Ya the Giles kid at SC has already been in trouble. he would have fit in well with Fulmer's kids..Fulmer you get 125K a month from UT why are you doing the QB club tour? Please go fishing or hunting in Jackson Hole, Thanks..
Irwin_Linker writes:
Marlon Brown was not even considering UT while Fulmer was the coach. You have no idea what you are talking about.
99PairsOfJortsOnTheWall writes:
Tebow hit Brandon James for the score to keep his passing touchdown streak alive.... Oh no he didn't! Jackson (Freshman) blew James up! Heck, James may be too scared to try to catch another pass.
VolinBama writes:
Too bad a coach who I admire, and will always thank for the 98'NC, cannot start looking forward to his future with optimism, insteady of continually looking back with negativity and self promotion at the expense of his alma mater. He is now making the QB club circut and feels he needs to take a shot at the program each time. Please, Phil, its over, move on! No matter what you do, You will always be a Vol, so please,act like it.
GotPearl writes:
Phil should have shut up at the last press conference and headed for his ranch in Montana like he did the last eight recruiting seasons! And give the money back!!
mdvol writes:
Glad you said that, DTF. I was confused too.
Must say I am a Fulmer fan but his comments are getting harder to defend. He is acting like he's irreplacable and we all know....everyone's replacable. He's also acting like things can't go on without him. And, that things certainly won't be better without him. Phil is 57 years old I believe. You would think he has already learned these life lessons.
On a different note, I would say Fulmer is one step closer to Louisville after the KY loss.
MANVOL writes:
That's right and jackson wasn't even considering coming here until the new staff was hired...Good grief Fulmerites let it go..
VolAlum2003 (Inactive) writes:
Maybe if Fulmer had hired the staff from USC, then Jake Locker would be our QB, or maybe if Fulmer had hired the staff from Ohio State then Terrel Pryor would have transferred to UT...C'MON Phil! Are you really trying to soothe your ego by imagining the glory that you didn't bring to UT? Maybe if I had studied harder in college, I could have gone to Harvard Law. Please.
VOL03_NC writes:
If a frog had wings he wouldnt bump is ars when he jumps...
Just becasue he may have had doesnt mean the coaching would have been any better. Data over the last 10 years...prove UT football went...down...down...down...
That was then, this is now. Now we are on the Lane Trane, get on or stay in the past.
GO VOLS!!
RunningWithTheVols writes:
Coach Fulmer take the high road, please! UT paid you a tremendous salary and a great severence. Now, be a man about it.
Don't take 20 years like Johnny did to let bygones be bygones.
cmoore7 writes:
So, Fulmer is taking this piss and moan fest on tour? Sad
HollisPalmer61 writes:
Thankfully did not know what jorts were until i googled it. Yours is the best name since "Shake and Bake"
Madkels writes:
We still would be owned by UF, Bama, LSU, UGA. Not to mention, we would lose to nobody ACC teams in the Peach bowl. Saturdays loss would have been by 30 even with equal or better talent.
panties4tebow writes:
Fulmer get over it!!!!!!!!!!
Rockygrass writes:
Several with Travis Henry.
jabark1982 writes:
Shouldn't Fulmer be fishing or something?
ncvol17 writes:
Deja Vieu...CPF sounds just like Majors did after he was fired..What next, halftime rants on TV games.. CPF go to your Montana retreat and wait till season's end. Then send out applications for jobs and leave K town for better opportuniities. Geez, your not the only HC to be fired from their alma mater...Again see Majors...
lmvolfan writes:
FULMER,FULMER,FULMER, DIDN'T YOU SAY FOR EVERY FRESHMAN THAT PLAYS IS A GAME LOST! HALF OF THOSE WOULD HAVE REDSHIRTED THE OTHER WOULDN'T HAVE PANNED OUT UNDER YOU! OH, WAIT I ALSO FORGOT TO INCLUDE WR'S HAVE TO KNOW EVERY POSITION BEFORE SEEING THE FIELD! AND AS MENTIONED BY A PREVIOUS POST, ONE DIDN'T QUALIFY! FULMER, DID YOU GIVE ANY ADVICE TO MAJORS WHEN HE WAS LET GO, IF SO TAKE SOME OF YOUR OWN ADVICE AND MOVE ON! GO VOLS
higgman55 writes:
Hey Player, I totally agree with you! I would like to know, if you know of any good Vols websites, where you can get fan comments, and stories, without paying over a $100 to read?
MANVOL writes:
LOL, LOL - Nice1
jzt writes:
Bryce Brown, Marsalous Teague, NuKeese Richardson, Janzen Jackson, Eric Gordon, Darren Myles sure as hell werent coming here, shut up Fulmer go cash your buyout checks and enjoy your retirement cause no one is going to knock on your door wanting your coaching services next year.
gbeejr#1354500 writes:
That is a interesting observation. But is Louisville committed to having facilities superior to other programs in their conference and to neighboring ky as well? Otherwise, Fabulous Fill will not risk tarnishing his legacy. He has got to have the best of all worlds so he can recruit because he can only win with superior talent (90's) but he won't be successful (and he knows it) if he has to "coach 'em up" as Saint Steve use to say. Personally, I don't think he'll ever coach again.
nabdul19#332899 writes:
well thats prob y u r not here
InertGas writes:
Fulmer is beginning to be a bigger whiner than Majors was. Those guys were paid millions to win. If they had kept up their end of the bargain they would still be here. ENOUGH.
AllVols4 writes:
Yeah he is but add Teague, Nuke, Bryce Brown..,Marlon looks real good sitting on UGA's sideline dont he?? Jarvis Giles at SC cant carry Browns jock strap!!! Phat Phil wouldnt win 10 games combined in the next two years and we will be 7-5 at worst. I guess in your eyes Crompton should win heisman if this is your view of our team and staff...
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