Fire Fulmer? Not going to happen.

[bamaboy]

All teams go through a 'fire the coach' phase. We sure have.
The Fulmer situation is a little different in that the 'buyout' contract settlement would be a tremendous hit to Tennessee as to money and they may not be able to afford it. I am basing this on something I read on a board ( don't remember which one) concerning the terms of the contract. Not trying to start rumors or act like I know. I don't know, but sure would like to.

[raptorcox]

Not that I even remotely claim to have any inside info or anything, but it seriously wouldn't surprise me if he gets fired after this year...... obviously, dependent upon how the Vols finish.

I can tell you that after being bodyslammed by Saban, that if he is also slammed AGAIN by Spurrier, the heat SHOULD be very hot under his seat.

Personally, for the talent that Tennessee gets, I think they could do better than Fulmer as a head coach.

[Vol4Ever]

If Fulmer really loved the UT program he would step down and not be fired.

[Tennessee Ted]

He might do that after the year is over depending on how the season ends.

[Born-n-RaisedVol]

After having a long talk about this with some friends I honestly believe in order for Fulmer to stay we need to win at least two of the games agains USC, UK, and Vandy...otherwise I get a distinct feeling that he'll be done.

[C_hris]

Plus ya know Tenneessee Girl would go nuts if they didnt fire him.

Jus playin with ya Tenn. Girl

[crimsonnation713]

Plus ya know Tenneessee Girl would go nuts if they didnt fire him.

Jus playin with ya Tenn. Girl

I think she might stroke out if he loses to USC.

[Tennessee Ted]

After having a long talk about this with some friends I honestly believe in order for Fulmer to stay we need to win at least two of the games agains USC, UK, and Vandy...otherwise I get a distinct feeling that he'll be done.


What about Arkansas?

[Born-n-RaisedVol]

Actually I'm glad you mentioned them haha...I knew I was forgetting someone

[Tennessee Ted]

Actually I'm glad you mentioned them haha...I knew I was forgetting someone

It is funny BRV, Fernando and I were having probably the same conversation in a bar in Tuscaloosa as you were having with your friends and that many Volunteer fans were having everywhere. As Fernando says, the grass movement starts now.

[tennesseegirl]

Plus ya know Tenneessee Girl would go nuts if they didnt fire him.

Jus playin with ya Tenn. Girl

You are so right!:laugh:

[Born-n-RaisedVol]

It is funny BRV, Fernando and I were having probably the same conversation in a bar in Tuscaloosa as you were having with your friends and that many Volunteer fans were having everywhere. As Fernando says, the grass movement starts now.

yea, the whispers are being heard more often and the fire under the hot seat has been rekindled

[tennesseegirl]

I think she might stroke out if he loses to USC.

Iam very thankful to him for what he has done in the past and yes I have been very angry with him but it really is time for him to go.

[shk999]

Houston Nutt to Tennessee? :laugh:

[M2J]

Houston Nutt to Tennessee? :laugh:

DO IT VOLS:thumpsup:

Its either Nutt or Terry Bowden...I have my sources:unsure:

[oxfordreb]

If Fulmer really loved the UT program he would step down and not be fired.


I'll trade you one Ole Miss coaching staff for just Phillip Fulmer, and I'll even throw in a nice corner lot in the Grove! How's that sound? :uglyhamme

[reese]

i think fulmer keeps his job and they have a big year next year. they have alot of young talent. also even tho ut should do better with the talent they have, if fulmer wasnt there then they wouldnt have that talent to begin with. fulmer is one of the best recruiters in the country. show me somewhere else that can consistantly bring in the talent that he does but isnt doin it in a big state for high school football. fl, ga, tx, ca, ohio, places like that have boatloads of instate talent. tennessee does not. yet fulmer is able to go out and convince kids all over the country that they should come spend there 4 years in the mountains of east tennessee.

[Volnooga]

I'm afraid that if we Fire Fulmer, we'll go into a bamaesque decade of firing coaches before we get the right fit. that being said however, I also feel like there are several coaches in the SEC who do more with less and Fulmer either needs to do some more staff changes, or step out of the way. THe college game has changed, and our D hasn't changed with it....

[batonrougevol]

You know I have been reading a lot of message boards about the Fulmer hotseat situation, including the KNS GoVolsExtra site.

Indeed, the hotseat must be nearly as hot as Fulmer's BBQ pit when he goes on a hotdog binge. LOL

OK, I just took a jab at him and that is one of the things I am getting a little upset about. I do it in good humor but I see a lot of people doing it with a lot of mean-spiritedness. Jokes about Krispy Kreme, calling him Foolmore, Fill-more, Flubby, Phat Phil etc. What really hurts is to see UT FANS resorting to the name calling and juvenile attitude.

I think our HC deserves more, FAR MORE respect than that. I know that eliete 1-A college football is about "what have you done for us lately". Riding on yesterday's laurels will only get you so far...but the simple fact remains that Fulmer IS THE REASON that UT's program had an 80% winning percentage in the 90's(the best in school history including the Neyland years).

The fact also remains that though Tennessee has always been a consitantly winning program, the W/L ratio we are seeing now is no worse than it ever was before Fulmer took the job. Simply put we were ALWAYS the second or third best team in the SEC with an occasional conference championship coming every 5-10 years or so. Simple fact is that Fulmer and Neyland ARE the two best coaches Tennessee ever had. Majors gets a lot of emotional votes because of his Heisman runner up legend but he never really took the Vols to the level that Fulmer did.

Here is Fulmer's dilemma...He is being judged against HIS OWN LOFTY RECORD and nothing else in reality. Us Vol fans got spoiled. Twenty years ago we would have been satisfied with the performance he has given us even in the past 10 years.

OK, having said all that........

I still believe his time is up. I believe that coaching in major league football is not much different than being a player. In Pro football a player has at most about 15-20 years of life before the retirement window looms large. Even Joe Montana knew at some point that he had to step aside for younger talent. Of course the difference is physical versus mental but I believe that Fulmer's career is in its waning stages. Great players like Montana or Micheal Jordan in the case of basketball make the decision to leave their careers on a high note...leaving their legacy as winners, heroes etc. Unfortunately for Fulmer, the high note was last year when we at least won some big ones that counted and finished in the top 25. I believe that this year can be a top 25 finish too but we've already blown the real big rivalry games. The only salvage would be to win out the season, hope for at least an SEC ED title, go to a respectable bowl game with a quality opponent and win.

Here is my fear...we do just what I said above and Fulmer's lifeline is given another shot...or the other hand...we fail and he gets CANNED. Either way I don't like the scenario.

I want Fulmer to resign on a high note but I fear he is too stubborn. He loves Tennessee football but he doesn't realize that his legacy is at stake. He would be a much bigger hero at UT if he takes it on the chin, sucks in his rather prolific gut, and steps aside for someone fresh and young. Every football program needs a shot in the arm now and then. Honestly? I'd like to see Fulmer get a nice position in the AD. I know it won't happen but I'd like to see the current AD Mike Hamilton be replaced by Fulmer. Fulmer deserves a special place at UT, even if it is the gaurantee or promise that he will have that job when it comes available to him.

This is the kind of football program I want at the University of Tennessee. I don't want the "Night of the Orange Daggers" that we had when Majors was canned. I want to see continuity and tradition and all that koomb-bya stuff.

[Tennessee Ted]

Great post Baton Rouge Vol. The only thing I disagree with is the part about his legacy being at stake. I think Fulmer has had a great career and nothing he does from here on out tarnishes.

You mentioned the Jordans and the Montanas leaving at their prime, but Jordan returned to the Wizards and Montana should have retired before moving to Kansas City. People like Barry Sanders and Jim Brown are the exception and not the rule. I would like to see Fulmer step down, but if he does not I still think he is a good coach with a great career even if it lasts a few more years longer than I would like it to.

[Volnooga]

[QUOTE=I know it won't happen but I'd like to see the current AD Mike Hamilton be replaced by Fulmer. [/QUOTE]

WHAT?!?!

You think Fulmer would have made that Bruce Pearl hire? Come on. I love what the guy did for our university as much as the next guy, and I have a HUGE amount of respect for him as a man. But if we feel he is in a bit over his head at being a FB Coach now, why in the world would making him an AD be a good idea?

[batonrougevol]

Well, first of all I really don't care much about UT basketball. It's great that it seems to be heading in a good direction and we are competing, but lets face it, UT will ALWAYS be a football school....And I'll take Pat Summit and the Lady Vols over any other sport any day of the week. I guess it's what you are used to.

You don't get my point though...This has nothing to do with Hamilton, it has everything to do with Fulmer. My comments were mostly tongue in cheek to support Fulmer has a part of Tennessee tradition and history. I don't want UT to be "one of those schools" like Bama that goes through head coaches like a bag of fritos. I want prospective HC's who look at UT to see some level of job security as long as they produce. Even when a career goes south as Fulmer's apparently has, I want our A department to treat a coach as part of the FAMILY. I don't want the Nick Sabans of the college world to make a pit-stop at UT like he did at LSU, leaving the next coach with something to prove. LSU is fortunate that they got a good one...will UT be so fortunate?

How is that accomplished? I think the next HC at UT has to have ties to the program. A former player would be great, or a successful coach like Gruden who has ties from early in his career. Just going out and nabbing the latest and greatest hot coach may get us a few years of success but we'll be stuck holding the bag when he gets a pro offer or when another big school lures him away.

I think the way we are treating our current coach will dictate the success of the next one at least in the sense of how long he sticks around.

And as far as making Fulmer AD...well, maybe he could be "set up" for the position in some capacity. I always felt Dickey did a decent job so why not Phil?

[JerryBeeds]

We helped y'all get rid of Johnny Majors. Hopefully we can help you get rid of Fulmer too.

[Bulldog Bry]

I have a question for all you "Fire Fulmer" folks.

What is an acceptable season at UT? Seriously, What do you need year in and year out to warrant keeping one of the most successful coaches in the SEC? Every year I watch with amazement as the first loss comes for each team. The "fire coach" amoeba swirls around and no loss is justified. It blows me away that about a third of all NCAA fans think it's their God-given right to go undefeated every single year. We brag and brag and brag about how tough the SEC is, then whine like middle school girls when we lose to one another.

I understand if you think the game has passed Fulmer by. But getting a younger, fresher coach is NOT working out the same number of times as it DOES work out. It's just that we only pay attention to a Rich Rodriguez or a Jim Leavitt.

I would hope for UT's sake, they are doing what every successful program or corporation does - succession planning. Fulmer enjoys coaching, and he's good at it. He will know when he no longer has the desire. And a good AD will already have a list of possible candidates.

[geechee]

This is one of the best posts I have ever read in here. Many fans can get so emotional that, you would think they personally lost the game.

Of course you didn't happen to mention the fact that the guy is still considered a scumbag in the State of Alabama but, that would be a topic for another thread wouldn't it :laugh::laugh:

[bamaboy]

All teams go through a 'fire the coach' phase. We sure have.
The Fulmer situation is a little different in that the 'buyout' contract settlement would be a tremendous hit to Tennessee as to money and they may not be able to afford it. I am basing this on something I read on a board ( don't remember which one) concerning the terms of the contract. Not trying to start rumors or act like I know. I don't know, but sure would like to.

sorry to quote myself. does anyone know if the vols can afford $$$$$$$ to fire phil?

[VU#1]

And they have a street named for the guy. You can't fire someone with a street named for him.

[M2J]

sorry to quote myself. does anyone know if the vols can afford $$$$$$$ to fire phil?

Whatever the scenario is, if they really wanted him gone, they'd get rid of him. And one of the few teams that could pay him off and get another big named coach in there.

I think Phil will be fine, he's still a good recruiter, their defense is just young in spots. It will probably be better in the next year, or definately 2. But now Ainge is gone and has to be replaced. In the past years it was Ainge's slow development, pretty much they just have to get things aligned, which can be a tough thing in college football. I'd be surprised if he's fired.

[GTmorris1970]

Careful what you ask for. Good coaches aren't that easy to find these days. Bout the best that could happen is get a young guy with a bright future and be patient.

[Volnooga]

I think our AD would look at the lower divisions, just like he did for our BB coach.

As far as geechee's post, normally I agree, but this is a bit different. Most teams have issues, I understand. The problem is our issues never get resolved. Our ST play has been horrible for years and Fulmer gives it good coach speak, but never does anything to fix it. I've nicknamed our DC john "3rd and Long" Chavis, because our secondary consistantly gives up the 3rd and long. Do we go after a new DB coach? NOOOOOOOooooo. It is frustrating. Yes, Fulmer can recruit, and yes he has a tougher area to do it in than other coaches but if you continually rank in the top 10 of recruiting, yet continually rank around 5/6 in the conference, something is wrong.

I don't really think we have to get rid of Fulmer. I do think we have a couple of PCs that need to go though.

[volfan86]

sorry to quote myself. does anyone know if the vols can afford $$$$$$$ to fire phil?

The way I understand it Bamaboy is that if Fulmer is fired, he has a buyout clause in his contract. We would have to pay him his salary for each year left in his contract. Plus, I believe... that we would have to pay him a certain percentage of his endorsments that he has. I can't remember what his last extension put him at but I'm fairly sure that he has a least five years left on his contract at 1 point something million dollars a year including endorsements. I don't know if we do. However, even if he resigns I am fairly sure that he has some sort of pay out for whatever is left on his contract.

That being said here is my take.

Folks,

We here at Tennessee have been very fortunate over the past eleven years that I have been watching volunteer football (moved to TN from SC 11 yrs ago). We have much better football here. Fulmer is a great coach with a great record. No one is denying that, a great year for Tennessee football is to end up anywhere from first to second in the East and anywhere from first to fourth overall to answer other questions. Fulmer has made sure for many years that we accomplish these goals. I believe that our faults in coaching aren't coming from him, they are coming from those around him. Watching the game last Saturday against Bama, we have a lot of questions that need to be answered on Defense. Such as why can our defense show up for one game, then knowing that we control our own destiny lay down for the next two and not perform well at all? Why has no one stepped up in the past few years and given special teams that obviously need the help the help they deserve. Fulmer has shown that he still knows how to coach. How you might ask? In 2005 after our debacle of a season he announced that he would take over the coaching of our offensive line. The result these past two years have been two of the best O lines in school history. We have only allowed 2 sacs this year and I believe that by the end of the year last year we had allowed a total of 10 maybe. He still knows how to coach. I can't say what the Athletics department will do at the end of this season because i honestly don't know. AD Hamilton has been real hard to read these past few years with the firing of our baseball coach and a few other moves he has made it is hard to tell what he will do but I trust his decision. Maybe we don't need to fire fulmer maybe we need to reevaluate who is around him to make him stronger. Whatever the decision my blood still runs orange and it always will Go Vols

[BAMAPERRY]

Fulmer hasn't won the SEC since 1998. He gets paid 2.2 million a year.

[Volnooga]

Fulmer hasn't won the SEC since 1998. He gets paid 2.2 million a year.

BINGO! A decade without more than a sniff.

[volfan86]

BINGO! A decade without more than a sniff.

we have had a sniff... do you not remember back in 2004 when we gave Auburn a good run for their money, or how about in 2001 when we played LSU and could have won but again our Defense laid down and died after halftime. So yes we have had a sniff and opportunities we just weren't able to capitalize on them.

[the Paradox]

Fulmer's and his assistants' buyouts amount to over $6 mill., at least that is being reported here in Tn.

RTR

[Tennessee Ted]

I have a question for all you "Fire Fulmer" folks.

What is an acceptable season at UT? Seriously, What do you need year in and year out to warrant keeping one of the most successful coaches in the SEC? Every year I watch with amazement as the first loss comes for each team. The "fire coach" amoeba swirls around and no loss is justified. It blows me away that about a third of all NCAA fans think it's their God-given right to go undefeated every single year. We brag and brag and brag about how tough the SEC is, then whine like middle school girls when we lose to one another.

I understand if you think the game has passed Fulmer by. But getting a younger, fresher coach is NOT working out the same number of times as it DOES work out. It's just that we only pay attention to a Rich Rodriguez or a Jim Leavitt.

I would hope for UT's sake, they are doing what every successful program or corporation does - succession planning. Fulmer enjoys coaching, and he's good at it. He will know when he no longer has the desire. And a good AD will already have a list of possible candidates.

I expect to compete for the National championship every year. This does not mean what you think it does. It means that at the beginning of the year we are at least ranked in the top 15. I expect when we lose to Florida that we still have a chance to bounce back by going on a run and winning some games.

This expectation is much harder now with South Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky much improved from our late 1990s heydays, but we should not lose to our two top rivals 100-37 in any year. The key word in my first paragraph is compete. We have not competed for the national championship in the last three years and this year we sometimes have not competed at all.

Every team has its ups and downs. LSU is definitely on a high. We are not really at a low, but we have really slipped from the elite of the SEC into the middle of the pack. I want to get back up to the elite status, and I have lost confidence that Fulmer can bring us back there.

[bamaboy]

The way I understand it Bamaboy is that if Fulmer is fired, he has a buyout clause in his contract. We would have to pay him his salary for each year left in his contract. Plus, I believe... that we would have to pay him a certain percentage of his endorsments that he has. I can't remember what his last extension put him at but I'm fairly sure that he has a least five years left on his contract at 1 point something million dollars a year including endorsements. I don't know if we do. However, even if he resigns I am fairly sure that he has some sort of pay out for whatever is left on his contract.

That being said here is my take.

Folks,

We here at Tennessee have been very fortunate over the past eleven years that I have been watching volunteer football (moved to TN from SC 11 yrs ago). We have much better football here. Fulmer is a great coach with a great record. No one is denying that, a great year for Tennessee football is to end up anywhere from first to second in the East and anywhere from first to fourth overall to answer other questions. Fulmer has made sure for many years that we accomplish these goals. I believe that our faults in coaching aren't coming from him, they are coming from those around him. Watching the game last Saturday against Bama, we have a lot of questions that need to be answered on Defense. Such as why can our defense show up for one game, then knowing that we control our own destiny lay down for the next two and not perform well at all? Why has no one stepped up in the past few years and given special teams that obviously need the help the help they deserve. Fulmer has shown that he still knows how to coach. How you might ask? In 2005 after our debacle of a season he announced that he would take over the coaching of our offensive line. The result these past two years have been two of the best O lines in school history. We have only allowed 2 sacs this year and I believe that by the end of the year last year we had allowed a total of 10 maybe. He still knows how to coach. I can't say what the Athletics department will do at the end of this season because i honestly don't know. AD Hamilton has been real hard to read these past few years with the firing of our baseball coach and a few other moves he has made it is hard to tell what he will do but I trust his decision. Maybe we don't need to fire fulmer maybe we need to reevaluate who is around him to make him stronger. Whatever the decision my blood still runs orange and it always will Go Vols


Thanks! That was helpful as to the $$$$ issues to firing him ( or any other coach). Wonder what Fran's situation is as to contract and firing terms? Fulmer aside, i feel your pain.