Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
At season's end, Phil Fulmer will reportedly be out at Tennessee after 17 years on the job. You could take this as one of two things. This is either the final betrayal of a loyal company man who invested 30 years in the program as a player, assistant coach, and head man and delivered a national title and two SEC titles, or it is the final step in a long, sad process of divorce from a known quantity no longer fulfilling the needs of the Tennessee program.
The latter is the more accurate read of the two given the slow decline in the skills and performance of the Tennessee program. The Vols did make the SEC championship last year, but fell into the slot as a result of some SEC East schedule tiebreakers before losing to eventual national champions LSU. This is the SEC, though, and not even having human turnover generator Eric Berry mauling people in the defensive backfield can help a team increasingly giving off signs of declining competence.
The key steps in Fulmer's decline, in short:
Recruiting. When Fulmer came into the league in 1993, the SEC was a two horse race between Florida and the Big Orange. Eight out of 10 conference championships in the span from 1993-2002 went to the SEC East, and of those, seven went to Florida or Tennessee. Armed with the financial advantage of what was annually the highest recruiting budget in the nation, Fulmer recruited coast-to-coast and took much of what he wanted.
From 2001 or so on, though, the increased competition from programs on all sides began to show. Top to bottom, Tennessee's roster grew thinner on talent, a fact backed up by NFL draft numbers. From 2000-2002, Tennessee had 24 players taken in the draft; from 2005-2007, that number fell to 14. As goes recruiting, so goes the program, and slipping in the handshake wars cost Fulmer.
Human Resources. Fulmer's reliance on Dave Clawson and his simplified West Coast offense cost him dearly. Clawson, a first-time FBS coordinator, brought an unnecessarily complex system that takes years to learn into a situation where time was not a luxury. The Tennessee offense sputtered, and with it so did Fulmer's chances of holding onto his job.
Fatigue. If someone gets a divorce after three years, you think: well, maybe they didn't really give it a shot. When someone gets divorced after 17 years, though, I generally assume they know what they're doing, and are totally and completely sick of each other. Such may be the case with Fulmer. He's a completely known quantity, a conservative, punt-happy, run-first and ask questions later throwback of a coach whose idea of daring consists of using a rugby kick on special teams.
Doubt whether Tennessee properly understands who they're going to hire as a replacement. Do not doubt that they know what they're getting rid of, though: after 17 years, they would know better than anyone, and are comfortable sending the Great Pumpkin into his patch with a fat retirement package -- $6 million in total payable over 48 months -- and as much dignity as he can muster on the way out.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
14 comments
Comments
One other thing about handling this now……
The team will have extra motivation to play hard for the rest of the year. Tennessee is 3-6 right now, but their remaining 3 games are all winnable. At 6-6, this Tennessee squad goes bowling. The players know they could send Fulmer out on a high note.
by Ark_Razor on Nov 3, 2008 12:25 PM EST reply actions
Had one hell of a program in the 90s but never quite recovered after losing David Cutcliffe. Erik Ainge major disappointment.
Let the rebuilding begin.
by fmtfantasy on Nov 3, 2008 1:19 PM EST reply actions
Loss of Cutcliffe was the biggest reason yet doesn’t even get a mention?! The likely ACC coach of the year was always the brains behind the outfit. When he was there, they won, plain and simple.
by tkbone on Nov 3, 2008 1:46 PM EST reply actions
You hit the nail on the head. It was a good run. Best of luck to Coach Fulmer in his future retirement counting his money.
by TN VOL on Nov 3, 2008 2:45 PM EST reply actions
Yeah. I’ll miss Fat Phil
- He broke off the blade of the knife he used to stab Johnny Majors in the back and stuck it up the outgoing coaches.. well.. you get the picture
- Fulmer has a history of tolerating thugs and outright criminals on his teams. Fulmer Cup is called the Fulmer cup for a reason.
- Fulmer helped Alabama put themselves on probabtion, but always managed to slip away from any NCAA tarnish of his own. Checks and money to Tee Martin, anybody? Academic scandals? Fulmer FTW!
- He never was able to win without Dennis Cutcliffe. His own shortcomings as a coach were nicely propped up by his assistants, and when they left for better gigs he couldn’t overcome his own gravitational field, much less find competent replacements
I won’t miss you a bit, Phil. Actually I am laughing happily right now and having some Halloween Candy. Karma is a beyatch, aint it?
hahahahaaaaaaa
by maomatt on Nov 3, 2008 4:38 PM EST reply actions
I had a blast watching the Vols under Fulmer’s reign and I wish him all the best. Maybe it was too late but it was really good when it was good. My orange runs deep and in my heart of hearts, I believe Phil Fulmer loves TN and the Vols. Good luck, Phil.
by Vol Gal on Nov 3, 2008 5:00 PM EST reply actions
im with maomatt, was a smug hypocrit and was always quick to point the finger at someone else and then sleak away untouched. as to him coaching, well i really dont think he was that good, he just hired the right people and managed them. when he lost Cutcliff he couldnt find the right replacement and it really ended up being his downfall. good bye and hope the door smacks u in the a$$ on the way out.
by trackhead05 on Nov 3, 2008 5:35 PM EST reply actions
College football loses a good man. Maomatt and trackhead05, all I’m sayin is this: You never realize what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone. Maybe Cutcliffe was the reason for success, but who was doing the hiring and firing? Who steps into THAT job? Sure the $ will be good, but expectations are great, and nearly impossible to live up to, especially in the SEC east. (props from big12 fan). I expect a couple of seasons without a bowl game will soften Vols’ fans memories of Fulmer.
by skerinok on Nov 3, 2008 5:47 PM EST reply actions
Skerinok, I don’t think you understand… Perhaps this can clear it up a bit for you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mor3ZBsKINI
My regret is that they won’t keep him, so he could continue to produce that festering pile of poo that has lately become the Tennessee football team club and cocaine emphorium
by maomatt on Nov 3, 2008 6:08 PM EST reply actions
lets try this again..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mor3ZBsKINI
by maomatt on Nov 3, 2008 6:09 PM EST reply actions
Apparently he already has another offer from another team!
He’s going to join Dan Marino’s team to start selling nutrisystem.
http://thedanmarinodiet.com/
by cnapse on Nov 3, 2008 6:09 PM EST reply actions
Dang, Spencer. Couldn’t you retrain your glee just a little bit? I know you are a gator fan, but even akitagator managed to give Fulmer a gracious comment.
by LadyVolsLover on Nov 3, 2008 7:24 PM EST reply actions
What’s that I heard? Saban said he will not be the new coach at Tennessee.
Sorry Bama fans just couldn’t resist the joke……………
by GEAUX_LSU_#1 on Nov 3, 2008 8:21 PM EST reply actions
Ding Dong, the witch is dead!!!
I have nothing against Tennessee fans in general, but I can honestly say that the firing of the great pumpkin couldn’t happen to a better person. I kinda hate it for the Vol fans, but I look forward to relishing the trying years that seem to be on the horizon for the Vols. From the first knife in Major’s back, everything about Fulmer and the way he has conducted himself at Tennessee has been a prime example of slime. It seems that he focused too much of his attention conspiring with his NCAA buddies and entraping his rivals rather than recruiting good talent to the school. Look at it this way, at least now he can spend more time planning escape routes from speaking venues to better dodge supeonas, though it may be harder to hide in Tennessee now.
As I said earlier, I do feel some for the Vol fans, but after the events of the last few years, it’s good to see this happen, especially when Bama is rising back to #1!!!
djs
by catch 5 on Nov 3, 2008 10:20 PM EST reply actions
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