Respecting Phillip Fulmer

[hatvol96]

Originally Posted by RDU VOL#14

Except spare me any Johnny Majors and "here we go" stuff.

Spare me the crocodile tears for Prince Phillip The Pious and you've got a deal.
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[VOLup2uous]

Originally Posted by GAVol

I agree. I think the vast majority of fans have no clue when it comes to X's and O's, but they can all read a scoreboard which in the end is all that matters.

And the stats on the computer, that stink this year!

[billbattle]

Originally Posted by PandamoniumReigns

Well Put RDU#14.
Well Put.

I am one for Fulmer to resign and a change to happen at Tenn. . . But he still deserves to leave with dignity.....as long as he doesn't fully cross the "line"

I think the "leave with dignity" is completely in the hands of Fulmer, not the fans. He will leave with a lot more respect if he doesn't drag out this unpleasant process until it negatively affects recruiting and public perception of the university's football program.

[Gcrop]

If he does not resign after this season, the dignity and class that he deserves will slip out of the door.

[Gcrop]

Originally Posted by billbattle

I think the "leave with dignity" is completely in the hands of Fulmer, not the fans. He will leave with a lot more respect if he doesn't drag out this unpleasant process until it negatively affects recruiting and public perception of the university's football program.

You beat me to it.

[Godfatha]

I dance back and forth between being very angry at Fulmer for sticking around, and somehow feeling sorry for him.

I get angry because I feel like the longer he stays around, the worse off we will be.

He does need to go. I hope he facilitates a smooth transition by announcing his retirement. That would be ideal and would allow Vol fans to send him off to cheers rather than boos. However, we won't know how it is going to go until it actually happens.

[orangeblood]

I think is horrible the way Coach Fulmer is treating the university, its alumni, and its fans. The university gave him a full scholarship-he was allowed a free education, then they gave him a job, and now he is making around $3 million a year because of the opportunity given him by the school. And what does he do? He keeps on bringing ridicule on the school, destroys what was a great football program, and wastes the talents of many young men whose professional futures depend on him, when he knows it is in the best interest of everyone if he resigns. Just resign Phil and show respect for the University of Tennessee.

[Volgrad98]

I respect the man and loved that he dedicated his life to UT. I attribute alot of my positive experiences while attending Tennessee to CPF. Saturdays in the Fall at Neyland were a blast and the crown jewel was a NC in my final year there. That was then, this is now.

There comes a point when you have to let go. CPF has to realize that he has held on too tight for too long. It shows in his demeanor on and off the feild. He is trying to rekindle a spark that has been dwindling for years now. IMO, 07 was the last of his magic. Sure Cut was back, but for whatever reason it worked and UT had a good year.

The man is at a definite crossroads. I think deep in his heart he believes that he can still be a winning coach. But is that his ego talking? I still want to believe in CPF, but he is making it very difficult, damn near impossible.

My point to all this is that the man has earned the right to finish out the year, at least in my eyes. However, if he decides to stick around and futher destroy this program anymore after this year, then all bets are off. I will always back UT, but if CPF won't leave after this year, it is clear then that he has shifted his attitude towards himself being more important than the program. That I can't respect.

[PrattvilleVol]

Thank you Phil for the NC and a pretty good run. Please understand that every great player and every great coach eventually has to face reality. What stands out in my mind is Jim Kelly. The end came very fast , after playing in his 4th Super Bowl, the following year he couldn't hit the red side of a red barn. He realized his time was over and left the game with honor on his own terms. Please let Vol fans honor your time at UT and thank you for your tenure instead of the alternative.

[GIVEHIM-6]

I would really like to know what happened to rule #3 in the board rules thread.I too respect the man but hate how this program is going to he##.The pokes at Phil have gotten so old but I guess I have to remember that there are alot of teenagers on this board.

[Cartervol]

He deserves respect. Phillip would get more from me if he followed loyd carr's lead and resigned in the best interest of the university.

Him resigning at this point would be in the university's best interest. So if he wants respect from the average fan then do the right thing. If he holds the university hostage over this contract, i will lose most if not all of the remaining respect i have for him.

[Etownvol]

He's a person first, then a coach. Our opinions of him need only be of the latter of the 2.

[cotton]

Originally Posted by Rasputin_Vol

That money grab that he particpated in this summer with Sexton and Hamilton is one reason. Totally underserved and out of line with his market value or based on his recent record against top competition....[actual sensibility omitted]... his distant and hands off approach with the fans (compared with Pearl), and lack of discipline or player developement are all reasons for the animosity.

Eesh...what a load of absolute crap. The only reason for animosity is not winning championships. If the folks calling for his head would stick to their guns, they might actually get it. The man hasn't won a championship in a decade and shows no signs of being capable of winning one in the next. That's a reason for animosity and a reason for letting him go. The rest of your post is garbage that has nothing to do with the "animosity" or whether a coaching change is necessary or appropriate.

His approach with the fans, or disciplinary methods, or success with player development, or--my favorite--money grab, are complete fluff. I can't think of a single coach who is more approachable, isn't susceptible to criticism for his disciplinary practices, has placed more players in the NFL, or would come for less money, that I would want at the helm in Knoxville. I just want somebody that will win ballgames and keep UT off of the NCAA's 10 most wanted list.

The problem with all of the aforementioned tripe is that it is subjective, and on subjective grounds, the folks that want Fulmer's head on a pike are going to lose. Winning is objective; stick to that as your criterium for change.

Originally Posted by orangeblood

I think is horrible the way Coach Fulmer is treating the university, its alumni, and its fans. The university gave him a full scholarship-he was allowed a free education, then they gave him a job, and now he is making around $3 million a year because of the opportunity given him by the school. And what does he do? He keeps on bringing ridicule on the school, destroys what was a great football program, and wastes the talents of many young men whose professional futures depend on him, when he knows it is in the best interest of everyone if he resigns. Just resign Phil and show respect for the University of Tennessee.

This is perhaps the only post I've read in the midst of this debacle that is worse than Rasputin's. UT hasn't given Fulmer anything; it contracted for it, whether as a player(which is just a weird thing to bring up) or coach. He has done exactly what he has been paid to do, and that is coach the football team to the best of his ability. If that isn't good enough, the university should let him go and go find someone who can do the job better. I really don't have a problem with that. But to blame the man for accepting what the administration freely offered, including the clause that compensates him for being terminated, is simply absurd.

If, at any moment, Tennessee wants to fire him, they can, they just have to pay him. If you want to aim your ire at something, try the guys who put the school in that situation and are now in charge of making that decision.

[slobberknocker]

I respect Fulmer for his service to UT, but he should respect UT and the fan base around the country and resign before it gets ugly.

[RDU VOL#14]

Originally Posted by hatvol96

Spare me the crocodile tears for Prince Phillip The Pious and you've got a deal.
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