Fulmer.....not that great of recruiter??

[g8terh8ter_eric]

As many of your know, I have mentioned many times before where I believed that Fulmer was one of the greatest closer recruiters in college football. Now after looking over our classes and subsequent results of the following seasons, I have to retract my statement. I have been sitting here looking at our previous classes from 2002 up until this year and I can honestly say that either Fulmer was a poor judge or character or a poor coach. I have looked over multiple 5* talent that bit the dust or went up in smoke. I have seen the 2* and 3* talent that never saw the field. I have also seen some guys that came up and played well. The thing that eludes my perception or thinking is, where is the WOW factor in those classes?? When did we lose out "edge"?? Did we fall that far behind in times and lose touch with what recruits really wanted?? What is the answer??

You can point to many things as reasons or answers, but simple fact of the matter is Fulmer rode talent and great assistants that he didn't keep around too long to the top. I can honestly say this, Fulmer may have been a great recruiter at one point in time, but he can't hold a candle to the best in the business now. I apologize Phil, but I am glad you were let go.

We have a new energy now, and I think it will be something that will get us back on the scene. Do I expect NC's, not at this point. What I do expect is, getting solid players that can contribute from Day 1, instead of their junior year.

[kotheb]

Fulmer relied on assistants quite a bit IMO (as far as coaching goes). I never followed his recruiting so I can't necessarily comment much on that, but it is entirely possible that he could bring in the talent but had to hope other people knew what to do with them.

IIRC, the offense recently has only been good when Cut has been here, as an example.

[g8terh8ter_eric]

Originally Posted by kotheb

Fulmer relied on assistants quite a bit IMO (as far as coaching goes). I never followed his recruiting so I can't necessarily comment much on that, but it is entirely possible that he could bring in the talent but had to hope other people knew what to do with them.

IIRC, the offense recently has only been good when Cut has been here, as an example.

Cut was the discipline when he was here. That was shown to be a FACT this year.

[kotheb]

Very true.

Though, it's been said that the mark of a good coach is to know his downfalls and surround himself with people who can make up for his weaknesses. It seems Fulmer fell off that bandwagon last year.

Kiffin, however, is setting the new standard in that department.

[Kinfolk Vol]

AMEN on what said! I hope CLK & company can help get the talent level and UT`s SWAGGER back!

Originally Posted by g8terh8ter_eric

As many of your know, I have mentioned many times before where I believed that Fulmer was one of the greatest closer recruiters in college football. Now after looking over our classes and subsequent results of the following seasons, I have to retract my statement. I have been sitting here looking at our previous classes from 2002 up until this year and I can honestly say that either Fulmer was a poor judge or character or a poor coach. I have looked over multiple 5* talent that bit the dust or went up in smoke. I have seen the 2* and 3* talent that never saw the field. I have also seen some guys that came up and played well. The thing that eludes my perception or thinking is, where is the WOW factor in those classes?? When did we lose out "edge"?? Did we fall that far behind in times and lose touch with what recruits really wanted?? What is the answer??

You can point to many things as reasons or answers, but simple fact of the matter is Fulmer rode talent and great assistants that he didn't keep around too long to the top. I can honestly say this, Fulmer may have been a great recruiter at one point in time, but he can't hold a candle to the best in the business now. I apologize Phil, but I am glad you were let go.

We have a new energy now, and I think it will be something that will get us back on the scene. Do I expect NC's, not at this point. What I do expect is, getting solid players that can contribute from Day 1, instead of their junior year.

Posted via VolNation Mobile

[g8terh8ter_eric]

Originally Posted by kotheb

Very true.

Though, it's been said that the mark of a good coach is to know his downfalls and surround himself with people who can make up for his weaknesses. It seems Fulmer fell off that bandwagon last year.

Kiffin, however, is setting the new standard in that department.

Fulmer started with Garner, it was all downhill after that. Fulmer never wanted to surround himself with people, other than Chavis and Cut, that were considered better coaches than he was. In the end, the favor that Cut did Fulmer, saved Fulmer's job until Cut went elsewhere.

[wkhardplayhard]

Originally Posted by kotheb

Very true.

Though, it's been said that the mark of a good coach is to know his downfalls and surround himself with people who can make up for his weaknesses. It seems Fulmer fell off that bandwagon last year.

Kiffin, however, is setting the new standard in that department.

I couldn't agree more with this statement. Last year, was just horrible, Fulmer just didn't do his homework to know that gimmick offenses don't work and that UT's roots is power football, not flash.

[g8terh8ter_eric]

Originally Posted by wkhardplayhard

I couldn't agree more with this statement. Last year, was just horrible, Fulmer just didn't do his homework to know that gimmick offenses don't work and that UT's roots is power football, not flash.

I think more of the fact he couldn't hire some type of bigger name is what disturbs me. Clawson is a good coach and will do well at Bowling Green, but Fulmer dropped the ball on the hire because he didn't let Clawson bring in the people he needed to run his offense. Look at the fact that Cut brought in his guys and took them with him when he left and that should shed some light on what happened.

[wkhardplayhard]

True g8terh8ter, I don't think that Clawson got a great shot because his style of offense, was not the personnel we had already here at UT (Note: Michigan). I just don't think we were going to see that big of a drop off.

[OHvol40]

All I have to say g8terh8ter is......... yep.

Well said.

[BrierVol61]

Originally Posted by g8terh8ter_eric

Cut was the discipline when he was here. That was shown to be a FACT this year.

I heard the same thing from former players I would run in to. They said Cut demanded respeect when he walked in to a romm. He said Fulmer turned in to a politician. This was back in 2005 - 06 timeframe that I had a talk with this guy.

[wkhardplayhard]

I don't think it's any secret that Fulmer had his best years when Cut was there. Hence the reason why I think that Coach Cut is doing wonders at Duke in just his 1st year and in future years.

[VolSwaff]

Originally Posted by g8terh8ter_eric

Now after looking over our classes and subsequent results of the following seasons, I have to retract my statement. I have been sitting here looking at our previous classes from 2002 up until this year and I can honestly say that either Fulmer was a poor judge or character or a poor coach.

Yeah i think it was both.

[GmanTN]

The easiest way to measure the mark of a good coach is to guage the interest from other teams wanting to hire him. Most of the country was sad to see Phil be fired because he was sobbing on his presser and that tends to pull at a persons heart strings. Lets be real though the majority of support for Fulmer came from within UT. I do not recall any SEC or other schools go Hey Fulmer is available lets fire our guy and get him. How long do you think Saban or Meyer or Stoops would last on the free market, I would think not long. Did Phil love UT? absolutely but that alone does not make him a good coach or should have made him untouchable.

[ClearwaterVol]

Originally Posted by wkhardplayhard

I couldn't agree more with this statement. Last year, was just horrible, Fulmer just didn't do his homework to know that gimmick offenses don't work and that UT's roots is power football, not flash.

You know we will NOT go back to power football, right. CLK was brought in to run a prostyle offense. And by gimmick offenses do you mean the spread option which has won 2 of the last 3 MNCs?