Volstorm
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This pretty much sums up my feelings about the Banks situation, and Fulmer.
UT decision again shows program's lack of discipline
By JOHN ADAMS
July 21, 2004
If your interest in the University of Tennessee is limited to wins and losses, you probably applauded coach Phillip Fulmer's decision not to kick wide receiver James Banks off the football team.
Just wondering, but did you also applaud UT's last Peach Bowl performance? Or the one before that?
There's a common theme to the Banks decision and the back-to-back Peach Bowl embarrassments. It's a lack of discipline.
Banks was suspended for the first half of the Peach Bowl for a violation of team rules. He was suspended for spring practice for another violation of team rules.
After the two suspensions, Fulmer said Banks would have to meet certain requirements to stay on the team. Then, Friday morning, police officers cited Banks for underage consumption of alcohol and violating the city's noise ordinance.
Those are minor offenses by UT's standards - or almost any major football program's standards, for that matter. But after two previous suspensions, the recent incident should have ended Banks' career at UT.
So why wasn't he dismissed from the team?
One answer: Because Fulmer is like a parent to Banks and won't give up on him after one, two or three mistakes.
Better answer: Because Fulmer is making about $1.7 million a year and knows Banks can help him win games.
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said he was involved in the decision-making process, which makes me wonder how Fulmer might have handled this on his own.
"At one point, I thought the best thing for all involved was to dismiss him from the program," Hamilton said. "But that was the anger in me."
Hamilton said he "thought it through," talked with Banks and agreed to a three-game suspension. Next time, he should trust his anger.
Don't kid yourself. With an opener against UNLV and a third game against Louisiana Tech, this isn't really a three-game suspension. Only Florida in the second game is a serious challenge.
But UT needs more than Banks for the rest of the season. It needs discipline. For example, take the two Peach Bowls.
In UT's 30-3 loss to Maryland, fullback Troy Fleming left the locker room at halftime to call his pregnant sister. The cell phone became a symbol for a seemingly undisciplined, disinterested team.
After the 2002 season, UT players admitted wide receiver Kelley Washington's selfish antics were a distraction. Yet Fulmer never reined him in, preferring instead to say, "Kelley is one of the most team-oriented people I've ever been around."
He said that with a straight face, leaving me to believe he could pass a lie-detector test while declaring the world was flat.
Last year's team played with more discipline and was praised repeatedly for its veteran leadership. There's a correlation. The Vols need strong leadership from their veteran players because they don't always get it from their head coach.
For all the Vols did right in 2003, they still faltered badly in the Peach Bowl. Again, lack of discipline was a factor. They were penalized 10 times for 119 yards in a 27-14 loss to unranked Clemson.
I can imagine Fulmer apologizing to Peach Bowl officials afterward: "Give us three or four chances and we'll get it right."
I also can imagine Fulmer laying down the law to Banks: "If something like this happens again, I'll have to tell you: 'Never again;' four strikes and you're out."
Excuse me for making up quotes, but I couldn't resist after reading the opening paragraph of Fulmer's written statement to the media Tuesday: "Our goal as a coaching staff is to serve as an extended parent away from home for our players, and help our men grow in a positive fashion through their college experiences."
Right. And Kelley Washington is one of the most team-oriented people you've ever been around.
UT decision again shows program's lack of discipline
By JOHN ADAMS
July 21, 2004
If your interest in the University of Tennessee is limited to wins and losses, you probably applauded coach Phillip Fulmer's decision not to kick wide receiver James Banks off the football team.
Just wondering, but did you also applaud UT's last Peach Bowl performance? Or the one before that?
There's a common theme to the Banks decision and the back-to-back Peach Bowl embarrassments. It's a lack of discipline.
Banks was suspended for the first half of the Peach Bowl for a violation of team rules. He was suspended for spring practice for another violation of team rules.
After the two suspensions, Fulmer said Banks would have to meet certain requirements to stay on the team. Then, Friday morning, police officers cited Banks for underage consumption of alcohol and violating the city's noise ordinance.
Those are minor offenses by UT's standards - or almost any major football program's standards, for that matter. But after two previous suspensions, the recent incident should have ended Banks' career at UT.
So why wasn't he dismissed from the team?
One answer: Because Fulmer is like a parent to Banks and won't give up on him after one, two or three mistakes.
Better answer: Because Fulmer is making about $1.7 million a year and knows Banks can help him win games.
UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said he was involved in the decision-making process, which makes me wonder how Fulmer might have handled this on his own.
"At one point, I thought the best thing for all involved was to dismiss him from the program," Hamilton said. "But that was the anger in me."
Hamilton said he "thought it through," talked with Banks and agreed to a three-game suspension. Next time, he should trust his anger.
Don't kid yourself. With an opener against UNLV and a third game against Louisiana Tech, this isn't really a three-game suspension. Only Florida in the second game is a serious challenge.
But UT needs more than Banks for the rest of the season. It needs discipline. For example, take the two Peach Bowls.
In UT's 30-3 loss to Maryland, fullback Troy Fleming left the locker room at halftime to call his pregnant sister. The cell phone became a symbol for a seemingly undisciplined, disinterested team.
After the 2002 season, UT players admitted wide receiver Kelley Washington's selfish antics were a distraction. Yet Fulmer never reined him in, preferring instead to say, "Kelley is one of the most team-oriented people I've ever been around."
He said that with a straight face, leaving me to believe he could pass a lie-detector test while declaring the world was flat.
Last year's team played with more discipline and was praised repeatedly for its veteran leadership. There's a correlation. The Vols need strong leadership from their veteran players because they don't always get it from their head coach.
For all the Vols did right in 2003, they still faltered badly in the Peach Bowl. Again, lack of discipline was a factor. They were penalized 10 times for 119 yards in a 27-14 loss to unranked Clemson.
I can imagine Fulmer apologizing to Peach Bowl officials afterward: "Give us three or four chances and we'll get it right."
I also can imagine Fulmer laying down the law to Banks: "If something like this happens again, I'll have to tell you: 'Never again;' four strikes and you're out."
Excuse me for making up quotes, but I couldn't resist after reading the opening paragraph of Fulmer's written statement to the media Tuesday: "Our goal as a coaching staff is to serve as an extended parent away from home for our players, and help our men grow in a positive fashion through their college experiences."
Right. And Kelley Washington is one of the most team-oriented people you've ever been around.
