Record - Was inflated against inferior competition. Twenty-two percent of all his victories was against two teams - Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Lost 70% of his games against better competition since 2001.
Discipline - 52 arrests of his football players in six years. Kept Otis for a punter after multiple drunk citations. Kept druggies on the team until the university had to kick them off.
Character - Stayed on until the program was so destroyed not one stone stood atop another.
Fulmerites - Does not and will not accept what went on and bashes those that point out he is one of the worst examples of a Tennessee coach to ever walk the sidelines.
Inferior competition? It is the SEC. It has its good and bad teams, just like any other conference in any sport you wish to talk about.
Lost 70% since 2001? His record is his record...if the seats were still filling in Neyland this past season, the man would still be here...IMO.
Discipline...I cannot disagree with you here. I still however don't think he handled to overall program much different than any other coach in a big time conference would. As far as Otis, he wasn't booted due to his name.
Character - the man played for an SEC championship just one year ago. It is rare that any coach will just up and resign. Most have to be fired...and who can blame them with the buy outs? Anyone that says he shouldn't take his $6 million is crazy...I guarantee each and everyone of us would take every dime we were entitled too.
Fulmerites??? One of the worst to walk the TN sidelines?...LOL is all I can do at that. The man won the only National Championship I have ever witnessed at UT.
As far as the program, I know it is not where it was in the 90s. I think we all know that. Was it time for something to change? Yes! I think most of us can agree on that.
I think it is ridiculous to say Fulmer was not much of a coach. The man was one of the elites for several years, he won 100 more games than he lost. He missed a bowl game only twice in 17 years.
I liked Fulmer....but now Lane Kiffin is our coach....and I am excited about the 09 season!