I’ve got to praise Fulmer for his Vol Call

[advancedrescue27]

I'm not 100% sure in Pruitts ability, but I am 100% sure that unless he quits, he will be here next season.

This! He may not be the answer here, but UT can’t afford to replace him. When I say afford to replace him i don’t just mean financially, I mean the image/reputation of UT can’t take another hit, not after just 2 years with a new coach.
We might continue to go down hill with him, but the truth is the other option would be far more detrimental. We couldn’t get a quality coach last time due to not wanting to pay. We also couldn’t get a PROVEN coach because they most likely wouldn’t even pick up the phone, damn the money. For a proven coach it’s not worth the risk to your reputation to go to TN and have the card stacked against you. For most of us cash speaks, but for a proven coach the reputation is what makes the cash speak. Coaching at UT is going against the odds of adding positives to your reputation.

 

[JoAllan]

I have always liked Fulmer
Currently don’t like Pruitt
It will take time

However I just want to see improvement, something that can give hope that maybe Pruitt can get this done.......so far I haven’t seen anything this season.

 

[05_never_again]

Fortunately, that decision will not fall solely on Fulmer. There is a point he will be powerless to resist the inevitable. I don’t know when that is, and it’s likely not this year....but there is a tipping point. There always is. And if he waits too long, the changes won’t just include CJP.

Phil should remember, someone always has more “juice”.

My working assumption this entire time has been that Phil gets one shot at this. If Pruitt fails, Phil is almost surely gone too. Maybe not immediately (because they'd have to buy Phil out too) but he'll be a dead man walking for a while then eventually shown the door.

 

[advancedrescue27]

Pruitt will be the coach in 2020 unless the wheels just fall off the bus or major discord/scandal sets in. I think we should be somewhat patient with Pruitt and give him a fair shot to see if he can get us going in the right direction. I have my doubts about Pruitt, but I have more doubts that firing a guy without giving him at least three years is a good idea.

This, and I’d like to add the we might as well be patient because there’s virtually nothing that will change in regard to who will be coaching. Essentially he will be here, might as well not get worked up about it, and let’s hope that it pays off. UT is all in on him, we have to let it just unfold the way it unfolds.

 

['Boro-vol]

My working assumption this entire time has been that Phil gets one shot at this. If Pruitt fails, Phil is almost surely gone too.

Probably...though if he is proactive in bailing water out of the boat he could buy himself some time in my opinion. If he's stubborn about it the long knives will come out.

Safer to hope Pruitt does a rapid about face from the trajectory he's on.

 

[JoAllan]

Those people with money that you say are behind Fulmer didn't build their fortunes by keeping failures on the payroll.

Fulmer is anything but a failure.

Can you expand on how Fulmer is or would be a failure?

If Pruitt doesn’t work out (he isn’t to me yet) how would that translate to Fulmer is a failure? When Fulmer has great success as a coach, has had great success in life, and as an all SEC player had great success as a player. He also kept a high level basketball coach by getting a huge contract for the coach (as the coach had turned Tennessee around and Fulmer hoped to keep things rolling).

 

[hog88]

Fulmer is anything but a failure.

Can you expand on how Fulmer is or would be a failure?

If Pruitt doesn’t work out (he isn’t to me yet) how would that translate to Fulmer is a failure? When Fulmer has great success as a coach, has had great success in life, and as an all SEC player had great success as a player. He also kept a high level basketball coach by getting a huge contract for the coach (as the coach had turned Tennessee around and Fulmer hoped to keep things rolling).

In his last 8 seasons as a head coach he had a losing record (bad losing record) against GA, FL and AL and he had something like a 17-25 record against top 25 teams. Not to mention 2 losing seasons and 2 loses to Vandy. Then you follow that up with a failed hire with a completely stupid buyout for a first time HC. What else should I call that?

 

[FlyFishnVol]

Vastly underappreciated post. Fulmerspeak was rampant after 2002 or so. If Pruitt flames out, look for Fulmer to say that Pruitt "failed to develop", his classic catchphrase for why yet ANOTHER 5 star recruit never improved beyond his freshman year.

This all could be true, but I believe as fans we should try and move away from the overall mood of negative replies vs. replies of optimism. Anyone can type of here all the ugly realities of the football program, I am never surprised at the many different avenues a poster can suggest the firing of a coach on VolNation. Although, this team is starting out on some very embarrassing losses, I still believe this is all the results of the last ten year's mistakes have avalanched on this team. It's not fair for us (Fans) to take it out on a new coaches and players. It's embarrassing how I have gotten on here with others and typed things that are just juvenile.

We all need to change our attitudes and support these young men and CJP's coaches and help make this a great fan base again instead of the toxic environment we have built.............I am done........Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BeecherVol]

Fortunately, that decision will not fall solely on Fulmer. There is a point he will be powerless to resist the inevitable. I don’t know when that is, and it’s likely not this year....but there is a tipping point. There always is. And if he waits too long, the changes won’t just include CJP.

Phil should remember, someone always has more “juice”.

I doubt he has forgotten. He was the last coach here to win anything and when the time come that didnt matter.

And for that reason he ll go down with Pruitt if that happens. Right or wrong he thinks this is gonna take longer than some want it to.

The "juice" has been expired for awhile now.

 

[BeecherVol]

In his last 8 seasons as a head coach he had a losing record (bad losing record) against GA, FL and AL and he had something like a 17-25 record against top 25 teams. Not to mention 2 losing seasons and 2 loses to Vandy. Then you follow that up with a failed hire with a completely stupid buyout for a first time HC. What else should I call that?

The back half of his career wasnt very good by comparison to the front.

The first half looks like a pipe dream after the last decade.

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

It would be financially irresponsible for Pruitt to be fired and for Fulmer not to back his own hire at this juncture. We should be 3-1, we got caught sleeping, should have beaten BYU but made a tour mistake and didn’t have the depth or the QB that Pruitt inherited to hang with Florida. There were also some very bad calls and dumb decisions that prevented us from going into halftime with a lead. This year was supposed to be a growing year and is much more of that than anyone realized. All this talk about 8 wins or more and JG going pro went to show everyone how unrealistic they are and how little they understood about the situation of our program. I had us on the high end of 7 wins. I have to throw myself in that boat now lol... but seriously folks, sit back and watch and let’s see if we look better towards the end. We can’t afford injuries and Banks is an idiot for talking that way. Cops will take it easy on you if you respect them... he just thugged out and is lucky he has a coach who backs him.

Phil Fulmer just kicked the fire Jeremy Pruitt firing decision until the end of the 2020 season when the decision will be made.

 

[Sundeanvol]

I listened to his entire interview last night on Vol Calls.
He completely confronted the idea of him coaching again.
He did not give a cute answer or avoid the question.
He emphatically stated that he no longer wants to coach at UT or anywhere else.

He also did not avoid the question of his support for Pruitt.
Many AD’s in such a situation will give the dreaded insincere, lukewarm vote of confidence.
This was nothing like that.
He was effusive in his praise for Pruitt and almost begged our fan base for more time for Pruitt to upgrade the roster.
He said he’s 100% sure that Pruitt is the right guy.

Now, it’s not that I necessarily agree with that.
And I’m not one of those pro or anti Fulmer people.
I appreciate both his strengths and flaws.
But, this interview was a home run in that he didn’t dodge anything and, wrongly or rightly, let us know that he is
“all in” on Pruitt.

So, I’ve changed my previous prediction that a 3-9 finish or worse might force a change.
I now believe that even at 1-11, Pruitt stays.
It is what it is.

UT grad here...what does effusive mean?

 

[Myrtleturtle]

I don't think the outside world of media really matters with Phil at all. I mean ever since the Schiano stuff, they were never gonna write about us in good light anyway.

I think he cares because I doubt that he likes Tennessee being the butt of all jokes NATIONALLY.

 

[peerless98]

---
PF is the root of UT's problems.
Despite a very impressive coaching record his name wasn't even mentioned with ANY coaching vacancy.

WHY? It's well known in the world of coaching that he's a back stabber.
Further he won because of a rigged academic system that was exposed and shut down. He recruited thugs.
It's named the Fulmer Cup for a reason.

Ignorant post.

 

[Orange931]

I’ve been critical of Pruitt, but I honestly think he’s gonna turn out to be a slam dunk hire in the not so distant future. Something tells me he’s about to get this train rolling starting in ‘20 and remove all doubt. We’ll get a glimpse of our bright future when he finally benches JG and have a strong finish to end the year. When he gets his head out of his a** with the QB position, this will be a totally different team.

 

[Vfl2407]

UT grad here...what does effusive mean?

Lol....a whole helluva damn lot.
“The young man couldn’t contain himself when he saw how beautiful his new girlfriend looked lavishing her with effusive praise”.

 

[mack123]

I listened to his entire interview last night on Vol Calls.
He completely confronted the idea of him coaching again.
He did not give a cute answer or avoid the question.
He emphatically stated that he no longer wants to coach at UT or anywhere else.

He also did not avoid the question of his support for Pruitt.
Many AD’s in such a situation will give the dreaded insincere, lukewarm vote of confidence.
This was nothing like that.
He was effusive in his praise for Pruitt and almost begged our fan base for more time for Pruitt to upgrade the roster.
He said he’s 100% sure that Pruitt is the right guy.

Now, it’s not that I necessarily agree with that.
And I’m not one of those pro or anti Fulmer people.
I appreciate both his strengths and flaws.
But, this interview was a home run in that he didn’t dodge anything and, wrongly or rightly, let us know that he is
“all in” on Pruitt.

So, I’ve changed my previous prediction that a 3-9 finish or worse might force a change.
I now believe that even at 1-11, Pruitt stays.
It is what it is.

Phil Fulmer...the great coach who never coach a great team after manning and T martin.........the great coach who couldnt get hire outside Tennesse....the great coach with terrible X's and O's........LOL LOL LOL....David Cucliff should move up as Tennessee Coach.......LOL LOL LOL....who's the brain around VOL NATION

 

[14VolFan88]

I listened to his entire interview last night on Vol Calls.
He completely confronted the idea of him coaching again.
He did not give a cute answer or avoid the question.
He emphatically stated that he no longer wants to coach at UT or anywhere else.

He also did not avoid the question of his support for Pruitt.
Many AD’s in such a situation will give the dreaded insincere, lukewarm vote of confidence.
This was nothing like that.
He was effusive in his praise for Pruitt and almost begged our fan base for more time for Pruitt to upgrade the roster.
He said he’s 100% sure that Pruitt is the right guy.

Now, it’s not that I necessarily agree with that.
And I’m not one of those pro or anti Fulmer people.
I appreciate both his strengths and flaws.
But, this interview was a home run in that he didn’t dodge anything and, wrongly or rightly, let us know that he is
“all in” on Pruitt.

So, I’ve changed my previous prediction that a 3-9 finish or worse might force a change.
I now believe that even at 1-11, Pruitt stays.
It is what it is.

Of course he's supporting Pruitt. It's his ass too if Pruitt fails. Especially with that awful contract.

And he cost us Leach.

 

[Thorp32]

My working assumption this entire time has been that Phil gets one shot at this. If Pruitt fails, Phil is almost surely gone too. Maybe not immediately (because they'd have to buy Phil out too) but he'll be a dead man walking for a while then eventually shown the door.

Not so sure. What happens if the women's BT HC is succesful? I think he gets a pass on this hire regardless.

 

[BigOrangeAl 1979]

Just hire back Kiffin already and end this nightmare.

 

[VolunGator]

Phil Fulmer...the great coach who never coach a great team after manning and T martin.........the great coach who couldnt get hire outside Tennesse....the great coach with terrible X's and O's........LOL LOL LOL....David Cucliff should move up as Tennessee Coach.......LOL LOL LOL....who's the brain around VOL NATION

---
PF is the problem.

 

[jlovevols]

I don’t understand the hate and conspiracy theories thrown at Fulmer on this board. He’s handling things like a professional. I don’t know if Pruitt will turn things around, but it’s always been more about 2020 anyway. It would take the wheels coming off completely to not have a third season.

 

[KeyVol14]

Fortunately, that decision will not fall solely on Fulmer. There is a point he will be powerless to resist the inevitable. I don’t know when that is, and it’s likely not this year....but there is a tipping point. There always is. And if he waits too long, the changes won’t just include CJP.

Phil should remember, someone always has more “juice”.

If you can't see the progress on the field outside of QB play then idk how to tell you. He deserves three years minimum, let me say that I'm not happy with the simple mistakes we keep making

 

['Boro-vol]

If you can't see the progress on the field outside of QB play then idk how to tell you. He deserves three years minimum

You don’t know how to tell me, that’s true. Nor do I need you to.

And Pruitt will likely get three years....I’ve not said otherwise.

 

[Vfl2407]

If you can't see the progress on the field outside of QB play then idk how to tell you. He deserves three years minimum, of course downside only proof is the record in which no one is happy with

Georgia State controlled both lines of scrimmage.
BYU pushed our whole defense five yards into the end zone in overtime.
Florida 34 Vols 3