I respect Fulmer a little more after each game we lose

[howie87]

We make a big deal about winning games nowadays he use to win blindfolded. I’m not sure we will ever get back within being 75% of the win production he produced . Recruiting is the key. Must needs. Vol for life , hate losing especially to Georgia.

Impressively bad take... And I mean, you are in rare company on this forum to say something this stupid and it stand out...

 

[Volizona]

The Bear, Bowden and Paterno all had consecutive down years in their tenures but they got the opportunity to turn it around. Fulmer earned that but he wasn't given the chance. Had we stuck with him, Clawson would have probably been our coach the last 5-10 years and we most likely would have avoided the debacle of the last 15 years.
Fulmer gave us the greatest era of Vol football in our lifetimes and idiots refuse to give him credit!

What? We have some old timers on VN who might have seen some of final Neyland seasons even if they were kids. If so, Fulmer might not have given THEM the best era of their lifetimes. Lol, with that said they would have to be in their 80s and 90s.

 

[Volizona]

The Bear, Bowden and Paterno all had consecutive down years in their tenures but they got the opportunity to turn it around. Fulmer earned that but he wasn't given the chance. Had we stuck with him, Clawson would have probably been our coach the last 5-10 years and we most likely would have avoided the debacle of the last 15 years.
Fulmer gave us the greatest era of Vol football in our lifetimes and idiots refuse to give him credit!

Without looking up those coaches records, I would but guessing but I think they all had a more accomplished body of work than Fulmer when they started having bad seasons. I think they all won multiple Nattys and played for quite a few more than Fulmer. Did any of them have 2 losing seasons in 4 years or was it mostly .500 seasons?

 

[chattavol420]

We let him stay much longer after his championship than Ed O or Gene C were allowed. 2 if his last 4 years we’re losing seasons. I’m not really sure how he found the success in the 90’s he had. Fuller wasn’t a specialist at anything really. I’d say The stars just kinda aligned perfectly for him. A lot like coach O really. Uga and bama were really at historic lows during his hayday and the sec as a whole was there to be exploited.
And separately all the good will he accumulated with the fans should be lost based on his sliding in the back door and making the least creative/laziest hire in Tennessee football history.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

We let him stay much longer after his championship than Ed O or Gene C were allowed. 2 if his last 4 years we’re losing seasons. I’m not really sure how he found the success in the 90’s he had. Fuller wasn’t a specialist at anything really. I’d say The stars just kinda aligned perfectly for him. A lot like coach O really. Uga and bama were really at historic lows during his hayday and the sec as a whole was there to be exploited.
And separately all the good will he accumulated with the fans should be lost based on his sliding in the back door and making the least creative/laziest hire in Tennessee football history.

I agree he put his job in play, but NO VFL should be replaced with a POS like Kiffin. We have paid a mighty price for his hiring.

 

[TheFlash1971]

From 2002 to 2008, the Vols were 57-32 (.640) which was the 24th best record in the nation and 5th best in the SEC for that time period. Won or shared the championship of the SEC East and played in 2 SECCGs. Went to 5 bowl games in that 7 year period which consisted of 2 Peach Bowls, 2 Outback Bowls, and a Cotton Bowl. That time frame also included two 10 win seasons, a 9 win and an 8 win season.

Tennessee has been no where close to that record since the first ballot HOF coach was fired. Further, in the time frame you cherry picked, the Vols winning pct was the same as Johnny Majors' entire time at UT (64%).

You'd love to have a 7 year run like that again at this point.

Fulmer is old hat , I’m over Phil Fulmer. Yes I watched every game in the 90’s and beyond with him. Guy was a good recruiter that’s it. With all the talent Tennessee had in the span that guy coached was actually disappointing. Besides the Florida State NC game, he lost to most teams with just as good of talent as him.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

We let him stay much longer after his championship than Ed O or Gene C were allowed. 2 if his last 4 years we’re losing seasons. I’m not really sure how he found the success in the 90’s he had. Fuller wasn’t a specialist at anything really. I’d say The stars just kinda aligned perfectly for him. A lot like coach O really. Uga and bama were really at historic lows during his hayday and the sec as a whole was there to be exploited.
And separately all the good will he accumulated with the fans should be lost based on his sliding in the back door and making the least creative/laziest hire in Tennessee football history.

I agree CPF put his job in play, and a rational replacement would have been a good thing, but NO VFL should be replaced with a POS like Kiffin. We have paid a mighty price for his hiring.

 

[Volizona]

I agree CPF put his job in play, and a rational replacement would have been a good thing, but NO VFL should be replaced with a POS like Kiffin. We have paid a mighty price for his hiring.

Gave you a like for both of your comments stating the same thing.

 

[volsrock09]

He is backpedalling faster than the Sunseri Secondary in 2012

They could backpedal?

 

[onevol74]

Coach Cutt was great, Fulmer not so much.

I will give it too him that he could recruit, but outside the Georgia coaches during the same time period he did less with more than most coaches.

Spurrier outclassed him constantly.

Not just Spurrier, but Meyer and Saban ate his lunch. He was a coach of the past when he was fired in 2008.

 

[JMSqb11]

You shouldn't continue to post if you're going to make it up as you go. I never stated that we backed into the division title. I just provided factual context and detail to that particular season, for which you provided very little detail nuance to in your description of it. No mention of how pathetically unprepared we were in the games that we were blown out. You're trying to add a false sense of luster to a coach who had obviously seen his better days

Simple yes or no question. Did we win the East Title in 2007 with best record of the east team plus tie breakers? If your answer is Yes, you can not say we backed into a division title. But yes, i'm the one making stuff up.

 

[sanefan]

It is one heck of a mistake to fire a coach in good standing without some better solutions in your pocket! That is what your top left drawer is for. Hamilton did it and then Currie did the same dang thing. Losing a coach or having to fire a coach for cause is a whole different story.

Even if you agree with that it is still a hiring mistake not a firing mistake.

I guess it's up to interpretation what "a coach in good standing means. I would say a less than desirable record over the past few years is not good standing to me but you might.

The idea that any school can just open a drawer and call a coach knowing they will come and be better is not reality for a number of reasons and the failure of coaches that get hired after a coach is fired is evidence of that. Just ask LSU, Neb, Florida, Texas how they feel right now.

 

[87&91ALUM]

Interesting. The folks that sat in the seats during the Fulmer years remember how awesome those years were. The folks who weren't born then and may or may not sit in the seats today rail on the career of one of the greatest coaches in American history. Seems like a trend these days. Burn down what you did not experience and have no clue about while burning down what you created. And then there is the impact of the internet, ESPN, and hateful media in picking winners and losers. I know and appreciate Phil. Do I agree with every decision he made...no. Do I hope CJH and the current team/admin/staff get it done and have us back in the top ten every year with SEC and NCAA championships? You betcha. As someone, heck a lot of people have said, haters gonna hate. Welcome to 2021-22. Go Vols!

 

[USAFgolferVol]

Simple yes or no question. Did we win the East Title in 2007 with best record of the east team plus tie breakers? If your answer is Yes, you can not say we backed into a division title. But yes, i'm the one making stuff up.

Yes. I've never said we backed into it, you immature liar

Yes, you're clearly making things up as far as my comments.

 

[hog88]

Interesting. The folks that sat in the seats during the Fulmer years remember how awesome those years were. The folks who weren't born then and may or may not sit in the seats today rail on the career of one of the greatest coaches in American history. Seems like a trend these days. Burn down what you did not experience and have no clue about while burning down what you created. And then there is the impact of the internet, ESPN, and hateful media in picking winners and losers. I know and appreciate Phil. Do I agree with every decision he made...no. Do I hope CJH and the current team/admin/staff get it done and have us back in the top ten every year with SEC and NCAA championships? You betcha. As someone, heck a lot of people have said, haters gonna hate. Welcome to 2021-22. Go Vols!

I sat in the seats during the Fulmer years and yes while there were some great times there were also times of complete frustration. Fulmer had some of the most talented teams of the 90s yet except for 1998 he always figured out a way to drop a game or two he shouldn't have. Fulmer should have won 3 NCs between 97 and 2001. Then in the absence of Cut Fulmer was average at best so his firing was more than justified it was overdue.

 

[87&91ALUM]

I sat in the seats during the Fulmer years and yes while there were some great times there were also times of complete frustration. Fulmer had some of the most talented teams of the 90s yet except for 1998 he always figured out a way to drop a game or two he shouldn't have. Fulmer should have won 3 NCs between 97 and 2001. Then in the absence of Cut Fulmer was average at best so his firing was more than justified it was overdue.

Show me a coach that doesn't screw up once in a while. I disgree with you. Crap in one hand and wish in the other and see which one gets full first. "Should have"...LOL Classic comment there Hog88

 

[USAFgolferVol]

I sat in the seats during the Fulmer years and yes while there were some great times there were also times of complete frustration. Fulmer had some of the most talented teams of the 90s yet except for 1998 he always figured out a way to drop a game or two he shouldn't have. Fulmer should have won 3 NCs between 97 and 2001. Then in the absence of Cut Fulmer was average at best so his firing was more than justified it was overdue.

The 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2001 teams were all more talented, position by position, than the 1998 squad

 

[USAFgolferVol]

Interesting. The folks that sat in the seats during the Fulmer years remember how awesome those years were. The folks who weren't born then and may or may not sit in the seats today rail on the career of one of the greatest coaches in American history. Seems like a trend these days. Burn down what you did not experience and have no clue about while burning down what you created. And then there is the impact of the internet, ESPN, and hateful media in picking winners and losers. I know and appreciate Phil. Do I agree with every decision he made...no. Do I hope CJH and the current team/admin/staff get it done and have us back in the top ten every year with SEC and NCAA championships? You betcha. As someone, heck a lot of people have said, haters gonna hate. Welcome to 2021-22. Go Vols!

I've been a fan since the late 1960s. Sat in the seats in that decade and every one since. Stating facts about Fulmer isn't "hating". Hateful media?

 

[stillwater5]

We make a big deal about winning games nowadays he use to win blindfolded. I’m not sure we will ever get back within being 75% of the win production he produced . Recruiting is the key. Must needs. Vol for life , hate losing especially to Georgia.

Fulmer shot down Leach coming here and look at Miss State now, not to mention giving Pruitt and himself a raise for the **** show they created.

 

[YankeeVol]

Fulmer helped bury the program more than any other person. Good riddance. Keep him as far away as possible

 

[volbound1700]

What was Saban’s record his second season? Can we expect the same thing from Heupel?

Probably not because Alabama was in more of a healthy shape at that time as a program versus Tennessee right now.

 

[BanditVol]

Fulmer had a losing record the year he was let go. He was no better than Butch Jones from 2002-2008

Dooley was 4-8 the year we hired him. At ****ING LOUISIANA TECH!!!

The point being, if you're going to fire a legend, you dam well have a good replacement in the wings, or look out.

If you don't believe me, look at how two other top teams of the late 90s transpired. Nebraska fired Stolich even though he had a decent record, and has never recovered. FSU tolerated Bowden long after he lost it, experienced some mediocrity, then won it all with Fisher.

We clearly would have been better off holding on to Fulmer a bit. If nothing else, the payout would have been lower. Hamilton should have gone down with the ship.

 

[BanditVol]

Probably not because Alabama was in more of a healthy shape at that time as a program versus Tennessee right now.

talent wise for sure. Shula could at least recruit to some extent

But what really happened is the massive cheating kicked in under Saban. The NCAA was in the midst of a lawsuit from bama and wasn't in any position to stop it.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Even if you agree with that it is still a hiring mistake not a firing mistake.

I guess it's up to interpretation what "a coach in good standing means. I would say a less than desirable record over the past few years is not good standing to me but you might.

The idea that any school can just open a drawer and call a coach knowing they will come and be better is not reality for a number of reasons and the failure of coaches that get hired after a coach is fired is evidence of that. Just ask LSU, Neb, Florida, Texas how they feel right now.

Disagree, timing is everything. Don't remove your air tank underwater if you don' t have a verified good replacement. Even if he had kept CPF one more year that could not has gone as badly as the Kiffin fiasco and it's RELATED aftermath.

You cannot have direct communications with sitting coaches which would be tampering, but you sure can have your people talk to his people and discuss some what if scenarios and you put those guys names in that drawer. You think LSU has not back channeling with a guy out in Texas?

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

Dooley was 4-8 the year we hired him. At ****ING LOUISIANA TECH!!!

The point being, if you're going to fire a legend, you dam well have a good replacement in the wings, or look out.

If you don't believe me, look at how two other top teams of the late 90s transpired. Nebraska fired Stolich even though he had a decent record, and has never recovered. FSU tolerated Bowden long after he lost it, experienced some mediocrity, then won it all with Fisher.

We clearly would have been better off holding on to Fulmer a bit. If nothing else, the payout would have been lower. Hamilton should have gone down with the ship.

Yes Hamilton is the downfall of the FB program and most of the mens sports programs during his time. TN FB was a prime job when Fulmer was let go and a top notch coach could have been hired. Cut would have taken the job but insisted on bringing his own assistants and Hamilton said no deal. Asst. coach Lovie Smith could have been hired on an interim basis but no Hamilton ended up with Kiffin who was still a 6 yr old in maturity at the time and followed that with Dooley. Blame Hammy for this debacle that has taken over a decade to start recovering from