If you had it to do over again?

[kptvol]

He recruited the player who you are named after, now didn't he

I'm not named after a player, so no.

 

[checkerboards09]

You remember that when you bring up Dooley's accomplishments. If you don't think winning a national title at Pitt isn't impressive, even in 1977, then I don't know what to tell you.

Nobody said it wasn't impressive. What the hell does it have to do with UT? That's the question.

 

[ddean1357]

I rated each coach on a point value of 1-6 points ranked inversely. The coach with the highest point total embodies the qualities of the top five Tennessee coaching criteria.

Fulmer 21 points
Majors 20 points
Dickey 20 points
Kiffin 18 points
Dooley 14 points
Battle 9 points

If Kiffin had more respect for the traditions of Tennessee football and would've promoted Tennessee as a brand rather than a springboard to the NFL, he would've won hands down.

THat last sentence is completely crazy. Kiffin has lost everywhere he has been a head coach. He had success as a coordinator at USC, but the program was already built when he arrived. He was put into the hottest program in college football and had some success. He was not the head coach of that team. He had an impressive staff. Mainly because of his dad. Ogre is a failed head coach, who acts like a complete moron. He got a lot of media attention while he was here, but I don't think that qualifies as media savvy. 90% of the press he received was negative. We all talk about what a great job he did against Alabama. We seem to foget that special teams is a huge part of football. They obviously were not coached very well. Who do we blame for that. Your point is way off base. Kiffin did not do anything to even qualify him to be on this list. He was never a Vol. Just a troll waiting for something he thought was bigger.

 

[Henry Knox]

Why those criteria? Why not rank them based on who was most likely to win championships in the years ahead?

Well, after readiing the comments of many different view points since Fulmer replaced Majors and Kiffin replaced Fulmer and Dooley replaced Kiffin......it became clear that winning future championships would be difficult with a revolving door at the Head Coaches office.

There are only 3 coaches of long tenure in Tennessee Football history. They are Neyland, Majors, and Fulmer. All three had elements of the top 5 criteria and all three won national championships. Past history.

There are several coaches of shorter tenure that faired well, Battle, Dickey, and Wyatt.....but they all lost their luster inside of 8 years for different reasons. Past history.

So, in answer to your question, these 5 criteria reflect the expectations of a fragile fanbase, the post Kiffin media, and a pressured administration at the University of Tennessee. Present and future.

 

[VolDad]

But tell me how a championship at Pitt means anything for UT? I don't think South Carolina gives a flip about Spurrier's championship at Florida. They weren't awarded a trophy when he got the job.

Who said it did. My response was to the OP's attempt to downplay Majors 2 Conference Championships and 3 BCS bowls in his last 3 3/4 UT years while fluffing Fulmer’s 0 Conference Championships and 0 BCS bowls in his last 10 years.

 

[kptvol]

THat last sentence is completely crazy. Kiffin has lost everywhere he has been a head coach. He had success as a coordinator at USC, but the program was already built when he arrived. He was put into the hottest program in college football and had some success. He was not the head coach of that team. He had an impressive staff. Mainly because of his dad. Ogre is a failed head coach, who acts like a complete moron. He got a lot of media attention while he was here, but I don't think that qualifies as media savvy. 90% of the press he received was negative. We all talk about what a great job he did against Alabama. We seem to foget that special teams is a huge part of football. They obviously were not coached very well. Who do we blame for that. Your point is way off base. Kiffin did not do anything to even qualify him to be on this list. He was never a Vol. Just a troll waiting for something he thought was bigger.

Geez. Can no one read? The man gave a set of criteria. You just described a bunch of crap that wasn't included.

 

[NeylandArmy]

Yeah, clearly a 10-win season was right around the corner. The Wyoming game was going to be the catalyst that vaulted the Vols back to national prominence.

I don't think that you can count a game where the players were giving a giant f'ing middle finger to the AD as counting as anything but that giant middle finger

 

[NeylandArmy]

What would you call it?

I would call it a hell of a lot better than what we did last year!

 

[kptvol]

I don't think that you can count a game where the players were giving a giant f'ing middle finger to the AD as counting as anything but that giant middle finger

Bullcrap. Our completely inept offense played like crap and lost the game for us just like it did six other times that year. The defense played predictably well.

 

[checkerboards09]

Who said it did. My response was to the OP's attempt to downplay Majors 2 Conference Championships and 3 BCS bowls in his last 3 3/4 UT years while fluffing Fulmer’s 0 Conference Championships and 0 BCS bowls in his last 10 years.

Im a fan of Majors, not dissing the guy at all. About the Fulmer thing, I agree with most, Fulmer had to go several years before he actually went.

 

[VegasVol]

Still does not make Fulmer's accomplishment superior.

Fulmer did it in the era of scholarship limits, SEC title games, BCS title games, and having to defeat the #2 program in the country, the #3 program in the country, the Big East champion, the 8th ranked team in the country, and two more ranked opponents. Let's compare schedules:

# of Opponents With Winning Records
Pitt '76: 3
UT '98: 8

# of Ranked Opponents
Pitt '76: 2
UT '98: 6

# of Opponents With Comparable Talent
Pitt '76: 1
UT '98: 4

So, no fan with an ounce of sanity or knowledge would consider Majors '76 achievement comparable to what Fulmer achieved in '98.

 

[kptvol]

I would call it a hell of a lot better than what we did last year!

I'd call it a year Fulmer considered exceptional and a year a younger, hungrier coach would consider a building year. Remember, Fulmer started giving players rings for winning the SEC East.

 

[ihateflorida]

You remember that when you bring up Dooley's accomplishments. If you don't think winning a national title at Pitt isn't impressive, even in 1977, then I don't know what to tell you.

Never said it wasnt impressive, I said I didnt give a crap if it wasnt for the BIG ORANGE!!!

 

[NeylandArmy]

I'm not named after a player, so no.

really, your berrylium name has nothing to do with Eric Berry....REALLY!?!

 

[99gator]

Who said it did. My response was to the OP's attempt to downplay Majors 2 Conference Championships and 3 BCS bowls in his last 3 3/4 UT years while fluffing Fulmer’s 0 Conference Championships and 0 BCS bowls in his last 10 years.

do you think majors would have finished the decade with the same record that fulmer did?

 

[utmba93]

Well, after readiing the comments of many different view points since Fulmer replaced Majors and Kiffin replaced Fulmer and Dooley replaced Kiffin......it became clear that winning future championships would be difficult with a revolving door at the Head Coaches office.

There are only 3 coaches of long tenure in Tennessee Football history. They are Neyland, Majors, and Fulmer. All three had elements of the top 5 criteria and all three won national championships. Past history.

There are several coaches of shorter tenure that faired well, Battle, Dickey, and Wyatt.....but they all lost their luster inside of 8 years for different reasons. Past history.

So, in answer to your question, these 5 criteria reflect the expectations of a fragile fanbase, the post Kiffin media, and a pressured administration at the University of Tennessee. Present and future.

Just to help clarify, Henry, is 'past history' different from history?

Welcome to VN! :hi:

 

[vol66]

I don't think that you can count a game where the players were giving a giant f'ing middle finger to the AD as counting as anything but that giant middle finger

Why not?

 

[utvolpj]

I don't think that you can count a game where the players were giving a giant f'ing middle finger to the AD as counting as anything but that giant middle finger

so you're saying they threw the game to get back at MH?

 

[kptvol]

So, no fan with an ounce of sanity or knowledge would consider Majors '76 achievement comparable to what Fulmer achieved in '98.

Well yeah, clearly building a team from scratch (1-10 the year before his arrival) and winning a championship isn't comparable to winning a champonship at a school that was already near the top of its conference.

 

[utmba93]

really, your berrylium name has nothing to do with Eric Berry....REALLY!?!

Read his team icons...left to right.

 

[kptvol]

really, your berrylium name has nothing to do with Eric Berry....REALLY!?!

That's not my name. And Eric Berry wasn't lost to attrition. Thus, your comment is completely meaningless. You could not be more wrong if you were trying. Go away.

 

[VolDad]

do you think majors would have finished the decade with the same record that fulmer did?

I don’t know. I do know that Fulmer rode his NC for far too many years which helped put us where we are today. The OP is an example of what that.

 

[NeylandArmy]

so you're saying they threw the game to get back at MH?

I am saying that there minds weren't exactly on the game....you telling me that with someone who got you to come to this university, who you have dedicated yourself to was shown the door in a not so nice fashion that you would come to play on game day? No way.....and I didn't expect to win that game after seeing the players reactions at the press conference.

 

[ddean1357]

Geez. Can no one read? The man gave a set of criteria. You just described a bunch of crap that wasn't included.

I was addressing the last sentence. The other things in my post did address his points. He said Kiffin would have been #1 if he had of embraced the tradition. He didn't. I guess your reading comprehension sucks.

 

[Duckhook]

Fulmer has no one to blame but himself. Through all of the doubt and clammoring for change in the program, the gift of the SEC Championship Game emerged in Dec 2007. Matched up vs. Les Miles in what was basically a role-reversal from 2001, he had every opportunity to tighten the grip again by finally winning another SEC title, which would have undoubtedly silenced the critics for awhile, and bought him another 2-3 years, minimum.

He didn't get it done.