It's Time

#26
#26
Very Well Said.

The Magic of 1998 is over.

Its time to clean house and start fresh
 
#27
#27
This has been a great run since about 1992. Maybe the time has come for new blood. I don't know. I'm at a lost for words.
 
#29
#29
I agree 100% I got started with TN football in the Majors era. I grew up in Rhea County so Andy Kelly was my hero. I have met the man many many times and watching him play on saturday's a little part of my town and life were engrained through his exploits. Me and my Dad have watched game after game together and they all have moments that are a special part of my life. I remember the Miracle in South Bend and my Dad swinging me around the room both of us shouting in joy. I remember John Ward proclaiming, "The NAtional Champions are clad in Orange!" with both of us shedding tears of joy.

Tennessee football is not a mere sports team in Knoxville. They are the hero's of children, the dreams of men, and the Soul of a state. The thought of a mediocre and heartless team breaks the heart of thousands.
 
#31
#31
The key to this is that in the business world, your competition evolves. You cannot keep an outdated system while your competition upgrades and moves forward. Look at the successful programs recently in the SEC. They're all new coaches with new styles to the conference. Miles, Richt, Meyer. Our system in all practicality is outdated. I know of the loyalty to Fulmer and where he got us but where do you draw the line? Loyalty to someone who now puts us into the second tier in the conference or the desire to jump ahead to at least an equal in the conference with newer systems? I think we've cashed in the loyalty factor for Fulmer by keeping him here this long.

We are at a crossroads. We have no respect nationally. Sure, who cares about the press? But what of recruiting? We either got top recruits and did little with them or get second or third tier recruits and did little with them. All the signs are showing. Few teams fear us anymore. We lose at home. We lose bowl games. We lose to top 25 teams. We cannot beat the best in our conference. Our recruits have dropped off. Etc. Etc. We are solidly in the second tier of the conference and the division. We gave Fulmer the chance to make it right with some coaching changes. We excused the young, inexperienced player line only to see other teams with the same issues pound us.

Where do we draw the line? Where do we say enough is enough? How far into a hole do we dig ourselves into? Yes, I know. We're winning more than we're losing and at least getting to bowl games. Well so are quite a few second and third tier teams. Is that where we want to be? Do we want to be the perennial pick for the Swisher Urinal Screen Bowl?
 
#32
#32
CSpindizzy said:
The key to this is that in the business world, your competition evolves. You cannot keep an outdated system while your competition upgrades and moves forward. Look at the successful programs recently in the SEC. They're all new coaches with new styles to the conference. Miles, Richt, Meyer. Our system in all practicality is outdated. I know of the loyalty to Fulmer and where he got us but where do you draw the line? Loyalty to someone who now puts us into the second tier in the conference or the desire to jump ahead to at least an equal in the conference with newer systems? I think we've cashed in the loyalty factor for Fulmer by keeping him here this long.

We are at a crossroads. We have no respect nationally. Sure, who cares about the press? But what of recruiting? We either got top recruits and did little with them or get second or third tier recruits and did little with them. All the signs are showing. Few teams fear us anymore. We lose at home. We lose bowl games. We lose to top 25 teams. We cannot beat the best in our conference. Our recruits have dropped off. Etc. Etc. We are solidly in the second tier of the conference and the division. We gave Fulmer the chance to make it right with some coaching changes. We excused the young, inexperienced player line only to see other teams with the same issues pound us.

Where do we draw the line? Where do we say enough is enough? How far into a hole do we dig ourselves into? Yes, I know. We're winning more than we're losing and at least getting to bowl games. Well so are quite a few second and third tier teams. Is that where we want to be? Do we want to be the perennial pick for the Swisher Urinal Screen Bowl?
Click to expand...

CSpin, I've always thought you should be a VN GURU. This post confirms my assessment.:salute:
 
#33
#33
rockydoc said:
CSpin, I've always thought you should be a VN GURU. This post confirms my assessment.:salute:
Click to expand...

Thank you. But I think I've rocked the Politics forum boat too much.

I just look at this from all perspectives...business, personal, etc. Hamilton stepped up from basketball mediocrity or even the abyss. Can he do the same for football? How much pride do we have? To be fully competitive with the USCs, LSUs, etc? Or just to squeak into average bowls at most? The effects of mediocrity are showing across the board. Mediocrity hardly ever improves unless major changes are made.
 
#34
#34
Great posts.

I was at UT when Phil took over. Phil Fulmer was never intended to be the head coach. At the time when Majors had heart surgury it was a situation of who becomes temporary head coach and I believe they looked at it as the Offensive and Defensive coordinators should stay where they are and who else could be moved up and not affect the team. The offensive line coach seemed like the best option seeing that at the time. They got lucky in that year for Phil and Johnny was embattled over a 9 year loosing streak to Bama.

Phillip is a super individual, but his football team hasn't been a threat to anyone in years. He ought to be able to retire or be promoted to assistant AD or something, but the Vols need a new coach badly.

Skipper
 
#35
#35
All good posts. Nice job Arizona. I too have many fond memories watching the Vols with my Dad and brothers. Thanks to Phillip for many great memories and outstanding seasons but as you said in your post "It is time."

Go Vols!
 
#36
#36
Excellent post, VIA

I love how you borrowed the text of John Ward's retirement announcement for your title. Very apropos
 
#37
#37
Great post!!

I had similar feeling when I saw the sigh..."here it comes again..."
 
#38
#38
Can someone post the "sigh." I keep hearing about it. I think I was staring at the ground in disgust when it happened.
 
#40
#40
My sentiments regarding Fulmer are best expressed in the words of modern American poet Vince Neil: "Don't go away mad, just go away."
 
#43
#43
I have strong feeling that the decision will be more economic at this point. If the buyout for Fulmer is steep Hamilton will stick it out for another year or two.
 
#44
#44
flashoforange said:
I have strong feeling that the decision will be more economic at this point. If the buyout for Fulmer is steep Hamilton will stick it out for another year or two.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of big time boosters to make up the difference if they feel a change is needed.
 
#45
#45
Take the 1 million that Phil gave to UT, and use it toward buying out his contract.
 
#46
#46
i go back to the days of doug dickey and i remember the long death of the bill battle era. the last couple of years, his recruiting failures caught up with him and the double whammy of having johnny majors, a born and bred vol, in the midst of a national championship year at pittsburgh. vol fans had wet dreams of him doing the same in k-town, but in the end, all he could manage was a higher level of mediocrity. i agree, its time for fulmer to go, but don't be surprised if the next candidate doesn't prove to be a disappointment.
 
#48
#48
Great post VA. It is time. I just find it hard to believe that he will be fired or resign.



And me not going to school at UT doesnt make you more of a Volunteer than I am. My blood is as orange as yours my friend.
 
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