Thanks for your input LAVol. For me, Fulmer did a lot of good for the program up until 2001. Those close to the situation encouraged him to retire while he was on top or near the top. I hated for him to go out the way he did. That being said, he steadily took the program downward getting blown out in big games and bowl games time and again. Yes, we played in the 2001, 2004 and 2007 SEC Championship games but we lost. Nobody remembers the superbowl loser. Even 2007, everyone knew FL was the better team, they blew us out in Gainsville that year. That being said, I actually think the program would be better off today if Fulmer HAD NOT BEEN FIRED but it is what it is.
Why is it my opinion that Fulmer ran the program into the ground twice-because the Dave Clawson hire was catstrophic to the program. That hire is on Fulmer, he owns it. It set in motion a series of irreversbile events-repeated losing-resulting in his firing and the hiring of Kifin, Dooley, Jones and now Pruitt. The Pruitt hire is clearly awful. How long can we wait for Pruitt to learn, to get aggressive, to go out there and coach to win...? We are seeing an inexperienced coach, coaching scared, coaching not to lose. He does not appear to be learning. He is stubborn and he is setting BAD records. Pruit, so far is actually worse than Butch Jones (never thought I'd say that). In full disclaimer part of this is emotion and reaction but my goodness Pruitt looks like one of the worst hires we could have made and Fulmer made it!