Johnny Majors Fired!!!

#1
B

biggestvols

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Messages
1,089
Likes
979
#1
I was a kid but I remember my dad talking about the fan base wanting Johnny fired in his last full year. He said the fans cussed and threw drinks at him as he walked through the concourse. He always said Johnny deserved better being a Tennessee legend and leaving a NC team to coach UT.

I know people weren’t as PC as they are today and I’m glad our fans aren’t as rabid as they once were. Johnny was fired mid-season. I don’t see why Butch finishes out the season when a Legendary VFL didn’t get that same treatment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9 people
#2
#2
biggestvols said:
I was a kid but I remember my dad talking about the fan base wanting Johnny fired in his last full year. He said the fans cussed and threw drinks at him as he walked through the concourse. He always said Johnny deserved better being a Tennessee legend and leaving a NC team to coach UT.

I know people weren’t as PC as they are today and I’m glad our fans aren’t as rabid as they once were. Johnny was fired mid-season. I don’t see why Butch finishes out the season when a Legendary VFL didn’t get that same treatment.
Click to expand...

Johnny would fire Butch in a heartbeat
 
  • Like
Reactions: 21 people
#3
#3
]Johnny wasnt really "fired" midseason. He basically walked away when he realized he wasn't going to be able to keep the job one the season ended
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
#4
#4
GAVol said:
Johnny wasnt really "fired" midseason. He basically walked away when he realized he wasn't going to be able to keep the job one the season ended.
Click to expand...

You can call it what you want. He clearly wanted to continue and it wasn’t happening. He has remained bitter until this day.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#6
#6
biggestvols said:
I was a kid but I remember my dad talking about the fan base wanting Johnny fired in his last full year. He said the fans cussed and threw drinks at him as he walked through the concourse. He always said Johnny deserved better being a Tennessee legend and leaving a NC team to coach UT.

I know people weren’t as PC as they are today and I’m glad our fans aren’t as rabid as they once were. Johnny was fired mid-season. I don’t see why Butch finishes out the season when a Legendary VFL didn’t get that same treatment.
Click to expand...

Almost 25 years ago is when this went down. Hiring Fulmer was the last great hire (in a major sport) this athletic department has made (I'd call Pearl a very good hire but the NCAA cloud/show cause and subsequent FBI issues at the Barn tarnishes what he did somewhat so I won't say great).
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#7
#7
Majors had lost the locker room. His years of hard drinking had caught up with him and he was in poor health.

Fulmer showed that the same team would play and win for him. When Johnny came back, they quit playing hard again.

I'm a Johnny Majors fan, but it was time for him to quit coaching. He really stayed on with Pitt longer than he should have.

Much like an old boxer that takes those last few fights that they shouldn't. Ali will always be "The Greatest". Elvis will always be "The King". But their time passed. It happens.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 14 people
#8
#8
85SugarVol said:
Are you comparing Lyle to Johnny Freaking Majors?
Click to expand...

I’m saying the fans were more rabid and the administration was less forgiving with Johnny Majors. Why is Butch getting all this good will. Hell Johnny left a NC team to coach here, finished seasons in the top 10 and was run out on a rail. I guess that was when the AD had a pair. We need a football guy as AD!

If Johnny was the equivalent to an old champion boxer, Butch is a young bum with a glass jaw who is out of his league
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#10
#10
biggestvols said:
You can call it what you want. He clearly wanted to continue and it wasn’t happening. He has remained bitter until this day.
Click to expand...

You were a kid, I was at UT at the time. The situation then compared to now is completely different. I like Johnny, and I hate the situation that happened back then, but Johnny played a part in his own demise. I'm not saying keep Butch for the rest of the season. I want him gone. But you can't compare what happened back then to what's happening now. Totally different situations.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
#11
#11
Johnny was not fired for his win and loss record.

He let the gin get the best of him and pissed off Dickey in public.

His fate was sealed at that moment.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 9 people
#12
#12
weezer said:
you were a kid, i was at ut at the time. The situation then compared to now is completely different. I like johnny, and i hate the situation that happened back then, but johnny played a part in his own demise. I'm not saying keep butch for the rest of the season. I want him gone. But you can't compare what happened back then to what's happening now. totally different situations.
Click to expand...

+1
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#14
#14
85SugarVol said:
Are you comparing Lyle to Johnny Freaking Majors?
Click to expand...

Lyle actually did better his first 4 years then Johnny did and probably started with less talent while playing a tougher schedule...

Majors eventually got there but it was painful...kind of like the painful period we are in now...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 8 people
#15
#15
While many fans thought Johnny didn't get the max out of his players, his situation differed from Butch's. Johnny's performance was never at an unacceptable level. He thought he performed better and was paid less than other SEC coaches. He supposedly complained constantly and bitterly to donors, and he complained once too often. And, Phil was readily available. If a coach was not getting the job done, I would think it highly unusual to replace him with one of his coordinators. Maybe OP's father is recalling how Bill Battle was treated. Nobody deserves that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#16
#16
Sarms58 said:
Lyle actually did better his first 4 years then Johnny did and probably started with less talent while playing a tougher schedule...

Majors eventually got there but it was painful...kind of like the painful period we are in now...
Click to expand...

How did the facilities compare in 1977 and 2013? That's not mentioned in Wikipedia, is it?
 
#17
#17
Johnny majors had a long leash because of his accomplishments. Butch's big accomplishments, whatever they me be, are still in the future. He didn't win a national championship.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#18
#18
Sarms58 said:
Lyle actually did better his first 4 years then Johnny did and probably started with less talent while playing a tougher schedule...

Majors eventually got there but it was painful...kind of like the painful period we are in now...
Click to expand...

it was 10 seasons before we finished in the top 25

10
 
#21
#21
GreveHaller said:
it was 10 seasons before we finished in the top 25

10
Click to expand...

Yea, that will never fly today (thank goodness)...

Majors was Tennessee royalty so as other mentions, he was given a long leash...but it was painful as a Vol fan to always be mediocre...

We had some good teams eventually bit then 1988 and the 0-6 start...again, that just gets a coach fired today...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#22
#22
GAVol said:
]Johnny wasnt really "fired" midseason. He basically walked away when he realized he wasn't going to be able to keep the job one the season ended
Click to expand...


Yup. He thought he was bigger than the University. He was wrong.
 
#23
#23
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top