Ron Bliss: "Fulmer will step down if..."

#1
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veritas

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#1
The obvious is that if Tennessee goes 4-8 -- or even 6-6 -- the run of Fulmer as head coach will end.

I think Fulmer is well aware of that and will take pressure off by announcing his retirement, maybe as soon at next week should he lose badly at Georgia or following the Alabama game -- should he lose to both Georgia and Alabama. With the prospect of finishing last in the SEC East facing him, Fulmer will look for a way out without dividing the Tennessee family and taking retirement would allow him to go out on his own instead of forcing Athletic Director Mike Hamilton into a tough decision.

Having read Ron for decades in the Kingsport Times-News, I doubt he's an UT insider. Whatcha think?
 
#4
#4
Finally, something to be optimistic about.

But I don't think he will retire.
 
#6
#6
I don't think Fulmer goes unless he is below .500. If we make a bowl he stays, if not he goes. That's my opinion.
 
#7
#7
Has there been anything at all in the public career of Phillip Fulmer to suggest that he would bow out gracefully like that?
 
#8
#8
g8terh8ter_eric said:
I don't think Fulmer goes unless he is below .500. If we make a bowl he stays, if not he goes. That's my opinion.
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That would be my guess too, but with the kind of money it would take to buy him out, I'm not completely convinced that he's not in for next year regardless. People making 7 figure incomes don't just walk away.
 
#9
#9
No way fulmer retires voluntarily---he's making way too much money to walk away from.
 
#10
#10
Yeah, but making a bowl game these days is not really that much of an achievement. It is not like the old days when it really meant that you had a great season.
 
#11
#11
GAVol said:
That would be my guess too, but with the kind of money it would take to buy him out, I'm not completely convinced that he's not in for next year regardless.
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The though of Fulmer failing to make a bowl twice in 4 years and keeping his job is hard to comprehend and painful.
 
#12
#12
GAVol said:
That would be my guess too, but with the kind of money it would take to buy him out, I'm not completely convinced that he's not in for next year regardless. People making 7 figure incomes don't just walk away.
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Some of the boosters we have, from what I have read, have already written the checks and are just waiting to date them if things go wrong. Below 6-6 and we are starting a search.
 
#15
#15
g8terh8ter_eric said:
Some of the boosters we have, from what I have read, have already written the checks and are just waiting to date them if things go wrong. Below 6-6 and we are starting a search.
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I'd like to think that's true, but that's a lot of cash just to make someone go away. I've seen numbers as high as $10 million once the staff is factored in.
 
#19
#19
Ron is speculating. I talk to him fairly often through the season, but he is like many of us just waiting to see how bad this could get. What is up with our OL? Their play last night was horrible. What has happened to coming off the ball and driving the defense back? I really think Cutcliffe saw this problem coming last year with the hurry up and throw offense with Ainge while the media hailed our boys as one of the best in the nation I thought we struggled a lot last year too when we really needed a yard.
 
#20
#20
The year we had all that uproar about the losses, the play calling and Sanders got the heat, Hamilton down played it all and basically called it a one-season folly. I don't think that's going to fly this time around unless they use Clawson as the scapegoat. With four straight SEC games, Georgia, Miss St., Alabama the SC the heat will be on.

By the way our worst (4) game stretch - 2002 -Georgia, Alabama, SC and Notre Dame.
 
#21
#21
Fulmer, for all his faults, loves UT. Nobody can cast any doubt on that. He may get the feeling after this disaster of a season, that his love of the program would be better demonstrated by stepping away from it. Perhaps he's not quite so selfish as to believe that there are great things ahead for 3, 4 or more seasons. There aren't. His recruiting has gotten worse. However the guys that grade recruiting classes keep saying UT has a strong class are coming to that conclusion I don't know. Surely he can see the state of the football program and can understand that sometimes it's just not meant to be. He has been a fantastic asset to UT. And to continue to put his quest for the most wins above the life of the program would be the most selfish act in the history of UT football. The football program is on life support and Fulmer does not have what it takes to revive it at this time. Folks said the same of Joe Pa, but he proved them wrong. I don't see the same legendary status for Fulmer. Guys want to play for Paterno because of who he is. That's no longer the case for Fulmer. So Phil, please take a hard look at where the program is, where it was, and where it is going. Step away from where you look at it and try to see it from outside. You will see what a mess it has become. If you can do this, you may be able to figure out an answer. But most likely, you will see it is out of your ability to repair. It's time for you to spend your days on the lake or the golf course instead of the practice field. Stick around as an adviser or something until Hamilton is gone then become the AD or something. Thanks for the memories, but it's time to call it a career. Time to hang up the whistle.
 
#22
#22
Fulmer would be a nightmare as an athletic director. His entire career is one failed hire after another. Additionally, he lets failure go uncorrected for far, far too long.
 
#23
#23
Fulmer will walk away only after getting a $5.5 million payoff due under his contract.
 
#24
#24
Fulmer gives or is forced out if he loses to both UGA and Bama, but if he wins one or both then it's a toss up.
 
#25
#25
The whole Associate AD stuff.....I think if he is removed he should be fully removed. There is no way he can hang around without getting his nose in on the football team.
 
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