The Fall of UT football: how, when, why?

#3
#3
Griff...I have slammed a lot of your posts and thoughts...but for the most part I agree with a lot of what you put in the blog.

Especially that Fulmer hired Clawson because he saw him as his eventual successor. I think Fulmer saw a guy in Clawson that was not going to be a threat, and would be content with being the OC while Phil tried to get to General Neyland's record.

And it backfired....

I have mentioned countless times before that I appreciated what Phil did for UT...but it got to the point to where he was too comfortable, and too worried about his future rather than the University's future.
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#4
#4
And say no more. Fulmer's time has come and gone... and I'll admit that I'll eventually look back fondly on the high points and not dwell on the downs and the what-ifs.
 
#5
#5
Not a very well written or reasoned blog. There are many reasons that UT fell off over he last several years under Fulmer. First, he did not recruit as well as he did in the 90s--the talent was at least a notch lower--and at some positions two notches lower. Second, he made a major mistake promoting Sanders to OC--Griff doesn't even mention this catastrophic decision. Third: Fulmer was too soft--too much a player's coach. Fourth, and this is an outgrowth of point three: Fulmer seemed to lose his sense of urgency, which you have to have every year to win in the SEC. He did not have the best staff, but kept some coaches around anyway just because he valued continuity more than competence--big mistake. Finally, Fulmer got completely delusional in recent years--he didn't seem to recognize the problem areas; didn't seem to recognize that he was putting a pretty crappy offense and special teams on the field most years. He turned from a winner into an excuse-making loser--and I for one am very happy that he's gone. Kiffin has already brought a lot more energy and dynamism back to the program.
 
#6
#6
He has to be a member of the volnation.
I believe that I have read every item,every point he speaks to in different post,in different threads,contained within our community.

That being said he did a good job compiling the information and making it his own.:good!:
 
#8
#8
orangeblooded2 said:
He has to be a member of the volnation.
I believe that I have read every item,every point he speaks to in different post,in different threads,contained within our community.

That being said he did a good job compiling the information and making it his own.:good!:
Click to expand...

Griff=Writer32
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#9
#9
Wow great read.Thats why it's so hard to stay on top. You slowly start losing that fire then the next you know everyone else is catching up to us and passing us in talent and coaching.
 
#12
#12
Good read and some good points.

However, I don't think I'd put as much stock in the "what-if" game over the past decade... because if we had still been an elite program we would have shrugged off those losses... kind of like we did when Jamal got hurt in '98. We had less talent in the past decade so the losses were magnified without top players ready to step up.

Think about it, in '98, we had 4 future NFL running backs. How many did we have this year?

I think fulmer lost the fire... which lead to less attention to detail, becoming lax related to discipline, an unwillingness to adapt quickly, and less motivation on the recruiting trail.
 
#13
#13
I think (and hope) the title is a little overly dramatic. We truly don't know if this is the fall of UT football. Sometimes an entity is weakened only to come out stronger for the struggle. That being said, it's pretty good.
 
#14
#14
Mike, you were one of the people standing in front of the camera after the Fulmer press conference touting the tired cliche "what have you done for me lately." It seems your article suggests otherwise. Unless you think 2001, when you article suggests this "fall" began, is lately.
 
#15
#15
Griff, I think that is the best column you've submitted since you started posting them here. Thanks for your perspective.
 
#16
#16
armchairvol said:
Not a very well written or reasoned blog. There are many reasons that UT fell off over he last several years under Fulmer. First, he did not recruit as well as he did in the 90s--the talent was at least a notch lower--and at some positions two notches lower. Second, he made a major mistake promoting Sanders to OC--Griff doesn't even mention this catastrophic decision. Third: Fulmer was too soft--too much a player's coach. Fourth, and this is an outgrowth of point three: Fulmer seemed to lose his sense of urgency, which you have to have every year to win in the SEC. He did not have the best staff, but kept some coaches around anyway just because he valued continuity more than competence--big mistake. Finally, Fulmer got completely delusional in recent years--he didn't seem to recognize the problem areas; didn't seem to recognize that he was putting a pretty crappy offense and special teams on the field most years. He turned from a winner into an excuse-making loser--and I for one am very happy that he's gone. Kiffin has already brought a lot more energy and dynamism back to the program.
Click to expand...



I think Griff hit every single point you just made except for the one about Sanders.
 
#17
#17
Lofton4Three said:
Especially that Fulmer hired Clawson because he saw him as his eventual successor. I think Fulmer saw a guy in Clawson that was not going to be a threat, and would be content with being the OC while Phil tried to get to General Neyland's record.

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Click to expand...

Neyland's record was really what PF was chasing, and given the contract extension last year, probably felt the record was a given. PF even alluded to staying 6-8 more years, at the beginning of this year or end of last year, saying that both he and his wife had discussed the matter. 6-8 more years would have given him both Neyland's record as well as the chance at 200 wins. Apparently PF was referencing the 6-8 years as a symbol of his stature (his perception of stature). And as one poster some time ago mentioned, PF was perfectly willing to drag along with 5-7 wins just to get the GRN record. But, being on "cruise control" for personal goals didn't work in the end.
 
#18
#18
orangeblooded2 said:
He has to be a member of the volnation.
I believe that I have read every item,every point he speaks to in different post,in different threads,contained within our community.

That being said he did a good job compiling the information and making it his own.:good!:
Click to expand...



LMAO, I'm glad somebody else was thinking that.
 
#19
#19
"Making it my own?''

Reporting and journalism is taking facts and perspective and putting them into into a logical, balanced and readable sequence.

I'd like to think my journalism degree and 20 years of newspaper experience helps me do that efficiently

I'm just trying to shed some insight...I woke up this morning, and it was on my mind, so I blogged.
I was not trying to be offensive or upset anyone.

This blogging is merely unedited column writing for me -- I am not afforded that opportunity in the newspaper.

I do get to share my opinions on television (The Locker Room with Mark Packer on Sunday nights) and radio (The News Sentinel Sports Page, I mostly do Tuesday and Thursdays this time of year), but those are different forums and involve a different type of presentation that is a tad more limited.
 
#20
#20
imo promoting sanders, and then keeping sanders, were two of the biggest mistakes CPF made.

but a lot of other factors had a cumulative effect.
 
#21
#21
Writer32 said:
"Making it my own?''

Reporting and journalism is taking facts and perspective and putting them into into a logical, balanced and readable sequence.

I'd like to think my journalism degree and 20 years of newspaper experience helps me do that efficiently

I'm just trying to shed some insight...I woke up this morning, and it was on my mind, so I blogged.
I was not trying to be offensive or upset anyone.

This blogging is merely unedited column writing for me -- I am not afforded that opportunity in the newspaper.

I do get to share my opinions on television (The Locker Room with Mark Packer on Sunday nights) and radio (The News Sentinel Sports Page, I mostly do Tuesday and Thursdays this time of year), but those are different forums and involve a different type of presentation that is a tad more limited.
Click to expand...



No worries, this was a great blog Griff. We're all forming our opinions off of the same info, albeit varying degrees, and it's not surprising your blog would be similar to the opinions of some on the board and vice versa.
 
#22
#22
"I was recently told that Fulmer has said if he could do it again, he would have hired Scott Loeffler - the QB guru who coached at Michigan and then the Detroit Lions that Florida recently hired."

He would have brought Mallett with him too.
It'd be nice to have him ready to go this fall
 
#24
#24
Writer32 said:
"Making it my own?''

Reporting and journalism is taking facts and perspective and putting them into into a logical, balanced and readable sequence.

I'd like to think my journalism degree and 20 years of newspaper experience helps me do that efficiently

I'm just trying to shed some insight...I woke up this morning, and it was on my mind, so I blogged.
I was not trying to be offensive or upset anyone.

This blogging is merely unedited column writing for me -- I am not afforded that opportunity in the newspaper.

I do get to share my opinions on television (The Locker Room with Mark Packer on Sunday nights) and radio (The News Sentinel Sports Page, I mostly do Tuesday and Thursdays this time of year), but those are different forums and involve a different type of presentation that is a tad more limited.
Click to expand...

Griff...I don't think he put 2 and 2 together that Writer32 was your callsign...
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#25
#25
I went back to campus for the first time in 5 years for the Florida game. I thought the campus looked fantastic, better than the Florida campus when I was there for the TN FLA game in 07.
I saw the bama campus in the 90's. It was nice if one likes the rural setting (which I don't.) Ohio State's campus is a little like ours but quite a bit bigger. their modern urban campus does not seem to hurt their recruiting.
I know we don't have the prettiest campus in the nation but it ain't too shabby. I really don't think it has anything to do with recruiting.

I have never been impressed with this guys writing. This is no exception. Everything he mentions most here at VolNation have known for a long time.
 
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