The state of the program

#26
#26
From an article I found on the internet:

Gets me to thinking...we are paying way too much money to see this kind of football. Couldn't we get two or three good coaches for the price of this one crappy one???

I'm not a negavol, I'm a negaPhil.
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ESPN - Schlabach: Fulmer, Tennessee face biggest test at Florida - College Football

Despite the recent slide, Hamilton gave Fulmer a two-year extension in March, although the new contract didn't include a raise. Fulmer remains one of college football's highest-paid coaches with an annual salary of $2.05 million per year through the 2013 season.

Hamilton has said he expects Tennessee to play for an SEC championship once every three of four seasons and to win two league titles every 10 years. If that's the case, then Fulmer has this season and next to get his team back to the Georgia Dome. Hamilton has told reporters in Knoxville that Fulmer's job is not in jeopardy.

The Volunteers opened the season by getting blasted 45-31 at then-No. 12 California. Tennessee beat Southern Mississippi 39-19 last week, a game in which the Vols scored a touchdown with 41 seconds left in the second quarter to take a 17-16 lead at the half.

"I talked to the team about how fast the season seems to go," Fulmer said this week. "We're approaching the point where three of the 12 opportunities are almost over, which is a lot."

The biggest opportunity awaits Tennessee on Saturday.

"It's about as high as you can get when things are going great, when you get a big win," Fulmer said. "And about as low as it can be if you don't win."

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#27
#27
I don't know about you, but I enjoy paying way too much for mediocre things. It makes me feel wealthy.
 
#28
#28
VolFan1978 said:
Let me preface this post by saying that there are few Vol fans more loyal than I am--that's what is driving me to write this post. I graduated from the University of Tennessee, I've had great success in life so far in large part because of the University of Tennessee, and I have tried to repay that over the past few years in the form of donations and volunteer service to the program and the University.

There have been a great many of us on these boards and elsewhere who have been trying to bring attention to a problem that has been growing over the past couple of years with the UT football program. We are frequently called "nega-vols" by the sunshine patrol, written off as malcontents who will criticize anything short of an annual national championship. I hope that people with a more open mind will read these words and at least consider them.

Let's hop in our time machine and take a look at Florida State University for a second. Once a proud powerhouse with two national titles and countless conference championships, since 2001 Florida State University has been on a severe downslope. I lived in Tallahassee from 2000-2005, and there were critics who questioned if perhaps the great Bobby Bowden, the aging architect of the franchise, had lost his magic as a coach--maybe the game had passed him by. But those people were drowned out by the chorus of "look at his winning percentage over the last 15 years, he's a great coach". The program was still reeling in Top-5 recruiting classes at first, with some of the best talent in the nation. Every once in a while, FSU would win a big game on talent alone, and people wondered if maybe they were back. But as the losses piled up over the years, the talent evaporated and the cupboard went empty. Now look at FSU--unable to beat an ass-sorry Clemson team in the season opener, relegated to the mediocrity of just hoping to be in the Top 25. Competing on a national level is just a memory.

Now let's hop back into the time machine and return to present day. I would argue that in 2005 Tennessee slipped onto the same slope. In 2005 we had the disastrous 5-6 season, scapegoated Randy Sanders, and then 2006 was very much the same except that fewer fumbles in key moments of games allowed us to win some tight games that we would have lost the previous year.

We are not so far down the slope that the program cannot be saved. There is still talent on this team. A coach like Urban Meyer or Steve Spurrier could compete for a national championship with our talent. So the question is this--do we continue on our current path, allowing our appreciation for a man who has brought us great success in the past to drag this program off the national radar, or do we move forward with a coach who understands the modern game and can take our existing talent and return the program to prominence?

I'm willing to bet that if FSU's AD could get a time machine to allow him to go back to 2003 and bring in a more modern coach, he'd do it in a cocaine heartbeat. We have that time machine, and I pray that Mike Hamilton uses it at the end of this season if not sooner.
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great post...i (and probably the majority of Tennessee fans) feel the same way. But I do not think Mike Hamilton knows how to handle this kind of situation. Fulmer has won over 75% of his games, 2 SEC championships 5 east titles (i believe), and 1 national title. Now, I'm not comparing Fulmer to Bowden by any means, but how do you fire the kinds of coaches who have made a big positive impact for the university. I think this is the same dilemma FSU's AD is in right now. They want to get rid of Bowden and bring in a much younger staff with more energy...but how? You can't fire him. And if the guy wants to coach longer (like Phil does) you almost have to let him. Of course it's important to put the program above the coach, but how do you get rid of this type of guy? Mike Hamilton has never had deal with this situation. The closest he has come to it was with buzz peterson, but he had no where near the impact as Fulmer has had on the program?

So how exactly do you get rid of Fulmer?
 
#29
#29
I agree 100% with you! I think Fulmer is a great coach, and he has done some great things over the years, but his past three have not been very good. It's just time for a change in Knoxville because I am getting tired of a half decent football team.

I really feel sorry for Erik Ainge, this is his Senior year and he is one heck of a quaterback, he just doesnt have anything to work with, or a defense to support it. I really feel like Erik Ainge is probably one of the best QB's in the nation, its just sad that he has to play with a team that has little talent.

I have one question though, is this the worst beatdown Florida has ever given Tennessee?

I will still bleed orange after today, and I will still root like heck for Tennessee for the remainder of the season. I will cheer my head off for them, but enough is enough and its time for a change in Knoxville. Landing top 5 recruiting for the past two years has showed us nothing. We are not getting the talent in the positions we need. After todays loss its going to be hard to get ANY recruits to come to Tennessee, because right now with Fulmer and the coaching staff we are just a very poor team.

I think we hire Steve Spurrier and get the Tennessee Vols program back up and running! I know that sounds so weird, and it's weird for me to say it, but he has made it clear that he is interested in Tennessee and that he is Not happy at South Carolina. If Tennessee wants to win, and get their program back on the National board again, they will consider him!

GO VOLS!!!!

( at least were not Notre Dame..........yet! )
 
#30
#30
Sudeepvol said:
great post...i (and probably the majority of Tennessee fans) feel the same way. But I do not think Mike Hamilton knows how to handle this kind of situation. Fulmer has won over 75% of his games, 2 SEC championships 5 east titles (i believe), and 1 national title. Now, I'm not comparing Fulmer to Bowden by any means, but how do you fire the kinds of coaches who have made a big positive impact for the university. I think this is the same dilemma FSU's AD is in right now. They want to get rid of Bowden and bring in a much younger staff with more energy...but how? You can't fire him. And if the guy wants to coach longer (like Phil does) you almost have to let him. Of course it's important to put the program above the coach, but how do you get rid of this type of guy? Mike Hamilton has never had deal with this situation. The closest he has come to it was with buzz peterson, but he had no where near the impact as Fulmer has had on the program?

So how exactly do you get rid of Fulmer?
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No, an AD's responsibility is to the program. If a coach is jeopardizing the future of the program and the school's ability to recruit, it is the AD's duty to give him the grand ultimatum.

Furthermore, I''m sure Phil and Mike had to have a chat after the 5-6. That chat had to include in some form the old "shape up or ship out" lecture. If it didn't, Mike isn't doing his job and should be let go along with Phil. However, if he did give him the "speech" it's time that Mike makes good on his promise to let Phil go.

Bottom line: Yes, you can fire him and are paid to do so if need be.
 
#32
#32
As usual I watched the game with my buddy and his Gator fan girlfriend. Usually I leave their house with blood coming out of my ears from her blood curdling shrieks after the Gators score or get a big play. Today she was very reserved as we all knew what the outcome would be by halftime. It's a damn shame that a Florida fan is bored by the game because there is no competition for them.
 
#33
#33
TacomaJPP said:
No, an AD's responsibility is to the program. If a coach is jeopardizing the future of the program and the school's ability to recruit, it is the AD's duty to give him the grand ultimatum.

Furthermore, I''m sure Phil and Mike had to have a chat after the 5-6. That chat had to include in some form the old "shape up or ship out" lecture. If it didn't, Mike isn't doing his job and should be let go along with Phil. However, if he did give him the "speech" it's time that Mike makes good on his promise to let Phil go.

Bottom line: Yes, you can fire him and are paid to do so if need be.
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i can't even imagine Fulmer being fired. I think after this year, Hamilton will begin to start forcing the subject of retirement on phil, and maybe after 3 years he will indeed retire.
 
#34
#34
Sudeepvol said:
i can't even imagine Fulmer being fired. I think after this year, Hamilton will begin to start forcing the subject of retirement on phil, and maybe after 3 years he will indeed retire.
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Three more years is too late. After today's game, the state of Florida (the premier hunting ground for top HS recruits) is closed to us. Shut down. More embarrassing losses will continue to compromise the quality of players we are able to recruit.

If Fulmer isn't gone by the end of the season, then we will not likely see a SEC championship in the next 10 years.
 
#35
#35
Sudeepvol said:
i can't even imagine Fulmer being fired. I think after this year, Hamilton will begin to start forcing the subject of retirement on phil, and maybe after 3 years he will indeed retire.
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I'm not saying that he will get fired. He probably won't. However, I think the AD's job should be to do so if the need be.
 
#36
#36
Vol nation, I love the Vols. I love Phillip Fulmer, and I wish we could have beat Florida tonight. The fact is we didn't. We were blown out!!!! The University pays this man 2 million dollars a year and we as fans are not getting 2 million dollar results. I don't care if he needs to rebuild the program, it's his fault that it's in the state it is in. Fulmer and most of his staff needs to go!!!!!
 
#37
#37
Other than Spurrier, who wuld you, as Vol fans, be happy with the university hiring? I think they would need to do like Bama, and go out and get a big name guy.
 
#38
#38
great post...i (and probably the majority of Tennessee fans) feel the same way. But I do not think Mike Hamilton knows how to handle this kind of situation. Fulmer has won over 75% of his games, 2 SEC championships 5 east titles (i believe), and 1 national title. Now, I'm not comparing Fulmer to Bowden by any means, but how do you fire the kinds of coaches who have made a big positive impact for the university. I think this is the same dilemma FSU's AD is in right now. They want to get rid of Bowden and bring in a much younger staff with more energy...but how? You can't fire him. And if the guy wants to coach longer (like Phil does) you almost have to let him. Of course it's important to put the program above the coach, but how do you get rid of this type of guy? Mike Hamilton has never had deal with this situation. The closest he has come to it was with buzz peterson, but he had no where near the impact as Fulmer has had on the program?

So how exactly do you get rid of Fulmer?
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When my children misbehave I give them a spanking. I hate spanking my children, It really does hurt me more than them. I do this because of my undying love for them. For when they are older hopefully they will learn their lessons and stay out of trouble and become productive members of society. My point being that sometimes tough decisions hurt. But for the greater good these decisions have to be made. Mike Hamilton gets paid a lot of money to make tough decisions. It's time he earn his pay.
 
#39
#39
VolFan1978 said:
Three more years is too late. After today's game, the state of Florida (the premier hunting ground for top HS recruits) is closed to us. Shut down. More embarrassing losses will continue to compromise the quality of players we are able to recruit.

If Fulmer isn't gone by the end of the season, then we will not likely see a SEC championship in the next 10 years.
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well i definitely agree with you. Fulmer needs to be canned after this season if he does not win the east. I'm just saying that it's not going to happen. I was actually at the game today and the recruits were sitting very close to the tenn section (first couple of rows in the south end zone). I'll tell you what...they became gator fans today, I glanced over at them every once in a while and i could tell they wanted to play in the swamp.
 
#40
#40
TacomaJPP said:
I'm not saying that he will get fired. He probably won't. However, I think the AD's job should be to do so if the need be.
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i agree 100%...but I don't think Hamilton will feel much pressure due to what he's brought to our basketball program
 
#41
#41
Well, it has been two weeks since I first posted these numbers. Might as well get an update to reflect today's games:

2005/06/07 records compared with our SEC brethren:

Florida ~ 25-4
LSU ~ 25-4
Auburn ~ 21-7
Georgia ~ 21-8
Alabama ~ 19-9
South Carolina ~ 18-10
Arkansas ~ 15-12
Tennessee ~ 15-12
Kentucky ~ 14-13
Vanderbilt ~ 10-15
Ole Miss ~ 8-18
Miss State ~ 8-18

If we continue to embarrass ourselves, we'll be ninth by the end of this season. Just ahead of Vandy, Ole Miss, and Moo State. Now that's a three year trend to be proud of. Right now I'm leaning towards 19-17 being our three year record at seasons end. Maybe the Vols will surprise me, as they surprised Fulmer tonight, and win some meaningful games.
 
#42
#42
"There are no bad teams, only bad leaders..." Yes, it was a dumb movie, but applicable line here. On the road versus top five ranked teams - TN pulls within 7 and 8 points respectively AND HAS THE FOOTBALL! Then finds a way to loose again. 14 points for the opposing teams off crappy special teams coverage in the first three games? Yes, we have talent but are currently not capable of playing competitive football with the top teams in the country and certainly not competing with anyone in the SEC. I cannot stomach loosing to Florida (again) and, like most of us, have unrealistic expectations annually - #1 beat the Gators, #2 get to Atlanta, #3 BCS if the first two are met.

In this case, someone needs to be sacked and that someone is Fulmer. The coaching staff takes it direction from the top. And the top has failed UT football miserably for the past 4 seasons IMHO. Time to pack it up and go elsewhere. I'm not one for hasty actions (Lord knows, I've been glued to the radio/TV/edge of my seat since early childhood) but there has been big trouble brewing in Knoxville for years now and you have to get the correct leadership in place before you can fix the root cause.
 
#43
#43
I am a Vol fan and have been for about 45 years. We have had our ups and downs in that time, but this sequence in the most distrubing. We seem to recruit some talented players, but we don't seem to develop them.

Does it seem to anyone else that we can't run the ball effectively because we don't have the size on the O line to make the holes? Also, it seem our defense is undesized? Speed is great, but sometimes it seems you need some need size to win in games with good teams.

Does it seem to anyone else that when we need a play or when we have things moving a little our way, our Foster has a tendency to have a negative impact on the game. The coaches keep playing, why is that?

Sometimes it seems the coaches would rather lose playing the same people and trying to do what is not working than to change something and trying to win. Is this just me?

And by the way, it does not look like Sanders was the problem.
 
#44
#44
Sudeepvol said:
great post...i (and probably the majority of Tennessee fans) feel the same way. But I do not think Mike Hamilton knows how to handle this kind of situation. Fulmer has won over 75% of his games, 2 SEC championships 5 east titles (i believe), and 1 national title. Now, I'm not comparing Fulmer to Bowden by any means, but how do you fire the kinds of coaches who have made a big positive impact for the university. I think this is the same dilemma FSU's AD is in right now. They want to get rid of Bowden and bring in a much younger staff with more energy...but how? You can't fire him. And if the guy wants to coach longer (like Phil does) you almost have to let him. Of course it's important to put the program above the coach, but how do you get rid of this type of guy? Mike Hamilton has never had deal with this situation. The closest he has come to it was with buzz peterson, but he had no where near the impact as Fulmer has had on the program?

So how exactly do you get rid of Fulmer?
Click to expand...

I hope everyone understands that I find no joy in saying that I want the program to go in a different direction. I see it the same way as deciding to put down a family pet that's been diagnosed with cancer. Certainly not a pleasant decision, but one that's best for everyone involved.
 
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