As I listened to the news yesterday that Coach Fulmer would not return as the head coach of my beloved Tennessee Volunteers, I was filled with a great sadness. This sadness was not for Coach Fulmer--he'll be fine--it wasn't for my fellow UT fans--they'll be fine--it was for my University, my program and my UT family. I hope and pray to God that I am wrong, but I see a cloud hanging over Rocky Top that I fear will darken our skies for years to come.
For 35 years, we were blessed to have a man like Phillip Fulmer in our program. This is a man who bled the Orange and White, who devoted his life to the Tennessee tradition and who loved this University as much, if not more, than anyone I know. His impact on our program goes far beyond his sterling record of wins and losses.
Tennessee football is more than wins and losses to me. It's the Vol Walk, the Navy, Homecoming and the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. It's the rock, the volunteer statue and the daisies that grow on the Hill. It's Rocky Top and our alma mater. It's tradition and family from the student section to the locker room and in every academic building across our campus.
Wins and losses come and go but these things will be with Tennessee forever.
Coach Fulmer believed in these things. He understood these things. He taught these things to 17 great classes of student athletes. While other coaches prostituted themselves to hot shot superstars who used their schools as stepping stones and stopovers on their way to bigger and better things, Coach Fulmer sought young men of character who found hope and home in Knoxville. He took kids from different walks of life and different parts of this country and helped them grow into men with a common goals and a common love for Tennessee.
While some mock him as a failure for 51 losses in 17 years, I celebrate him not only for his 150 wins, 5 SEC East Championships and BCS National Title but for the lasting legacy he leaves through the players who represent our great University successfully in the NFL or whatever their chosen path in life.
As Mike Hamilton and others consider who will next take the helm of the Volunteer Football program, I pray that they will not be easily lured by the shinniest bauble in the lake who will use the University of Tennessee as a way of moving on to the next big thing. I pray they will find someone who loves Tennessee Football and sees this as the pinnacle of his career.
Thank you Coach Fulmer, I'm truly sorry for how this ended.
God Bless Tennessee and Go Vols!
For 35 years, we were blessed to have a man like Phillip Fulmer in our program. This is a man who bled the Orange and White, who devoted his life to the Tennessee tradition and who loved this University as much, if not more, than anyone I know. His impact on our program goes far beyond his sterling record of wins and losses.
Tennessee football is more than wins and losses to me. It's the Vol Walk, the Navy, Homecoming and the Pride of the Southland Marching Band. It's the rock, the volunteer statue and the daisies that grow on the Hill. It's Rocky Top and our alma mater. It's tradition and family from the student section to the locker room and in every academic building across our campus.
Wins and losses come and go but these things will be with Tennessee forever.
Coach Fulmer believed in these things. He understood these things. He taught these things to 17 great classes of student athletes. While other coaches prostituted themselves to hot shot superstars who used their schools as stepping stones and stopovers on their way to bigger and better things, Coach Fulmer sought young men of character who found hope and home in Knoxville. He took kids from different walks of life and different parts of this country and helped them grow into men with a common goals and a common love for Tennessee.
While some mock him as a failure for 51 losses in 17 years, I celebrate him not only for his 150 wins, 5 SEC East Championships and BCS National Title but for the lasting legacy he leaves through the players who represent our great University successfully in the NFL or whatever their chosen path in life.
As Mike Hamilton and others consider who will next take the helm of the Volunteer Football program, I pray that they will not be easily lured by the shinniest bauble in the lake who will use the University of Tennessee as a way of moving on to the next big thing. I pray they will find someone who loves Tennessee Football and sees this as the pinnacle of his career.
Thank you Coach Fulmer, I'm truly sorry for how this ended.
God Bless Tennessee and Go Vols!
