orange+white=heaven
VN GURU
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2005
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Over a year ago I wrote here that when change does finally come for Tennessee football, I prayed that it would be a transition conducted by gentlemen. A backstage decision followed by a press conference and an appreciation tour for a lifelong Volunteer.
Except for the doofus headed leak to Chris Low before the team could be told the news, that has mostly been what we have had.
Emotions have been high. That is to be expected. Loyalties run strong here, that is one of the reasons Phillip's tenure has endured to it's elder status in the SEC.
What is amazing to see is that the man at the center of the storm, Phillip Fulmer, has conducted himself so evenly and respectfully in the face of a departure that was not his choosing.
Would I like for it to have been different? Certainly, Fulmer said. But I accept responsibility in this, too. We let it get to a point where somebody felt they had to make a decision. Whether it was the right decision or wrong one, we can agree to disagree."
I call that class. But we've always known the quality of the man off the field. Class fits to a "T"..
Saturday evening, Phillip's seniors will make a final pass through the "T".... Then I imagine Phil and his family will walk that turf one last time themselves. However ready one might be for the start of a new day, this literal pass through Tennessee football lore will be emotional. On the other side lies the end of an era.
At games end, this program will officially belong to a yet unnamed leader for this new era.
In Washington they call it transition of power.
There have been some bumps in the process, but considering the ugliness that might have ensued but didn't, I think this past month has been in the most part orderly.
I'm living in the past this week, remembering an awful lot of good.
Full focus on the future can wait until Sunday.
Thanks Phillip.
Except for the doofus headed leak to Chris Low before the team could be told the news, that has mostly been what we have had.
Emotions have been high. That is to be expected. Loyalties run strong here, that is one of the reasons Phillip's tenure has endured to it's elder status in the SEC.
What is amazing to see is that the man at the center of the storm, Phillip Fulmer, has conducted himself so evenly and respectfully in the face of a departure that was not his choosing.
Would I like for it to have been different? Certainly, Fulmer said. But I accept responsibility in this, too. We let it get to a point where somebody felt they had to make a decision. Whether it was the right decision or wrong one, we can agree to disagree."
I call that class. But we've always known the quality of the man off the field. Class fits to a "T"..
Saturday evening, Phillip's seniors will make a final pass through the "T".... Then I imagine Phil and his family will walk that turf one last time themselves. However ready one might be for the start of a new day, this literal pass through Tennessee football lore will be emotional. On the other side lies the end of an era.
At games end, this program will officially belong to a yet unnamed leader for this new era.
In Washington they call it transition of power.
There have been some bumps in the process, but considering the ugliness that might have ensued but didn't, I think this past month has been in the most part orderly.
I'm living in the past this week, remembering an awful lot of good.
Full focus on the future can wait until Sunday.
Thanks Phillip.
