Was Majors done wrong?

#101
#101
rocketskates said:
No. He made millions coaching a sport and left this life very wealthy. I love sports but the kid who goes to bed hungry every night was done wrong.
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Not true about millions. Salaries in the early 90s were nowhere near what they are now relative to average income. As I recall Fulmer's first year he made about $350,000. Certainly not slave wages but nowhere near millions of today.

He may have invested well but he didn't, "make," millions coaching.

Talking about Majors
 
#102
#102
Savannahbayvol said:
Not true about millions. Salaries in the early 90s were nowhere near what they are now relative to average income. As I recall Fulmer's first year he made about $350,000. Certainly not slave wages but nowhere near millions of today.

He may have invested well but he didn't, "make," millions coaching.

Talking about Majors
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Fair enough. He still lived a good life and left this world a wealthy man in comparison to others. I think in the early 90s his salary was around 400K a year so over time he certainly became a millionaire. My point is—I love sports as much as the next guy but compared to other things that happen in the world athletes and coaches aren’t really ever “done wrong”.
 
#103
#103
rocketskates said:
Fair enough. He still lived a good life and left this world a wealthy man in comparison to others. I think in the early 90s his salary was around 400K a year so over time he certainly became a millionaire. My point is—I love sports as much as the next guy but compared to other things that happen in the world athletes and coaches aren’t really ever “done wrong”.
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Agree but I think we are preaching to the Choir. I quit giving money to the UTAD about 20 years ago instead giving my little piddling to the Haslam COB which has become a world class Business College.
 
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#104
#104
Savannahbayvol said:
Not true about millions. Salaries in the early 90s were nowhere near what they are now relative to average income. As I recall Fulmer's first year he made about $350,000. Certainly not slave wages but nowhere near millions of today.

He may have invested well but he didn't, "make," millions coaching.

Talking about Majors
Click to expand...

rocketskates said:
Fair enough. He still lived a good life and left this world a wealthy man in comparison to others. I think in the early 90s his salary was around 400K a year so over time he certainly became a millionaire. My point is—I love sports as much as the next guy but compared to other things that happen in the world athletes and coaches aren’t really ever “done wrong”.
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I remember reading where they gave Majors a parting gift of $600k, or close to that. Sixteen years later, Fulmer received $6 million as his first parting gift.
 
#106
#106
UTFranklinVol said:
hot take: Johnny was never "the guy".

at best the 3rd best coach UT has ever had but possibly the 4th before Huepel is done.
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your standards are inconsistent and ridiculous, Majors had his issues, but had won a national title at Pitt, and won 3 SEC titles and came close 2 more times and he had some of the best coaching staffs and player rosters in UT history.

i agree he's the 3rd best coach in UT history (although Doug Dickey also was comparable in his short time here)

Your definition of what "the guy" is not seen on an actual level of any college football coach outside of Saban or Neyland
 
#107
#107
IIRC, Majors had been presented an extension BEFORE his health issues and didn't sign it. I think because he was looking for more money. Then his heart problems hit and Fulmer took over with a win streak. Johnny rushed back and we lost. Board had a tough decision to make and went with the young up-and-coming coach.

People will argue it both ways. The decision led to a title in '98. Maybe he was done wrong. Maybe he should have signed his extension when offered. Whatever the case may be, that title says the AD and the BOT did the right thing.
 
#108
#108
September 20, 1992: Johnny returns to work without a doctor's release and without talking to Dickey.

October 23, 1992: The final straw. Social party with the Board, Johnson, Dickey and others. Majors had much to drink and got into a very loud argument with his former team mate and board member Bill Johnson. It was regarding his contract and he could be heard cursing Bill and board in the entire room.

That was the final straw for Johnson and Dickey. Coming back to work early, disrupting the team after a great start, having problem with assistants at halftime of the LSU game and then the party actions led to his firing. Several coaches tried to leave at halftime at LSU but Fulmer convinced them to stay.

Everyone has an opinion if he was done right or not. Johnson and Dickey made a decision on how they should deal with a disgruntled employee. Happens everyday in life.
 
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#109
#109
I idolized Majors growing up and actually spent a couple of hours in a Pittsburg airport bar once during a flight delay with him as he was recalling stories of his playing days and his teammates . He was very friendly and entertaining when I told him I was a UT alum.
But the one thing I can never get past is him going on a Birmingham radio station ( the flagship station for Alabama athletics) and completely trashing UT.
I've always regretted I didn't ask him about that ( maybe after a few drinks0
 
#113
#113
Rickyvol77 said:
your standards are inconsistent and ridiculous, Majors had his issues, but had won a national title at Pitt, and won 3 SEC titles and came close 2 more times and he had some of the best coaching staffs and player rosters in UT history.

i agree he's the 3rd best coach in UT history (although Doug Dickey also was comparable in his short time here)

Your definition of what "the guy" is not seen on an actual level of any college football coach outside of Saban or Neyland
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it's not "my standards" that are inconsistent. I'm simply observing that the way Johnny Majors was (is still) diefied by many is inconsistent with his actual standing in the history of UT football. that's all.

He was replaced by a better coach, period.

Johnny wasn't done dirty anymore than Fulmer was, or for more examples they way Les Miles was, or the way Gene Chizik was. all of those coaches did more for their programs than Johnny did for Tennessee.
 
#115
#115
What part of this did Johnny not understand? Of the 7 years at least 3 (87,89 and 91) we were equally talented and 90 we were clearly superior. Scoring 6 points on an Aabama team that went 7-5 was an enbarrassment.

Saturday, October 171992Home
Knoxville
L10-17		Links
Saturday, October 191991Away
Birmingham, AL
L19-24		Links
Saturday, October 201990Home
Knoxville
L6-9		Links
Saturday, October 211989Away
Birmingham, AL
L30-47		Links
Saturday, October 151988Home
Knoxville
L20-28		Links
Saturday, October 171987Away
Birmingham, AL
L22-41		Links
Saturday, October 181986Home
Knoxville
L28-56
 
#116
#116
Savannahbayvol said:
What part of this did Johnny not understand? Of the 7 years at least 3 (87,89 and 91) we were equally talented and 90 we were clearly superior. Scoring 6 points on an Aabama team that went 7-5 was an enbarrassment.

Saturday, October 171992Home
Knoxville
L10-17		Links
Saturday, October 191991Away
Birmingham, AL
L19-24		Links
Saturday, October 201990Home
Knoxville
L6-9		Links
Saturday, October 211989Away
Birmingham, AL
L30-47		Links
Saturday, October 151988Home
Knoxville
L20-28		Links
Saturday, October 171987Away
Birmingham, AL
L22-41		Links
Saturday, October 181986Home
Knoxville
L28-56
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I hear you!

RE: 1990 Alabama game

Not sure thats all on Coach Majors....

We ran it 35 times for 100 yards, threw it 25 times (9 completions) for 35 yards and three picks. Only thing that could have won that game, that day, was a FG and we got the game winner blocked 40 yards back.

That Alabama defense was a year away from 24-1 run and a National Championship. Yes, we should have won but not being able to either run it or throw it is a bad way to go!


1990 was a National Championship team but for the kicking game and Chuck's injury.

Chuck would have run for 2500+ yards and Heisman with that line.

The Kicking game could have won the Colorado, Auburn, Alabama and Notre Dame (Rocket's punt return) ties/losses!

Colorado: two blocked FG, gave up a TD on a Punt Return and didnt even try a last second FG for fear of a third block FG and Colorado TD
Auburn: Missed 34 yard GW
Alabama: Game winning FG Blocked (see Colorado above)
Notre Dame: Rocket PR for a near TD in a 6 point game.
 
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#118
#118
LWSVOL said:
September 20, 1992: Johnny returns to work without a doctor's release and without talking to Dickey.

October 23, 1992: The final straw. Social party with the Board, Johnson, Dickey and others. Majors had much to drink and got into a very loud argument with his former team mate and board member Bill Johnson. It was regarding his contract and he could be heard cursing Bill and board in the entire room.

That was the final straw for Johnson and Dickey. Coming back to work early, disrupting the team after a great start, having problem with assistants at halftime of the LSU game and then the party actions led to his firing. Several coaches tried to leave at halftime at LSU but Fulmer convinced them to stay.

Everyone has an opinion if he was done right or not. Johnson and Dickey made a decision on how they should deal with a disgruntled employee. Happens everyday in life.
Click to expand...
I remember that LSU game. TV was very much promoting it and, LSU as being a very good team that year. As I remember it, they were bad and we only won by like, 20-0 or something. I was a kid but very underwhelmed.

Was Majors feeling heat and toot it out on the assistants at halftime?
 
#119
#119
There were a lot of us at the time who backed Johnny.
But the call-in shows I heard were overwhelmingly pro-Fulmer.
I did not agree at the time, but once the decision was made, I backed Phil. I mean he was what we decided on.
Dat 92 Arky loss (to a team that had lost to the Citadel) doe
 
#120
#120
#1fulmerite said:
I remember that LSU game. TV was very much promoting it and, LSU as being a very good team that year. As I remember it, they were bad and we only won by like, 20-0 or something. I was a kid but very underwhelmed.

Was Majors feeling heat and toot it out on the assistants at halftime?
Click to expand...

he was pissed at offense at hallftime for not getting a TD and had to kick a field goal. They were inside the 5 yard line. Took it out on them and several left the laocker room in the middle of his tirade... rumors that week after game were several players had had enough of him and planned to transfer post sesason.. it was a 20-0 game I was there
 
#121
#121
Dartmouth Vol said:
I hear you!

RE: 1990 Alabama game

Not sure thats all on Coach Majors....

We ran it 35 times for 100 yards, threw it 25 times (9 completions) for 35 yards and three picks. Only thing that could have won that game, that day, was a FG and we got the game winner blocked 40 yards back.

That Alabama defense was a year away from 24-1 run and a National Championship. Yes, we should have won but not being able to either run it or throw it is a bad way to go!


1990 was a National Championship team but for the kicking game and Chuck's injury.

Chuck would have run for 2500+ yards and Heisman with that line.

The Kicking game could have won the Colorado, Auburn, Alabama and Notre Dame (Rocket's punt return) ties/losses!

Colorado: two blocked FG, gave up a TD on a Punt Return and didnt even try a last second FG for fear of a third block FG and Colorado TD
Auburn: Missed 34 yard GW
Alabama: Game winning FG Blocked (see Colorado above)
Notre Dame: Rocket PR for a near TD in a 6 point game.
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Over scheduling killed that team. Playing both teams who ended up in the NC game in OOC play was bad luck
 
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#123
#123
Rickyvol77 said:
Over scheduling killed that team. Playing both teams who ended up in the NC game in OOC play was bad luck
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Some 1990 season what ifs:

AA PK Dirk Borgonone hits, finishes career in Knoxville 1990 season
OG Randy Hall doesn’t get hurt
O/D L Leon Baxter doesn’t pass.
Todd Collins stays at UT and carries that 90 defense giving UT more LB depth
S Derric Evans wasn’t a 17-year-old dumbass; then Dale Carter becomes the lockdown corner he would become in the NFL. Dallas Carter teammate Jesse Armstead comits to UT instead of Miami.
Webb doesn’t get hurt game 2; finalist Garrison Hearst is there as Webb's 90 backup
Bonus: JUCO AA OG Eddie Blake keeps his commitment and doesn’t flip to Auburn

Soooooo close RV.
 
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#125
#125
Dartmouth Vol said:
I hear you!

RE: 1990 Alabama game

Not sure thats all on Coach Majors....

We ran it 35 times for 100 yards, threw it 25 times (9 completions) for 35 yards and three picks. Only thing that could have won that game, that day, was a FG and we got the game winner blocked 40 yards back.

That Alabama defense was a year away from 24-1 run and a National Championship. Yes, we should have won but not being able to either run it or throw it is a bad way to go!


1990 was a National Championship team but for the kicking game and Chuck's injury.

Chuck would have run for 2500+ yards and Heisman with that line.

The Kicking game could have won the Colorado, Auburn, Alabama and Notre Dame (Rocket's punt return) ties/losses!

Colorado: two blocked FG, gave up a TD on a Punt Return and didnt even try a last second FG for fear of a third block FG and Colorado TD
Auburn: Missed 34 yard GW
Alabama: Game winning FG Blocked (see Colorado above)
Notre Dame: Rocket PR for a near TD in a 6 point game.
Click to expand...
1. We had 2 OTs taken in the first 8 picks of the draft and a wr #12. And we scored 2 FGs against Alabama?

2.The next week they lost to Penn State 9-0 at home. Then they lost the Fiesta Bowl to Louisville 35-0. Second game of 91 they lost 35-0 to UF. Not exactly the Steel Curtain of the 70s when they beat us in 92.

Charles McRaeT17Tampa Bay
1991Antone DavisT18Green Bay
1991Alvin HarperWR112Dallas
1991Chuck WebbRB381Green Bay
1991Harlan DavisDB5128Seattle
1991Anthony MorganWR5134Chicago
1991Greg AmslerRB8198Phoenix
1991Roland PolesRB10254San Diego

The fact of the matter is Johnny Choked just like he usually did against the Tide.
 
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