What is your overall opinion of Majors?

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
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#1
I'm a young guy, I wasn't even born yet when Majors was fired. So I was curious on what you guys think about him. Was his tenure at UT sucessful, failure? Just curious

I'll sit back and watch :hi:
 
#2
#2
heck of a player and helped rebuild UT into a team that could compete for championships. Was a bit too bitter the last few years but it's all good now.

I like having him back around the program as he's a huge part of UT history
 
#4
#4
As UT's coach - inexplicably erratic. Lots of clutch, fulfilling wins against the top dogs coupled with some real duds against weak teams. Generally in the same year with the same players.
 
#7
#7
IMO, he was really great for the program in his day, just got burned out as the game started to pass him by (Sounds familiar...).

Some say Fulmer stabbed him in the back, others say he did it to himself (drinking - a lot). I am glad that emotions have cooled and he can be appreciated for what he did for Tennessee, and not what he was at the end when it was time to go, much like I hope Fulmer will be in 10 years or so.
 
#8
#8
"For a guy who hasn't coached in a while, he can still grasp 18-year-olds' attention," Kiffin said. "As I've said before, we love having him around. He does an unbelievable job motivating the players."
Click to expand...

from today
 
#9
#9
Admire him as a legendary Tennessee player. Appreciate him rebuilding the program as a head coach. He couldn't give over the hump and beat our biggest rival at the time, putting us out of the National Title conversation most years.

He was brushed aside, partly his own doing.

I cannot and will not forgive him for slamming the University over and over for so many years after leaving. Took shots at Fulmer constantly. Showed very little class for a very long time.
 
#10
#10
I like ole Johnny....Yes he was a serious drinker but a good coach at times..He rebuilt us to contenders...I like the fact he's back and is supporting the program again.
 
#11
#11
Restored Tennessee to national prominence... but always went into a shell against 'bama. Great Tennessee legacy, just a Tennessee guy through and through. I'm glad he's back to being a part of the program.
 
#13
#13
The only thing he did that really got on my nerves,he was to stubburn with the run game.he liked running up the middle alot.when it was not working he keep trying over and over.
 
#14
#14
Top shelf.

I had the pleasure of being at UT in the late 70s/early 80s when he was getting it going. It was a struggle at times, and yes, he definitely enjoyed his spirits...but dull he wasn't. Mid to late 80s, he found his rhythm on The Hill. Was not happy with how things went down for him, but he was at fault about as much as Dickey and others.

Just remember those Sugar Vols!

I love the guy! Always did. Glad to have him back in the mix.
 
#15
#15
He didn't seem like a very likable person IMO. But, I never met the man. Just going on interviews mainly and a few opinions of people that knew him. However, I liked him. He played his heart out for the Big Orange. He coached us back into a very good program. If he wouldn't have had heart problems he would have coached for several more years. He handed Fulmer talent.
 
#16
#16
He drove me crazy at times. I think he was a good coach, not a great coach. But he embodies the University of Tennessee as much as anyone I can think of.
 
#17
#17
a little bit off subject, but reading these posts jogged my memory to his brother Bill. I can still remember the morning paper the day Bill Majors and a couple other Tennessee coaches were killed in a car-train wreck. A real tragedy, makes you wonder if he would ever have been a head coach.
 
#20
#20
Majors is arguably the greatest Vol of them all. You young guys can't even imagine what it was like when Majors came back to UT as head coach. Imagine if Peyton Manning went into coaching after football, led somebody like Missouri to a national championship -- and then left that national championship team to take over UT after a season like last year. It was close to something like that. He was the savior coming home.

It didn't end well, obviously. If you look at the record, it's astonishing how abruptly he was dumped -- 11-1 in 1989, SEC championship in 1990, 9-3 in 1991, dumped in 1992. He lost his job mostly because of behind the scenes stuff -- he was a drunk and somewhat of a jackass, after all, and that's how he comported himself after the firing. I don't blame him one bit for being bitter about it, but obviously to some extent he brought it on himself by the way he behaved.

He wasn't the greatest Vol player of all time, nor was he the greatest Vol coach of all time, but nobody else has had a career quite like his at UT. If UT had a Mt. Rushmore, his is the first face you've got to put on it after Gen. Neyland.
 
#21
#21
utvolpj said:
heck of a player and rebuilt UT into a team that could compete for championships.

I like having him back around the program as he's a huge part of UT history
Click to expand...

I edited this comment a bit, but I was at UT in the late 80s and this is my recollection. Majors absolutely brought this team to the edge, and Fulmer took it over the top.

Sadly, Fulmer returned the program in far, far worse shape than he inherited it.
 
#22
#22
lewis co vol said:
The only thing he did that really got on my nerves,he was to stubburn with the run game.he liked running up the middle alot.when it was not working he keep trying over and over.
Click to expand...

That's what I think of first about him. I love Ole Johnny, but he'd be like, no, we're gonna keep running 5-10, 185 pound Terry Daniels between the tackles vs. Bama until we can make it work!

Then there was Carlton Armstrong. Had one great game for us running the ball, something happened between him and the coach apparently, and he never had one single carry for us ever again. ???

Sometimes its just time to move on.
 
#24
#24
Johnny is from the old school, and would sometimes play for the tie rather than take the loss. From the mid-80's on through to the end, though, he put some hellaciously talented teams on the field. I have respect for him and what he did for the UT football program.
 
#25
#25
DeerPark12 said:
I cannot and will not forgive him for slamming the University over and over for so many years after leaving. Took shots at Fulmer constantly. Showed very little class for a very long time.
Click to expand...
Majors has always had good feelings about the university. His anger was squarely focused on one individual.
 
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