What Thornton said.

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

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#1
Thunder Thornton spoke by phone to the TFPs Wes Rucker...

“It’s a painful day for me, and for the Fulmer family, and I think for Tennessee athletics,” John “Thunder” Thornton said via cell phone Monday afternoon. “I don’t agree with the change.”

Thornton — a prominent Chattanooga-area businessman, former UT board of trustees member and close friend of Fulmer — said those wanting Fulmer replaced “better be careful what they wished for.”
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“He will be just fine, but I’m not sure about the University of Tennessee athletics department,” Thornton said. “At best, Tennessee is the fifth best job in the SEC. You’re behind from day one Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Florida, and some could argue Auburn, just from the basis of recruiting. There are so many more SEC-level student-athletes in-state for all of those schools ... and I don’t think there’s a better recruiter than Phillip Fulmer.
“And that’s just what the Tennessee job demands.”
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A UT spokesperson said athletic director Mike Hamilton would have no comment on Thornton’s statements, but another added that Hamilton “didn’t expect everyone to be happy today.”
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LINK:Complete article


Don't want to make another thread, but the Mark Wiedmer commentary this morning was also interesting...

LINK:Wiedmer
 
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#2
#2
makes it even more interesting that MH did this without full donor support (esp. Thornton). Shows some guts that I didn't think he had
 
#3
#3
Why does everyone think UT's job is not better than Florida, GA, LSU, etc? It is a top tier job with top tier facilities and tradition. This is said, IMO, because of the recent success of Florida, GA, Alabama, etc. Let a good coach come in here, get a few quality wins, and I am sure these critics will shut up. There is always a few negative figureheads when it comes to changes in anything. I love Phillip Fulmer, it was just simply time for a change. I wouldn't even being opposed to keeping him on the coaching staff, maybe for a o-line coach.
 
#4
#4
I like how TT went out of his way to help the program. Well done.
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#7
#7
To each his own. If Thornton does not agree then so be it. I am sad to see this day but excited about tomorrow for UT.
 
#8
#8
If Thunder Thornton thinks that Tennessee is, at best, the 5th best job in the conference, could he shed some light on why Tennessee is currently dead-last in the SEC standings?
 
#9
#9
Those that criticized Hamilton over the last few years have been very humbled in the last 24 hours. Hopefully this thing will work out for the best in the short and long term.
 
#10
#10
Instead of starting a new thread this seems like the right place for me to apologize to Mike Hamilton. As most long time posters know I have been very critical of MH since the contract. I started calling him Kermit because I truly believed somebody else was calling the shots and he was just a mouthpiece. Yesterday I was proud to have MH as the AD! It was a very difficult situation and he handled himself well. I know he consulted with others before he made this decision but I think in the end it was his and his alone. I'm also proud that the big boys gave him the power to do it. So Mike...you have my respect and deepest apologies!
 
#11
#11
I agree. It was clear this was not a unanimous, boosters making him do it decision. But it was the right decision.
 
#12
#12
From what I heard, Thorton didnt want decision but also said that he wouldnt stand in the way of a change.
 
#13
#13
Thornton is a very eccentric guy, I figured some weird comments would come out of him. He is mad that his buddy isnt calling the shots anymore, no more...no less.
 
#14
#14
Sure sounds to me like somebody who's trying to have it both ways. We all know that this move doesn't happen without high-level booster support, but now that the die has been cast, they're going to let Hamilton be the bad cop.
 
#15
#15
If Thunder was not in favor of the change, then at least a few high-level donors would have had to been in favor of booting Fulmer. Does that mean the Haslam clan wanted him gone? What other major players wanted a change? Anyone know?
 
#16
#16
cardvolfan said:
If Thunder was not in favor of the change, then at least a few high-level donors would have had to been in favor of booting Fulmer. Does that mean the Haslam clan wanted him gone? What other major players wanted a change? Anyone know?
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The hotdog vendor in Sec. Y10....
 
#18
#18
Without Thornton, this job would be nowhere neare as attractive, as it now is...

so I do find his opinions to be relevent, whether he's filthy rich or not. I don't necessarily agree with him (and yes, he's a strange guy- I know him quite well), but his opinion should be weighed carefully.
 
#19
#19
perico said:
Without Thornton, this job would be nowhere neare as attractive, as it now is...

so I do find his opinions to be relevent, whether he's filthy rich or not. I don't necessarily agree with him (and yes, he's a strange guy- I know him quite well), but his opinion should be weighed carefully.
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Thanks, I appreciate your input.
 
#20
#20
cardvolfan said:
Hang it up, pal. I didn't expect such a profound statement from you. Anything else you you want to say to dazzle us with your intelligence?
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Card; I appoligize...it was not my intent to belittle your question; it's a pertinent question...However, I do not think it is one that you will ever get a definitive answer to. My comment was a satirical, and most sarcastic commentary about the persuave abilities of money and power. It was not about T.T., or about your inquirery.
 
#22
#22
Kinda sounds like plausible deniability to avoid losing a friendship.
 
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