This is a post from a guy on another board. In keeping with the VolNation spirit, I figured I would copy and paste it here for discussion. Let me say that this guy isn't your typical rumor monger.
Here it is, FWIW:
"The week after Georgia, he is going to be asked to retire and make it effective at season's end. He will be offered a golden parachute to do this. If he refuses, he is going to be asked to resign and take the buyout as is. If he refuses, which he can technically do, then a few days later he will be fired. Firing him takes more work...literally......documents signed, all "Is dotted and Ts crossed" properly....and it could get ugly. The hope is he wil take first option. This will allow them to be more deliberate in their search and will also offer a sort of "going out in style" theme for the players who love him like a father.
Coaches on the list right now:
Pete Carroll(because he is unhappy with delay of facilities upgrade at SC)
Jon Gruden
Lane Kiffin
Bill Cowher(probably will be approached first)
and while you are going to say BS to this, he is on their list. In fact, Fulmer had to be told to hire him....Dave Clawson.
UT is going to make an offer of 4-6 million/year to Carroll, Gruden or Cowher.
Guys, SC told Carroll three years ago they were going to upgrade the facilities and they haven't come close to breaking ground. It is a real issue there right now...plus, it has been said Carroll and Saban hate each other. Another strong lure is the fact the SEC has become the national playground for some of the best coaches in the country. Carroll may want the competition of the SEC and might just want to kick Saban's a/z/z into oblivion...not to mention he wil be on national TV virtually every week. USC is on a lot too, but not as often nationally as the Vols and NEVER on ESPN.
If Cowher says no when they approach him, they are going to go hard after Carroll. I know it for a fact. I also know for a fact they really like Clawson. The story about him wanting to pull Crompton after the UCLA game is true. The fact Phillip overrode him on it was the last straw for many of the "power" boosters. The big meeting was right after UCLA and then another one right after Florida. The one after UCLA had virtually everyone in it. Most of them love Fulmer like a brother, but know a change is needed. It is why they hope he takes the first option, but it is possible if Fulmer forces the university to fire him, it will be an immediate removal and Clawson will take over on an interim basis.
Guy/gals, I really shouldn't be telling you this. I have two friends who sit on this "board" of boosters. There are about 24 of them who collectively make these decisions, but because no one from the university is on this "board", it actually makes it easier to make decisions. Ultimately, the president of the university signs the releasing document...but generally speaking, these guys make the decisions on top athletic hires. The booster "board" consist of men like Haslam, Thorton and Goodfriend all the way to some alumni whose aggregate donation is in the low seven figures, but may have played an important and influential role as a studen athlete.
What I am saying may or may not happen as I have described. The only thing certain, according to my friend, is Fulmer WON'T be here next year or as he said, "I am 98% confident we will have a new head coach next year"
If I thought for one second, he reads any message boards, you wouldn't see me positing this, but it just makes it easier and helps filter out all the BS speculation that goes on. Plus, I know it will be leaked long before it actually happens anyway."
