Phil Fulmer To Step Down As Tennessee Head Coach, Not Retire, at End of Season
Big news today out of Knoxville: Phil Fulmer has agreed to step down as the head football coach of the Tennessee Volunteers at the end of the 2008 season.
According to the reports, an official announcement is being planned for later in the day on Monday. Fulmer reportedly met with Tennessee officials on Monday morning, two days after the Volunteers feel to 3-6 with a loss to South Carolina, and decided that it would be best for everyone involved if he stepped down.
The reports do not indicate anything as far as Phil Fulmer retiring from coaching, and he will coach the remainder of the season for Tennessee.
What do you think of the move?
Loading ...Phil Fulmer led Tennessee to a national championship in 1998 and the Volunteers battled with the Florida on a year-in, year-out basis at the end of that decade and the beginning of this decade for SEC East supremacy. Over the last few years, however, the Volunteers have been inconsistent and seem to have taken a huge step back in terms of talent. Those 1998 Volunteers included future NFL studs Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Peerless Price, Jason Witten, Albert Haynesworth, Al Wilson, Leonard Little, and many more. The current edition of Tennessee’s football team has a stud in DB Eric Berry…and not much else.
I have always been a staunch supporter of Phil Fulmer over the years, even giving him the benefit of the doubt through the lean success experienced over the past few years. But a few weeks ago, even I began to see the writing on the wall and the need for a new direction in Knoxville.
Phil Fulmer has had an outstanding tenure overall during his time in Knoxville. And while the time is probably right for a change at this moment, his contributions and success should not be overlooked. Coach
Fulmer always conducted himself with class and absolutely gave his heart and soul to the University of Tennessee. And when the dust settles and all is said and done, Phil Fulmer will likely go down as one of the ten or fifteen most successful coaches in the history of the SEC. In a conference that has produced icons like Bear Bryant and Steve Spurrier (the Florida edition), that is no small accomplishment.
As a Tennessee football fan, I applaud the move of Fulmer and the University to recognize the need for a new direction in the rough and tumble and ultra-competitive SEC. But I also figuratively stand up in appreciation for all that Phil Fulmer brought to Tennessee. Hopefully the 2008 Vols can string together a few victories to end the season and allow Phil Fulmer to leave on as high a note as possible.
In other news, I guess when this hillbilly said, “F*ck it, fire Phil Fulmer,” he was being a little more prophetic than anyone realized…
[tags]tennessee volunteers, phil fulmer, college football[/tags]
Tags: College Football, phil fulmer, tennessee volunteers
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[...] Congrats on a great tenure Coach Fulmer! I agree that it is unfortunately time for a change, but I am glad to see a thread like this. Coach Fulmer gave his heart and soul to UT and experienced many more successes than he did failures. I wish him the best of luck and hope to see him coaching again soon. And I hope the boys can pull out a few victories to end this season and let him ride out of town on a high note. Remember the Positives of the Fulmer Era [...]
Fulmer may bleed UT orange and white, but its become apparent that the Vols haven’t been bringing in the top tier talent that rivals Florida, Georgia and Alabama (recently) have been luring to their campuses.
Fulmer can say how much he loves UT and how much he has given to UT. But I think it would be more surprising if he DIDN’T resign. If he wanted the best for the Vols, resigning is the only option.
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Chad…sadly, I agree with you. I say sadly because I’ve always respected Phil Fulmer, and he certainly has not failed for a lack of effort. But you’re right — the talent level is way down, and they play 80s and 90s football with little innovation in scheme from year to year.
You have to grow and innovate to stay ahead of the curve, as well as bring in the top talent to compete in the best conference in America. UT isn’t doing that, so it’s time for a move.
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