Fulmer changes mind, will not work for UT prez

Less than a week after it was announced former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer would be accepting a position as “special assistant to the president,” he has changed his mind.

On Friday, it was announced that Fulmer would not be taking the paid position under UT President John Petersen (in addition to his $6 million buyout from the athletic department budget), contrary to what was announced earlier in the week.

Kudos to Fulmer. Just a day ago, I called for Fulmer to turn down the money. He did.

“I am sorry for any confusion, and I appreciate the university allowing me to take time to consider my retirement and insurance options,” Fulmer said in a statement provided by the UT Office of Communications. “Today I informed President Petersen that I will not be transitioning to a position in the President’s office at this time. Instead, I have offered my services to him as an alumni volunteer, helping develop the university’s relationships with its supporters. It has always been my goal to do what’s right for this great university and bring Tennessee people together, and that’s what I will continue to do.”

Petersen announced the appointment on Monday. On Wednesday, Petersen announced a hiring freeze at UT.

“Our announcement earlier this week in response to widespread media reports created some confusion,” Petersen said. “We had to move quickly to adhere to University retirement policies and deadlines. Under those policies the agreement would not have become final until today. In the days following our announcement, Phillip had the time he needed to consider it further.

“The University values Phillip’s ability to unite and motivate his fellow alumni, and we will continue to seek ways to make the best use of his talents.”

Double dipping? Fulmer shouldn’t accept Petersen’s check

The University of Tennessee announces a hiring freeze, yet the football coach it fired is getting two salaries?

Tennessee fired Phillip Fulmer and was forced to pay him a $6 million buyout. That breaks down to $125,000 per month over the next four years.

Part of the firing came with an extended hand of respect — we’ll gladly keep you on the payroll, just not as coach. Athletic director Mike Hamilton offered Fulmer a position within the department. I have no problem with that. Fulmer has earned that, and his legacy belongs in Tennessee, not at Clemson or as some NFL position coach. I wanted him to remain at the university “in some capacity,” as the invitation was stated.

Was there really a need for Petersen to even offer money?

So, UT president John Petersen followed through with the offer.

Petersen hired Fulmer as a “special assistant to the president,” effective Dec. 1. It runs through February, and Fulmer will be wheeling and dealing with donors, likely trying to repair the broken transfer slips that occurred in the last year due to the football team’s performance — and Fulmer’s firing. I have no problem with that. Fulmer’s a great spokesman for the university, having grown up in the state and then played football and coached there 35 years.

Here’s the caveat: Fulmer’s getting paid $37,500 over three months for the special appointment. That’s $12,500 per month. Practically, the three-month salary is a full-year scholarship for 19 students, or more  than a year’s salary for a facilities worker.

That’s a problem.

Petersen is quick to point out that the money is coming from private funds (donors). True, but bad excuse. The university and athletic department are both paying Fulmer.

That sends the wrong message to students, who can’t secure a loan to complete the spring semester, many of whom may have hoped to graduate.

That sends the wrong message when faculty members are being told thanks for planting a seed in these freshmen, but we’ll handle it from here; we don’t need you any more.

That sends the wrong message when it was revealed just last month that the nation has been in a recession for a year.

That sends the wrong message when two days — yes, two days — after announcing the Fulmer appointment, Petersen announced a hiring freeze at UT.

You can’t blame the athletic department. It has to honor its contractual obligation to pay Fulmer his buyout, something that was drafted long ago. So who’s to blame?

Blame Petersen and the university for being frivolous with spending at a time when such action is foolish. UT’s athletic department is paying two football coaches — one to quit and one to coach — and now the university pays one of them a second fee to continue doing the off-field work. Irresponsible.

And blame Fulmer. He’s been overly generous to the university during his time there. He and his wife pledged a million-dollar gift just last year. But what’s that worth when he’s getting that back six-fold — no matter whose budget it comes from? Besides, when the $125K is deposited into Fulmer’s account, and taxes come out, is he going to notice the 12 grand from Petersen?

The challenge now lies with Fulmer. He may have agreed to the three-month, swollen salary. But he can just as easily give that $37,500 back to the university for scholarships or even to pay a professor or security guard for a year’s work. So, we’re waiting.

Eric Berry: SEC Defensive Player of the Year

Eric Berry has been named SEC Defensive Player of the Year.  There is not a single defensive player in the SEC that is more deserving.  Congrats Eric!

Per SEC Sports

Some Sense Amongst the Confusion

This is a post from CFJ’s guest blogger and good friend of mine, DrumKing.  Please enjoy and comment…

Brandon, thank you so much for your comments. I haven’t been this excited about Tennessee football since 1977 when Johnny Majors came marching home to end the Bill Battle era. When Fullmer took over as HC of the Vols, I was so disappointed that I wanted to puke. His early success came off Majors’ rebuilding of the program. Phil is a good recruiter and no one can deny this. When Cutcliffe was on staff, they were a little more than good. They had really good teams. (Just couldn’t beat Florida most of the time) Never did beat them with Peyton Manning and should have killed the Gators.

No matter how good that they were or turned out to be, there was always games like the Arkansas game of 1998, gift from Stoerner, the struggles with vastly inferior teams, just barely getting by and the occasional really big wins against Georgia, Alabama (when they were down from probation). The teams were poorly coached and managed all the wins because of the superior talent that Phillip was able to recruit. I only went up to Knoxville to watch one game live while Fulmer was coach. It was the Rutgers game of about 3 or 4 years ago. It was so pitiful a game of football, that my wife and I left after the 3rd quarter. I couldn’t stomach anymore of what I was seeing on the playing field from Tennessee. It wasn’t the teams that I watched during the Major’s era. I’m not a Majors fan either. I thought that he needed to go about 6 years into his 16 years at K-town.

The Vols vaunted defense of this year (4th in the nation by some accounts) got most of their numbers by stopping such juggernats as Mississippi State, Auburn(game they lost), Northern Illinois, Vanderbilt, Kentucky, South Carolina(game they lost) and Wyoming (game they lost). Did any of you notice how “Chief’s” defense did against UCLA on opening night with them playing with their 3rd string QB? Did you forget that?(game they lost). Chavis’s defense could always put up big numbers, but what did they do when the game was on the line? He wasn’t called 3rd and long Chavis for no good reason. They never could stop the winning drive when the game was on the line.

Even when rumors that Kiffin was going to be named head coach, I was holding my breath because I was afraid that he was going to keep Chavis on staff. I shouted halleleujah when he let them all go. All anyone had to do to know just how well the Vols were coached was to listen to pro scouts evaluate the players that they saw coming out of Tennessee. There are many in the pros and I’m happy for all of them. Listen to guys who really know football and listen to their carefully guarded comments to understand the state that Tennessee football had gotten to. We needed a change and we have needed it for over 10 years.

My comments do not reflect on the character of any of the former staff. I appreciate what Coach Fullmer means to the university of Tennessee. I admire his love for the school, players, former players, tradition, etc. All the good that he has done for the community. Teaching his players to serve the kids, visit the hospitals, etc. That is all wonderful. His loyalty to his staff, while commendable, probably was his undoing. He needed to hire much better coaches than he had on staff. He wouldn’t do it and it has cost him his job.

If one wanted to look at the negative side, you could question the discipline that was never there. You could question why better players sat on the bench and favorites got to play. You could question why the new offense this year looked almost like the one last year. This new offense was to have a lot of formations, man-in-motions, etc. The only motion that I saw from this offense was the false starts that several of those fat, out of shape, lazy, offensive linemen made game after game after game. But let’s don’t dwell on the negative. This era is over and a new chapter of Tennessee football is to begin.

A lot of Vol foes are making fun of the changes, questioning the hiring of a 33 year old coach. (BTW, Gen Robert Neyland was 33 years old when he was named coach of the Vols.) But secretly, they are beginning to tremble in their boots, because the old easy Tennessee teams of the past are gone now and they have a new team to deal with. It won’t be as easy to beat the Vols in the future, I promise you that. No team wins every game every year. But the easy games with Tennessee are over for the gators, bulldoggies, tide, tigers, gamecocks and everyone else. JMHO

Ok, now he’s out…

Per ESPN HERE

Tuberville Not Out… Yet.

Fortunately I work with a gentleman whose son is a walk-on at Auburn.  Tommy Tuberville held a team meeting at 2:00 p.m. today to discuss finals and winter training sessions.  Al Del Greco on WJOX reported at 9:24 a.m. this morning that Tuberville’s office had been cleaned out, and he has not been seen around campus.  From everything I have been told that is false.  This player has heard plenty of rumors within the team that Tuberville is possibly leaving, but nothing of what Del Greco has reported is true.  Butch Davis is being rumored around the team as thet replacement, but I’m sure there is little behind that other than hopefully players.  It has been reported that Tub has spent a lot of time with the University President and Jacobs over the last three days.  That is no surprise.

Caleb Gill Needs Our Help

Young Caleb Gill is battling Cancer.  Please see the 3SIB article about the fundraiser going towards Caleb’s recovery.  God is the ultimate physician, so lets make sure we pray for Caleb as well.

Thanks,

CFJ Staff

1994: On the Brink of Dominance

Curveballs for Jesus will be looking back at the Philip Fulmer years.  We will attempt at having a year-by-year breakdown of the season, personal reactions to the games, moments and memories.  This is my way of saying, “Thanks Coach.”  Please check back often to follow this series.

With one full season under Philip Fulmer’s belt many Volunteer faithful were highly optimistic about the 1994 season.  Despite a 31-13 thumping by the hands of Penn State in the Citrus Bowl, Volnation had the Heisman Trophy Runner Up coming back and a dynamic duo of Aaron Hayden and James Stewart at tailback.  The defense was still fast and tenacious as it had been in 1993, but lost all 4 defensive line starters.  On top of the D-line, only a few days after the Penn State defeat, Heath Shuler announced that he would forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft.  The Vols would have to rely on senior QB Jerry Colquitt to run David Cutcliffe’s offense.  Colquitt saw limited action in 1992 and 1993, but was known for his ground moves and accurate arm on the run. 

Holloway Jr?

To kickoff 1994 the Vols bucked the trend of a cup cake opener, and headed out west for a match up with UCLA.  The game would end up having one of the saddest moments in UT football.  Colquitt, a fifth year senior, on the 7th play from scrimmage suffered a season ending knee injury. 

“That was one of the saddest moments I’ve ever experienced in football.  Jerry had worked so hard and paid a high price to get to play. That’s not how it’s supposed to work out.” – Coach Philip Fulmer

The first player to run in was junior Todd Helton of future MLB fame, and after three weak plays was replaced by gangly freshman Peyton Manning.  A parade All-American and son of SEC and NFL Legend Archie Manning, Manning had all of Rocky Top excited to see what he was made of.  Story goes that Peyton ran into the huddle and started trying to talk the offense up.  That was a questionable move especially when you are barking at big uglies like Kevin Mays, Jeff Smith, and Bubba Miller.  Peyton was promptly told to, “Shut the hell up and call the damn play.”  So Peyton abided and went to work.  He platoons off and on with another freshman sensation Branndon Stewart for the next 2 quarters. By the 4th quarter Helton took back over and led the Vols to 3 TDs in the 4th.  However, the Vols would end up on the short end of the game, 25-23, with the first opening game defeat since 1988. 

With a long trip home, and another away game in Athens coming up, the Vols worked hard in Knoxville on a short week.  Helton had established himself as the starter with the performance against UCLA the previous week, and the Vols headed onto Athens to visit the Bulldogs. On the back of James Stewart’s 72 yard TD run through the Georgia defense the Vols would head back to Knoxville with a 41-23 victory in their pocket.  On come the Florida Gators.

A Time Tested Tradition: The Game Maxims

Looks like Coach Lane Kiffin Embraces General Neyland’s Game Maxims… Thank you Coach.

 

 

General Neyland’s 7 Maxims

1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win. 

2. Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way – SCORE. 

3. If at first the game – or the breaks – go against you, don’t let up… put on more steam.  

4. Protect our kickers, our QB, our lead and our ball game.

5. Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle… for this is the WINNING EDGE.  

6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made. 

7. Carry the fight to our opponent and keep it there for 60 minutes.

Lane Kiffin Presser: ““It starts today, you are going to feel it”

At 1:00 p.m. CST time today University of Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton announced the 21st Head Coach in Tennessee history, Coach Lane Kiffin.  Kiffin as discussed numerous other times around Vols Blogsphere has a great deal of experience for a 33 year old.  He’s played and coached under some of the best coaches at different levels of college and NFL football such as; Pat Hill, Jeff Tedford, Tom Coughlin, Don Capers, Norm Chow, and Pete Carroll.  All of these coaches are proven winners at their respective levels of football.  His pedigree is increased even more by the fact that his father, Monte Kiffin, is one of the most premier defensive coordinators in NFL history. 

This has been an emotional and difficult week for this blogger.  Personally I have supported Fulmer every minute until sometime shortly after the Florida game.  I am thankful for what he has brought to our program, but I also realize it is time to move on.