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.