Players react to Coach Fulmer's announcement

[steelersman42]

Ramon Foster and Eric Berry had it right. Fulmer is a class act and a great coach. He embodies what Tennessee is all about, and it's a shame he had to go out the way he did.

[greymoose1000]

@steelersman42 It was way over due. As a USC Trojan Man I can tell you that the only thing Fulmer did that was decent was to turn in UAT for cheating. Fulmer kept Krispy Kreme in business I'm sure, so that helped the local business. Go USC. Sorry our coach wanted to come back to USC and leave you, but you have to admit that your state doesn't have a lot to offer.

[greymoose1000]

Kiffin was your best hope and had you on the right course. Should have beaten UAT last year, but my USC Trojans called Lane back home. Momma called just it did for the Bear during the 1950's.

[jonathan6272]

please get fuckin mike hamilton out of here

[DIEHARDVOL1]

fulmer was a great coach we should have never fired him i truly think it was a joke he would have turned us around u seen the football players he had recrutied that year evey coach has a down year its like Ramom Foster were family and u dont replace family

[griggsm221]

eric berry still has his shoulder pads on !!!!

[tennvolsman]

Mike hammilton can die in a fire

[72Bug]

i remember i was embarrassed to be a tennessee fan on this day...fulmer was family....after he left UT will never be the same.....

[theguyofTN]

Uh yeah! They are much better. I would rather be 24-14 then 18-13. I am definitely not a Fulmersexual (I have no idea how that word started...) I was just correcting you. Whoever is the coach of my team, I will support them no matter what. I agree that he wasn't the same coach as he was in the 90s and even early 2000s but you make him out to be worse than he actually was.

[coffeeandciagar]

Records Versus Top SEC Coaches

* 4-8 (.333) vs. Spurrier: (2-3 since 1998)

* 0-4 (.000) vs. Meyer

* 3-4 (.429) vs. Richt

* 1-3 (.250) vs. Tuberville (at AUB after 98, 3-3 overall)

* 1-3 (.250) vs. Saban

* 9-22 (.290) vs. above 5 coaches

* SEC teams that Fulmer has a winning record vs. the current head coach: KY, Vandy, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and ARK

[theguyofTN]

haha dude where are you getting these stats? Most of these are wrong too!

[coffeeandciagar]

* Seasons with 3 or more losses: 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

* Seasons with 4 or more losses: 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007

* Seasons with 5 or more losses: 2002, 2005

* Seasons with multiple losses to unranked teams: 2003, 2005, 2007

* Consecutive seasons with a loss in last two games of season: 8

* Seasons with double digit postseason loss: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006 (every year they played in the postseason)

[theguyofTN]

why is Seasons with 3 or more losses are stat that your throwing out there? I would take 3 losses in a season. That's not bad. You can win a BCS Bowl with 3 losses.

[theguyofTN]

I meant why is seasons with 3 or more losses a stat that you are throwing out there?

[coffeeandciagar]

More:

* Lost 5 out of last 6 games vs. ranked teams (last 4 losses were non-competitive)

* 2006 Vol rushing defense gave up more yards per carry (4.70) than any Vol team since UTAD begin keeping the stats in 1951?

* Consecutive seasons without SEC title: 9

* Consecutive seasons without BCS bowl: 8

* Consecutive seasons without top 10 ranking: 6

* Seasons excluded from AP and/or Coaches Top 25: 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 (and probably 2007)

[coffeeandciagar]

Numbers, cont'd:

* 4 year records immediately following national championship:

- Fulmer ranks 57th out of 77 national champions since 1936

- Fulmer ranks 18th out of last 19 national champions?

* Overall record 2005 - 2007: 18-13 (.581)

* Overall record 2002 - 2007: 46-24 (.657); worse than any 5 year stretch since 1980 - 1984

* SEC games 2005 - 2008 10-11

* SEC East games 2005 - 2008: 6-7

* 4-10 (.286) vs. Ranked Teams 2005 - present

[ut4life05]

Ok. Since when has Preseason Polls meant DICK???

[coffeeandciagar]

Falling short of expectations by a notch or two is one thing. That's just margin of error. But losing to South Carolina and Vanderbilt, and almost to Memphis, is something else entirely.

Really, if you're going to use that as an excuse, the Volunteer fanbase doesn't need you.

[coffeeandciagar]

$6 million dollars for being fired and the Neyland Award that brought him back to the stadium while the fan base is trying to heal from a decade of sorry, undisciplined football, players and ex-players. I'm not crying any tears.

[ut4life05]

The man is 100 games over .500. He won the FIRST ever BCS Championship. He has owned Alawama for all but the past two years. How can you say that it does not hurt you to see him go.

[coffeeandciagar]

Ever hear of the game passing you by? That's exactly what happened to Fulmer. He had his heyday, fair enough. But since then, a combination of the SEC's rapid improvement, Fulmer mailing it in this decade, and relaxation of discipline has done him in. It was time for a change.

Ironic that you mention Alabama, since you sound just like a stuck-in-the-past Alabama fan using your examples. Also, Alabama in the late 90s and early 2000s was as down in the dumps as UT has been recently.

[teuen101]

I know all you people want fat phil gone ! hah ...he kicked everyone in SEC ass for the last 17 years !

[Futurecoach16]

I watched that whole press conference. It was one of the saddest moments I have ever seen in all of sports. It ranks up there with Lou Gehrig's "the luckiest man" speech. It's a shame that you didn't post the part where Berry was asked if he was going to consider transferring. His answer sounded like if he could, he would, but being a sophomore, and having to sit out a year, he couldn't do it. Still, such a depressing moment.

[USCfootballdude54]

no this was the second win in four years against tennessee for us wow never thought i would be able to say that im normally to concerned with us sucking almost every year haha

[USCfootballdude54]

fat phil is finally gone thank the lord

go gamecocks! 27-6

BTW does any UT fans take the south carolina as like a rivalry game???? just taking a poll

thanks

[JTKCB05]

Yes, but I have to be honest, only since steve"the boogie man" spurrier has taken over. Which has been good for you all. We were on a roll over the gamecocks until he arrived and has beat us twice in the past few years. He's the coach you love to hate(not really hate, but if your a football fan you know what I mean.) Hopefully next year I can proudly post the score, so enjoy it while you can!

[tnvolsfan123456]

kind of but this past year is the first in like over 10 years they've beat us

[rockytoprowdy]

i agree with parts of some comments. I definatly think Fulmer should have received the news after the season, but he should have received the news. If you were Hamilton and you had multi millionaires breathing down your neck to make something happen, you have to. And lets be honest, Fulmer is the greatest man to ever walk through Tennessee, but the SEC is moving fast and we werent keeping up. I am one of the biggest UT fans, i cried when i heard the news honestly, but it had to be done

[clskmstg]

These aren't professional football players making millions a year that are paid to win games. These are young men, in college developing as human beings and as men. I've not been a Tennessee fan really. I've lived in this state all my life, and understand what the university means to so many. The way UT handled this was inexcusable, unprofessional and wrong. Future teams will win, and memories will fade. I will never forget this, and I'll never forget Coach Fulmer's example. Bravo, Coach Fulmer.

[SECgatorFAN]

Well said Brainerdrebel...well said. I agree with terminating Mike Hamilton. However, do ya think that the fans will get any better treatment or will the next guy be just as greedy os this SOB? Sure, I'm a gator fan, but I love SEC football just like the next guy who lives in a SEC town. Yeah, I live in Knoxville, but I feel like Phil has been mistreated even though I hate the prick, but I can understand fans being pissed over gettin ripped off. People can't take their kids out at all anymore

[efd2420]

I've enjoyed watching Tennessee falter this year, but it's sad to see such a successful coach treated so shabbily. UT showed no class at all in this. The man's given his whole adult life to the school and football program, and he's won a national championship. UT showed no class at all in firing him now. The season will be over in a month and that's when they should have made the move.

[govols1986]

Tennessee football isn't a family. I don't care what the players say. Tennessee football is a business, a change needed to be made and it couldn't wait any longer.

[nothingsfree]

You're only half-right.

[jigglestik28]

how could u kno unless u were there....id believe them over some internet blogger anyday

[govols1986]

This "internet blogger" has forgotten more than you could ever know about Tennessee football.

[jigglestik28]

i wish i knew what that meant:::please elaborate

[brainerdrebel]

Mike Hamilton is the greedy SOB that needs to get fired. The price of tickets along with the donation is outrageous. The average family can't afford tickets. It is all about money. Auburn has free parking for cars and RVs, UT charges it loyal fans and students out the butt. I hope we hit rock bottom.

[Stuntman2812]

It's not fulmer's fault there losing its the players

[RebelCardinal27]

Well I do know what's going on.

[RebelCardinal27]

Fulmer deserved to get fired. He got all these recruits and what has he done with them? NOTHING. Urban Meyer is competing in his 2nd SEC title game in four years. And assuming Florida beats Bama, Florida will be playing for their 2nd national championship in four years. Les Miles played for two SEC titles in three years. So what if he won the SEC east? The only reason he won it is because of all the upsets that happened that year. He couldn't even beat UCLA with their 3rd string QB starting.

[jkbezo]

This is the worst firing of the season along with Kansas State. So what he had 2 losing seasons in 4 Years. The Vols just played in the SEC chm last season. Geez and winning the NC a decade ago. You expect to win every season? I hope this man coaches somewhere soon. He would be accept a lot of place. Tenn is going to fall like Nebraska and Michigan. It may take awhile for Michigan just to get to mediocrity. And Nebraska (after Solich? We saw what happenened and they are still trying to recover.

[jkbezo]

Even Jo Pa had 4 losing seasons in 5 yrs (2000-2004), he stuck around, and how have theyv'e been doing lately? Bad Move, Bad Move!

[Ments7]

You sound like somebody who has no idea what's going on.

[bianka1234567890]

I LOVE TENNESSEE

[jpm3ut]

Dumbass, Bama was breaking NCAA recruiting laws and Fulmer just proved it true. Sure you can say he is a taddle tail but maybe if Bama didnt have to cheat to win there would not have been any problems. And the only reason you are good now is cause you stoll a coach from a NFL team who deliberately lied saying he would not leave miami. And just so you know, Fulmers record against Bama is 10-5-1 so get your facts straight d-bag.

[cdgiddens11]

o and it jus so happens the guy who was gonna testify for alabama ended up dead right before the trial

[caulyns80]

some of this has to fall on the players, I mean how can you say after fulmer gets fired and say your gonna play with fire this upcoming saturday and LOSE TO WYOMING, WHAT! I mean fulmer didn't just wake up one day and couldn't remember how to coach. For one your QB is gawd awful, there has to be someone that can throw the football and make mart decisions at least not lose the game for you. I'm a gator fan but I do feel bad for fulmer with all he has done for Tennessee. Go Gators!

[nate1ty]

coach fulmer was a great coach he did so much for our program and we're all going to miss him......We'll miss you coach fulmer!!!!

[baseballer3510]

coach you did good for the university you won us a national championship you showed your team how to be a family we will miss you coach fulmer

[jld4063]

we'll miss u coach! it won't be the same without u!

[LJOZBORNE]

It's a shame Hamilton is now treating VOL sports like a business. Tennesse Football will never be the same. Granted, the best thing he's done for the university was to hire Bruce Pearl. But you can bet your bottom dollar he will not find someone like him for Vol football. Let's ask Hamilton to step down.

Coach, you'll be sorely missed and I know whoever gets you as their next coach will be the luckiest university in America.. Good luck coach to youand your family.

[mongomartin1]

Coach Fulmer showed a great deal of class. I thought the administration had more class than to do to him what they did. I am almost ashamed to be a fan right now.

[AngusYoung16T]

That's coach Johnny Long at the end who is hugging most of the players.

[aoliver5]

At the very end of the video the football team is leaving in unison because Hamilton is getting raedy to speak, and they didn't want to be there to support anything he has done recently.

[Dricha23]

Im glad I hope Hamilton gets backstabbed by somebody he helps hire. I hope he sees a day when everything he's worked for is stripped away from him. And I can tell you, on that day I will not shed a dang tear for his sorry butt. I support Coach Fulmer it was not his fault and I hope he can find someway to still be a part of the program here. God bless coach.

[rcfreak7777]

I will miss fulmer 2. This is in my opinion the players fault. We do not have the men we used to. We have big mouths like foster up there talking about a win instead of going out there and busting a hole open like a Cosey Coleman used too. We have two players on the team that remind me of the 90s.

Eric Berry = UT football.

Robert Ayers = UT football.

When we get more stand up kids we can return to the glory days. Its not fulmers fault. He was a great coach, but its time to move on.

[Tennvolsfan06]

rcfreak said it well. Our failures are results of on field (not sideline) performance. However, it is debateable that the reason for those on-field failures is from lack or sufficient leadership. Mike Hamilton made a business decision and one that may have come at just the right time. It's time to move on all while supporting UT & our players.

[KoachKrab127]

Um...as head coach, is it not Fulmer's responsibility to get the right players? This is Fulmer's fault for not motivating and disciplining the players. He used to be good at that, but not anymore.

[rcfreak7777]

Yes it is. Some of what happened was Fulmers fault. Most of it was the players. Fulmer did not forget how to teach a kid how to block. Those kids ran too much mouth and played too little football.

I am glad for the change, and I am glad to have Kiffin. Still the point is that Fulmer was not as responsible as the players.

[orangejeepsicle]

hamilton is a weasel.

[AngusYoung16T]

I'll miss you Coach Fulmer.

[garyyager]

We will miss Coach Fulmer.

[JPPT1974]

Really shocking here about Fulmer stepping down!