Gone: Phil Fulmer
 

Stepping down (either at the end of the season or immediate, it's unknown yet). Bittersweet, I tell ya.

Letter from Mike Hamilton to UT Football Fans

Nov. 3, 2008

Dear friends,

This afternoon, Coach Fulmer announced he will step aside at the conclusion of the football season. I want to express my sincere gratitude for everything he has done for the University and our program.

Coach Fulmer has been, and will continue to be, a great representative of the University and the athletic department. He has dedicated a majority of his life to our program and brought home two SEC championships and a national championship. He has secured his place as the second winningest coach in Tennessee history behind General Neyland. I personally appreciate everything he has done for Tennessee and look forward to him continuing to be a part of our family.

I hope that you will come and show your appreciation for Coach Fulmer at the Wyoming and Vanderbilt games as well as the Kentucky game on Nov. 29 when we celebrate "Phillip Fulmer Day" in Neyland Stadium.

We will begin a national coaching search immediately. We have a great University, world-class student-athletes, a tremendous fans base and first-class facilities. As a result, we will attract some of the nation's best candidates. We will introduce a new coach to you over the next several weeks.

Thank you for your continued support of Tennessee football.

Sincerely,

Mike Hamilton

Rumor is that Johnny Majors is coming back.

As Poli says, bittersweet.

Fulmer has done a lot for the program, but clearly something isn't working and hasn't been working.

He might want to stay at UT if at all possible, but I would like to see LSU make a run at Chavis for DC at the end of the season.

So would most of the teams in the SEC West if they're paying attention. He too rarely coaches players up, he's too often inept at making adjustments, and his gameplanning is hit or miss.

I thought he was going to go back to Pitt for Round 3 once Wanny was fired?

After Florida and UGA this year, that sounds like a step up.

Me thinks it almost has to be 4 weeks away, unless they want Kiffen....

Butch Davis is the name I am hearing on this one...

Was Chavis the guy making "adjustments" against the Bruins at the Rose Bowl? If that's the case, sign that guy up!

Interesting.

Mike Leach

Want him out of the Big XII, eh?

Is David Cutcliffe a possibility? He was fired from Ole Miss, but that was clearly a raw deal.

I seriously doubt Cutcliffe would come in and claim the job of his old friend Fulmer. I wouldn't be opposed to it, but I think Cutcliffe would rather distance himself from that right now.

Cutcliffe already said he's not leaving earlier today.
"I'm at Duke, staying at Duke"
http://sports.myway.com/news/11042008/v7186.html

butch was rumored at Clemson as well.
Face it he is picking the Tarheel pocket for all he can.
Not that he wont leave but not after year 2 unless one of the 2 gets desparate...and with Clemson talking 6MM/year maybe they are

Same problem we have with him.
Sorry to ring religion into this, but a mormon will not recruit well in the deep south.

I'm hoping Butch is ready for a change when/if Bobby ever moves on.

That's what, in like 3 weeks? ;)

couldn't resist the easy one eh?
:devil: