I'm an alum, I haven't really taken sides on the whole Fulmer issue, but this letter is puzzling, to say the least. I don't really see the harm in publishing the letter, but then again, I don't really see the point. The writing is already on the wall, and I could care less about a letter like this. The President of the US could sign his name on it, and it wouldn't make a bit of difference. It all comes down to winning, and Fulmer will stay if he can keep winning.

I think it says a lot that these players felt strongly enough to come out and say something directly. Not through some hack journalist.

More importantly is that the message is clear and correct.  

Integrity is more important than ANYTHING.

How many serious scandals have we had at Tennessee since Fulmer's been here? I mean cheating, buying athletes, buying games, or anything that constitutes a program changing infraction? None that I can think of.

Unfortunately Phillip Fulmer, or any of the other coaches, can't be there to hold player's hands 24-7 and so on occasion they make poor decisions like young people do. It's part of growing up. Agreed they should know better but they're still just inexperienced young men with the world at their feet. Stuff happens. And I think that for the most part, it all get handled correctly within reason. I don't see the NCAA investigating us.

Bottom line: Phillip Fulmer is a good man and a good coach and he deserves to be judged by more than just having three losses. A lot of other schools would KILL to have just three losses, especially in our conference. Everybody needs to cut Phil some slack man. I mean, we have a young team and most of our players are still learning how to play within the team and even then we still have a good shot at winning the East. I mean, come on. That's respectable. Right?

I'm glad to have Phil and the rest of the coaches as well. I think we have a good coaching staff who's hit a bit of a lull. I mean, not every staff could have turned around the season of which we do not speak the way they did. And I have every confidence that we'll be fine this year and even better next year and the year after and the year after etc...

I think this was a good thing these players did with this letter and I'd like to see some more publicized support from the rest of the Big Orange Nation. I think it'd do a hell of a lot of good.

Anybody find it odd that Casey Clausen's name is on the list but Rick Clausen's is not? Just wondering.

I love it.  As an unabashed Coach Phillip Fulmer supporter, I empathize with both his supporters and those who think its time to move on.  But I think fans, talk radio, the rest of the media, and other outsiders need to take a deep breath when offering their thoughts on this issue.

I will listen to anyone who says that, from an X's and O's standpoint, perhaps College Football has evolved and changed and that Tennessee still has work to do to adapt to that change.  That is a valid argument given some of the recent difficulties we've seen playing the new offenses you see today.  

What I won't listen to: the unintelligent and ignorant attacks on the character of the coaching staff.  These are good people.  And when a jerk gets a two minute question slot on talk radio and tries to say that staff are a bunch of idiots....I get irate.  I hated the play calling of Randy Sanders.  Does that mean I thought that he was a terrible person? NO.  It just meant that I thought some of his play calling was "out of place."  But that guy did a lot for Tennessee and I wish him all the success in the world.  

Subpar performance and losses does not necessarily equal horrible character.  I've said all along that is okay to question a game plan and specific play calling.  But don't turn that into a personal attack which questions the character and intelligence of CPF and his staff.  That just makes us sound stupid and small minded.    

We get to see the coaches during random press conferences, media clips, and on game day.  We as spectators don't get a real perspective on the little things, the day to day operations and practices, that truly show who and what these coaches are about.

I'm not saying you are wrong if you think its time to move on.  Just don't confuse win/loss records with character and personality.  I love this letter because it shows that players, both his players and players from the pre-Fulmer era, believe that when it is all said and done, we've got a good, decent person guiding this program.

How bout Tee or Peerless or Al Wilson?

Just at a glance, anyone from THE national championship team besides Jeff Hall?

Eeeeeennnteresting.