BREAKING NEWS: Phillip Fulmer Press Conference at 5 PM EST

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 11:26 AM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Football Comment 44 comments

Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer is expected to announce today that he will not return as head coach this afternoon, a high-ranking source within UT athletic department told The Tennessean. -- From The Tennessean

I can't find confirmation on the exact time yet, but "inside sources" tell me the presser will be at 5 PM today. ("Inside sources" = Joel phoning me while on the road. At least I name my sources...)

Back to the point: let's use this thread to discuss our thoughts and feelings on what looks to be the end of one of the greatest legacies in the roughly 120-year history of organized college football.

[Note by hooper, 11/03/08 11:28 AM EST ] Props to birdjam for posting before me on this. Had I refreshed the window first, I would have simply bumped his post.

[Note by hooper, 11/03/08 12:03 PM EST ] Dr. Saturday is noting that nobody's sources are technically "confirmed" regarding this story. Still, I really think this would be the mother of all dupes if a scheduled presser like this were to be a false lead. It's a good reminder to continue taking things with a grain of salt, but I think we can run with the "assumption" that this is true..

[Note by hooper, 11/03/08 12:20 PM EST ]Holly has her take up on EDSBS. Oddly enough, it's rather refreshing to see somebody taking delight in the smackdown of somebody not named Fulmer.

[Note by hooper, 11/03/08 1:25 PM EST ] Orson Spencer Orson Spenser Spenson has perhaps one of the best moments of clarity on the Fulmer/Clawson situation: "Clawson, a first-time FBS coordinator, brought an unnecessarily complex system that takes years to learn into a situation where time was not a luxury." Setting his Gator-ness aside, his sober take is very well-thought out and well-written.

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BTW

The “name my sources” remark was intended to be tongue-in-cheek. Re-reading it, it sounds kinda snarky. Humor was my intent, not barbs.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 11:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

anxiety, curiosity, optimism, skepticism

I wonder who it will be. Let the debate begin.

by kidbourbon on Nov 3, 2008 11:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Glad it is going down like this

So that we can celebrate his career, instead of hating him for going 5-7 or 6-6 for three years and leaving a terrible legacy.

Hopefully Coach Fulmer will stay involved with the University that he has never shown anything but loyalty and love to. That being said, I am ready to go in a new direction as a fan—and am excited to see what is going to happen!

I hate Music City Miracles!

by gramsey712 on Nov 3, 2008 11:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

And the News-Sentinel is left in the DUST.

There IS a Football Jesus!

________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.

by Holly on Nov 3, 2008 11:45 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

YES!

My friend received a text message from his girlfriend that WBIR.com had the news. I checked to see if GoVolsXtra.com had anything about it, and was sooooo elated to see that they were clueless!

by rblakeh on Nov 3, 2008 11:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Your religious affiliation notwithstanding,

GVX was one of the first places I looked for confirmation. I’m still waiting.

To be fair, they do have a few guys I like: Pennington is among the top. But the acid from the commenters is beginning to creep into the writers. Not fun.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed and +1

by rblakeh on Nov 3, 2008 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I also concur

Glad to see Chris Low broke it.

by kidbourbon on Nov 3, 2008 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True.

Chris Low is probably my favorite right now.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You just hurt Pennington's feelings.

Big Meanie!

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cmon hoop

Why be fair? They suck, there I said it for ya!

It’s a sad day, but it’s the only way this story could end if CPF truly loves UT.

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 11:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because I'm a huge teddy bear.

Well, not huge in size, but huge on the inside. I don’t have it in me to post heavy criticisms unless I’m pushed to it.

But yeah, I know what you mean.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 11:58 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I know

that’s what I like about you.

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

My hateration is pretty well confined to John Adams

and their commentariat. But I lurve Chris Low, so this was pretty funny.

________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.

by Holly on Nov 3, 2008 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True. It was funny.

And the GVX post watch is on. I think their site is broken right now,actually.

So if anybody sees when their post on the story occurs, please reply here. I’m curious as to their timing.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

they've more or less just acknowleged Low's story.

The ol “Sources:” method of stealing a story.

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 12:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So they're at least an hour late

your post puts them about 45 minutes behind me, and I was certainly at least 15 minutes behind the Tennessean and Chris Low (probably more). I wasn’t even first on this site.

Not that it really matters, to be honest. Just a curiosity.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They must have dialup at KNS

Took them a while to get espn to load so they could create a story about Chris Low’s story.

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs

rec'd

How long before Adams starts taking credit for the movement? He’s like a wrinkly white Che!

________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.

by Holly on Nov 3, 2008 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

AAAAAAARGGGHHHHH!!!!

My mind’s eye is burning!

Thanks, Holly, for that lovely image.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You can totally see it!

His beret-clad noggin on T-shirts of disaffected teens everywhere….

________________________________
I will give my shirt for Tennessee today.

by Holly on Nov 3, 2008 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oddly enough, you're right.

I’m almost surprised I haven’t seen it yet, actually.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Che

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah.

That nightmare.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

I see I’m not the first to rec that one. Two more and you get the magic green.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I hadn't planned on going to anymore games

But I’m thinking of making the trip Nov. 29 for Kentucky to watch Coach Fulmer’s last home game. Maybe we could have a tailgate.

"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook

by rustytanton on Nov 3, 2008 11:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That's gonna be a huge game.

I hope the turnout is huge and the respect as great as his legacy deserves.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It had to be done...but sad nonetheless...

It is a weird feeling isn’t it? I was ready for this to happen (or thought I was) but am admittedly sad; the end of an era. It is so unusual to have a coach that stays in the same place for so long, he is a homegrown Tennessee coach. I too hope that there is a huge show of support for him at the remaining games. I’m sure this is good for us in the long run, but today it feels like a lose-lose situation.

by UTchris on Nov 3, 2008 12:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hoop, make the call

Mike Leach is from Cody. Start working on him. I’d love to see that offense in Neyland Stadium in front of 100,000.

by wvvol on Nov 3, 2008 12:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cody?!?

Wow. Never knew that. Cody explains a lot, though; they’re the home of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which has the most awesome museum of firearms in the basement.

Seriously, it’s like the Reba McIntyre family in Tremors, only bigger and you’re not allowed to touch.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

:(

Bittersweet day. It was time, but I’m very sad to see Coach leave.

by The Power T on Nov 3, 2008 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for everything, coach

It’s been a good ride.

by thebruceballblog on Nov 3, 2008 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good Job Coach !

This whole thing just feels weird. They say most coach’s are scared to death to coach in the SEC and that everybody wants the Clemson job. So how long do we wait for the next coach ?

Phil,GO VOLS !!!

by bulldurham on Nov 3, 2008 1:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't buy the scared part.

You just don’t become a significant figure in college coaching anymore if you’re afraid of a challenge. That doesn’t mean that a coach with both options on the table wouldn’t choose Clemson, but it’s not going to be because of fear.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well maybe not Scared but........

The ACC is a whole lot easier then the SEC

Phil,GO VOLS !!!

by bulldurham on Nov 3, 2008 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

It wouldn’t be a matter of fear but of increased opportunity. Or at least the perception of increased opportunity. Everybody will judge that differently.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who's next to go ?

They say Tubby is on the hot seat as well.

Phil,GO VOLS !!!

by bulldurham on Nov 3, 2008 1:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tubby likely won't be announced before the Alabama game.

If the team shows serious turnaround by then, the Tony Franklin scapegoat may be sufficient. Tubby has some enemies, for sure, but he has some serious allies as well. That fight will probably be far uglier than what could have been here.

by hooper on Nov 3, 2008 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It will be interesting to see who we get...

It has been one hell of a ride with Fulmer, but as most of you are saying it is probably his time to leave. On one end I hate to see his reign end however I look foward to seeing who we may get.

by MT TITAN-VOL on Nov 3, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thought I would drop by and offer my praise for Fulmer's career

Here’s a question:

At the Kentucky game, will he have his name called out on the jumbotron and run through the T alone, like they do with all the seniors?

As for Tuberville, I think he gets one more year, so long as he doesn’t lose to UTM on Saturday, and the team shows some sort of life against UGA and Bama (ie no 60-0 thrashings).

War Damn Eagle!

by PowerOfDixieland on Nov 3, 2008 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs