Since 2001, I have been irritably watching what I thought was the demise of our program. Sure we had some teaser moments of success but not what we had in the ’90’s. We’ve also seen our level of talent drop steadily as the SEC has gotten more competitive. This season is the worst I can remember and I like many others wanted a new direction. After watching yesterday’s press conference, I feel horrible. Coach Fulmer gave UT everything and he is a true class act as proven from the press conference. After seeing that, I felt like I was seeing my old man cry. Something you don’t expect to ever see and when you do, you have no idea how to process it.

In a dream world, to me, we’d ax Hamilton and make Fulmer the new AD. It would provide the continuity for recruits and keep the "T"radition Coach Fulmer believed in that so many of us have taken for granted. UT is about family and tradition. New blood may be good for our win-loss record but at what cost? Are we going to get a Saban who will take our program back up but leave us in a couple of years when another job that pays more comes open? Are we going to get some up and comer like Lane Kiffin who will use us as a launching pad to another destination? Or worse, are we going to get somebody that will take us to new lows? All of these scenarios concern me because what UT is known for and loved by all of us becomes watered down. I wish this had happened differently because I feel like we sold our souls.

I just hope we as a fan base send him off with more love from 100,000+ people than that stadium has ever heard.