Phil Fulmer Has Reportedly Agreed to Step Down as Tennessee Head Coach After 2008

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Tennessee Volunteer football has had a few very distinguishable faces over the years. Peyton Manning, Tee Martin (kidding) and Phil Fulmer. And, like all college programs, regardless of the talent level of a particular player, it is the coach that always remains in the spotlight and as the face of the program, long after certain athletes graduate.

But it appears, based on what ESPN is reporting, that Fulmer will no longer be the face of Tennessee, having agreed to step down as head coach of the Volunteers following a miserable 2008 showing.

An announcement is being planned for later Monday at Neyland Stadium. The Vols (3-6, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight games and are in danger of suffering their second losing season in the last four years.

Fulmer, who's won 150 games at his alma mater and is the dean of SEC coaches, met with Tennessee officials Monday morning, and they reached a mutual agreement that it would be best for all parties if Fulmer was not back next season.

It's an unsurprising shock, really, because this rumor has been floating out there for some time, and the Vols aren't even popular in Knoxville this year (that's the unsurprising part). Well, that and the fact that FanHouse mentioned this several times in recent weeks.

It's shocking because Fulmer -- with the help of Duke head coach David Cutcliffe -- developed a slew of great football players and won a national championship with the Volunteer program. That's not to say he should be immune from scrutiny by any means, but he did establish Tennessee as an SEC power in the 1990's, and he did bring a championship to his alma mater.

What this proves, though, is that there are only one or two coaches in the entire nation that are immune to a bad run, and that you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone outside of Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno that simply couldn't get fired. On the bright side for Fulmer, he's at least being given the somewhat respectable option of "stepping down."

Via CFT

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

11-03-2008 @ 11:54AM

KEN said...

PHIL, HAS LET THE PROGRAM GET AWAY FROM HIM...WITHOUT CUTCLIFFE...WE NOW KNOW WHO WAS THE BRAINS BEHIND THE PROGRAM. TN HAS A GREAT FOOTBALL TRADITION AND IT WILL TAKE 2-3 YEARS TO GET BACK INTO NATIONAL CONTENDER, BUT IT WILL....TN WILL ATTRACT BIG TIME PLAYERS..GOOD LUCK VOLS

11-03-2008 @ 11:55AM

Matt Barlow said...

Sad to see Phill go, but we have been slipping for the past dew years. Just this weekend, I chose to go hunting on Saturday and watch the Titans on Sunday.

Get your http://tennesseevolsfan.com Tennessee Vols Gear

11-03-2008 @ 12:05PM

LONGTIMEVOLFAN said...

TO ANYONE READING YOU DAMN A MAN FOR A BAD SEASON YET HE GETS NO RESPECT FOR WHAT HE'S DONE IN THE PAST, I BLAME THIS SOLELY ON THE ACADEMIC DIRECTORS FOR NOT LETTING HIM RECRUIT THE WAY HE HAS IN THE PAST. ITS SAD TO SEE THE VOL FAITHFULS NOT STAND TO HELP THIS GREAT COACH, FULMER I HOPE YOU GO ON TO COACH AT ANOTHER SEC SCHOOL AND ANIHALATE TENNESSEE IN THE COMING YEARS. SO NOW WHAT DO WE END UP WITH WILLINGHAM OR TUBBERVILLE I BET THOSE OF YOU THAT CALL THERESELVES TN FAITHFUL DIDNT THINK ABOUT THAT DID YOU?... ANYWAYS TO END THIS THE VOL NATION WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT COACH FULMER JUST WAIT AND SEE...

11-04-2008 @ 1:38PM

Sean Holler said...

I have been a longtime Vols fan and I agree with most it is time for some new blood in the old program.Although I do respect Fullmer and wish him well if you can't beat the big three consistantly in your conference it is time to go!!!!!!

11-03-2008 @ 6:23PM

GSVolfan said...

I agree with your support toward Phillip Fulmer! There is no doubt that there has been a slip in our program but it was not all Phillip's fault. You are only as good as those around you. Money talks and it is obvious that our boosters got what they wanted. It amazes me that when you look at Phillip's track record ( or that of any other sucessful programs), there are cycles - the ups and the downs. I have grown up as a Vol faithful and Coach Fulmer deserves all of our respect and admiration. There is no doubt in my mind that, given the chance, he would have returned us to a dominate force in the SEC.

11-03-2008 @ 12:23PM

xfleex said...

You (UT) are losing a good man that is not deserving of the treatment bestowed upon him by UT, his alta mater and the VOL Nation. Phil is one of the last genuine coaches in the game and deserves more respect from UT. Not a great day for UT and the VOL Nation. "Too Proud to be a TENNESSEE VOL"

11-03-2008 @ 12:43PM

Tex said...

Unfortunate. Say what you will, Fulmer is a decent man who runs a clean program. Significantly more class than guys like Saban, Meyer, etc. in the SEC. He is paying for a poor decision on his hire of Clawson as Cutcliffe's replacement. Watch for him to resurface somewhere (Clemson?)

11-07-2008 @ 9:17AM

Tngirl5777 said...

I live in upstate SC & watched as Tommy Bowden received the same great treatment as Mr. Fulmer. I pray that Clemson can redeem itself by hiring Fulmer!

11-03-2008 @ 12:55PM

perico said...

What's your problem with Tee Martin? He wasn't an NFL type quarterback, but he was a lot more successful than any of the jokers that followed him. Heck, he turned out to be a better NFL qb than Casey Clausen, and likely Erik Ainge. At least he started a game in the league, and owners always thought he had potential (unlike Clausen and likely Ainge).

Or do you just have a thing for white boys? Seriously... the guy has a national championship ring, and people like this still trash him for not being Peyton.

The guy was as good as anyone could've asked for in 1998, and was the only person, along with Travis Henry, who showed up to play with a pulse in 1999, despite having Randy Sanders trying to install a weak offensive scheme which hurt his %. Also, unlike Andy Kelly or Ainge, Martin never had a season where he threw an immense # of interceptions. (Kelly threw 21 ints in his first year as starter, but he was a white kid from TN, so no complaints from you).

11-07-2008 @ 9:27AM

Agreed, Tee Martin was a great QB!

11-03-2008 @ 1:11PM

Scott said...

Once an offensive lineman always an offensive lineman. Phil could never think on game day. It was always the coaches around him. UT must move on and this time get someone that can think as the game progresses.

11-03-2008 @ 1:17PM

Becca said...

I have to agree with what the other people on here have been saying repeatedly - it's a disgrace to take shots at Fulmer - I personally know the man and he's a class act - more than I can say for other coaches in the SEC. No one cares to realize that a lot more than just the head coach goes into winning a game - he can only do so much - he can't go out there and play the game, remember that, folks. And hello! One of the best records in college football for this man - but no one cares to see that fact. I am a UT fan through and through - win or lose, I am still proud to wear my orange - and I find it appalling to those out there who say they are UT fans, but badmouth Fulmer when the team loses. When the TEAM loses - a group loss, not a Fulmer loss. Great man, great coach - and by the way, what was the point of the diss on Tee Martin? At least he's not out there like so many other athletes who are getting arrested and thinking they're a badass. That is one man who is a true portrait of good character - but I guess that means nothing to the writer of this column. Obviously he doesn't know what good character is - he probably doesn't have it himself.

11-03-2008 @ 2:03PM

GENEVIA W said...

IT IS ABOUT TIME,NEXT ON THE LIST SHOULD BE TOMMY TUBERVILLE OF AUBURN.

11-03-2008 @ 2:28PM

steve said...

To my fellow (albeit blind) Vol fans this is the time for him to go. Recruiting was never the problem. We have always recruited good players. But good players aren't going to be good if the coaching is not good. You want evidence of this? Just look at the sideline during this season. You don't see any shame on the faces of the players, knowing they could do better. If the coach institutes an "I don't give a damn" attitude the players will follow. Truth be told, it would have mattered who they brought in to be offensive coordinator, because Phil was going to run it how he saw fit. This is the right time for him to step down.

11-03-2008 @ 4:18PM

Robbie said...

Nick Saban and Alabama was the secret witness that got Phil"Fat Rat" Fulmer's job!

11-03-2008 @ 4:31PM

ACC Fan said...

Hey UT, Tommy Bowden is looking for a coaching job and he already has orange shirts!

11-04-2008 @ 1:47PM

Sorry but I have seen the destruction Tommy caused at Clemson a once football rich program although I will have to say he was not as bad as Tommy West or that hack Ken Hattfield lol!!!!!! Besides what would an ACC fan know about college football anyway that conference is an after thought.

11-03-2008 @ 6:31PM

I wish there was a way for the Fulmer Faithful to show Phillip our support. He is a true class act and has always put the University, it's players and their families first. He is a honorable coach who deserves out thanks and gratitude!!

11-03-2008 @ 7:25PM

rolltide72 said...

first i would like to say to the vols sorry to hear about yall's lost.i read on here how fulmer should be fired yall should be ashamed of your self.because phil IS A GOOD COACH and allways will be.phil i hope you land something great and come back and beat the hell out of the vols!!!!!!!!!also who ever said something bad about saban your just mad because we (alabama) got him.phil you will be missed even if this is coming from a tide fan.got to stay with the tide. so ROLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11-03-2008 @ 8:28PM

Whippet City said...

Never forget the real essence of Phil Fulmer's soul....namley the backstabbing betrayel of Johnie Majors! I only wish his ouster would have been ten times more painful.

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