Former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer knows what a championship college football team looks like. The longtime UT coach of course led the Vols to the 1998 national title while also playing and coaching on a number of SEC-winning Tennessee teams throughout his time on Rocky Top.

With the most current Tennessee team entering the season with the highest of aspirations, Fulmer was recently asked to give his thoughts on whether Butch Jones’ fourth team since arriving in Knoxville looks capable of contending for a title this season.

“Absolutely it does,” Fulmer said, according to David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “I’ve had a chance to go over and watch practice a couple of times, actually two or three times, and they have all the tools to have a really, really good team. I think the progress has been steady and normal, and that last year we had a chance to jump it a little bit faster by beating Oklahoma or Florida, which were both really strange games. We’re sitting here now with a chance to win the East, and I don’t think there is a great team in the East other than maybe us.”

Fulmer went on to say an Alabama, Tennessee rematch could take place in Atlanta come December if things break right for the Vols.

“I think we could play Alabama once in the regular season and then again in the SEC championship game, but that would depend on a lot of things,” Fulmer said, “like not getting injuries and playing up to our potential. If you’re just talking about preseason expectations, I don’t think there’s any doubt we’re one of the best teams in the SEC.”

It’s one thing for outside observers to proclaim Tennessee as a title contender but coming from someone who knows the team, the university, and the program intimately, the proclamation should carry significantly more weight.

In the article, Fulmer gives his in-depth look at the Vols’ roster, pointing out the team’s strengths and weaknesses – the former coach doesn’t pull any punches either. It’s definitely worth a read for any Tennessee fans out there.