New Tennessee AD Phillip Fulmer: 'Let's go have fun winning championships'
Former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has taken over as the Volunteers’ new athletic director.
It’s just what Tennessee needs after a wild week that culminated with AD John Currie’s firing on Friday morning.
Fulmer was introduced at a press conference on Friday afternoon by University of Tennessee chancellor Beverly Davenport.
He said it’s time for UT to pull together.
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“Our football program has the history, the facilities, the tradition and the resources to play with anyone, anytime,” Fulmer said at the presser. “And that’s what we’re going to do again … This is an important time in our history. We all agree on the objective. We all agree on the urgency of achieving our objective. It’s time that we all pull together to be part of the solution. There is much work to be done.”
Fulmer realizes it is now his job to turn around the football program. He said it will require quite a bit of teamwork, as well. He commended Tennessee fans for their passion.
“Our football teams in recent years have struggle for a variety of reasons, but through it all, we have been supported by the most passionate fan base in the country,” Fulmer said. “These great fans deserve teams that make them proud. It will not be easy, and it will take some time, but we will succeed.
“I have been a part of the University of Tennessee athletic program when it was at its best,” he added. “I have seen what honest communication, trust and hard work achieve. It is my mission to lead our entire athletic department in a way that honors our university’s legacy and insists on excellence.
“Let’s go have fun winning championships.”
Fulmer said he hasn’t established a time table for the coaching search to this point, “because this has all happened so fast.”
He noted, too, that he hopes to be a stabilizing and unifying force for UT at this time.
When asked about what kind of coach he will be looking for, Fulmer didn’t rule out coordinators.
“I’ve been charged to find the right coach for these circumstances — head coach, assistant coach, coordinator,” he said. “I wasn’t a head coach when I started, and I’ve had some success. More times than not, you like experience — somebody who has been a head coach to come in. We’ll see where that goes.”
Fulmer also noted that he will be communicating with committed recruits, as well as potential prospects who may be interested in Tennessee, while the search is ongoing.
Well it’s about freak’n time! Congratulations coach Fulmer! We’re rooting for you.
Be interested to see who he can bring in as a head coach. Lane kiffin any1?
We wanted Mullen before you guys swooped in and snatched him. Hopefully we can find someone of similar caliber.
UT wanted a lot of guys before each came to his senses and said no. They two that said yes, the PSU and WSU guys got the rug pulled out from under them just as pen was going to paper. With their experiences, why would anyone take a chance on that job?
To UGARMYRet, because there is a credible person now hiring them. Fulmer has the respect of the coaching community because he has a long track record of winning.
I kinda want to see ole Fulmer take up the reigns for a year or two and wait for a top tier coach to come available.
It’s not like he hasn’t got a clue what he’s doing….
Until he starts losing again?
Damage control….everything will be OK, Tenn football will be back hopefully sooner rather than later.
One name that hasnt been mentioned and is available is Jim McElwain. Tennessee fans are likley passive enough after so much losing not to threaten death if he loses a game or two in Knoxville
Time for ALL volnation to come together. Several spineless members of the media and other trolls from other SEC teams have made fun long enough. Going to be fun next year watching them eat crow. Not enough crow in the cornfields in Nebraska. Yall know its coming, get ready……………
LOL, you just went 0-8 in the SEC. No one wants your coaching job. You just trotted out an old retread as AD, after he stabbed your previous one in the back. Yet, you think anyone is going to be eating crow anytime soon? To call Tennessee’s football program a dumpster fire is an insult to dumpster fire programs everywhere. It is more like a pit of…radioactive fallout. The talent level is dismal. This recruiting class will be …worse than dismal, whomever they hire as head coach. Get used to losing to Vanderbilt (and everyone else) every season, because that isn’t going to change.
Now THAT was an A-1 post!
Two idiots in a pea pod. That’s ok though get your digs in while u can. We’re coming, soon very soon
Has Fulmer received any death threats yet?
LOL, you sound like Ed Oregeron, but in his case, at least he has a viable football program backing him up. You, have the worst football program in the conference, maybe the nation. By the way, you won’t need to “come after” my team next year, because Alabama will be coming to Knoxville next October, to put another merciless beating on the Viles. That will be #12 in a row, just in case you’ve forgotten.
Nice!
The story all over the sports world is Fulmer’s back stabbing of Currie while he was in LA to sign the WSU coach. Not only did he back stab Currie but also the potential coach who was pushed out into the street after committing to UT. I bet his players, coaches and fans in Spokane are happy campers tonight.
Geez you just got dark with that man. 0-8 in SEC and it still thinks it has a place to talk.
LOL
So you fired him as a coach and everyone is supposed to be terrified now that he is the AD?
BamaTime, try not to use logic on this situation. It left all logic behind days ago.
Shift Show from the beginning and it’s not even over yet. If Phat Phil hires Tee Martin? UT has lost all sense of reality. Saban , Smart, Fisher, Mullen etc are going to feast on UT. Guess we’ll see what he does? But , they had no other recourse but to hire Fulmer. He has been all over the country trying to get back into coaching. With no luck at all. Nobody would hire him. UT fired him because he sucked in their eyes now he is gonna resurrect them from the dead? Holy Crap!
LOL. good post.
Yeah, it was funny like 4 candidates ago, now it’s just sad.
So happy to have you back at the helm big guy!!! Good days are ahead for the UT family. The level of respect he commands from the coaching world is phenomenal and will only aid in cleaning the mess up. stability and leadership are now running the UT AD.
Amen!!!
Level of respect for an old has-been that was fired a decade ago and hasn’t done anything next: Pretty minimal.
Level of respect for a Viles program that just went 0-8 in the SEC: Less than zero.
I cannot believe that any of you are so delusional as to think this is some sort of coup. You can’t even hire a coach from Purdue or NC State, and you think Fat Foolmer is going to change anything?
About damn time they brought him back. Good on you, Tennessee. About your first good hire in a decade.
Ahahahahahahhahahahha
I was wondering when big stupid would chime in. Another intelligent post. Now go practice writing your big and little B’s
It’s on like Red Dawn.
Exactly what was needed. This signals the end of the Haslamic Dynasty at UT-which is a great thing.
Yeah, it’s all smiles and giggles until they find out he has been talking to Russian soccer coaches !!!
The Fulmer curse has been lifted
“I’ve been miserable for so long. Years of my life wasted. For you. Been a long time comin’ here to met you. A long time, on a crooked road.”
Glad you’re back, Coach!
Solid… Hope this ends all the tomfoolery and the road to relevance re-opens.A strong TN is good for the SEC. And, if no other coach is willing right now, well, There have been Head Coach / AD’s at other programs past…. Give em’ hell Coach!!
I know Vols fans are fluffing each other over Fulmer but this is still the same garbage job it was yesterday that NOBODY wants. My mailman was offered the job and he turned it down.
Amen!
Big stupid that’s 4 whole letters! Way to Godoy will be writing sentences in no time.
Wow^
You’re still the same ole dumbarse too but that hasn’t stopped u either.
Absolute dumpster fire! Worst week ever by a university and collective group: AD (moron), administrators (letting it continually happen), fans (Schiano, the rock, etc, etc). Now you bring back Fat Phil, ironically, who is always there to take part in UT back-stabbing (Majors ring a bell?) Finally, he’s talking about championships?? Vandy has surpassed you guys on rocky top, in your own volunteer state. Wake up folks, you are a train wreck!!
So, so dumb captdawg. I can see the fear in your words. He OWNED you leg humpers and he knows what it takes. LOL fool
Um. Fulmer isn’t coaching. You do realize he wasn’t named the coach don’t you? Fulmer is just the guy actual coaches get to turn down and make a fool of now.
HAHA
Tennessee is a laughing stock
Another clueless comment from the gutter. The short list just got longer with better names. Fulmer’s record was 152-52. Can you count that high?
Greenvols why does Fulmer’s record matter? Do you think he gives it to the next Butch Jones?
Because you get more respect when you have a track record of winning. He will get interviews that Currie did not.
DD2 is a troll.
Tony tiger is a crybaby
Go away troll.
Tissue,
No fear here, promise. Our coaches like to stay awhile and win. Have you heard of Richt and Kirby? UT dominated us “leg humpers” when Peyton was there. He’s 41, retired and arthritic. Welcome to 2017 butter cup.
Oh yea, I’ve heard of them. You mean the guys y’all will discard for not winning with their 5 star talent? How many NCs did Richt get with all his superb talent…..I’ll wait.
Wow, what a dumbed-down comment. The same guy that held a national championship trophy and is in the top 10 of SEC coaches with the most wins.
CPTDawg, as was said earlier, dont insult dumpster fires. Facts are not convenient at the moment while UTland is in blissful dreamland. Of course, they still don’t have a coach. Who would want to come into this mess and also now have to work for the most brutal back stabber in college football? Perhaps Derek Dooley is still available but after that, I don’t see any prospects.
I guess we need to add your comment to the list of the uninformed. Ask those in the community what he has done lately and ask his former players about their hall of fame coach.
Get ready folks,,, The pendulum of the media is about to change… “No one called the Tennessee fan base Crazy and were supportive of the fan base whole time.”
No. The media like the rest of us will still mock you. Question. When do the Grumors start back up? Their the best.
Look for the Orange Smoke to appear from the Hill…
I’m tell ya’ The pendulum of the media is about to change… maybe not SDS, but they are the National Enquirer of the SEC…
Right. That orange smoke you see if what’s left of your program going up in smoke.
No, still crazy. Not supportive.
“These great fans deserve teams that make them proud.”
I guess that he has to spin this as a positive. I will agree, I have seen the fans be passionate but they have responded like a bunch of two year olds. Not fair, not the coach I want, let’s protest and go paint the rock. Seriously? And many threatened to never give money again, like half of them actually do anyway. And no, this comment is not related to just this week. Remember #emptyneyland!! Way to support your team.
Every team has its cycles (even Alabama) but this is by far the worst fan base I have seen in difficult times. Note, I should probably not use the word fan base as it is a minority of the fan base that acts this way but the problem is that the nation sees them usually.
how can you claim it’s the worst fan base when the vast, vast majority had nothing to do with the tirade by a classless few. That’s the problem with you uninformed folks. .01% of the fans do something and u group every vol fan into that group. You guys are as bad as the fake news media. You all have a % of the same kind of fans too you just won’t admit it.
Obviously you did not bother to read entire post –
I should probably not use the word fan base as it is a minority of the fan base that acts this way but the problem is that the nation sees them usually.
I just clearly stated that it is a minority that portrays them as being this way but unfortunately they are usually the ones that are seen or heard. Not sure why you are calling me an “uninformed folk”. Usually enjoy reading your post by the way.
Anymore I usually can’t get through an opponents post when it starts like yours. It would be nice to just have some good spirited smack talk but we are being attacked by everyone and I am reacting faster than normal.sorry if your post was not intended as another attack.
All good fuzzy. Y’all are getting bombarded right now but will get it all straightened out.
Hey everybody. Phil Fulmer’s back. You remember him. Well maybe not. Anyways, it’s a big freakin deal. Maybe he can ask Gruden to coach Tennessee one more time. John Currie is gone but the rest of the people that put this sh*t show of a program together are still there. Who in there right mind would want their name associated with this trash can? Cade Mays doesn’t. Fulmer can’t change that.
Hey everybody meet cclausen he is a total moron.
Maybe he can get Peyton Manning to come back for four more years too?
Champions of life, baby!
We’ll see what happens but I’m loving all the Bama and Gawga fans blowing smoke and talking trash. Shouldn’t they be worried about getting curb stomped by Auburn…..again (Gawga). I say we all place bets. I’m saying Auburn by double digits. Gawga’s been feeding on a down UT and Fla. It’ll change and they’ll be back to mid tier where they belong. Bama may take a bit. Saban has built a dang dynasty over the years.
Mid tier would be show upward mobility for UT.
They need to worry about getting 6 wins and being bowl eligible first. Mid-tier is light years away. Baby steps vols.
The vols have been down so long, nobody even responds to their “help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”
Maybe one of those “help, I’ve fallen” little champions of life buttons for old people like Fulmer would help the Vols get up from their falls?
Curb stomped? Alabama lost by 12 points. That is not a curb stomping by any definition of the word. If you want to check out a curb stomping, dial up the replay of Alabama 45 Viles 7 or Georgia 41 Viles 0, although those may be more of the “skull dragging” variety, since you didn’t manage an offensive score in either.
Tennessee’s chances of surpassing Alabama’s football program for at least 20 years are absolutely nil. You’re an absolute laughing stock without a great recruiting base and a national brand that is right down there with Nebraska in the dumpster. Alabama has 10 years of absolute dominance, so much so that a 12-1 season will be considered a grave disappointment.
So this just now started? The “rock” appeared yesterweek? No the rock has been prominent for 50+ years. The only difference now is more exposure. Technology, media, and social highways have made the exposure more prevelant. If you think the “rock” is just now being used as a message board then that will prove your age. Tennessee fans are not horrible, yes we have some bad eggs, like all universities (Harvey updyke etc, think of all the readily available fight videos/ brawls.) it’s everywhere not just UT, as a conference we should all want the best especially now in the playoff era, but apparently everyone want to be critical and comparative instead of supporting the southeastern conference. I’ve been to every sec stadium and enjoy and appreciate all our fans, I’ve been to Ann Arbor and Columbus, I’d take perfection demanding canvases any day over those fans that have an undeserved sense of entitlement.
Fans, not canvases. iPhones are ridiculous
I think the Vols can definitely repeat as the Champions of Life with all the Five Stars in their hearts players.
You know that even when the new guys kick you around, you got a problem. LOL, I can’t stop laughing at these posts and the UT fans getting bounced around like a flight on Tree Top Airlines.
UT and their fans deserve everything they’re getting(except the death threats).
The death threats were at Florida. Wait, their former coach is available!!!!!
Hey Phil…go home….you are a decade behind.
I fel5 sorry for UT until this cliwn showed up ….he started this sh.t show in the 90s…what comes around goes around
We don’t need or want your sorrow. You are just another loser jealous or hurt. Did Phil steal your girlfriend.
Probably ate her?!
Tennessee, y’all are some great and faithful fans and I hope your every delusion of grandeur comes true.
The only way that happens is to go back in Time about 25 years and have him be head coach again…but then y’all would fire him.
This is so exciting! Its like Trump being elected!