Fulmer has this program going the wrong way right now. We were outscored 100-37 by our two biggest rivals, and right now we look like we couldn’t even beat Vanderbilt. However, as a Tennessee fan we have to forget about what has already happened and look forward to some good things that could still come out of this season.
SEC Championship Dreams- CHAMPIONSHIP? CHAMPIONSHIP? I just hope we can win a daggum game. If we play like we did against Alabama we won’t win another SEC game, and yes thats including Vanderbilt, but if we play like we did against Georgia winning out is in the realm of possibillity. We’re over half way into the season and its still impossible to tell what kind of team we have. Right now we look young and poorly coached, but next week who knows which team will show up. Nevertheless, if we were to somehow run the table we still have a shot at making it to Atlanta. Right now the only team that stands in the way of the Vols being able to control their own destiny is Florida, and they still have two tough games left on their schedule in South Carolina and Georgia. Even though our chances aren’t that good, outside of a coaching search its all we’ve got right now.
Coaching Search- As bad as this year has been, at least there may be a coaching search to look forward to in the offseason. Am I saying we should fire Fulmer, no, but I am saying we should at least consider our options. Remember if we were to get rid of Fulmer that doesn’t necessarily instantly get better. For every Urban Meyer and Nick Saban(@LSU), there is at least one Ron Zook and Bill Callahan. However, we have regressed as a program over the last couple of years, and it seems to be becoming a trend. If I were Mike Hamilton I would be checking out the prospects for a new head coach or at least a new defensive coordinator. In my opinion Chavis has been the biggest problem this season, and Fulmer may have to make the decision whether he wants to throw his assistant in the fire, or resign himself at season’s end. The head coaching position at Tennessee would have to be considered the best job out there right now, if it became available, because of the money that we could offer and the talent and tradition we already have in place. If we lose to South Carolina next week expect some big names to come out as posssible candidates for the HC job, and rest assured that TSIB will be all over it.
John Clayton look-a-like and current UT AD Mike Hamilton did pretty good with his first hire.
As bad as this season has been thus far, it may not turn out so bad after all.
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Re: Coaching Search: If AD Hamilton starts now, he might be able to find someone successful and willing to don the Orange for the next lifetime. If he waits until the end of the season, our chances might be slim. Here’s to hoping he doesn’t wait until it’s too late that we’re stuck with Fulmer for ‘08.
This will be the most interesting offseason, from the coaching perspective, in the history of college football.
Will UT actually be the most sought after job?
Here is a list of possible major openings.
UT
T.A&M
Nebraska
Auburn
Arkansas
Ole Miss
Michigan
Michigan may be a better job (if they fire Carr). Nebraska is close, but I would say UT is a better job than the rest of those.
Those are all good programs, though.
Where is Bo Pelini getting rumored to? I would like to see him in orange. I’m not saying he is my first choice if I’m Hamilton, but you have to love his track record, and the defensive mentality he could bring back to the program.
Bo Peline could be headed back to Nebraska (doubtful) or take over at LSU if that crazy kook gets the Michigan job.
I think it is much more likely that he will end up taking over a lesser job and working his way up.
Don’t forget about the LSU job either. If Miles does go to UM, then I think LSU is more attractive in the short term than UT.
CD.
I left out a TON of jobs that could come open. LSU, UCLA, USC, and FSU just to name a few.
USC?
There were some Charger rumblings before they started playing a little better.
I wouldn’t exactly call it likely, but Carroll is going to get attention from the NFL from here on out, and that makes anything possible.
If he could get a job at a relatively good team, then I could see that as a possibility. But rarely do good teams fire their coach, and he would be insane to go to a bad team. He’s been down that road before.
The first name that popped into my head for UT was Bo Pelini, but I think the pressure to do what Bama did–hire a proven guy with head coach experience–is going to be too strong. Not sure who the guy is you target that is likely to change addresses, though. Stoops will come up in conversation with so many openings. Don’t rule out Butch Davis who has only been at UNC one season (could be back in Arkansas next year). Mack Brown could come up if someone is willing to give him Saban dollars.
Please God, not Mack Brown.
Butch Davis was a thought.
Stoops is a dream, as is Cowher and Gruden.
Dreams usually don’t come true.
I’d be happy with Grobe, Peterson, Kelly, Leavitt, Pelini, Leach or Sarkisian, Bobby Johnson. There are more … these are off the top of my head.
Grobe is the most logical bet at this point.
“For every Urban Meyer and Nick Saban(@LSU), there is at least one Ron Zook and Bill Callahan”
Yeah, like Mike Shula, Mike Dubose, Mike Price, Bill Curry…
One of my favorite comments from some sports guy was that Gerry Dinardo is living proof that mediocrity at Vanderbilt does not guarantee wild success at LSU.
Look, I know we’re down, and I no longer have both feet on the Chavis bandwagon, but replacing the coaching staff is a great way to plunge a program into oblivion. Alabama has been replacing Bryant for 25 years. More often than not, it’s a bad thing. More often than not, the grass isn’t really greener. Tubberville was a legend. Now he’s just a good coach. Richt was the next superstar, except that he’s not. Tommy Bowden was taking Clemson to the top. Now, they’re just OK.
Two facts: 1. Fulmer is the second best head coach Tennessee has ever had. 2. The best one has been dead for a long time.
If we change coaches, we’d better guess right on the next one, or we’ll be Alabama for the next 25 years. And Fulmer’s name will end up on the stadium.
I just addressed some of this in my newest post. But I still think it’s time for a change.
I agree with IP Orange. Why hire a new guy to underperform when you already have that in-house? The problems Alabama has had in the past 25 have been greatly exaggerated–particularly the part before Dubose. Of all the coaches since Bryant, only two were fired–Mike Price being the first one. One went pro, one was coaxed to Kentucky by less-than-favorable contract re-negotiations, the next guy only won 70 games in 7 years including a MNC and only one loss to UT. Then we had Dubose who was legitimately a bad hire who made a mess and then resigned (twice actually). He was followed by Fran who left because of Dubose’s mess. Price was fired for embarrassing the university, and Shula was hired under the worst possible criteria I can think of. If you don’t want the same fate, then just use legitimate criteria and do due diligence on your hires. Had Bama done that, we would probably still be on the coach right after Stallings. Actually, had we REALLY done that, we would be talking about how it’s time to name it Bowden Field and give him a quiet office in the athletics offices where he can raise money for the university and not meddle with the football team.