As many of you already know, this week John Adams called for Phillip Fulmer’s job for not being firm enough in his disciplinary actions, and letting the team become out of control. Not only was Adams’ article based on poor logic, but he was also speaking of something he knew nothing about.
We here at Third Saturday in Blogtober chose not to acknowledge this article because we basically considered it crap not worthy of our time. Thankfully, Coach Fulmer decided to write his own guest column in the Knoxville News Sentinel to defend himself. Enjoy.
Here is an excerpt from Fulmer’s response:
“In Tuesday’s Knoxville News-Sentinel, you may have seen John Adams’ column attacking my character and my leadership. We live in a free country, and Mr. Adams has built a successful career speaking his mind - that’s his right. But the readers of the News-Sentinel have a right to know what Mr. Adams doesn’t know, as well.
Mr. Adams has never sat next to me in a prospect’s living room, looking his mother or grandmother in the eyes and promising to treat the young man like he was my own child - giving him tough love when necessary and an opportunity to straighten up when that’s in order. It is a promise I take seriously and will never abandon to please any columnist.”
Coach Fulmer did the right thing in standing up for himself when Adams’ attacked his character. In fact, he probably should have been even harder on him. John Adams obviously has no respect for Phillip Fulmer, and after this article I have no respect for Adams. I’m happy to have Fulmer as our football coach. Sometimes he has probably been more lenient on some players than most would be, but I trust his judgment.
A lot of people consider Fulmer an easy target to criticize for whatever reason, but this time he’s not taking it like he usually does, and I for one am proud he’s not. He deserves better than this. Fulmer has done a lot of great things for Tennessee football and its time the writers and fans take notice.
Personally, I commend Fulmer for doing this.
I like to poke fun at the big guy as much as anyone, but I do not question his morals or integrity. Granted, in my opinion, he screwed up in a major way by not booting Colquitt off the team. The other guy he could have kicked off was Vince Faison, because, technically, Faison did the same thing incoming freshman Lee Smith did two years ago that got him released from his scholly.
Beyond that, I have no problem with Fulmer’s disciplinary history. Sure, I like to joke for the sake of one-liners or “taking a stand one way or another” in blog writing, but I think he handled the Coker situation correctly. He gave Antonio Wardlow and Dorian Davis ample opportunities until something so minor not even the KNS could find happened, and they were booted off the team.
To say Fulmer has been lax in some situations is warranted. To say he deserves to be fired for it is ridiculous, in my opinion. To go on an Atlanta sports radio station, go to a major market that is in the wheelhouse of a rival university, and speak the way John Adams spoke about the team he covers, the team he is supposed to have an UNBIASED opinion about today is downright unprofessional. The KNS should look into firing his butt.
Look, I once knew some of the people at the paper. But in my opinion, the class of that newspaper was buried when Gary Lundy unexpectedly passed away a few years ago. It was a devastating situation because Gary was not only a great writer but a great man, one I knew personally.
Adams’ legacy, his reputation, is riddled with pot shots. I just wonder how he feels about his beloved LSU Tigers and starting quarterback Ryan Perrilloux’s run-ins with the law? I wonder how he feels about his eligibility?
It’s easy to throw stones from the pressbox, but Fulmer pitched one back with his letter. And I applaud every word of it.
Agreed. We’re all frustrated, but Fulmer has to be frustrated too. These are the kids that he works his keester off for, and he’s closer to them than any of us will ever be. He’s been remarkably silent with the media on his discipline, and that makes it very easy for us to use imagination to fill in the gaps and spin our own stories.
I can’t say how good of a job he’s done, largely because I haven’t been around long. But if that article is a reflection of his approach and his feelings toward those kids, I just hope I can model that attitude if I should ever have my own kids.
I don’t know the right answer regarding Fulmer (the whole keep / fire, as well as whether he’s too soft on discipline or whatever) and I’ve probably been as opinionated as any, but I’ll give that it’s an extremely difficult task, and the feedback you get from former players indicates that he’s about as good toward his players as a coach can be. There’s more than wins and losses, and he seems to remember that.
Thanks for the post.
His letter reminded me of what Gene Stallings said when asked why he didn’t kick David Palmer off the team. He said Palmer needed football more than football needed Palmer.
I’m going to be the dissenting opinion here. I don’t agree with Adams, but I think Fulmer made a mistake responding as he did. Even as a Bama fan I thought Adams’ piece was poorly done and irresponsible, as did most people. Fulmer didn’t have to respond like this because no one really felt like Adams’ attack had any merit. What he did do is basically set himself up to now have to respond in kind anytime someone is critical for fear that his silence will be tantamount to admission of sin. This case would have been better suited for the coaching classic: the press conference tirade.
I’m sure Vicky was behind the response. Fulmer could care less if anything he does is questioned as far as on-the-field decisions or disciplinary, to an extent, but when somebody takes the space to take unwarranted pot shots at a man’s character, I think the “being the bigger man” argument is out the window.
This is becoming something that is used A LOT against UT in recruiting. Fulmer had to, HAD TO say something. It at least gives him the opportunity to sway public perception.