Comments on: Fulmer Replies To Adams Calling For His Job

By: ghostofneyland

ghostofneyland — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 19:10:43 +0000

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.

By: Phil Fulmer is an educator… or something | Football Comment

Phil Fulmer is an educator… or something | Football Comment — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 18:00:20 +0000

[...] Fulmer has responded. He’s an educator and a mentor first. Adams has never seen him in a recruit’s home [...]

By: tidefanintn

tidefanintn — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:08:44 +0000

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.

By: crimson daddy

crimson daddy — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 06:31:51 +0000

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.

By: hooper

hooper — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:53:53 +0000

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.

By: Ghost of Neyland

Ghost of Neyland — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:39:12 +0000

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.