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Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:32 am EST

'Multiple sources': Fulmer era goes dim this afternoon

By Matt Hinton

Phil Fulmer is finished as of this afternoon, according to the Vols' Rivals site:

Phillip Fulmer will not return next season as Tennessee's head football coach, multiple sources confirmed to VolQuest.com, ending a 16-plus year [tenure] for the dean of SEC coaches. A press conference inside Neyland Stadium will take place this afternoon at 5, VolQuest.com has learned, where Fulmer will "step aside."

The Manchester, Tenn., native and former Tennessee offensive lineman is due $6 million for the remaining term of a contract that was renewed for seven years in July. The money is to be paid in equal installments over 48 months.

VolQuest is backed up by the off-the-record sniffing of the venerable Tony Barnhart. And be honest: by common sense. The barely competitive loss at South Carolina (so Spurrier did the man in after all) means Tennessee's already assured of a non-winning regular season; one more loss cements its second losing effort in four years. Teams UT has defeated this season: UAB, Mississippi State and Northern Illinois.

Even before word of imminent action, Vol partisans have already begun offering plenty of suggestions for who's next in line. Bring back Johnny Majors!

UPDATE: The Worldwide Leader also cites "multiple sources" that a press conference is coming this afternoon to give Fulmer the official boot, while local outlets and Vol Web sites are beginning to jump on the pile. Nobody has anyone on the record, but I think we can take "rumor" off this one now and say if Fulmer's somehow not fired by the end of the day, someone has pulled the mother of all switcheroos, or persuaded Eric Berry to threaten to transfer, or something.

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63 Comments

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  1. bdub77
    1. Posted by bdub77 Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:36 pm EST

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    Thanks Phil but time for a change
  2. RTW
    2. Posted by RTW Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    not many people last more then 10 years at one school. Peterno,Bowden, Osbourne, are to name some that have. It is time for a change. They have not been very competitive in the SEC for awhile. Alabama, Florida, and Georgia have beat up on Tennessee for some time now. LSU has as well. They should hire Jackie Sherrill and bring him back into college football or maybe Ty Willingham (Washington U.).
  3. just4funsies
    3. Posted by just4funsies Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:44 pm EDT

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    Nooooooo... DON'T GO! It has been SO much fun to beat y'all's FAT AZZ!
    I bet the MORONS who renewed his contract JUST THIS YEAR don't get the axe with him... Too Bad, 'cause they should.
  4. RTW
    4. Posted by RTW Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    The time has come. Every (just about every) coach has a time when they need to move on. Georgia, Florida, Alabama, LSU have beat up on TENN. for awhile now. I think they should hire Ty Willingham or look at Terry Bowden to fill the position.
  5. RTW
    5. Posted by RTW Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    maybe Tennessee should start playing schools like Furman, Tenn. Tech., The Citadel, and they could work on their record to make them feel better. Or maybe join the Sun Belt Conference so they could be competitive. I know that the rest of the SEC will be sad to see him go. It was like having a second bye week.
  6. ELDRIDGE
    6. Posted by ELDRIDGE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    yahoo must be out of intelligence, because bradie james had 12 tackles, fumrecovery, and a sack; but you decided that owens with 56 yards and a touchdown was more valueable. this tells you why america is falling and will be a third world country in about 20 years.
  7. RTW
    7. Posted by RTW Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:43 pm EDT

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    Hey #6 your on the wrong blog. and in the wrong country. go back to the Bermuda Triangle.
  8. Mike#28
    8. Posted by Mike#28 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:12 pm EDT

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    It might be special sauce or coincidence but....I hear Tuberville is about done with Auburn.
    I don't have much respect for him as a person,but he's a good coach.Smart but no class.
    I should know...I'm a Bama fan who's had to look at that jerk for too many years.
    As for Fulmer...I was hoping it was us that put the final nail in that coffin.
    Well I'm off to enjoy our week at #1.
  9. Daniel
    9. Posted by Daniel Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

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    You've been a GREAT coach Phil and you did it with integrity. thanks for the great years and best of luck in the future.....
  10. Eric M
    10. Posted by Eric M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:03 pm EDT

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    Fulmer had a good run! Lots of Love! The Vols will be back regardless if it's Fulmer our who ever! GO VOLS!
  11. Thomas S
    11. Posted by Thomas S Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:54 pm EDT

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    I've been watchin Phil lead the Vols since I was 12 years old. It's kinda sad to see him go, but at the same time it's an exciting time because UT needs a breath of fresh air. I'm very proud of his accomplishments and whoever gets the job, well, I feel sorry for them because they will Not live up to Coach Fulmer.
  12. Jack
    12. Posted by Jack Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:43 pm EDT

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    I dont think you can blame it all on Fulmer...
  13. Donny T
    13. Posted by Donny T Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

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    Thanks for the memories Coach Fulmer. Good luck in your future.
    It is time to move on and find a coach that can win. I see some of you have suggested Ty Willingham? Why would you hire a coach into the SEC that has not won a game this year and has shown he can not recruit? Why not go after a coach that shown he can do both......Gary Piknel Missouri U.
  14. VOLnGA
    14. Posted by VOLnGA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:13 pm EDT

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    I have 2 suggestions for possible replacements:
    Mike Leach (head coach at Texas Tech)
    Steve Spurrier (bring the local boy home)
  15. Phil B
    15. Posted by Phil B Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    Coach Fulmer, Thanks for your class, integrity, loality & a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!! You took UT to some heights we had not seen before. I know you bleed Orange & always will.
  16. Michael Culpepper
    16. Posted by Michael Culpepper Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    thank you coach. on replacement talk, i agree with VOLnGA
  17. kb37146
    17. Posted by kb37146 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    willingham!! are you joking- he has killed the last two programs- if that is the case we should just keep phil- the word from boosters is mike leach, the same booster that toild me phil was done 2 weeks ago if he lost to s.c.
  18. graynmemphis
    18. Posted by graynmemphis Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    This is like putting Ol' Yeller down. Everyone hates it but it has to be done. Phil will have a street named after him on campus by next year. He's a Vol icon. True Vols appreciate what Coach Fulmer's done for us for some many years now. With that being said, bring on Will Muschamp. LSU has faded and Georgia can't win the big game. Alabama will be exposed by Florida in a matter of weeks. The time is right to reclaim the SEC. GO VOLS!!!!
  19. kb37146
    19. Posted by kb37146 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    Spurrier!!!! WOW ! His name has be mentioned as well- The Vols would have one 3-4 national titles if he had been the coach the last 10 years!
  20. STEVE W
    20. Posted by STEVE W Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:22 pm EDT

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    Hey rtw you are a complete idiot, tennessee is already lower than they need to be, ty willingham sucks, a loser and has ran every program he has touched into the ground. he's a cocky, self serving, arrogant ass who should never grace neyland stadium, or for that matter, the sec, and yes you are an idiot, go vols, we'll be back, better than ever
  21. bputch119
    21. Posted by bputch119 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:16 pm EDT

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    Good move getting rid of Fulmer. It's now time to bring a little Cowher Power to UT and show the SEC what smashmouth football is.
  22. VolsFan
    22. Posted by VolsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:12 pm EDT

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    I would love to have Mike Leach be the HC! Spurrier would be great too, becuase he could go back to the real run n gun.
  23. jdfinchum523
    23. Posted by jdfinchum523 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    i agree with bputch. we'd already been talking earlier in the week that cowher would be the perfect fit if he would come out of retirement. when he retired he said he'd never coach against the steelers. but he didn't rule out college.
  24. Gomez
    24. Posted by Gomez Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:11 pm EDT

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    About time they fired that Back-Stabber. Fat Fhill got the job all those years ago by stabbing Johnny Majors in the back.
    Good riddance!!!!!
  25. kb37146
    25. Posted by kb37146 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    Cowher! Correct me if I am wrong , but doesnt he have a connection to UT? Think maybe his wife went there, and I know he has a home near Knoxville?

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