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Question from a Mississippi State fan

  • Like I said I am a Mississippi State fan, but my college roomate was a huge vol, so I came to appreciate UT in my time living with him as the sec team from the east I will somewhat pull for as long as it doesn't impact state. With that being said I am curious to how most of you would view a second time around with Fulmer, if you can't land the homerun hire ya'll are looking for (Gruden)? I don't know all that went on during his tenure besides him winning a lot of football games and slacking offa little late, but I will say as an outsider with no bias I think he is the best and quickest option for your current situation. One thing about him that puts him over the top to me is the fact that he truly loves UT, and would do whatever it takes to get your school back to the championship level he once had it.

    The main reason I say that is there is at least 70% chance that if Fulmer returns, so does Chavis. We all know your current problems are not offensive, it's on the defensive side of the ball. I do know enough about UT football to know that when a Fulmer coached team had a good QB combined with a Chavis defense, it was at bare minimum a 9 win season and I think that your team has that in Bray (if he stays) and a good future with that younger guy Worley. Also during the Fulmer tenure the UT-Alabama game is one that I always made a point to watch, unless it was during a State game. Now that game just seems like another conference game. Most bandwagon fans on our board don't even realize the UT-Bama rivalry exist and that's not how it should be.

    I can also say again as an outsider the team/fanbase I saw visit Starkville this season, was not the same team/fanbase that visited Starkville in 2007. In 2007 the upperdecks of our stadium were filled with orange, and the team and fanbase had the swagger of being a big time program. It was a game we knew we needed to play perfect to pull off an upset, and no offense to ya'll but this time around it was a game we fully expected to win. Some of that can be credited to State's imporvement, but it still just didn't have the same feel of playing UT. I barely heard rocky top being sung, and my seats are right by the visitors section.

    I was just curious on this boards opinion, and I will say that we at State had to go the route of having a having to hire Ron Polk a second time for our baseball program. I know sec football and baseball are 2 completely different animals, but sometimes you have to get back to your roots in order to move foward.

    signature image signature image signature image

    bmartin2222

  • From what's been said on here lately a lot of us would be opposed to bring Phil back we appreciate what he did but think its time to move forward not backward.

    Puddin Gooden

  • This hire has to unify the fan base. Maybe Dan Mullen? Would you be worried if interviewed him?

    abkelley74 ●

  • I'd love it if Chavis came with him and we kept Chaney. Fulmer proved what he can do with Chavis and a good OC.

    volfan28

  • bmartin2222 said...

    Like I said I am a Mississippi State fan, but my college roomate was a huge vol, so I came to appreciate UT in my time living with him as the sec team from the east I will somewhat pull for as long as it doesn't impact state. With that being said I am curious to how most of you would view a second time around with Fulmer, if you can't land the homerun hire ya'll are looking for (Gruden)? I don't know all that went on during his tenure besides him winning a lot of football games and slacking offa little late, but I will say as an outsider with no bias I think he is the best and quickest option for your current situation. One thing about him that puts him over the top to me is the fact that he truly loves UT, and would do whatever it takes to get your school back to the championship level he once had it.

    The main reason I say that is there is at least 70% chance that if Fulmer returns, so does Chavis. We all know your current problems are not offensive, it's on the defensive side of the ball. I do know enough about UT football to know that when a Fulmer coached team had a good QB combined with a Chavis defense, it was at bare minimum a 9 win season and I think that your team has that in Bray (if he stays) and a good future with that younger guy Worley. Also during the Fulmer tenure the UT-Alabama game is one that I always made a point to watch, unless it was during a State game. Now that game just seems like another conference game. Most bandwagon fans on our board don't even realize the UT-Bama rivalry exist and that's not how it should be.

    I can also say again as an outsider the team/fanbase I saw visit Starkville this season, was not the same team/fanbase that visited Starkville in 2007. In 2007 the upperdecks of our stadium were filled with orange, and the team and fanbase had the swagger of being a big time program. It was a game we knew we needed to play perfect to pull off an upset, and no offense to ya'll but this time around it was a game we fully expected to win. Some of that can be credited to State's imporvement, but it still just didn't have the same feel of playing UT. I barely heard rocky top being sung, and my seats are right by the visitors section.

    I was just curious on this boards opinion, and I will say that we at State had to go the route of having a having to hire Ron Polk a second time for our baseball program. I know sec football and baseball are 2 completely different animals, but sometimes you have to get back to your roots in order to move foward.

    +1 and thanks for your insight. I'm inclined to agree that Fulmer wouldn't be a bad decision. He absolutely cannot be one of Hart's (our AD) first choices but If things aren't going to well as far as genuine interest from quality coaches a few weeks into it, I would be okay with Hart making that phone call. Fulmer really pissed me and the rest of this fan base off with how complacent he got at the end of his tenure and how he really kind of forced our hand and left us no choice but to get rid of him. But one thing that no one can deny is that the man would die for this university and it is hurting him as much as anyone to see it in it's current state.

    I'm inclined to believe that Fulmer would work out because I do agree that there would be a good chance of getting Chavis back to help and if you just keep the offensive staff intact, I think we are looking at a quality coaching staff. Also, I believe after having time to reflect on his tenure here, he knows exactly where he screwed up and would make damn sure it didn't happen again.

    Also, I feel that Fulmer could bring back quality success to our program and he could work on setting it up for a future "coach-in-waiting" (I hate that term) to ensure that we didn't spiral downward after his next departure (ideally retirement).

    Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening. I think he burned too many people the way he let the program fall and I believe some people of influence might try to stop it from happening. Plus, you have an even more divided fan base than we have at the moment.

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    jcoope16

  • volfan28 said...

    I'd love it if Chavis came with him and we kept Chaney. Fulmer proved what he can do with Chavis and a good OC.

    I could support this, as long as he told Chaney that we're gonna win in this conference by running the ball and executing 10+ play drives to the endzone. We rely way too much on big pass plays now to keep us from getting blown out. Need to go find us another Cutcliff, IMO, to run this offense. Although, that Kingsbury offense looked pretty dang good Saturday night in Tuscaloosa...

    allwillbeorange

  • There's a very,very,VERY slim chance Fulmer is the next HC at UT.

    ocoeerivervol

  • allwillbeorange said...

    I could support this, as long as he told Chaney that we're gonna win in this conference by running the ball and executing 10+ play drives to the endzone. We rely way too much on big pass plays now to keep us from getting blown out. Need to go find us another Cutcliff, IMO, to run this offense. Although, that Kingsbury offense looked pretty dang good Saturday night in Tuscaloosa...

    The Kingsbury offense can work, but it would need a Peterman-type QB to run it. Not a Worley.

    CrockettTM

  • abvol said...

    This hire has to unify the fan base. Maybe Dan Mullen? Would you be worried if interviewed him?

    It honestly wouldn't hurt my feelings to much. I'm not as high on Mullen as most on our board. Don't get me wrong I appreciate what he has been able to do with our program because we all know that Mississippi State has always been the vandy of the west. But Mullen also has some ways about him that bother me. He would rather play older less talented guys, than play younger guys with equal or slightly less talent at the time that could benifit from the experience later on. He also is very stubborn at times. He is responsible for our special teams and that has been one of our worst unit during his tenure, but he refuses to turn over the special teams duty to someone else.

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    bmartin2222

  • No hire will unify the fan base. I'm not sure why that is mentioned any more. We are like Dems and repubs, hatfields and mccoys, people are just going to take issue with each other. Shouldn't even be on our checklist.

    coonhound

  • Not that it would happen but I would take a Cut/Chavis combo

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    AtomicCityVol ●

  • allwillbeorange said...

    I could support this, as long as he told Chaney that we're gonna win in this conference by running the ball and executing 10+ play drives to the endzone. We rely way too much on big pass plays now to keep us from getting blown out. Need to go find us another Cutcliff, IMO, to run this offense. Although, that Kingsbury offense looked pretty dang good Saturday night in Tuscaloosa...

    I agree. I think Chaney is getting better at that and as he gains confidence in our running game I think he'll rely on it more than he has in the past. People are always changing their ways... but I think Chaney has a great brain and that won't change unless he gets hooked on meth

    This post was edited by volfan28 on 11/12/2012 at 7:39 PM

    volfan28

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    wataugavol ●

  • jcoope16 said...

    +1 and thanks for your insight. I'm inclined to agree that Fulmer wouldn't be a bad decision. He absolutely cannot be one of Hart's (our AD) first choices but If things aren't going to well as far as genuine interest from quality coaches a few weeks into it, I would be okay with Hart making that phone call. Fulmer really pissed me and the rest of this fan base off with how complacent he got at the end of his tenure and how he really kind of forced our hand and left us no choice but to get rid of him. But one thing that no one can deny is that the man would die for this university and it is hurting him as much as anyone to see it in it's current state.

    I'm inclined to believe that Fulmer would work out because I do agree that there would be a good chance of getting Chavis back to help and if you just keep the offensive staff intact, I think we are looking at a quality coaching staff. Also, I believe after having time to reflect on his tenure here, he knows exactly where he screwed up and would make damn sure it didn't happen again.

    Also, I feel that Fulmer could bring back quality success to our program and he could work on setting it up for a future "coach-in-waiting" (I hate that term) to ensure that we didn't spiral downward after his next departure (ideally retirement).

    Unfortunately, I just don't see it happening. I think he burned too many people the way he let the program fall and I believe some people of influence might try to stop it from happening. Plus, you have an even more divided fan base than we have at the moment.

    I agree with everything you said and was kinda thinking about the same thing. I don't think Fulmer should be the first name on the list, the worst the big names of today can say is no. But if I were a die hard UT fan I would much rather see Fulmer again than another Dooley type hire. I wouldn't see him staying much past 5 to 6 years, but like you said 6 years from now I think the job would be a much more desirable job than it is now.

    Another huge thing you have to look at is a potential OC/QB coach that comes with Fulmer within the next 2 to 3 years and that of course is Peyton Manning. It's obvious Peyton loves his university more than most, and I think he would love to work at UT once he retires which can't be to far away. But it's also obvious he is very partial to Fulmer. That could possibly be your "coach in waiting" situation with a Fulmer hire.

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    bmartin2222

  • I would so hate for Peyton to coach at UT. He is our public face. He is our idol, we obviously love the guy. If he coaches at UT he would be drug thru the mud by a faction of our fans and it would be awful.

    coonhound

  • I don't think there's any way Peyton would coach at UT. I could be way wrong, have been many times before, but I just don't see that ever happening.

    VolFan65

  • CrockettTM said...

    The Kingsbury offense can work, but it would need a Peterman-type QB to run it. Not a Worley.

    Actually that offense is the "Air Raid", garentee you that they would put up huge numbers with a pure passer like Bray or Worley, but Peterman would give them more looks for a D, Chip Kelly also runs the "Air Raid" with some Vere (spelling?) concepts, Gundy, Leach, Holgerson, Kelly, Morris, Malzahn, and Sumlin all run the "Air Raid" mixed with other concepts...who'd a thought it

    TnMiles

  • VolFan65 said...

    I don't think there's any way Peyton would coach at UT. I could be way wrong, have been many times before, but I just don't see that ever happening.

    Both valid points by you and coonhound. I have never looked at it that way. Peyton's career after playing is a hard one to figure out for me, because he seems to love football a lot more than the average pro. He has the personality and extreme knowledge of the game to instantly be great at commentary, but at the same time that knowledge could also be used on the football field coaching. He is such a competitive person I think coaching wins out, just so he can keep trying to out scheme defenses and win football games, even if it's with a headset on.

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    bmartin2222

  • ocoeerivervol said...

    There's a very,very,VERY slim chance Fulmer is the next HC at UT.

    Quit exagerating so much that he has such a good chance to come back biggrin. I think he and I would make a great duo.

    SamVolsam ●

  • bmartin2222 said...

    Both valid points by you and coonhound. I have never looked at it that way. Peyton's career after playing is a hard one to figure out for me, because he seems to love football a lot more than the average pro. He has the personality and extreme knowledge of the game to instantly be great at commentary, but at the same time that knowledge could also be used on the football field coaching. He is such a competitive person I think coaching wins out, just so he can keep trying to out scheme defenses and win football games, even if it's with a headset on.

    Yeah I'm inclined to agree with my fellow Vols. I just don't see any way Peyton comes back to coach the Vols. I've always been of the opinion if he ever coached after retiring, it would be in the NFL. I think that game just suits him better plus he wouldn't carry the "rockstar" status in the NFL that he would carry at UT. Now let me explain what I meant by that. In college, he would be dealing with 18-22 year old kids whose jaws would hit the floor in his presence whereas in the NFL, the players wouldn't be as "star struck" as college kids and he would be more of "just another coach", albeit a well respected one. But ultimately, I wouldn't want Peyton subjected to the scrutiny of our fan base because God forbid he failed in the smallest sense of the word.

    This post was edited by jcoope16 on 11/13/2012 at 5:52 AM

    signature image signature image signature image

    jcoope16

  • bmartin2222 said...

    Like I said I am a Mississippi State fan, but my college roomate was a huge vol, so I came to appreciate UT in my time living with him as the sec team from the east I will somewhat pull for as long as it doesn't impact state. With that being said I am curious to how most of you would view a second time around with Fulmer, if you can't land the homerun hire ya'll are looking for (Gruden)? I don't know all that went on during his tenure besides him winning a lot of football games and slacking offa little late, but I will say as an outsider with no bias I think he is the best and quickest option for your current situation. One thing about him that puts him over the top to me is the fact that he truly loves UT, and would do whatever it takes to get your school back to the championship level he once had it.

    The main reason I say that is there is at least 70% chance that if Fulmer returns, so does Chavis. We all know your current problems are not offensive, it's on the defensive side of the ball. I do know enough about UT football to know that when a Fulmer coached team had a good QB combined with a Chavis defense, it was at bare minimum a 9 win season and I think that your team has that in Bray (if he stays) and a good future with that younger guy Worley. Also during the Fulmer tenure the UT-Alabama game is one that I always made a point to watch, unless it was during a State game. Now that game just seems like another conference game. Most bandwagon fans on our board don't even realize the UT-Bama rivalry exist and that's not how it should be.

    I can also say again as an outsider the team/fanbase I saw visit Starkville this season, was not the same team/fanbase that visited Starkville in 2007. In 2007 the upperdecks of our stadium were filled with orange, and the team and fanbase had the swagger of being a big time program. It was a game we knew we needed to play perfect to pull off an upset, and no offense to ya'll but this time around it was a game we fully expected to win. Some of that can be credited to State's imporvement, but it still just didn't have the same feel of playing UT. I barely heard rocky top being sung, and my seats are right by the visitors section.

    I was just curious on this boards opinion, and I will say that we at State had to go the route of having a having to hire Ron Polk a second time for our baseball program. I know sec football and baseball are 2 completely different animals, but sometimes you have to get back to your roots in order to move foward.

    I have actually thought the same thing to be honest. At the time I was all for letting Fulmer go and no one will argue (well maybe some would) that it was the right move. Fulmer had just gotten complacent. I think the game definitely passed him by before he realized it. I would not oppose re-hiring him but unless he has learned from his time away (I'm sure he has hindsight) bringing back the same basic staff will not magically make the success of the 90's and early 2000's reappear. In short -As a last ditch effort I would take Phil and Chavis one more time.

    General_Neyland

  • coonhound said...

    I would so hate for Peyton to coach at UT. He is our public face. He is our idol, we obviously love the guy. If he coaches at UT he would be drug thru the mud by a faction of our fans and it would be awful.

    He ain't my idol

    volfan28

  • Thanks for the friendly responses guys and not just hammering on me because I came from another board. I would also like to add that I made the trip to Knoxville in 2008, it was my first trip to a non-mississippi sec stadium and I was amazed by the place. I have since traveled to Lsu, Bama, Vandy, Georgia, and Auburn and they are all fighting for second place as far as my favorite road trip goes. Your fan base was as polite as an SEC fan base can be to opposing fans and your gameday setting is second to none. It disapoints me that the sec re-did the schedule for next season, and I won't get to make the return trip this upcoming season..but I guess that gives me an opportunity to check visiting South Carolina off the list.

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    bmartin2222

  • bmartin2222 said...

    Both valid points by you and coonhound. I have never looked at it that way. Peyton's career after playing is a hard one to figure out for me, because he seems to love football a lot more than the average pro. He has the personality and extreme knowledge of the game to instantly be great at commentary, but at the same time that knowledge could also be used on the football field coaching. He is such a competitive person I think coaching wins out, just so he can keep trying to out scheme defenses and win football games, even if it's with a headset on.

    I agree. He loves football way too much and I think it's inevitable that he tries coaching and if so, inevitable that he comes here. For me, the only questions I have about Peyton are when and how effective is he at communicating his immense knowledge and work ethic to a college QB that probably won't be equal in either area

    Twitter: @nick11vols

    nick11vols

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