Comments on: An Open Letter to the Vol Nation: A Manifesto on Past, Present, and Future

By: Vol-a-tile

Vol-a-tile — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:54:32 +0000

I do agree with many on here, I am a true VOL fan, but hence this gives me the inalienable right to say what I think of the program at hand. True,CPF has done so much for the university,players etc. etc;as pointed out the records speak in VOLumes over the past 5-6 years. CPF could and should of done more with the players,staff he has had. Truth is ,he has not performed like a C.O. or even an alum for that matter;should an alum realise that what you are doing is not for self glory,pity,argumentative aspect of the game, but for the UNIVERSITY itself.It is not a right to coach a school like UT it is a PRIVELEGE to do so,as such a right all though be it a challenge to do so should know when enough is enough.He seen the Battle ,Majors days played and coached in both,knowing good and well what comes from the fan base being up in arms or so divided that the university,program,players, and coaches suffer to a point of no return.I do in all aspects support CPF,players,coaches,fans but not to the point of having our most loyal of loyal supporters asking the question of “what” more than the “why” of the demise of what we considered a proud and feared program.Change,I do feel that we are at that point whether or not CPF or other coaches be the “sacrificial lambs” in the end,but change to clam the storm before we get to the point of no return. Wim or lose “we” can all be true VOL fans,but when fingers start pointing and the indians get restless “change should be” if nothing more than an after thought the “right thing to do” for the University as a whole.

By: Gil

Gil — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:00:35 +0000

Excellent, well thought out from the heart article. While I may not agree with everything written, it’s good to read an article that makes me proud to be a Tennessee Vol fan(over 50 years now). Keep up the good work and of course…GO VOLS!

By: lawvol

lawvol — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 19:15:57 +0000

Sauce:
I agree 100% that any change should come after the season — not now. As for the Majors departure, there are a few details you are omitting which further complicated that situation (i.e. Majors’ campaign via the Big Orange club to get a raise, his ultimatum to the Big Dickey and UT President, the Bissenger statements in Friday Night Lights, etc.) but all of that is secondary to the issue at hand. As I said, I wasn’t trying to re-open the Johnny Majors dispute. My only point is that whether I believe Phillip Fulmer should stay has no impact on the fact that the fan base is killing the program. I never said that I felt Fulmer needed to go, just that the program is in turmoil which won’t subside until we find some sort of resolution.

No single person is bigger than the program. I am, however, a huge Fulmer fan and I don’t want to see another disaster like the Majors situation. My biggest concerns are always the univeristy first and the program second. I am not going to go after anyone, but do feel obligated to stand up for what I see as a fundamental attack on the program.

Still, I understand your point and frustrations — we are all frustrated, which is the bedrock principle I was trying to express here anyway.

By: Sauce

Sauce — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:55:41 +0000

First, I firmly believe that Fulmer and our players need the support of ALL the so-called VOL faithful until the end of the season. We are acting like the idiots from Alabama who suffered for the last 15 years by their own doing. So much for class. However, if things get worse, a change may be in order AFTER the season is over. Secondly, you point out what happened to Coach Majors was OK because it was time for a “change”. IF that is the case, Fulmer should be fired NOW! Two SEC Championships and two top ten finishes in Majors’ last three years warranted a “change”? Doug Dickey failed to deliver a verbally agreed contract extension to Majors because of his sudden surgery. Then, right before the South Carolina game Dickey and Majors agreed again to an extension without a raise. Then after UT lost, the UT Powerbase told Dickey to tell Majors that coaching the next season was not an option. THEN, Majors resigned on principal. This is all detailed in VOLS-Three Decades of Big Orange Football by Russ Bebb. Granted, Majors’ personality rubbed some UT boosters the wrong way. One big booster told me that Majors was acting “differently” at practice because of the surgery. This whole debacle was a dark chapter in Vol history that we invented ourselves. Now, ESPN Gameday has used our current disgruntlement to comment to the nation on our program’s demise,lack of leadership, etc. Here we go again….

By: DarthVol

DarthVol — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:43:18 +0000

Well said, LawVol.

I think you’ve stated (albeit, a lot more eloquently) what a large portion of the fan base is thinking. Some didn’t even know they were thinking it.

I think the word “legacy” is key. In my opinion, Fulmer is well aware of where he stands RIGHT NOW in the eyes of many UT fans. At this point, there is no riding off into the sunset a hero. An SEC championship is further from his grasp than Neylands record. I say that and HOPE that is not his motivation to continue to ride this wave wherever it may take him. But I think he wants the wins. He believes (and probably rightly so) that will gain him the honor that he deserves.

The question is, do the people outside the program (fans, boosters, ADs) want to allow him the few years to get it if it means the program must continue in it’s present state? I don’t know.

For now, just beat Auburn.

As always jmo.

By: lawvol

lawvol — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:12:53 +0000

MoonDog:

You’re going to call me a goat on this, but I can honestly and sincerely say that winning or being the best is not the most important thing for me. Winning honestly and with class is most important to me. I am not willing to forsake all to win. In my mind the integrity of the University must always come first and foremost — way before winning. That is why I spoke out against the coaches when we had all of the off-field issues back in the spring and summer. My ultimate unbreakable rule is “Never do anything to embarrass or call into question the integrity of the University, its institutions, and alumni.”

Thus, I guess I’m not willing to sell the farm for a coach who is willing to do anything to win. That said, I do not believe being the best and being honest are mutually exclusive. I would point to Mark Richt (although he hasn’t yet won a championship), Jim Tressel (despite his inability to win the final game), Steve Spurrier while at Florida (the OBC is many things, but I don’t believe he cheats), and Pete Carroll as examples of this. I might also point to Les Miles (who I believe is a bit crazy, but appears honest) but I’m less sure for him.

Either way, I think your point is well made. You can focus too much on being a nice guy an miss the goal of winning games and being successful. Still, as an alum, the only way that the Vols could ever cause me to turn my back on the program completely would be to disgrace the university (a’la Oklahoma under Switzer, Miami in the 1980’s, etc.)

By: MoonDog Sports

MoonDog Sports — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 07:14:11 +0000

Fulmer, USC, Zambrano, Lesbians, Stephen A., Nut Jobs…

Some afternoon linkage from around the blogosphere I think you’ll enjoy.
Fulmer In Today’s Coaching Arena (Goal Line Stuff)
Fulmer Is Wearing Out His Welcome (TSIB)
The Fulmer Manifesto – Karl Marx Would Be Proud (Gate 21)
Carry On With Top…

By: Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 03:44:20 +0000

Blake:

both those sections are in the corner, and both in the Tennessee section. if you’re watching an Auburn game on TV, it’s to your left on the far side. I think 36 is towards the end zone, but I’m not 100% sure