KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Steve Spurrier is coming back to the sidelineas a head coach of the new Alliance of American Football spring league team in Orlando.
Tennessee football question of the day
So if Spurrier, at 72 years old is coming back, could Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer one day return to the sideline?
Fulmer was a first-ballot College Football Hall of Fame selection, 152-52 as the Vols’ coach including the 1998 national title and the 1997 and 1998 SEC Championships.
Tennessee stayed free of major violations with Fulmer at the helm between 1992 and 2008, and he was so successful that expectations grew so high that he was fired less than a year removed from the 2007 SEC Championship Game appearance with Tajh Boyd and Bryce Petty both committed.
Fulmer is 67 years old — 14 months older than Alabama coach Nick Saban (66), and younger than Kansas State coach Bill Snyder (78) and Ohio coach Frank Solich (73).
Most importantly, Fulmer is willing to do whatever he is asked to help his school, and he has said so publicly and privately several times.
An open records request from SEC Country triggered the release of thousands of documents, including a text message from noted booster John “Thunder” Thornton and UT President Joe DiPietro.
Thornton informed DiPietro that Fulmer would be willing to coach if asked. That comment was in line with what other sources told SEC Country during the 26-day coaching search last November.
Would Fulmer be willing to coach if the situation called for it? Yes.
Fulmer was working a youth camp last summer, out on the field demonstrating drills in 90-degree heat, and seemingly loving every minute of it.
Pruitt has said he will use Fulmer as a resource, just as he took advantage of Fulmer’s recruiting prowess and know-how in December when he was away coaching Alabama and Fulmer helped land a Top 20 early signing class.
Indeed, Tide legend Gene Stallings has advised Pruitt to lean on Fulmer when he’s in need. If there’s a coaching change or a vacancy during an open recruiting period, sending Fulmer on the road might not be so far-fetched of an idea.
Fulmer commands respect, as Tennessee legend made it clear his appearance at the Vols’ recent coaching clinic was most tied into his relationships with Fulmer and Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who was the marquee speaker.
But will Fulmer ever return to the sideline?
That’s hard to say, as it would be based off circumstance and timing.
Fulmer, Tennessee fans should remember, was the SEC coach who ultimately ended Spurrier’s reign as Florida’s king Gator, delivering the knockout punch with a stunning 34-32 upset in 2001.
Tennessee was a 17½-point underdog when Casey Clausen and Travis Stephens derailed Florida’s national championship run.
Florida fans were furious with the defeat, and that triggered Spurrier, who bolted for what proved to be a failed two-year stint as the Washington Redskins head coach.
Spurrier came back to coach at South Carolina from 2005-2015, but he never came close to another national title, winning just one (1996) despite all that talent and offense that came through Gainesville.
Fulmer, meanwhile, saw his 2001 Vols get upset by Saban’s LSU team in the SEC Championship Game, ending Tennessee’s hopes to get into the national title game.
The Vols haven’t finished in the nation’s Top 10 in the AP Top 25 rankings since that great 2001 team.
Fulmer coached Tennessee to top 10 finishes five consecutive years, between 1995 and 1999.
Could Phillip Fulmer lend a hand on sideline to help Vols?
Tennessee football question of the day
So if Spurrier, at 72 years old is coming back, could Tennessee athletic director Phillip Fulmer one day return to the sideline?
Fulmer was a first-ballot College Football Hall of Fame selection, 152-52 as the Vols’ coach including the 1998 national title and the 1997 and 1998 SEC Championships.
Tennessee stayed free of major violations with Fulmer at the helm between 1992 and 2008, and he was so successful that expectations grew so high that he was fired less than a year removed from the 2007 SEC Championship Game appearance with Tajh Boyd and Bryce Petty both committed.
Fulmer is 67 years old — 14 months older than Alabama coach Nick Saban (66), and younger than Kansas State coach Bill Snyder (78) and Ohio coach Frank Solich (73).
Most importantly, Fulmer is willing to do whatever he is asked to help his school, and he has said so publicly and privately several times.
An open records request from SEC Country triggered the release of thousands of documents, including a text message from noted booster John “Thunder” Thornton and UT President Joe DiPietro.
![Screen-Shot-2018-04-09-at-2.55.38-PM_liubnq.png](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fres.cloudinary.com%2Fcmgverticals%2Fimage%2Fupload%2Ff_auto%2Cq_auto%2Fh_177%2Cw_400%2Fv1523300205%2FScreen-Shot-2018-04-09-at-2.55.38-PM_liubnq.png&hash=6e06bdb9a5c88d3c16d2bf70fc7e4629)
Thornton informed DiPietro that Fulmer would be willing to coach if asked. That comment was in line with what other sources told SEC Country during the 26-day coaching search last November.
Would Fulmer be willing to coach if the situation called for it? Yes.
Fulmer was working a youth camp last summer, out on the field demonstrating drills in 90-degree heat, and seemingly loving every minute of it.
Pruitt has said he will use Fulmer as a resource, just as he took advantage of Fulmer’s recruiting prowess and know-how in December when he was away coaching Alabama and Fulmer helped land a Top 20 early signing class.
Indeed, Tide legend Gene Stallings has advised Pruitt to lean on Fulmer when he’s in need. If there’s a coaching change or a vacancy during an open recruiting period, sending Fulmer on the road might not be so far-fetched of an idea.
Fulmer commands respect, as Tennessee legend made it clear his appearance at the Vols’ recent coaching clinic was most tied into his relationships with Fulmer and Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who was the marquee speaker.
But will Fulmer ever return to the sideline?
That’s hard to say, as it would be based off circumstance and timing.
Fulmer, Tennessee fans should remember, was the SEC coach who ultimately ended Spurrier’s reign as Florida’s king Gator, delivering the knockout punch with a stunning 34-32 upset in 2001.
Tennessee was a 17½-point underdog when Casey Clausen and Travis Stephens derailed Florida’s national championship run.
Florida fans were furious with the defeat, and that triggered Spurrier, who bolted for what proved to be a failed two-year stint as the Washington Redskins head coach.
Spurrier came back to coach at South Carolina from 2005-2015, but he never came close to another national title, winning just one (1996) despite all that talent and offense that came through Gainesville.
Fulmer, meanwhile, saw his 2001 Vols get upset by Saban’s LSU team in the SEC Championship Game, ending Tennessee’s hopes to get into the national title game.
The Vols haven’t finished in the nation’s Top 10 in the AP Top 25 rankings since that great 2001 team.
Fulmer coached Tennessee to top 10 finishes five consecutive years, between 1995 and 1999.
Could Phillip Fulmer lend a hand on sideline to help Vols?