Sep 26 2008
Should Fulmer Go?
Long time University of Tennessee Volunteers head football coach Phillip Fulmer is under fire as we speak. There have been many questions as to whether or not it is time for that type of talk. From where I sit, it is past due. The last thing 
that you want to see from a great coach is to taint his legacy. The same issues have surfaced in Florida with head coach Bobby Bowden of the Florida State University Seminoles.
It becomes a matter that these coaches can not win with these programs anymore. Well, at least not to the acceptable levels of the programs they each head up. It would be nice to see Phillip and Bobby both bow out gracefully, but it does not look like either plan on doing that.
For Fulmer, this year started in a downward spiral as the Vols went west to face the UCLA Bruins. Once beat by them, everyone rationalized that UCLA was a good team and just got the better of Fulmer’s team. After taking a week off to lick their wounds, the Vols opened at home with UAB and proceed to put a butt whipping on those Alabama boys from Birmingham. Well, what no one seemed to look at was they were playing a team that had yet to win a game playing in a significantly weaker conference. Then, as if pouring salt in an open wound, The Florida Gators marched into Neyland Stadium and their special teams whipped the Vols silly.
This week, the Vols pack it up and head to Auburn to meet the 3-1 Tigers. Now the Tigers played LSU tough, but for me, that does not say too much when Mississippi State takes you to the wire with a 3-2 score. This game will tell me whether Fulmer stays for another week or goes. The question will be, can the University pull the trigger.
