After weeks of speculation and an overall poor performance against a mediocre South Carolina team, Phillip Fulmer is out as head football coach at the University of Tennessee. Fulmer, whose record at Tennessee was 150-51 at the time of this decision, is most notably remembered for leading the Vols to a National Title in 1998.

His job security had become a source of scrutiny after a 1-3 start and the lackluster effort against the archrival Florida Gators. The longest-tenured coach in the SEC could not save his job, and eventually poor play led to his demise.

If poor showings against Georgia and Alabama didn’t seal his fate, the crushing defeat last Saturday night against the Gamecocks of South Carolina most certainly did. Losing to the Gamecocks dropped the Vols to 3-6 (1-5 SEC, last place) and almost certainly secured, with only three games to play, no postseason play for the second time in four seasons.

In 2005, after a 5-6 season, Fulmer found himself on the hot seat as well. Boosters, alumni, and fans were tired of finishing behind other SEC powerhouses, let alone not making a bowl appearance. It seemed the Vols were content to settle for competing for a chance at the Outback Bowl instead of a National Championship.

Well, Fulmer hushed his critics by leading the Vols over the next two seasons to a combined record of 19-8 and an SEC championship appearance (a loss to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers). But this year he could not escape his impending fate.

Before the season had begun in Knoxville, Tennessee faced several pertinent questions. With offensive guru David Cutcliffe leaving the Vols to accept the head coaching job at Duke University (4-3), Fulmer went outside the Tennessee family and hired former University of Richmond head coach Dave Clawson.

Clawson's offensive scheme, which didn’t seem to have a true identity, never seemed to mesh with the Tennessee players like it did with those he had previously coached at Richmond. The offense was plagued with penalties, sacks, and poor passing and rushing yards.

This lack of offensive output was a stark contrast from last year’s team that led the NCAA in sacks allowed with four all season. They were also at the top of the country in most major offensive statistical categories.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?