Usually when coaches say they're not interested in a head coaching job, it could mean anything from from, "Let's wait 'til the season is over with my own team," or "Let's see how the contract shapes-up first."
But in the case of Butch Davis and other college coaches who have said, "Thanks, but no thanks." They really mean they're not interested, and go away.
You would think that a three-million plus dollar salary would entice even the most entrenched coach to at least have a look and kick the tires, but most coaches understand the problems that come with the job and they don't want any part of it.
Instead of landing a "high profile" coach, the Tennessee Volunteers will have to settle for someone who wants to "step up" their resume rather than just switching schools.
Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton may still believe that Tennessee is a "premier" job, but few head coaches do.
First of all, despite the talent that exists there, there is no way of knowing how many athletes there will jump ship once someone else is named.
There are two reasons for that. First, some players really liked Phillip Fulmer, or want to jump a sinking ship. Secondly, there are many who won't put up with the discipline a new coach would be sure to institute.
To say that Fulmer was lax on discipline is like saying the titanic ended up short on buoyancy.
In fact, the award given to the team with the worst discipline and arrest records is called "The Fulmer Cup" in honor of Phil.
That can be fixed by benching, kicking off, or running off the malcontents.
Nick Saban went through that when he inherited "Club Shula." But unless you have the nation's number one recruiting class, like Saban did, to replace the talent vacuum left by departing players, you could languish for years.
Then there is the "Bear Bryant Syndrome" that exists at Tennessee.
This is a program that has always hired from "within the family." Any mistakes made by an "outsider" will simply be magnified by the fan base and the administration.
Coaches outside the area have no recruiting "ins" as Saban and Mark Richt had, and it could take a while for an "outsider" to make good inroads in this crucial area. Given the coaching talent here, recruiting is a tough one now in the SEC.
Plus, who wants to match wits with Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Mark Richt every year with a fan base whose going to expect a Nick Saban type turnaround in a year or two at the most?
And the 800-pound gorilla in the room is that Tennessee just fired a coach with one of the best winning percentages in football, who delivered a national championship to the school and is only one year removed from playing in the SEC championship game.
Is this a school that says "Doing a good job 90 percent of the time gets loyalty from us?"
So while Hamilton and fans have this "super wish list" in their heads, the ugly truth may take a while to set in. Most, if not all, on their initial list will really mean it when they used the traditional line, "I have no interest in becoming the head coach at Tennessee."
32 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Richard Tuttle 7 months ago
Nice read but someone will go for the cash alone and a 5 year deal and THEN leave. I could retire on 20 million in a 5 year deal and put up with anything.
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
Sign me up too. I hate Turdessee, but could fake it for a five year deal like that myself!
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Clayton Martin 7 months ago
You are way off on nearly everything you said here. I am in awe of how ignorant outsiders to the Tennessee program perceive it.
1. Butch Davis being committed to his new job and not wanting to uproot his family AGAIN for an insignificant pay increase does not tell you that the Tennessee job is one that no one is interested in. No one has said that they are uninterested in the job that should surprise you at this point. To my knowledge the list of people who have said they are uninterested is: Jon Gruden, David Cutcliffe, Steve Spurrier, and Butch Davis. If any of those shock you then I am shocked.
2. I'm assuming that you've spoken to lots of coaches in writing this article sense you know that none are interested. And as far as "high profile" coaches go, every time there are coaching vacancies "high profile" guys reject the job for various reasons...though I've yet to see that be the clear consensus. To my knowledge both Lane Kiffin and Mike Leach appear to be interested and I would consider both "high profile" right now. Also don't forget your boy Nick Saban blatantly stated that he was NOT interested in the Alabama job, and then proceeded to go ahead and do so.
3. No one is going to jump ship outside of the 3-4 recruits who already have. That is ignorant to claim. Yes the players loved Fulmer but that doesn't mean they only play for him. As our new QB recruit Tajh Boyd said, "I committed to the University of Tennessee, not to coach Fulmer."
4. Discipline is no more of a factor with a new coach than it is now. Countless players (namely players on the 98 championship team) have been quoted saying that this team is FAR more disciplined than they ever were. The ones still around the program have had nothing but complimentary things to say about Fulmer's discipline and I am actually good friends with several players on the team who say the exact same thing
5. There will be no gorilla in the room. Fulmer wasn't only fired because of this season, it's been a downward slide as of late and Hamilton decided that it was just time to go in another direction. Fulmer has also been offered another position with the University that his family has encouraged him to take in which he could still be around and involved.
I would love to hear what you have to say about my thoughts.
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Craig B. 7 months ago
I would like to know who issues this "Fulmer Cup?" Is it the NCAA? Is it the SEC? Or is it one of these "know it all" sites with extremely pesimistic and derogitory rhetoric. I love that you point out the "Fulmer Cup" that clearly bashes CPF, then turn around an criticize the school's decision to let him go. Very interesting.
The fact is that all of the talk about the new head coach is speculation until someone signs a contract. Niether I nor you know who is being seriously considered. The only ones that really know are Mike Hamilton and the company helping him conduct the national search. So you can speculate on the true meanings of candidate's words, but we all know that coach speak is just that until the ink is dry. I appreciate your negative outlook on the situation. This points out the worst that could happen at UT. But thats all it is, the worst case senario.
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
The Fulmer Cup is on "EDSBS.com" (Everyday should be Saturday)... You can google it...
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Kevin Newhouse 7 months ago
craig...i absolutely agree with you...tennessee is a premiere job...hell even spurrier said he would've come to tennessee 5 years ago...however we didnt need him 5 years ago...my point is this...why would a coach like davis or gruden or anyone for that matter in the middle of a football season say "oh yea...i would LOVE to be the tennessee head coach" and be hated from that day on...then you have armchair quarterbacks like larry below you here that can give football advice all day long from the cozy comfort of his lazyboy...hell he probably has never even played the game...(probably was in the band, haha) but thats another story...anyway craig i feel that you have nailed it spot on...i think alot of people are gonna be shocked when we find out who our new coach is gonna be.... i have my suspicions who its gonna be... as long as its not lane kiffin or david cutcliffe then i will be happy...why not cutcliffe??? he was a great coordinator at tennessee and is even doing a great job at duke...but when it comes down to the nut cutting...he is not head coach material...offensive genius yes...but head coach no...let duke keep him....and i dont even want to start on lane kiffin...let clemson have him...as far as fulmer goes...he will go down as one of the greats in college football...however...his time is up...he should retire....or even stay on in some capacity at tennessee...but i think that if he goes to another school then he will end up just like johnny majors....sub par....
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Tim 7 months ago
A Bama fan such as Larry would know how to spot a school whose football program has lost its luster and can't find a coach. Let's see, how many "Next Bear Bryant" coaches have come through Tuscaloser in the past 26 years?
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
That is a valid and sadly true point. We thought we had one in Stallings, but... It has been a long a tiresome road. We finally gave up and just paid to have the best hired gun come in fix things. Our money was well spent and I think our school is actually growing on him. I used to love the rivalry with Tennessee, but then Fulmer ruined it for me. Once he's gone and his smell is off the program, I may like them again.
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Will Jones 7 months ago
This article is written by an Admitted Bama fan. Can you say ZERO credibility. Don't hate on Fulmer because you guys are cheaters, Cheater McCheat.
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Kenny Stabler 7 months ago
Larry, I'm ALL Bama/all things Bama. But this is an idiotic blog/column. You trying to get a job at ESPN? Your stuff sounds like EVERYTHING I read before we hired Saban. I despise UcheaT, but it's a GREAT job to have. Especially for $3M+/year. How do YOU want your crow served? It's coming, I promise.
oh, and ROLL TIDE!
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John Voy 7 months ago
UcheaT...Are you freakin kidding me?
Let's see....Bama...caught cheating twice in the last decade and a half and punished for it both times.....UT...not caught cheating ever...
UcheaT...HA!! Thats a good one coming from a Bammer...a group of fans who have exactly ZERO grasp on reality
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Mel May 7 months ago
Whoever takes the job at Tennessee should hope they're as successful and as classy as Fulmer. I think Tennessee fans will be BEGGING Fulmer to come back in a few years. Trouble is whoever is lucky enough to get him won't want to let him go. I personally expect Coach Fulmer to be the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts next year. But! Hey! What do I know? I would've never let him go. 17 years without any NCAA sanctions while coaching in the SEC. Sitting Colquitt for 5 games when, in my humble opinion, his punting would've been the difference in the UCLA and Auburn games at the very least. Coach Fulmer became a victim of his own success. A few NFL prospects went to Tennessee just to get into the NFL. Great players don't always equate to a great team. I was at the TN- LSU game when Donte Stallworth and Kelly Washington's obvious NFL priorities and lack of preparedness cost Tennessee and their teammates the chance to play for their second BCS championship in 4 years. To me that game was the turning point in Fulmers career. BUT! Being the GREAT coach that he is. He saw the need for change. I'm not sure why he brought Cutcliff back after the Ol' Miss gig. I knew Cutcliff would leave as soon as he got ANY head coach offer. I think he should've bit the bullet and went with the spread then. As a Tennessee fan, I knew this year would be tough, not as tough as it turned out but I still knew it was a year of transition. Fulmer could've publicly come out and said, "This year will stink because we're changing the core of our offense that's been here since 95." Why didn't he though? Because he was thinking about the TEAM and not his job. Fulmer ALWAYS put the team ahead of his personal interests. What would Florida State or Penn State be like if they fired Bowden and Paterno when they had down years?
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Mel May 7 months ago
Whoever takes the job at Tennessee should hope they're as successful and as classy as Fulmer. I think Tennessee fans will be BEGGING Fulmer to come back in a few years. Trouble is whoever is lucky enough to get him won't want to let him go. I personally expect Coach Fulmer to be the new head coach of the Indianapolis Colts next year. But! Hey! What do I know? I would've never let him go. 17 years without any NCAA sanctions while coaching in the SEC. Sitting Colquitt for 5 games when, in my humble opinion, his punting would've been the difference in the UCLA and Auburn games at the very least. Coach Fulmer became a victim of his own success. A few NFL prospects went to Tennessee just to get into the NFL. Great players don't always equate to a great team. I was at the TN- LSU game when Donte Stallworth and Kelly Washington's obvious NFL priorities and lack of preparedness cost Tennessee and their teammates the chance to play for their second BCS championship in 4 years. To me that game was the turning point in Fulmers career. BUT! Being the GREAT coach that he is. He saw the need for change. I'm not sure why he brought Cutcliff back after the Ol' Miss gig. I knew Cutcliff would leave as soon as he got ANY head coach offer. I think he should've bit the bullet and went with the spread then. As a Tennessee fan, I knew this year would be tough, not as tough as it turned out but I still knew it was a year of transition. Fulmer could've publicly come out and said, "This year will stink because we're changing the core of our offense that's been here since 95." Why didn't he though? Because he was thinking about the TEAM and not his job. Fulmer ALWAYS put the team ahead of his personal interests. What would Florida State or Penn State be like if they fired Bowden and Paterno when they had down years?
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Larry Weems 7 months ago
Another thing an incoming coach must consider: Alabama was turned in for recruiting violations by UT. They were guilty as most Alabama people know, however, the punishment did not fit the crime. Bama people must vent their frustration and anger on someone so they pick UT for their wrath. Auburn is their rivalry but they HATE UT - The hatred for TN is unbelievable and their vengeance will never be satiated. Why put up with that, along with having to compete for recruits against AL, FL, GA and Ole Miss? Auburn will be the next one looking for a coach after 2 more beat downs re: GA & AL
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Denis Smalley 7 months ago
Why put up with the hatred of Alabama fans??? Think about it Larry. I know you are a bammer fan but try to think about that. Well, maybe that is asking too much of a bammer fan so I'll lay it out for you. Successful coaches love competition and rivalry. It isn't very satisfying to beat someone you should beat and that inspires little emotion. In fact, it's more expected than elating (that means fun). It's quite satisfying to beat your most hated rival.
Had bammer not been cheating rather blatantly, Old Phil would have had nothing to raise up his flagpole. Try to understand that to the rest of the world, cheating is an unfair advantage and is not O.K. in something as demanding of fairness as sports is. I know this is a foreign thought for most bammer fans as you had been doing it for so long that it seemed quite normal and expected. But the rest of the world thinks cheating makes the whole sport meaningless. Kinda like all those National Championships you bammer fans claim to have won, that no one else recognizes except the Mobile Register.......... meaningless.
Frankly, I love the bammer rivalry and even when bammer wins, the bammer fans come back to life for a while and make the rivalry fun again. I hate it when you bammer guys go around hanging your heads like you have after every Auburn game for the last how many years????? Maybe this year will be different with the LSU coach on your staff. At least you can pound your chest again until the LSU coach is found to be cheating as all the other great bammer coaches have. Try thinking about winning honestly. I know it is a difficult (that means hard) concept. But the non-cheating wins actually mean you really did something good. As opposed to all those wins bammer chalked up during the cheating years that mean nothing.
By the way, Larry, there's nothing personal here. You seem like a cool dude even if your writing is just wishful thinking with no real substance whatsoever. Go Tigers!
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Tony Clabough 7 months ago
I attended the University of Tennessee and was a part of the athletic program there. I grew up in Knoxville, and bleed orange. Just a couple of things...
First, it's ignorant to think that any coach in football wouldn't be interested in taking over the reigns at UT. It is a nationally known, powerhouse program that consistantly produces results. We always have one of the best recruiting classes and play in the toughest conference in the country. It has some of the best fans in the country, and some of the best facilities in college football. All of the money and loyalty that comes from successful seasons is what drives the fans to boo when the team doesn't perform well. It's sad because there is always an abundance of talent on that football team, but sometimes they don't live up to it.
As for Fulmer, Tennessee has gotten rid of a guy that served 17 years as head coach and had 2 bad seasons. I hardly think that would justify his firing. Mike Hamilton nailed it with Bruce Pearl and saved a program that the students wouldn't even watch. With football, however, there aren't many coaches that can take the lead at a school in the SEC and produce winning programs overnight. Plus, it's not the team, as a whole, that's bad. The defense always plays hard, but there is NO offense this year. So, maybe they should fire Dave Clawson and keep Fulmer.
Farewell Fulmer...You are a great person and a great coach. I hope that you take over another program and destroy Tennessee a couple of times just to laugh at their mistake. And for all of you out there booing Fulmer, get ready for a couple of lousy seasons....And Mike, I hope that you made the right decision...
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Chuck Graves 7 months ago
Firing Fulmer was stupid. The UT job is a career killer. The state of Tennessee just doen't have the talent to recruit from. The expectations for the program are unrealistic, and nobody wants to butt heads with Meyer, Saban, Richt and Spurrier every year.
UNC and TCU are way better jobs than UT and everybody except the deluded UT fans know it.
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Keith Dixon 7 months ago
UT job a career killer? Wow, 16 years is really turning the coaches over. Larry Burton is usually washing Saban's shorts if he isn't penning some non-sense.
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Keith Dixon 7 months ago
"UT job is a career killer"?????? Lets see, Fulmer just finished 16 years at the same school, in college sports that is a lifetime. Please, don't post if you don't have any real insight into UT football, not some knuckleheaded theory. With that said, if Burton isn't penning a rediculous article, he is busy washing Saban's jockeys and bottling the water for later.
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ncclmsntgr 7 months ago
Exactly why Clemson is the most attractive job right now. Not necessarily in terms of out-bidding for the "big name" head coach, but the great, talented up and coming assistants out there. Clemson has the facilities, resources, and recruiting base that match or surpass UT. Competing in the ACC is at Clemson is a much better prospect than banging heads with UT in the SEC.
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
I think Clemson would be more attractive in many ways. I know y'all want a big name, bug old Dabo has had the boys fired up... If a new coach comes in and lets him go, maybe we'll get him back!
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ncclmsntgr 7 months ago
Larry, see my editorial posted tonight on the Clemson job. search Clemson. What we know and What We Don't
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Patrick Clark 7 months ago
Clemson would on be more appealing SIMPLY because it is in a MUCH MUCH easier conference. Hence why Butch and Cutcliffe are staying put. They can succeed againsst inferior competition, and ACC fans that want to argue that, simply look at the ACC-SEC heads up records over the last 10 years.
Now, to say that the UT job is unattractive, come on, CRAZY. UT's facilites and budget are second to none. Whoever takes over this job is not going to have to go through "rebuilding." They are going to get an immediate return on their investment. Now, does that mean a BCS title next year, no, of course not, but maybe. That's why this job is highly attractive.
p.s. Bama fans crack me up, they get caught cheating, and it's Fulmers fault. OH, and for anyone interested, there were MANY coaches that turned Bama in, the NCAA "guarantees" anonimity for any coach/player that wants to turn in violators, doesnt appear that fulmer got that huh?
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Alabama Voodoo 7 months ago
Let's be honest Tennessee is a lateral move for few but a step up for most. Come on Alabama fan bias here is rediculous. Coaching at Tennessee would be dream come true for just about anyone outside of USC, Alabama, Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, or Ohio State. As an Alabama fan you should give the Devil his due!
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
Money wise yes! Headache wise??????
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Alabama Voodoo 7 months ago
Hey Larry, by the way I did not leave a comment about how it was written, nice work and I must admit I enjoyed reading it. You should look forward to my Auburn Alabama piece in about 10 days or so!
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B Z 7 months ago
Who is Julio Jones's roommate and why is he an invited walkon? Pay Roll Tide?
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Will Shelton 7 months ago
Well written again, even if I disagree with some of it...the thing is, Nick Saban isn't out there this year. But that doesn't mean guys like Mike Leach, Will Muschamp and others most would consider on the sub-elite level wouldn't be interested in taking on Rocky Top. The reasons you describe are why David Cutcliffe and probably Butch Davis won't come here, but for someone like Leach it would be worth it in just about every way to come to Knoxville over staying in Lubbock.
Don't forget that the Vols currently have the 8th best defense in the nation and just won the SEC East last season. I'm not at all sold on the 3-4 year rebuilding project. If Alabama can lose to ULM and then turn 6-6 into #1, don't write the Vols off.
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
Good points! Especially about Leach, but I think he may go elsewhere...
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Blake Harris 7 months ago
i would not be one bit suprised if whoever they gets is there for a few years. then leaves, and peyton manning comes in! peyton said he was interested in it at one point. that would be great for tennessee football if that was to happen, but i just personally dont see it happening, but wouldnt it be awesome!
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Larry Burton 7 months ago
That would certainly be a "Johnny Come Marching Home" moment for them...
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Vol Fan 7 months ago
Larry,
You're nothing but a typical Alabama fan who is jealous of a program that has run circles around yours since Bear Bryant. We'll turn it around, just like Saban has and you'll get yours. Actually you'll get yours in two weeks when Florida deflates your ego and national championship hopes. By the way, is that a hair piece or just really bad hair? Nice chins!
Vol Alum
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