Yesterday was an extremely eventful day in Knoxville. I woke up around 5:30 thinking that there was a strong possibility that Mike Leach would be announced as the new head coach. If you’ve read my material, you know I love Mike Leach. I think he’s awesome and what we deserve after five years boring Butch Jones press conferences. As you might imagine, I was really excited. That would all change around 9:00 A.M, when rumors started circulating that John Currie would be fired.
Well, #VolTwitter was really pumped about that, until around 10:00 A.M. when we found out that Reid Sigmon might have a shot at the A.D. job if Jimmy Haslam had his way. Well, the fanbase united and made it clear on social media that we would not support Reid Sigmon becoming A.D, and by noon the rumor circulated that Phil Fulmer would be announced as Athletic Director on a non-interm status. It was officially announced at 4 P.M. This was music to our ears, and we felt that we had taken control of our program back from Jimmy Haslam. So what does this mean for Tennessee Football moving forward?
RESTART ON THE COACHING SEARCH
Any coach that has previously denied us, might reconsider us under Fulmer. This was like hitting the reset button a video game. It’s a brand new beginning and I think everyone is back on the table as a possibility with the exception of Mike Gundy. Yes that does include Jeff Brohm, who might be in better position when his buyout decreases by $1,000,000 on Dec 5th. It’s a brand new beginning and we should be excited.
ELITE CANDIDATES ARE IN PLAY NOW
I think the UT job got much more attractive now that Phillip Fulmer is the permanent A.D. Look, everyone knew that Jon Currie’s ass was on the line with the Schiano disaster. Walking into the job under Currie, you knew he wouldn’t be there much longer. With Fulmer, you are safe for the foreseeable future. Not only that, but Fulmer is a previous football coach, which brings you two major advantages. He has empathy and understanding for the adversity and challenges you will face as the head football coach of Tennessee. He also has connections all over the country and can help you land top shelf assistants and staff. Kevin Steele, Tee Martin, John Chavis are all guys we could see back on campus this fall now that Phil is in charge.
WE WILL END UP WITH THE BEST COACH WE CAN GET
This entire coaching search was backwards. We started out with Greg Schiano, a coach who isn’t even a candidate at Arkansas Pine-Bluff. Then we went to Gundy, Brohm, Doren, Sumlin, then Leach. So rating those coaches 1-10, we started out with a 3, then went to a 9, then a 7, then a 5, then a 7, then a 9. That makes no sense on any planet. You don’t ask out a 3, then ask out a 9 and expect to get her. You gotta let people know where your standards are, then work your way down. From what I’m hearing, Fulmer could try and pursue David Shaw, Gary Patterson, Fuente, and Chris Petersen. Any of those guys would be a grand-slam hire. If he can’t land those guys, then we will work our way down.
JIMMY HASLAM’S REIGN IS OVER
Yesterday was bigger than Fulmer becoming Athletic Director. It was a sign that we had told Jimmy Haslam he can shove it and that this is our football program, not his. The fans have won the war, and I think we will end up with a much better head coach since Haslam is no longer calling the shots. Look there’s a lot of boosters who hated how Fulmer was fired in 2008, this might bring those people back to the table and we won’t be as dependent on Haslam.
In summary, I think it’s safe to say that Rocky Top is in much better shape than it was last week. We’re more stable and if Fulmer can land an elite coach, no one will be laughing at us. I also want to comment real fast on the national media. You guys have no clue about Tennessee Football. You laugh and make fun of us for not wanting Schiano. I think last week proves we are the most powerful fanbase on the planet. I think also once this coaching search is over, we’ll be laughing at you instead.
