“I have a great picture in mind. Somebody that’s committed to winning championships and being the best that they can be, with a chance to compete in a conference that’s nationally recognized. I’m not going to go walk into a door somewhere that you have no chance to be successful. I want to be on the big stage and recruit against the best that’s out there.”

But will any school give Fulmer the chance?

Personally, I think it would be a smart move. Although his final season at Tennessee was a losing one (5-7), I believe that the school gave him the boot way to early. Every school has rebuilding years, and prior to that, Fulmer led the Vols to a record of 152-52 in 17 seasons, including a national championship in 1998.

Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee, Image: Newscom

Fulmer’s only 59, and says that he feels young and full of energy. After leaving Tennessee, he joined with a former player to work in recruiting in the investing industry. This year, he plans to enjoy some Saturdays as a fan – but he’s not resting on his laurels. He’s also be busy visiting NFL teams and college campus to learn more about coaching. Ohio State and Duke have already welcomed him with open arms, and he’ll be visiting Texas in late August.

And if he doesn’t get any decent offers?

“I’ve gone through all my organizational stuff and redone it and worked on it and added to it and taken out. I’m either going to be ready to go coach again or write one hell of a book.”

Post from: EveryJoe

Fulmer to Return to College Football?

“I have found him to be different from the media persona that was painted of him, stemming from those original February comments,” Hamilton said. “He’s not as cavalier as the media painted him to be.”

The comments in February that are in question were about Florida’s recruiting practices. Kiffin said that coach Urban Meyer had broken NCAA rules when recruiting star player Nu’Keese Richardson, who eventually went on to sign at Tennessee. Kiffin maintains that he was joking with the comments, and while I do think that it’s probable he was, the SEC still reprimanded him for the quotes.

Lane Kiffin, Image: Newscom

This isn’t the only incident Kiffin’s been “misunderstood.” He may be bringing a bit of fame to the school, but this also bears the question: Is he going to cross the line? Kiffin’s no stranger to the limelight, but at the same time, SEC and general NCAA press is much different than NFL press, and at USC, he never really had to talk to the press.

So do you agree with Hamilton? Is Kiffin misunderstood, or is he really a jerk that’s milking the press? Does he have teh speaking skills for an SEC team or is it just a matter of tme before he crosses the line?

Post from: EveryJoe

Lane Kiffin: Misunderstood?

Image: Newscom

That number isn’t HUGE, considering that there’s usually a mass exodus when a school brings in a new coach. What really hurts, though, is that Kiffin is losing some huge assets to the Tennessee team. He’s also gone on record as saying that he doesn’t want to coach anyone who doesn’t want to be a Volunteer, which to me sounds like a little disgruntled dig at the players choosing to leave. Those who’s announced their impending departures are:

1. B.J. Coleman, quarterback
2. Ahmad Paige, wide receiver
3. E.J. Abrams-Ward, wide receiver
4. Tyler Maples, wide receiver
5. Demetrice Morley, safety
6. Lennon Creer, tailback
7. Donald Langley, lineman
8. Darius Myers, lineman
9. Ramone Johnson, lineman
10. Preston Bailey, lineman
11. Darris Sawtelle, lineman

Under NCAA rules, Tennessee can have up to 85 scholarship players on the team each season, so this does open up some wiggle room for Kiffin to recruit more freshmen or talk to players who intend to leave other schools.

An interesting note: a number of these players decided to leave only after spring practice with Kiffin. So, they’re giving him a chance at least – but to some, looks like he’s not really living up to standards…

Post from: EveryJoe

Mass Exodus from Tennessee

Phillip Fulmer, before one of his final games at Tennessee. Image: Newscom

In case you don’t follow news from that college or the SEC, Fulmer spent 17 seasons as Tennessee coach before resigning being fired last season and replaced by Lane Kiffin. Says Fulmer,

“We all realize that we love the university very much, but it really can’t love you back. It’s bricks and mortar and there’s people that make decisions along the way and sometimes they’re the right decisions and sometimes they’re the wrong decisions. We’re going through getting past all of that.”

While at Tennesse, Fulmer won 75% of hs games and led the Volunteers to a National Championship, 2 SEC Chapionship titles, and seven East Division titles before going 5-7 last season.

Post from: EveryJoe

Phillip Fulmer Honored before Spring Game

The flash game features several images of Florida Gators football players coming out of the ground and you use your mouse to click on the image before it disappears to “whack” them. Not only is this a game where you can get a free shot in on Tim Tebow, but you can also slap around head coach Urban Meyer a little.

Link to “Whack a Gator” interactive flash game

Post from: EveryJoe

Whack a Gator – interactive game

Phillip Fulmer is the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. He also has a birthday coming up on Labor Day. Happy Birthday from all of us at Dejuiced!

This will be his 16th year as head coach where he has a record of 147-45 and an SEC record of 87-27. He coached the Volunteers to the first ever BCS National Championship after the 1998 season. He’s had some good years after that and some bad (remember 2005? No? Ranked 3rd in the preseason and finished 5-6. Your welcome for catching you up.) and last year the Volunteers went 10-4 with a win against Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl. This year the Coaches and AP polls have them #18 at the start of the season and they take another trip to California this year but this time go up against the UCLA Bruins.

But outside of the goodness above, he has been 14-12 against the SEC in recent years and has been 5-11 against Florida. Some fans are still not over the 2005 year (I understand. Buckeyes went 6-6 in 1999. But I got over that when Cooper was fired). If another year like that happened, what will Knoxville do?

Post from: EveryJoe

Coaching Approval Ratings: Phillip Fulmer

 All-American forward Candace Parker will skip her senior season at Tennessee.

The redshirt junior will graduate at the end of this season and wants to participate in the summer Olympics and pursue a professional career, coach Pat Summitt said Thursday.

"Obviously we'd love to have her another year," Summitt told The Associated Press. "Who wouldn't?"

If only there was a way that Summitt could have used Parker for the entirety of Parker's college days. If only somehow Parker could have contributed her frosh year. But alas, Candace Parker collegiate career could only be three years. C'est la vie.

Post from: EveryJoe

Shocker: Soon To Be College Graduate Plans to Get Job

The current month is February. Lest you think I am mistaken, note the general sorrow around you and my general inability to find compelling stories to blog about. It is undoubtedly February. On Saturday, it will still be February when Tennessee plays Memphis. Now, this may be a one-versus-two matchup and Memphis may be undefeated and this may be an intra-state rivalry, but that in no way excuses the exorbitant amount of money people are willing to pay for a meaningless basketball game.

“Tickets are going online like they’re Super Bowl tickets,” Calipari said during a conference call. “It’s incredible.”

As of Tuesday, tickets were going for as much as $10,000 on Stubhub. The game’s timing has a lot to do with the soaring demand.

No doubt the winner will be #1 next week. But alas, the college basketball polls are more than worthless, and so a 1-2 matchup is essentially irrelevant. Both these teams will make the NCAA tournament come March, where they’ll be playing games that still won’t be worth paying $10,000 to see.

Post from: EveryJoe

People Will Pay Money for Anything