Lane Kiffin confused by Vols’ AD’s comments

Former Tennessee Coach Lane Kiffin is confused by Vols athletic director Mike Hamilton’s parting comments about him not being a “cultural fit” during his 14-month stay on campus. “I don’t think at the end of day that has anything to do with whether you score points or whether you win games. Where you’re from? I don’t know. That’s just my opinion. Is Nick Saban from Alabama? Is Urban Meyer from Florida? Those are two of the best coaches in the country. So I don’t think that really means anything.” – Knoxville News-Sentinel

The Firing Line: Vols AD Hamilton Talks Fulmer Buyout

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer…

With Tennessee off to a 2-4 start and winless in three SEC games, athletic director Mike Hamilton refused to rule out a mid-season coaching change if UT’s football program doesn’t improve, but said he’d much prefer following his standard method of operations. “Our traditional model at the University of Tennessee is that we evaluate these kinds of things on a year-end basis,” said Hamilton in an exclusive interview with the News Sentinel on Tuesday and his first public comments in weeks on the subject. “That doesn’t preclude you from doing something different… Hamilton said finances won’t be an issue if a change is made. He said there is a $7 million reserve in place to cover such unforeseen expenses. That would nearly cover the cost of the football coaches’ buyouts, which Hamilton said could be over $7.5 million. That figure depends on whether coaches are hired elsewhere. UT also will receive an extra $15 million from the SEC’s new deal with television partner ESPN, which would give UT more flexibility to fire and hire coaches. Hamilton said he learned a lesson when he fired basketball coach Buzz Peterson, whose contract stipulated that he receive his full buyout within a month. Peterson demanded the buyout, meaning the athletic department had to borrow money from the university and pay it back with interest. Since then, head coaches’ buyouts are payable over four years. Fulmer’s buyout is $6 million pending an interpretation concerning annual base pay raises that could lower it to $5.47 million. “If it was the right thing for the institution,” Hamilton said, “there is a methodology in place to cover that.” - Knoxville News-Sentinel

While many have put Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer on the hot seat, he said he continues to receive support. “Whether it’s administrative support or friends that are in crucial positions, I appreciate how everyone has handled this and has been supportive,” Fulmer said Tuesday. “That’s been a real positive for us. I look forward to rewarding that support.” – Tennessean

A word of warning to Phillip Fulmer and all other college football coaches whose programs have fallen on hard times: If you hear a knock on your office door early on a Monday morning, don’t answer. It might be your athletics director bearing bad news… Meanwhile, there are some stark similarities between the situations at Clemson and Tennessee. After last season, Bowden was given a raise and a contract extension with a multi-million dollar buyout. Sound familiar? Likewise, Clemson had fallen into a rut of winning eight or nine games a season and going to a bowl while not making much of a mark in its conference. Also, the Tigers have recruited well but that talent didn’t translate into big-time success. But there are differences, too. Fulmer’s Vols played in the SEC Championship game last season. He owns a national championship, albeit a decade ago. All told, Fulmer’s superiors appear inclined to give him an opportunity to turn the program around. Just to be safe, though, if Fulmer hears strange footsteps down the hallway early on a Monday morning, he should lock his door and turn out the lights. – Tennessean

Who would’ve guessed a month ago that Tommy Bowden, not Greg Robinson or Ty Willingham, would be the first coach canned this season? Expect a bunch more moves to follow, probably continuing with Robinson and Willingham and Wyoming’s Joe Glenn. Two other juicy names that are now also in the mix: Tommy Tuberville and Phil Fulmer. – ESPN