The Name Game: Leach Could Land at Tennessee

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach falls into the category of a successful coach at a program with fewer resources. In the most competitive conference outside of the SEC, he has made headway against the likes of Oklahoma and Texas. And his team plays in a stadium with about half the seating capacity of Neyland Stadium. A source told me that Leach is “very, very interested” in the UT job. Of course, Leach isn’t going to say that. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s currently preoccupied with trying to win a national championship. He’s also on the verge of having his contract renegotiated. So he’s probably happy where he is and committed to building a championship program at Texas Tech. But don’t cross him off your list – Knoxville News Sentinel

A source with knowledge of the search told ESPN.com that among the candidates on Tennessee’s preliminary list are Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. Contact has already been made or will soon be made with representatives of all four coaches. Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton confirmed Thursday that the Vols’ initial list had already been forwarded to Chuck Neinas, who’s been hired to lead the search and will make the initial contact with coaches through their representatives. Hamilton said he would neither confirm nor deny any specific candidates. Neinas, who runs Neinas Sports Service, has been involved in several high-profile searches over the years, including Urban Meyer to Florida, Mack Brown to Texas and Butch Davis to North Carolina. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is another name that has been connected with the Tennessee job. Hamilton said someone with head coaching experience makes it easier to document that person’s success and record, but that it wasn’t a requirement… Some of the other names that could end up on the Vols’ list include Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, TCU coach Gary Patterson, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun and Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. Others will emerge as well as the coaching dominoes start to fall around the country. – ESPN.com

Mike Locksley, the Illini’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is considered a possible candidate to replace Fulmer at Tennessee and is also a possible replacement for Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, whose firing has been long rumored. Locksley has been a part of Zook’s staff at Illinois and Florida since 2003. Zook said that Locksley’s departure for a head-coaching job of his own is only a matter of time. “I don’t think there’s any question, Locks is going to get a job. I think that’s something we all expect, and we all look forward to celebrating with him,” Zook said. “Do I want to lose him? No, I don’t want to lose him. But it makes you feel good knowing you had a guy the caliber of Locks, and he deserves that opportunity.” – Daily Illini

A little birdie says Tennessee could end up using the same football coach search firm that Minnesota did in finding Tim Brewster. – Pioneer Press

North Carolina football coach Butch Davis says he’s happy in Chapel Hill and committed to building a championship program there. His agent, Jimmy Sexton, also downplayed the Davis-to-UT rumor. So you immediately crossed Davis off your University of Tennessee coaching candidates list, right? Of course, you didn’t. Davis was hardly as emphatic in dismissing speculation connecting him to the UT vacancy. In fact, he might be the most reasonable rumor of all the high-profile candidates. A source told me weeks ago that “UT representatives had expressed an interest in Davis.” – Knoxville News Sentinel

Beyond that, it’s up to Hamilton to identify and hire Fulmer’s successor. He can’t afford to get this wrong or he’ll be the next person out the door. Personally, I’d gravitate toward Tim Brewster at Minnesota because of his live-wire personality and relentless recruiting style. If you can sign blue-chip recruits at Minnesota, you should be able to one-up that at UT. Meanwhile, UT figures to make richer men out of some of the names on its wish list. Because he now is perceived to be in play, Davis will cash in at North Carolina without having to switch conferences to the tougher SEC. Likewise, Mike Leach should parlay his success and the interest of other schools into a lucrative new deal at Texas Tech. – Tennessean

Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton has a long list of qualities he’s looking for in the next Tennessee coach but no timeline on which to hire him. “I’m more concerned about hiring the right candidate than I am about how quickly we get it done. I do think that we need to be expedient and go about our business as quickly as is possible,” Hamilton said in his last public comments before hiring someone to replace Phillip Fulmer. The right candidate, Hamilton said, is one who has a lot of integrity, is a proven leader, is good at recruiting and building a staff and can work as a salesman to promote Tennessee. – The State

What does what happened with Phil Fulmer at Tennessee say about the college football world right now? A: Well you know it’s sad for the profession, when a guy gets a new contract like that and then gets let go. Really it questions the leadership there when a guy is handling the money of the university and then five or six months later, not only do you have to pay him off, but the assistant coaches. You’ve got an $8 million payout. But at the same time, I can see the AD’s part, too. They’ve had a hard time winning against the teams they’ve got to beat and they’ve got to look to the future. But why give him that new contract? – Athens Banner-Herald

On Tuesday as voters flocked to the polls, coaches David Cutcliffe of Duke and Butch Davis of North Carolina took to the podiums. Their message? Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton shouldn’t waste a phone call gauging their interest in the Vols’ head coaching vacancy that’s effective at the end of the season. “So to put an end to any speculation, I’m staying at Duke,” said Cutcliffe, the former Vols offensive coordinator who was lame-duck coach Phillip Fulmer’s right-hand man for most of Fulmer’s career. “(Tennessee) is not even a thought process.” And Davis? “The long and short of it is that the administration and I are completely, firmly committed to building a championship football program at North Carolina,” he said. “And my family and I are very happy in Chapel Hill.” – Commercial-Appeal

The Name Game: Cutcliffe & Davis Deny Interest; Brewster Looks for Leverage

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

After more than three decades in coaching, North Carolina’s Butch Davis has gotten used to having his name linked to other jobs when they come open. So he didn’t seem particularly surprised when he was asked Tuesday evening whether he had any interest in the Tennessee job, which became vacant when Phillip Fulmer was fired this week. Davis’ response: “The long and short of it is that the administration and I are completely, firmly committed to building a championship football program at North Carolina. And my family and I are very happy in Chapel Hill.” – Charlotte Observer

Defensive coordinator John Chavis isn’t holding out hope that he’s a candidate to be Tennessee’s next head football coach. “To be honest with you, I don’t think there’s a better candidate out there,” Chavis said Tuesday on the News Sentinel’s radio show, The Sports Page. “But I’ll tell you this, I don’t think I will be one (a candidate). “I understand the dynamics. I understand my role. I understand where we are.” Chavis, who is in his 12th year as the Vols’ defensive coordinator, said he and UT’s other assistant coaches met with athletic director Mike Hamilton on Tuesday, a day after head coach Phillip Fulmer’s ouster. – Knoxville News Sentinel

Word in Knoxville, Tenn., is that Gophers football coach Tim Brewster is being mentioned for the University of Tennessee coaching vacancy. Look for Minnesota to extend Brewster’s contract, which has three years remaining, before long. – Pioneer Press

Taking a break from coaching his team and reassuring future recruits, Duke football coach David Cutcliffe on Tuesday killed speculation that he might be interested in replacing former boss Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee. Cutcliffe ran the Volunteer offense under Fulmer during two stints totaling 19 seasons. – Charlotte Observer

The Name Game: Tennessee Has Many Options

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

One of the first names I heard early this season was North Carolina’s Butch Davis. Davis would be a perfect fit because he is a great recruiter, which Tennessee must have, and a very good coach, which Tennessee also must have. Fulmer took Tennessee’s program to another level starting in 1993 because he was a relentless recruiter. Davis rebuilt the Miami football program and left enough players behind to win one national championship and come within one an eyelash of another. But Davis is not going to leave the relative comfort of Chapel Hill, N.C., to come to Tennessee. Why? – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said he had not been contacted by Tennessee regarding its head coaching job, but would assess the possibility if he were. Phillip Fulmer announced Monday that he would step down after the season. – Los Angeles Times

Texas Tech is going to rue the decision not to give coach Mike Leach the contract extension he wanted before the season. Now, riding the crest of a 9-0 start and coming off the biggest victory in school history, Leach may be the nation’s hottest commodity. Expect Leach to become a top target at Tennessee now that the Phillip Fulmer era is over. Tennessee will have competition for Leach, who also will be in the crosshairs at Clemson and Washington. Leach has come close to leaving Lubbock in the past, being involved heavily at Stanford and BYU when those posts came open in recent years. But neither could pay enough. In addition to Leach, expect Tennessee A.D. Mike Hamilton to talk to Boise State coach Chris Petersen, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and Minnesota coach Tim Brewster. It’s also believed Hamilton will consider an assistant – Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. But some feel the Longhorns will do all they can to retain Muschamp and groom him to be the successor to Mack Brown. – Rivals.com

Just imagine, 106,000 orange-clad Vols fans cheering for their beloved Tennessee. And trotting out to the sidelines under a neon visor, Tennessee coach Steve Spurrier. It could have happened. South Carolina’s head coach said so Monday night after practice, had the Vols job come open four years back when Spurrier had flopped in the NFL and looked to return to the college game. Now, with Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer set to end his tenure, Spurrier says he’ll only go back to Neyland Stadium as the opposing coach. “This is going to be my last gig right here,” the 63-year-old Spurrier said Monday night. Speculation about Spurrier, who grew up in Johnson City, Tenn., pulling for U-T, taking over Tennessee had started on Internet message boards long before the Gamecocks placed the final straw on Fulmer’s broken back, 27-6, this past Saturday night. “He’s probably, 16, 17 years there, probably long enough,” Spurrier said. “Wasn’t working very well. I think everybody understands, when it starts going bad, they got to make changes. We all know that. “Congratulate him on hitting that lottery ticket, that’s a big ticket he got, a big one,” Spurrier said, smiling. Call it a barb at Fulmer’s expense. No one was better theater during the 1990s than Florida coach Spurrier. Fulmer was perhaps Spurrier’s biggest foil, enraging Vols fans everywhere. Spurrier famously quipped, “You can’t spell Citrus without UT,” when it was the Gators on top of the SEC and the Vols settling for seconds. – Associated Press

Scoop: Who’s Next at Tennessee?

With Phillip Fulmer official out at Tennessee, there are several names circulating to replace the Fat One.

We’ve heard from numerous sources, including assistant coaches, agents and boosters that South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier is interested in coaching the Vols. The only question is, “Does Tennessee want him?” After consulting with a couple of UT contacts today, the feeling is that there’s very little – if any – chance Spurrier will be offered the Tennessee job.

It seems the Vols want an Urban Meyer/Mark Richt-type that can get out there and recruit nationally as Tennessee must do to year in and year out.

Lane Kiffin’s is an interesting name we heard for UT today. You can also expect North Carolina Coach Butch Davis to a call to gauge his interest.

Other names that are getting heavy play in Knoxville are Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly, Minnesota Coach Tim Brewster and Tampa Bay Bucs Coach Jon Gruden, Illinois Coach Ron Zook, Texas DC Will Muschamp and Texas Tech Mike Leach.

BREAKING NEWS VIDEO: FULMER RESIGNS

BREAKING NEWS (UPDATED): Fulmer Out at Tennessee

Phillip Fulmer, who a decade ago brought Tennessee its first national championship in 47 years, will not return as the Volunteers’ coach next year, multiple sources told ESPN.com. An announcement is being planned for later Monday at Neyland Stadium. Fulmer, who has won 150 games at his alma mater and is the dean of SEC coaches, met with Tennessee officials Monday morning, and they reached a mutual agreement that it would be best for all parties if Fulmer did not return next season. The sides also agreed that Fulmer would coach the remainder of the 2008 season. The Vols (3-6, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight games and are in danger of posting their second losing season in the last four years. – ESPN.com

Phillip Fulmer will not return next season as Tennessee’s football coach, multiple sources confirmed to VolQuest.com. The decision ends a 16-plus year career for the dean of SEC coaches. A news conference inside Neyland Stadium will take place this afternoon at 5 p.m. Eastern, where Fulmer will “step aside.” The Manchester, Tenn., native and former Tennessee offensive linemen is due $6 million for the remaining term of a contract that was renewed for seven years in July. The money is to be paid in equal installments over 48 months. It is unclear, at this time, what the move signals for the future of the remainder of the Vols’ coaching staff. Sources indicated that Fulmer’s fate had been sealed even before the team lost its 20th game since 2005. The Vols are just 3-9 in their last 12 against Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Further, against the Southeastern Conference’s “Big 5″ of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and LSU they are just 12-21 since 2001. In 16 full seasons at his alma mater, Fulmer delivered the Vols to incredible highs - culminated by 1998’s undefeated national championship squad and a 45-5 run from ‘95-98. However, the Vols’ 2005 season was their first losing season since 1988 and only their third losing campaign since 1980. One more loss this season would assure Tennessee its second losing season in four years and mark the program’s highest number of losses since 1977 - when Johnny Majors was in his first season. It’s the only time in Tennessee history that the Vols have lost as many as seven games in a season. – VolQuest.com

University of Tennessee Director of Athletics Mike Hamilton and Head Football Coach Phillip Fulmer will hold a press conference today 5 p.m. Eastern time in the Neyland Stadium Media Center to discuss the future of the football program. – UTSports.com

Multiple sources report that Phillip Fulmer has agreed to step down as Tennessee’s head coach next season. Tennessee will hold a news conference at Neyland Stadium Monday at 5:00 p.m. on the future of the football program. – WATE

The Firing Line: Fulmer Almost Done at UT

“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…

For Fulmer, it’s only a question of when: Based on the conversations I’m having with people around the conference, it appears it is simply a matter of time for Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. All indications are that the decision has been made and that the details are being worked out. I wouldn’t expect an announcement this week because it’s Homecoming (vs. Wyoming) and Tennessee has an open date next week. Would Tennessee wait until the end of the season to make an announcement? Would that be the right thing to do out of respect for Fulmer? I would say yes but the competiveness of the upcoming coaching search might make Tennessee pull the trigger early. Again, I’ll try to prepare my Tennessee friends. If Tennessee goes looking for a new coach, it will not be an easy search. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With his offense still ice cold after nine games, fans steaming mad and his own job in clear jeopardy, Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer is trying to keep concern over a dismal season from turning into open panic. Sunday night, Fulmer opened a coaches’ meeting with an increasingly important message: No matter the level of frustration, don’t let it filter to the players. “It’s about our energy, the looks in our eyes, our demeanor and how we approach it in meetings and film sessions,” Fulmer said about the staff. “We’re professionals and we have and we will continue to be looking forward to playing.” Following Saturday’s loss at South Carolina, UT (3-6, 1-5) must win its final three games to become bowl eligible. – Tennessean

The question for today is this: What is University of Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton waiting for regarding football coach Phillip Fulmer’s future? A sweep of Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky? Nick Saban to say he’s available? Mad scientists announcing they’ve cloned General Neyland? After Saturday night’s 27-6 humbling at South Carolina, the hay’s in the barn on this season. Fulmer is out of opportunities to prove he has improved the 2008 Vols. Even if he wins out, so what? The program has lost one game total to Kentucky and Vanderbilt combined over the past 23 years. Winning out against the Cowboys, Commodores and Cats proves nothing. Beyond that, the fans are out of patience. They’ve now seen the Vols lose five of six SEC games by 79 points. They’ve seen the offense become as exciting as a touchback. Given the economy, they probably hope UT misses a bowl for the second time in four years, if only to cement Fulmer’s fate and save a few holiday dollars in the bargain. Mostly, Hamilton could soon be out of hot prospects to replace Fulmer if he doesn’t act swiftly. Let him drag this out as Auburn (doubtful), Clemson, Washington, Penn State (possible), Florida State (possible) and others begin wooing the Next Best Thing and UT could wind up with Texas El-Paso coach Mike Price rather than Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. Remember how North Carolina snapped up Butch Davis a couple of years ago by axing John Bunting before the dew dried on Halloween pumpkins? He who hesitates can be quickly lost in the coaching search carousel. – Chattanooga Times Free-Press

The Tennessee Vols now have matched their total losses in 2005, 1988 and 1980 with a 3-6 record. With three games left, the Vols must try to avoid losing seven for the first time since 1977. Eight? This program never has lost that many in a single season… Fulmer won three games at the beginning of that season while Majors underwent surgery and was named head coach immediately after the end of the regular season. With a win in the Hall of Fame Bowl, Tennessee finished that season 9-3. Now Fulmer is the one who appears to be nearing the end of his 17-year head coaching career at Tennessee as the Vols seem poised to reach new lows for the program. Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton was mum about the coach’s job security after the game, saying he declined comment out of respect for Fulmer. Hamilton has declined comment in recent weeks as the criticism of Fulmer has increased. But the evidence of Tennessee’s decline is mounting. – AP

As UT’s losses have accumulated, concerned fans have sent more recommendations for coach Phillip Fulmer’s successor. The list now includes (in alphabetical order): John Adams, John Chavis, David Cutcliffe, Butch Davis, Randy Edsall, Jon Gruden, Bobby Johnson, Lane Kiffin, Mike Leach, Skip Holtz, Jim Leavitt, Peyton Manning, Johnny Majors, Bronco Mendenhall, Will Muschamp, Bruce Pearl, Someone Like Bruce Pearl, Chris Petersen, Knute Rockne, Nick Saban, Randy Sanders, Pat Summitt, and Tommy Tuberville… You can eliminate the rest of the ex-Vols as well. Chavis and Sanders are proven assistant coaches, and Cutcliffe has attained success as both a head coach and an assistant. But UT wouldn’t replace Fulmer with a Fulmer assistant. It needs a clean break. – Knoxville News-Sentinel

With his offense still ice cold after nine games, fans steaming mad and his own job in clear jeopardy, Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer is trying to keep concern over a dismal season from turning into open panic. Sunday night, Fulmer opened a coaches’ meeting with an increasingly important message: No matter the level of frustration, don’t let it filter to the players. “It’s about our energy, the looks in our eyes, our demeanor and how we approach it in meetings and film sessions,” Fulmer said about the staff. “We’re professionals and we have and we will continue to be looking forward to playing.” Following Saturday’s loss at South Carolina, UT (3-6, 1-5) must win its final three games to become bowl eligible. – Tennessean

Phillip Fulmer doesn’t sound like a coach who’s leaving anytime soon. The Tennessee head coach made repeated references to his program’s future during his weekly teleconference Sunday night. “There is still fight in this football team,” said Fulmer. ”That is what we’re going to need for these next three weeks as we try to get this thing turned around.”  “We’re professionals and we have, and we will, continue to be looking forward to playing and (we’re) excited about getting the win and moving forward,” he added. – WATE

The Firing Line: Fulmer Fends Off Critics as Pressure Builds

“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…

Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer can read the Southeastern Conferences standings as well as anyone. And though he claims not to pay much attention, he’s well aware that the calls for his ouster grow louder with each painful loss. During a news conference Tuesday, Fulmer addressed recent speculation about his precarious job security and acknowledged that the Vols’ disappointing season is making his future with the program less certain. “We’re in the age of instant gratification and what have you done lately. I understand that,” Fulmer said. “Hopefully we can give everyone good encouragement about winning and what we’re going to do in the future, with how we play.” UT is 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Southeastern Conference. The Vols have lost to their three main rivals this season — Florida, Georgia and Alabama — and another high-profile showdown comes this weekend when UT travels to South Carolina to face longtime nemesis Steve Spurrier. Fulmer though, insisted, he still has a lot of bite in him. – Tennessean

David Cutlciffe is not coming back to Tennessee: Should Tennessee make a change at head coach, and that is beginning to look more likely by the day, there has been speculation that David Cutcliffe, who served two terms as the Tennessee OC and is now the head coach at Duke (4-3) might return. It’s understandable that Cutcliffe’s name would come up. Here are the numbers: With Cutcliffe calling the plays, Phillip Fulmer’s teams were 85-19. With somebody else calling the plays, the record is 65-31. But it’s not going to happen. Cutcliffe and Fulmer are very close. The only way Cutcliffe comes back is if Fulmer gave his blessing and convinced him that it was for the good of the program. I know this has become a cutthroat business, but there is still a little loyalty left out there. Isn’t there? – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With Tennessee at 3-5 more than halfway through its season, UT coach Phillip Fulmer’s job status is a hot topic. During his teleconference Sunday night in advance of this week’s game at South Carolina (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Fulmer said he didn’t think his team has been affected by the speculation and attention surrounding him. – Knoxville News-Sentinel

Fulmer’s situation is similar to Tuberville’s in that it started with changing offensive coordinators. Fulmer lost David Cutcliffe to the Duke head job and he went with Dave Clawson, a head coach at Richmond, hardly a football powerhouse. Clawson’s offense has struggled and the Vols have switched quarterbacks in an effort to make things go. But that is the surface stuff that everybody knows and is not necessarily the real problem. The hard truth in Knoxville is that a lot of Tennessee people believe Fulmer has outlived his usefulness. He does have that national championship on his resume, but that is ancient history. The Vols haven’t won a championship of any kind-unless you count representing the SEC East and losing in the SEC Championship Game last season-in this decade.
With no championships, Tennessee’s recruiting has slipped. It especially hurt when three of the top prep players in Tennessee left the state to sign with Alabama last year. A loss this weekend against Fulmer’s old nemesis Steve Spurrier might be enough to sink Fulmer right away. Shoot, a loss to Spurrier might be enough to slide the entire city of Knoxville into the Tennessee River. Stay tuned. – The Randolph Leader

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer spent a lot of time Tuesday dismissing speculation about his job security. Fulmer said at Tennessee’s weekly media day that most of the talk about his job being on the line has been “misinformation,” though he said he doesn’t bother paying attention to much of it. “In the short term here, it’s not where anybody wants it to be, starting with me,” he said. “I’m just going to go to work and do the very, very best that I can for the Tennessee people, the Tennessee family, the administration and whoever.” The Volunteers (3-5, 1-4 SEC) haven’t beaten a ranked opponent this season. Every remaining game, starting with South Carolina on Saturday night, is a must-win if the Vols want a shot at playing in a bowl. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Firing Line: Fulmer Gets Last Cigarette

“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…

No formal decision has been made regarding Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer’s future, an anonymous source who would be involved in such a decision told the News Sentinel on Monday, two days after the Vols lost to No. 2 Alabama in Neyland Stadium and fell to 3-5 overall. However, the source said that big losses to SEC rivals and an upset loss in overtime at UCLA in the season-opener could prove too much for Fulmer, regardless of what happens in UT’s four remaining games. A second source close to the program said a win over Alabama last week would have strongly bolstered Fulmer’s chances to be retained next season, especially if UT went on to win its four remaining games. That source said a 6-6 record would result in a coaching change, adding that Fulmer would not be guaranteed to save his job if the Vols go 7-5 this season. – Knoxville News-Sentinel

The brimstone seems to have faded. The debate, once hotly contested, now appears decided. The end looks inevitable. The old saying is, “It’s all over but the shouting.” Well, when it comes to the job status of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, the shouting also might be done in Knoxville. – The State

The Firing Line: Fulmer Facing “Must Win” vs. Bama

“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…

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is on the hot seat for the umpteenth straight year because, mostly, the Volunteers are 3-4 overall and in last place in the SEC with a 1-3 record. Even a win Saturday at home over second-ranked Alabama (7-0) isn’t likely to stop the hot-seat talk or headlines such as the one in Wednesday’s Knoxville News-Sentinel: “Cutcliffe on return to Vols: `completely silly’”. When you’re trying to get your players to keep their eyes on the fourth Saturday in October, it becomes a little discombobulating to read about possible replacements for you. Fulmer brought this on himself when he hired Dave Clawson from Richmond to replace David Cutcliffe, who went to Duke. Dave Clawson? He was 58-49 in stops at Richmond, Fordham, Villanova, Lehigh, Buffalo and Albany. What was Fulmer thinking? The best we can come up with is that Fulmer took Tommy Tuberville’s advice to hire someone who knows offense at some school that’s not on the national radar. – Birmingham News

He has played against Alabama, coached against Alabama, recruited against Alabama, even testified against Alabama to an NCAA investigator. Yes, Phillip Fulmer understands the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry… It’s also a crossroads game for Fulmer. Amid growing questions about his job security, Fulmer finds a familiar foe at Neyland Stadium on Saturday evening — undefeated, second-ranked Alabama. Frankly, Fulmer needs a signature victory to make a statement and quiet his critics. Some will tell you that an Alabama win would be the last straw for Fulmer. They believe losses to Florida, Georgia and Alabama in the same season would set in motion a sequence of events that would lead to Fulmer’s ouster regardless of what happens in the four remaining games. – Tennessean

Phil Fulmer, Tennessee: The fit: Brian Kelly, Cincinnati. If the Vols beat Alabama on Saturday, Fulmer’s safe. And frankly, he should be, anyway. But that’s another story for another time. – Sporting News

Forget for a moment that coach Phil Fulmer still has a job, because that’s irrelevant.
The conversation has already gotten past that and moved on to Fulmer’s successor. Will former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin be interested? Would Tennessee consider bringing back Fulmer’s former offensive coordinator, current Duke coach David Cutcliffe? – Morning News

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