Parker: Fulmer goes out on high note

Phillip Fulmer is all smiles as he is carried off the field at Neyland Stadium as head coach at Tennessee for the final time. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

"It's been a really tough year, particularly a really tough month," he said.

The Vols sent Fulmer out the proper way with a 28-10 victory over Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky, which extended the nation's longest active winning streak over one team to 24 games.

Fittingly, Fulmer was carried off the field with the game ball in hand and on the shoulders of senior offensive linemen Anthony Parker and Ramon Foster.

"I don't know if I can describe it," Fulmer said of the treatment. "I think they made a statement that they really care about this staff and really care about how we tried to do things here."

"He'll be remembered at the University of Tennessee for being a great guy, a great coach and a man of God. That's the way a legend should go out -- on top," senior defensive end Robert Ayers said.

He steps aside as the school's second winningest coach behind Gen. Robert Neyland with a record of 152-52.

"I'm really proud of that. That's not done everyday," Fulmer said.

Add to his credentials rings for a national title in 1998, a pair of SEC crowns and five Eastern Division banners in the last 10 years. Fulmer also touched countless lives far beyond the playing field. When asked about how after all that he's done for the university to be dismissed amidst just his second losing season was it just about the university's money, the coach admitted he felt put on the spot before answering.

"We did do the things that I think they asked us to do," Fulmer said. "We had a year that wasn't as good. I don't make those decisions. If I had it to do over again there wouldn't be a lot that I would change. Obviously there are some games that you would have liked to have won, but even with those, we grew as a coach and we grew as young men.

"We've certainly had our highs, and we've had a couple of lows. People don't really understand how important it is that we did it the right way. We didn't have anybody from the NCAA or anybody breathing down our throats. We're blessed to have done it as well as we did as long as we did. I think over a period of time, that will be more appreciated."

In spite of his program being tarnished over the last five years or so due to some poor decisions by young men, Fulmer held true to his guns. He kicked off and suspended several athletes, including big-name contributors like James Banks, LaMarcus Coker, Onterrio Smith and Demetrice Morley.

People sometimes seem to think that you can just put a wall up around collegiate athletes and they'll all behave like good little boys and girls. Try getting 110 finely-tuned football players to attend every single class, make straight 'A's and keep out of trouble that usually shadows people in the spotlight.

Coaches do what they can to battle Xs and Os with one another but some take much more pride in turning teenagers into men. It's not an easy task to look into the eyes of about 25 mothers every February and tell them, without blinking an eye, that they can trust him with their baby boy.

"I love the profession. It's a great profession. It's an honorable profession when you do it the right way," Fulmer said. "I never got in it for the money. I never got in it just for the glory or anything like that. I enjoy the players, and I enjoy the camaraderie with the coaches and the Saturdays in the fall and the battles in recruiting, all those things. I've been blessed to be able to do it a long time."

Some of the sadness was lifted from the belly of Neyland Stadium when Fulmer was asked about setting up a scholarship in his name at UT.

"You asking me for some more money? I'm unemployed."

He does want to stay involved in an area of the state that he's called home for over 30 years.

"We've been very active in this community, and we would like to stay that way. There's 2-3 organizations that I need to touch base with if we're still going to do that whether we're here or somewhere else."

The 58-year-old Winchester native was put on the spot yet again when asked about speculation surrounding the vacancy at Clemson.

"This is a very special place and it would take a special place for me to go to. Being unemployed right now, I'm interested in those kind of jobs because that's a special place," Fulmer said on Saturday.

"Also, I've been told by some people that I really respect that I need to take some time to think through and not just jump at the first thing and reflect and enjoy the time. My family has paid a dear price for me to do this job. It's not without stress."

The coach that's helped recruit and develop 16 first-round NFL selections since 1993 and a total of 90 players drafted overall will have to look elsewhere if he wants to strap on the headsets anytime soon.

Numerous sources confirmed that Clemson is taking the interim tag off coach Dabo Sweeney with a press conference tentatively scheduled for today.

"I do believe when one door closes, another one opens," Fulmer said. "If that's not the one that's open, there'll be something somewhere if I choose to do that.

"I'm just going to enjoy this game and this win and finish up in a couple of days. Will I be on another sideline next year? Maybe, but I just don't know. There's not a lot of really good jobs open this year."

The reins of the Tennessee football program will be officially handed over to 33-year-old Lane Kiffin today at 1. More smiles developed on the faces of the media when Fulmer turned up the pressure already.

"To me they ought to win every football game next year. How's that for pressure on the new guy?"

Several clapped after he answered his last question and rose from the press conference to hug and kiss his family. But, no quote, mug shot or column can accurately describe the mixed emotions within Fulmer. Despite it all, he took the high road when being forced out of his home at Rocky Top.

The funeral is over. Let the rejoicing of a remarkable career begin.

Danny Parker is sports editor at the Times-Gazette. He can be reached at dparker@t-g.com or (931) 684-1200 ext. 219.