The life of a coach: hired to be fired
I would have to think that every coach in major college and professional sports knows one thing when they are named to a position: It's not going to last forever.
We're not just talking about life. Obviously, you can't live forever.
The lifespan of a coach for one team is rare. It happens, but not a lot.
It was interesting to hear that Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer will step down after the season. All Fulmer has done is spend the last 35 years at Tennessee as a player, a graduate assistant, offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and the past 17 years as head coach.
Thanks for all that you have done, now hit the road. I know the feeling.
Fulmer is currently 150-51 in his career at Tennessee. He won a national title in 1998, two SEC titles (lost three other times in the SEC title game) and has led the Vols to 15 bowl games (only 8-7).
Evidently Fulmer didn't do enough for the Volunteers.
According to ESPN.com, Fulmer said in a press conference Monday at Neyland Stadium that it is very difficult for him to call this the end of his coaching career.
"Right now, I'm focused on these young men I recruited to be here for this football team. They have three games left, and I will give them my full devotion to make sure we finish in a positive way," he said. "When the games are over, I will step back and reflect. With this decision behind us, I am very hopeful and very confident the Tennessee people will rally around our young men and start the new road right now."
Of course, the Vols will host Wyoming Saturday in Knoxville. It's probably not a good time to play Tennessee. Can you say, "Let's win one for Coach Fulmer." I'm sure most of the Tennessee players are thinking about that as we speak.
My uneducated guess will have a media outlet or two ask Wyoming coach Joe Glenn about Fulmer and if there are any comparisons with his job status with the Cowboys. It's a fair question, but one that Glenn has been asked all too often as of late.
Can you say Chuck Long (San Diego State head coach, who was given a vote of confidence recently by his athletics director)? The Aztecs, who lost to Wyoming 35-10 Saturday, are still struggling. We'll see what happens to Long at the end of the season.
I would also guess that if Fulmer had his druthers, he would want to come back to Tennessee as head coach next season. Pressure by the athletic department and fans, however, are going to make that impossible. Fulmer said he would accept the university's decision and announced that he would step down at the end of the season. Technically, he is resigning. But there is no doubt that he is not quiting on his own accord.
Now, with that said, I wouldn't feel too sorry for Fulmer. He's not being shoved out the door to the poor house. He signed a new seven-year contract worth $2.4 million last year, and he's owed a $6 million buyout payable over 48 months as part of that contract. His staff is owed an additional $3.55 million, although that figure could go down depending on how many of them get jobs next year.
My guess is he'll be OK, just like any coach who has lost his job, only to receive a sizeable buyout or get another coaching gig. If we all could be that lucky.
For every Phillip Fulmer or Joe Paterno, there is a Dennis Erickson or a Urban Meyer.
Me thinks they know what they are getting into.
We're not just talking about life. Obviously, you can't live forever.
The lifespan of a coach for one team is rare. It happens, but not a lot.
It was interesting to hear that Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer will step down after the season. All Fulmer has done is spend the last 35 years at Tennessee as a player, a graduate assistant, offensive line coach, offensive coordinator and the past 17 years as head coach.
Thanks for all that you have done, now hit the road. I know the feeling.
Fulmer is currently 150-51 in his career at Tennessee. He won a national title in 1998, two SEC titles (lost three other times in the SEC title game) and has led the Vols to 15 bowl games (only 8-7).
Evidently Fulmer didn't do enough for the Volunteers.
According to ESPN.com, Fulmer said in a press conference Monday at Neyland Stadium that it is very difficult for him to call this the end of his coaching career.
"Right now, I'm focused on these young men I recruited to be here for this football team. They have three games left, and I will give them my full devotion to make sure we finish in a positive way," he said. "When the games are over, I will step back and reflect. With this decision behind us, I am very hopeful and very confident the Tennessee people will rally around our young men and start the new road right now."
Of course, the Vols will host Wyoming Saturday in Knoxville. It's probably not a good time to play Tennessee. Can you say, "Let's win one for Coach Fulmer." I'm sure most of the Tennessee players are thinking about that as we speak.
My uneducated guess will have a media outlet or two ask Wyoming coach Joe Glenn about Fulmer and if there are any comparisons with his job status with the Cowboys. It's a fair question, but one that Glenn has been asked all too often as of late.
Can you say Chuck Long (San Diego State head coach, who was given a vote of confidence recently by his athletics director)? The Aztecs, who lost to Wyoming 35-10 Saturday, are still struggling. We'll see what happens to Long at the end of the season.
I would also guess that if Fulmer had his druthers, he would want to come back to Tennessee as head coach next season. Pressure by the athletic department and fans, however, are going to make that impossible. Fulmer said he would accept the university's decision and announced that he would step down at the end of the season. Technically, he is resigning. But there is no doubt that he is not quiting on his own accord.
Now, with that said, I wouldn't feel too sorry for Fulmer. He's not being shoved out the door to the poor house. He signed a new seven-year contract worth $2.4 million last year, and he's owed a $6 million buyout payable over 48 months as part of that contract. His staff is owed an additional $3.55 million, although that figure could go down depending on how many of them get jobs next year.
My guess is he'll be OK, just like any coach who has lost his job, only to receive a sizeable buyout or get another coaching gig. If we all could be that lucky.
For every Phillip Fulmer or Joe Paterno, there is a Dennis Erickson or a Urban Meyer.
Me thinks they know what they are getting into.
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