Phil Fulmer, Tennessee finally part ways -- three years too late

Phil Fulmer won two SEC titles and the national title in 1998, but Tennessee took a step back over the last several years. Andy Altenburger/Icon SMI Andy Staples's Mailbag Have questions or feedback? E-mail Andy Staples. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND Follow Andy Staples on Twitter

After Phillip Fulmer wrapped up his post-practice interview session on Oct. 31, 2000, the tape recorders clicked off and the small talk began. The story of the day was the firing of Alabama coach Mike DuBose, and one reporter cracked a joke at the Crimson Tide staff's expense.

"That's not funny," Fulmer said. "Think about all those families. It's never good when a staff gets fired."

Every time I have to write or read about another coach getting fired, I remember Fulmer's words. On Monday, as Fulmer fell on his sword to save the program he loves, they echoed at full volume. All those husbands will have to find new jobs. All those families will have to pull up roots and go elsewhere.

The shame of it is that it had to be done, and it probably would have been better for everyone concerned had it been done sooner. All the success Fulmer brought to the Tennessee program in his first 10 years allowed him to bank a fortune in career capital, but he'd made too many withdrawals the past six years to go out on his own terms. After Saturday's 27-6 loss at South Carolina, Fulmer's final check bounced.

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton, who signed off an on inexplicable contract extension for Fulmer this past offseason that will cost the school as much as $6 million to buy out, probably should have made this move three years ago after Fulmer's team embarrassed the school off the field with a spate of arrests prior to the 2005 season and then fumbled on the field, going 5-6. Hamilton should have noticed the dip in recruiting. He should have seen the degree of difficulty rising in the SEC Eastern division. But Hamilton, who took over for Doug Dickey in 2003, didn't have the power to make that move in 2005. Fulmer had the 1998 national title and two SEC titles on his mantle. He also had the unflinching support of several influential donors. And it wasn't like he was going to fire himself.

This once-proud program reached this state, in part, because people were loyal to a fault. The big-money folks stuck with Fulmer long after the rank-and-file fan base had given up on him. Fulmer kept certain assistants on staff despite an obvious need to upgrade. Unfortunately for everyone in orange, elite-level college football is one of the few worlds in which loyalty can be a character flaw.

Had everyone been a little more heartless, they would have forgotten Fulmer took Tennessee from a regional power to a national one in only a few years after the 1992 coup that left Johnny Majors -- who may have tried to come back too soon from open-heart surgery -- jobless and placed Fulmer in the big chair at his alma mater. They would have forgotten Fulmer brought Peyton Manning to Knoxville. They would have forgotten Al Wilson and company striking gold in the Arizona desert nearly 10 years ago. They would have looked not at the records -- even after that 5-6 season, Fulmer went 19-8 the next two years and won the 2007 SEC east title -- but at the fact that the Volunteers haven't been relevant on the national scene since 2001.

In fact, Fulmer's last great win came Dec. 1, 2001, when he took his team to Gainesville to play a game postponed by the Sept. 11 attacks. In the locker room before kickoff, Fulmer told his players about captaining the 1971 Tennessee team that went 99 yards to beat the Gators in Gainesville. Tennessee was about to play the team Steve Spurrier considered his most talented ever at Florida. No one gave the Vols a chance -- except Fulmer. "Those guys put their jocks on just like you do," Fulmer said. "Those guys like the same girls that you guys like. Everything's the same. It gets back down to who wants to win it the most."