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10 Most Regrettable Moments In Tennessee Vols History

By Zach Ragan

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 31: Head coach Derek Dooley of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with the leather helmet after their 35-21 over the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Georgia Dome on August 31, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 31: Head coach Derek Dooley of the Tennessee Volunteers celebrates with the leather helmet after their 35-21 over the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Georgia Dome on August 31, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee Volunteers waits with his team to take the field before the game with the UCLA Bruins on September 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 27-24 in the first overtime. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee Volunteers waits with his team to take the field before the game with the UCLA Bruins on September 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 27-24 in the first overtime. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

The Johnny Majors/Phillip Fulmer Saga

The end result of this ordeal wasn’t bad for Tennessee. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Phillip Fulmer enjoyed immense success as the Vols’ head coach from 1992-2008.

But the way it went down wasn’t Tennessee’s finest moment as a program.

You all know the story, how Johnny Majors underwent heart surgery and Fulmer led the team to a 4-0 start while he was away. Majors then returned and lost two of three games. He was eventually forced out, in favor of Fulmer.

Fulmer immediately told the media that he didn’t conspire against Majors to get his job. Who knows whether or not that is true. We may never know. But it certainly had the look that some shady things went down behind the scenes.

"Fulmer: I want to make it known to all concerned that at no time have I ever demeaned or conspired against John Majors, or given anyone any sort of ultimatum."

There’s no way you can say that Tennessee made a bad choice to name Fulmer the head coach. He would go on to win a national championship just six years later. But perhaps the whole situation could’ve been handled better.

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