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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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NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Phillip Fulmer of the Tennessee Volunteers gives a thumbs up after winning the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 22, 2008 in Nashville, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 22: Head coach Phillip Fulmer of the Tennessee Volunteers gives a thumbs up after winning the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 22, 2008 in Nashville, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Firing Of Phillip Fulmer

After two losing seasons in four years, the athletic department felt they had to make a move in regards to Phillip Fulmer.

So in November of 2008, Fulmer agreed to step down as the Volunteers’ head coach. It was then, and still is now, an incredibly hard press conference to watch.

Fulmer, who was 58 when he resigned, clearly wasn’t the same coach he was when he led the Vols to the 1998 national championship. But he was also just one year removed from an appearance in the SEC Championship game. I believe to this day that he could’ve continued to be successful at Tennessee.

It’s obvious that Fulmer wasn’t ready to step down as Tennessee’s head coach. And given the equity he had in the program, he deserved a better exit.

Fulmer should’ve been able to step down on his terms. It’s no coincidence that Tennessee’s steep decline started when Mike Hamilton forced Fulmer out at Tennessee.

Had Fulmer been allowed to go out on his terms, perhaps Tennessee football wouldn’t have suffered four straight losing seasons from 2010-2013.

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