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Fulmer Era Ends; It’s Kiffin Time In Tennessee
By MoonDog | November 30, 2008
The announced attendance was 102,388, but only about 65,000 fans appeared to be in the stands at Neyland Stadium for Phil Fulmer Appreciation Day as the Tennessee Volunteers closed out their season with a 28-10 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.
The Vols’ played as well as they have all season, defeating Kentucky for the 24th straight time.
Tennessee (5-7, 3-5 SEC) suffered its second losing season in the past four years, ultimately leading Fulmer to resign on November 3.
Fulmer leaves as the second winningest coach in Tennessee history behind General Robert Neyland, compiling a 152-52 overall record, a BCS national title and two SEC championships.
It didn’t have to end this way for Tennessee, losing games this season to the likes of UCLA and Wyoming. Add to that a close loss against Auburn and the Vols’ could have easily finished 8-4.
But in doing so, it would have only prolonged the inevitable. Fulmer simply wasn’t getting it done any longer and couldn’t produce the results a program like Tennessee has come to expect.
With the losses mounting and attendance falling, it was time for Fulmer and the majority of this staff to go.
While Tennessee may have a few more rough seasons ahead as they make the transition to a new coaching staff, in the end Fulmer’s departure will prove to be what is best for Tennessee.
As the seconds ticked off the clock to complete the 2008 season on Saturday, with it came the end of the Fulmer era and the beginning of the Lane Kiffin era.
Kiffin will have his work cut out for him in Knoxville. The cupboard isn’t bare but the Vols need help in several areas, particularly at quarterback, offensive line and defensive line. The kicking game and special teams in general are terrible too, needing a complete overhaul.
The Vols’ current recruiting class isn’t bad, and perhaps a few more pieces can be added to go along with a strong 2007 class that could form a solid nucleus for the 2009 season.
Based on reports, Kiffin’s staff appears to include his father Monte, the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron.
With the news of Sylvester Croom resigning from his post at Mississippi State yesterday, who knows, maybe Kiffin can persuade him to be the offensive line coach at Tennessee.
Add holdovers Latrell Scott and Stan Drayton to the mix and suddenly the Vols’ 2009 coaching staff is shaping into one of the better in the nation.
For me, a lifelong Tennessee fan dating back to the days of Bill Battle, this is an exciting time. For the detractors who claim Kiffin isn’t ready to be a head coach of an SEC program, the last time I checked, the NFL was a tad better than the SEC.
Granted, Kiffin’s short time as coach of the Oakland Raiders didn’t end well, but anyone that can put up with senile Al Davis for more than a year deserves a break.
Among the current coaches in the SEC, not many held previous head coaching jobs in the NFL, much less college coaching jobs at major programs. Kiffin is as ready to be a head coach in the highly pressurized world of SEC football as anyone else.
The Volunteers begin the process of rebuilding the program and putting Tennessee back among the nation’s elite. It’s a time for all Vols fans to look forward to 2009 and the possibilities a new college football season brings.
Today, it’s officially Kiffin time in Tennessee.






























