Jim Leyland's wife was going to host an All-Star Game party but he requested a nice, peaceful night at home. Translation: he wants to do it. 9 months ago
USA was Eliminated By Croatia In Davis Cup Quarters. This is utterly shocking news to those who had no idea the Davis Cup was even going on. 9 months ago
Remember how people were mad when Stallworth got 30 days in jail for DUI manslaughter? He was released after serving 24 days. 3-day weekend! 10 months ago
ESPN is creating a UK-based channel. If "First Take" ends up on the schedule, this could destroy the NATO alliance. 10 months ago
Toronto Argos receiver Arland Bruce decided he'd pay tribute to Michael Jackson after his first TD by taking off his pads and playing dead. 10 months ago
Have any questions, hate mail, private comments, cease and desist letters, story ideas, death threats (that will be published) or tips? Then drop us a line at
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Writers Wanted
If you would like to be a writer for this blog, guest blogger or have an opposing view point in the form of a story to balance things out, e-mail it in. And yes you can make fun of Tennessee.
It has been 3 days and I am still in shock. Though he died in, to say the least, odd circumstances, for a community, city, state, and fans scattered across the world, our QB has left us.
For years, Tennessee did not have a professional sports franchise to call our own. Yes the Vols were kings of Tennessee college football and the Tigers were the kings of Tennessee college basketball, but we watched as Jacksonville got our NFL team. We watched as Vancouver got our basketball team (ironic huh???) For years, we could only imagine the possibilities of seeing our team going to a Super Bowl. We could only dream of going to pro basketball games with our parents, and one day taking our own children to those same games.
Thanks to K.S. “Bud” Adams, our pro sports thirst was finally quenched (with all apologies to the Nashville Predators). The then-Oilers would build a home in Tennessee. For a couple of years, they were a rag tag group of football players, first by playing in Memphis and then in Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville. But they were led by our QB, Steve McNair.
I remember when the Oilers would hold pep rallies on Beale St. in Memphis. Where as a lot of the players would look like they did not wanna be there, he made sure to lead the cheers. After those pep rallies, he made sure to sign as many autographs and take as many pics as he could. I had many opportunities to meet Steve McNair on many occasions, and on each one, he was always nice and smiling.
Later on, he would lead the team to Super Bowl XXXIV against the St. Louis Rams. We hung on every play. We knew we as Titans fans had a shot of winning the game in the 4th quarter because of our QB. We came up 1 yard short, which still eats away at our sports soul. But the thrill of being oh so close to glory almost makes up for not winning (almost).
We cheered when he won the MVP trophy. We cringed when Ray Lewis tackled him. We got pissed at Bud Adams & Floyd Reese for kicking him out of the door. We were glad to see him in the neighborhood after he retired. Through it all, he was our QB. He gave away free admissions to his football camps for needy kids. He gave shoes to high school football players who couldn’t afford them. He asked people to donate supplies during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and Middle Tennessee gave truckloads (he loaded the trucks). He opened a restaurant across the street from Tennessee State University when he could have opened it elsewhere. Most importantly, he did it selflessly and with a smile.
We don’t have the storied history of the Boston Red Sox, L.A. Lakers, New York Yankees, or Pittsburgh Steelers. He was our Ted Williams, our Kareem, our Joe DiMaggio, our Terry Bradshaw. Coach Jeff Fisher said it best:
“The Steve McNair that I knew was a great person. He helped put this organization on the map here in Tennessee, put it in our first Super Bowl. I will miss him, as you all will miss him. And I ask you to honor what he did on the field and in the community and he was a tremendous legacy. And that is his legacy and I am proud to have been a part of that.’’
Last year, I wrote a piece on Kentucky basketball and their lack of NBA lottery picks the past few years. Anytime we have posted about Kentucky basketball, it is highly read by some Wildcat fans. This post was different though. This one was picked up by a Wildcat blog, and by the time I got off of work, there were 96 comments that were left on the posting. 110 total comments would be posted. Thomas and the Moderator were amazed and pissed at the same time, and frustration over sensitive Wildcat fans invading the place set in. Some of the favorite comments were:
Wow! I love me some jealous, unclassy, can’t look at your own coach’s immoral personal life, still looking for that elusive elite eight, Tennessee Volunteers! Whoa!!!! The round of 16! Everyone come to UT: Where we guarantee mediocrity!-Kyle
I don’t discount your point about the name of the arena being racist. But the rest of your “point” is off to say the least! You are talking about UK not having any players drafted in the lottery, but UT hasn’t even had any players drafted in Pearl’s time. By the way Hopson didn’t leave UK’s program.
Jealousy will not get you anywhere when it comes to recruiting. So now recruiting an 8th grader gets you compared to R.Kelley sexual assault? You should be ashamed of yourself for such a statement. Than again I shouldn’t be surprised, I’ve read your “writing” before!-Jack
1st Round NCAA Tourney exit = Back-to-back bowl bids to ritzy Shreveport.-3rd Down H Back
UK built SEC basketball the same way Alabama built SEC football.
So in response to all of the commentators, I wrote this piece in response to all of the comments. Didn’t really matter though, Wildcat fans were pissed, and even a Pulitzer prize winning journalist (I think) by the name of John Clay of the prestigious (wait, let me get this right) Lexington Herald-Ledger chimed in. Side note: I am still waiting on a response from this Peabody award winning journalist to the e-mail that I sent him.
To all of you Wildcat fans who said that Kentucky was back and happy days were here again, let me just say…
Also, good luck in trying to get the sexy name coach. Donovan and Wright have already turned you down. Calipari has a LOADED recruiting class coming in and has FedEx and International Paper money paying his high salary. Anthony Grant, a really good coach, was already snatched up by Alabama. The fact remains that Kentucky, for all of its glitzy facilities and rabid fanbase, will have to really overpay for its next head coach, which means you might have a shot at Cal, but doubtful. Seriously, who would want to coach with reporters like this???
So as I am watching the World Baseball Classic, largely because there is absolutely nothing else on, I see Pedro Martinez on the bench in full activator mode. What in the world is he thinking??? This isn’t 1988, this is 2008. So I thought back to a time in which the Jheri curl was really popular, and came up with the following list, in no particular order:
Michael Cage: His shoulders were always shiny. They were shiny with the sheen of activator. He was a monster on the low blocks, punishing people inside of the lane. Of course, he was probably nailing people in the eye with curl juice. Seeing Cage’s hair bouncing down the court behind him was like seeing poetry in greasy motion.
Doc Gooden/Gary Sheffield: This is evidence of the family of Jheri curls. Back then, more than one family member usually had a Jheri curl. This proved to be econimical, because large groups of people could share big tubs of S-Curl and buy shower caps in bulk. The savings would then be passed to the stylists in the form of tips for hooking up the sweet do. This gave way to the popular expression, “The family that sprays together, stays together”.
Jack Sikma: Now this wasn’t a Jheri curl, but we here are equal opportunity. Besides, any time I can throw in a Jack Sikma reference, I must use it. The man had a perm that made Mike Brady and Bill Walton jealous.
Walter Peyton: “Sweetness” had a sweet do to match his name. One of the best running backs ever, Peyton eluded defenders with grace and swiftness. The key thing is that his vision was never cloudy because of curl juice because he always wore a head band. That’s called thinking outside of the box.
“The Doctor of Style” Slick: Slick was a manager in the then-WWF. I think this picture exemplifies the style and pizzaz that Slick embodied. He would manage wrestlers such as Nikolai Volkoff, The Iron Shiek, Akeem, and the Big Boss Man. His theme song, for those who may not know, was Jive Soul Bro. Uh, no that was not a typo.The video is on youtube.
So there ya go folks. There were some who almost made the list, like Bernard King or A.C. Green. If you can think of some others, please let us know.
Well signing day has come and gone and of course most Tennessee fans are happy with this years results given that King Kiffin® had a limited time getting them. Plus this class is ranked considerably ranked higher than last years.
With this class being ranked so much higher I found it more difficult to make fun of analyze them properly, but I’ll give a try.
Since last year’s breakdown was such a success I’m here to breakdown this year’s recruiting class. Hopefully I’ll find another gem like Carson Anderson who is currently writing the “The Tao of Fat & Stupid Phil Fulmer” as I type.
Jerod Askew ****
Position: Middle Linebacker
Other schools that offered:
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Alabama
Clemson
Maryland
Michigan
NC State
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Strengths:
Speed
Toughness
Hitting ability
4.7 GPA
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
4.7 GPA. He studies too much when he should be learning the playbook and breaking laws
Size
Prediction:
This is one that Saban wanted and the Bama nation (of trailers) is not happy to lose this one. He will apply that lofty GPA to graduate early, cure cancer, develop time traveling wormholes & prank call Saban every chance he gets. This will all be completed as he sits on the bench because he proved he was indeed smarter than the entire coaching put together.
Mike Edwards ****
Position: Cornerback
Other schools that offered:
Cincinnati
Illinois
Indiana
Michigan
Minnesota
Strengths:
Great cover skills
Not afraid of contact
Weaknesses:
Wears funny looking hats
Prediction:
Will most likely lose an ear due to forgetting to take out the earring while he is being beaten down for wearing that funny hat.
Eric Gordon ****
Position: Cornerback
Other schools that offered:
Texas Tech
Alabama
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Strengths:
Speed
Natural athletic ability
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
Dazed look on his face
Prediction:
There’s a reason as to why he face looks so dazed… Here’s a hint…he is clueless as to who Phelps is because if he knew…. Let’s leave it at that.
James Green ****
Position: Wide Receiver
Other schools that offered:
Auburn
Ole Miss
NC State
Ohio State
South Carolina
Syracuse
Strengths:
Great hands
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
Speed
Looks like he can’t grow a full mustache
Prediction:
He will most likely injure his upper lip attempting to shave the mystery mustache over and over again. It’s a mystery because no one else can see it! ZING!
Janzen Jackson *****
Position: Cornerback
Other schools that offered:
Texas A&M
Alabama
LSU
Strengths:
Body Control
Burst out of breaks
Tackling ability
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Did not want to be referred to as a “Coon-ass” or smell like corndogs
Weaknesses:
Backpedal quickness
Coverage awareness
First name is to similar to cheesy designer Jantzen who makes the worse freaking backpacks ever!!!
Boy-band good looks
Rumored to have a huge crush on Latoya Jackson
Prediction:
Will most like start his own boy-band called the “U of Tees” and record a mega-hit titled I wish I was the one who knocked up Candice Parker. Eventually the money from that one hit will run out and become the next Ryan Seacrest.
Arthur Jeffrey ****
Position: Defensive tackle
Other schools that offered:
Clemson
Florida
F$U
Georgia
South Florida
Strengths:
Athleticism
Body control and balance
Size
Resisted the guns, stinky weed and jorts that Florida had to offer
Looks mean
Weaknesses:
Strength
Technique
Prediction:
Will become the bodyguard for the “U of Tees”.
Greg King ***
Position: Linebacker
Other schools that offered:
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Miami (FL)
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
Strengths:
Looks mean
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Hitting ability
Size
Speed
Weaknesses:
Discipline
Tackling Technique
Prediction:
15-30 give or take time off for good behavior
Nigel Mitchell-Thornton ***
Position: Inside Linebacker
Other schools that offered:
Wake Forest
Duke
Georgia Tech
Maryland
Miss. State
Nebraska
NC State
Oklahoma State
Stanford
Strengths:
Aggressiveness
Athleticism
Size
3.4 GPA
1320 SAT
Weaknesses:
Foot quickness
Pass coverage Skills
1320 SAT. It’s obvious all his life has been football and books so it’s likely he’s still a virgin.
Smugness
Prediction
Great another smart one. Nigel will most likely realize that Wake Forest is the place for three star players. There he will realize that he studied so hard instead of dating because he’s gay. This will cause him to promptly flunk out of Wake Forest and settle with some special boy. All the while that smug look will not leave his face.
Darren Myles ****
Position: Wide Receiver
Other schools that offered:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia Tech
Kentucky
LSU
Michigan
Notre Dame
Strengths:
Closing speed
Coverage Awareness
Size
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Resisted the guns, stinky weed and jorts that Florida had to offer
Did not want to be referred to as a “Coon-ass” or smell like corndogs
Found a way to beat the Jedi mindtricks of Charlie Weis
Weaknesses:
Recover Ability
Gives the thumbs up
Smiles
Prediction:
It quickly becomes aware to Darren and those around him, that he just to darn happy to be a SEC football player. Ladies and gentlemen meet the manger of the “U of Tees”. Pssttt Darren give everyone the thumbs up sign.
Robert Nelson ***
Position: Inside linebacker
Other schools that offered:
Auburn
West Virginia
Miss State
NC State
South Carolina
Strengths:
Attacks the line of scrimmage with reckless abandonment
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
Coverage Skills
Prediction:
You might be asking yourself “Does he look high in that photo?” and the answer is YES! Robert will major in agriculture and develop a potent new pot plant and become famously rich from one customer alone, Michael Phelps.
Nyshier Oliver ****
Position: Athlete
Other schools that offered:
Alabama
Boston College
Georgia
Michigan
Notre Dame
Penn State
Strengths:
Toughness
Found a way to beat the Jedi mindtricks of Charlie Weis
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Looks mean and is mean
Weaknesses:
I’m very frightened of this person so please don’t ask me.
Prediction:
Coming from the mean streets of New Jersey there are two things Oliver knows: football and pimpology. Oliver will be the meanest pimp in orange the world has ever seen. Does Nyshier have to choke a Bama fan?
Glamour Shots!
Kevin Revis ***
Position: Offensive Guard
Other schools that offered:
Vandy
Wake Forest
Auburn
Duke
Georgia Tech
South Carolina
Strengths:
ACT score of 28
Body Control and balance
Feet
Quickness of the ball
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
Pass protection
Looks incredibility gay in photos
Wannbe boy-band good looks
Prediction:
Kevin will fall into a deep depression after being rejected for the fifth member position of the “U of Tees” and will start drinking heavily. He will later be known as the “American Idol Mauler” for beating up and molesting Janzen Jackson during a taping in the last season of the show.
Please quit calling me Meyer!
Nu’keese Richardson ****
Position: Wide Receiver
Other schools that offered:
Florida
Georgia
Miami (FL)
Michigan
South Carolina
So Cal.
Strengths:
Speed, speed and more speed
Explosiveness
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Resisted the guns, stinky weed and jorts that Florida had to offer
Weaknesses:
Once he publicly wore a Florida hat.
Prediction:
I hope he has blocking skills because…oh wait sorry I forget Fulmer was no longer the coach. After a much publicized comment King Kiffin® made about Meyer allegedly cheating to gain the services of Nu’keese, he goes on to have a wonderful career at some other school because he transfers out of Tennessee due to Florida scoring 80 on Tennessee. Way to go Kiffin…
Zach Rogers ***
Position: Wide receiver
Other schools that offered:
Texas Tech
Vandy
Alabama
Auburn
Colorado
North Carolina
Duke
South Carolina
Stanford
Strengths:
Relative of Austin Rogers
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
Big Ears
Mr. Potato Head lips
Has that “Please punch me” look about him.
Prediction:
Zach will eclipse every receiving record that Austin Rogers set, which isn’t saying a lot. However he will also become to stand-in lip model for Steve Tyler’s life story as told by the Oxygen network.
Marlon Walls ****
Position: Linebacker
Other schools that offered:
Clemson
Ole Miss
Miami (FL)
Virginia Tech
Strengths:
Fools people by making them think he’s high all the time
Weakness:
He really is high all time.
Prediction:
He will be kicked off the team in his junior year for drug use. He’ll then go to some small school get an internship to the publication “High Times”. Twenty years later he’ll be the editor.
JerQuari Schofield ****
Position: Offensive tackle
Other schools that offered:
Clemson
South Carolina
Strengths:
Size
Resisted the bong hits with Michael Phelps that South Carolina had to offer
Weaknesses:
Resembles what Gary Coleman would look like if he grew
Prediction:
Like most offensive tackles we will never hear from him again until he allows a sack.
Rae Sykes
Position: Strongside Defensive End
Other schools that offered:
Juco Transfer
Strengths:
None that I could find
Weaknesses:
See strengths
Prediction:
Sykes was part of the 2007 signing class. He was ranked as the #14 DE in the nation by Rivals that year. Is it me or does he look like a cocky smartass? I have a feeling he will remind Vol fans of another Juco transfer named Kenny O’Neil.
Marsalis Teague ****
Position: Athlete
Other schools that offered:
Alabama
Clemson
Florida
Georgia Tech
Michigan
Ole Miss
Strengths:
Elusive
Playmaker
Speed
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Resisted the guns, stinky weed and jorts that Florida had to offer
Weaknesses:
Route running
Prediction:
This is another one that King Kiffin stole from Meyer. Since Tennessee isn’t sponsored by Under Armor that means Teague will not get to wear that idiotic headgear. As a result Teague will transfer to another school that is sponsored by Under Armor, Hawaii.
Toney Williams ****
Position: Fullback
Other schools that offered:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia Tech
Kentucky
Strengths:
Instincts
Power
Size
Resisted the bags of cash and Jimmy Johns brand of cocaine that Alabama had to offer
Resisted the guns, stinky weed and jorts that Florida had to offer
Weaknesses:
Smiles
Change of direction
Cutback ability
Prediction:
Will transfer to Georgia Tech after he realizes that Tennessee doesn’t really have the kind of running backs he wants to block for, the kind that actually like smiling.
-Kid wakes up at 6:30 am, thus killing any dreams of having a lazy Saturday morning. A feeling suddenly comes over me, telling me that today will not be a good day for the home team.
-I almost lose my little girl at the park around 10:30 am. I now feel like a “Father of the Year” candidate. I took my eye off of her for 5.8 seconds to answer my cell phone & she was gone. Luckily, she walked over to the mounted cop’s horse. Instantly, I was relieved and told her not to give the horse candy. We didn’t want to end up like Kenny from Half Baked.
-Watch the Memphis Tigers give the game away to Georgetown in OT. They need a point guard in the worst way.
-Kentucky beat Indiana, thus killing my sweet Billy Clyde/Hoosiers I had thought about. Bastards.
-Got into it with the better half. Guys, always remember that women, although beautiful creatures, are mean and vicious when they choose to be. After arguing, it was couch duty for me. Life sucks.
-I found out Candace Parker married that monkey looking Duke boy, thus killing my dream of me and Candace…wait,I am already doing couch duty. Let me shut up.
I was well prepared to talk about Tennessee hiring Lane Kiffin and what I thought of it. I along with millions of other Volunteer fans have my opinion, but I want to spend this time to talk about a troubling trend the past, oh, 14 years or so. I am about to do my best Jason Whitlock impersonation, except I am not as big, well-known, or paid.
I have known and/or met quite a few pro athletes in my day. By and large, the ones that I have met are down to earth guys, trying to improve themselves in the sport that they play. They are trying to improve themselves so they can improve their bank accounts. For the athletes that have come from little to nothing growing up, they try to help out family and friends along their journey to fame and fortune. This cycle can lead to problems.
To the athletes reading this blog, please do the following couple of things for me:
*Leave the guns at home…
I am watching the Redskins vs. Giants game. Ironic because on this day, where the Redskins are honoring fallen teammate Sean Taylor, who was murdered in his home a year ago, Plaxico Burress is facing weapons charges because he decided to go “Cheddar Bob” on his thigh while carrying a handgun illegally (or he wanted to be on the next diss record of Eminem, 50 Cent, and Busta Rhymes). If the club was such a bad place to be, then why go??? He’s married (to a lawyer) and has a young son. Why put yourself through now facing jail time over seeing some ass shaking at the club, and get teammate Antonio Pierce involved??? Stephen Jackson, Jamaal Tinsley, and Marvin Harrison would agree. If you are about to go somewhere and you think that you need a gun, then don’t go. If I need a gun to go to my local Quickie Mart for a chocolate squishy, then I won’t be seeing Apu that night. Which leads me to the next point…
*Do not own more than 3 guns…
A wise man once told me that if you are gonna own a gun for home protection, get 3. One should be a handgun that you can grab quickly (Glock), one should be a rifle or shotgun, and one should be a small pistol that your woman could shoot in a pinch (.22 or .38). Whether this is wise or not, I think this is sound advice. In other words, do not be Tank Johnson. And if you wanna be a rapper, PLEASE do not be T.I.
*Last, everyone is not out to get you…
Unless you allow yourself to be associated with bad people, not everyone is out to get you. Yes, crime is everywhere, and what happened to Sean Taylor was a tragedy not of his doing, but of 4 kids who wanted to take a short cut at getting ahead. At the same time, you athletes for the most part have more money than I will ever see. Use some of that to invest in a security company and let bodyguards carry the weapons. Because if you pull a Plax and not have that concealed handgun license, you could shoot yourself at 3 a.m., or face jail time. And please don’t rob any convenience stores…
Wow!!! You fucktards really did it now. I cannot believe it. You are not about to embarrass me again. Wait, too late. You guys are really a group of fine individuals. 2 years in a row. I go to Sew Fine Tailors on Euclid Avenue & tell them to hook me up with the finest suit they have, so ol’ Billy Clyde can look sharp as a tack on opening night, and this is how you sissy merries repay me??? Jeremy, bring me my special Gardner-Webb flask…
(Billy Clyde takes a swig)
You 22 mother fuckers are making me the fucking laughingstock of college basketball. You hear that??? That is ol’ Billy Donovon laughing his ass off. He turned down this job because their wasn’t enough hair gel in this barren wasteland of a state to last a year. He’s got his own personal Soul Glo guy just to style his hair. But not ol’ Billy Clyde. I don’t need gallons of Royal Crown Pomade in my contract. All I need is some of that Kentucky bourbon and some hot poon. Glynn, show these boys the action I got lined up after I leave here. Where’s that fancy iPhone??? Pass it around the locker room and show these sorry ass losers what they almost ruined for Billy Clyde.
This here is Becky. She is a Miller Lite girl. Now I don’t waste time on beer because it gets in the way. Now you boys might think ol’ Billy Clyde would be in hog heaven, with a hot piece of tail & massive quantities of beer. But that is why you boys are losers. You don’t think. See, ol’ Billy Clyde is warming up.
(Takes 3 more huge swigs out of G-W gas can flask)
Billy Clyde wants it all. That white suit wearing asshole in Louisville is laughing his ass off at ol’ Billy Clyde. I want it all. That piss ant is getting all the glory in this state. I want one of those fancy banners in the rooftops too, so I can use it as a blanket when I am bedding trim in my off time. Tracy, I need 3 tonight.
Damn Tracy, times must be hard. The economy is in the tank but I get a 4, 7, and 5??? I thought this was Lexington, not Morgantown??? What about the douchebag guys in the background??? Oh well. Bring them too. First time for everything, like you dipshits losing to a 6 win team. See boys, this is how ol’ Billy Clyde is rolling tonight, since you just ruined my season. Thanks. Career high my ass. There’s a reason I left College Station. That cow town had 3 hot chicks, and all of them were horrible in bed. If you are ever driving through Texas & wanna find College Station, let ol’ Billy Clyde tell you how to find it. You will know you are getting close when you start seeing the sheep back ass up to the fences.
Well, you sorry sacks of shit are excused. I will deal with you tomorrow after I give this poon some of Big Billy Clyde. Towelboy, I am taking some towels home. Gonna need that flask too.
So Fulmer is gone. Wow. This is the breakup that you knew would happen, but when it does happen you are still shocked. Watching the press conference, I saw a man with a fire and passion still for Tennessee football, but was also sad that his time was gone. Seeing him tear up was touching, although a $6 million buyout along with his legendary status in the state & Vol fans nationwide will dry his tears.
I wanna travel back in time and share a memory that I had of Coach Fulmer. I went to Knoxville in the spring of 1997. I had a childhood friend that was getting scholarship offers from a ton of schools, including Tennessee. Since I was in college in Nashville, I agreed to meet my friend in Knoxville. You know, like I really needed an excuse to go to Knoxville. Anyway, we go there with his mom and stepdad & tour the campus then meet with the football staff. After catching a shuttle to Neyland, we meet some of the players there along with Coach Fulmer.
A lot has been said about his weight. I can’t think of another coach that has been photoshopped with love (and hatred) than Coach Fulmer. With that said, meeting him I could see that he generally doesn’t skip a meal with plenty of carbs and sugar. In other words, he’s a big guy. But when meeting him, he was gentle. I can remember Fulmer telling my buddy & I to meet him in the tunnel, along with some of the other recruits. I can remember him giving us a pep talk then telling us “Will you give your all for Tennessee today?!?!” Of course we said yes and ran out of the tunnel like we were about to line up. He made me feel like I was actually a player, even though I was far from it.
A few years later, I visited my friend & two of his linemen buddies in their apartment. They had to go to study hall on Sunday & as we get on campus, we see Fulmer pull up. After speaking, he tells me that someone on his staff needs to be fired to have a skinny runt on his team. I shoot back that they recruited me so I could be his personal Krispy Kreme guy. He laughs, puts his massive hands on my shoulder, and says “Well if that is the case, your hands are empty & you’re fired”. He was a good sport about things.
Whatever happens, I will always remember Coach Fulmer for a lot of things, but these are my two favorite memories of the man. Work like heck.
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