COMMENTS FROM ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MIKE HAMILTON"This is truly a sad day. It's also an emotional day, as is evidenced. I want to begin by thanking Coach Fulmer for the way he has represented the University of Tennessee for so many years. His record of success is well-documented. He is without a doubt a hall of fame coach who has given us so many wonderful memories -- most notable of which was that magical night in Phoenix 10 years ago when we captured the national championship.
"But more than that, he has represented the institution with class and has had an incredible impact on the lives of so many young men over his 30-plus years associated with the University of Tennessee -- many of those young men are with us here today. In addition, no one will every truly know the impact he has had on our community, in our state and our nation through his work with charitable causes -- particularly with children.
"Over the last several weeks, Coach Fulmer and I have discussed in detail the direction of Tennessee football -- the things that were working and issues that needed to be addressed. Through this process, the items that have been paramount were providing our young men the greatest opportunity for success, protecting our successful winning tradition and recognizing our fans' role in helping our ability to achieve our goals. The result of those discussions gave rise to where we are today.
"Our discussions leading to Coach Fulmer's announcement today did not come without great consternation or thought, but it's in my opinion the best solution given the current circumstances. It's time to treat Coach Fulmer with the appropriate class and dignity he deserves. Coach Fulmer will coach the season's remaining regular season games, as well as a bowl game if we're eligible, as long as he would like to do that. "I do hope fans will join us in celebrating the tremendous positive impact he's had on our university, our community and our state. We will designate the Kentucky game as `Phillip Fulmer Day,' when we along with his former players can honor him appropriately. My hope is, as he's already alluded to, he will also choose to join the university in some capacity so we can continue to benefit from his love of the University of Tennessee.
"I want to thank Phillip, again, and his family for the class in which they have represented University of Tennessee athletics and thank him personally for the opportunity to have worked alongside him for the last 16 seasons. I also want to give a specific word of thanks to our assistant coaches and our coordinators, who are as fine a group of men as anyone could ever hope to be around."
On why the announcement was made now rather than at the end of the season...
"I want to thank Phillip, again, and his family for the class in which they have represented University of Tennessee athletics and thank him personally for the opportunity to have worked alongside him for the last 16 seasons. I also want to give a specific word of thanks to our assistant coaches and our coordinators, who are as fine a group of men as anyone could ever hope to be around."
On why the announcement was made now rather than at the end of the season...
"Frankly, and this is a straightforward as I can be, I felt like because of what Phillip has accomplished in his career, by going ahead with this now it would give our fans the opportunity to celebrate his career over the next three weeks in the Vol Walk and at Neyland Stadium so we can honor him for the Kentucky game. We are fortunate enough that our one road game is at Vanderbilt, and I know that Middle Tennessee fans will want to be there for him and the team as well. It really was to recognize what he has done for our institution."
On what he would tell prospective student-athletes considering the Vols for next season and beyond...
"One thing I would say is there's a great tradition here that's been built over many years. There are great student-athletes here who will be their teammates and who they will enjoy being with. I think change is never easy in life -- in high school, college or beyond -- and we will get through this process. It will be a painful process, particularly over the next few days and next few weeks, but in the end the University of Tennessee will move on and Phillip will be a part of this process in the end. He's already alluded to that and we want him a part of the University of Tennessee."
On what future role he envisions for Coach Fulmer...
"What we want him to do is be in a role that could benefit the institution, whether it's the institution at large or the athletics department, but one also that he could enjoy and he could contribute to. Coach Fulmer has many skills. He is an extremely talented individual and I feel very strongly that he could have a significant impact on our university for years to come if he chooses to do that. He's alluded that he might want to continue to coach and certainly that's a decision I'm sure he will weigh heavily over the next several weeks. But we hope he will join our institution in some fashion."
COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE OFFENSIVE TACKLE Ramon Foster
"It's been a privilege to play for Coach and actually grow under him. You're talking about a man who has had success. You're talking about a man that even with the season we've had, (he's built) a top-five recruiting class. It's much more than a win-loss thing as far as how the players respect him. To the guys who are coming in next year, the recruits -- this is a family and we live by that. That's something he promised when he walked into my living room."
COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE SAFETY Eric Berry
"This team has a lot of respect for Coach Fulmer. You can go into his office and talk to him basically about anything. He's more than just a coach; he's more like a mentor. It's a big loss for us. We truly feel the pain."
On what he would tell prospective student-athletes considering the Vols for next season and beyond...
"One thing I would say is there's a great tradition here that's been built over many years. There are great student-athletes here who will be their teammates and who they will enjoy being with. I think change is never easy in life -- in high school, college or beyond -- and we will get through this process. It will be a painful process, particularly over the next few days and next few weeks, but in the end the University of Tennessee will move on and Phillip will be a part of this process in the end. He's already alluded to that and we want him a part of the University of Tennessee."
On what future role he envisions for Coach Fulmer...
"What we want him to do is be in a role that could benefit the institution, whether it's the institution at large or the athletics department, but one also that he could enjoy and he could contribute to. Coach Fulmer has many skills. He is an extremely talented individual and I feel very strongly that he could have a significant impact on our university for years to come if he chooses to do that. He's alluded that he might want to continue to coach and certainly that's a decision I'm sure he will weigh heavily over the next several weeks. But we hope he will join our institution in some fashion."
COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE OFFENSIVE TACKLE Ramon Foster
"It's been a privilege to play for Coach and actually grow under him. You're talking about a man who has had success. You're talking about a man that even with the season we've had, (he's built) a top-five recruiting class. It's much more than a win-loss thing as far as how the players respect him. To the guys who are coming in next year, the recruits -- this is a family and we live by that. That's something he promised when he walked into my living room."
COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE SAFETY Eric Berry
"This team has a lot of respect for Coach Fulmer. You can go into his office and talk to him basically about anything. He's more than just a coach; he's more like a mentor. It's a big loss for us. We truly feel the pain."
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