We’re still some time away before we find out who will be running the show for Tennessee’s athletic department following the resignation of athletic director Mike Hamilton, but at this point, we do know who it probably won’t be.
Despite his initial interest, as well as the public push from former players, former Vols coach Phillip Fulmer appears to be out of contention as the next AD for his alma mater.
At least, those are his words.
“I don’t think I’ll be one of the guys they’ll even consider,’’ Fulmer said during a celebrity golf tournament, “because they’re probably looking for a sitting athletic director, more than likely.
“And that’s good. That’s no problem. I’m just interested to see who it’s going to be.’’
Whoever it is, be it Fulmer or somebody else, they’ll have to right a ship that has gone so terribly awry that not even the Volunteer Navy can save it. Tennessee is on its third football coach in four years, as well as recently fired basketball coach Bruce Pearl after he lied to the NCAA over recruiting violations and baseball coach Todd Raleigh.
Representatives from the university, including former coach Lane Kiffin, appeared at a hearing in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions last Saturday to discuss a Notice of Allegations against its football and basketball programs.
These are indeed hard times for a very proud program.
“[A new AD is] one of the most important hires that has happened in our history,’’ Fulmer said, “to kind of help us dig out of the hole we’ve gotten ourselves into, from a lot of fronts.’
“I think we’ve got a good president and chancellor. ... Those are important pieces to this puzzle and now we’ve got to get the same thing in whoever the athletic director is.’’
(Big thanks to GoVolsXtra.com)
