COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER DURING MONDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE:

“This is not an easy day for me or my family. It’s not a day that I sought or accepted easily. As a young sophomore playing for Coach (Doug) Dickey, that field outside is where I first got my jersey dirty playing in a big game for Tennessee. It was Sept. 29, 1969. I was 19 years old. We were playing Auburn on television that day, something rare for Tennessee at that time. We whipped a higher-ranked Auburn team. Tennessee football has been the focus of my professional life ever since. I’m a very lucky man. Very few people in this world are lucky enough to get to pursue their passions for even a little while. I have been pursuing my passion since that day here against Auburn 38 years ago.

“I am a family man, and proud of it. My son and daughters and Vicky mean everything to me. My family is bigger than just my children and my wife. We have been very blessed to include thousands of players, dozens of coaches and millions of Tennessee fans in our family.

“We just came off a 2007 season that we played for the championship in Atlanta for the fifth time in 17 years. That’s an average of every third year that we were in Atlanta. However, this 2008 season has not gone as anyone would like. That includes me, our coaches, our players, our administration and our great fans. Many fans have been supportive, some have been angry. All of us are disappointed. Tennessee has high expectations for its football team, and I’m proud that our accomplishments over the last 17 years have been a part of those high expectations. Our Tennessee family is united in its goals, but divided in the right path to get there. I love Tennessee too much to let her stay divided. That is why I accepted the University’s decision that this will be my last season as Tennessee’s head football coach.

“I am more than confident that our staff and players will turn this trend around. Our history proves it; our recruiting for this year proves it. I have invested a lot of my life into this university and wish nothing but the best for its continued success, and I will help my successor if needed or asked for in any way possible if he chooses. I love this university and hope everyone knows that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“I thank my family for allowing me to do this job for an assistant coach for 13 years and as the head coach for 17 years. They have sacrificed much, but also had some wonderful experiences and lifetime memories. I thank all the young men and families that trusted us enough to attend UT and proudly wear the Orange and White. In almost all cases, our teams have enjoyed success. And just as I did, our young men grew from their experiences on the field as young men and as students. I thank all the coaches and support groups that have helped me fight the battles on the field, on the recruiting trail and with the development of our young men. Most are and will be friends for life.

“I thank my close friends, who have encouraged me when days are tough and celebrated many great victories with me. I thank Doug Dickey and Joe Johnson, two great men who believed in me and trusted me. I hope I have made them proud. I thank our fans who supported me and our teams in Neyland Stadium; in Tempe, Ariz.; with great victories in Athens, Ga., Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., Gainesville, Fla., at Notre Dame, at Baton Rouge and at Miami and in Atlanta. I’m very proud of all we have accomplished here at UT. We’ve won more than most anyone at any school ever has. We’ve had some of UT’s greatest teams; we’ve had many of its greatest players and we’ve done it right by NCAA rules. I’ll remember fondly the battles we fought to get to 150 victories. I wish nothing but the best for my alma mater in the future.

“I am not certain what the future holds for me professionally. I am pleased the university wants me to stay on board in come capacity. It is very difficult for me to call this an end to my coaching career. Right now, I’m focused on these young men that I recruited to be here with this football team. They have three games left, and I will give them my full devotion to make sure we finish in a positive way. When those games are over, I will step back and reflect.

“With this decision behind us, I am very hopeful and very confident that the Tennessee people will rally around our young men and start their new road right now. These players have worked hard and deserve it. The young men out there who will be Vols next year need to see it as well. As I close, I want to thank the Tennessee people for all the opportunities I’ve been given and earned here. I’ve been blessed to work hard at a job every day doing something that never felt like a job. I was doing something that I loved. Vicky and my son and daughters are lucky to be Volunteers, and we will say thank you to everyone who loves the Vols. Thank you.”

On what the last 24-48 hours have been like for him…
“I don’t think there’s any reason to rehash that. I just went through how I felt about this university and I do think, given the opportunity, this team and this staff could have turned this trend around and gone forward. But that wasn’t the case, so we are where we are. It’s been very emotional for my family, very emotional for the team and everybody considered.

On his players attending the press conference…
“That’s what we’re about. Some people may not understand that as well as others. When you’re in the homes of these young men and you work 18 hours a day with the coaches, you sacrifice a lot. It’s in the name of Saturday afternoon, but it’s not really about Saturday afternoon at all. The reason we all got into coaching was to have that relationship we have. A lot of people don’t ever get to experience it and I’ve had it for a long time.”

On taking another position within the athletics department…
“I don’t think now is the time for me to reflect on that. We’ve got three games left and hopefully a chance to get to a bowl game. At that point, I’ll have more time to think through that. I’m a football coach. I’ll look at that route possibly. I do appreciate the opportunity that has been extended.”

On how he hopes he’s remembered by the Tennessee people…
“I think history will document the number of great young men who have come through here as players and the teams that have won in the places that I just mentioned. More than that, the impact of so many really wonderful coaches and people have had on a lot young guys that have come through. It’s not about just a name on a plaque somewhere. It’s about being in the trenches and fighting out.”

COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR MIKE HAMILTON DURING MONDAY’S PRESS CONFERENCE

“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…
“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.”

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT PHILLIP FULMER:

BRUCE PEARL, TENNESSEE VOLS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

“Today was a very difficult day for the Tennessee family. Coach Fulmer, I don’t know that there’s a better definition of a guy who gave it all for Tennessee. It’s my goal to be able to do as well as he has for as long as he has. He has tremendous class. I was with him a little bit today and he is an unbelievable warrior, and unbelievable competitor. I think everybody handled a really bad situation very well.

PAT SUMMITT, TENNESSEE LADY VOLS HEAD BASKETBALL COACH

“My heart goes out to Phillip Fulmer and his family. He has been a great University of Tennessee man his entire life. No one has been more dedicated or passionate about Tennessee football and the athletics program overall as Phillip has. There have been countless young student-athletes to wear the orange jersey who have been shaped into great young men under his leadership. I’ve always considered Phillip, Vicky and the girls part of our big, extended Tennessee family. Throughout my career, he has always been supportive of Lady Vols basketball and been a great personal friend.”

PEYTON MANNING, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS QUARTERBACK

“This is a sad day for the Tennessee family. Nobody loves the University of Tennessee more than Coach Fulmer. Phillip Fulmer is the reason that I chose to come to Tennessee, and it was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. I will always be indebted to him for the impact he has made on my life and my football career. I know I speak for hundreds of players when I say it was an honor to have played for him at UT. I am fortunate to have played four years for one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football. His legacy at Tennessee will be that he built men and won championships. He will always be my coach.”

DAVID CUTCLIFFE, DUKE BLUE DEVILS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

“Obviously this is a very personal situation that happened today. Phillip Fulmer is one of the best friends I have in this world. I am saddened to see the end of a great era in college football. Not only is Phillip a great person, he is the best football coach I’ve ever been associated with. His work ethic, attention to detail and recruiting efforts were lessons for all of us who were fortunate enough to work alongside him. I wish Phillip and his family the best as they move forward."

Story Courtesy: UT Sports Information