It’s a hard time to be a Tennessee football fan, but if the Vols fire Jeremy Pruitt and hire one of these replaements, things could be good again on Rocky Top.
Losing the home opener to Georgia State got plenty of Tennessee fans angry with Jeremy Pruitt. Dropping to 0-2 at home against a very mediocre BYU team has fans on Rocky Top engaged in full-blown panic mode.
Not many schools would consider axing a head coach after just two seasons at the helm, but Tennessee isn’t a rational environment when it comes to their football program. It’s easy to envision a scenario where Tennessee parts ways with Pruitt to prevent fans from leaving in droves. If they do make the move, here are five coaches who could end up on Phillip Fulmer’s shortlist.
5. Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee Athletic Director
The idea of Fulmer moving from the Athletic Director’s chair to the sideline might seem far-fetched, but some columnists in Knoxville are already starting to float the idea. The upside to the move is that Fulmer is arguably the most successful coach in school history. There are zero questions about his allegiance to the University.
It’s also important to note that he’s been out of coaching for 11 years. That’s an absolute eternity in college football. His return to the sidelines would be a good story, but it has the potential to go horribly wrong. Fulmer wasn’t exactly on the cutting edge of college football a decade ago. The ideas of him restoring Tennessee to its former level of glory is pretty far-fetched.
If Pruitt is axed, Fulmer will think about giving himself the job. It’s also the most economical option on this list. Remember, the Volunteers will owe Pruitt a significant buyout while they’re still paying Butch Jones to be a consultant at Alabama. Fulmer is the cheap choice, and Tennessee should be careful about getting what they pay for.