Take a map, draw a 60-mile radius around Chattanooga, and you'll see how important the Tri-State area has been to Phillip Fulmer's University of Tennessee football program.
All-Southeastern Conference and All-American players from the area have helped Fulmer win multiple Southeastern Conference titles, as well as the 1998 national championship.
Boosters from the area have donated money to build and renovate some of college football's best facilities.
Fans from the area have helped fill Neyland Stadium’s six-figure capacity about six times every fall.
It's not surprising that Fulmer appreciates most any opportunity to give back to the Scenic City area. When asked to speak at the Times Free Press's annual Best of Preps banquet, Fulmer quickly agreed. With defensive ends coach and Chattanooga-area recruiter Steve Caldwell by his side, Fulmer will headline the June 17 banquet at the Convention Center.
“This should be a great event,”
Fulmer said Wednesday from the SEC meetings in Destin, Fla. “Chattanooga is a special place. We have a lot of support from that area.”
Fulmer was born in Winchester, Tenn. He played offensive guard for the Vols from 1968-1971, finished his degree in 1972 and started coaching at his alma mater that fall. He then spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Wichita State and one at Vanderbilt before returning to UT in 1980. He hasn't left since, rising from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator to interim head coach before replacing Johnny Majors as full-time head coach in 1993.
Since Fulmer took over the program, Tennessee has essentially been a model of consistency in an increasingly turbulent college football world. Fulmer's one losing season in 2005 — as disappointing as it was, given that team's national championship hype — has been his only season to finish below three games over .500. Two other seasons have finished four games over .500. The other 12 have seen UT at least fighting for an SEC Eastern Division championship late in the season.
Fulmer's 147-45 record makes him one of just seven active college coaches to win 100 more games than he's lost. His 76.6 winning percentage is better than any active coach with 10-plus seasons' experience. He's had nine 10-plus win seasons while guiding the Vols to five of the past 11 SEC championship games — though they've lost their past three appearances. Fulmer's team has only missed one bowl season, playing 13 times in January.
The 2007 Vols overcame a 1-2 start and an October setback at rival Alabama to win the SEC East, ultimately losing a fourth-quarter lead to eventual national champion LSU in the SEC championship game. UT bounced back with a 21-17 Outback Bowl victory over Wisconsin on New Year's Day.
UT opens the 2008 season Sept. 1, with an 8 p.m. kickoff at UCLA on ESPN.
