Obviously, the University of Tennessee is not alone in their bursting budgets and a seemingly endless flow of funds that are spent on, let’s face it, a game. The problem is that neither of these raises, regardless of amount, was justified.

Before you fly to the comments section and start blasting me (as you’ve done in the past), please understand I do believe that sports play, when properly administrated, an invaluable role in providing structure, guidance, and an energy outlet for young people. I also understand a major college coach has many similar responsibilities to a CEO of a major corporation in making sure the program is able to provide that role. Some may wonder why any coach of any sport should be making the amount of money comparable to Fulmer and Pearl.

That aside, the issue I want to focus on is why the university decided to give raises to a mediocre football coach that has a problem managing his team and an extremely talented and charismatic basketball coach with a checkered past and a brief tenure on which to pass judgment.

Coach Fulmer is nothing more than a mediocre football coach for what has become a mediocre football program. Tennessee should be more competitive and consistent than what the current decade has seen to this point. Yes, Fulmer did win a national title in 1998, but 1998 is ten years ago.

What has Fulmer done lately?

Beat out five other teams a couple of times to make the SEC Championship. Big whoop. No coach deserves a raise after failing to win a championship in ten years and having been blown out by two rivals the previous season, and a coach definitely doesn’t deserve a raise when he seems to have lost control and discipline over a program.

There are plenty of stories of other schools that have players getting into trouble, but the past couple of years it seems as though the UT could stand for University of Thugs rather than University of Tennessee, which has become somewhat disheartening to some Big Orange fans.

Another coach whose recruits have have had an impact on the meaning of the UT acronym is Bruce Pearl, but unlike Fulmer, Pearl has won big all three years he has been at Tennessee.

But that’s the point. He has only been here for three years. He did capture an SEC regular season title, but continued the traditional weak showing for the basketball Vols in the SEC Tournament and the team quietly concluded the season with a not so impressive performance against Louisville in the NCAA tournament.

Now, I know several fellow UT fans out there enjoy being blinded by the orange glow of instant success. However, as I have stated many times before, Bruce Pearl seems to be out for Bruce Pearl. The loveable personality and publicity stunts are not because of his deep love and appreciation for Tennessee basketball. It is because he is always interviewing for the next job.

I appreciate what Pearl has done for the basketball program, but if I were the AD, I would want to see some sustained success and loyalty before I forked over the kind of money Mike Hamilton has.

Please do not confuse this opinion for one that is ungrateful to either one of these men for their contributions to the program.

I am extremely grateful for the memorable moments their teams have provided for me to enjoy. It is not that either coach should be relieved of his duties. It is not that either coach should take a pay cut. The issue is whether either coach deserved a raise. If anyone in the athletic department had bothered to ask my opinion both Fulmer and Pearl, would be walking around a little lighter in the wallet.

Heisman

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