When he was the coach at Florida, Steve Spurrier owned Phillip Fulmer.
As the coach at South Carolina, he probably drove the final nail in
Fulmer’s coffin.
I don’t see any way Fulmer is going to survive this, his second
losing record in four years. What makes it worse is that Florida,
Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina have beaten the Vols by a combined
112-35.
Tennessee is miserable. The Vols ran for 34 yards against the Gamecocks. They suffered six sacks. It’s just ugly in Knoxville.
It’s not a lot better in Auburn.
Tommy Tuberville may not see another season as the Tigers coach.
There are big-money boosters there who have been looking for the first
chance to dump Tuberville, and this year looks like their chance. If he
beats Alabama ” which doesn’t seem possible right now ” Tuberville
might be OK.
What do these two coaches have in common? New offensive coordinators.
Tuberville went to the spread and hired Tony Franklin, then fired
him midway through the season. Fulmer hired Dave Clawson to replace the
ultra-efficient David Cutcliffe.
Both coaches made major mistakes in their hirings. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.
It’s going to be weird to be in Birmingham in July for SEC Media days without Tuberville and Fulmer.
Going bowling?
Vanderbilt, which was off this week, still needs a win to become bowl
eligible. And if the Commodores do get that sixth win they are
virtually guaranteed a spot.
There are currently six teams from the conference bowl eligible
with Vandy and Ole Miss at five wins. The league has nine spots this
year. If Mississippi, Auburn and Arkansas all become bowl eligible
along with Vandy, it will be dicey for the Commodores because of the
lack of fan support.
But Auburn, which has a gimmee against Tennessee-Martin next,
would have to beat Georgia or Alabama to get to six wins. Arkansas
probably will beat Mississippi State but would still have to win at
South Carolina or at home against LSU. The chances of both of those
teams getting there are remote. Tennessee could run the table and get
to six wins, but have you seen the Vols play?
Of course, Vandy still needs another win to be part of the
argument. There is a real chance the SEC won’t be able to fill its nine
spots.
