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Never let it be said that Phillip Fulmer dislikes his competition so much that he refuses to learn from them.
Such was the case when the Tennessee football coach had a video conference system added to his office this week.
"I had one installed in my office yesterday," Fulmer said on Thursday.
The move was clearly a response to Alabama coach Nick Saban, who found a loophole in the NCAA rules that legislate proper conduct during the spring evaluation period.
Until this year, coaches were allowed to hit the road recruiting during the spring evaluation period. The time was intended for recruiters to visit with high school coaches and occasionally have "brief, inadvertent" meetings with prospects, as allowed by the NCAA.
Then the NCAA deemed that all too often those visits with prospects weren't that brief and weren't that inadvertent.
Such can still happen between assistant coaches and prospects but the NCAA decided to take coaches out of the equation, not allowing them to travel in the spring.
Then came news that Saban had set up video conferences with prospects.
"I thought it was certainly creative, taking the rule to the full extent," Fulmer said. "Apparently it's OK."
While unintentionally giving Saban some credit, it was clear that Fulmer didn't see the move as completely above board
However, give Fulmer credit. When he saw there was an NCAA-deemed "fair" advantage to be had, he did so swiftly.
"Recruiting is about the impact you make," Fulmer said. "If you can get as close to face-to-face as you can, it's an advantage."
The "Saban Rule", as it's been dubbed, isn't really an innovative rule at all.
The NCAA has long counted all "electronically transmitted human voice exchange" as phone calls. That specifically includes Web cams and videophones.
"We have a rule, and it's been in place for awhile, that Web cams and video conferences are considered telephone calls," NCAA spokeswoman Stacey Osburn told The Associated Press. "We don't see it as a violation. It would just be subject to rules we have regarding recruiting and telephone contact."
Other coaches, like Fulmer, will follow Saban's lead. LSU coach Les Miles is already on board by being online.
Saban is one of many coaches who doesn't like the new rule eliminating coaches being able to travel in the spring, having called the new rule "ridiculous". And while many might not like Saban, he has a point.
The NCAA continues to limit contact between coaches and prospects, yet media and fans loudly criticize coaches whenever a player finds himself afoul of team or society rules. Perhaps coaches could make more informed character decisions if they knew the young men they were bringing into their program.
Since Web cams are considered the same as a phone call, Saban said he speaks to "four or five" recruits a day when he's in the office.
Saban said he first started using the technology when he was coach of the NFL's Miami Dolphins to give players a chance to talk to doctors or sports psychiatrists.
"I just think it's a better way to communicate," Saban told the AP. "It's great to communicate over the phone but I'd feel a lot more comfortable with this conversation right now if I could see the person I was talking to.
"In business meetings, they wouldn't use the technology if it wasn't a more effective way to communicate, would they?"
Ironically, the NCAA's recent rule change has actually legislated more contact between coaches and prospects. Last year, Saban was accused of breaking the "brief, inadvertent" rule. Now, he doesn't have to be brief or inadvertent because his time with a prospect is basically considered a telephone call.
Give Saban credit, he found a loophole - one that the NCAA will likely close by next spring. But at least he's not cheating.
For Fulmer, the new way of spring recruiting is actually a detriment. Fulmer's reputation as a great recruiter grew from hard work, spending long hours and long days visiting with recruiting contacts.
Now the playing field is more level. With a little technological savvy, any coach can meet with the same number of prospects that Fulmer can during the spring evaluation period.
Working hard isn't the key to success any longer. Working smart is.
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hooderd@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by TurboFan on May 10, 2008 at 9:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shouldn't some modicum of credit go to ESPN for this story?
Posted by pdhuff on May 10, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, we're getting up to speed now.
Amazin' what a few days on a Belgian will do for clearing the head for new ideas.
Free TDTN.
Posted by jasvol on May 10, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What's next? Using virtual technology as "phone calls".
Posted by Cherokee on May 10, 2008 at 11:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Saban can call the recent rule change "ridiculous" if he wants to, but the reality is that it wouldn't have been deemed necessary if he and others like him didn't make it so by abusing the previous rules regarding inadvertent contact. Mr. Saban has himself to thank for the new rule.
Posted by tnvol1111 on May 11, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We once again see our HC be a "follower" instead of an innovator. In fact, he doesn't have an innovative bone in his large body! His offensive scheme has shown that and now we see him having a light bulb go off in his noggin after Saban becomes innovative. How many more years do we have to be tortured by this guy as HC???
And what do the Philbillies say now about the KNS writing a fluff piece in support of PF when they could have been pointing out that, once again, he is a follower instead of an innovator? The Philbillies can attack John Adams for writing the honest truth about PF needing to retire and now the KNS writes a fluff piece about him when they should be pointing out the above. Bad job of reporting on the KNS!!!
Posted by PaulTheVol on May 11, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey tnvol111 - Fulmer didn't invent the double wide trailer either - I guess he really deserves to be fired for that lapse in innovation.
Posted by pdhuff on May 11, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TT - 7:25-The charts will be with us as long as we stay this course.
But we're working like heck to hold Fla under 60 this fall. LOL
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 11, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Leading edge technology will aid Fulmer in bring home the Sears Trophy.
Posted by General_Watermelon on May 11, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Heh TouchdownTennessee- we don't give a fritter about your Mother Sir.
Posted by GerryOP on May 11, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hush, ya'all. It's the doldrums. Keep the peace. Let's see how we do in September. Could be an interesting month!
Posted by pdhuff on May 11, 2008 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Phil on his Belgian with the Sears Trophy aloft!
Brings a tear to one eye. I can visualize a 150 statue at I75 and I 40 junction with TDTN getting his picture made in front. Ah, the glory....
How many days, Ashley?
Posted by gnm53108 on May 11, 2008 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if that belgian can rush a qb and tear the head off of anything not wearing orange...sign him
Posted by sjt18 on May 12, 2008 at 5:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tnvol1111, I personally hope UT never hires a coach whose first instinct when a new rule is written is to try and find a way to skirt it.
Posted by sjt18 on May 12, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Or be a drunken racist...
Posted by capstone4117 on May 12, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The same rule your lazy coach voted against because he couldn't hang with Meyer or Saban in recruiting. This has worked out very well for him hasn't it? Now he doesn't have to leave his office. I just hope the recruit on the other end has 70 inch screen so Fulmer's fat face will fit on it.
Posted by pdhuff on May 12, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
capstone4117 - I'll have you know we even put a new coat of paint on our telegraph/telephone switchboard. I said hey to Ms Lily Tomlin there the other morning.
Phil will do it his way. Without DTs. Beware the 2-7-2 "D". You'll see....
Posted by Vol13 on May 12, 2008 at 11:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
capstone is EXACTLY right. Fulmer used to BE Saban and Meyer. Now, he just wants to sit and admire his portfolio and continue to take the UTAD for millions. As little as possible to earn his keep.....
Fulmer's become a perennial 9-3 or 8-4 coach. A lot of other schools would like to have that. But the flip side of that is that we could keep that same status with many coaches. I'm not opposed to keeping Fulmer for $400-500K annually and we can lower our expectations to what they really are. Fair market value.
Posted by pdhuff on May 12, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vol13-You ever see Saban or Meyer galloping across Wyoming at sunset headed for a bean supper?
Phil is still good at some things, but aka the Randy Sanders type situation + no d-recruiting is heading us into a situation where Chief has little to work with.
People praise our DBs, but with no line push they finished 84th in pass defense last year. That to go with our 68th in run defense.
Stir the next batch of kool-ade.
All is well.
Posted by sjt18 on May 14, 2008 at 5:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff... why are you trying to relieve "Chief" of responsibility for recruiting?
If CPF goes down then it should probably be in part because he didn't hold "Chief" accountable for not going out and doing his on "d-recruiting".
As for effort, one of the recruiting analysts just last fall said that NO ONE outworks Fulmer at recruiting... of course what do those guys know... our experts here disagree.
Posted by pdhuff on May 14, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Because - sjt18, Chief works for CPF and as head coach he is reponsible in accepting and okaying the inactions of his underlings. He showed us he accepts loyalty over competency with R Sanders.
He has made no move to replace Chief, so everything is hunky-dory. Staying the course with "family" and changing only out of pure necessity rather than a forward push to keep up with the times is Fulmer's way. You can't blame an asst coach without including the man who's okaying his actions or inactions. Phil is responsible for the Tenn football program. Pure and simple.
Selah.
Posted by sjt18 on May 16, 2008 at 4:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't say CPF was right for tolerating Chavis' failure to be a better recruiter. My question is why you blamed Fulmer for failing to recruit players then dropping them in Chavis' lap while he did nothing. It seems you were intentional skipping Chavis to make one more dig at CPF.
CPF was wrong to tolerate Sanders. Chavis was more active this year but CPF has been wrong to tolerate him too... But Chavis is a big boy and there's no reason he should have accepted that failure in himself if he's any kind of professional.
So why did you avoid criticizing Chavis?
Posted by pdhuff on May 17, 2008 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Because, sjt18, once more, he who is in charge at $38K per week is RESPONSIBLE. You can't make chicken soup out of chicken s#$t.
I don't blame Chavis. I would ride that gravy train till the wheels come off. If he chooses not to require Chavis's to recruit as we hear, so then he's okaying that line of inaction. Period.
Blame Chavis!! He's not the head coach who USE to pride himself as (and WAS) a great recruiter.
Times have CHANGED. He's not facing the Ray Goffs anymore. Some have noticed and DONE something about it. It apparently is not needed at Tenn, so our touted DBs oversee a 84th ranked pass "D" and our OK d-line anchored a 68th run defense. Once again, regardless of spin, Phil has a losing record vs 6 current SEC coaches.
Hello! Study those charts, my friend.
I digress, be well.
Posted by sjt18 on May 19, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Notice I did lay responsibility at Fulmer's feet as well as Chavis'. Are you trying to say that Chavis isn't supposed to be a professional all on his own?
$38k per week has nothing to do with it. When you sign the contract to do the job... like Chavis did... it is morally binding on you to do it to the best of your ability... not to decide there are certain parts of the job you don't like so you'll slack on those.
84th ranked pass defense? How good exactly do you think a secondary with only 1 experienced player out of 6 should be? Yes they are highly touted... because they were talented enough not to completely collapse under those situations, are incredibly talented, and had moments of brilliance. Are you now going to spin that too?
Honestly pdhuff, all you do is spin. You look for this or that convenient "fact" without balancing it against other, Lord forbid, positive facts. I've never claimed the guy walked on water. I've criticized CPF. But there are some criticisms that just don't hold water.
Yes like I said, he's ultimately responsible to include what he allows Chavis to get away with. But it is ridiculous to say that he's supposed to drop players into Chavis' lap. Chavis isn't exactly underpaid, you know? He is SUPPOSED to be a professional college football coach.
Posted by pdhuff on May 19, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How is stating facts, spin? I know its what you don't want to hear, but it's true.
Phil's recent efforts have turned out many, many realist who don't blindly wave the shakers. When the dust settles and the stadium finally grow quiet, the results are set in stone, for all time.
Too many times Phil's teams simply didn't compete. Especially here lately. Outmanned ?? Whose fault is that? Why does Phil tolerate Chavis not recruiting?
I've been a loyal fan for many years, but Fulmer is not bigger than the U of Tennessee footbal program. Simply a good man who time has come and gone. Not going to change anything that's not forced upon him.
Well, as Ashley says ____ days till football season. Don't you be surprised if UCLA is not a death struggle, 42-35,etc...
As I said, we give up more than 350 yards to an average UCLA team, I think we headed for t r o u b l e. Be well.
Posted by GerryOP on May 19, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
C'mon pdhuff, you still trying to hold Good Ol' Teflon Phil responsible for something? In your spare time do you also joust at windmills?
If we make it through September.....
Posted by invisiblekid on May 19, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hard to believe the "Dean of SEC Coaches" was not up to speed on this rule. He may want to buy "The Internet for Dummies" for Chavis as well so he can join in on the recruiting fun.
Good Ol' Teflon Phil, ahh those were the days GerryOP, "magic dust" and a 6-3 loss is about what was expected. May we never see them again.
Posted by GerryOP on May 19, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i-kid, yup, those were the days! The perfect storm and only 5/6/whatever plays from being undefeated! Gotta' go check the tapes -- I'll get back to you.....
If we make it through September...
Posted by pdhuff on May 19, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GerryOP, true, true. Kinda like Beaman Pontiac in Nashville, advertising "Come buy from us because we WERE the sales leader NINE years ago." Like that's going to happen.
Some try to make Chavis the fall guy, psshaaw!
Like tits on a boar hog, they are there for a reason, just no one seems to know why.....
Make it thru Sept, talk about Don Quixote and Walter Mitty and Forrest Gump rolled into one!
Doldrums.
Posted by GerryOP on May 19, 2008 at 11:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff, stay the doldrums.
If we make it through September....
Posted by pdhuff on May 20, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GerryOp, per Web Cams, Big Fletch told me he heard a rumor (unconfirmed) that the HC got rid of his rotary phone.
And installed a new-fangled Fax machine.
Was Dewey elected president?
Wonders never cease. LOL
Posted by GerryOP on May 20, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
pdhuff, Coach Fulmer has done things this way for 15 years. Always worked in the past. Dadgumit, why change now?
Can't you just see Coach Fulmer on a 55" HD screen? I heard that his 1998 NC ring looks twice as big on that screen! And with the Sears/Kmart Trophy in the background! Awesome! No sign of the 2007 SEC East Championship trophy anywhere in the picture. Strange....
If we make it through September ....
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