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Was Phil Fulmer a better coach than Mack Brown?
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:07 am
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:07 am
If you compare Fulmer's tenure at Tennessee to Mack Brown's tenure at Texas, their accomplishments are pretty much identical. Both men coached in three conference championship games and won two conference championships and a national title. Spurrier always seemed to have Fulmer's number while Stoops has been more successful than Brown (7 conference championships to 2). There is one big difference. Mack Brown has won four BCS bowl games while Fulmer has won only one. However, Fulmer's been the beneficiary of same bad luck. '95 Tennessee would have made a BCS bowl game in this game, '97 Tennessee had the misfortune of playing mid '90s Nebraska when they were in the midst of that unbelievable run, and '01 Tennessee didn't make a BCS bowl game despite having the same number of losses as Florida and beating them on their home field. Also, Tennessee doesn't have the in-state talent advantage of Texas. I don't understand why Mack Brown seems to be so much more highly regarded than Fulmer as a coach. At worst, I think it's a push. At best, I have to give the advantage to Fulmer because it's much tougher to win at Tennessee than it is to win at Texas.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:12 am to UsingUpAllTheLetters
Actually Ntl;dr
Good points, but I think what settled it for me is the difference in coaching style. Toward the end of his tenure, I felt like fulmers heart wasn't in it anymore. Truth be told, his heart probably isn't in great shape anyway, but I'd like to guess that's where Mack brown edges him out. He's always committed to bettering his team.
Good points, but I think what settled it for me is the difference in coaching style. Toward the end of his tenure, I felt like fulmers heart wasn't in it anymore. Truth be told, his heart probably isn't in great shape anyway, but I'd like to guess that's where Mack brown edges him out. He's always committed to bettering his team.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:18 am to genro
Also, Fulmer won a national championship with Tee Martin as his starting QB and almost got to another NC with Casey Clausen. Brown has not made a BCS Bowl game and is 1-6 against Stoops without Young or McCoy under center.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:23 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
Was the one win with major applewhite?
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:24 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
Fulmer had an offensive and defensive identity. He was a hell of a recruiter in a state without huge recruiting pipelines. He managed the program well and got the best out of what he could.
Brown is a clueless figurehead. He gets handed the world's greatest recruits and typically mismanages them. He seems to have no offensive or defensive philosophy. He seems to just let the athletes play and get out of the way.
Don't you think Fulmer would've done a hell of a lot more the last 2 seasons at Texas with the talent they have, than what Brown's done?
Brown is a clueless figurehead. He gets handed the world's greatest recruits and typically mismanages them. He seems to have no offensive or defensive philosophy. He seems to just let the athletes play and get out of the way.
Don't you think Fulmer would've done a hell of a lot more the last 2 seasons at Texas with the talent they have, than what Brown's done?
Posted on 12/12/11 at 2:24 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
quote:
I don't understand why Mack Brown seems to be so much more highly regarded than Fulmer as a coach. At worst, I think it's a push. At best, I have to give the advantage to Fulmer because it's much tougher to win at Tennessee than it is to win at Texas
Wonderful observation. I've always found it perplexing how highly regarded Mack Brown is. The dude has had FOURTEEN YEARS of Top-Five(ish) recruiting classes and can claim TWO conference titles!! Mind-Boggling.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 3:28 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
Fulmer is definitely the better coach imo.
The only reason Brown has a NC ring is because of VY.
The only reason Brown has a NC ring is because of VY.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 3:37 am to heehaw
Wonder why Kansas chose Weis over Fulmer.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 3:39 am to RollTideRockStar
"Somebody that's committed to winning championships and being the best that they can be, with a chance to compete in a conference that's nationally recognized. I'm not going to go walk into a door somewhere that you have no chance to be successful."
LINK
LINK
Posted on 12/12/11 at 3:54 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
To bring in the talent Texas does every year and for the team to still look like such a mess is inexcusable.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 7:38 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
They are very similar. I don't think either could be highly successful at any school other than Texas or Tennessee. They are both great recruiters and managers, but I don't think either are great in game coaches. If I had to give the edge to one, it would probably be Fulmer. There is more talent within a 60 mile radius of Austin, than in the entire state of TN.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 7:53 am to 12
I'm just completely baffled as to why Fulmer hasn't been contacted at another job.
I know he lost a lot of steam at the end of 08, but he won teh East in 07 and was still pretty competitive. I'm not saying UT shouldn't have fired him, but they'd be in a lot better shape than they're in now had they kept him IMO.
Teams like KU, colorado, UNC, UCLA are all teams who need a big time recruiter and Fulmer is that guy. I have no idea why UCLA didn't even bother with him.
I know he lost a lot of steam at the end of 08, but he won teh East in 07 and was still pretty competitive. I'm not saying UT shouldn't have fired him, but they'd be in a lot better shape than they're in now had they kept him IMO.
Teams like KU, colorado, UNC, UCLA are all teams who need a big time recruiter and Fulmer is that guy. I have no idea why UCLA didn't even bother with him.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 9:07 am to Moustache
texas is without a doubt not getting their money's worth at $5mil. look at what bama is getting for less than that in a tougher conference. lsu looks even better by that standard.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 9:24 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
Fulmer>Mack brown. Honestly, with Texas' setup, I dont understand how they are not top 3/5 every year
Posted on 12/12/11 at 9:27 am to tiger perry
fulmer was definitely a better double naught spy.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 9:27 am to Unbiased Bama Fan
quote:
Also, Fulmer won a national championship with Tee Martin as his starting QB and almost got to another NC with Casey Clausen. Brown has not made a BCS Bowl game and is 1-6 against Stoops without Young or McCoy under center.
so your discrediting the coach for having good quarterbacks??
Posted on 12/12/11 at 12:57 pm to Unbiased Bama Fan
quote:
Both men coached in three conference championship games
1997, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007 =/= 3.
Posted on 12/12/11 at 1:06 pm to volfan30
Anybody > Brown
With the amount of talent he has, not being in the BCSNC game every year is a disappointment.
Not being conference champions in the big(whatever) is an absolute embarrassment.
With the amount of talent he has, not being in the BCSNC game every year is a disappointment.
Not being conference champions in the big(whatever) is an absolute embarrassment.
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