Alabama Football: Ten questions for the 2018 college football season
By Ronald Evans
Are there two head coaches in Knoxville?
It is no secret Phil Fulmer has wanted a return to coaching for several years. The old ‘coup d’etat’ master has skillfully maneuvered himself into the next best thing as the athletic director in Knoxville.
Jeremy Pruitt has a strong personality and like all head coaches will want control over his own fate. Fulmer and Pruitt will say all the right things about Jeremy being in charge but it may belie the truth. Pruitt’s specialty is defense. Fulmer is less likely to mess with that side of the ball.
Offense will be the terrain Fulmer may choose to invade. New offensive coordinator, Tyson Helton may have to wonder who is his real boss. Helton intends to make the Vols a power football team. That is not a bad idea but will it work against Alabama football, Georgia, Florida, Auburn and South Carolina? If it doesn’t work in year one of Pruitt’s tenure, don’t expect Fulmer to be patient.
In 2018, the Vols face a gauntlet of back-to-back tough opponents. Florida, at Georgia, at Auburn, Alabama and at South Carolina are only broken up by one open week. Assuming an opening loss to West Virginia, the Vols season could stumble to a 3-5 record or worse before the end of October.
The odds of Phil Fulmer staying hands off in that situation are not favorable to Jeremy Pruitt.