Alabama Football: How bad the mess is in Knoxville

Alabama Football: Many Crimson Tide fans have long known Phillip Fulmer is to be avoided. Jeremy Pruitt missed that advice and is now paying a price.

Based on reporting of the goings-on in Knoxville, former Alabama football Defensive Coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt will never coach another game for the Vols. If John Brice’s reporting is only mostly accurate, then the title of his recent story, including the phrase “time running out” for Pruitt is spot on.

Alabama football fans have long joked about what a ‘toxic dump’ the Tennessee program has been for years. Just like for the EPA, cleaning up a toxic mess become more difficult the longer it is delayed. The Vols have 20-plus years of toxic buildup and most of it carries the fingerprints of Phillip Fulmer.

Fulmer has been detested by many Alabama football fans for at least 20 years. It goes back to an NCAA Investigation into Tennessee football coming to a close after Fulmer became a ‘secret witness’ for the NCAA. Fulmer gave the NCAA information against the Alabama football program. The acrimony of Crimson Tide fans is shared by others. Some older fans of the Vols still blame Fulmer for gutting his old boss, Johnny Majors. The result was the Vols’ legend was run off and Fulmer became his replacement.

It is clear Fulmer wants to move on from Jeremy Pruitt. A problem is the always cash-strapped Tennessee program wants to avoid paying Pruitt’s buyout. Just months ago, Fulmer gave Pruitt a contract extension through the 2025 season. According to the Knoxville News, Pruitt’s current buyout is over $12 million. That number does not include any staff buyouts.

Tennessee has a novel plan, though not a particularly clever one. There is impending trouble with the NCAA, so the Vols have decided if they can pin much of it on Pruitt, the buyout could be negotiated down, or avoided entirely. At not a small cost, Tennessee has hired a team of lawyers to investigate. At least part of the investigation is into disclosures coming from inside the Tennessee football program.

With Jeremy Pruitt as the principal witness, what is taking place in Knoxville is akin to a ‘show trial.’ How long it will drag out is anyone’s guess. Tennessee players are leaving in alarming numbers. Widespread rumors are Vols’ boosters and Fulmer want to hire Hugh Freeze to replace Pruitt. The boosters do likely want Freeze. Fulmer, however, would probably jump at the opportunity to be the head coach again.

It is a mess and the word ‘toxic’ does not do it justice. Don’t blame us for not warning Jeremy Pruitt. Three years ago we recounted the long, sordid history surrounding Phil Fulmer and his efforts to sabotage Alabama Football.

Have we been too tough on Fulmer? The weaknesses, failures, hypocrisies and deceits of Fulmer, Freeze and Malzahn is considered fair game for Alabama football fans. It’s a shame Jeremy Pruitt didn’t pay attention.