Well, it’s official.  The namesake of this site is stepping down at year’s end.  What a sad day for everyone.  In fact, it’s so sad, that we’ve decided to modify our theme a bit with a mourning theme, and the moniker: “the saddest site in sports… really ”  Seriously, isn’t that sad?  I thought so too.

So anyway, today, I open up my email (that’s electronic mail) program, to find an eletter (electronic letter) from UT AD (University of Tennessee Athletic Director) Mike Hamilton (douchebag).  Following is the letter (obviously addressed to me individually).

Dear friends,

This afternoon, Coach Fulmer announced he will step aside at the conclusion of the football season.  I want to express my sincere gratitude for everything he has done for the University and our program.

Coach Fulmer has been, and will continue to be, a great representative of the University and the athletic department.  He has dedicated a majority of his life to our program and brought home two SEC championships and a national championship.  He has secured his place as the second winningest coach in Tennessee history behind General Neyland.  I personally appreciate everything he has done for Tennessee and look forward to him continuing to be a part of our family.

I hope that you will come and show your appreciation for Coach Fulmer at the Wyoming and Vanderbilt games as well as the Kentucky game on Nov. 29 when we celebrate “Phillip Fulmer Day” in Neyland Stadium.

We will begin a national coaching search immediately.  We have a great University, world-class student-athletes, a tremendous fans base and first-class facilities.  As a result, we will attract some of the nation’s best candidates.  We will introduce a new coach to you over the next several weeks.

Thank you for your continued support of Tennessee football.

Sincerely,

Mike Hamilton

Few of you may know this, but “Friends” is what Mike Hamilton calls me.  He calls me up on the phone and is like “hey friends, what’s happening?  I’m a huge douche.”  It’s kind of weird actually, and I’d wish he’d stop.  I don’t think there was true sincerity in the letter, as Hamilton doesn’t really care about Tennessee football, just about his own paycheck.

Now obviously, his paycheck comes from the Athletic Department and it’s profitability, and football being the biggest cash cow, it would seem that Hamilton should care about football, but he doesn’t.  It’s about the money he can generate from football, not the actual game itself.  Hence getting rid of seats to reduce stadium capacity, spending millions of dollars on renovations to the concourses that although they may look pretty, don’t actually make the football better, and buying realdolls for all of his staff (okay, that one I’m jealous about).

What does this have to do with Phillip Fulmer’s inability to field a winning team on the football field?  Well, nothing, I just don’t like Mike Hamilton, and it sort of seemed like he was always jockeying for Phil to be shown the door because all he cares about is how popular he is himself, and the fact that Phil wasn’t “his guy” like Bruce is.

So, off the soapbox, the coaching search begins in earnest.  That’s Earnest St. in Johnson City, TN (I looked it up, it’s a real place), where we will look for another coach willing to put up with impossible expectations in an impossible (recruiting and otherwise) situation with fans that will call for your head after bringing them the highest of highs in their lifetimes.  Who’s up for it?