Tenn cleans O side. Coach Cut hired?

[SirJohn]

From Ledger Enquirer.com
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Two Tennessee assistants fired

Associated Press


KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer fired offensive assistants Jimmy Ray Stephens and Pat Washington on Sunday, following the Volunteers' first losing season since 1988.

Stephens, 51, was the offensive line coach and had been at Tennessee for three years. Washington, 42, was wide receivers coach and had been with the program for 10 years.

"I appreciate everything Jimmy Ray and Pat have done for Tennessee over the years," Fulmer said in a statement. "This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel it is in the best interest for the future of our football program."

The moves come about a month after offensive coordinator Randy Sanders resigned during a season in which the Vols' offense struggled. Tennessee finished the season with a 27-8 win over Kentucky on Saturday to go 5-6.

Fulmer said the next offensive coordinator will select Stephens' and Washingtons' replacements.

Former Vols offensive coordinator and Mississippi head coach David Cutcliffe is believed to be the front-runner to take over the team's offense next season.

[SirJohn]

Sources say he will be introduced as OC of Tenn Monday afternoon.

[Champion10]

Well Cut is a good coach, dont know if he would have helped anymore than Weis has but he should fit well with Tenn.

[SirJohn]

Agreed Champ.Jut watching this one carefully because he was at ND. There's also the Demetius Jones rumor and Clausen is almighty close there.

With all fired I have no idea who can replace. I've been having running discussions with Coach Dan. Laundy lists of both Pro and College in bad need of coaches. In College I can only think Ianello might know more. He's President of the Assistant Coaches group so has inside info as to who's an upcomer.

[SirJohn]

This looks stronger and should be decided within a few hours. Most likely Coach Cut has charlies playbook. I am not sure if this is tied into the Demetrius Jones jumping to Tenn rumort. Nor what it can do to Clausen recruiting as of yet. All is something to keep an eye on.
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Two UT firings official; Cutcliffe announcement imminent
By John Brice, john.brice@thedailytimes.com
November 28, 2005

KNOXVILLE — More coaches are leaving and an old one is returning to the University of Tennessee.

Offensive assistants Jimmy Ray Stephens and Pat Washington will not return to the team, as head coach Phillip Fulmer officially announced the firings Sunday afternoon. Stephens had been UT’s offensive line coach, while Washington served as wide receivers coach.

“I appreciate everything Jimmy Ray and Pat have done for Tennessee over the years,” Fulmer said in a statement. “This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel it is in the best interest for the future of our football program.”

David Cutcliffe already has agreed to return to his old post as the Vols offensive coordinator. Cutcliffe, fired from Mississippi following the 2004 season, resides in Knoxville and spent 17 years on the staffs of both Johnny Majors and Phillip Fulmer before taking over the Ole Miss program following the 1998 season.

A press conference announcing Cutcliffe’s return to replace Randy Sanders, who resigned Oct. 31, is expected to be held on the Tennessee campus this afternoon.

Tennessee finished the season 5-6 — its first losing campaign since 1988.

Stephens took over as the Vols offensive line coach in 2002 after nine seasons with Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida, where he was a player in the 1970s. But with Fulmer saying before the season that Tennessee’s offensive line had a chance to be among the best in school history, the group was largely perceived as a major reason for the Vols’ offensive struggles. Tennessee failed to score more than 30 points in a single game for the first time since the 1964 season.

Washington, a former quarterback at Auburn, had an even longer tenure with the team. He joined Fulmer’s staff in 1995 after previous stints at Baylor, Texas Christian, Louisiana-Lafayette and his alma mater.

Players indicated that coaches should not have been purged for their inability to perform on the field this season. Tennessee began the year ranked No. 3 in both national polls but finished unranked for the second time in four years.

“I think Coach Washington should be back,” wideout Chris Hannon said following Saturday’s win over Kentucky. “He’s a good coach.”

Starting left tackle Arron Sears was much more blunt.

“The coaches got way too much blame,” Sears said. “They don't take a player’s scholarship for nothing. Not for losing, so they shouldn’t take a coach’s job for a player not producing.”

Stephens and Washington both have contracts through June 30, 2006, and all terms will be honored. A search for replacements begins after a new offensive coordinator is named.

[SirJohn]

Presser is scheduled for 5:15 EST to announce Coach Cut. What this does to Clausen????