Allan Jones, UT booster from Cleveland:

“I’m disappointed. He’s a great guy and most likely Tennessee’s greatest icon, and I think he’s still the winningest coach in the SEC. I don’t know (what to think). He called some close friends early this morning, but I had not said anything. The guy was such a hard worker and he has been under tremendous pressure the last two years. He’s had a great reign up there, though, and he had a great recruiting class going. I’m saddened. He’s a great friend.”

Polk County coach Derrick Davis,

UT student manager 1990-94:

“As a coach you hate to see another coach lose their job, and Phillip was always good to me. Of course, it’s different in major college. He’s set for life financially. I hate to see him go out like this, but it was a tough, tough season and sometimes change is good. Losing some of his coaches (David Cutcliffe) and having a new offensive staff were part of the problem. Ultimately in this business it ends with the head coach. The head coach is the man that answers.

“I look at all the trickle-down, the assistant coaches and staff members that will lose their jobs. When they bring somebody in, they’re going to bring their people — down to the secretaries.

“I can’t be critical of him. You work hard and put a lot into it, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. He’s a guy who always wanted to win more than the next guy. I don’t why it got this way. Sometimes you have to do what’s best for the program. I’m sure it’s different than high school. You have to consider finances and big-time donors. It’s a business.

“Nebraska fired Frank Solich after a 9-3 season and said they weren’t going to let Nebraska football slip into mediocrity, and look what they got. Time will tell. They wanted to get rid of Joe Paterno and look at (Penn State) now. People better be careful what they wish for.”

John Becksvoort,

UT kicker 1991-94:

“I guess I’m not surprised, but it shocks when you hear it. This is the nature of college football. First, I think a lot of Coach Fulmer as a person and as a coach. He was good to me and he was good for my career. The problem in terms of what he’s struggling with is the cycle of change in college football, whether it’s offenses or defenses. He was very successful early and has struggled recently.

“Coach Fulmer is a very loyal guy, and he loves the university and the program. It is not a question of whether he cares or whether he works at it. Whether it is guys not working or making stupid mistakes or the offense not clicking, the final responsibility rests with the head coach. If a player isn’t performing, he’s probably benched, and it’s the same with the head coach.

“It’s hard to sit here and look at it this way. I looked at a list the other day, and he is still in the top five winningest coaches in college football. I think Johnny Majors got a bad shake even if he stayed longer than he should have. Coach Fulmer has done a lot for the program, and he needs to be treated with the utmost dignity and given a lot of thanks. It’s such a brutal situation.”

Rhea County lineman Kevin Revis,

UT commitment:

“It’s a real sad situation. Coach Fulmer has done a great job. I loved all the coaches up there, but I still plan to go ahead and sign with Tennessee. I don’t think I’ll look anywhere else; I haven’t been looking because Tennessee the school’s I want to attend.”

Red Bank coach Tim Daniels,

UT player in 1979:

“It’s a mistake. I hate to see it happen. I respect the daylights out of him. I don’t know what the issues are. When it goes bad, it spirals, but I don’t think you ask the fifth winningest coach in the nation to resign.

“I’m sure it’s about money. I’m sure there are a lot of people calling and threatening not to give this or that. You don’t know what’s going on with the internal workings. I know they offered Coach (Johnny) Majors an athletic directorship and he decided to continue coaching. I’d hate to see (Phillip) go, but I don’t think he’s done coaching ball yet, either. I think he needs to be wearing orange. I think he’s done a lot for the program. He’s done a lot for me personally. Nobody likes the situation they’re in, but that’s the nature of the beast.

“They tried to fire Jo Pa at Penn State. They’re doing pretty good. They tried to fire (Bobby) Bowden at Florida State, and they’re doing pretty good. Somebody refused to give in there, and what those two guys got is what Phillip should have gotten.”

Andy Kelly,

UT player 1988-91 (Vols’ first quarterback with Fulmer as offensive coordinator):

“If he is getting to go out on his terms — and I’m assuming this isn’t the perfect scenario — but If it’s something he is comfortable with, then I’m happy for him. I hope this will be a happy ending and he stays on with the university. He’s put so much blood and sweat into the program.

“My argument would be what they going to do and who are they going to get? Sure, there are some coaches out there that could take them to another level, but the likelihood of somebody coming in and doing better than Coach Fulmer did are pretty slim, and the chance of getting somebody to come in and not accomplish the things he did is much larger. Not many people can do what he has done. It’s going to be a tall order.

“In some people’s minds, his recent record overshadowed what he’s done. I haven’t talked with him lately, but I’m sure he hasn’t been happy. Last year wasn’t his best, but he made it to SEC championship game and was one play away from winning that one against the eventual national champion. I hope what happens is best for the university and for him, but it’s going to be hard to match what he’s done.”

Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning,

UT player 1994-97 (from AP)

“Phillip Fulmer is the reason that I chose to come to Tennessee, and it was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. I will always be indebted to him for the impact he has made on my life and my football career. I know I speak for hundreds of players when I say it was an honor to have played for him at UT. I am fortunate to have played four years for one of the greatest coaches in the history of college football.”

Johnny Majors,

UT coach 1977-92:

“I have nothing to say about the announcement today, but my next sentence is that I am a Tennessee Volunteer and will always be a Tennessee Volunteer. I have nothing but good wishes for the University of Tennessee as a school and the university of Tennessee football program in the future.

“I don’t think there’s any question that the new coach, whoever it may be, will find Tennessee fans to be some of the greatest in America — as I found them to be during my playing and coaching careers.”

Doug Dickey,

UT coach 1964-69, AD 1985-2003:

“I don’t think that the circumstances of this season have gone in Phillip’s favor to where there’s just a significant amount of support. The fans have become disenchanted and don’t feel they can correct the current problems. The marketing of sports has to have everybody pumping on the same cylinder. There is as much marketing to this as anything.

“Phillip had a great career and he will be remembered always as an outstanding coach. Phillip said he would take it to another level, and he did. in some ways he was his own worst enemy because he is not doing it anymore to the extent he did it early on.

“As an athletic director, I’m probably not (surprised). I’m not saying there’s a magic answer here different than Phillip, but in reality you have to see if you can create a different mix. it may work and it may not.

“The University of Tennessee made its call. Now let’s see if they fix can it. You’re always disappointed if it doesn’t work out for a coach. I was disappointed for John Majors. In the end you move on. (UT) is a big place with a lot of tradition, and you move on. People have 15- or 16-year careers and they’re applauded. Phillip has been at Tennessee for 35 years.”

Eric Westmoreland,

UT linebacker 1996-99

“The problem is there has been a drop in recruiting. The talent level isn’t where it should be. That’s where we’re lacking. You see Eric Berry as the highlight, that’s crazy. For years we had six or seven guys on defense who were stars. We shouldn’t have just one guy making plays.

The competition just to get on the field when I was there was unbelievable. You had guys on the sidelines who went on to play in the NFL. Until they get back to getting those top-level recruits in, anybody they get to coach will struggle.

“Tell me one player they have now that could match up with the players we had 10 years ago. They still run the same schemes they have for years, but they don’t have the same level of athletes. It’s up to the players to make plays. If you want to compare things to when UT was winning year in and year out, compare the players from then and now. It ain’t about coaching.

“I don’t think it’s right that he’s losing his job. Another problem is Coach Fulmer didn’t have the backing he used to. If Doug Dickey was still the AD, Coach Fulmer wouldn’t be losing his job. He’s won 150 games, so he knows how to win.”

Gerald Riggs,

UT running back 2001-05

“Its unfortunate. Even if they had won last Saturday, with the way they’ve lost to their big rivals — Alabama, Florida and Georgia — you can’t do that. You never want to see anyone lose their job. He’s been there a long time and done a lot of great things. But lately you could see they weren’t getting any better. You can’t put your finger on it, but with the amount of talent they supposedly have, they have to be better.

“Last year the right teams lost and we got a lot of help to get to the SEC championship. This year we were behind from day one and there were no signs it was getting better. You don’t want to sit around and watch the ship continue to go down. You have to save it before it’s unsalvageable.”

Former UT commitment Cory Hall,

Ex-Brainerd defensive lineman at Northwest Mississippi Junior College:

“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. I thought he would get a chance to turn things around. I guess nobody is safe. Coach Fulmer and Coach (Steve) Caldwell were the guys I had a relationship with. That’s the staff I committed to. I can’t wait around anymore to see what they do. I’m going to sign with South Florida now. I think this will affect a lot more guys who were going to sign with Tennessee.”

David Jones,

South Pittsburg running back being recruited by Tennessee:

“I wasn’t expecting it. I thought he would get a chance to turn things around. It doesn’t change my opinion of Tennessee. I’ll wait to see who they get, to see if I like the new coaches and how I fit in there now. I had a good relationship with Coach Fulmer and with Coach (Steve) Caldwell, because he was recruiting me. But it’s still my home-state school.”

South Pittsburg coach Vic Grider,

UT football manager 1985-90

“It makes it more difficult that it’s a Tennessee guy who has given his whole life to the university. It’s a sign of the times. Right now there are other people in the conference who have passed them up. It’s all about putting people in the stands and making those people happy.

“He was an assistant when I was there. A lot of people see him as a players’ coach now, and that may be true, but when I was there he was very demanding and tough on his players. He was one of the hardest working assistants they had.”

Titans tackle Albert Haynesworth,

UT player 1999-2001:

“I am sad to hear about the resignation of Coach Fulmer at the end of the season. It is a shame, because they are losing more than a football coach. He has helped a lot of players and people, including myself, to be the successes they are today. I guess in the grand scheme, winning is important. I hope the coach they do find will be as good a person and mentor as Coach Fulmer and who will have the well-being of the players in mind, and not just winning games and advancing his own career.”

Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher:

“I’ve spent time with Coach (Fulmer) over the years, and obviously I’m a big fan of their program in watching what they’ve done. I know it’s very, very difficult. He’ll be OK. He’s done a terrific job. He’s a really, really good coach and a good person. I’ve enjoyed my time with him.”

Maryville coach George Quarles:

“My first thought is it’s surprising and sad in a lot of ways. You wish he could be given the opportunity to turn it around. You think about the other guys like Dan Brooks and Steve Caldwell whose kids played in our program; they’re without jobs, too. Coach Fulmer created a monster he couldn’t continue feeding enough. You won’t see many coaches last 16 years in one place.”

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, D-N.C.

UT quarterback 1991-93

“When I was making my decision (whether to go pro), here was a guy who stood behind me. He took his coaching hat off and allowed me to talk with him as person. He said, ‘Speaking for the university, I hope you’ll stay, but you have to do what is best for your family.’ He stood there beside me through it all and supported me.

“I spoke to Phillip tonight. We talked about 15 minutes. I told him how much I loved him and how much he had meant to the players and the university. If he decides to go coach elsewhere, he’ll be at the top of everybody’s list. He’s been a friend, a mentor, a coach and father figure to so many players, and we can’t thank you enough.

“If you look at what the years being committed to UT and his work, he’ll always be a legend. College is such a crucial time in your life, and speaking as a former player, there is a debt of gratitude and a lot of love you have for him. To do the things that he’s done, including winning a national championship, he’s one who put Tennessee back on the national college football map.

“We went through the same thing with Coach Majors. It was in the middle of the season and you think as a player you’re partly responsible for what happened. But now that the decision’s been made, we have to get behind the university and support the university and say, ‘Now what can we do to take it to the very next level.’”

“All universities go through those trials and tribulations. People expect winning seasons, and the most difficult thing for all of us to understand is the parity. Last year, Appalachian State goes to the ‘Big House’ and beats Michigan. Now on any given Saturday anyone can win.”