All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Former Vols coach Phillip Fulmer directs band

By Caleb Calhoun

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee Volunteers waits with his team to take the field before the game with the UCLA Bruins on September 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 27-24 in the first overtime. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Phillip Fulmer of the University of Tennessee Volunteers waits with his team to take the field before the game with the UCLA Bruins on September 1, 2008 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 27-24 in the first overtime. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Former Tennessee football head coach Phillip Fulmer directed the Volunteers’ band Saturday in their game against the Indiana State Sycamores.

He made a history of his players doing it, from Peyton Manning to Casey Clausen. But on this day, it was former Vols head coach Phil Fulmer’s turn to direct the Tennessee football Pride of the Southland Band.

Fulmer took the podium as the Vols faced the Indiana State Sycamores on Saturday. He did it with his grandchildren, which obviously made it a special moment.

Here’s a look at the video of him doing it.

Given how many times his players did this, it was right to see him do it once. After all, Manning did it twice when the Vols beat the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Vanderbilt Commodores in 1997.

And Clausen and Will Bartholomew both did it when Tennessee football beat the Florida Gators in 2001.

So this was a great tradition for Tennessee football during Fulmer’s heyday, and it was time he took advantage of it.

With his 152-52 record, Tennessee football fans seem way more fond of Fulmer than they were towards the end of his coaching career.

However, Fulmer seems pretty satisfied with his place now as well and the way the Vols have included him in their athletic department.

This is one area where John Currie has been great ever since he took over as athletic director. And on Saturday, it was heartwarming to see the living legend taking a part in a tradition that started while he was head coach.

Home/Vols Football