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Tennessee football: Johnny Majors remembered by Fulmer, Pruitt, many more

ByCaleb Calhoun|
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Former head coach Phillip Fulmer of the Tennessee Volunteers walks the sideline prior to a 38-13 Vanderbilt victory over the University of Tennessee at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Former head coach Phillip Fulmer of the Tennessee Volunteers walks the sideline prior to a 38-13 Vanderbilt victory over the University of Tennessee at Vanderbilt Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

Jeremy Pruitt and Tony Dorsett were among those who remembered the Tennessee football Volunteers legend.

It was a sad day for everybody affiliated with Tennessee football, the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Iowa State Cyclones. Johnny Majors was as an All-American player and championship head coach with the Vols, won a national title with Pitt and led Iowa State to its first ever two bowl games. Heck, he even won a national title as an assistant with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Simply put, every program that ever had Majors was lucky he was a part of them. As a result, numerous people remembered Majors on the morning of his passing at age 85. Those people included players, coaches, administrators, politicians and institutions.

Most notable among them was Tennessee football athletic director Phillip Fulmer, who replaced Majors as Vols head coach after he was forced out in 1992. That was a contentious time, but Fulmer, who was an assistant to Majors from 1980 to 1992, still honored him. Here’s what he said, according to UTSports.

"“It’s a sad day. He gave many of us coaches our start in big-time college football. He mentored us, pushed us and allowed us to be part of the proud resurgence of Tennessee football. He touched and changed many lives for the good, and our thoughts are with his family, former players and great fans who are remembering him today.”"

In addition to Fulmer, Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt also talked about the passing of Majors. Pruitt mentioned both Majors and Fulmer along with Doug Dickey and Robert Neyland as the guys responsible for UT being at its elite level when he was first introduced as the school’s new head coach. Here’s what he said on Twitter.

Other people who remembered Majors on Twitter included Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin, Duke Blue Devils head coach David Cutcliffe and running back Tony Dorsett. When Majors was at Pitt, Dorsett was a four-year starter, a three-time First-Team All-American, and the 1976 Heisman Trophy winner as the Panthers captured the national title.

Iowa State, where Majors got his first head coaching job, remembered him via an article by Chris Parks that was posted to KJAN. Current ISU head coach Matt Campbell was among those who spoke about his passing. In addition to that, the Vols, Pitt and ISU football Twitter accounts of had multiple tweets remembering him, including a video that was posted by Pitt.

Carl Pickens and UT radio broadcaster Bob Kesling remembered Majors on the Erik Ainge Show on 99.1 The Sports Animal WNML. Pickens was an All-American for Tennessee football under Majors and a three-year starter. Other former Vols also tweeted their condolences.

As you can see, Majors touched a lot of lives at a lot of different places. He was a living legend and one of the greatest personalities to ever lead a program in college football. Everybody will miss him from Tennessee to Iowa to Pennsylvania and beyond.

When it comes to Tennessee football, he’s on the Mt. Rushmore of greatest legends, having played for and coached championship Vols teams. With legends like Dorsett, Reggie White and Jimmy Johnson having been coached by him as well, he is a football icon.

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