The search for the next Athletic Director position at the University of Tennessee appears to be winding down and a decision is expected soon. Since Dave Hart announced his impending retirement back in tAugust of 2016, there has been a campaign for the job by fired coach, Phil Fulmer and UT-Chattanooga AD and former UT Associate AD, David Blackburn. You could write a book and a movie script on the UT AD search saga.
Members of the University of Tennessee Athletic Department and former UT football players have been adamant that they wanted a UT guy to fill the position. There is always sentiment at every school that they would like a guy f their own g=flavor to lead their programs. The UTAD people want someone who they know and are conformable to work with. They like job security and knowing where they stand. The former players are loyal to their former coaches. The UT sheep fan contingent overlooks the intricacies of the job of an Athletic Director and side with their emotions rather than common sense.
The Fulmer candidacy was a dog and pony show put together by Fulmer and his cronies. The plan was get enough movers and shakers(GBNs - guys with buildings named them) behind him and take it to the UT media. The UT media was more than willing to help them because Fulmer had given them unfettered access to the program for years before he was fired. Then they would then discuss this and get some of the UT sheep to show their emotions and back Fulmer. Fulmer, fueled by his ego, then campaigned hard for the job throughout January, with the boosters and media making claims that it was a done deal. The BOT/GBN wanted the University of Fulmer to come out of hibernation and restore the legacy of the guy who feathered their nests so well before and could do so again at an even more powerful position. Surely with their political powers, they could get deals swung their way again, just as they had when Fulmer was the coach.
David Blackburn, campaigned along the same lines as Fulmer did. He is a UT graduate, who worked his way up through the UTAD and went on to become a successful AD at a Southern Conference school, UT - Chattanooga. Blackburn has a short but successful resume in his short term as the UTC AD. It was argued that he was ready to take the next step. Some of the BOT/GBNs were not willing to side with the idea of a Fulmer hire and sided with David Blackburn.
Fulmer and Blackburn campaigned furiously behind the scenes amongst the BOY/GBNs and the UT sheep. Some of the BOT/GBNs thought that they could work out a compromise deal, where their guy could be the top guy. The Fulmer contingent agreed that Fulmer could be the AD, with Blackburn running the business side off the UTAD and Fulmer being the mantlepiece of the program. The Blackburn party felt that Blackburn would be the actual AD, with Fulmer brought on in a Associate AD Emeritus/fundraising role. After a month or so of negotiation between the factions of the BOT/GBNs, both sides came out unwilling to play second fiddle in the intended arrangements.
All along, Dr. Beverly Davenport, had accepted the job as UT Chancellor, with the agreement that the she would hire the new UT Athletic Director, independent of the BOT/GBN's desires and demands. My guess is that the BOT/GBNs believed that they could force their will on the new Chancellor because they had been able to control most hires and decisions in the UTAD in recent decades. In hindsight, it appeared that they were also trying to employ a "scorched earth" strategy, if it appeared that Fulmer would not get the job.
It is appearing as if neither Fulmer or Blackburn are being considered for the job, based on Dr. Davenport's desire to hire a candidate with Athletic Director experience at a Power 5 Conference school. Another unspoken qualification seems to emerging…that qualification appears to be good standing in regards to Title IX laws. This qualification, in itself would very likely disqualify Fulmer immediately. Fulmer had multiple instances arise that put himself in a bad light in regards to Title IX legislation. If you recall, The University of Tennessee recently settled a Title IX related lawsuit and that lawsuit is a big reason why Dr. Davenport was hired as the UT Chancellor. The hire of a violated of Title IX legislation would be a difficult sale to the political animals in the legal world, academia, and in legal circles.
In the process, some very successful names are emerging and the Fulmer and Blackburn campaigns can do little to damper the excitement of the new Chancellor hiring a major league Athletic Director. Bubba Cunningham's name is being heralded and he appears to be the leading candidate for the job. Other names mentioned in the search include former Carolina Panther General Manger, former Wofford College AD and Southern Conference Commissioner, Danny Morrison. Also the names of Northwestern AD Jim Phillips, Boston College AD Brad Bates, and Cincinnati AD Mike Bohn have been tied to the job. In looking at this list of names and the accomplishments of those candidates, it sure appears that Dr. Davenport is "swinging for the fences" in her search for the person most qualified to run her division of a multi-million dollar company, known as the University of Tennessee Athletic Department. Form all appearances, Big Bev is getting it done right from the start.
Members of the University of Tennessee Athletic Department and former UT football players have been adamant that they wanted a UT guy to fill the position. There is always sentiment at every school that they would like a guy f their own g=flavor to lead their programs. The UTAD people want someone who they know and are conformable to work with. They like job security and knowing where they stand. The former players are loyal to their former coaches. The UT sheep fan contingent overlooks the intricacies of the job of an Athletic Director and side with their emotions rather than common sense.
The Fulmer candidacy was a dog and pony show put together by Fulmer and his cronies. The plan was get enough movers and shakers(GBNs - guys with buildings named them) behind him and take it to the UT media. The UT media was more than willing to help them because Fulmer had given them unfettered access to the program for years before he was fired. Then they would then discuss this and get some of the UT sheep to show their emotions and back Fulmer. Fulmer, fueled by his ego, then campaigned hard for the job throughout January, with the boosters and media making claims that it was a done deal. The BOT/GBN wanted the University of Fulmer to come out of hibernation and restore the legacy of the guy who feathered their nests so well before and could do so again at an even more powerful position. Surely with their political powers, they could get deals swung their way again, just as they had when Fulmer was the coach.
David Blackburn, campaigned along the same lines as Fulmer did. He is a UT graduate, who worked his way up through the UTAD and went on to become a successful AD at a Southern Conference school, UT - Chattanooga. Blackburn has a short but successful resume in his short term as the UTC AD. It was argued that he was ready to take the next step. Some of the BOT/GBNs were not willing to side with the idea of a Fulmer hire and sided with David Blackburn.
Fulmer and Blackburn campaigned furiously behind the scenes amongst the BOY/GBNs and the UT sheep. Some of the BOT/GBNs thought that they could work out a compromise deal, where their guy could be the top guy. The Fulmer contingent agreed that Fulmer could be the AD, with Blackburn running the business side off the UTAD and Fulmer being the mantlepiece of the program. The Blackburn party felt that Blackburn would be the actual AD, with Fulmer brought on in a Associate AD Emeritus/fundraising role. After a month or so of negotiation between the factions of the BOT/GBNs, both sides came out unwilling to play second fiddle in the intended arrangements.
All along, Dr. Beverly Davenport, had accepted the job as UT Chancellor, with the agreement that the she would hire the new UT Athletic Director, independent of the BOT/GBN's desires and demands. My guess is that the BOT/GBNs believed that they could force their will on the new Chancellor because they had been able to control most hires and decisions in the UTAD in recent decades. In hindsight, it appeared that they were also trying to employ a "scorched earth" strategy, if it appeared that Fulmer would not get the job.
It is appearing as if neither Fulmer or Blackburn are being considered for the job, based on Dr. Davenport's desire to hire a candidate with Athletic Director experience at a Power 5 Conference school. Another unspoken qualification seems to emerging…that qualification appears to be good standing in regards to Title IX laws. This qualification, in itself would very likely disqualify Fulmer immediately. Fulmer had multiple instances arise that put himself in a bad light in regards to Title IX legislation. If you recall, The University of Tennessee recently settled a Title IX related lawsuit and that lawsuit is a big reason why Dr. Davenport was hired as the UT Chancellor. The hire of a violated of Title IX legislation would be a difficult sale to the political animals in the legal world, academia, and in legal circles.
In the process, some very successful names are emerging and the Fulmer and Blackburn campaigns can do little to damper the excitement of the new Chancellor hiring a major league Athletic Director. Bubba Cunningham's name is being heralded and he appears to be the leading candidate for the job. Other names mentioned in the search include former Carolina Panther General Manger, former Wofford College AD and Southern Conference Commissioner, Danny Morrison. Also the names of Northwestern AD Jim Phillips, Boston College AD Brad Bates, and Cincinnati AD Mike Bohn have been tied to the job. In looking at this list of names and the accomplishments of those candidates, it sure appears that Dr. Davenport is "swinging for the fences" in her search for the person most qualified to run her division of a multi-million dollar company, known as the University of Tennessee Athletic Department. Form all appearances, Big Bev is getting it done right from the start.
