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Phillip Fulmer didn't want to fire Jeremy Pruitt after the 2020 season, but if that's the direction Tennessee chose, Fulmer had a plan to replace the embattled coach.

Fulmer was UT's athletics director at the time, and he drafted a list of 16 possible candidates. Fulmer's list of names ranged from the unimaginative to the unqualified to the unreal. (One of Fulmer's listed names, Alex French, is not a football coach.)

However, his list also featured a few possibilities that other SEC schools would soon target: Shane Beamer, Billy Napier and Hugh Freeze.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams review the brazen and sloppy NCAA rule-breaking that toppled Pruitt's tenure and recently landed him a six-year show-cause penalty. Additionally, they dive into Fulmer's list of potential candidates and debate who might have been a fit for the Vols, if Fulmer had been allowed to hire Pruitt's replacement.
Later in the episode, they propose some dream nonconference matchups involving Big 12 opponents, and they debate whether Georgia's tumultuous offseason will affect its on-field product.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/07/15/phillip-fulmer-jeremy-pruitt-tennessee-ncaa-violations-recruiting-investigation-show-cause/70403147007/" aria-label="Link Phillip Fulmer didn't want to fire Jeremy Pruitt">Phillip Fulmer didn't want to fire Jeremy Pruitt</a> after the 2020 season, but if that's the direction Tennessee chose, <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2023/07/14/phillip-fulmer-tennessee-football-coaching-candidates-jeremy-pruitt-alex-french-hugh-freeze-napier/70402427007/" aria-label="Link Fulmer had a plan">Fulmer had a plan</a> to replace the embattled coach.
Fulmer was UT's athletics director at the time, and he drafted a list of 16 possible candidates. Fulmer's list of names ranged from the unimaginative to the unqualified to the unreal. (One of Fulmer's listed names, Alex French, is not a football coach.)
However, his list also featured a few possibilities that other SEC schools would soon target: Shane Beamer, Billy Napier and Hugh Freeze.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> review the brazen and sloppy NCAA rule-breaking that toppled Pruitt's tenure and recently landed him a six-year show-cause penalty. Additionally, they dive into Fulmer's list of potential candidates and debate who might have been a fit for the Vols, if Fulmer had been allowed to hire Pruitt's replacement. Later in the episode, they propose some dream nonconference matchups involving Big 12 opponents, and they debate whether Georgia's tumultuous offseason will affect its on-field product.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

SEC Football Unfiltered features hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams of the USA TODAY Network serving opinion, debate and analysis on trending college football topics within the Southeastern Conference. No subject is off limits, and no one is above rebuke. Take off the filter and revel in the banter.

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