ESPN SEC Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Chris Low

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- This was the last thing Phillip Fulmer needed.

He's been the face of Tennessee football for nearly two decades, leading his alma mater to a national championship and an era of football in the 1990s that may never be matched on Rocky Top.

	Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
	Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer fell to 5-12 against Florida.

But those days are long gone.

The sobering truth for the Big Orange Nation is this: Tennessee is an average football program right now, certainly a program that has managed a few highs this decade, but a program that becomes less and less relevant on the national stage with each embarrassing defeat it suffers similar to the one Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Florida's 30-6 beatdown of Tennessee was another body blow for Fulmer, who's sure to face more scrutiny and fan unrest than he ever has. Last year was bad enough after the 59-20 loss to Florida and 41-17 loss to Alabama.

This next week and what awaits from there figures to be even worse.

"As I told our football team in the locker room, that loss is on me," Fulmer said. "I've got big shoulders, and I can take responsibility. That wasn't us. The penalties, the orange-zone areas ... we've been outstanding in those areas (in previous games). Our punt coverage has been exceptional (in previous games). We never gave our defense really a chance."

Indeed, the Vols (1-2, 0-1 SEC) turned the ball over three times, twice at the goal line. They had nine penalties for 95 yards, including the kinds that kill drives.

But contrary to Fulmer's comments, penalties have been a problem this season. They're averaging eight penalties for 71 yards through three games.

And special teams?

How about inept teams or can't-get-it-right teams when you're referring to that part of the game for the Vols. They gave up a touchdown on a blocked punt to UCLA. They gave up a punt return for a touchdown to Florida's Brandon James on Saturday.

Come to think of it, it's hard to name many big games over the last few years when the Vols haven't had a breakdown of some type on special teams.

Fulmer has poured his heart and soul into Tennessee's program and has represented the university in a first-class manner every step of the way.

But can anybody with a good conscience say that this looks like a well-coached, disciplined football team right now?

The Vols' fifth-year senior tailback, Arian Foster, drew a 15-year personal foul penalty on the first offensive possession Saturday. Backed up on third-and-16, the Vols lost a fumble on the next play.

The numbers don't add up very well for Fulmer right now, either. He's 14-13 in his last 27 SEC games. And this decade, the Vols are just 1-8 at home against Top 10 teams and 17-23 against all nationally ranked teams.

The Gators have now won four in a row over the Vols, the last two by a combined 89-26 margin.

The boos were thunderous at times Saturday, and looking at Tennessee's remaining schedule, it may only get worse. The Vols' next two SEC games are at Auburn next Saturday and at Georgia on Oct. 11.

"We are Tennessee. We are not going to lie down and take a backseat to anybody," Tennessee junior defensive end Wes Brown said. "We are going to come out every game and play our rears off. I know the personalities of this team. I talked to guys after the game, and we are going to be just fine. Everyone is down and distraught, but we are going to be fine."

Try telling that to the Tennessee fans, most of whom were already home by the time the fourth quarter began Saturday.