The Firing of Phillip Fulmer
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008Some might say that Phillip Fulmer reached the pinnacle of his career the last time the Tennessee Volunteers won an SEC Championship, 10 years ago in 1998. Fulmer coached the Vols to win back-to-back SEC Championships in 1997 and 98 and then a national title in 98 with an unbeaten record, securing their place in the SEC after a 47-year title hiatus. Since that time, Fulmer and the Vols have been annihilated by the rest of the SEC.
Let’s explore that term a little more in depth. Annihilate. While the term has several implications, it is most known as reducing to utter ruin or nonexistence; destroy utterly.
But it also means:
- to destroy the collective existence or main body of; wipe out
- to annul; make void.
- to cancel the effect of; nullify.
- to defeat completely; vanquish
The term is interchangeable with eradication, extermination, extinction, extinguishment, extirpation, liquidation, obliteration, abolishment, abrogation, annulment, cancellation, defeasance, invalidation, negation, nullification, and voidance.
Some might say that the Florida Gators exterminated the Georgia Bulldogs last weekend at the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party. Still others might be inclined to say that the Gators annihilated the Dawgs.
Either way, this blog isn’t meant to intimate (look it up) that the Gators are the best SEC football team in the nation, it’s simply meant as a statement. The Vols were annihilated, the Gators annihilate. And Georgia fans are really sensitive about their losses.
-Nicole Miller