Photo by Adam Brimer // Buy this photo
Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer
Photo by Adam Brimer
Former Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer
Maybe former Vols football coach Phillip Fulmer is too close to the situation.
Nonetheless, he doesn’t think the trajectory of the past year in his life has been “weird.” It’s certainly odd that he’s gone from losing his coaching job with the University of Tennessee to appearing in the Oscar-nominated movie “The Blind Side,” where he acted opposite Sandra Bullock.
“I don’t see it as weird. I’ve been blessed to do a lot of things in the coaching world,” he says. “... This (film) just happened to be an opportunity that came along as a result of my success in coaching.”
On Sunday night, “The Blind Side” will vie for the Best Picture honor at the Academy Awards, one of 10 movies from 2009 in this year’s race. The awards can be seen at 8 p.m. on WATE, Channel 6.
In the film, based on a true story, Fulmer plays himself, trying to recruit talented high school football star Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) to commit to UT.
Will Fulmer be sitting in front of his TV on Sunday, yelling at the screen when he doesn’t agree with the choice of winners?
Well, no.
“When are the Academy Awards?” he asked. “I’ll probably watch, but just to be in that mix is something special. Winning anything would be a thrill for them. They’ve already accomplished a lot.”
For a guy who doesn’t keep up with the Academy Awards, Fulmer is familiar with the success of the movie. It’s the highest-grossing sports movie in history and one of the highest-grossing films with a female lead.
Fulmer isn’t surprised by Bullock’s nomination for Best Actress.
“She was pretty darn special (in the role),” he says, “but then, maybe I am biased. I had no idea (the film) would go as far as it has gone, but I felt like it was going to be a very good product.”
Since his coaching days at UT, Fulmer has gone on to do TV sports analysis for CBS and ESPN. He was approached about “The Blind Side” because he was written into the book version years ago.
Fulmer has never entertained the idea of going into show business — until now. He says he has been contacted about being in “future projects,” though he was not specific about what that would include.
“That’s been kind of funny because I’ve never had any thoughts about being an actor.”
He isn’t sure if the roles for which he’s being considered would have him playing himself. “I wasn’t uncomfortable playing myself (in ‘The Blind Side’), but if you put me in some role that has me doing something out of character, that may be a whole different deal.”
Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
- |
Comments » 18
RCanaMoonPie writes:
Wow, I can just see it now.
Phil Fulmer to become the next Fred Thompson!
You got my vote big guy.
chbradshaw writes:
Maybe he can get a role as a fictional coach who takes over a program and, when he leaves, the program is in much better shape than before he took over.
He may need Coach Majors to help him understand the part.
secondcreek writes:
Um, the program Fulmer inherited from Majors was in shambles. The team Fulmer left behind had a winning season last year under Kiffin and went to a bowl game against ranked VA Tech.
BornVolDieVol writes:
I honestly adore Coach Fulmer! His character reminds me of my dad and they could actually pass for brothers... He did so much for our great University and I wish him only the best.
wagee12 writes:
Haw, haw, Majors had just won two SEC titles and was something like 39-9-2 has last five years as head coach. The program was in a shambles after 2008, period, end of story.
grith writes:
Fulmer always seemed very inarticulate and spoke as if he had mush in his mouth. If the role in a movie requires that--then so be it.
trollhair writes:
He did a GREAT job in The Blind Side. I wish him luck.
icingdeath73 writes:
Well, he could'nt possibly be a worse actor than he was a coach
tapeworm writes:
Being contacted about future movie rolls is about like being contacted for NFL coaching jobs.
westcoastvol writes:
He could be Fred Thompson's stunt double when Fred plays Phil Fulmer in Lifetime Network's bio-pic "Bacon Flavored Donuts: The Phil Fulmer Story," sponsored in part by Pilot and Shoney's.
brauhuff#295403 writes:
Just sit tight Phil and maybe lower your coaching sights some and a good mid major program will come calling at the end of next season. If not manage your money well and enjoy retirement.
Southland writes:
you could call the Johnny Majors years the yo yo years. It was up and down and up and down and as they used to joke on the radio we were in what year of rebuilding now. He had tons of talent and couldnt ever get a team in the running for a NC. I believe Fulmer did get us one and had a shot at a second one. Sports Illustrated had UT on the front cover one time as the Flop of the Year. This was the trademark of the Majors years. Up and down. Do you remember the 0-6 start. The program was coming unraveled before Majors was dismissed and he thought he was bigger than the program. The program was going down under Fulmer as well and their is no denying that. Majors got the big head for no reason and Fulmer lost his fire. But having said all of that I would take either of them over Kiffin any day because they both were products of UT and loved it.
Honky writes:
I could see it now.
Phillip will be an awesome actor, set the world on fire, and win a couple awards.
Then he will lose his passion, have a few sub par roles in a row, and then realize the world passed him by and move on to something else.
richvol writes:
Please...give me a break
smokedoctor writes:
I'm gonna go get in the buffay line at SHonies.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
FAT ALBERT WOULD WORK .
SEAL_9821 writes:
Give the guy credit where it's do. Yeah he put us in a bad situation but he done more for this university than any coach in history across the board. And for that, I respect everything about him.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
"he done more for this university than any coach in history across the board."
Grammer aside, does the name 'Neyland' ring a bell?
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.