Welcome to Fulmer Search Monday. 
It's Day 3. You've made it this far. This is certainly an accomplishment. Congratulations.
There's no way I would've gotten through last week without the love and support of you, the living Vol fan. Our entire team really felt the love that you showed us. You allowed us to do multiple marathon broadcasts the likes of which I'll never be a part of ever again. As I type this, I still haven't recovered. I do want to say that your generosity toward me and my family on the tip jar is tremendously appreciated. We can use every dollar to help ensure that all of our offerings remain free for as many people as want to receive them.
Underscoring how expensive my world can be, we had a mishap Saturday night where our phone system glitched. We're overnighting a new system that will run in the $4,000 range. Stuff is ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS breaking in my studio. We leak money out of that place. Plus we're in the process of designing a bigger and better app that will work across all platforms. Again the goal is for EVERYBODY to receive the show free of charge that would like to get it.
If you would consider signing up and becoming a monthly sponsor of what we do (info is below, after Orange Throat), it would be greatly appreciated. Even if you can only spare $5 a month, we appreciate whatever you can do.
Orange Throat leads our content intensive Monday.
Orange Throat
'Basilio World:
Random musings as we ponder all of the events of the past seven days:
OUR MAN TONY has taken 25 years to become an overnight sensation. He saw the value of cell phone app technology and social media before most and invested money and time into it. The result has been nothing short of a revolution in how Tennessee fans follow their sports program.
WHEN UT NEWS BREAKS OUT, TONY BREAKS IN and covers it like no one else. You must have the Tony Basilio app on your phone and you must have the Tunein app as well, because the Basilio app gets overwhelmed with traffic from time to time.
NOW, ON TO THE SHOW.
PHILLIP FULMER IS LARGE AND IN CHARGE of the UT sports program. He took over Friday afternoon and immediately went to work on hiring a coach and stabilizing the current Vol football team and 2018 recruiting effort. Our information is that Fulmer is taking an expansive approach to filling the head coaching job but he knows the urgency of the situation with the Dec. 20 early signing date bearing down.
IF THE HOUSE OF HASLAM would have had its way, someone named Reid Sigmon would have been calling Cade Mays on Friday night instead of Fulmer. No, folks, we don't make this stuff up. In the immediate aftermath of the John Currie firing on Friday morning, the HoH was pushing UTK chancellor Bev Davenport very hard to name Sigmon as acting AD. Sigmon came to UT with Currie and has served as COO. By all accounts, Sigmon is a low-key, capable administrator but there would have been a revolt of epic proportions inside the UT Athletics Department and among donors if Davenport had caved to the Haslam pressure.
AS FAR AS SPECIFIC HC CANDIDATES, Volquest reported last night that Fulmer met with Georgia DC Mel Tucker and Auburn DC Kevin Steele. There was rampant speculation last night that Fulmer was also going to meet with SMU HC Chad Morris. Fulmer and Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone are great friends and have a long history. If Marrone were available, we think he would have been announced yesterday. While we don't rule out Marrone, we think that one is unlikely.
WE THINK FULMER will favor SEC experience with this hire, but not make it a prerequisite. That would make you think former LSU HC Les Miles might have a chance. The name Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech HC) was heard over the weekend as a potential Fulmer target but most think it is a longshot Fuente would leave Blacksburg so soon.
THERE IS NO QUESTION Fulmer will talk with Tee Martin. We don't think he considers Martin ready to be head coach at Tennessee but we'd be surprised if Martin doesn't come and be part of the new UT coach's staff. Martin then could be groomed to become head coach at Tennessee a few years down the road.
AROUND THE SEC: New Florida coach Dan Mullen is bringing DC Larry Grantham with him from Starkville. The Gators are virtually guaranteed to improve on offense but the hope is they will regress on the defensive side ... Mississippi State made an interesting hire in Joe Moorhead from Penn State. The former Fordham head coach probably is highly regarded as a developer of quarterbacks but will be a challenging cultural fit ... Watch Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M. The Aggies are going all in with Fisher and recruiting in the Houston area is going to get tougher for programs like LSU ... Chris Low reported last night that Auburn and Gus Malzahn came to terms on an extension so Arkansas will have to start working down its list.
Orange Throat
IGYTUB International Geophysical Year of Taking our University Back'
Throaty:
Thanks for pointing that out about TuneIn Radio. For much of last week, for much of the day we were trending in the Top 5 Worldwide on TuneIn radio. If your Tony B App Glitches (and unfortunately until we get a new one built, it's going to glitch) go to TuneIn Radio under Tony Basilio Show and never miss a minute. Plus we log every minute of the show.
I agree with you on SEC experience as a factor. I thought it was telling the Fulmer opened up the search to coordinators as well. The artificial criteria of head coaches only is silly. John Currie is a fool. Viva Fulmer. Viva Tennessee Football.
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Phillip Fulmer Thinking Big: Phillip Fulmer values Tennessee football much more than John Currie. Therefore he's going to leave no stone unturned in the focus for the next coach. Fulmer has and will continue to reach out to some top names. The reason for this is twofold. I've been told he's going to ask around for any rising stars that might be on staffs with veteran coaches plus you never know where you're going to turn over the next superstar. Fulmer is in fact finding mode. It's a shame he didn't get all fall to execute this search because his early work has been impressive.
Where We Are...... Watch NYCNY: Phillip Fulmer met with Mel Tucker and Kevin Steele yesterday. He's meeting with Chad Morris as well. He'll be in New York City and will meet with SEVERAL sitting head coaches around the Hall of Fame Ceremonies that will take place in NYCNY.
Three Cheers For Dr. Bev Davenport!!! I reported this Saturday on our all too abbreviated special transmission, and I'm going to repeat it here: Dr. Davenport went rogue on the House of Haslam TWICE on Friday. Firstly, she was not authorized to fire John Currie and she did so anyway. Secondly, The House of Haslam then tried to appoint their own puppet in there in Reid Sigmon. Dr. Davenport stood up to those guys including Mr. Jim Haslam and said no in the spirit of the best interest of UT. What this does for her job security remains to be seen, but she gets my vote as MVB in this. She's the Most Valuable Bev!!!!
Who Do You Work For? Who Do You Love? Sources tell me that the university apparatus was such that John Currie was dismissive and disrespectful toward Dr. Davenport from virtually the moment he arrived on campus. Dr. Davenport felt totally left out in the cold in the coaching search. Currie really thought he was cute not only toward you the fan, but he didn't even let Dr D. know what was going on from day to day. Dr. Davenport had reservations over the hire of SchiaNO. After that she became more and more out of the loop. That might explain why she wouldn't play ball with Currie on the Brohm deal. It became clear to Bev that Currie was working for the Haslams and not her. It's possible that she put the kibosh on that deal because the up front money for Brohm was so huge.
If Private Phones Could Talk: John Currie smartly uses a private cell phone. What do you think those texts were like regarding him and the HOH?
Why Did Currie Go Rogue With Leach: I believe Currie thought that if he could pull Leach he was going to be able to keep his job with the Haslams. He was absolutely arrogant beyond belief toward Dr. Davenport. The more I learn, the more I wholeheartedly believe that John Currie had what was coming to him.
Fulmer Under Bev: Fulmer will be much more deferential and respectful toward Dr. Davenport. They are in the same boat together. Neither are in the House of Haslam camp. Both could be short termers. But then again Jimmy Haslam's Chattanooga issues could preclude him from taking any action for the foreseeable future. A couple of people I spoke with over the weekend said that Phillip Fulmer appreciates Bev standing up for him and thus Tennessee.
FOUND AN AD WHILE LOOKING FOR A COACH PLAYOFF TIDBITS
MONDAY ON MY MIND
WHO’S OUR NEXTUN, JIMMY SECTION?
I’M FOR FULMER? WHAT IN THE WIDE-WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS?
SAME SHOULD GO FOR LANE:
“MULLEN” OVER WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED:
CFB PLAYOFF THOUGHTS:
By the eye test alone I believe the committee selected the best four college football teams in the land and seeded them correctly.....
FINAL MONDAY MUSING:...[more]
Those are two games that are fantastic. I would pay big money to see both of those games. This is the first time that these games are truly intriguing in terms of talent, name appeal, star power, traditions, uniforms, coaches. You name it. January 1st 2018 will be tremendous college football.
Tennessee Hoops: They might not be the most talented team in the land (and they aren't) but NOBODY works harder than these guys. Tennessee is now 6-1 with wins over the likes of Purdue, Ga Tech & NC State. This team is very fun to watch and none of them go into business for themselves. They play team basketball on both ends of the floor. This is breath of fresh air.
Josh Pastner: Has ZERO presence on Ga Tech's sidelines. When Lammers failed to get that call Pastner looked like a 9 year old on the sidelines screaming at the refs. I felt almost sorry for him.
By the way, special thanks to Brian Hartman and Alex Myers for a great job holding down the Garza Law Basketball Overtime last night.
See you at 11.
A New Direction At TonyBasilio.com: Here at Tonybasilio.com we’re creating a series of programming with little to mostly zero commercial sponsorship. In other words, you will be digesting the following programs in coming days with almost no interruption. This is unprecedented in the history of my business. Nobody has ever done this. Here are the offerings coming your way.
Our Family Of Offerings:
‘X-Cast: A Recruiting Podcast’: Featuring Tony Basilio & ‘X’ where we discuss the latest moves, behind the scenes machinations and all the intrigue from the world of recruiting. This will hopefully be offered twice monthly with lengths varying. If this takes off perhaps we can even do some live offerings of this show. THIS IS BEING OFFERED COMMERCIAL FREE!!!
Fifth Quarter Fan Reaction: Back for season 4. Sponsored by Marcos Garza. This year with NO OTHER SPONSORS. This will be pure content for you. I’m taking a chance here but I know you will reward me for not bombarding you with messages Vol Network style. This program will run for at least 3 hours following Tennessee Football Games. We will have new visual presentation of this feature as well that we’re investing in. Thanks to Jayson Swain for helping me with the technical side of our visual presentation.
Southeastern Sunday Night: 7p to 9p on Sunday Nights airing on Periscope/Facebook Live and other platforms including your Tony Basilio Show App. This will be a regional program that aims to keep it real. We will tell the truth on us, them and all with you. This could be a lot of fun if you help me spread the word across the region. This hopefully will turn into a free for all that is free for all. ZERO SPONSORS. COMMERCIAL FREE OFFERING.
Vol-Scars: A podcast featuring Vol Historian Tom Mattingly and Eric S where we go back in time and commemorate the painful losses in UT football history that left a mark. These shows are extremely time intensive to put together. I’ve worked all summer on these offerings and am really proud of what we’ve compiled thus far. I think you’ll really enjoy this. COMMERCIAL FREE.
Gate Twenty Won: A podcast Featuring Vol Historian Tom Mattingly where we celebrate the greatest wins in UT history in time capsule form. These are a breath of fresh air and the type of programming I’m aiming to bring to you . COMMERCIAL FREE
Chill Cast: Tell Me A Story: A podcast where I grab folks from the sports world and our community and allow them to share their stories with us. This will be done in the spirit of the
recent re-launch programs that I did. We’ll aim to go deeper here. Stay tuned. COMMERCIAL FREE.
Tennessee Basketball Overtime: Back for year 5! Immediately following Tennessee Basketball Games. A Tennessee Basketball Call-In show featuring ONLY ONE SPONSOR…GARZA LAW FIRM. Therefore we keep the conversation going without bombarding you Vol Network style. What a concept!!!!
Garza On The Law: A Podcast dealing with the legal issues that invade the sports world featuring the great Marcos Garza. We will go deeper here. I promise that you will find this interesting. Presented by Garza Law Firm.
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FAQ's Asked Of Tony Per Our Relaunch Announcement:
Q: Tony, you didn't say anything about your daily show yesterday. Will you continue to do this?
A: Absolutely. I'm looking forward to year #24 with you.
Q: Tony, you used the word 'subscribe'. What Am I subscribing too?
A: Great question. 'Subscribe' is a misnomer. What you actually are doing if you choose to help us monthly (and we need this for budgeting reasons) is actually acting as a patron. The goal is to keep the content (ALL CONTENT, from postgame offerings to various podcasts) free for all.
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A: Because you value the content and our contribution to the market and you want to help us keep this stuff free for everybody.
Q: Are you going to beat us up for money all the time here?
A: Absolutely not. I will bring this up a few times heading into the football season as we attempt to meet our financial goals and create new programming. I'll also mention it in the post-game format as well as the regional programming. I will not however wear you out with this. Either you feel the need to help us or you don't. This is why I'm taking today to field some question I received after day one.
Q: What happens if this doesn't generate the revenue you're seeking?
A: We will scale back our online offerings accordingly. The blog itself could even disappear. I really don't want this to happen but will be forced to spend my time in the most profitable way necessary. That's why we're having the conversation. All my cards are on the table here.
Q: Where can I find these new podcasts, like that X-Cast?
A: Click on "Podcast" wherever you see it on the site, and it will take you to our Podcast page.
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