University of Tennessee Athletics
Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer Previews Spring on Rocky Top
February 22, 2018 | General
Dear Big Orange fans,
I wish each of you could experience the energizing excitement I feel when I arrive on campus each day. The Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex is stirring with activity from the early-morning hours through the night as our remarkable young men and women train to become champions. Their drive is contagious and reminds me daily how imperative it is that we all approach our jobs with the same intensity we expect from our student-athletes.
I've held the Director of Athletics role for more than two months now, and the energy level around our 20 athletic programs intensifies with each passing week. Things are really starting to ramp up for our spring sports, and early results this semester have been positive.
We currently have nine teams ranked among the national top-25 in their respective sports. Women's basketball is ranked 15th in the AP poll, while our men's basketball team is ranked 19th. The Lady Vols softball team is ranked 11th in the country by the NFCA. Our women's track team is ranked 14th by the USTFCCCA. The women's and men's swimming & diving teams are ranked 10th and 12th, respectively, by the CSCAA. Women's tennis just landed at No. 18 in the ITA's first computer poll of the season, and our men's tennis (ITA) and men's golf (Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Poll) teams are ranked 23rd and 25th nationally.
Co-head coaches Karen and Ralph Weekly have assembled what looks to be yet another team that will contend for a spot in the Women's College World Series, and that group is already off to a 10-1 start.
This past weekend, the Tony Vitello era officially began for Tennessee baseball, as our first-year coach captured the first of what will certainly be many, many wins with the Big Orange. The Diamond Vols host UNC Greensboro for a three-game series this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
In College Station, Texas, last week, head coach Matt Kredich guided our swimming & diving teams to impressive showings at the SEC Championships. The Tennessee women finished third, and the men finished fourth. It will be exciting to see how their success at the conference level carries over to the NCAA Championships next month.
If it's been a while since you visited campus to attend a sporting event, I invite you to venture out this spring. If you've never been to a softball game at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, bring the family to the ballpark. The same goes for baseball or tennis at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. We're hosting the SEC Women's Tennis Championships April 18-22.
Our spring football DISH Orange & White Game is set for April 21 at 2 p.m. ET. I expect a great turnout to welcome Coach Pruitt and his staff to Neyland Stadium. Speaking of football, you can reserve your 2018 season tickets now at AllVols.com.
There will be multiple home track and field events at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at Laporte Stadium—highlighted by the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 11-13.
Make the trip out to Oak Ridge to support our rowing team. They'll be in action at regattas on Melton Lake on March 17-18 for the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational and May 12-13 as we host the Big 12 Championship (yes, our rowing team competes as a member of the Big 12).
I will be making the rounds at our various facilities all semester long in support of our young men and women. If you see me, come and say hello.
Let's make it a great spring on Rocky Top.
Go Vols and Lady Vols!
Phillip Fulmer
Director of Athletics
I wish each of you could experience the energizing excitement I feel when I arrive on campus each day. The Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex is stirring with activity from the early-morning hours through the night as our remarkable young men and women train to become champions. Their drive is contagious and reminds me daily how imperative it is that we all approach our jobs with the same intensity we expect from our student-athletes.
I've held the Director of Athletics role for more than two months now, and the energy level around our 20 athletic programs intensifies with each passing week. Things are really starting to ramp up for our spring sports, and early results this semester have been positive.
We currently have nine teams ranked among the national top-25 in their respective sports. Women's basketball is ranked 15th in the AP poll, while our men's basketball team is ranked 19th. The Lady Vols softball team is ranked 11th in the country by the NFCA. Our women's track team is ranked 14th by the USTFCCCA. The women's and men's swimming & diving teams are ranked 10th and 12th, respectively, by the CSCAA. Women's tennis just landed at No. 18 in the ITA's first computer poll of the season, and our men's tennis (ITA) and men's golf (Bushnell/Golfweek Coaches Poll) teams are ranked 23rd and 25th nationally.
Co-head coaches Karen and Ralph Weekly have assembled what looks to be yet another team that will contend for a spot in the Women's College World Series, and that group is already off to a 10-1 start.
This past weekend, the Tony Vitello era officially began for Tennessee baseball, as our first-year coach captured the first of what will certainly be many, many wins with the Big Orange. The Diamond Vols host UNC Greensboro for a three-game series this weekend at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
In College Station, Texas, last week, head coach Matt Kredich guided our swimming & diving teams to impressive showings at the SEC Championships. The Tennessee women finished third, and the men finished fourth. It will be exciting to see how their success at the conference level carries over to the NCAA Championships next month.
If it's been a while since you visited campus to attend a sporting event, I invite you to venture out this spring. If you've never been to a softball game at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium, bring the family to the ballpark. The same goes for baseball or tennis at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. We're hosting the SEC Women's Tennis Championships April 18-22.
Our spring football DISH Orange & White Game is set for April 21 at 2 p.m. ET. I expect a great turnout to welcome Coach Pruitt and his staff to Neyland Stadium. Speaking of football, you can reserve your 2018 season tickets now at AllVols.com.
There will be multiple home track and field events at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at Laporte Stadium—highlighted by the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 11-13.
Make the trip out to Oak Ridge to support our rowing team. They'll be in action at regattas on Melton Lake on March 17-18 for the Oak Ridge Cardinal Invitational and May 12-13 as we host the Big 12 Championship (yes, our rowing team competes as a member of the Big 12).
I will be making the rounds at our various facilities all semester long in support of our young men and women. If you see me, come and say hello.
Let's make it a great spring on Rocky Top.
Go Vols and Lady Vols!
Phillip Fulmer
Director of Athletics
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