BC Interruption, a Boston College Eagles community

When Fulmer assumed the reins of the UT football program in the spring of 1993, the Vols had gone 53-17-4 over the previous six years under Johnny Majors. That represented a 74.3 winning percentage, and fans expected that Fulmer would maintain that level of success.

Instead, Fulmer raised the bar. Between 1993 and 2001, his teams went 91-20 – a winning percentage of 82.0 – and picked up a national title.

Expectations skyrocketed, and so did Fulmer's salary. Tennessee's record, however, did not keep pace. From 2002-2007 the Vols went 52-25, a winning percentage of 67.5.

As a rule, coaches who win two-thirds of their games do not make $2.99 million per year. The fact UT just gave Fulmer a $940,000 annual raise and an extension through 2014 suggests the administration is expecting the next five years to be better than the previous five.