Butch Jones' seat in Knoxville is insanely warm at this point and, given that the Tennessee Volunteers face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide this weekend, it isn't likely to cool off in the near future. If there is anyone that might understand Jones' plight, though, it is former Tennessee head coach Philip Fulmer and he was asked about the current coach's situation this week.
Fulmer spoke with the Citizen Tribune about Jones and said the following:
"I understand exactly where he is. It's a tough time for him... Nobody ever promised anybody that every day is going to be good. Everybody has difficulties, it's just that in athletics, and particularly at a place like Tennessee, it is so exposed."
Fulmer continued when he was prompted about potential replacements for Jones in the jobe:
"There's so much football to be played and that's not my responsibility anyway. My hope is that the players will run out, and make a good year out of it."
Nothing outside of success for Jones will take the heat off his job but Fulmer is certainly a credible source to analyze things in Knoxville. Now, we see what happens when and if Alabama takes the Vols to the woodshed on Saturday afternoon.
