KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — An emotional Phillip Fulmer, with his wife at his side and tearful, angry players surrounding him, announced Monday he had accepted Tennessee’s decision that this will be his last season as the Volunteers coach.
Fulmer, 58, is being forced out after 17 years as Tennessee’s coach, a run that included a national championship. He has a 150-51 record with the Vols, including the 1998 NCAA title — the school’s first since 1951.
“This is not an easy day for me or my family. It is not a day that I sought or accepted easily,” said Fulmer, his voice cracking as he fought back tears standing next to wife Vicky. “Our Tennessee family is united in its goals, but divided in the right path to get there. I love Tennessee too much to let her stay divided.”
The Vols fell on hard times this season and are just 3-6.
• Tom Amstutz will resign after the season as the coach of Toledo, which is heading for a third straight losing year. Amstutz is 57-38 in eight years guiding the Rockets, including 2-6 this season.
• Oklahoma defensive end Auston English could miss two games because of a sprained left knee.
• Tight end Chase Coffman sprained his left big toe in Missouri’s victory at Baylor but said he expects to play Saturday against Kansas State.
Ballesteros’ condition improving
MADRID, Spain — Seve Ballesteros continues to make progress following surgery on a cancerous brain tumor. The 53-year-old golf great is conscious, breathing unaided and able to talk to relatives, La Paz hospital said. He also has begun to receive rehabilitation treatment in the intensive care unit.
Hansbrough leads All-America team.
Tyler Hansbrough made The Associated Press’ preseason All-America team — his record third straight year as its leading vote-getter. For the first time, however, the North Carolina forward was a unanimous selection. Joining him on the team were UCLA guard Darren Collison, Davidson guard Stephen Curry, Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody and Oklahoma forward Blake Griffin.
• Ohio State sophomore forward Nikola Kecman will sit out the first 12 games of the 2008-09 season in an agreement reached jointly by the NCAA and the university. Kecman played for the Vizura team in his native Serbia as it was making the transition from an amateur to a professional team.
• Utah State junior guard Stavon Williams has been suspended indefinitely because of undisclosed detrimental conduct off the court.
Footnotes.
Guard Richard Hamilton and the Detroit Pistons have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth about $34 million.
• Rafael Nadal pulled out of the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, citing fatigue after a long season and the need to prepare for the Davis Cup final.
• Two runners died after completing the New York City Marathon, one shortly after crossing the finish line Sunday and the other several hours later. Carlos Jose Gomes, a 58-year-old Brazilian, died of a heart attack. The other runner who died was a man whose identity and cause of death weren’t immediately disclosed.
The Associated Press
