Phillip Fulmer stood in for Jeremy Pruitt on Monday as guest speaker at the Knoxville Quarterback Club while Tennessee's football coach was away recruiting.

"He's doing exactly what he needs to be doing today," Tennessee's athletics director said.

Fulmer also stood up for Pruitt and the job he's doing as the Vols' first-year coach, saying: "I can say with certainty that we have got us a heckuva football coach. I'm absolutely certain."

Fulmer listed Pruitt's toughness, his communication skills and his passion among his coaching assets.

"He pushes the kids," Fulmer said. "I'm surprised we haven't had more kids ..."

He stopped in mid-thought, backtracked and said, "I'm surprised we haven't had more kids being upset."

Fulmer later added, "They'll be better men because of (Pruitt), not just better football players."

Fulmer conceded to falling prey to the same preseason optimism that affected fans. He has reminded himself that the program, 2-3 so far this season, is going through "a cultural change."

"It's a process, and I see our kids buying in more and more," he said.

Fulmer touched on several other topics as well:

Renovations and facilities

When asked about renovating Neyland Stadium's south end zone, Fulmer said the next project probably will involve "south end zone phase 1, east end zone phase 2."

"We'll raise the money and have most of it in hand before we break ground on anything," he said.

Fulmer said that he will determine what's next within the next two months.

"I'm not going to be pushed into it, to make a decision," he said. "I'm going to get all the numbers and I'm going to talk to all the people that have a say in it."

Regarding athletic facilities, Fulmer said: "Our facilities are in a good place in most every sport except baseball, and we're working to do something about that."

Administration

Fulmer said the communication and trust between the athletics department and the university's administration more closely resembles what he experienced as UT's football coach. He hopes that interim Chancellor Wayne T. Davis "stays a long time."

"He gets it," Fulmer said. "He's been there 40-something years. He knows everything there is to know about the university.

"He's got his own opinion. I love that, strength. We can work with that. I'm excited with where he stands."

Basketball

Fulmer lauded the Vols and coach Rick Barnes for winning an SEC championship last season, saying the feat "was an incredible plus for the Tennessee family."

"I credit the man that he is," Fulmer said of Barnes, "the leader that he is, the coach that he is."

Fulmer also complimented Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick, whose team won 25 games last season. She was criticized after the team lost at home in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"We need to be sure to appreciate what we've got when we've got it," Fulmer said.

Track and field

When asked about the sport, Fulmer said he's had a good conversation with Beth Alford-Sullivan, the program's director. But he also reiterated his top priority.

"I'm going to get football fixed," he said, "and then there's a lot of things we can talk about once we get that boat financially going in the right direction."

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