Fulmer never fully converted the Majors segment. 1998 silenced them for a year but 1999 and the 2001 SEC Championship collapse sealed his reputation. He was living on borrowed time after that.
I think that by the late 90s, most healthy minded people within that faction of the fan base were ready to move on. Its unhealthy to hold that resentment when you have no skin in the game. It was just as that was happening that the fruits of Fulmer's labor were beginning to sprout and nobody wanted what was going to market.
When we lost it my dad said it set the program back 10 years. I thought that was a weird thing to say at the time, and I am not really sure what reasoning caused him to say it. Honestly, I think not having a top-notch offensive or defensive coordinator is what set the program back. The recruiting went from elite to just great, and we didn't have Cutcliffe anymore.
Chavis was an upper echelon DC when he and the defensive staff recruited. The offensive system needed a reboot after Randy, who should have been removed after the 2001 season. Fulmer employed a lot of people that were just happy to get paychecks and didn't want to move up, that caused stagnant coaching staffs.
Chavis had top-end talent and was good when he sent them after the QB. It was a simpler game when everyone wanted a classic dropback passer.
No way, I will go to my grave absolutely LIVID every time I remember this game. Turns out he was an unreasonable optimist.
I was 3 or 4 sleeping in a crib somewhere when that abomination went down. Thankful I did not have to live through that one in real time. The misery that must have been. Dad to this day though will still [itch bay] whenever that game comes to mind about the Memphis player who scored the game winning touchdown being total BS bc the dudes knee hit the ground and the refs missed it at the start of the return, allegedly. No replay back then of course.
