Phillip Fulmer has recently decided to pay back the University of Tennessee in a more profitable way than just winning football games.

Fulmer and his wife, Vicky, donated a $1 million gift to UT to be split equally between academic scholarships and athletic facilities.

As quoted in the Knoxville News Sentinel, Fulmer said that he felt he should give back to the university because, "The University of Tennessee has opened every door I've ever been able to walk through."

He has been at UT for more than thirty years as a football player, coach and parent of UT students.  

Vicky said that she originally wanted the donation to be anonymous, so that the attention would be placed on the University and not on the Fulmers. After discussing the donation with Joe Johnson, former UT President, they decided to go public with the donation to help set in motion a fundraising endeavor that will begin next spring.

Vicky will also have a fund in her name as part of the gift.  Her fund will help to support work with obese children.

Jessica Boyd, a junior in Journalism and Electronic Media and avid UT fan, feels that the Fulmers' donation is one that is focused on UT as not only an athletic gift, but also as a way to get great publicity for the university as a whole.

"I feel that Fulmer has given more to UT than this one donation of money," said Boyd. "He has given UT a great name in sports, not only in the SEC, but also around the country."

Fulmer started his 15^th season as head coach Sept. 1, against California, and he will continue his season with the first home game against Southern Mississippi this Saturday, Sept. 8.