As the days get closer to Phillip Fulmer's final game, I think it's appropriate to show gratitude for everything Fulmer has done.

Dear Phillip Fulmer:

Thank you.

For what you may ask? Thank you for your loyalty to the University of Tennessee and its athletic program. Growing up, when someone said "Tennessee," you came to mind. Being a part of the UT football program for 35 years is a remarkable accomplishment. Being the head coach at the same school for 17 years in America's best conference impresses even more.

Thank you for the 1998 season. You took a team that was not expected to win the way they did and turned them into national champions. Impressive wins over Syracuse and Florida that year gave me hope that the Vols would still be standing during the inaugural BCS year.

Thank you for recruiting Peyton Manning, Peerless Price, Cedrick Wilson, Al Wilson, Albert Haynesworth, Robert Meachem and Jamal Lewis -- just to name a few. These players are of many that you have sent on to the next level.

Thank you for dismissing certain players off the team, most notably, Brent Schaeffer and LaMarcus Coker. You gave multiple opportunities to these players to clean up their act, yet they failed and had to suffer the consequences of not being able to wear that white helmet with the orange "T" on it.

I appreciate you winning 151 games during your tenure. During that time, you went 45-5 during the period of 1995-98. Thank you for having the Vols ranked in the top 10 for 54 consecutive weeks and for two consecutive SEC titles in '97 and '98.

Thank you for John Chavis, who crafted some of the best defenses I've ever seen. Thanks for bringing back David Cutcliffe to coach the offense after the 2005 season.

More importantly, thank you for being a father figure to the young men that have played for you over the years. Everyone knows about your on-field accomplishments, but it's the things behind the scene that made you what you are. It's the way you handled your players that made them give their all for Tennessee.