Tennessee offensive coordinator resigns as Vols struggle

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Posted 8:54PM on Monday, October 31, 2005

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Randy Sanders resigned as Tennessee's offensive coordinator on Monday, two days after the Volunteers lost their third straight game with another punchless performance. Sanders will remain on the staff through the season, keeping part of his job as quarterbacks coach. Play-calling duties will be handled by coach Phillip Fulmer, Sanders and the rest of the offensive coaching staff. Tennessee continued its offensive struggles in the 16-15 loss on Saturday to South Carolina. The Vols have lost three in a row for the first time under Fulmer and dropped out of the Top 25 after beginning the season at No. 3. ``This isn't a response to criticism. This is a response to what I see on the field,'' Sanders said. Tennessee's offense is one of the worst in the country. The Vols average 16 points a game, which ranks 108 out of 119 Division I-A schools. They are 99th in total offense, 98th in rushing offense, 79th in passing offense and 101st in passing efficiency. The Vols have also been unable to settle on a quarterback with both Erik Ainge and Rick Clausen starting games. Fulmer would not say whether he was considering other changes to his staff. Sanders came to Fulmer with his decision, and they discussed several scenarios but settled on Sanders remaining through the end of the season. ``This has been an extremely difficult season for everyone, especially Coach Sanders. I want it to be understood that by no means (are) the results of the season any one person's fault,'' Fulmer said. ``Randy, in an unselfish gesture in what he feels is in the best interest of the team, has asked to step aside at the end of the season,'' Fulmer said. ``I am sad that it has come to this, but I also understand how volatile and demanding the world of college athletics is.'' The Vols visit No. 8 Notre Dame this week and finish the season against Memphis, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Tennessee began the season ranked third and dropped out of the AP Top 25 this week. ``Randy has dedicated his adult life to this program and is not only a true Volunteer in every sense, an outstanding coach, but also a great friend,'' Fulmer said. The 40-year-old Sanders has been on the Vols staff for 17 years, starting as a graduate assistant after he was a backup quarterback. This is his seventh season as offensive coordinator. He was promoted to the job before the 1998 national championship game to replace David Cutcliffe, who left to be head coach at Mississippi. Sanders has also coached running backs and wide receivers at Tennessee. He said he wanted to announce his resignation before the end of the season because there was no reason to wait. ``I've never believed in beating around the bush,'' he said. Sanders said he didn't know what he was going to do after the season or if he would try to coach elsewhere. ``I'm going to miss this place, but the fact is there is a whole lot more to life than Tennessee football. I think the last few weeks have brought me to that realization,'' Sanders said. ``If I'm going to put in 14 and 16 hour days for six days and get the results we've got, that's not what I need. Somewhere along the line, things have gotten out of kilter a little bit offensively this year. I don't necessarily think it's all my fault. But the fact is, it is my ship.'' The last time the Vols lost three in a row was in 1992 after coach Johnny Majors came back from heart surgery in the middle of the season. The third loss was to South Carolina, and Majors was forced out of his job six days later. South Carolina's victory was the school's first in Knoxville and snapped a 12-game losing streak in the series. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)