Yes, the karma bug has bitten Phillip Fulmer, at least in the eyes of the Crimson Tide faithful anyway.  Today it was announced that Phil Fulmer would step down as the University of Tennessee Head Coach at the end of the season.  In an emotional press conference today, Fulmer reflected on the past 17 years and the impact the University and its fans have had on his life. 

Many in the media speculated that this season would likely be Fulmer's last.  Most of us were probably shocked at the timing of this announcement.  Instead of waiting until the season was over, they announced the decision today with three games left on the Vols' schedule. 

Fulmer has stated that he isn't certain what the future holds.  The Universtiy has offered him a position in some capacity off the field but he has stated he is still interested in coaching at some level. 

For me, as a Crimson Tide fan, this news coming off the cusp of Alabama's clenching of the number 1 ranking in the BCS couldn't be more fitting.  Many of the Tide's fans blame Fulmer for his part in the NCAA investigation that led to Bama's near-death penalty probation.  Today, those Tide fans can get the last laugh.  In what many viewed as an effort to destroy his most hated rival, years later, the plan has backfired.  Now, Alabama is back on the rise to prominence and Tennessee has one of its worst records in recent history.  Currently they are ranked dead last in the SEC East at 1-5 in conference play and 3-6 overall.  Fulmer has often prided himself on running a "clean program," a claim many Tide fans think is false, which is why there is such resentment towards him for his part in the investigation that nearly destroyed one of college football's most distinguished programs.

Most Tide fans have enough sense to realize that what happened to Alabama was a result of poor decision making on the parts of the coaches and staff in place at that time.  Still, the notion that Fulmer, one of the Tide's biggest rivals, helped in that investigation was viewed as a conflict of interest. 

Fulmer leaves after 17 season as the Vols' head coach having won 2 SEC Championships and 1 National Championship.  Below is video from the press conference.

One of the greatest moments in college football this year, if not the greatest.  If this doesn't win that Pontiac Game Changing Performance contest, I don't know what will.

It's been 15 years since Alabama saw the top spot in the AP and Coaches' Polls.  It's been almost 30 years since they played a game as the number one team in the country.  Now, after the turnabout of coaches, the NCAA sanctions, six years of losing to Auburn, the Crimson Tide find themselves at the top of the college football mountain.  And what a long, hard road it's been. 

Everyone knew that Nick Saban would make a difference in Tuscaloosa.  No one expected it to be this quickly.  From the top recruiting class in the country to the top spot in the polls, much of this has come very quickly for the mighty Tide.  Now, Bama sits as the best team in football while starting 16 true freshmen.  One can't help but think this is merely the beginning.  Finally, after years of mediocrity, Alabama is relevant again.  Now, the big question remains; can they maintain?

Things won't get easier for the Tide this weekend as they travel to Baton Rouge to take on LSU in Death Valley.  Sure, the Tigers have looked lackluster being blown out by both Florida and Georgia, but anyone who follows SEC football knows that Tiger Stadium is one of the most unfriendly environments in the country.  The noise level in this stadium can sometimes be otherworldly.  Not only will the Tide have to take on the 15th ranked Tigers, but Saban will have to deal with returning to the school he once led to a BCS National Championship in 2003.

A lot is on the line for both teams.  For LSU, any chance of returning to the SEC Championship this season rests solely on this game.  It is a must win for them to remain in the running.  Then, they'll have to hope that Bama loses again.  For Alabama, it's their chance to prove to the skeptics that they are a legitimate number one team.  It will also pave the way to the SEC Championship Game, at the very least, and keep them in pursuit of the BCS National Championship.  There's still a lot of football to be played and before they can have any shot at getting to the big game, they'll have to go through the best QB in college football, in my opinion, in Tim Tebow.  No pressure.

One thing is certain, regardless of the outcomes, two national championship contenders will go down today.  Be it Texas, Texas Tech, Georgia, or Florida, two of those four will be virtually eliminated from the title hunt this weekend. 

Georgia vs Florida

To start things off, the number 8 Georgia Bulldogs look to stop number 5 Florida in the annual cocktail party.  Both teams looked exceptional in handling LSU this year.  Georiga's only loss comes to the current number 2 team in the country, Alabama.  The Gators, on the other hand, dropped a game at home to an underachieving Ole Miss team.  This game will determine who will play in the SEC Championship from the SEC East.  The implications of this game may be even greater with the victor having rights to lay claim to a spot in the National Championship if any of the top 3 lose.  One has to think the matchup favors the Gators today.  They have a type of speed that has not been seen in college football in a long time.  With Tebow's talent and the speed on offense the Bulldogs could be in for a long day.

Prediction:
Georgia 21
Florida 34

Texas vs Texas Tech

The Red Raiders certainly do make for a good story.  The underdog, they represent everything there is to like about college football.  Unfortunately, they have yet to run through the gauntlet in the Big 12 this season.  That guantlet starts today when the Longhorns come to town.  Even if they manage to pull out a win, they still have Oklahoma and Oklahoma State coming up on their schedule.  Texas, on the other hand, has essentially ran through the gauntlet unscathed with this being their last true test until the Big 12 title game.  They're not out of the woods yet.  I expect this to be a high scoring game.  The Red Raiders will put up a lot of points.  The Longhorns will put up more.

Prediction:
Texas 45
Texas Tech 38

For years the Rockets have settled into their role in the Western Conference as that middle of the road team.  After T-Mac arrived, many thought the combination with Yao would mean a championship for the Rockets.  Instead the franchise has been plagued with injury after injury.  McGrady's back has given him problems and it doesn't seem like Yao can play more than 60 games per year.  Then, something happened in this off-season.  The Rockets picked up one of the NBA's most controversial players, Ron Artest, to create their own version of "the big three."

In game one, Artest put up 16 points and only managed to draw 2 personal fouls.  Yao was dominant as he often is in the opening of the season.  Tonight, Yao dropped 30 points and Artest put in 29 in a win against a Dallas franchise trying to find its identity again.  They won both of those games and now sit at 2-0.

As the season opened, everyone was throwing out the usual names of teams to watch for in the Western Conference.  The Lakers, Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Mavericks, and Hornets all in the regular talk about winning the west.  People have forgotten about the Rockets.  Maybe if Yao and T-Mac can stay healthy this season, Artest will help make them remember.  So far, in my eyes, this move has been the one which has provided the most impact.  We're only two games in though.  There is still a lot of basketball to be played.