What everyone knew would happen at the end of the year has happened today. Phillip Fulmer, who has been the head coach of Tennessee for 17 years and won a national title a decade ago, has decided to step down.

“I love Tennessee too much to let her be that divided,” Fulmer said, “therefore I accepted Tennessee’s decision that this be my last season as football coach.”

“Anybody that likes Tennessee and cares about what the product looks like on the field is frustrated,” Fulmer said Sunday night, according to The Tennessean.

In a seven year extension that was signed just last year, there was a $6 million buyout clause, which Tennessee has complied to. Fulmer will finish off the remainder of the ‘08 season, and then UT will begin its hunt for a new coach.

Rumors should fly rampant as to who the Vols will hire. I’ve already heard that they’ll make a push at Tampa Bay head coach John Gruden in the NFL, and also a strong push towards Butch Davis, who’s rebuilding job in North Carolina is going better than expected.