Atlanta, GA — Tuesday in Atlanta, second-year Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke was asked about his relationship with Tennessee Athletics Director Philip Fulmer. And the two go back several years.
“I was under Coach Fulmer in 2006 and 2007 and really learned a lot from (Coach Fulmer),” Luke said to the gathered crowd at SEC Media Days. “Him being a former offensive line coach at his alma mater, there was similarities there.”
Luke coached the offensive line and tight ends at Tennessee under Fulmer in 2006 and 2007 before following David Cutliffe to Duke to coach the Blue Devils’ offensive line and to be their co-offensive coordinator. The Rebel coach continued, saying, “Coach Fulmer has been successful whatever he’s done. He’ll do a great job leading that program. A really good man. I consider him one of my mentors.”
Matt Luke went 6-6 as interim head coach of the Mississippi football team last season, which is making its way through NCAA punishments currently. After a strong finish to the 2017 season, he was hired in an official capacity.
The Vols experienced a small revival when Luke was part of the staff from 2006-07. Fulmer, then the head coach of Tennessee, had rehired David Cutcliffe as his offensive coordinator following the 2005 season when the Vols went 5-6. Tennessee went 9-4 in 2006 then won the SEC East in 2007 and went 10-4 overall. That 2007 season is still the last time the Vols have won 10 games in a season over the last decade.
Tennessee is currently scheduled to play Ole Miss in 2021, in Knoxville. The two teams last met in the 2014 season in Oxford. Ole Miss dominated that contest, defeating Tennessee 34-3.
