Imagine a typical family vacation to Colorado: skiing on the slopes, getting chapped lips from the frigid wind and having to fight through the autograph seekers to keep up with your father.
For Lady Vols sophomore diver Brittany Fulmer, daughter of UT football coach Phillip Fulmer, this described a spring break trip with her dad and the rest of her family.
“No one had any Tennessee paraphernalia on, and someone recognized Dad,” she said. “Then people started to line up asking for his autograph. I couldn’t believe people knew him so far away from home.”
For the Maryville native, however, that was just a part of her father doing his job, while being her “daddy” and spending time with his family.
“My dad is and has always been by my side supporting me, no matter what,” she said.
This support, at least from a diving standpoint, can be traced to when Fulmer joined current UT diving coach Dave Parrington’s junior diving program at the age of 8. The support quickly escalated to her first competition at 11 years old and then it was shown in full force when Fulmer qualified for her first Junior Olympic Nationals.
Her entire family made the trek down to Largo, Fla., to watch her compete, which happened to be a major turning point in her diving career. When Fulmer qualified for the tournament she realized she could compete at a national level and strove to continue to improve.
This support also went the other way. Fulmer is often there for her dad, whether it is representing the family in a good manner or embracing him after a football game.
It was especially brought to the forefront after the 1998 Florida game, which ended the Gators’ five-game winning streak against Tennessee.
“I will never forget the fans rushing the field, the look in Dad’s eyes, and having the opportunity to be the first to give him a big hug as he experienced something so great,” Fulmer said.
When it came time to decide on a college, Brittany Fulmer was ready for the recruiting process, due in large part to seeing her father handling it.
Even with her knowledge of the program and the fact her dad was the football coach, she didn’t feel any added pressure to go to UT.
“Of course Dad had a little influence on where I was because he was paying for it,” Fulmer said with a smile. “Mom and Dad allowed me to make my own decision.”
Fulmer also considered Georgia, Army and Arkansas before making her final decision. When it was time to decide, Fulmer couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stay with her diving coach and to have her family and her dad by her side whenever she needed them.
“I love having Dad around the corner to have lunch, or have a shoulder to lean on when I have a bad day,” Fulmer said. “This year was special for me, because both Mom and Dad traveled to Gainesville, Fla., to watch the SEC Diving Championships.”
Despite her dad being one of the most recognized personalities in college sports, Parrington still treats Fulmer as any student-athlete and Fulmer wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Coach Fulmer and I have had discussions on occasion concerning Brittany, but probably no different than I may have with any other concerned parent,” Parrington said.
For Fulmer, it is evident her dad is no different than any other parent simply because his job is to coach a well-known football team.
