COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Tennessee Reportedly Buying Out Majors

The Johnny Majors era at Tennessee is almost over, the Knoxville News-Sentinel reported in today’s editions.

The newspaper said an agreement has been reached for the university to buy out the remaining two years of Majors’ contract, bringing an abrupt and surprising end to Majors’ 16-year tenure at his alma mater.

The newspaper said Majors would be replaced by offensive coordinator Phillip Fulmer, 42, who guided the team to a 3-0 record to begin the season while Majors was recuperating from heart surgery.

Majors will coach the No. 23 Volunteers in the last three games of the season, the paper said.

Both the News-Sentinel and The Tennessean, Nashville’s morning newspaper, cited unnamed sources in reporting Thursday that Majors, 57, has agreed to a financial deal presented by university President Joe Johnson and Athletic Director Doug Dickey.

A buyout clause in Majors’ contract says the university’s liability extends only to his base pay of $96,000 a year, not to other perks that bring his annual package to about $311,000.

The News-Sentinel said the buyout is believed to be worth more than twice the base salary.

Johnson and Dickey limited their public statements Thursday, saying only that negotiations were under way. Neither would confirm whether a buyout was in the works.

Majors declined Thursday to comment about his contract status.