Franklin County High School is trying to resurrect the former glory it has had in its football program and gained strong encouragement at the April 13 School Board meeting from a native son who became a legendary college football coach — Phillip Fulmer.

Fulmer, a 1968 FCHS graduate and standout Rebels football player who, at the college level, coached the Tennessee Volunteers football team to a national championship in 1998, appeared before the School Board on behalf of the Athletic Committee, citing the importance of backing new coach Charles “Chuck” Reid in his inaugural season at the gridiron Rebels’ helm.

Fulmer said athletic programs and the coaches and personnel who lead them tend to have a positive impact on students and the overall learning environment. He added that when a team is on a winning path, it’s reflected through a positive attitude shared by students and faculty throughout the hallways and into the classrooms.

Fulmer said that although the FCHS football program has struggled recently, that’s on the verge of changing with Reid’s leadership, based on his past experience.

“Coach Reid has been a lot of places and done a lot of things,” Fulmer said. “He knows what it’s supposed to look like.”

Reid has more than 35 years of experience as a teacher and a football coach with 18 of those years coming as a head coach of various programs.

He has most recently coached at Plano Senior High in Texas, and he has coached for numerous schools in the New England area as well as Brentwood Academy and Franklin Road Academy in Tennessee.

Reid has served as an offensive, defensive and special teams coordinator at various points in his career and has turned around several fledgling programs, according to a press release at the time he was hired in January.

Reid replaces Tracy Hayworth whose record was 4-27 in his three seasons at the Rebels’ helm. The team ended the 2025 season with a 1-9 record, losing its last seven games.

Fulmer said that supporting Reid in his new venture is paramount to the Rebels’ success.

He referred to his early days as the Volunteers’ coach and how a 1-3 start, which might initially not look that bad, produced a devastating feeling.

“You don’t want 1-3,” he said, adding that the pressure from UT and its fan base was on to reverse course.

Fulmer said the team was able to bond together and move in a winning direction, following through with a combined 45-5 record in the ensuing years. He said that sports and what is learned through athletic programs remains impactful throughout students’ lives.

Fulmer told the School Board that he had met with FCHS Athletic Director Kelly Kennedy and incoming Director of Schools Dr. Roger Alsup, and he believes that the athletic programs are on the right track.

“Everyone’s on the same page, and we need your support,” he said, adding that the backing needs to extend to other programs, such as the 4-H club and cheerleading units. “Particularly now in football, we need your support and guidance to help this coach get to where he wants to get to and, therefore, help the community.”