New Fulmer ready to start practices.

Byline: Gentry Estes

Aug. 4--KNOXVILLE -- They're saying the past year changed Phillip Fulmer.

Tougher, more intense, more demanding, more attentive -- there has been an obvious fire lit under Tennessee's longtime coach.

This was the product of an offseason spent basically apologizing to Volunteers fans for a 5-6 finish that fell far below hopes for an experienced team widely projected to win the Southeastern Conference.

"He's definitely changed from last year," senior defensive lineman Justin Harrell said. "We had a couple of heated meetings where he really just gave it to us. That was expected. We were getting to a point where we were …