Phil Fulmer wants the college athletics world to know that the University of Tennessee is not a steppingstone and that the administration won’t simply allow people to walk away for seemingly greener pastures.

Fulmer and men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes met with the media Tuesday and discussed Barnes’ recent interest in, and offer from, UCLA. Barnes eventually turned down a formal and lucrative offer to lead that program but only after days of discussion with Fulmer, UT President Randy Boyd and others.