Time to Pay the Money

To say that Butch Davis is happy at North Carolina where he will never surpass basketball as king of the hill, is ridiculous. I know there may be a few names the masses might like better, but none fit as well or are as limited on risk as is Butch Davis. He will come with a big price tag, but we will pay. Wouldn't you, after yesterday's debacle. Butch has ties to South Florida and has been a fantastic recruiter in the past - ask Larry Coker. I know he says he wouldn't leave North Carolina right now, but let's be honest....show him the money and he would be here. It would be down right stupid for him to turn us down.

In the meantime, our season is laughable. Let's just watch to see if we have any young talent that the new coach can turn into football players.

A Very Sad Day

A very sad day today indeed for those of us that have enjoyed so many victories under Phil Fulmer. Whether he could have turned it around next year or not, it was clear the underlying currents of today's landscape had swept a lot of his previous luster away. Go ye therefore ole Phil down in Tennessee lore, and bask in the glory that was your success. Keep your head high as you did an admirable job in almost all aspects of your tenure. You lead with great class, never rubbing anyone's nose in it when we were winning and losing with dignity. We were never in trouble with the NCAA under your watch and your players genuinely respected you.

Besides, if we continue to suck in the future, you can come back like Majors and take great joy in it. I know you wouldn't do that and here's hoping you start relaxing like heck in the interim of your professional career.

What's more boring?

What's more boring? This guy to your left with his 22 year tiptoe through the rainforest or watching are pathetic offense? There have been years when I thought we just outright blew offensively, but this year takes the proverbial cake. This weekend we match up with the number one run defense in the SEC, and judging by our rushing performances against Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia, we are in deep doo-doo. Whether Garcia, Smelly, or grouchy can combine for more points than Eric Berry is this weeks' burning question and frankly Tennessee's only hope. Wait a minute.....that play to Denarius Moore is our only other good offensive play. Maybe we can trick em' by running Arian Foster on a reverse, or perhaps we can learn to check off at the line of scrimmage so as not to have a roll-out on a corner blitz.

Whatever that mastermind Clawson comes up with, I'm sure we'll see plenty of shots panning over to Fulmer clapping his hands, wincing in pain, or the new gesture - his hat pulled down over his face.

Come Saturday, it may be Spurrier that puts the final nail in the coffin of Fulmer's tenure. Surely no you say, but the way it's been going for him this year, that would certainly be apropos. With that said, I'll be cheering for them as always, as I'm a glutton for punishment....otherwise I wouldn't be workin' like heck on this blog for all to enjoy.

CLEAN HOUSE!!!

I can't say it any simpler. This disjointed, offensive offense is the worst since I've been alive, and I'm starting to get plenty long in the tooth. Our decision making regarding who is the game has been atrocious; we've returned 10 starters from last year to lay in the lap of Clawson, and he just plain SUCKS. We half-heartedly go after the best player from Alcoa last year, and now he looks like the only player Kentucky has that's a playmaker. Unfreakingbelievable. Brandon Warren looks like he's lost, yet Cobb at Kentucky can successfully be their best at two positions? Unfriggincanny. We've ponied-up to put some lipstick on Neyland Stadium, so now let's pony-up and hire a dadgum good coaching staff. Screw you too Majors if you're starting to enjoy this.

Dissin' the Tide

Alabama, the old establishment of the South, has found new blood. Their atrocities are too numerous for me to mention everyone, but let's not forget them playing with illegal players or fat linemen that cost 200 grand. They use the excuse that they have been hurt by probation for the last 20 years as to why they haven't been up to their own standard, but let's imagine all the players in the 70's, 80's, and 90's that they had when money came rolling in. Racketeering U has been at it a long time. You can't be an open braggart any longer these days about paying for players or giving them $100 handshakes just as you can't be an open klansman in Alabama anymore without getting a few FBI officials on your tail - I think. Well, in Alabama, maybe you can, but nowhere else except maybe Mississippi.

Nick Satan has arrived and restored much needed discipline to their program, but I'm not convinced he's squeaky clean as Michigan State was one of the schools on Albert Means list until the very end. Saban has been proven to be a bold-faced liar and just a general douche to his fellow coaches, but somehow they win wherever he goes, until....he leaves. It will be tough for him to cough up $4 mil unless he gets tired of living in the sticks or he gets a better offer from another pro team that has any talent whatsoever. It looks like for the foreseeable future that they may have a pretty good situation, especially if Obama starts handing out freebies to the poor...maybe they will dress the place outside the campus up a little bit. While driving from Montgomery to Tuscaloosa years ago on business, I got to see Alabama the beautiful in all its' glory; even the black folks had yard jockeys in front of their trailers.

Even with all the hatred that I have for the bammers, I can't help feel bad for them for some things. After all, anytime Hollywood needs to throw in a hick, rebel, redneck, ignorant, uneducated, mouth-breathing inbred, they use their mobile sets to travel to either Alabama or West Virginia. Heck, they can't even claim Lynard Skynard....their from Jacksonville. I even feel sorry for Bear Bryant. Just when you think your resting in peace in the afterlife, Logan Young comes along and starts jock-sniffing you again. The third Saturday in October is always fun to look forward to, and as bad as we can't stand em', this rivalry is one of the nation's best. Let's work like heck and kick some Tide ass. GO VOLS!!!

Go Vols.

BAMA comes to town

No talk of illegal players, no talk about subpoenas, no talk of mass cheating from Tide boosters....the only talk has been about how dominant Alabama's offensive and defensive lines have been this year so far. With a number two ranking and a weasel of a coach, the elephants rumble into town looking to lay the smack down on Fulmer in his farewell parade. One can only imagine what that mastermind Clawson is thinking now that Alabama is missing its' all-american to be fat noseman. I'll bet he has a special package for Josh McNeil in the works as we speak, and we all know how well those packages work (remember Eric Locke); I know the tuskers do.

In all seriousness, a victory for Alabama might be bittersweet in that it further spells the demise of Fulmer. They can act on the radio and message boards like they hate him worse than Madonna hates Palin, but let's face it, they would hate anybody in Orange on the sidelines. The same way we gave encouraging words toward them with the brilliance of bringing in Shula to clean up their mess, some of them that I've heard on the radio are trying to prop up Phil to keep him in Neyland...notwithstanding all the blame they give him for their past struggles.

Be that as it may, it may be worth it to ante up to hire the right man. It sure looks like it has worked for them. Their fans are as giddy as Ben Aflleck and Matt Damon sitting on Obama's knee playing "ride a little pony". The attention of Saban's enormous salary has been supplanted by their successful start, and it probably helps that now everyone's turning their attention to other colossal wastes of salaries of companies like AIG and Fannie Mae. They make Saban look like a begger at I-40 and Lovell road. Who needs a personality when your that rich anyway? As streaky as this series has been over time, I don't like the trend lines I'm seeing on this chart, but maybe our loyal leader has one more trick up his extra large sleeve and can at least dash the national championship hopes of Bama on his way out. That might be almost enough for our fans to forgive him for the past four or five years.

COACHES

I've been thinking about our soured coaching quandry that we find ourselves in today. Everybody's got an opinion on our coaching situation, and I think the talk shows have worn most of us out listening to caller after caller's take on the subject. I was thinking about our coaches in a different way the other day. What got me thinking about it was our long lasting tenures with two coaches at here at Tennessee. It brought to mind an analogy that kept growing in my mind the more I thought about it - coaches are like girlfriends.

I'll speak for myself in saying this: I have loved Fulmer for a long time, but now I must spurn him. He's the girlfriend you've had for a long time. Sure, she was hot at first, but now she says the same thing time and time again and she has packed on the pounds. All you hear on his show is blah, blah, blah....just like when you're trying to blog when your girlfriend's trying to bend your ear. She's been loyal to you and you to her, but just like no SEC championships in 10 years, you've grown tired of her and finally decided it's time to cut bait while you're still young. Besides, all your best friends have started dating new hot girls...some of them even unconventional and even with more expensive tastes than yours. There's a new breed of girlfriends in the league from the demanding(Saban) to the goodie two-shoes(Richt).

Chavis is like the fat girl that you succomb to when you're not very dashing or charasmatic yourself. Sure, she's got good qualities like a sense of humor, or an aire of culture, but she's not going to be courted by anyone else. She'll be solid when you hit tough times offensively, but just when you think she may be the one, she plays too loose and gets you beat on 4th and long.

Cutcliffe was like the girl you liked more when you broke up with her than when you dated her. After pining for the good ole days when she was there every time you turned around, you've realized she's not very good looking and quite frankly, dull. Now, your not happy again and found yourself wondering why you took her back in the first place. She spiced up your life briefly after getting rid of that Sanders chick that was not quite all there mentally, but you are not going to loose any sleep over her this time. Good riddance and hope you have a good life with those rich, smart boys over in Raleigh.

Clawson's like the hot, new girl that came into town over the summer and you're like "wow, I think I could really date her", only to find that she's not up to speed with even your girlfriends of the past. You feel bad about it, but let's face it...she's only a one-night stand.

Coach Pearl's like the girlfriend that you are crazy about, and can't wait to show off to your friends. She may be a little to wild for your family, but she's got a rocking bod, and all the other teams out there are giving her flowers and inclinations of gifts to make her theirs. It's gone great so far, and the season's just around the corner, but you're always waiting for the other shoe to fall. Even her being jewish hasn't kept you from believing that could convert her to be a good protestant girl. Sure, you have to pay an arm and a leg, but you are willing and so is she.

Coach Summitt is the girl that you would date....well, let's be serious with ourselves, you wouldn't. You don't go that way. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but you just don't like girl's basketball.

With all that said, we will have scars from breaking up with our girlfriend; we'll lose wait, won't leave the house for a while, watch basketball, and keep an eye out for the next belle of Tennessee.

Whatever Happended To The Days Of Excitement ?

Remember the days when Tennessee use to have an exciting offense ? The Vols could strike from anywhere on the field. Where have those times gone ? Tennessee was not always good during the late 70's till the present, but they were usually entertaining during those times. Not this year! Not only is Tennessee bad, but they border on being about unwatchable this year! This offense is the most pathetic I have ever seen at Tennessee and we totally lack creativity in call playing.

If you are going to stink, at least be fun to watch ( ex. Hal Mumme/ Kentucky ). The Vols are neither fun to watch, or creative this year and that adds up to being 2-4and fighting for your lives on Saturday. Oh, how far the program has fallen and is falling. I know that football is only a game, but I do remember when there was great pride in K-town and throughout the Volunteer state on game day , and I miss those times. We have become an apathetic fan base and we are missing the excitement that is usually present this time of the year. I hope we can bring back those times when it was exciting to be a Volunteer. We deserve better!

Please Lets Get This Over...

This season is the most pathetic I have ever seen as a Vol fan in my lifetime! We are poorly coached, and out schemed every weekend. Not to mention the total lack of discipline! Tennessee constantly gives up third and long plays that would get our defense off the field, and we continue to make the same stupid penalties week in and week out. What about evaluating the talent on hand presently? Forget it! Remember it took our genius coaching staff four games into the season to figure out that maybe Crompton was not our q.b.?

You have to be kidding? Unfortunately, I am not. This is the most unlikable Tennessee team in my years of watching the Vols, and I dont " need to watch the film " to know that coach Fulmer! It is time to put this era to a rest, and move on to the future. Coach, thanks for what you have done, and we as Vol fans appreciate your efforts. You have,and will be compensated very well for you efforts. The fact remains it is time for a change that we can believe in ( Obama reference )!

Tennessee will rise again in the SEC and the nation, but the process has to play out , and it will not be pretty I'm afraid for a period of time, but all programs go through these periods , and this our time. Either Tennessee can stay the course, or they can make change? I vote for change!

Between The Hedges

Once again it is the Vols and the Dawgs in what will amount to an elimination game in the SEC East ( even though we are most likely already eliminated ). On paper , Georgia definitely has the advantage, but in this series you never know. Remember last year? Tennessee came limping into that game and the Dawgs were riding high! Tennessee won 35-14!

Tennessee and Georgia has been a streaky series over the last twenty years or so. Go back to the debut of a guy named Herschel Walker in 1980 in the win over Tennessee when Walker ran for 87 yards in the second half for a 16-15 win over the Vols. The next year Georgia beat Tennessee 44-0 in Athens. The Vols would begin to even things up in 1989, a year after Georgia won their third straight against the Vols to open up the 1988 season ( that would start 0-6 ). Tennesse won that game in 89 and, then began to go on a streak of their own in 92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99!

The streak came to an end in 2000 in Athens and Georgia began a streak of their own with victories in 2000,01,02,03. Tennesee and Georgia almost mirror each other with results and fan expectations every season! What a great rivalry!

Let's get ready for the 08 game between these two storied programs, and even though on paper this looks like a mismatch, remember 1992, a 34-31 Vol victory. Never give up hope!

Vandy

Give the Dore's some credit this year ( even though I despise them )! Bobby Johnson has Vandy playing at perhaps the greatest level of play since 1982, when Whit Taylor was the Dore's q.b., and they actually went to a bowl game ( that was their last appearance in the post season ). This year seems to be the year of the commodores, and their fans that proclaim to be " geeks " instead of athletes! Okay, we will call them scholars.

The bottom line is that Vandy is finally getting it done on the football field, and not just the classroom. This is better than you can say for the Tennessee football program presently. Bobby Johnson/ Steve Martin has done a terrific job at a program that is not anywhere close to the level of Tennessee in tradition, talent, and budget!

The Dore's have the best team in the state of Tennessee currently, and that will tell you all you need to know about the state of the Vol program right now!

Georgia on my mind

I've been to Sanford stadium on a couple of occasions and found it very satisfying both times. Their fans, albeit obnoxious, live with the same high hopes and low expectations that we've come to be familiar with. In 98' they were sure that they were going to hand us and our backup tailback a crushing defeat. With my wife asleep on the bleachers of the Georgia student section, I cheered in disbelief that we were spanking them. I knew exactly what they were feeling. We had the same thing happen to us the previous year when Florida rolled into town and hung 35 straight points on us. We both can't stand success, and the fans are left thiking we are just a "what if" away from another national championship. I feel for them, like I do with us, but it makes me somewhat pleased when I see them suffer like they did against Bama. Count on them to blow either the Florida or Auburn game as well.

With all that said, they are extremely talented this year and should roll all over us. Their speed is evident, their freshmen are impressive, and their quarterback has one of the best arms in the country. Still, we've been undermanned severely before down there and come out with a win or at least a fighting chance to win. James Banks ran around like an Irishman in a liquor store one year, when we didn't have chance to beat em' at all.

Can Phil come out with a most improbable win this weekend, or does the "workin like heck" seat cushion continue to get hotter for him?

Tennessee Tailbacks

Put Arian Fosters butt on the bench! I am so sick and tired of watching this guy! He is pitifully slow, and runs very timid between the tackles! Yet, he is in line to become the Vols all time leading ground gainer? What is up with that?

Please put in Creer, Hardesty, or Poole before you give another hand off to Foster!
He may be a terrific guy, but he surely is not your best tailback? The fans can see how obvious this, but why can't the coaches not pick up on this? We were right about Stephens at q.b, so trust us on this one coach, and give the other backs some more carries! "You did not get stupid all of the sudden", this has been coming for a long time!

Play the best talent regardless of seniority, and see what happens! As a Vol fan , I am tired of watching us waste talent year after year, and making lame excuses as to why the best players are not on the field. Coach, we are not as stupid as you think might think we are! It actually might be time to listen to the "common fan" a little more, because there have been many times that we have been right, regardless of what you think. I know that we have better options at the tailback position in Creer who is averaging 8.9 yards per carry this year! I don't even have to be a head coach at a major D-1 level school to figure that one out!

Please, take the fans advice this time, and give the ball to someone other than #27 and let's see what happens? You might be surprised at the results. Remember 1997 with Jamal Lewis taking over for Mark Levine? Us, "common fans" Remember, and we were right! And we are this time!

The Remainer Of The Schedule Predictions

Georgia: Forget about any upset win in Athens. The Dawgs are balanced on offense, and they will control the football the entire game. This will not be close! The payback from last years loss will only add gas to the fire!

Miss. State: A possible win against an offense that may be as bad as the Vols. The Bulldogs play good defense and are always very physical. Not a guarantee win by any means, but still might be the Vols best shot in the SEC this year for a win.

Alabama: The most physical team in the SEC will show the Vols why they are the most physical team in the league. Bama, Will line up, and run over top of the Vols all day long. Parker Wilson has progressed enough to make the Tide multidimensional.

South Carolina: Phillip Fulmer versus Steve Spurrier. You guess the outcome?

Wyoming: Thank the Lord for the woeful Cowboys.

Vandy : It is a sign for the end of times when the best college football is being played in Nashville. I still think this might be a Vol victory. God bless George Cafego,who has to be in heaven asking the Lord why do you have to have this kind of sense of humor? Coach, I know you will be watching this one!

Kentucky: Twenty Four straight wins since 1984, but this might be the year the streak ends! The Vols have been very fortunate in the last two!

Gameday

Hold back on your excitement for the Tennessee v.s. Northern Illinois game! I know this is the game you have been waiting for all year long. The Vols at 1-3 takes on the Huskies from the MAC at 2-2. I can hardly wait!

The anticipation builds, as we get to find out if Tennessee truly is this bad in in the 2008 campaign? The answer may become brutally true tonight. Northern Illinois is not that bad of a team and the Huskies have surprised Alabama and Maryland in the past. If the Vols sleepwalk tonight, they may be next.

Tennessee is simply not good enough to overlook any team this year! So get ready for another close game, that might be contested till the final whistle of the fourth quarter. Man, how times have changed. Just ten years ago Tennessee was on top of the college football world, and now we are hoping against hope to turn things around.

Another sign that Armageddon may soon be coming is that Vandy is hosting gameday before their game with Auburn tonight in Nashville. I know the end of times is coming soon when this occurs! I think that is in Revelations somewhere?

Just Shut Up Johnny

He's Baaaaaaccck!!! I am talking about king Johnny ( Majors ). You knew he would be after the Vols poor start this year. Johnny could not help himself this week when talking with Huntsville, Alabama q.b. club, but to take another verbal stab at coach Fulmer. King Johnny made a comment that John Chavis has saved Fulmers rear end the last ten years or he would have been fired a long time ago!

Please, Johnny just go away! Take your bitterness and self righteous attitude with you! I know why the state of Alabama welcomes you with open arms, because they owned you during your days at the Tennessee helm! Get over yourself! For you revisionist of history that think Majors was a great coach, remember he won only won one outright SEC championship in his tenure ( Florida was ineligible once and we shared two ).

It has been sixteen years since Majors ouster, and the Vol nation has made every attempt to reach out to Johnny, but he continues to put himself above the program and hold on to the bitterness. Sure, it could have been handled better and should have been handled better, but the fact remains , Johnny is all about Johnny!

It is sad that in his aging years that Johnny is unable to enjoy his alma mater and the great times that he has enjoyed over the years at UT. Instead, he has chosen to hang on to the bitterness and to point his finger anytime he has the opportunity. I'm sure the Bama fans will welcome Johnny in their state anytime! Why not? I am sure they miss the good ole days of kicking his behind on a yearly basis! Johnny you can go marching away from K-town as far as I am concerned. I WILL TAKE TRUE VOLUNTEERS!

Crompton Versus Stephens

What do you do now? The debate rages in big orange country whether to start Jonathan Crompton or Nick Stephens at q.b. this Saturday against Northern Illinois. I believe that Tennessee will go with Stephens based on the performance of Crompton thus far into the 2008 campaign. What do you have to lose? Give the ball to Stephens and see if the " gunslinger " can do anything with the Volunteer offense that has been anemic so far in 08!

Do whatever you have to do in order to make the offense at least somewhat dangerous! Play Stephens,or line up Gerald Jones at q.b. more often, or let B.J Coleman have his shot at the q.b. position. The bottom line is Tennessee must try something different in order to try to ignite a very stale offense!

The Northern Illinois game is the perfect time to try to institute change within the program for the remainder of the 08 season. Lets hope that the change will bring about positive results for the rest of the year! The year is one third over and Tennessee must regroup in a big way to salvage anything of this year!

I believe we have seen enough of Crompton thus far in 08 , and it is time to hand over the duties to Stephens, at least for this game and see what he can do! Surely, it cannot get any worse!

Love Me Hate Me?

Some of you would like to see good ole Phil fall by the wayside, but how many would like to see us go from a winner to a loser this year to justify his ousting? At 6 and 6, he gets the Hammy boot, but if we're 7 amd 5, he lives to see another day. Yes, we've missed on some big recruits in the past ala Jabari Davis, OJ Ownes, and Jon Crompton, but he still has sweat equity built into winning with Casey and "the future" let alone our outstanding 98 season when Rodney Garner was our MVP.

I FEEL SORRY FOR THE ROTUND LEADER in that his hand is tied to the leader of our putrid offense. Granted, it ultimately falls on his shoulders for not recruiting better replacements, but I do indeed feel bad for big Phil. All you Fulmer haters, you can shut up now, we're all on the same page. We know this program needs repair and it ain't coming this year or the next. We are entering the Battle years, as we can only hope for a Saban-like return to glory. Let's all suck on a rotten big orange as this is going to be a long process of getting over a coach that has rested on his laurels and hardy appetite for talented playmakers that have carried him for far too long.

We need a new coach with strong recruiting ties that can carry us into the new century to compete and win titles. The only thing we're not good at is chick gymnnastics, only because we don't care enough yet.

Kiffen might be a fit here, but only if Hammy has the stones to approach him early and often to make it a possibility. We don't want a Paterno/Bowden program that simply waits for them die approach, we want a friggin winner! Don't give me some west-coast sissy offense, I want a knuckles in yo mouth offense that lashes opponents with sheer brutality and overwhelmingy intimidation. I'm convinced we can beat the gators of the world in quick fashion if we have the Saban mentality instead of hiring the coordinator who has the cutest offense to date.

I know this is against all that is right and correct in today's world, but I would play the players that give us the best opportunity to win right dadgum now. That means sitting #27's butt on the bench in favor for Hardesty and Creer. You think any pro coach would agree? I hate to disparage any player, but we have a few that I really think would be better suited for the rugby club. If you fumble in rugby, they would at least blame drinking 2 quarts of keg beer for your fumbleiits.

Here's a big thumbs up for the Vols beating the Huskies and for the Vols finding out what ails us. Also, here's a big thumb's up for one of you loyal readers of WLH, coming up for a suitable replacement for the regime we have now.

NO GAME IS AN AUTOMATIC WIN

Tennessee plays host to Northern Illinois this Saturday, and I know even though the season has been an utter disaster thus far, few believe that the Huskies can beat even the worst of Tennessee teams.

A quick look back in the history books of Tennessee football says otherwise! Remember the 1996 Memphis game loss 21-17? Tennessee was led that day by Peyton Manning at q.b. What about the infamous Rutgers game in 1979 and the 13-7 loss. Ben Byrd who wrote for the now defunct Knoxville Journal newspaper wrote the day before the game a column about " what is a Rutgers? " The Vols found out that answer on a bleak November day. How about asking Bill Battle about the 1975 game against North Texas State? Tennessee lost that day 21-14! Many Vol faithful believe that to still be the most embarrassing loss in Tennessee football history! In 1982, Tennessee lost to a woeful Duke team to open the season 25-24.

The bottom line is that upsets happen all the time and Tennessee is not immune to any of those upset bugs, especially this year when your offense is dreadful and you lack a lot confidence. Do not tell me that Northern Illinois does not have a chance on Saturday. We have seen "black Saturday " a few times over the years.

I Hate Bama But......

Give the Crimson Tide credit! Nick Saban may have the best team in the country in less than two short years with Bama. Saban and the Tide are indeed rolling, and they are rolling with young talent, which means that the rest of the SEC might be in serious trouble for years to come. The rebuilding of the Bama nation under Saban is one or two years ahead of schedule!

Sure, Alabama paid Nick Satan ( LSU calls him that) too much at approximately 4 million per year, but can you argue with the results? Bama sold their college football souls to Saban, but he has and will deliver now, and for many years to come!
Sabans smash mouth, and hard nosed approach to the game is once again changing the way the game of football is played within the SEC. The adaption to the spread offense has been the trend with Urban Myer and Florida leading the way, but give me hard nosed and bust them in the mouth down in and down out football that Bama is playing over any " Flavor of the month/year" at any time and I will show you a consistent winner.

Alabama is winning by returning to the days of the olden SEC style of play by just physically whipping your opponents on both sides of the ball. Bear Bryant would finally be smiling down on his beloved Crimson Tide program and the way they play the game.

I do not like Bama, but I do give them credit for their great start and the way they play the game. Saban is going to win at Bama, and it is up to Tennessee if they want to stay in the chase with the big boys of the SEC!

What Do You Do Now ?

What do you do now ? The answer is simply to start over. You start over from tackle to tackle on the O-line and you look for new running backs to emerge, such as Taurean Poole, and you bench individuals like Arian Foster, and give more reps to Lennon Creer and Montario Hardesty.

Obviously, you make a change at the Q.B position and give Nick Stephens or B.J Coleman an opportunity. What do you have to lose ( except more games)? Maybe, you implement more of the G-run ( I know it is the G-gun, but we usually run 99% of the time). Do you put Eric Berry on offense? I know that I am grasping for some answers, and unfortunately so is our coaching staff! The situation seems desperate, and I know that I can offer very little hope for the rest of the 08 year. Tennessee has become a program in a downward spiral over the years and it is about to hit rock bottom!

What is the difference between the Tennessee football program and the Titanic? Tennessee has a larger band! It is truly sad times to be a Vol fan, but the sun will shine on our tails once again! WE WILL BE BACK!

Tennessee has way too much tradition and pride to stay down for long, and better days lie ahead. Ask Alabama, Texas, USC, Auburn, Notre Dame, Michigan,etc. Many other programs that are steeped with tradition have struggled over the years! You go through cycles, and unfortunately the Vols are in that downward cycle now, and I believe they will struggle for another 2-3 years depending on the future decisions of the program. Reminds me of the days of Bill Battle. History often repeats its self.

What Do You Do Now?

I was as reckless and carefree as "W" in Nawlins

I was reckeless in my previous post. I'll freely admit I have a few spelling errors, and I neglected to hit check before I posted. Please accept my apologies.

Dis Your Opponent...Awbun

I'm going to change this post around some from my previous dissing posts, because my hatred level for Aubie reaches that of teal on our terror alert scale. Besides, we have a common enemy to bond together to fight and ridicule. Instead, I'm going with a list of top ten barners of enfamy. Some I hate, some I loathe, some I simply wag my head in indiferrence; however, all are names that ring a bell and give credence for a "dissin" post.

In no particular order:

Sir Charles: Loud-mouthed and controversial. This guy may actually win the governship of Alabama in the future. That would be as much a collosal failure as his golf swing has become, but I wouldn't put it past people from Bama from electing his dumb ass.

Freddie Weygand: How long did this guy play anyway. I knew as much about Fred back in the 80's as I knew about John Stallworth. If there has ever been anybody that has more letters in a sport I'd like to see them.

Pat Dye: We used to beat Pat, and that's enough reason to list him. He has been reincarnated however in the form of Boo Weekly. Both slack-jawed, good ole boys running amock in the very deep south and loving it. Majors and Pat were so chummy that even Barney Frank wanted in on the action.

Aubie: What a stupid name for a macot. Slap a LSU jersey on him and he might have some significance. I like the War Eagle better; at leasts its' cool to see it perched on a band nerd's arm.

Bo Jackson: I'm not gonna rip Bo. He is SEC and what a Heisman winner should be, although he almost got reamed by Chuck Long. We beat him in 85, and I like him... so there.

Stan White: Beat us the only time I've been to the plains. Wait, they didn't beat us, but it sure felt like they did. I didn't and still don't like him; his teeth were and still are too big.

Jordan Hare Stadium: I know this isn't a person, but I know who "Suge" is. Who the heck is Hare? It's kinda cute how they mispronunciate it though.

War Eagle: Again not a person, but any war cry that goes back to the civil war is worth mentioning.

With the prospect of Aubie kicking our tail again, we may have some names to add to this list next time, so if you have any others to add, please feel free to post them in our comments section. Enjoy Sir Chuck's swing.

Early 80's Revisited

Oh how painful the days of the early 80' with Steve Allatore And Jeff Olszewski at the helm for the vols. That is the era of 5-6 in 1980 and 8-4 in 1981 with losses to Georgia and USC by a combined score in the first two games of 87-7. That 81 team beat powerhouse Wichita State by a score 0f 24-21. Those were the days!

We have come full circle in big orange country and we have returned to those " glory days". The only thing missing is the Worlds Fair! The offense is once against pedestrian at best and the defense cannot make key stops when needed. The Q.B play is pathetic at best and the D-line has two more sacks than me after three games this year!

One glimmer of hope though is the only complete game the Vols played in 1980 was at Auburn as the Vols won that game in astonishing fashion by beating down the war eagles/tigers 42-0. I would not count on the same thing happening in 08 as these Vols have shown us very little reason to have any optimism. I hope that I am wrong, but I have seen this same song and dance over many of the years of following Tennessee football.

Saturday, will go a long way to determining if this season has any hope left in it , and I am afraid that I know the sad truth to how things will end. Just as the Worlds Fair came and went , and K-town was the toast of the country, so has the Tennessee football program come and gone. Tennessee ten years ago was the toast of college football and now we are back to the 1980"s! Get out your foam fingers and World Fair shirts!

Battle Between Offensive Juggernauts

These two offensive geniuses face off this week in what will be a battle between the ghosts of hot seat past and hot seat present. Despite Big-uns defiant tone this week, he knows that his offense must improve if he wants a reprieve from the backlash from the overwhelming majority of fans this week. He thought having to answer to Alabama attorneys would be his major distraction this week. Nope. That seems like a cake walk compared to the uproar from the orange nation trying to dethrone him from his coaching post. Although the Alabama courts are workin like heck to get him deposed, Fulmer's got the red-ass for vol fans who dare question his rightful heir to orange, crown jewels.

Tubbs probably can feel his pain after surviving an embarrassing and unsuccessful coup four long years ago, but there won't be enough pity to keep him from ground storming Chavis again. Besides, Wingnut has the cow college faithful in their own uproar over his lack of offense prowess as well. Any way you slice it, this is going to be a defensive struggle with the team making the fewest mistakes coming out on top.

Oh crap...mistakes are us.

Tennessee + Michigan = Same Results

If there is ever two programs that have mirrored each other in the recent past it would be Tennessee and Michigan. Both prorams have achieved many highs and lows over the past several years,and both programs have had coaches on the proverbial "hot seat"!

Take a look back to 1997 and the year the Wolverines won the national title and Charles Woodson stole the Heisman ( yes I am still bitter). The following year it was the Vols who won the national title. The similarities do not stop there. Both teams are currently owned by their two chief rivals in Ohio State and Florida!

For Lloyd Carr the losing to Ohio State eventually caught up with him. We will have to see the what will happen with coach Fulmers fate because of his and the Vols futility against the gators. Judging by the way Michigan responded and the parallel between the two programs I would say that it does not look good for coach Fulmer.

Imagine just eleven and ten short years ago Michigan and Tennessee were celebrating national titles, and now Michigan has a new coach in Rich Rodrigues, and now Tennessee may once again be following suit in the footsteps of the Michigan program. This time it will not be a celebration though, but a changing of the guard. Just like Michigan.

Tommy Boy

This week it is off to the lovliest of the plains in Auburn, Alabama. The Tigers/War eagles will not be in the best of moods after their loss to LSU in a 26-21thriller! Tommy Tuberville and his troops will not be the ones feeling any sympathy for the Vols as they get ready to embark on what could be coach Phillip Fulmers last stand as the Volunteer coach.

Tuberville is 3-1 versus Fulmer head to head and has won the last three in a row. He very rarely has lost two games in a row at Auburn and I do not remember him losing back to back games at home in his tenure as head coach ( definitely in the near past). You can bet Tennessee will not sneak up on the Tigers/ War eagles this weekend. The "river boat gambler" will let it all hang out there against the Vols and why not? Can Tennessee make them pay for any miscues? The answer is painfully, NO! Why not let it all hang out there if you are Auburn!

Can Tennesee make any team pay for taking chances against this years team? The answer again is a painful, NO! When your offense is as anemic as the Vols, why not play with reckless abandon, because Tennessee cannot make you pay for your mistakes, because most likely we will trump your mistakes with two of our own! That is what happens when you have no identity as a fotball team!

The sad fact of the matter is that many Vol fans will still make the trip down to Auburn hoping against hope that the " real Tennessee football program" will show up this weekend. The sad fact is the " real Tennessee football program" has already shown up the last three games, and that team is just plain awful! Get ready to roll Toomers corners one more time Auburn fans at the expense of a fading Tennesse. program.

IT IS OVER

Thanks for the memories as Bob Hope use to sing. That is the tune I pick for the state of Tennessee football and coach Phillip Fulmer. The best days have come and gone and it is your time to bow out gracefully. As a Vol fan I appreciate your accomplishments as our head coach, and I will truly never forget the great runs you had at Tennessee. With that being said, it is simply time to move on! We are mediocre at best and I believe we are even below mediocrity at this point.

The list below are candidates that I would like to see Tennessee take a serious look at when the inevitable comes to pass at the end of this football season. They are in no particular order, but I will list the pros and cons of each coach.

1. Jon Gruden/ Tampa Bay: A long shot candidate, but he has ties to the program as grad. assistant in the 70's and his wife is from nearby Jefferson County. The drawback would be the money situation, as I am sure he is making a ton of money in the NFL.

2. Brian Kelly/ Cincinnati; This guy has won at different levels within college football at the likes of Central Michigan and now with the Bear cats. He brings a high octane offense to the game and a high energy level! Reminds me of Bruce Pearl on the gridiron! Can he compete on the recruiting trail in the SEC?

3. Jim Leavitt/ South Florida: Doing a terrific job with the Bulls program! A players coach that also seems to have very good discipline within his program. Also, has great recruiting ties to the state of talent rich Florida. Is he ready for the competition of the SEC and the elevated level of play?

4. Chris Petersen/ Boise State: If you can win at Boise State and beat the likes of Oklahoma, maybe he could really be outstanding here at Tennessee with the facilities and tradition that Tennessee has! Again, the level of play week to week would be a drastic change.

5. Butch Davis/ North Carolina: Has been a success in the college game every where he has been plus has added NFL experience that would aid in recruiting. Doing an exceptional job recruiting for the Tar Heels. He has had NCCA problems in the past which is a huge concern.

6. Bronco Mendenhall/ BYU; This guy is creative and his BYU teams are always exciting to watch!. He has brought life back into a program that was down. My concern would be his ability to bring a complete staff with him. Remember, this team beat UCLA 59-0 after that same UCLA team beat us in their previous game. Apparently he can learn from film study( a novel approach at Tennesse).

7.Skip Holtz/ East Carolina: Besides hating his father Lou I think Skip has done an excellent job with the Pirates and would deserve a look see. Again, having Lou anywhere near does make my stomach churn.

8.Jeff Tedford/ California: The shine has come off him a bit with last years 6-6 record, but he still has the reputation of being a very solid coach. The Cal program stunk before his arrival.

9.Jim Grobe/ Wake Forest: My boy, Ren Tenn Tenn brought this name up to me, and I like it! Hell, if you can win at Wake imagine what you could do at Tennessee?

10. Bobby Johnson/ Vandy: See the above but replace Wake with Vandy. The Steve Martin clone has done a wonderful job with little talent and tough academic requirements that many other SEC teams do not have!

This is just my two cents worth on possible coaches I would like to see Tennessee look at when the 2008 season ends. Let me know if you guys have others in mind. By the way, is it almost basketball season yet?

IT IS OVER

The Common Fan Is Mad As...

well, the heatmizer at the very least. This is downfall is happening now at warp speed and a collision of fan and athletic director is inevitable. 72 year extension or no, Tennessee power boosters won't stand for this. Can you imagine being one of the big-money players having to endure the constant questions about how long we'll keep Fulmer and now Clawson. Fans are looking for the Haslem bat phone trying to find out how long this administration is going to last. My prediction looking at the bevy of butt kickings coming our way, is not for long pal.

Execution ultimately comes down upon the coaches' shoulders, and this weeks' litany of woe is theirs for them to endure. Urban is now Four up none down on us, with two shellackings back to back. This one was never in doubt; Clawson hadn't even a chance to dazzle us with his brilliance before being out of the game completely. Our offense improved this week, but crucial errors in the kicking game left us for dead, just like last year and just like at UCLA. Hire a dadgum special teams coach maybe instead of separate coaches for tight ends and offensive lineman. Our kicking game has gotten us beat more times than our tight end has. We did get a workin like heck blast from Fulmer on his show which really pleased me, though.

All in all, this game, our season, our coaches, our ticket prices make you want just....well, cry.

Fulmers Biggest Game?

I know the game that a coach loses always turns out to be the "big game". This game versus Florida is perhaps Fulmers biggest game of his 16 year tenure. At no time has the fan base been this restless and his popularity has dipped to George W. Bush levels in public opinion polls around K-town!

Fulmer has responded well in times of adversity over the years and once again his back is against the proverbial wall. This team needs this game in the worst of ways and Fulmer probably needs it even more! A loss to the gators will drop Fulmer to 0-4 against Urban Meyer and further validate that the Tennessee program is in decline. However, a win over the gators may jump start this years team and at least for the time being get the fan base off of coach Fulmer and his much maligned staff.

One game does not make a season as we have been told numerous times by about every coaching staff in the country, but this game has huge ramifications for not only this year but for the future of Tennessee football and coach Phillip Fulmer. This truly is a " big game"!

Why I Hate Florida

There are many reasons to hate the dreaded gators to our south in the sunshine state.I thought I would list several of my reasons for my disgust for the gators and the most obnoxious fan base in the country.

1. They wear Jorts ( a combination of jeans that are cut off to resemble shorts) a
true fashion statement to say the least!

2. They are like "new money". Theses are people that win the lottery and become
obnoxious with their spending. Simply put, the gators have no real tradition.

3. Most of their fans are not even locals from their own state, but they are
transplants, that are mostly above the Dixie line of the beloved south.

4. The " gator chomp". Come on guys surely you can come up with something better
than that queer cheer or whatever you call that!

5. Declaring championships with teams that only the best that money could buy in 84
and 85. That is like Bama claiming 12 national titles. What a joke!

6. Suspending key players for easy games and miraculously not have them suspended
for key SEC games and then suspending them again for the game against the
sisters of the poor.

7. For being classless. An example set by Urban Myer and the likes of Steve
Spurrier.

8. For the " Johnny come lately" fan base that is Florida football. Where were
you guys in the 70's and 80's? Again, what a joke!

9. For the shitty town of Gaines ville in general! What a dump!

10. Finally, just for you gators being you! The classless jean short wearing trash
that is Florida football who think that they are superior to the rest of the
SEC with their 15 year tradition and their fan base that consists of band wagon
fans that will jump off as quickly as they got own when things get tough and
they will! Tebow will graduate and we will see what a genius Meyer is!

Week 3 Dis Your Opponent

It's that time of year again where we face our nemesis to the south - those jean short wearin', rub it in your face gators. Classless and despicable, they have become a thorn in the side of every Vol fan, replacing many a vol's number one most hated rival from Alabama. The Florida highlanders boast none of the scenic beauty of the coastal regions and can claim more mullets per capita than any region in the country.

I can't tarry long on this thread, because I'm workin like heck to get to the Ryder Cup practice round tomorrow, so I'll have to just say for now: Florida....I hatcha, I hatcha, I hatcha, I hatcha.

Urban. You're a jerk, and you're going to get yours. You can't have Saint Tebow forever to give what amounts to either a divine blessing or a horseshoe up your tail. That offense will get someone killed one day. Someone that's less than 240. You've reached a new low when Warren Sapp thinks your a jackass. I hope your fortunes amount end the end to what Lehman Brother's are going to be. Eat it. Here's a big workin' like heck foam finger to ya.

Mission Impossible?

Here we go again! The Vols versus the Hated Gators and coach Urban Meyer who has moved up on my list as one of the a-holes in the SEC. Tennesse will come in as a decisive underdog and rightfully so after the their first two games of the season.

Florida is loaded with playmakers at about every position and do not forget the have Clark Kent slash Superman on their team in Tim Tebow.Also, take in the fact that the gators have made Neyland stadium their home away from home over the last sevral years does not bold well ( won 5-7 ).

The only thing Tennessee seems to have going for it is " Fulmer luck"! The Vols seem to be at their best when their backs are against the wall. Remember 03 when the Vols beat the Canes to end their fifty something game winning streak at home? How about the win over Georgia last year when the doubters were hot and heavy after Fulmer? Yes, Tennesse reponds well a lot of times under adversity and this is definitley one of those times!

The unrest in the program is at the level at anttime of the Fulmer era ( rightfully so in my opinoin) and he needs to desperately settle the restless for at least the time being. Saturday is the perfect time to start! This is the biggest game of coach Fulmers tenure at Tennesse if he wishes to contine his tenure!

It is about the almighty green dollar in college athletics these days and by observing from last Saturdays crowd against UAB it is time for Fulmer and the Vols to step it up or risk losing a fan base that is one of the most loyal in the country. Do you hear me Mike Hamilton? Decision time looms near and what happens this Saturday will be a major step in one direction or the other!

Sleeper of a Blowout

After almost two weeks of angry preparation for the mighty blazers of UAB, UT looked to take out its' frustration on its' most unfortunate foe. In what, in my opinion, is going to be a recurring theme this year, UT looked disjointed on offense...again. The staff continues to put Crompton in decision making positions he just not ready for, and it's going to really show up next week as the gators come to town. Not that in hind sight UCLA getting bludgeoned by 59 today really says that at all; we are in deep doo-doo.

I've heard the reinforcement in the post game press conference by the players and coaches, but we Tennessee fans have seen enough to know we are in trouble. Just look at the attendance today; our fans know this is going to be a disastrous season. We look teeth-extractingly slow on offense and we've lived through 2005 when we wasted an incredible defense with awful play at quarterback. I don't know which was preferable after this game, passing out in the extreme heat in Neyland, or watching this from the vantage point of QQ row 26 on Raycom. Either way, it wasn't pretty. Give me a 3 to 2 win next week ala Auburn, and I'd be thrilled.

Week 2 Dis your opponent

After rather glowing comments about UCLA in my inaugural "dissing" blog, I've been given ample material should this series continue into next season. Not even one Mark Harmon reference by ABC last week; I am disappointed:{

This weeks angst is relatively mild once again as I can't justify wasting quality Alabama pictures and video on UAB. The school to the southwest of them will get plenty...not to worry. Now, what I hate about UAB:

Funny enough, their nicknames and history will do the trick. It's been called "the Pittsburgh of the South". Now I know this has to do with all the industrialization the city has provided for that wretched state, but Pittsburgh? Nice. Any time Hollywood wants to portray a drab, dreary, miserable setting, Pittsburgh fits the bill. Heck, it might as well be Pittsburgh, West Virginia. Atlanta at least calls itself the New York of the South......and, bama has Pittsburgh. It made me smirk just reading it. Bombingham. If your under 50, you might not know the history of this well received nickname, and I'm not going to bore myself by restating it. Just google it yourself if you don't know. It's not one to wear proudly, but it is historical. Just ask Neil Young.

The "magic city" has been a hub for business for since 1871, and can proudly boast that a quarter of the state's residents live within its' metro, area {including that Soul Patrol nerd). It can also boast that it is the 18th most dangerous city for violent crime helped out by a #7 national ranking for murder- a real shocker if you've ever been to Legion Field.

I've been quite nasty so let me end by saying, I know very little about the blazers, nor do I care to. Let's just get this game behind us, so we don't have to think about UCLA so much.

Bruins celebrate!!

It's been two days since digesting the rotten tomato of defeat from a depleted, mediocre UCLA football squad. It's been highlighted by ESPN as an instant classic, a case study in perserverance, and the little man triumphant over the giant. This is one classic most Vols won't want to relive or stack in their video collection alongside the 86 Sugar Bowl. I still have it on my DVR, but It's going to be replaced very soon by an episode of Man vs. wild.

I'm not going to rehash the nightmare over what happened, but I will say we got outcoached and out-hearted. Whether that's a word or not, I don't care... I'm still bent. Tennessee, no doubt will be workin' like heck to get better over the bye week, so we shall see what the heck happens after the UAB game when Florida comes to town. We'll have to see if we can muster another double digit underdog performance at that time just as we can never seem to play worth a crap when we're supposed to be heavy favorites.

UCLA was a team ripe for our new coming out party; our new coordinator was going to show who was boss. New kid in town, new offense, downfield passing attack, get the pig into the playmaka's hands, orange pants, rose bowl, HECK YEAH!!! Err, uh, uh, no, not really...UCLA, Craft, Chow, Neuheisel all came outta the closet to smack us in the face and treat our coaches like a bunch of ______'s.


Next up....Go Vols beat Birmingham.

Introducing The New Vols Forum.

We are workin' like heck. What are we working like heck on though??? That's the important question. Well at football season is dead upon us, we thought that it would be extremely nice for UT Vols fans everywhere to have a UT Vols Forum. You know a place to rant, a place to rave. A place to theorize, and predict.

Our new forum is powered by PHP BB, the best forum software available. It has plenty of easy to use and understand options, and it's super-simple to create yourself an account. Be sure to visit and share your true Tennessee Vols passion with the rest of the world. Enjoy!

One last Olympic flashback

The Olympics are fun and all, but let's get real. Swimming and beach volleyball aren't going to be revving my engines as year-around sports. I think this video captures the thrill of the battles that have been waged and the sportsmanship that has been shown during this historic Beijing Olympics.

Chow Versus Clawson

I know September the 1st has Tennessee against UCLA written down on the schedule. But is that really the most intriguing match up of this game? How about Chow versus Clawson?

Sure, Chow has the household name and everyone has raved about what a guru he is at every stop throughout his career, but this is the the time for the up and comer too shine and maybe establish himself as one of the next great coaches on the scene. Dave Clawson left D 2 jobs to take a chance at Tennessee for a reason! That reason is to position himself as a legitimate head coach on the D1 level!

The proving ground begins on September the 1st and Clawson has the opportunity to beat the mastermind in Chow and put himself front and center for the 2008 campaign. I know the Vol faithful are praying for Clawson to be the next great thing in college football, and maybe he will be?

The UCLA game will be the beginning of what I believe will be an interesting season on behalf of the two coaches, one that is older and tenured in Fulmer and the the next up and coming coach in Clawson that has hedged his bet that he is ready for "prime time". Lets hope Clawson is right.

Dis Your Opponent

Okay, I've come to an epiphany about what I should have as an onging blog going into the new season. Like most of you, there are a few opponents that I love to hate. What's more, the week of a game, I generally hate whomever we play. Yes, I really hated Air Force when we played them, not to mention that complete disdain for Louisiana Lafayette...freaking cajuns. Now I feel good about what I'm supposed to do, so every week I'll have a synopsis of my personal feelings for that week's foe. Some weeks will be short as my level of hate will probably rise to the level in which I enjoy women's basketball or even soccer. Nonetheless, I'll give it the old college try.

Week one: UCLA

Yeah, I know, this is a head scratcher...what with all the good looking woman out there, the sun, the stars, Beverly Hills, and all the Bugs Bunny landmarks all around. To be honest, I love going to L.A., and their campus is in one of the richest zip codes in the country, and you can visit some of the nicest restaurants in the country. Not a bad place to kick around for an away game; but, on the other hand, their turf isn't even on campus and their colors, while nice on the cheerleaders would get your ass kicked in the south.

Keith Jackson lives there...enough said.

If I have to see any Mark Harmon pictures or side stories next week I'm going to hurl. It's almost as bad as NBC constantly panning to Brady Quinn's ugly sister while playing OSU. Why doesn't David Keith get this kind of TV play...he was a UT trainer.



However, after googling Mark Harmon, he seems like a pretty good guy. He even supports McCain...not too shabby in that Pinko-Commie state. Man, I'm getting off track. I can't even rip them about their tree people; that was in Berkely. Well, I'll have a more vile post in a couple of weeks, I'm sure. There's not much else not to like about UCLA, with the exception of them beating us a few times and that 26 all tie back when I was in high school. Nevertheless, if you can come up with more reasons, feel free to start a thread in the new forum. I'll be back on topic after beating those sissy bears, to thrash the blazers a bit

Bring Back The Orange Pants

It is the time to put back on the orange pants with the white jerseys and get back to Tennessee fotball and forget looking like Penn. State. I remember when Keith Jackson was complaining about how hard it was to read the jersey numbers, but who cares?

Keith Jackson and the rest of the media can get over it! Tennessee is orange and white and that is the way it is! Put back on your school colors and wear them with pride! I will never forget the Vols wearing their orange colored pants in the 80's and early 90's.

I believe there was never a better road uniform than the Vols during this era and I hope that Tennesee will return to that time in the near future. The colors at Tennesee are orange and white ( not black) and it is time to return to tradition!

The rumor is that the Vols are returning back to tradition and I hope this is the case, because I miss the good "ole days" of Keith Jackson maybe not being able to pronounce a name or two of the players because he could not see them clearly but as a Vol fan staying true to tradition i really could care less! Bring back the orange and white please!

TN Vols Forum

Our new TN Vols Forum is up & running. Our goals with the new forum is to allow TN Vols fans throughout the world to communicate with one another, and have great, informative, absorbing, and interesting conversations with like-minded fans.

Forums are true communities, and once established, I'm sure this new Vols Forum will be the place to talk up and about the Vols.

Game Week

Finally ! The time has arrived as we get ready for the games to begin and of course for the Vol fans all eyes will be out west as Tennessee gets ready to take on UCLA. It should be an interesting first weekend of college football and I am ready to get things started!

Alabama and Clemson will be one of the biggest games of the first weekend of the season. This game will be played down in Atlanta, and even though the Tigers are favored by about everyone, do not be surprised to see the Tide rise up and pull off the upset. Bama is a year or two away from making big waves in the SEC but they still are very dangerous.

Another game of interest to me is Appalachian State traveling to LSU. These are the same Mountaineers that upset Michigan last year. I do not look for a repeat performance this year but this is a game to keep an eye on just based off last year. LSU will be breaking in a new QB and you never know how that will go?

The first weekend of the season will usually go as scripted and the favorites will win most of the time , but there are exceptions to this rule and a surprise upset or two may occur ? Hopefully, Tennessee will not be one of these surprise upsets! Thank goodness that the 2008 season is about to get going and finally we can separate the pretenders from the contenders!

Let the talking stop, and the games begin and we will separate all the teams across the country and find out who is truly number one in the land!

Warren to Improve Offense

Finally. For the last few years we have been waiting for that Jason Witten type of difference maker at tight end, and it appears that our patience has been rewarded by the addition of Brandon Warren. Florida State would split Warren out as much as they kept him tight, so I'm sure that hasn't been lost on Dave Clawson, who has to be beaming to have such a threat added to his offense. This is going to take alot of pressure off of first year starter Jonathan Crompton, giving him an outlet to check down to if he can't find an open receiver. Not only a special ball catcher, Warren can create alot after the catch. This will give Tennessee two big time talents catching the football this year. We've been saying that Tennessee needs that game breaker a la Percy Harvin at Florida. Now, with Gerald Jones and Warren, Tennessee has a duo capable of turning nothing plays into big gainers.

Maybe I'm being overly optimistic, but I see a very potent offense brewing, and hopefully Chavis' D will be much improved from last year. Who knows, this could be a special season. We weren't expecting a championship in 1998, so maybe we'll start a new trend with a national championship every ten years. Besides, we put a whoopin' on the current number 1 team last season.

2008 Non Confernce Preview for 2008

Here we go again as we approach the 08 season and I thought this would be a good time to look at the non conference opponents at this time for the upcoming season. The schedule is again loaded with traditional rivals, and also a inter sectional rivalry (UCLA) along the way. As usual, Tennessee will play a challenging schedule that will make 2008 very exciting to the Vol fan. Here is the way I see the non conference games on the schedule for this year.

UCLA: September 1 at UCLA. UCLA is in transition with a new coach and offensive coordinator in Norm Chow and they only return a limited amount of starters on both sides of the ball and they have no proven QB. Look for a Vol win ! Tennessee has too much for the Bruins.

Alabama Birmingham (UAB): September 13th. UAB is just not that good at all even though they will return a majority of their players from last year. This is a program a few years away from making any noise in the NCAA. Take the Vols to win big!

Northern Illinois: Forget about an upset in this one. Northern Illinois is not the same team they were a a few years ago and I think Tennessee wins this game handily. Should be a good tuneup game for Georgia.

Wyoming: The Cowboys should be improved this year as they return 17 starters on both sides of the ball, but they still do not have the athletes to compete with the Vols.

Overall, Tennessee will face a tough schedule in 08, but the non conference schedule is very manageable and I think Tennessee will go undefeated throughout the non conference tilt. You never know when you schedule these games in advance? Remember the 1979 Rutgers game?
A sure win is never a sure win, just ask Michigan about Appalachian State from last year.

Is It Time To Pay The Student Athletes?

Has the time arrived when it is time to pay the the student athletes in college sports? The debate has raged on for many years and many people offer differing views on this topic. I thought I would put my two cents in on on this subject as well.

Toady's student athletes in big time college athletics (Football, Men's college basketball) generates millions of dollars for the university on a annual basis and the student athlete only receives a free education (scholarship)? The money generated on merchandise sales and all the different apparel creates a lot more cash flow than the average scholarship! I know critics will point to the purity of college athletics, but have we not passed that a long time ago?

It is time to quit pretending that we are living in the times when school pride and tradition is all that mattered. Today, it is about the almighty dollar ,and how fast the student athlete can get to the " next level". It has become a game within the game on many levels and today's student athlete is getting tired of being used as a pawn for the next coach to go off and make many millons of dollars while the student athlete is left behind with no options.


I believe it is time to change policy and start paying the student athletes and allow them the ability to afford that pizza on a Saturday after the big game and allow the student athlete the privilege of being like the big donor ( who never played a sport) for at least a moment. The student athlete is the one that allows us as fans to enjoy the moments of college athletics and yet they are the ones often left out after the big game celebration while we as as fans continue to buy their jerseys and all the other souvenirs that go with a typical game day atmosphere.

I do not have all the answers as to how this can be done, but I do believe it is time to look at this issue and find a way to help the the student athlete in some way. I do know the schools are getting wealthy everyday on this current system and yet the persons that drive their business are still looking for enough money to enjoy their night out on a Saturday night after the big game.

The Third Season

Every August marks the beginning of a new season, a new crop of incoming freshmen, and new hopes for your football team that is starting off fresh. If you think about it, it's the first season of southern college football. We get to hear about how good Georgia is going to be; how if we can get by Florida, we can run the table to the SEC championship game. And, of course we anticipate the battles between traditional powerhouses like Alabama, Auburn, or LSU.

After the hangover of the bowl games, comes the second season. Although it was started early the previous year, and somewhat followed all throughout the first season, the recruiting season is getting to be as important to many computer potato as the first. The bragging rights that come with recruiting season almost rivals that of the regular season. How many more times do we have to hear how good Alabama will be because of their new recruting class. It's extremely inaccurate and all too many times 5 star players end up being kicked off the team or never are worth a crap altogether. {I'll refrain from naming a few Tennessee Vols that come to mind.} Thankfully, it pretty much ends in February and thus concludes the second season.

Now, there's a third season that brings out the red in many a southern football fan. It's sort of followed with a lazy eye as it's vacation seaon and the first season still seems too far away to really care a hell of alot. I'm talking about the "gotcha" season. It seems this is the period when boys will be boys, or sometimes boys will be criminals. That's right. It's time for fans to start needling their respective rivals about how many so and so's landed in the pokey in the offseason. A few years back, Tennessee was starting to get a bad rep about being "UThug". Of course, alot of this comes with being successful, but every rival is looking out for the police blotter in the opposing teams' local paper. We've seen Georgia kind of run through the blotter gauntlet this year, and I'm sure they're have been other UT fans other than me point this out to a diehard Dawg.

So, now that we know that southern football never stops, let's get this season behind us and kickoff the first.... which is alot more fun to watch on TV.

SEC East Predictions For 2008

I posted my predictions for 08 in the SEC west yesterday and today it is time to post predictions for what I believe to be the most demanding division of all of college football in the SEC east. The division looks to be very strong again as two or more teams are receiving top ten votes in various preseason polls or publications. These are my thoughts on how the eastern division will pan out.

1. Florida : Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin are two of the most dynamic players in all of college
football and how can you not discount what Urban Myer has done?

2. Georgia : Many publications and polls are picking the Bulldogs to be number one this year
and you can understand why with the amount of talent returning this year, but
the schedule is brutal and the "Dawgs" have been a poor front runner over the
years. Look for the trend to continue.

3. Tennessee : Obviously, as a Vol fan I would love to make the big orange my choice
to win the east but breaking in a new QB and an unproven d-line and
lack of depth at key positions it is hard to pick the Vols, but with a
a few breaks Tennessee will be in the thick of the race.

4. South Carolina : "The ole ball coach " will have this team better but they still lack
enough big time players to play with the big boys of the SEC.

5. Kentucky : Will take a step back after a very good 07 year. The Wildcats are
making strides in getting better talent and eventually it will show
but not this year.

6. Vanderbilt : Bobby Johnson has done a wonderful job at what has to be one of
the toughest jobs in the country, but Vandy is still Vandy and look
for the Dores streak to continue and not make a bowl game (1982 was the
last time) or have a winning season (also since 1982).

Predictions For 2008 In SEC

It is that time of year when all the football publications are out in your favorite shopping mart and all are making predictions as to what team will do what and why. I thought i would stay with tradition and make my yearly predictions on how the SEC season would unfold this year.

My predictions are just like every magazine article that claims to be the authority on college football ( which i do not). As anticipation builds to yet another year of great gridiron action here is how i see things unfolding within the greatest conference in all of America which is the SEC.

I will preiew my predictions for the SEC east on tomorrows blog.

SEC West Division
1. LSU : Until anyone can prove otherwise you have to go with the defending SEC champs and
national champions.

2. Auburn : Tommy Tuberville is one of the best coaches in the country and if the War Eagles
or tigers ( the one you prefer) get good QB play then watch out!

3 Alabama : Get Bama now because Saban is getting ready to restore Alabama football back
to the days of glory of the Bryant years. Still a year or two away though.

4. Ole Miss : A little bit of surprise team here as i think Houston Nutt will do a wonderful job.
Ed Orgeron was an awful coach but a good recruiter and the cupboard is not
empty with Ole Miss.

5. Miss. State : Give Sylvester Croom credit for what he has done at State and look for
continued improvement but the Bulldogs will not sneak up on teams this
year like last year.

6. Arkansas : Too much rebuilding ahead for Petrino and losing Mcfadden and Jones is fatal
for any hopes for the Razorbacks for 08.

Christmas in August?

Growing up as a kid in the seventies, we didn't have all the toys or distractions of today's kids. No internet, wii, guitar hero or whatever they're playing these days. I sound like an old coot, but when Christmas would come around their would always be one large surprise from Santa. Usually he was right on the money, didn't miss a beat...until one Christmas I was extra secretive about my true desire. I wanted a Godzilla toy. Yeah, the kind that you pull a lever on his neck and band-aid sized sliver of fire would come petering out. Lest I forget, for some reason he had a shooting claw, too. Don't ask me why, but that was my Christmas wish.

Disappointment wasn't the word to use to describe the next morning around 6 am. I was usually a pretty appreciative kid, so I tried to hide the waterworks that continued to well up as the moments sped along, not wanting mom and pop to sense the least bit of unhappiness on the chrismas morn.Soon enough the entire extended family had come, opened presents and noshed on some roast beast. No, I didn't get shut out; there were plenty of gifts of socks and books and a few Star Wars action figures that I would in later years burn in my pyrotec days. But by in large there was this heaviness of the toy I wouldn't get. Time would march on, and indeed I would get the Godzilla toy. I'm pretty sure my mom still has that stupid thing, but this whole ordeal reminds me that surprises aren't always the ones we want or expect.

The following year, as pictures with my hair sticking straight up remind me, would be the go-cart I had neither asked for or expected. Now that was a great surprise! I wouldn't have expected that my dad would bust my ass with a belt for running into the fence later on, but that's irrelevant to my point. As we wait for news on Brandon Warren's approval, a decision that will have a profound impact on our season IMO, we are most certainly going to experience either the godzilla or go-cart reaction within our Big Orange guts. Here's to hoping that socks and action figures aren't our consolation prize.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Am A Vols Fan

Tennessee football is obviously a passion in this area and many outsiders looking in seem confused as to why it is such a big deal. It is not only a big deal but it is a way of life in these parts. The reasons why are hard to explain to these "outsiders" but to us locals we know why.

1. It is waking up on a crisp Saturday morning and breathing in the air on a game day.

2. It is listening to local call in shows and getting fired up as fans as we prepare for the big game.

3. It is getting together with friends and family and celebrating another opportunity to share in moments of our lives that are so precious.

4. It is the opportunity to watch the Vol walk as the team enters the greatest stadium in the country in Neyland Stadium.

5. It is the anticipation as you await the kickoff as the teams warm up before the game.

6. It is the greatest entrance onto the field for any team in college football as the Pride Of The Southland marching band forms the "T" and watching the Vols run through it!

7. It is watching and living and dying with every play throughout four quarters of a game.

8. It is the orange and white checkerboard end zones.

9. It is Smokey our beloved coon tick hound.

10 It is the sound of Rocky top resonating in the air after big plays by Tennessee.

These are just some of the reasons it is "Great to be a Tennessee Volunteer"! There are many others and I am sure I may have left some off my list that others would have on theirs but that is also what makes it great to be a Vol fan because of the passion for Tennessee and what it means to us. These "outsiders" just would not understand.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

The Tennessee 2008 football season is just right around the corner as the Vols prepare to take on UCLA September 1st in a primetime Labor Day game on ABC, but something seems to be a little different about this tilt between to inter-sectional rivalries that have produced some thrilling moments (Dewey Warren in the 1966 game scoring late to beat UCLA 37-34).

Have the Vols lost national respect? Many believe the program is on borrowed time with a tenured coach that has seen his best days. I however believe this is when Coach Fulmer and the Vols are at their best. Remember 1998? Tennessee was supposedly going to go in the tank without Manning, Little, etc.

All that team did was win a national title as though any Vol fan needs reminding! This year is about RESPECT. I am not saying get ready to get the national title hardware come early January but I do believe this team will surprise some fans and national pundits alike. Sure, Tennessee has not been the same program as far as success since 1998 but they have been far short of being mediocre.

The track record supports my argument. I know there has not been the SEC titles during that time but there have been four SEC east titles and three SEC championship games. The critics will point to the fact that during those appearances the Vols are winless (which is fair) but at least the program is getting there in the toughest division of college football in the country. That if far from mediocrity!

This year it is all about RESPECT and starting on September 1st the journey begins.

Top Five Reason TN Vols could struggle in 2008

1. Uncertainty at Quarterback & possible depth issues at the Quarterback position.
2. Lack of depth on both offense and defensive line play. (Must avoid injuries)
3. Turnovers lose games. TN must avoid these, by protecting the football on every play.
4. No proven Fullback in Tennessee's running game.
5. Loss of Britton Colquitt for five five games due to suspension for team violation.

Top Five reasons TN Vols Will Win The SEC Championship this year - 2008

1. Returned all starters on offensive line.
2. Proven running backs and depth at the Running Back position.
3. Quite possibly the best secondary in the SEC. (Potentially the country)
4. New Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson presents the unknown or the "X" factor. (Tennessee's offense won't be nearly as predictable.)
5. Proven Placekicker Daniel Lincoln's abilities come into focus in close games.

"Workin Like Heck" Mug, Bumper Sticker & More.

Please take time to check out the great Workin Like Heck Merchandise we have available. Show your true colors as TN Vols fans by displaying one of the team's and the Coach's favorite phrases.

There is a wide variety of logos and products available. You can get them at CafePress. The store id is ut_vols_custom (Custom College Wear) At the right you see on of the mugs available.

At the left, is the "Workin Like Heck" bumper sticker... A favorite of Tennessee Volunteer fans everywhere, but especially Knoxville.



And last but certainly not least, is the Workin Like Heck Tote. A popular choice for fans to carry all their stuff to the game, or anywhere else for that matter.