Tales from the Darkside

Sure there will be some that will come and see....

2008-10-25T21:31:00.004-05:00

I know there have been a lot of bammer fans that have visited my blog to see what I say about their team. I have not been posting very much, because, well, I have taken the advice of Rich and refuse to be a "Nega-Vol." So I have done my best to support my team and my coach, and be as positive as I can be. That is not easy. I used to spend a lot of time on the message boards, and a lot of time calling in to the radio, and talking about my beloved Big Orange. But there is only so many times you can say the same things over and over again. We, have shot ourselves in the foot with penalties, and have suffered through horrible quarterback play. If you call it that, we could put our third string long snapper in their and I think he could play the skill position as well as Crompton did.

I do not think it is Fulmer's fault
There have been a fire under the seat of our coach for almost as long as I can remember. I can remember back in 2001 I believe, when there was talk of him losing his job, then he went down to Miami and beat the U at home. That was within a week or so of almost losing to Duke. Never-the-less extension and raise was offered. This year i did not come out throwing darts at my coach. I believe there is no one else else we can bring in that will turn things around and make everyone happy. it is hard to get anyone to believe that because no sooner than you get that out of your mouth, that they say "What about Alabama, they went and got Saban and look at them." What am I supposed to say to that? They seem to be the exception to the rule, but then you see what Meyer has done, Miles has maintained, and Richt rides the high and low roller coaster every year. So am I to think that we can go out and get someone to lead us back to relevance?

As much as I hate to admit it, I think that tonight's Alabama game may have been the last straw for my coach. I am behind him 100%. I think he is doing the best he can with what he has to work with. i guess he has to take a good bit of the blame for the talent level. Who else can it be passed to. You have to lay some of the blame on him for starting Crompton as long as he did. My question is this, what else are we supposed to do? Fire him, force him to retire? then what? Is a lot of questions that eventually have to be answered. I know our A.D. Mike Hamilton did not look too pleased tonight. I would rather take a bad season, build some confidence and experience, and go forward next year. I am just too afraid that if we clean house on the coaching staff, we will have a long row to hold over the next few years.

This is the first time in sixteen years that Alabama has beaten us two years in a row. It hurts as much tonight, as it did a year ago. And now i have to listen to Bammers talk the talk for the next year. But the bottom line is they have earned the right to talk. They owned the field in the second half, something they have not done all year, so I cannot fault them from being a little cocky.

Keys to beating the Gators

2008-09-19T18:14:00.002-05:00

I am amazed at the lack of confidence on the Orange when it comes to winning tomorrow. Let me give you the three keys to us winning the game. I know they are the tree keys to anyone winning, but it seems that we need to get back to the fundamentals, or in the Land of the Orange, General Neyland's Maxims.

1. Live by the run, Die by the run. I do not have faith in the arm of our quarterback. I am afraid Brandon Warren is going to kill him if he two hops another ball to him. The corps of running backs have established they can run with great success. So to win, we are going to have to be a running team. Key stat to look for. If Crompton has over thirty pass attempts, UT will lose the game.

2. Control the run by Florida. Our defensive front has looked surprisingly well so far. If we can limit their gains by Tebow or Harvin, it would force the offense into a throwing team and play into the play makers we have in the secondary. I know Defenses in the SEC have been trying to stop Tebow for two years now, but to beat the Gators this is key.

3. Do not give up the big play on Special Teams. A lot needs to go under this heading. So much i think they should HIRE A SPECIAL TEAMS COACH. Cannot punt the ball to them. Too dangerous. Cannot give up a blocked kick, or miss chip shot field goals. And when we kickoff, COVER IT. Put the play makers on the field, Berry, Morely, Warren.

If somehow we can pull these off, it assures a victory.

By the way on a side note, anyone seen Rico McCoy? Anyone told him football season has started?

I don't agree, but it will be said....

2008-09-01T23:00:00.000-05:00

OVERTIME

2008-09-01T22:47:00.002-05:00

Like I said at the end of the fourth Quarter, the Norm Chow offens scares the bejesus out of me in the hurry up. UCLA gets the first possesion. First down, incomplete. Second down, no gain on the sweep. Nice tackle by Johnson. caft has been superb 18 of 24 in the second half for 193 yds. Can't convert, so blue gets the FG. to take the lead 27-24.

UT ball first down play is a run by Hardesty to the right, stopped, may have lost a yard. Second try, shotgun, screen to foster, short, will be 3rd and seven, from the 21, i say go for the end zone, nobody open, crompton keeps it, will have to settle for the FG try, it is no good, wide left. after being the most accurate kicker in the SEC he could not find his aim, much like Crompton there just was no sense of confidence. No one else can take the blame for this one exept our QB. We have all been forced to buy into the Crompton system. It is what we have, it is what we have to work with. This might be a tough one.

UCLA with the upset.

going to four

2008-09-01T21:49:00.002-05:00

BIG BIG defensive stand. I really thought we had the safety, but they reviewed it and said he had forward progress. Punt from the end zone, 30+ yd return, Vols start on the 26 of the Blue. First sack of the year given up by the O-line. Looked bad too. FG attempt of 51 yds..........blown dead, delay of game. Makes it a 56. You have to punt it now. Thought it was gonna be downed at the goal line, but crosses in.

PET PEEVE!!! I don't think Crompton has put his mouthpiece in since the first quarter. Isn't that a personal foul penalty?

UCLA is starting to move the ball. Craft is on target for the blue and has moved it across into UT territory. Big third down conversion with 7:20 to play and the Blue is about to score. Down to the UT 3. Touchdown blue. Marched down the field eighty yards and punches it in on the corner. Blue said all they wanted to do was be in the game in the fourth quarter and theu would be able to get the win. Looks like they are cutting down on their mistakes and giving it a shot. So with 6:51 to go in the game it is 17-14 Blue. After giving up four interceptions in the first half he was six for six, 71 yds on the drive.

First down, wide open Warren, Crompton misses with the throw AGAIN. He cannot buy a completion. Gets lucky and gets a facemask on a sack, personal foul, first down. Third down, and long, Crompton has had pressure all night, and Crompton has folded every time, he reminds me of JaMarcus Russell. He will make a good throw and then will make five more that you hold your breath whenever he drops back. He cannot throw under pressure. Has not been able to complete a throw under any pressure all night. Third and long, 5:27 to go it all depends on this..... Crompton tucks it and runs, comes up a yard short, and with fourth and one Phil goes for it. Second effort gets it on the keeper.

4:00 to go and we have to finish this off. FG would tie but do not want to rely on the offense in a pressure filled OT. Craft is on his game, and we have never found our rythim. Lincoln is 0-fer on the FG attempts as well. Good third down conversion by Hardesty. 1st and 10 on the 20 with 2:04 to go...... Hardesty gets the corner GIVE HIM SIX!!!!! 21-17 ORANGE. Great block by the TE Stocker, and by the WR Jones. Great job running tonight by Hardesty.

1:54 to go, and if there is anything that scares me is a Norm Chow offense in the hurry up/ Neuheisel is known for his two minute offense. QUick seam route complete. Second play, complete for close to a first. Measurement is.... short by inches. 2nd and 1. Need a takeaway by UT. Good coverage, 3rd and 1, minute ten. Conversion 1st and 10 pass....complete and it will be first and ten after the UCLA time out.

If they score we should have time for a quick all or nothing drive. Craft is right on target, 1st and 10 with :44 to go he cannot seem to miss. second half is 16 of 20. shold have been a penalty for illegal man down field on a middle screen, but is complete 2nd and two.incomplete. 3rd and 2 31 seconds. Touchdown !

UT will have a last chance effort to come back with :27 seconds to make it happen.

:23 seconds and one timeout to get in field goal range.

Starts on the 43 yard line. First down incomplete, clock at :18. Complete to the Blue forty. 2nd and ten with :12 can take one shot to get closer. Ball snapped first down and Time out. Has a chance at the field goal with :05 will be a 47 yd attempt to take it to OT...........It is...........GOOOOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOING TO OVERTIME!!!!!!!! lINCOLN FROM 47!!! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD FROM 57!!!!!

whew we get a second life.

Third Quarter

2008-09-01T21:18:00.002-05:00

After a HUGE run by arian Foster and a good throw and catch to Lucas Taylor, poor ball handling by Foster results in fumble. A good looking drive that would have really made it tough on the Blue to come back, a turnover kills the momentum. Eric Berry just de-cleated a Bruin reciever on a pass to the middle. Really looking good on the defensive side of the ball.

For the third or fourth time we have run into our own players on offensive plays. On the punt by Blue, Rogan makes the first two guys miss and just as he gets going, runs right into Eric Berry. Way out of sync tonight. Crompton goes deep again for Austin Rogers and had the ball placed perfect, but the ball was bobbled. When he rares back and throws it, he seems to be on target, it is the touch passes in the middle that he seems to be missing.

With five minutes to go in the third, the Blue seems to be driving. First and ten on the thirty of UT gets about five to the 25. Great run defense backs them up and a great blitz by the LB Wilson gets a big sack. Pushes them back to 3rd and 18. incomplete pass forces a FG by Blue to close it up 14-10.

Crompton keeps overthrowing the recievers. Some have been wide open down the field and he throws it ten feet over their head. Not sure, but it seems if there is any pressure what so ever he overthrows. The quarter ends with UT up by four, not a comfortable lead at all, but it is what we have. So on to the fourth 14-10.

UCLA Quarter two

2008-09-01T19:59:00.002-05:00

Quarter two is not starting very well for the Orange. So much has been made of the offensive line's experience. They made some crucial mistakes on the opening drive. Two false start penalties when the Bruins show blitz, forced the Vols into a 3rd and 17. FINALLY, they heard my plea!! Throw it down the field and let Josh Briscoe go get it. Pass to Briscoe complet for a gain of FORTY YARDS! Montario Hardesty takes the handoff and WALKS into the Endzone for the first score of 2008. In the words of John Ward: Give Him SIX! Tie ballgame. To be honest UCLA is in their heels, look tired, our defense really needs a quick stop to punish them. UCLA loses their third starter five minutes into the second period, lost their starting reciever Everette(sp). Interesting call by Fulmer. Third down the bruins come up three yards short but gets a holding call. Instead of forcing the punt, he backs them up ten and replays the down. He is showing a lot of confidence in his defense. Short again, punts to the Vols.

Interception Bruins. Crompton cannot find a target. His throws have either been way overthrown or way underthrown. Way off target. Not sure if it is nerves or what. They say overthrowing is a product of poor mechanics. Not sure if it is not just him forcing it. Tennessee takes over aftetr the third bruin interception, but Tennessee cannot convert. The Offense looks horrible, noone looks like they are on the same page. A lot of miscommunication. With a minute to go, I thought Phil should have went for it on fourth and long, but instead he tries a fifty-five yard field goal and misses wide left. The first attempt of fifty-one was wide right. Craft throws an interception with less than thirty seconds to go and he could go.... SIXTY_YARDS PICK SIX!! 14-7 UT!!! UCLA will kneel on the ball and take it into the half behind a touchdown.

I am impressed in the defense. I am VERY disappointed in the Offense. I have been very optimistic about the new Clawson offense. I think it is going to be fine, Crompton has to find a rythim. He has to find a groove, he has been pressured a lot. I think we are seeing the difference in the Clawson led Offense and the Cutcliffe offense. Cutt was all about timing, two and a half seconds the ball was gone out of the qb's hands. It may be to the sideline, but it was gone. Crompton has been staying in the pocket much longer, thus having a good bit of pressure. In the past Crompton was very quick to tuck the ball and run, after one full half, he has not made any rushing attempts.

I am impressed with the DBs. After some soft coverage on the first drive of the game, they have really stepped up. Hardesty has looked good, and Foster had a good run late, but as a whole I have to give the Offense a C-. I would probably give the Defense a A-, so far throwing a shutout, the only Bruin points coming off of the blocked punt. Maybe we can get on the same page in the locker room, and can drop the hammer on the baby blue.

Game Ramblings First Quarter

2008-09-01T19:39:00.003-05:00

I am having some difficulties handling my nervous energy during the game. I normally enjoy some adult beverages during the game, but that all changed this year. So maybe I can try typing, maybe that will keep me occupied. So far the Orange is kinda vanilla. The defens is keeping in the game. We are about through the first quarter. Three minutes to go and already have two take aways with interceptions by Rogan and Morely. Offense is off sync. Early fumbled snap, stumbles by Crompton and just plain off target on his throws down the field. After a couple of early 6-7 yd runs my Foster, the offense has stalled out. Would like to see them go back to the short passes in the middle to the tight ends and slot recievers. Gerald Jones has had a couple of nice catches early, and Briscoe brought in a good one but was called out of bounds. Crompton started out 5 of 7. But has missed his next five passes.

I told Jim and Ryan back a few weeks ago that the thing I was the most scared about was the fact that we had a brand new punter making his first kicks of his career. With just over a minute to go in the first quarter, UCLA blocks the punt and walks in for the first points of the game and the 7-0 lead. The first quarter is going to end in the middle of a Tennessee drive, opening with the G-Gun package and Gerald getting a decent gain. Montario Hardesty has entered the game and given us a spark with a little more of a burst of the line. UCLA ends the quarter with a couple of question marks, with injuries to the starting running back and tight End, not sure to what capacity they can perform.

Pet Peeves, Tired of Hearing, Ole Miss lack of Love

2008-08-07T20:42:00.007-05:00

Right after SEC Media days, Ryan and Jim talked for a segment or two about the things they were already tired of hearing in this young college season. I too have a couple of things that I am going to scream if I have to talk about or listen to in conversation about this years Tennessee Vols. The season is so young, we are just in our first week of full pad contact, yet it feels like we need to be teeing it up on Saturday. Three weeks are all that stand between us and the beginning of what seems to have all of the components of a truly perplexing season to predict.

When we started the conversation about the 2008 Vols, the one thing I have heard in almost every conversation is "They are returning one of the Best Offensive lines in the nation, they only allowed four sacks all of last season." As true as that statement is, it is also very deceptive. The 2007 season was supposed to be Erik Ainge's time to shine. A four year starter (well for the most part) with the controversies behind him, Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe had taught Ainge to be more efficient, more productive and more selective in his passing game. The most important asset that Cut brought to Erik's bag of tricks was something that he used with Peyton, he used with Eli, and good many NFL quarterbacks already use every week. TIMING. Let me say that again, TIMING. Set....Hut...Hut Ball is snapped, thousand one, thousand two and pass. Whether it is down field, dumped off to a running back in the flat, or out of bounds, the pass is gone out of the quarterbacks hand in no more than two and a half seconds. That is why there were only four sacks. It is hard for anyone, and I mean anyone, to make a sack in two seconds. Now don't get me wrong, I know the big boys did a great job in the trench, We had some good rushing yards behind them, but let's not throw all of the credit their way.

I am not going to spend a ton of time talking about my second pet peeve. It is a simple one. "The Tennessee Defense is soft. They do not have the talent they have in years past." How can someone say that? Have they seen them play. The only time anyone has seen anything you can grade them on is the annual "Tennessee Drill" that pits offense versus defense, one on one, to see who can block who, and who can beat their offensive counter part. Was anyone talking about how strong Georgia's running game was last August? No. But Everyone wants to talk about Moreno. And if I remember correctly the "Soft" defense we had last year shut down the phenom. the Same way they shut down the two headed running attack of Arkansas. Look coach we brought that wood! Week three after the Florida game if you want to talk about our defense and their strengths and weaknesses then we can sit down over a Diet Coke and talk, otherwise, shut your mouth.

Let me change gears for a moment and talk about something that I think is not getting the airtime nor the talk they deserve. I have already stuck my neck out and said it, so let me say it once more, "I really think everyone is sleeping on Ole Miss!" I really do believe they can be the third place team in the West. With Coach yo-yo-yoo-yo they were in some games they should not have been on talent alone. Now they have someone who believes in them, and is teaching them to believe in themselves. I believe Snead is the real deal. I and ALL of you Aubuies thought the world of Enrique Davis when you thought he was to wear the ORANGE and blue. With a recognized returning offensive line and big time strengths returning on defense, WHY ARE THEY NOT GETTING ANY LOVE?? I think Sports Illustrated had them going 2-6 in the conference. I really do believe this team is going to turn some heads!

Formal Introduction to the "New" Offensive coaches

2008-08-02T21:22:00.008-05:00

There have been a lot of talk and rumblings around the SEC this year about the new offensive systems that have been implanted this year. Jim has dubbed Auburn the "Spread Heads," and Ryan seems to think Arkansas is going to be an Air Show. At SEC media days Arian Foster, the returning running back for my Vols, said that the new offense at Tennessee will be more of a West Coast Offense. So I guess we are actually taking a step or two back when it comes to what is popular in the SEC, but would still be a step forward for UT who has been a traditional running team. Before we can get to know the new offense, I want to take the time to introduce you to the new offensive staff. It is almost a totally new staff, with last years staff going the way of the road, to either Duke, Oklahoma State, and various other sub-Vol programs. Almost as different as the new staff who comes from division 1-AA, to National Champion Florida Gators, to the NFL, this new staff is as diverse as the talent they coach.

Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks coach Dave Clawson has spent his career in the minor leagues. An assistant at schools such as Albany Buffalo and Lehigh and Villanova, His head coaching career has been at Fordham and Richmond. A young coach that has only been coaching for just under twenty years, he played football and basketball at Williams College in Massachusetts where he graduated in 1989. Needless to say his resume is not "star studded." He has made a name for himself as a coach that turns programs around as an offensive expert. Hey no complaints from me, but why take a step backward from a head coach to a Coordinator? I will let Coach Clawson tell you himself. " Tennessee has one of the best traditions, and I think is one of the best names in all of college football. The challenge of coaching in the SEC was appealing, and I think also the opportunity ti work for and learn from a man of Coach Fulmer's status made the job very attractive." Dave has been calling plays for about fifteen years, and he said this about his upcoming duties. "My job is to oversee the enitire implementation of the offense from how we install plays to game planning to working with the other coaches, to helping organize practice and everything to do with the offense with the head coach. Everything I do i run through Coach Fulmer. Coach Fulmer is the head coach, and he needs to know everything we are doing. Ultimately, he is responsible for everything that happens."
Coach Clawson is also the quarterbacks coach and will help out with recruiting. He is responsible for recruiting southern Ohio, some private schools, and quarterbacks nationwide. His system is not really a spread, and not really West Coast. He uses his "Own System." It is flexible enough to fit the available talent and adapt to the strengths of his play makers. His success has been attributed to his close attention to detail. "Our offense will have a sense of urgency and attention to detail. And if I expect that from them they should expect that from me."

Stan Drayton absolutely loves coaching running backs. Loves it so much he left the National Championship he won at the University of Florida and came to Tennessee, a school more known for the running game. Coach Drayton said " The environment is very similar in a lot of ways. You are talking about two major, national schools that play in the SEC. They play on national television, and they have huge stadiums and have huge fan bases and support systems. For me it was just an opportunity to coach at a place here at Tennessee and has a rich tradition in running backs. For me it was an opportunity to be a part of something that I think is very unique and special in college football, and I took advantage of it."
For three years Coach Drayton was the offensive quality control and assistant special teams coach with the Green Bay Packers. With a total of twelve years coaching in college football, he was most recently with Florida for three years, and Mississippi State for one year prior to that. He was an All-American running back for Allegheny College.
A very respected recruiter, Stan was named one of the nations "Top Twenty-Five Recruiters" by Rivals.Com following the 2007 Gators top recruiting class. Coach Drayton also coached with new Coordinator Dave Clawson for three years at Villanova during the late 1990's which helped him make the decision to come to Tennessee. "Working with a guy like Dave Clawson that I had an opportunity to work with before makes it a very comfortable situation for me. I understand his style, and what he expects from his assistants.

Wide receivers coach Latrell Scott was an All-American tight end as a senior at Hampton in 2001. He came to UT highly recommended by Coach Clawson, having served under him as wide receivers coach for the Spiders of Richmond, moving up to the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator for their last year there. After his experience with Clawson, it was a no-brainer for the up-and-coming Scott to move to the Orange. "Recruiting is one of my strengths, I feel that I have the ability to develop personal relationships with these young men and let them know that i am there for their development. I am going to recruit metro Atlanta, the state of Virginia, and central Florida."
As for his job on game day, Scott says "I'll handle all of the wide receiver substitutions and all of the personnel groupings on game day. Coaches Fulmer and Clawson trust me to substitute my guys freely, and we are going to get the best ones on the field. We want to be a physical group of wide receivers in the run game. I think we have some guys that get after you in the run game. One of the rules in our meeting room is that you can't block you can't play. We are not going to be the reason that a seventy yard touchdown does not make it."

The final new face on offense will be the tight ends coach Jason Michael. Jason will also be a big contributor in coaching the Special Teams as well. After coaching in the NFL the last three years as a quality control coach and tight ends with the raiders and the last two years with the Jets. A quarterback at Western Kentucky where he had a 1-AA national championship in 2002, he was actually a graduate assistant for Tennessee working with the defense and special teams after leaving the Hilltoppers. Jason feels that their is not a lot of difference in coaching Tight ends in the Pros, or here at UT. "It is still blocking, it is execution and fundamentals no matter what level you are playing at. All of these guys want to play in the NFL. I coached at that level and know what it takes to play and sustain a career at that level and how hard you have to work. I felt that having insight on all those things help me relate and coach." Jason's primary areas to recruit will be his home state of Kentucky, western Tennessee including Nashville and Memphis. He will also dip into parts of Virginia, Louisiana and Texas.

Greg Adkins is the anchor of this offense. He is the lone returning coach, and a good one he is. His Offensive line only allowed four sacks all of last year which ranked them number one in the nation. All five starters are returning, but this is a new system. The biggest reason for the success last year was the timing offense Cutcliff was known for. The ball was out of the quarterback's hand in under two and a half seconds. Not much time for sacks in two seconds.

Well there you go, a new influx of coaches to guide the Orange. Maybe this helps you know who the new faces are. Lets hope in a few weeks when we leave southern California, the whole Nation will be talking about the jobs the "new Blood" is doing for the Vols.

Year Two Begins

2008-07-22T18:22:00.002-05:00

It was July 21, 2007 when I made my first post on here, about Saban, or as I have called him, the "Bionic Coach." I listed all of the major schools that the "Four Million Dollar Man" had losing records against. It was a good read and the beginning of a very active football season. After the season started I slacked off of posting on here because of preparing for the Football call in show hosted by Dunaway and Brown and sponsored by Jack's. It took a lot of my time during the week getting all of the score sheets ready for the guys. But I wouldn't trade it for the world, It is something I enjoy, High School Football has always been a soft spot for me. Hope we get to do it again this year.

It seems like it has been harder to get exited about the upcoming football season. I was visiting with a friend over this past weekend the is a tried and true Blue and Gold LSU supporter. He said that he is actually looking forward to this season more than last. He said last year there was so much preseason pressure put on them that with the way that the Tigers played last year it was hard to enjoy the experience. Every week he was so stressed out and coming off of some emotional roller coaster that come Monday morning he was a wreck. He said that with the low expectations that the media is giving his Bengals he can sit back and enjoy the fun of the week. How long will that last? But what he said made sense to me. I had high hopes last year. Erik Ainge returning for his senior season, along with a strong defense I really thought we had a chance to win the conference. Dunaway's mock week by week season proved to be prophetic, as LSU and my Vols indeed did make the trip to the Georgia Dome. With Ainge, Mayo, and others gone, it seems as though my Vols are not getting the love from many people. Although today on "College Football Live" Mark May not only said that Jonathon Crompton was poised to have a remarkable season, when asked who his dark horse pick for the National Title game was, wait for it, yes my UT Vols. Was this a curse against my team? We will see. But back to my thought. I don't think I have high hopes for my Vols. I think nine or ten wins would be a great success. With the new offense and new Quarterback Crompton, I think it will be possible to see great things, we just seem to be keeping everything close to the sweater vest.

I hope to be posting an article on Coach Clawson and the changes in the Offensive coaching staff in the coming weeks. I also hope to give you the prospective starters for the upcoming season. There has been some competition and some moving of positions so I would rather wait until practice gets going to list my depth charts. I am not an inside guy, I have to wait until they are released just like everyone else.

Earlier this week a lot of hype has been given to Les Miles comments that enraged the "Crimson Nation." I share the opinion of a lot of people, what you say to your fans is allowed. If it was a big press conference that is one thing. But private setting gatherings of supporters are a totally different ball of wax. Coach Bruce pearl is the best at this. He can incite a riot within the walls of a meeting room, locker room, or on the steps of the state capitol building. I think now that it is barely more than a month until we kick off the new season, I think it is time as fans we put our "Big Boy" pants on and just say ok, you got us, we will get you back. Isn't that what we love about this game, the smack talk, the hype? If Les gets under your skin that bad, you are gonna have a loooong season.

Tony Stewart's "Prelude to the Dream"

2008-06-04T20:32:00.002-05:00

Every year there is a race at Eldora Speedway in Ohio. It is called "The Dream" race. The first year they put it on it paid out a whopping One Million Dollars! A few years ago they began to invite some of the Nascar regulars to come out and run a match race on Thursday the week of the Dream. There are a few drivers that grew up on dirt, and there are a few that still race every week. Guys like Ken Schrader, Bill Elliott, Clint Boyer, Kenny Wallace, and Tony Stewart race in anything they can find an open seat and a steering wheel to sit behind. I have been lucky enough to race with these guys in my days at Talladega Short Track and BIR. Two years ago Tony Stewart bought the famed Eldora Speedway and really pushed the effort to make a special event to raise money for the Victory Junction Camp. Last year they teamed up with HBO cable pay per view to bring it to a national audience. He brought a bunch of his Friends out to put on a show. Last year the man to watch was Juan Pablo Montoya in his first time in a dirt late model. Also "Rowdy" Kyle Busch made his first dirt start. This year Robby Gordon was making his first time in a dirt car. The field also has Ron Capps and Cruz Pedregon from the NHRA drag racing series.

Let me tell you a little about these cars. Don't let the name fool you, just because it is dirt doesn't mean it is not FAST. This is a half mile track, they are running around it in about 15.5 seconds. That is around 116 miles an hour. These are very complex chassis with a lot of movable links and components that move and rotate while under power. The chassis cost you about $12,000. That is just the frame. Add an engine..... not just any engine these are high performance all aluminum 800 horsepower monsters. Yes I said 800 hp! They produce close to 500 foot pounds of torque. With a tacky wet clay surface it really gets up and goes. The engine will set you back between $60,000 to $80,000. Yes that is correct. I have seen a guy buy a USED engine for $43,000 before. Add about five or six sets of tires that cost $170 dollars a piece. A bunch of sheet metal and really neat stuff and you are looking at a $100,000-$120,000 racecar. on Dirt. Coming to the track in a hauler identical to the cup guys, with a backup car, extra motor and tons of extra parts. This is not Backyard Bubba taking his primered camarro with a duct tape number on the side and racing his buddies. These regular drivers take decals and make their hot rods look like the normal rides for the cup drivers. Harvick in a red and yellow Shell #29 etc. They will peel those decals off and race them this weekend in the Dream race.

Tony put on his second race tonight, the fourth annual. With a field of drivers that would make an All Star race any where in the world, they are striving to raise a million dollars for the Victory Junction camp. The field was Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, David Ruettiman, Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, JJ Yeley, Ron Capps, Cruz Pedregon, Bill Elliott, Ken Schrader, Kenny Wallace, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Red Farmer, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Ray Evrenham, Aric Almerola, Mark Martin, Dave Blaney, Robby Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Bobby Labonte, and Clint Bowyer.
Early crashes in the heat races took out Bill Elliott, Aric, and Mark martin in the first heat, and then the second heat was a one by one wreck off of two. Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, and Carl Edwards all took some paint off of the turn two wall.

The first heat ended up with Dirt regular Clint Bowyer the winner. followed by Harvick
blaney
johnson
schrader
yeley
almirola
martin
Second heat was Tony Stewart holding a clinic on the field. He was followed by
Wallace
Hamlin
Labonte
Pedregon
Gordon
Elliott
Kahne
Third heat was the surprise. ROBBY GORDON in his first ever dirt circle track race.
Kenseth
Edwards
Capps
Everenham
Ruettiman
Newman

Two drivers did not make the main event due to repairs not completed. Bill Elliott and Mark Martin did not make the start. The Main Event was Harvick on the Pole with Kenseth to the outside followed by Stewart and Blaney on row two. Green flag dropped and Harvick led the first of thirty laps with Smoke taking the lead on lap two and checking out. Lap three saw Jimmie Johnson got into JJ Yeley and spun him into the wall bringing out the first caution. Caution laps do not count in dirt racing so there was plenty of racing to go. Two grooves made the race interesting, some in the bottom of the track, the others running against the wall where the cushion is and it was bad fast. The cushion is where the dirt builds up in a little ridge to the cars lean on it like a berm and can really move. JJ Yeley spun again on lap seven, with Harvick and Clint Bowyer putting on a show. Sliding in front of each other turn to turn. At one point on lap ten it was FOUR WIDE RACING. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon were racing door to door, with Bowyer and Harvick bangin wheels as well. The best thing of the night, the in car cameras were in the car looking back from the steering wheel back toward the driver, so you saw him working the wheel and saw those helmets get covered with dirt and mud. Nine laps in Yeley spun for the third time and brought out the caution. Kasey Kahne who had engine problems all night, finally made his exit at lap 10. Blaney broke the front end on lap 13, and then we got to race a little for a while with a LOT of side by side back and forth racing. Smoke was in a different zip code, walking off and leaving the rest of the field. Lap 19 saw defending champion Carl Edwards leave the race after overheating. Carl won last years race in a car from a local boy. Stacy Holmes of Munford, AL provided the cars for both Carl Edwards and Red Farmer. This was to be Red's final Prelude and Stacy wanted Red to have a good time, and not worry about his own car. After the restart Tony checked out again and looked like noone could catch him. Robby Gordon was the surprise in second, driving a car owned and built by dirt track legend Scott Bloomquist. Tony almost lost it with three to go, with Gordon breathing down his neck, but Tony Stewart won the 2008 Prelude to the Dream. Followed by Robby Gordon, Bowyer,Wallace, Hamlin, Kenseth, Harvick, Johnson, Schrader, Busch, Reuttiman, Newman, Jeff Gordon, Pedregon, Capps, Evernham, Edwards, Almirola, Blaney, Yeley, Kahne, Labonte, and Farmer. Kevin Harvick was named most improved driver, and Robby Gordon won the Juan Montoya first timer award.

The Ohio valley was pummeled with rain last night and this morning. As of 12:30 today, this race was not going to happen. Tony made the call at 1:00 to make it happen. And happen it did. Fans saw a whale of a race and saw Smoke win his Second Prelude. Then they saw a full house, over 23,00 announced in attendance, as well as the pay per view audience. Tony made the presentation of a check for ONE MILLION DOLLARS to the Victory Junction Camp. To help with a second camp that is going to be built in the Kansas City, MO area. Kyle Petty accepted the check and got pretty emotional even giving Tony a kiss on the cheek to show what this meant to him. Tony responded by saying "I always thought Michael Waltrip would be the one to do that." how do you top that? Great night. I know the pay-per0view helps the effort to rais money but I wish this would become a Saturday night prime time race to let the fans really see some great racing. You see guys that are made out to be enemies on Sundays when you watch them on the asphalt, hanging out smiling ear to ear and having a big time. This is what these guys look forward to. A lot of them have bought their own cars and test them during the year for this one race. Tony said that he and Kyle were the only two that he knew of that had not tested for this race. By his performance, you couldn't tell. I think I will go support my local dirt track this weekend, anybody that wants to go with me, come on, lets support real racing, where it all started, and where it all comes back to. ON THE DIRT.

Thank you Vols for the Best Year in Memory

2008-03-16T14:47:00.004-05:00

I have to admit, when i first started doing this blog, I looked forward to writing and updating it often. I have not had that same passion lately. I have struggled with some health issues, and have made some life changing decisions that has changed my list of priorities. I feel like I need to at least spend a few minutes on "Selection Sunday" to look back on the season that is over now, and we await to see if what we accomplished this year is enough to give us a number one seed.

I don't think anyone would have said they would be satisfied with anything less than what we accomplished this year. Maybe a little more, would have liked an SEC tourney title, but we did win the regular season crown, so I guess that is to be commended.

The first game of note would be the third week of the season. We played in the Legends Classic to start the year and on November the 23rd the Mountaineers of West Virginia would be the first victims of the Vols. A two point win would send the Orange Clad good guys to a match up with the Longhorns of Texas. Tennessee beat Kevin Durrant and the Texas team the previous December, so they were hungry for revenge. And indeed did just that. An ugly loss, nineteen points separated the Longhorns from the good guys. This would be the first and only loss for quite some time. Along the way the Vols would register wins against Xavier, Gonzaga, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Ohio State before suffering a heart breaking loss to bitter rival Kentucky.

Now there are a couple of things I need to say about the season up until this point. First no player averaged over thirty minutes. We were playing at least ten players getting at least ten minutes a piece. Some games we were having twelve players getting time. We lost Duke Crews due to a heart condition, then heard the good news that he would be coming back. Around the end of December, we also gained the services if J.P. Prince, the transfer out of Arizona. Prince a native of Memphis,TN looks to play a big role in the future as a Guard/forward. Newcomer Tyler Smith has already cemented himself as the new "Glue" man. A force in the pain, he is also the coach/motivator on the floor. A role Dane Bradshaw filled last year, Tyler is making his year, the first one without his father, something special. Up to this point, the loss to Kentucky, Chris Lofton has been a non-factor. Shooting woes seem to have him in a fog. Message boards were full of posts calling for the most well known guard in the country to be benched. Something clicked on the floor at Rupp Arena. Something seem to flip the switch in his head. From that point on we started to to see the Lofton we all know began to show up and take more shots and make a difference in the outcome of the games.

A team known for its spurts went on another one after the January 22 loss to the Wildcats. Racking up Conference wins against Georgia(2), Alabama, Mississippi State, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, and Auburn, before it faced the toughest and most anticipated match up of the season.

When I looked at the schedule back in August, there was one game that I circled to look forward to. That was the February 23rd match up in the FedEx Forum against the Tigers of Memphis. A few weeks earlier Memphis had taken over the number one ranking. After the Loss to Kentucky the Vols dropped from their number three rank. But a couple of losses helped the Vols move up to the number two spot, on February the 18th, to set up the dream scenario of number one versus number two. A game that was scheduled early in the season as a Game day location for ESPN. With the match up now the most important game in the country it was destined for greatness. Or was it? Many an opponent claimed that no one outside of the state of Tennessee cared about the game. It became the Most watched regular season College Basketball game EVER!!! I was lucky enough to be a part of it. It was an atmosphere that can only be compared to an LSU football game. Very emotional, very VOLitile and very intimidating for the small number of Vol fans that made it into the Arena. But the outcome was sweet. We left Memphis with a victory, an end to Memphis' home winning streak, and the Unanimous Number One Ranking. For the first time, we were the King of the Mountain.

It would be short lived, a trap game against Vandy awaited us in Nashville. And it was just that, it would hand the #1 Vols their third loss of the season. The good guys finished strong with wins over Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina to claim their first outright Conference Championship in forty-one years. It happened on Senior Day in Knoxville when we had to say goodbye to three outstanding seniors. Chris Lofton, JuJuan Smith, and Jordan Howell. Chris will leave with the SEC all-time three point record, JuJuan will leave as probably the most under appreciated shooter in the conference. For the majority of the season Smith was the leading scorer on this Tennessee team. Jordan was the starting point guard for the better part of the season. These three guys will be missed heavily. Chris currently is still chasing the NCAA all time three point record, he sits in third right now. With six games remaining. I said it, six games. We lost last year by one point to an Ohio State team that went to the championship game against a Florida Team that we have owned over the past three years. This team can go all the way, will be a great finish to a Monumental Year by the BasketVols. A SEC title, ranked number one in the country, twenty nine regular season wins, thirty one counting the two exhibition wins. A lot to be proud of, a lot to build off of. Has to be the highest moment in Tennessee sports for me. To see this team go from so low, bring in a GREAT man in Bruce Pearl, and Climbing to the top of the mountain. A championship on April the 7th is the only thing to make this season better.

Thank you Bruce for simply being BRUUUUUUCE.

Thank you Chris for four years that can be summed up in two words, Class, Clutch.

Thank you JuJuan for not giving up, not quitting, and bringing us another great season.

Thank you Jordan for being a "Role Player" and coming off the bench to give "Quality Minutes"

Thank you Tyler Smith for coming in and taking ownership of this team and making it special.

Thank you J.P., Ramar, Wayne, Duke, Josh, Brian, Ryan, and Steven for giving us the best season in memory, milestones that will not be easily surpassed.

Here is my favorite memory, the Pre-Game speech to us fans in Memphis before the BIG GAME!!!

Thoughts on a Sunday morning

2008-02-17T09:59:00.002-06:00

I only have a couple of minutes, but wanted to go on record and give my two cents on a couple of things. As I am about to go to church, There are two things that are still onmy mind. First, UAB won the game for fourty minutes, but in a plit second lost about all the respect that was built up during the game. I am not going to to justify the throwing of bottles and trash at the visiting Tigers. The game had many questionable calls, but the most blatent call was the one by the Blazers not to foul when Memphis brought the ball across mid-court. At worst they tie the ballgame. More likely they miss one of the shots and you still win. But they chose to wait until the ball is driven, you give up the three point play and the win. All else aside I think destiny was in their own hands and they threw it away.

Second todays Daytona 500 will be Amazing. I think it may be the most entertaining ever.

TONY STEWART WILL WIN THE DAYTONA 500!!!

That is all for now, I am gonna be late for church.

2008-02-11T20:57:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone. I know you guys come by here to see me post about my VOLS. But wanted to take a second to tell you about another Blog I have started. Have already posted an entry to kinda introduce it to you. Hope you check it out!

Thanks!http://getback2basics.blogspot.com/

Signs, Signs, Everywhere is Signs....

2008-01-29T22:28:00.000-06:00

There are a couple of things I took away from tonight's game. First let me give some props to Senario Hillman, boy has wings. The dunk from the edge of the paint, WOW. Bama has talent. I will draw the parallel to the Memphis Tigers. For a few years now they have had unreal talent, but could not play well as a team. I saw that a lot tonight, Gee, and Hillman had good nights, four players total in double figures. There is potential there, was good to see Hendrix taking charge and coaching from the floor following fouls or baskets. Gutsy win by my VOLS, proved yes they can grind out a win.

Now to the meat of this post. If you are going to go to the trouble of calling for a white out, then wear white. Not ask everyone else to wear white and then have the students wear Crimson. If you are going to call that much attention to your students, try to have a little organizational meeting and discuss the signs you are choosing to display. The whole first half I saw one sign that had anything to do with Basketball. IT was one portraying Hendrix as the Hulk. I saw one with 41-17. Umm wrong sport there chief. He flipped it around and it said "Fat Phil loves to Squel" ummm spelling, and again wrong sport. And the houndstooth.

WHAT DOES BEAR BRYANT HAVE TO DO WITH BASKETBALL???

By far the worst of the signs was the one that they were the most proud of. They took the opportunity to show it off during a moment they were spotlighting the students. It was colorful, it was creative, it was not well thought out. "Bruce Pearl wants to be......" the first time they held it up after a Technical Foul on the coach, you could not see the bottom. In my mind I figured it would say Saban. After all the other football references I just figured that was the punchline. But no. Heck that might have even made sense. No the sign read "Bruce Pearl wants to be Pat Summitt." What the? Were you, I mean do you, ummm. Let me try to explain this to you.

This is what ol' Pat Summitt has done:

7 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championships (1987,1989,1991,1996,1997,1998,2007)

14-time SEC Champions(1980, 1985, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007)

12-time SEC Tournament Champions(1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006)

7 Time SEC Coach of the Year (1993,1995,1998,2001,2003,2004,2007)

7 Time NCAA Coach of the Year (1983,1987,1989,1994,1995,1998,2004)

Naismith Coach of the 20th Century

Oh yeah by the way she also has a record of 963-181.

Thats 84%. The great Adolph Rupp was 82%.

Next closest coach is Bobby Knight with 890 wins and a 71%.

So thanks for the compliment, who wouldn't want to be Pat Summitt?

Gottfried should sign up for a clinic in Knoxville.

Thank you Rick, Bubba, Calvin, and families

2008-01-22T22:42:00.000-06:00

I am going to break the norm and get personal tonight. Over the past few days my emotions have been a roller coaster. I appreciate you viewers that come here and read my rants about the school I love. But if you will please bare with me for a few minutes I would dearly appreciate it.

Sunday night I was sitting in my chair watching Extreme Home Makeover. It is my dose of compassion. I am a tender hearted sap sometimes, and this is my way of staying human. Then as it does a few times a show, the local news anchor came on the screen to tease the late news and said that "Local radio personality loses his son in a tragic accident Saturday night." Someone could have hit me in the stomach with a Louisville Slugger and I would not have been able to tell you the difference. I scrambled to the computer to see what I could find. Then the pain started creeping out of my soul.

I married a girl from high school when I was just twenty-three. We had a son immediately and things plugged along for a young couple who struggled but always seemed to get by somehow. Then we find out we are expecting another child. There were a couple of scares but a normal pregnancy. Then came a dreadful Wednesday afternoon. Playing around with my son she felt the baby kick real hard and then didn't feel her again. The next day we delivered my little girl. The doctor stood next to me trying to find something wrong with her, we never could. But two weeks before she was due to be born, my little girl lay motionless in my arms. The only time I would ever get to hold the shell where my daughter was supposed to be. I buried her a couple days later, and a cemetery in Alexandria, AL is where I go to spend time with her. She isn't there, but symbolically that is where I laid her body to rest.

Two nights ago that same sick feeling came over me when I heard the news about Bronner. I have known Rick for many years. We met through mutual friends back when he was doing his show "Butt Naked." He has come a long way, finding success in his career, and finding strength in his faith. This weekend he also found my respect. There is no greater pain than when the realization hits you that you have to make Funeral Arrangements for your child. You have no idea the feeling you get when you have to pick out clothes that they will wear for the last time. I have felt it, and now so has Rick. I handled totally different though. I questioned God, my faith and humanity. Nothing nor no one could justify this to me. Rick has not asked anyone to. I lashed out at those around me when they did not act as I thought they should have. As if they did not care. Rick has reached out to others first, not concerned with himself. These things got my attention.

I tuned in as most did Monday to hear Bill "Bubba" Bussey try to do the radio show and carry the torch. He did the best he could. He touched many a hearts in doing so. Tuesday came and he did the same thing he came on and did the best he could do . I tuned in at first to learn the details of what had happened. Then I found that even though it was tearing me apart emotionally I could not turn it off. I felt the same desire to listen on Tuesday. I listened as the anchors of Fox and Friends tried to spin it as a "Safety issue" or a lesson to be learned. Bubba simply almost effortlessly said, "No it is an issue of Satan trying to tear down something that is working against him." The broadcast on Tuesday was unprecedented on radio. I have not heard honesty and ministry on the air like that before. God used the men behind those microphones Tuesday. I felt like I was sitting at a table and the men on the air were sitting across from me. They were talking directly to me.
I grew up in church. From the age of seven to the age of about twenty three I was there every time the doors were open and a lot of times when they were not. But i lost interest. I lost sight of what I was there to do and slipped out of the door. It wasn't long after that I stopped listening to Rick and Bubba. I had been listening to Rick on the air since he was at K98 in Oxford. I met Bubba at WJXL in Jacksonville. And partied with Speedy in the "Playhouse." But they had all found their way back to church and that didn't appeal to me anymore. I have spent the last ten years going through some rough times. My marriage dissolved after my Daughter's death and then my ex took off with my son. I haven't seen him in six years, which is its own hell. About two years ago I met who would become my wife. We live a comfortable life but it has its problems. Church is not a subject we have ever discussed. We met in the world, and we lived our lives in worldly fashions. But for some reason around Christmas time I started listening to Rick and Bubba again. Can't really tell you why I just did. Now I know why.
Tuesday Bubba, Scott Dawson, James Spann, Speedy, and really every person that talked into a microphone said things to me that stirred feelings and emotions I had forgotten existed. Finally about nine o'clock I went for a walk into some woods where I had some peace around me and me and God had a talk in the rain. It was a tough one because I had a lot I had to say I was sorry for, and a lot that I had to admit even to myself. But I emerged from those woods a new man. I had a peace that i could not describe. My only concern was going to be my wife's reaction to this. This was a side she had never even heard of, much less seen in me before. So like a coward, I text messaged her the following: "What would you say if I told you I wanted to start going to Church." She answered me so quick it scared me. I read, "I would be extremely happy. Where ever you want to go I will be happy to go." This floored me I was speechless. I told her I had not expected her to respond that way. She told me that she had been raised in church as well, but like me had chosen to go down a different path. She too had felt the need to return to that way of life, but was afraid I would never agree to it.
As Rick said in his sermon during Bronner's memorial service, Bronner has ministered to more people in the last three days than most of us will in our lifetimes combined. The lives that have been changed is amazing. I know I am one of them. I have a new outlook on life and a new outlook on my marriage. And for the first time in the last ten years it feels pretty positive. Now I must do two things. First I have to find a church. It has been years since I have attended church. Years since I have been inside one. That is first. Second, I have to learn to stay out of the way and let God lead and guide me. There are a lot of questions in my life I have been trying to answer. The biggest one having to do with my son that I have not been able to see. I have to let God be in control and only when I can stay out of the way will it work out.
If you have gotten to this point in this story, Thank You for taking the time to let me share my heart with you. If you understand where I am coming from, or can relate, then let me know. I would love to hear others stories of triumph that Bronner inspired. You can e mail me at JimmyJimmy33@Yahoo.com. Also, if it isn't too much to ask remember Jimmy and Amanda Richardson when you pray. We need the encouragement. I have been out of his will for a long time, and it is tough to stay focused when I had made so many bad habits a way of life. Thank you for taking the time once again.

RESPECT?

2008-01-17T20:34:00.000-06:00

Today on the Dunaway and Brown Radio Experience, I had a conversation that proved true tonight. I asked the question, do you have to have step out stars to be successful in the SEC? Ryan said yes, I said no, example: Tennessee. This is a team that has no players listed in any of the SEC top ten lists when it comes to scoring, rebounding, free throws, you know the important stuff. But this is the same team that is ranked #6 in the Associated Press, and #7 in the ESPN coaches poll. Tonight, that same team impressed the hell out of me.

I really felt like that the ten point margin that the Vols were favored by was very generous. It scared me. Then the game started and it scared me even more. First off how does a forward in Tyler Smith get the opening tip over a 6'11" center in Ogilvy? But that turned out to be foreshadowing for the night to come for the Aussie that has busted out of the gates for the Dores. Tennessee finally took the lead 13-12 and never trailed again. The lead grew to as many as twenty-four and got as small as eight with about eight minutes to go in the game. But to be hones there were only a couple of times that it felt like the Dores were even in the same building. With three minutes to go and the Vols up by 11 it seemed as though Stallings had already conceited defeat.

These were the leading scoring teams in the SEC and combined they produced only six players in double figures. Tennessee had four in double figures including Wayne Chism who was only a couple of points away from a career high had 18. He did have a career high 18 rebounds. That eighteen was a highlight. A big one. He picked up his third foul early in the first half. To get the boards with fouls against the leagues best in Ogilvy and Metcalf, he made a great statement about his progression. Also in double figures was Tyler Smith with 14 pts and 10 rebs, JuJuan Smith with 14 pts and 7 rebs, and Chris Lofton who did not score in the first half, who ended up with 11 pts. Vanderbilts two leading scorers were who you expected them to be. Ogilvy with 12pts and an embarrassing 5 rebs, and Shan Foster with 14 pts and the same 5 rebs.

After struggling with a feisty Ole Miss Rebel team, and now handing Vandy its second straight SEC loss, UT sits alone atop the SEC East. One could argue this win puts the Vols on top of the league as a whole. Heading into a revenge game against a different Ohio State team, the Orange are riding a wave of momentum. It is their tenth straight win, and seem to go into the game Saturday on just one days rest, but after what seemed to be an easy victory against a bitter rival, Advantage Tennessee Volunteers. Maybe now some eyes will be upon us Saturday for a CBS headline game. Especially some AP voters that could possibly break the Vols into the top five. A position that after tonight, I think is well deserved.

2008-01-09T21:36:00.000-06:00

I have sat down here and attempted to update my blog many times since the Sec Championship Game. I would get a good long entry started and then lose interest. I think that has gone around, Jim, Blake and I have all struggled in keeping our Blogs updated. Quick props to Jim. He picked the SEC title game, and the National Champions before the season started. Though he did have LSU playing USC in the title game, many would argue that he was correct. Basketball season is upon us, many teams are about halfway through their quest. Tennessee attempted tonight to go to thirteen wins. And oh what a game it was.

My Vols started out tough opening up with six straight points. And give Andy Kennedy's Rebels credit, they never looked intimidated. The Orange clad crowd of 21,864 did their darndest to get into the heads of the underdogs, but they never seemed to rattle the determined boys in blue. I have to say, Kennedy must coach up the team in practice because I saw very little coaching being done on the sidelines. Maybe I am just used to watching Bruce All-Mighty do his thing. And after the technical foul when coach wanted to do some coaching still, he called Chris Lofton over and relayed a message to the officials. Speaking of the officials. Not sure what to say. At times I thought they are letting them play ball underneath, and others I was screaming for assault charges.

My Vols played very sloppy tonight. I did see more driving to the basket tonight than I have seen all year. But they just seemed out of sinc all night. They finished up 32 of 69 from the floor (46.4%) compared to the Rebels 31 of 71 (43.7%). Rebounding has to go to the Rebels right? It was closer than you think, 42 to the Vols 31. At times though it seemed like they were murdering us on the boards. Warren led all scorers with 24. Two of the "Smith Brothers" had 21 apiece for Tennessee. Polynice added 20 for the rebels along with 15 from Curtis, and Lofton filled out the double figure scores with 10.

I think we watched two of the top three teams in the league tonight. IT as all it was supposed to be. I was worried sick about this game, up until the last rebound that was pulled down by the good guys with thirty seconds to go. I then stood up and held my fist high. Faith that my boys would prevail. But unlike years past, the team did not throw the ball around waiting on Chris to get a look. Nope he was simply part of the Team That got it done tonight. Congrats Tyler on a whale of a game, and Maybe now JuJuan will start getting the SEC respect he deserves.

Funniest Comercial right Now

2007-12-05T19:55:00.000-06:00

I know i am a little video happy right now but this is great!! What is funny, he hasn't even played yet.

Greatest You Tube this week

2007-12-05T19:24:00.001-06:00

Thanks to the guys at RockyTopTalk we have this great video of Coach Fulmer and the Vols. Is about six minutes long, wait for it, It is worth it!!!

SEC FanFare

2007-12-01T10:09:00.000-06:00

Man what a day. We left the limits of the city of Birmingham at around nine o'clock, I got home at sometime before two this morning. Was glad t be there too, After Ryan took us on a scenic tour of the Atlanta Metro Area after midnight. I think we were offered a few dates, and Jim was offered something to make his head feel better more than a couple of times. All in all it was a stressful moment to say the least. Have to defend him though, their directional signage leaves something to be desired.

Let me say this, if you have small children and are football fans, this was the place to be. Lots of activities to keep them in memories for a long time. From playing flag football with legends of the game, to the Quarterback Challenge, with greats like Condridge Holloway, Rohan Davey, and Alan Risher. Also got to meet and talk to such greats as Tommy Hodson, and Eddie Fuller, the two LSU players responsible for the Earthquake game against Auburn. Met Tennessee greats Tee Martin, Al Wilson, Chuck Smith, Carl Pickens and Haskel Stanback. Amazing how a lot of them seem so different than what you imagine. Some of these Legends of Folklore come off as being shy and timid, something you really do not expect. One of my observations was watching one of these football greats, walk into the building and over to the event site he was supposed to be featured. Was wearing blue jeans, a T-shirt and old worn out sneakers that look like they should have been retired three years ago. He reaches into a plastic Kroger grocery sack, and pulls out his jersey from it. Puts it on and then becomes someone that is admired by many. Two minutes before he didn't get a second look. But with his name and numbers across his back, everybody loved him again.

A lot of free swag was available for the taking. from signs to shakers to posters to megaphones. Have your picture taken with cows, trophies, or beautiful women placed there just to get your attention. You can sample food, buy a beer for $6.75, and play all the X-box you wanted to play. There were interactive games from football to Golf, Basketball to Cornhole. You name it, you could find it, need that Christmas present for the person who has it all? How about a Satin robe with the colors and Logo of the Tigers and Vols. But mostly there were fans. Big ones and little ones. Young and Old. Some that were there just to see how much free stuff they could cram into their bag, and some that were there like me just trying to cram in the feeling of the moment. Fans. Tradition. Pride. I think those are the things I took away from the event. And they too were free.

Coaching Carousel

2007-11-26T22:12:00.000-06:00

I read Blake Ell's blog and he beat me to it. I had every intention of sitting down and writing my invitation to Coach O to come North East to Knox-Vegas. It isn't that far, you can find it from there coach, "Tell him Jo-Jo!"

As a head coach he was in way over his head. I was living in Memphis when he was hired. He coached one game against Memphis on the annual holiday weekend game. The rebels were off the next weekend because of the short week. So Coach O jumped on a plane and flew back to Southern California and went to Pete Carroll and asked uncle Petey to sit down and watch game film with him and tell him what they were doing wrong. You just paid this Coon Ass a lot of money and he runs back home with his tail between his legs when he cannot win. Memphis was starting a back up place kicker at quarterback that year. But the guy can recruit. With Trooper handling the offensive recruiting, I think the O man could bring some life back to the Vols Defense. But I am one man and it is simply how i feel.

What a Difference.... Ok I am getting tired of saying it.

2007-11-24T22:44:00.000-06:00

I usually wait until Sunday to write my recap of Saturday games. I will go more in depth but wanted to step in for a minute. I said back in the summer when we did our Guarantee show that I thought the following would happen. #1 Bama would lose some games, and it would not be because the other team outplayed them but for many other things. #2 Dawson would eat a lot of words this year. #3 West Virginia would win the National Title. #4 If they did win the Heisman would go to Pat White, or Steve Slaton. Looks like I hit the first two. Number three is looking good, but I will not win on #4. I do believe they should declare it a draw. It should go to Tebow and McFadden. The trophy says "The most outstanding player in college football." How can anyone argue either one of those two being given that title. The fact that both of them run and Pass, I think that puts them head and shoulders above the rest.

"We're going to Atlanta, We're going to Atlanta, We're going to Atlanta."

I am so sick of everyone saying that my Vols do not deserve to represent the East. For all of you, that still feels that way, I have the Tennessee/Georgia game on my DVR, we can have a viewing party if you like. Then you can tell me why the Dawgs need to be there. LSU is coming in with two conference losses, hey same as us how bout that. We shut down Moreno. We shut down McFadden, and put Jones out of the game. Plain and simple we took care of our business. It wasn't pretty, but tell me whose season was. LSU, Fla, GA, NOONE ! Now it is time to get revenge for 2001. I was just hoping we could be the ones to knock them out of the title.

The #7 ranked Vols Basketball team went down with a thud tonight. Lost by almost twenty in the "Stub Hub legends Classic" A tough Texas team brought them back down to earth. What is the deal with them. Last year they lost everyone. The year before they lost everyone. Yet they keep coming stronger. I think they are going to be charging through the polls soon.

Saw a sign at the Iron bowl today. "Nick Satan 666, 6 wins 6 losses 6 in a row!! Nice. will come back tomorrow with more.

Oh what a difference.....Hell you have heard it before!!

2007-11-11T08:27:00.000-06:00

I apologize to you my loyal visitors that come by here and read the things that spew out of my mind and soul. Life and times have been tough the past few weeks, and blogging has not been at the top of the priority list. So I will try to do better.

Apologies aside lets get to the venom you have grown to hate. Where do we start...... Hmm lets go with ol Bionic Coach and the sheep. Here is the thing with them. If you go back and look at every respectable prediction of their season, and you will find that the tiders are right where most people thought they would be. Some had them losing to us, some had them losing to Arky, so they are right where they thought they would be. At this point in the season Jim Dunaway had them at 7-3 and 5-2 in the conference. Which is not too far off. We all threw out these predictions at the start of the season that sounded weird because we thought the PARODY would be the biggest factor. We just underestimated the ripple effect of those losses. We did not take into consideration the coaching carousel that would ensue. But what happened was some teams won some games they were not supposed to (Bammer) and some teams lost a couple games they were not supposed to (Aubie and Rocky Top) and all the sudden the Crimson Vile that started spewing out from the sheep was unbearable. Go back to about week three or four of the season and read some blogs and comments. Let Us lose to Cal and Fla, let Aubie lose to South Florida and get Croomed. Read where the sheep were talking so much smack about how they were "Back to collect their championships that they had let everyone else use for a few years." Here are some random posts I have found to be humorous. No names to be given, but are public blogs:

The Auburn Tigers…..Well of course I am going to start with them. I have some self control but come on people I have been forbidden to go to my own games so it gives me great joy to talk about Auburn losing. What gives me more joy is that this was Auburn’s second home field lose and to a team, who if I remember correctly, we were laughed at for losing to last year. Oh how the tables have turned. I get yet another rush of joy to see after a week of calling for Brandon Cox to be benched your saving grace Cody Burns still couldn’t get it done. Auburn’s entire offense is in MAJOR trouble. If the line can’t protect against the defense of Miss State they have no hope against teams like Florida and LSU. The quarterback situation is dismal at best and the receivers and running backs look like high schoolers playing way out of their league.Now before my fellow Bama fans jump on me about calling Auburn “mighty”, let’s all remember that before the season began they were a top 25 team and supposed to be battling LSU for the SEC West. Funny how Alabama now leads the SEC West race 2-0. Can we now all agree Auburn is not as good as they once believed they were?

Never doubt Alabama alumnus Pete Holiday's ability to wear a dispassionate SEC hat and avoid homering in on his beloved Crimson Tide. I had not planned to include Alabama in the 'mediocre' category; they return too much talent, have a great quarterback, and of course they now have a strong coaching staff."Might want to consider Alabama for a 'mediocre' rating," wrote Pete in an email. "With Saban tempering expectations the way he is, we could be in for a 7 or 8 win season.""No freaking way is Alabama mediocre," I replied. "I have Kentucky and South Carolina. That's it."Pete thought it over. "We'll see. I don't see them finishing in the top 1/3 of the conference this year... but I'd be happy to be wrong about that."Viewing 2007 through those deceitful pre-season glasses, the conference's Top 4 will probably be Florida, LSU, Auburn, and Tennessee. Knocking on the door will be Alabama and Georgia. Then, and only then, do you hit the mediocre category: Kentucky and South Carolina are the dark horses.So there you have it, Pete: I'm saying Alabama will finish in the SEC's Top 5.

For five years Auburn had the run of the state. How long did it take to undo that half-decade of dominance?Three weeks. Six football games.Here it is, not even October yet, and Auburn's 2007 football season is already lying on the ground a smoking, rotting corpse, turning putrid in the late summer heat. They're done, ladies and gentlemen. In one fell swoop, the Auburn Tigers have fallen from the heights of their self-imagined greatness back to the status quo so familiar to them over the past 100-plus years… back to being a second-tier SEC team, with their only hope for redemption (as always) pinned on upsetting Alabama in the Iron Bowl later this year.This is a fun time to be an Alabama fan and alumni of that great school. As far as I'm concerned, Coach Nick Saban earned every cent of his $4 million a year last Saturday night. No matter what happens the rest of this season, it's obvious this man knows how to coach and fits perfectly with this program. I don't care about his salary. I checked my bank account this morning, and Nick Saban ain't costing me a dime personally. And I don't care if he refuses to play golf and stroke the ego of some millionaire coal mine-owning booster. I'd rather he concentrate on football, thank you very much. Because I liked what I saw last Saturday: I liked seeing Sly Croom whip Auburn. I relished seeing Tennessee getting spanked by the Gators. And I loved seeing Bama hang tough and pull out a win when the odds seem so stacked against them.The road ahead will be tough. No one should be expecting this Crimson Tide team to win every game on the schedule this year. (And the same time, it's not unreasonable to hope that is exactly what will happen!) But no matter what happens the remainder of this year, it is clear that Alabama is headed in the right direction. And Alabama fans know well the destination to which this road eventually leads.

The net is full of these. If you want to take the time it is really good reading. You are sure to have a couple good laughs at the wisdom of these people that knew the ship was right, the savior was on the sidelines and the nation should be scared. Trembling I am not. We have seen many a crazy outcomes this year, hey we were on the blunt end of one or two of them but we hold the keys to the bus that is own its way to a Hotlanta showdown with the Bengal Tigers. We will get to my team later.

Lets go between the hedges and look at the War Eagle Tigers of Auburn. I needed them to knock off the dogs. I needed Carolina to knock off the Gators too. Don't count on others to help your cause. Ain't gonna happen. But I was worried about the Orange and Blue going to Athens. Auburn has played great at times and weak at times. I have many times compared them to my Vols. Young talent, with experience at QB, and leadership on defense. But what I have seen is a team that can get up for some and let others sneak through. Have seen them shut down the run in Fayetteville, but get run over last night. Have seen them shut down the stars in Gainesville and Baton Rouge, but get deflated by Croom and The Hat. I think they will be really good over the next couple of years, and i think they have a good chance against the Bionic one. But I can also see them losing big to the sheep. They seem to have problems when they face a true balanced offense. The sheep can bring that to the table. Grant is good, but Wilson is about as dependable as flip flops on your feet running the 100 meter dash. You do not know what team will show up. This could either be the most entertaining game of the season, or it could be the sloppiest, ugly games we have tried to watch. Will in all likely scenarios, send the winner of the Iron Bowl to Atlanta, to the Chik-fil-A bowl and the loser to probably Memphis or Nashville.

Mississippi State is a good team. They have improved every week since the opener against LSU. I was glad to come out of there with a win. Carroll is going to be good. That defense already is. They have to get some help on the O-line. Every time I looked up they were in the backfield chasing Carroll or pounding him into the ground. Have got to have some support in the trenches. I think this will be a decent team over the next couple of years. But the major thing with them is the defense. Do you realize that Bama has not scored an Offensive Touchdown in the last THREE GAMES AGAINST CROOM AND THE BULLDOGS!!!!! That is INSANE!!!

Now to my VOLS. Where to start. Coaching. You have heard me say on this board that it is time for Fulmer to go. Still think that is the case but he is sure helping his cause. So much that 191 of his former players took out a full page ad in the News Sentinel calling the murmurs "laughable -- if the potential consequences weren't so serious." But nonetheless I think we are seeing some improvements. Cutcliffe has all but abandoned the pass. Run it early and run it often . Run till you get tired then we substitute for you and we run some more. But we marched up the field and down the field eating up a lot of time and keeping the hogs from ever getting into a rhythm. We only had 151 yds on the ground, arkansas had 10 more yards total offense, but we had 7:00 more in time of possession. "It seemed like they were on the field the entire first half," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said of the Vols. "We got out of rhythm." McFadden who rushed for 321 yds last week against a stingy Carolina team, was supposed to run over us like a steamroller. He settled for 117 yds on 22 carries. "He's a great back," Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo said. "But he's not going to win the Heisman Trophy in Neyland Stadium." Felix Jones, he settled for a deep thigh bruise and 3 yds and left the game early. "Nobody thought we could win this game," Mayo said. "We weren't surprised because we played well on defense at home all year," he said. "Our pride has been bruised all year." I can agree with that. whole heartily. In a weekend where we take one more step toward Atlanta, The Bionic one gets CROOMED! Jim Tressle gets Zooked, Aubie gets bit hard by the dawgs, and superior looks inferior........ Man what a difference a week makes!!!!!!

Picture tells it all. Got pushed around, just not legally.

2007-10-22T18:13:00.000-05:00

Why did it take me two and a half days to post following the "Breakdown in Old Drunk-Denny" on Saturday? Well it didn't this is just the one that finally made it to the publish button. I have about five other drafts that I typed up, but then cooler heads prevailed before I put them up here for all you good people to read. I have family and in-laws that do read this, and I want to keep them coming back here, so I will leave my screaming and cussing for when the Phillip Fulmer show comes on. (Actually it already has, and apparently if you spin the remote as it leaves your hand, the screen of the TV does not break, or dent. Remember that in the future Megan.) Besides , I am not supposed to blog while eating, and there has been a lot of crow to eat. I have had many friends ask me for my take on the game. I am an open and very opinionated person, it gets me in trouble often, ask my wife. So instead of spewing my hatred for the Bionic Coach and the legions of Sheep, (Man if I can figure out a way to put Saban and Sheep together and make it work, somebody be working on the artwork for the shirt, I'll get back to you......Sabeeps? nah, Sheebans?...) I will do my best to give you an objective look at the third Saturday in October. Um.... Well... Ok I tried, sorry sheep you get the real me. And I bleed Orange, so I can not objectively look at you, you bunch of....... Family, I know, I know. Well I will try.

This past game week was like no other Third Saturday, or Fourth Saturday for those years, that I can remember. Bammer Sheep spent the better part of the week trying to make everyone believe that they really did deserve to win against "O YO YO YO YOO YO YOO YO Miss" last weekend. It took someone posting a picture from Google Earth or something to try to justify it. Bottom line you were given the win. The call was overturned, there was not indisputable evidence to support that. Bottom line, blown call, gift. The sheep were more worried about that call than the tradition that was the third week in October. Had a weird feeling all week. Saturday morning on gameday, the first one I have even watched all year, they never even mentioned bammer in their predictions for the game except for saying who the Vols were going to beat. I told Jim Friday night during the Jacks High School show that I had a bad feeling about the game. That I had the same comfortably confident feeling that I did before the Cal game. Bad. Have become very superstitious over the past couple of seasons. Not sure why.

I made the decision not to go to the game to stay in good standings with the wife. She just could not believe I could go without getting into it with some sheep. Hindsight.....Good call hun. Truly my better half. Instead I decided to go to good ol' BWW in Trussville. I knew my buddy Jay would be bar tending and there would be plenty of sheep to harass. So when I get a text message from a friend saying that he heard that five players were suspended from bammer I was plum giddy. Felt ten foot tall and was only on my first beer. Newcastle was the one of choice, help me remember that, never drink Newcastle on game day. Kick off...............

It goes downhill from there. believe me you guys don't want the play by play.

Here are the things that I want to point out as being the conversation points of the game.

Bold move on the Onside kick call. Fulmer's quote on his show was that we should have recovered it. "We practice it every week, shouldn't have been a problem." ummm ok coach.

Why was the defense so predictable. JPW is not Manning. He is not the best one at dissecting a defense. But if we went man, our true freshman DB's were toasted. If we went zone, it was either a run or a slant for eight or nine. Were we calling it out? Were we that bold that we were telling them what we were going to run, daring them to beat us? A lot of the time it looked that way. Either way they picked us apart. Plain as that.

OK you knew I could not write this and not bring it up. Officiating. There were six penalties that came on third or fourth down that allowed the Alabama drive to continue. The offsides on the dramatic shift, I give you. My man got played like a banjo. The roughing the passer??? Come on, I have hit my great grandmother harder. He touched him. The pass interference call when we made the interception in the end zone. You are kidding me right? Watch the replay. slow it down the receiver was not impeded, pulled , nothing. both hands are still outstretched. He acted surprised when he realized a flag had been thrown. I had seven text messages after that call. Auburn fans, Clemson fans, Lsu fans, MSU fans, and BAMA fans telling me to calm down that the play was CRAP!! That is when in my opinion the momentum changed. Not the interception Ainge threw, that is just the play when someone actually did something. The sheep cannot say, "The game changed when the officials gave us the ball back when we turned it over." And I know what you are saying, what about the fumble that TN got back. Fulmer said they told the officials that they were going to run the shovel pass, reverse type thing. It was a STUPID play, with POOR execution. The running game was working why get cute? That is why we got the ball, was an incomplete pass.

If there was any momentum left we lost it when we kicked the ball straight to Arenas to start the second half. But in my opinion the coaches had already packed it in. Fulmer plays this game not to lose. He does not PLAY TO WIN. his punting the ball away in the fourth quarter proved that. We have always been able to get two or three yards. Hell every pass play in our offense starts with a two yard route. Nice call Coach.

Daniel Lincoln was once again the bright spot. Has missed one kick all year. Honorable mention to the O-line. Didn't give up a sack, but it wasn't from lack of effort, Erik was pressured all day, just really good at getting rid of the ball. But he had two INTs so......

The Vols have some injuries to overcome. Our #1 receiver Lucas Taylor had a foot injury that held him back with only two catches on the day. Josh Briscoe suffered a concussion when his helmet bounced off the turf. He came back in for one more catch, but did not remember even being in the game. Then there is Monterio Hardesty. He is the number two running back. Did not see the field. Fulmer said it was because he did not catch the ball as well out of the backfield. Yet on third down he put Creer into the game. Rumors are that he was not present at practice on Sunday night. Not a good thing.

I think the Vols will win one more they are not supposed to. But think they will lose at least two in the stretch.

Bammer has given fans something to cheer about. It has now starting to sound delusional again. SEC champs and even National title Contenders. In this crazy season who knows, if they do I will move to an Island and take up Cricket. I hear it is big over in Starkville, maybe it is worth looking in to.

More fun

2007-10-18T20:59:00.000-05:00

more fun

2007-10-18T20:57:00.000-05:00

2007-10-18T20:54:00.000-05:00

My turn to play !

new belly fat!!

2007-10-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

Go check out Fulmers Belly. I just published a new one over there!!!

http://www.fulmersbelly.com/?p=487

Thanks for all the Tennessee love I am getting, but even more thanks for the Bammer Hate mail.. I love it, tells me I am doing my job.

Thanks Jimmy

Greatest post ever written

2007-10-14T21:25:00.000-05:00

This was posted on VolNation a few years ago, but is still the greatest post I have ever read. It is a long read, but worth it!!

I HATE THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE !!!

- 1999

Fellow Volunteer Fans,As many of you who have participated on this list for more than 12months know, this is the week that I live for the whole year. It is timefor me to post my annual treatise on why I HATE THE ALABAME CRIMSON TIDE.While many parts of this posting are carry overs from several years, I doadd new parts to this annual posting each year so I hope y'all continue toenjoy it.THE BAMA GAME . For me, one of my main reasons for living andbreathing as a Tennessee Volunteer Fan is so that I CAN HATE THE ALABAMACRIMSON TIDE! As most of you know by now, I DESPISE THEM. I really don'tgive a rip about Florida. Someone asked me two years ago to write anequivalent post prior to the Florida game. I couldn't come up with anythingmore than a few sentences. Once again this year, THE GAME officiallydubbed the "Third Saturday in October" will be played on the fourthSaturday. This game belongs on the Third Saturday in October. You know,there was never a book written titled Fourth Saturday in October. It just"ain't" right, and I would petition the Athletic Directors of both schoolsand the SEC Commissioner to put a stop to some of this nonsense. October ismy favorite month of the year. It always has been, not just the last twoyears. It is when there is a crisp coolness in the air, and the colorsOrange and Crimson splash on a field of Green. You know, I really wish thatwe could do away with the silly rule that states that the home team wearsdark and the visitor wears white. This is only really necessary if bothteams have the same color jerseys. I know that as recently as the early'80s, UT wore orange jerseys and Bama wore their red ones. But, I digress.I hope y'all enjoy reading (or rereading) as much as I enjoy living it. Allin all, this post is getting harder and harder to write every year. Mainlybecause we have beaten Bama each of the past four years. Also, since I nolonger live there, I don't see, read, or hear as much on a day to day basisto inflame me like it used to. However, then I start to remember 1986-1994and it is like pouring gas on a fire.For me, this week is HIGH HOLY WEEK and the Saturday of theTennessee-Alabama game is the HIGHEST of my HIGH HOLY DAYS. It is biggerthan my birthday, the 4th of July, or all of the Federal Holidays that I getall combined. It is the one day of the year that I literally think aboutevery single day the other 364. Not a single solitary day goes by that Idon't somehow, some way think about the Tennessee-Alabama game. Until 1997,I lived in north Alabama, so I saw a lot of BAMA paraphernalia. Every timeI see an Alabama Bumper sticker I think about THE GAME. Every time I seesomeone wearing an Alabama sweatshirt or T-shirt, I think about THE GAME.Every time I see the color red, I think about THE GAME. I hate the colorred. Red is the one color that refuse to wear. My wife will pick out ashirt or a pair of shorts in a store that she thinks will look good on me.If it is crimson or red I will refuse to buy it. My wife bought a new car afew years ago. A red one. It is a cool car, but I hate the color. Everytime I see it, I think about THE GAME. If I pull up to a traffic light andthe signal is red, I think about THE GAME. What makes it worse is there isusually some "bubba" in front of me with a BAMA bumper sticker. If I'mlucky enough to be first at the light, then the idiot on the other side ofthe intersection will have a BAMA license plate on their front bumper. GOD,I HATE BAMA! Every single night when I used to watch the sports news in theHuntsville-Decatur area, there was going to be something said about theCrimson Tide and I would think about THE GAME. Every time I saw aBirmingham Paper and I saw Paul Finebaum or Bill Lumpkin's columns, youcould bet that somehow they were going to work in at least one sentenceabout the Crimson Tide. It made no difference that they might have beenwriting a column about equestrian or water polo. There was a restaurant upthe road from where I worked where I often had lunch. They had a pictureof Paul "Bear" Bryant on the wall behind the cash register. I would seethat DAMN PICTURE, and I immediately thought about THE GAME.For me, BAMA not Florida, is Tennessee's nemesis. Tennessee andBama already had a series record long before Florida students knew how tospell the word "football". I HATE BAMA's GUTS. I HATE THE ALABAMA CRIMSONTIDE with every word I speak, every blink of my eyes, every thought that Ihave, every breath I take, and every beat of my heart. I HATE THE ALABAMACRIMSON TIDE!!! I literally cannot stand the sight of 'em. When I firstmoved to north Alabama and was single, I glued an Alabama decal to thebottom of my commode in my apartment. It was a "natural law" on Saturdayafternoon that you would sit around the apartment all day watching collegefootball and drinking beer. It was a rule that you had to yell, "PISS ONALABAMA" every time you went to the bathroom. It was even better when I hadto sit down. 8-) (no, I didn't have a wife or son at that time. Really theonly thing that I don't like about being married is that I can't do thisanymore. :-( )I also know that a majority of the players we have on our team nowconsider Florida to be our arch rival in the SEC. There are only a handfulof players on our team who can remember the last time we lost to ALABAMA.However, I remember. From the time I was in the fifth grade at the age of10, I was listening to Tennessee play football on a Magnavox transistorradio that my Dad had. I carried that radio around with me everywhere Iwent in the fall. I was never without that radio on Saturday afternoonswith it tuned to WREC AM600 in Memphis with John Ward blaring out on thesingle speaker. Back in those days, Tennessee didn't play 9 out of 11games on television like they do now. In those days usually only one gameper year was on TV. That was a team that I later learned to fear, thenlearned to HATE, then suffered against. They were a team that wore redjerseys and whose coach was called Bear Bryant. He was revered as a god. IHATED THAT TEAM. There was a kid named in my neighborhood who was a fewyears older than me. All I ever heard out of Matt's mouth during footballseason was ALABAMA this and ALABAMA that. "Bear Bryant is the greatestcoach ever." "Alabama is the greatest team." "Alabama won back to backNational Championships, Tennessee can't even win the SEC because Tennesseecan't beat ALABAMA." "Tennessee can't beat THE BEAR." "Tennessee can'tbeat the CRIMSON TIDE". I did fully understand what kind of a mascot theCrimson Tide was, but I HATED them. For at least 5 years through the lastyears of elementary school and junior high school, I heard this rattletrapfrom that guy almost every single Saturday afternoon. Every singleafternoon after school that all the kids in the neighborhood played footballin the front yard, I had to hear this load from this guy. From my point ofview, he was right. In my short time of loving UT and being a UT fan and"watching" all their games on the radio, I had never known us to beat BAMA.Year in and year out, we lost to BAMA. I HATED ALABAMA. I wanted to beatTHE BEAR worse than anything just so I could rub it in Matt's face that wehad beaten his BELOVED ALABAMA. WE HAD BEATEN THE BEAR. I HATED THECRIMSON TIDE. I PRAYED TO GOD FOR A DAY THAT WE WOULD BEAT ALABAMA!!! I remember an October afternoon in 1982 when Coach Johnny Majors led the Vols to a victory over Alabama. I don't remember if I cried or not, but I know that I listened to every single down on my Dad's Magnavox radio. I was sohappy, I went right over to Matt's house to rub his face in it. He wasn'thome. Thank you Matt, you taught me at a young age one of the GREATESTTRUTHS in my life. I HATE ALABAMA!!!I HATE BAMA because they beat the Gators in the Swamp!!! (Okay, Idon't really hate it all that bad, but it does erk me severely....)I HATE BAMA because most of their fans are a bunch of dumb idiot,cousin dating, illiterate, rednecks who couldn't find Tuscalosa on a map ofthe State of Alabama if the Southeastern Conference Championship depended onit. Shucks, half of 'em probably can't find the State of Alabama on a mapof the United States. They are so dumb that they proudly wear flip-flopsand overalls out on the town to Walmart on a Saturday night because theycan't tie their own shoes or zip up their pants. However, they proudly flythose BAMA flags from the window of their new 1999 Red Chevrolet or Dodgepick-up trucks with their BAMA bumper stickers on the rear bumper. Thetruck probably cost 3 times their annual income, but is worth 5 times morethan the 1970's model house trailer that they proudly park it in front ofnext to a brand new satellite dish so they can watch their "beloved" CRIMSONTIDE play and fail to cover the spread against the likes of Bowling Green,Southern Miss, Tulane, etc., etc. on Pay-Per-View. Every once in a while,BAMA plays a really, REALLY, BIG GAME against seasoned, SEC opponents likeKentucky or Vanderbilt. Isn't it strange that one of BAMA's permanent SECEastern Division Opponents is Vanderbilt? What is really sad is the idiotBAMA FANS who actually will engage you in a conversation about how the"Green Wave" or "Vanderbilt" could actually give BAMA a tough game. Then,after BAMA only beats one of these "bunnies" by one or two touchdowns, theyget mad because BAMA didn't climb 6 places in the A.P. Top 25 Poll. Then, IHATE BAMA because I have to listen to these same BAMA FANS explain why thereason that BAMA didn't cover the spread against Vandy, Tulane, or BrownieTroop 247 is BECAUSE (Are y'all ready for this?), "Stallings (now MikeDuBose) didn't want Tennessee and Auburn to really see what BAMA has for ateam. They were just sandbagging until later in the season when they bringout the big guns." UNBELIEVABLE!!! I will admit that I haven't heard muchof this stuff this season since Mr. Dubose took over as head coach, but Ithink those losses to "seasoned" opponents like La. Tech in 2 of the last 3years shut most of this up. However, if they had greased those games likethey normally do, instead of losing, I'm sure I'd have heard any earful bynow.I HATE BAMA because of those two fans who go to games with a roll oftoilet paper stuck on a box of Tide washing powder held with plungers. Idon't think I've ever watched a BAMA game that those two idiots somehowdon't wind up on NATIONAL television. I went to lunch just last week withsome coworkers in the Birmingham office. They took me to some placeplastered with nothing but BAMA crap all over the walls. As I was walkingout of the door I caught glimpse of these idiots in newspaper picture thatwas framed and hanging on the wall. I received an e-mail after the 1996game. In case you think I'm kidding, here it is.>In case y'all were at the game and didn't tape it. Guess what two>guys were part of CBS' intro to THE GAME. That's right. Right there with>the footage of General Neyland, Paul "Bear" Bryant, Johnny Majors (as the>player not the coach) Reggie White, and all the other Third Saturday in>October greats of the past...>> Oh well, I guess anyone who works that hard deserves to be on>Television. At least they aren't wearing "HOG HATS".Last season Roy Kramer gave me another reason to HATE BAMA thatreally didn't come to light until Saturday, September 18th , 1999. I havealways signed my personal email, "My two favorite teams are TENNESSEE andwhoever plays Alabama." However, thanks to Mr. Kramer's Bowl ChampionshipSeries, the BCS ranks teams and uses your opponents records in the formulafor where you are ranked. Therefore, I cannot desire for ALABAMA to go 0-11anymore. THIS IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!. On the Saturday that the TIDE wasbeaten on the last second play by Louisiana Tech, I almost jumped out of mychair laughing. I great sense of joy filled my heart. Then my brain tookover. That hurts Tennessee in the BCS rankings. Gosh Dangit! Even whenBAMA loses they find a way to hurt us. I HATE BAMA FOR MAKING OUR SCHEDULELOOK WEAK IN THE BCS RANKINGS WHEN THEY LOSE TO LA. TECH AND I HATE THE BCS FOR MAKING ME WANT BAMA TO WIN WHEN THEY AREN'T PLAYING THE VOLS. IT GOES AGAINST EVERY FIBER IN MY BODY. I CAN'T DO IT! I HATE BAMA TOO MUCH!!!I HATE BAMA because in 1992 David Palmer got not one, but TWO DUI'sand the BAMA GRAD JUDGE gave him "youthful offender status" so he could playfootball for the Crimson Tide when they won the '92 national championship.If that had been you or I, we'd still be in jail. Question: What year didDavid Palmer GRADUATE from the University of Alabama?I HATE BAMA because of Forrest Gump. I truly love the movie ForrestGump. I have seen it over a dozen or so times. It is one of my favoritemovies. I remember going to see Forrest Gump for the first time at themovie theater. I was thoroughly enjoying the movie when the scene whereForrest and Jenny are walking home from high school comes up. Forrest takesoff running and runs across the high school football field where a youngPaul Bear Bryant wearing that black and white checked cap is recruiting. Imust admit that scene took me by surprise. Very quickly, I forgot all aboutthe movie "Forrest Gump" and started thinking about TENNESSEE vs. ALABAMA!The next scene I see Forrest in an ALABAMA football uniform streaking downthe field to score a touchdown. The crowd is doing an ALABAMA card trick inthe stands. ( I wished we still did cards in college football.) Forrestruns all the way down the field, into the end zone, and out the tunnel. Ittook me several minutes to get back into the movie. I just kept thinkingabout ALABAMA. At the time the movie came out, Tennessee had lost toALABAMA 8 times in a row. I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS THE GAME AND MY THIS JUSTADDED MORE FUEL FOR MY HATE OF ALABAMA!!!I HATE BAMA because they are a bunch of ARROGANT WHINERS. Fouryears ago when BAMA lost to Arkansas, they got upset because of a blown callby the officials. This happens all the time in football and is simply partof the game. Sometimes the breaks go your way, and sometimes they go theother way. BUT NOT FOR BAMA, THEY GOT THE WHOLE ENTIRE SEC OFFICIATING CREWSUSPENDED FOR A WEEKEND BECAUSE THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO BLOW A CALL THATWOULD HAVE GONE IN BAMA's FAVOR.I HATE BAMA because they still talk about Paul Bear Bryant in thepresent tense. I have nothing but respect and admiration for the late PaulBryant, but I am sick and tired of some redneck Bama Fan who, while pumpinggas at the gas station, sees my "GO BIG ORANGE" license plate on the frontof my car and starts telling me what THE BEAR would have done if he had beencoaching the VOLS against Florida. I already know what the BEAR would havebeen doing. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN MOLDING BECAUSE HE IS DEAD. Bama Fans arealmost as bad as Elvis fans when it comes to this. I say "almost" because,to my knowledge, Bama fans don't dress up like the Bear and hold acandlelight vigil at his graveside the way fans of the King do in Memphisevery year. Q: How many Bama fans does it take to change a light bulb?A: 75,001 - one to change the bulb and 83,818 to sit in Bryant-DennyStadium and talk about how good the old bulb was. Several years ago, I waslistening to the Rush Limbaugh radio show and a lady called him fromsomewhere in Alabama. When Rush introduced her and said the name of thetown, and state she was from she started talking about being raised inAlabama, and emphasized the fact that it was the same state that Bear Bryantmade his famous coaching tenure. I'm driving along and wondering, "Doesthis lady actually believe that there is anyone with any intelligencewhatsoever who doesn't know where THE BEAR is from?" Then I realized thepoint. She was honestly believed that she was supposed to be special andprivileged because she happened to live in the same State as the late Bearcoached. She didn't have anything to contribute to Rush's Show, sheapparently just wanted to make that point. He rather quickly got rid ofher. I was so white knuckled from gripping the steering wheel and cursingThe Crimson Tide and her arrogance that I almost had to pull over. By theway, this was in 1991 only a few weeks after we had suffered our sixthstraight loss to the Tide.There is a nice print available that shows different scenes of the Tidebeating Miami in the Sugar Bowl to win the 1992 National Championship.These scenes in the print are contained within an area that is the shadow ofPaul Bear Bryant's head wearing his famous hat. WHAT IN THE HECK DID PAULBEAR BRYANT HAVE TO DO WITH ALABAMA, COACHED BY GENE STALLINGS, WINNING THE 1992 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP? OH YEAH, STALLINGS WAS ONE OF THE BEAR'S BOYS......Three weeks ago I carried an ornamental garden hose hangar that belongs to my wife to a welding shop in Lilburn, GA, to be repaired. As Iwas waiting on the welder to finish, I suddenly got that feeling that I wasbeing watched. I slowly turned around and could see into plate glasswindow of the welding shop office. Hanging on the wall was this same printof the Tide's victory over Miami in the outline of the BEAR. The BEAR wasstaring at me. I felt it on my back. It was as if he were there. I HATEBAMA.....I HATE BAMA! Because after living in Decatur, Alabama for FIVE OFTHE LONGEST YEARS OF MY LIFE, I FINALLY got the opportunity to move toAtlanta, GA. I figured this would be great. Since Georgia Tech chickenedout and left the SEC, Atlanta is basically an "SEC Neutral" town much likeMemphis (my original hometown). My wife and I got to Atlanta and we found ahouse that she and I both liked. When I entered the living room, my eyesabout flew out of my head. The shelves were filled with ALABAMAparaphernalia complete with the "Paul Bear Bryant" Coca-Cola bottles. Fromthere I walked out on the back deck. Sitting in a pool was a three foottall elephant rared up on this hind legs with trunk in the air blowing waterup and back down into the pool. The Elephant was sporting a RED A on hisside. I about lost it right there as my blood pressure climbed 15 places inthe top 25.. My first question was, "That does go with y'all, correct?".Of course, my wife loved the place and shortly after we moved in, Iperformed a full blown orange exorcism. Unfortunately, the deck underneathwhere that damn elephant was sitting is permanently stained. So, GUESS WHATCOMES TO MY MIND EVERY TIME I SEE THAT DAMN SPOT? YOU GUESSED IT, THAT GODFORSAKEN ELEPHANT AND WITH IT, THE GAME. I MEAN FOR NEYLAND'S SAKE, 4MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN THE ATLANTA METROPOLITAN AREA, WHAT ARE ODDS? BUTHEY, IT IS A GOOD THING, IT GIVES ME ANOTHER REASON TO HATE BAMA. :-)I HATE BAMA because Bama leads the series 42-32-7.I HATE BAMA because they are the only SEC school to have a winningrecord against the Vols in Neyland Stadium. This is totally unacceptableto me.I HATE BAMA because I am sick and tired for the BAMA FAITHFULspouting off about their 12 national championships. ALABAMA is an excellentprogram with a long football history and tradition and they have won morethan several legitament national championships, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK! Someof those championships might as well rank right up there with the "MarthaWhite Cornbread Top 25", or the "BIRMINGHAM TIRE AND BATTERY Top 25".I HATE BAMA because a BAMAFAN once told me that while the team theywant to beat the most is Tennessee, the team they least like to lose to isAuburn. I know if he wasn't speaking for all their fans as a whole, and Iguess playing Tennessee doesn't rank right up there with playing an instaterival like Auburn. I TAKE THAT AS AN INSULT. I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I STILLHATE IT.I HATE BAMA JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE BAMA. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I HATE BAMABECAUSE TENNESSEE LOST TO THEM 9 TIMES IN A ROW FROM 1986 UNTIL 1995. ITLITERALLY COST ME THE BEST YEARS OF MY COLLEGE FOOTBALL VIEWING LIFE. IWILL NEVER FORGET THE 6-9 LOSS TO BAMA IN KNOXVILLE IN 1990. THAT WAS THE LONGEST DRIVE FROM KNOXVILLE BACK TO MEMPHIS OF MY LIFE. I DEMANDSATISFACTION. I WANT TO KILL 'EM. I WANT TO BEAT THEM SO BAD THAT THEYDON'T WANT TO SUIT UP AGAIN THE REST OF THE YEAR. I WANT TUSCALOSAERADICATED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH. I DON'T HAVE TO AVOID THE RUSH, IHATE BAMA 12 MONTHS, 52 WEEKS, 365 DAYS, 8,760 HOURS, A YEAR!!!!! I HATETHEIR GUTS. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THERE WAS A JOKE ABOUT A BAMA FAN'SSTUPID DOG. WELL I DON'T CARE ABOUT SOME MANGY, FLEA AND TICK INFESTED BAMA FAN'S DOG, BUT MY DOG HATES BAMA TOO!A FELLOW VOLUNTEER FAN WROTE ME LAST YEAR AND TOLD ME HE FELT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. HE SAID, "I HATE BAMA SO MUCH THAT IF WE BEAT THEM 212-0 FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS IN A ROW IN NEYLAND STADIUM, IT WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY MY HATRED OF THEM." I THINK HE SUMMED UP IN ONE SENTENCE EXACTLY HOW I FEEL AND IT TOOK ME SEVERAL PAGES TO EXPRESS, EXECPT FOR ONE THING. I'D LIKE TO PLAY THEM ON THEIR HOME FIELD (BRYANT-DENNY, NOT LEGION FIELD) AND BEAT THEM JUST AS BAD. THIS YEAR I'M GOING TO GET MY CHANCE.However, I do have more respect for BAMA than any other team in theSEC. Playing and beating truly means something to me. This rivalry datesall the way back to 1901. Alabama and Tennessee rank 1 and 2 respectivelyin all time SEC victories and winning percentage. We are the TITANS of theSEC. It is for this reason that I feel the way I do. I love poking fun atthe Alabama fans as much as they love doing it to us. We have somethingthat other schools in the SEC (such as Florida) will never have. This iswhy I HATE BAMA, but I RESPECT BAMA. I will never have any respect forFlorida. I do long for Bama to return from these leaner years to its formerglory. I long for the BAMA GAME to be the #1 game in the heart and minds ofall Volunteer Fans as it is in mine. However, I ALSO LONG TO BEAT BAMABY A SCORE OF 213-0 OR MORE EVERY TIME THAT WE PLAY THEM FROM HERE ON AND I WANT THEM TO BE UNDEFEATED AND RANKED IN THE TOP 10 EVERYTIME THAT WE DO IT!!! MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT EVERY PLAYER AND COACH IN THE TENNESSEE FOOTBALL PROGRAM FEELS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THAT I DO! GOD BLESS THE TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS. GO BIG ORANGE!!! BEAT THE EVER LOVING ELEPHANT CRAP OUT OF BAMA!!!

A first time for everything.

2007-10-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

Remember the old adage "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out." I can do you one better. I went to tailgate at an SEC football game, deep in the south at an Agricultural school, and a Cricket Match broke out. Was stirring my Cauldron of Chili that I had made at 1:00 am Saturday morning, watching the new friends I had made from Chattanooga trying out a three way beer bong, (sight to see in itself) when I look across the street to the soccer fields and see a group of people I assumed were playing soccer, until I saw the wind up and delivery to the batter. I was introduced to cricket on my honeymoon to the Island of Antigua, where the World Cup was played this year. So imagine my surprise to see it in the land of cowbells. Seemed out of place, but at the same time there were about twenty people over there participating. And they were still going strong well after the ballgame and into the evening as we made our departure. SEC, land of diversity.

You know "The Grove" in Oxford gets a lot of publicity as the coolest tailgate community in the nation. MSU fans in Stark-Vegas are making a push to contend for that title. They have established their own close knit community of tailgating right outside the gates of the stadium. Was hundreds and hundreds of tents side by side by side to make up its own little city. But what made this different than what I have been a part of at other schools, is that for the most part it was all segregated by teams. The outer lots away from the stadium were full to the edges with Orange Clad tents and tailgates. But no Maroon. You would see an occasional truck load of people ringing cowbells come driving by, but no intermingling of fans. Was beginning to wonder if there were fans here at all until we began to walk to the stadium and saw the village of maroon outside the stadium. But there was no talking to each other, or sharing of food, or drink, they had their own friends and were not looking to make any more. And seemed to be even more fans and partying after the game. But still no hospitality seen by any of the people I talked with. Was truly a strange feeling. Maybe we should have went and played Cricket.

As we made our way into Davis Wade Stadium and Scott field, couple of things I noticed, one no security whatsoever. I saw people walk in drinks in hand, and no one ever looked at us, checked bags or looked into camera cases. Nothing. Well we made the four mile trip up the spiral concourse to the upper deck of the stadium. 21 rows up in an upper deck that has probably 25 or thirty total rows to the top. But I honestly do not think there is a bad seat in the house. There is one strange thing. The sun is on your face all day, no matter what side of the stadium you are on. The jumbotron is not very big, and with the glare of the sun, It was really a non-factor. Second thing that stuck out like a sore thumb. No concession vendors!!!! None. Nowhere. No cokes, no popcorn, hot dogs, water......you get the picture? Don't put a fan that has been tailgating to an all-SEC level in the upper deck of the stadium, only to tell him he has to walk all the way back down to get a beverage. And the concourse is totally enclosed, with no TVs, No radio pumping in, once again.... Nothing! I looked around and never could spot the first vendor anywhere in the stadium. I was very well behaved, but was still told by a student that now that we had won the game "We could get back to inbreeding." what the??? Classy. Almost as classy as Georgia stomping the "V" Stupid guys.

Ok lets talk about the stats. Here is one that is astounding. Helmet sticker to the O Line. They have not allowed a sack in over 218 passing attempts. Great stat to have. Lets start with Mr. Erik Ainge. He was not perfect did throw a long INT on a 3rd and 11. He finished up 22 of 36 for 259 yds with 2 TDs and the one int. Of those 259 yards, 186 of them went to his new favorite target Lucas Taylor. and he only needed 11 catches to get those almost 200 yds. Four others also recorded catches to reach that total. On the other side of the offensive numbers the backs had 211 yds rushing on 42 carries, with Arian Foster leading the way with 139 yds on 21 attempts. That gave the Vols 470 yards of total offense. MSU managed 338 yds total offense with 203 coming in the air and only 135 coming on the ground. Probably just the opposite of what most would have expected going into the game. Carroll finished 18-33 on the day with no turnovers and two touchdowns. Tennessee place kicker Daniel Lincoln, at times the only bright spot of the team, was 4/5 on field goals missing his first field goal of the year early in the second quarter. Next up for the Vols is the Bammers and the Bionic Coach. It is an 11:30 Lincoln Financial broadcast. Thanks a lot. LF this is UT BAMA???? WTH!!!!! This is a new low! Will share a few entries on this weeks game in the days to come. Look for them!

How to Silence a Cowbell

2007-10-11T20:14:00.000-05:00

Well boys and girls I have finally surrendered the fight and have given in. I will make my first gameday appearance at the Mississippi State game. I thought I wouldn't make one this year. But like I keep saying, "What a difference a week makes." The Georgia game lit fires in a few people, I just hope the fire has grown larger in the boys in uniform. I have my worries. There are concerns, this is the team that outlasted the Tigers. This is the same team that have beat Bammer, and Florida in the past three years. But the boys in Orange looked as good as any team in the country last week. The key to the game like any game is to score early. If we can get up early and force State to have to throw the ball, that should play right into our hands. But Cutcliffe is going to have to take the MSU pass rush out of the mix. He looked awesome last week with creativity in the play calling. Lets just hope we can carry some momentum. Is a 1:30 Kick, so there is time to hang out, and maybe watch the first hour and a half of the Ol Miss v. Bammer game. Then in to my seats which are probably among the bells. You think I can single handed enforce the SEC no Noisemaker rule? Yeah I didn't think so.

Oh What a difference a week makes!!!

2007-10-07T17:02:00.000-05:00

I keep saying it. And week after week it becomes more and more relevant. Last week it looked as tough a couple of more wins is the best we could hope for in a season of turmoil. The coach was out, and we spent the majority of our time talking about who we thought the next Head Coach would be. Coach Fulmer has returned himself to the status of Genius, for one week anyway, and the team is back atop the SEC Eastern standings. They share that spot, but they are out of the cellar. Oh the difference a week makes.

I made the comment at the beginning of the broadcast that I did not have good feelings. To a Tennessee Vol, the Pride of the Southland Band forming the "T" and opening up to make way for the players to enter the field is a religious experience. When it opened Saturday for the first time i did not see a lot of life from the men. They seemed almost laid back and reserved, that scared the bejesus out of me. I notice things such as that. The worries continued when we lined up to kick-off to the bully-dogs. But surprise!!!!!!! WE COVERED!!! We actually had some life on Special Teams ! Where has that been in the last, I don't know, ten years? Defense looked great, did you hear me? THE DEFENSE LOOKED AWESOME! Georgia came into the game on the shoulders of a strong running game. If you watched their effort against Alabama they ran the ball well, and Moreno looked good out of the backfield on the little outlet passes. Never happened. Georgia was held to 69 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Moreno had 30 yds on 13 carries. Almost sixty yards below his season average. Brown was held to 20 yds before aggravating a shoulder injury that removed him from the game. Stafford was not much better, 16 of 34 for 174 yds, with 1 int and 2 touchdowns. Another couple of astounding stats, only one turnover, and NO FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS. But we did get a blocked punt, something we only get in games against Georgia. But after the two penalties tacked on it was like a punt. Thirty yards penalized on one play. And why we are on the subject of penalties, the second touchdown should have never happened. I think the crew totally blew this one. We intercepted the ball, with Georgia interfering on the play. They called it defensive interference giving Georgia first and goal. Worst call I have seen all year. On the offensive side of the ball it was the best game called by David Cutcliffe in a long time. Very balenced, kept them guessing, and gutsy. Ainge was 17 of 22 for 165 yards and no tds or ints. Lucas taylor was one for one passing for 56 yards and a touchdown for a combined 18 of 23 for 222 yds and one touchdown. The Vols ran by committee with no less than five players with positive yards rushing with Arian Foster leading the way with 98 yds on 17 carries for a 5.8 yd aveage and 3 touchdowns. Hardesty added 68 yds on 14 carries for a 4.9 yd average and one touchdown. All in all the good guys ended up with 411 total offensive yards. Not Bad, and believe me the game was not as close as the 35-14 score would lead you to believe.

In the press conference after the game, Coach Fulmer took a route similar to Coach Gundy at Okie State. The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Pennington wrote an article that was published in Saturday mornings paper. The same paper that is handed out to fans before the game. In that article he was very critical of the team and Coach Fulmer. The same way every other member of the Orange Nation has done. But he went a little deeper and apparently quoted former players who questioned the teams development and conditioning.

Let me quote Randy Moore of Scout.com. "Even in the after-glow of a huge victory, Fulmer's face grew taut with anger when he shifted his focus to the Pennington article mere minutes into Saturday night's post-game remarks.
“I would want to address one thing just quickly,” he said. “Ordinarily, I'm a pretty big boy and I can take and ignore most anything that might come up. But I thought it was an incredible cheap shot to say something about former players ... unnamed players talking about our program, particularly on a day when we had a big game like this and a lot of prospects coming in.
“It just hit a danged nerve, and I don't appreciate it. I don't usually respond that way but I think in this case our football team and our program deserves a response to something like that.
“I have relationships with our players that have been through this program, and if they've got something they want to say they can certainly say it to me at any time. I don't believe they would go through some person that's never walked on our practice "

Apparently the pressure is getting to the staffs and they are lashing out. Hope this doesn't go too far. But the season is only half over, so time will only tell. Will try to come back later and will talk about LSU and the Bionic coach. And by the way, Check out http://www.fulmersbelly.com/ "The biggest thing in SEC sports." Have started contributing, let me know what you think.

I am cheating on you

2007-10-06T18:22:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make.........I have another blog. I am sorry but one is just not enough for me anymore. I have started contributing to Fulmers Belly... The biggest thing in Sec Football. Is a humerous site that we use to poke fun at ourselves and others. Here is my latest Post. Please go and leave me a comment and let me know what you think!!

http://www.fulmersbelly.com/?p=471

For all those wanting an official gauge

2007-10-04T21:41:00.001-05:00

I really think this weeks game will determine the fate of Coach. Have heard all the same murmurs about an ultimatum given to him before the season. I think this week will show what kind of team we truly possess.

Two teams, no identity, so just enjoy the pics.

2007-10-04T21:37:00.000-05:00

You think the sky has been falling around here........

2007-09-30T16:03:00.000-05:00

I sort of enjoyed the day yesterday being able to sit back and watch my friends go nuts during their respective games, while I had no emotional ties to either. Then again it was just good to sit back and relax, after an emergency trip to Memphis to retrieve my wife's vehicle that decided it needed a break, i had been on the road for way too long. Rushed back into town to do the Jack's Friday night Football show with the guys. I guess it was trip lag but the show had a weird feel to it, never really settled into a zone, just sort of plugged along. Maybe it was the edge of the storm that was about to rear down on football as we know it. I think South Florida must have made a deal with the devil.

There were some big games friday night that shouldn't have been. Briarwood needed multiple overtimes to win in a game where touted QB Trotter went down to injury. I can think of no fewer than four games that were decided on the final play of the game. And that was just in our coverage area. Let me give a quick call out to the guys that put on this show. Jim Dunaway, Ryan Brown, and Blake Ells put in extra hours on Fridays to bring high school football some much needed recognition. Remember these guys have already put in five hours, then come back for three more. There is only so long you can stand and talk football. I think they push the limits of that. But the callers make the difference. Enjoy the opportunity to work with them.

Saturday was filled with surprises, some worked themselves out, and some were just unbelievable. Someone stopped me early afternoon, and informed me Tulane was hanging close with LSU. Then I turned on the Satellite radio and listened as Georgia was tied with Ole Miss. Then the Zooker left his mark, Tech left theirs, and before it was said and done, I think five teams in the top ten had lost. When has that happened? Cal and Oregon was one of the better games that no one saw. Cal benefited the most from all that happened. Auburn showed they are not as bad as they once thought they were. I will be listening Monday for all the callers that called for Tubbervilles head on a platter to offer their apologies. I saw more emotion out of him last night than I have other coaches from the same state that have that Fulmer clap. Good, bad, or indifferent he stands on the sidelines, smiles and claps. Hey Coach, yeah you the four million dollar one, you just got embarrassed on national TV, quit clapping, get an offensive line. Wilson is going to break before too long. The heart is not there anymore. Not finishing plays, not giving effort. For the majority of the game, my Alabama buddy watching the game with me was having a tough time. The best thing he had to cheer for was the penalties. Was their only chance of stopping a very resilient offense. Yep the same people that wanted to laugh at my Vols and the Tigers for wanting to eat their own, will be tying a napkin around their neck. Talk radio will be fun again this week. I pulled up all of the blogs on the website as I do every day to see any updates, and I read Donya's rants about the Auburn situation from a couple of weeks ago. She layed it on them pretty thick. Go back and read it. It is pretty funny in retrospect. I bet we won't hear much from her about her loss. Bammers are big when they win, but quiet when they don't. Aubie looks pretty good, their losses are to two pretty good teams. Bammers wins don't look like they were against teams that were very good. And the losses were the same. Georgia does not have an identity yet. But FSU has one, and it is not a good one. All in all it is a funny feeling. Not playing and having any emotions left out on the field this day, when everyone else had so many.

Reflection

2007-09-25T21:22:00.000-05:00

Although we play open this week, and I think Open is favored by thirteen actually now that I think of it. I have been doing a lot of thinking here lately about why do I even care about this crazy ride we call college football? When your team is down, it is amazing the thought process you go through. Not thinking of who stands in our way of the championship, it is more like..."OOOh pretty colors." Let our team lose a couple of games and we all turn in to a block of lunchroom jell-o. If we get enough pressure on one side we will move that way. "Fire the coaches! Bench Him, Hell if he is gonna be the starter next year let's get him some playing time!" Doesn't take much and we are spewing the same Garbage as beat writers in Oklahoma. But why? Where did it all come from?

For me, I am not sure exactly where my first football memories came from? My dad was not a fanatic. Sure he would watch the Alabama game if he was home and had nothing he had to do. But his life did not revolve around it. My first real influences, and I guess the majority of all my football roots were colored orange and blue. Our family was a faithful church attending family beginning around my eighth birthday or so. It was like most Baptist churches, adults in the big church, and in the back we had "Children's Church." This was lead by two giants in my life. A man named Jack Tolbert, and a caring woman by the name of Gladys Stephens. (They later married, many years later, and they were in their fifties at this time) Both were employed at the Super Valu warehouse in Golden Springs, Al, and both were big Auburn Supporters. Notice I didn't say fans, yeah there is a difference. They were season ticket holders. On the press box side, I wanna say about the twenty yard line. Remember it has been twenty five years ago. On the weekends of home games they would take a couple of the kids from the church with them to the game. This was the ultimate to a youngster, Remember it was 1982 or so, And at that time, I didn't know ANYONE that went to ballgames. Now it seems odd if you know someone that doesn't go. I mean I drive five hours to Gods country in East Tennessee to see football. We may not have streets of gold, but we have orange in the endzones. Ok back to childhood. The biggest thing I remember about the games is that you had to bring something back to prove you had been there. To an eight year old sitting in that HUGE stadium, there were two things I wanted. One was the little football puppets. Was a player with no facemask, and it had two levers inside that you worked to make his fists shoot out. I think he usually had a pennant in one hand. Man I wanted one of those. But it was like forty dollars. That was half of what a car cost back then! So I settled for the next best thing. A hat. Whoa hang on now, it wasn't just any old hat. It was a painters cap. Bought at J&M bookstore. Hey it was cool. Had a big interlocking AU symbol on the top and Auburn spelled out across the front right above the Cardboard bill. Ok Twenty five years ago it was the coolest thing to have. You know there were more of us kids back then that were Auburn fans when we came home on Saturday night. You reckon why that was? My orange and blue tendencies didn't stop there. When I was older and in high school, there was another friend from church that was a huge Auburn supporter. His name was Ira Lynn Collins. A huge football fan from Wellborn High School. He was my older sisters age which made him about nine or ten years older than me. He too had season tickets. Opposite of the press box, five or six rows from the top of the stadium, forty nine and a half yard line. We would call me up on Friday evening, ask if I had plans Saturday and ask if I wanted to go see Auburn play. We would go down, hang out, go to Tiger walk and talk to a player from Wellborn we knew, Tight End named Victor Hall. #87 I think. He had a cousin that was a huge recruit but never played I don't think William McCain. This would have been somewhere around the late eighties. Even got to see Victor catch his first touchdown in a televised game against Georgia at night. Went to the Peach Bowl to see them play Indiana, and saw my last game with Ira in the fall of 1992 when i went to my first Alabama game, the iron bowl at Legion Field. We sat close to the AU students and band, which was right over Bama's tunnel, where they could yell D U I at David Palmer at halftime. Remember AU came out on the field in a single file line walking with their helmets in their hand raised high above their heads. I think this was the first time I got chills at a football game. Turns out that was a pretty special year for Bama. I remember going to a bookstore in Tuscaloosa and buying a Sports Illustrated that featured the Championship. Remember watching that championship game against Miami in the managers little raised platform in the Winn Dixie in Saks where I worked during high school. A couple of years later I was at the first Iron Bowl ever played in Jordan-Hare, well sorta but not really, I was in Bryant Denny for the first time, to watch it on a huge screen via closed circuit TV. I guess when I stop and think about it, I got this love of the game honest. From a couple of gentle souls, Jack and Gladys, who cared enough to give some of us kids the only look at football we would have seen. To people like Ira or "Lurch" as we called him, who took a teenager who was struggling with a tough life at home. He never knew it, or maybe he did. Either way, thank you my friend. He took a job out of town and I haven't talked to him in probably twelve or fifteen years. Now I try to do the same. I took my step father to his first game. He is a big Bama fan, I took him to Knoxville for the third Saturday in October in 2004. For Christmas that year I had a picture blown up and mounted of him and the mascot smokey. Was his favorite gift he has ever gotten. I always take someone from the other team with me when I go to a game. Is what it is all about to me. Another subject but I took my mom to her first game. But she is a Braves fan. As big a fan as I am a Tennessee Vol, she loves her Chipper and Braves. Took her to a game one Tuesday against the Marlins. Third base side, about twelve or so rows up from the dugout. It was her greatest moment. Now she goes every year. Couple of years ago, got to be there for them to clinch the pennant. Got to be a part of the celebration.

Is moments like these that make use who we are. Our first game, our first foul ball, playing cup ball on the hill at a high school game with a piece of paper from the sign the players ran through coming onto the field. Like a seed the started to grow, into what we know now as a passion unlike any other. Some call us fanatics, some call us lunatics, some call us lucky. We are living the dream my friends. Living the good life. Now if someone would just tell that to our good for nothing coach. That no good...... what time is it....... Where is my phone I am gonna call him and tell him.............

Holding Ground, Nothing Different

2007-09-22T22:57:00.000-05:00

I tell you what it has been pretty hectic the past couple of weeks, and my blog has suffered. I apologize. With the new friday night high school show, I have stayed pretty busy during the week. But have to admit, the loss to Florida last week took some wind out of my football sails. But the stars aligned tonight and all is right with the world. Tennessee has won a game that scared me. A team that stayed close to Texas, but we proved to be a little scrappy. More important the Bionic coach faced his first Bammer loss. Thank you, there is a Football god somewhere. And apparently he listens to our prayers. I don't recall anything questionable that the loss could be blamed on, simply outplayed when it counted. Lets see what the Savior says and does now. I wanna see him face adversity and stare it in the eye.

Some said that Houston Nutt's seat is hotter than Fulmer's. Did not agree with that yesterday, today I do. This is a team that was on the outside looking in for so long, now that they have a taste of the limelight I expect the will make an effort to stay there. I know we always said as long as Frank Broyles was there as would Nutt be. I am starting to feel otherwise. I think there is the chance that the new AD walks in the door swinging an axe.

That is the effect the hiring of Nick Saban has had on the SEC. It has shortened the trigger we have with our coaches. If you have a couple of sub-national championship seasons you pull that trigger on him and go after someone that can get that next trophy. But who would go to Arky? I think the only sexy choice, is McFadden. That is the only way he comes back for another season. Player/Coach. He can fix up that Hoopty they keep showing us during the games.

On that same thought the inner rambles have finally started getting some national attention. The Orange nation has been saying for about two years that they wanted Chucky. The two names have been Gruden and Cower. Neither do I think would entertain the thought. But I never thought the Bionic one would do it either. But if not them then who. It is going to have to be a jaw dropping sexy name to fit the persona. Bruce Pearl raised the bar. I keep hearing Rich Rodriguez name come up. I think it is a better fit than bammer was, but it doesn't excite me. Don't really know. I think it needs to be a Defensive Guru. Not sure if Cutcliffe would stay, if he did I think we need the same intensity on the other side of the ball. Me personally, I would rather see them clean house. If one goes they all go.

We have the week off. Which is good considering the next team on the schedule is Georgia. They looked strong last night against Bammer. Had some weaknesses, but over all was impressed with them. they have a rejuvenated "O" miss this week before traveling north to Fort Neyland. Should be a good one.

A program at the Crossroads.

2007-09-15T23:33:00.000-05:00

If you are visiting my Blog it is because you have been here before, know I will step out and write what I think, or you hear me on the Dunaway and Brown radio show, and are here to see if I am jumping ship. Well here goes.

First off I will say up front, I am still proud to be a Tennessee VOL! That will never change, unless we pull a stunt like Rutgers students did last week, then, I will still be a VOL, but not so proudly. The 7inch by 7inch tattoo on my left arm assures me that I will always be Orange in nature. But it is no surprise, everything is not right with the world in Knoxville. As a matter of fact, there is very little right. First let me give out some helmet stickers. The few that did something right. Daniel Lincoln, the freshman kicker from Florida. Is so far perfect as a college placekicker. He is one of the only givens so far on this team. Second sticker, goes to Freshman phenom Eric Berry out of Georgia. He is a star. He got burned for 6 today, but he also took 6 back on a 96 yard int. return. Ummm that is about it. yup, that is all of the good.

Where is the Erik Ainge that won me over last year. Where is the Offensive Coordinator that brought us back to the spotlight. That took the talent in our QB's and made it shine. There was nothing about the Offense that shined, except for our flaws. Dropped passes. One on third down, that cost us 6 on the punt that ensued. Also the running game that I was so confident in, did not show up. There was no picking apart of the secondary. To steal a line from the Auburn post game show, "When are we gonna get to taste a little chocolate in our offense? Because it cannot get any more Vanilla." Three different times in the first quarter we were in the red zone, never once taking a shot to the end zone. One time trying to insult the defense with a bad reverse that lost eight yards. Thirty five yards rushing. The holder on extra points should have that many yards rushing. The defense has noone in the front lines that can put pressure on the quarterback. No Parys, no Mahalona. NOONE.

I think we need to have the cheerleaders on kick coverage. Maybe that will at least slow down the return enough that someone can touch him. COME ON!!!!

Bottom line.

We need a change. Not today. But I think this needs to be the swan song of this coaching staff. Not on account of the loss today, but this was the breaking point. The game has passed us by. We are trying to play old school football, and it not working. I never thought I would say this, But I think it should be the entire staff. We lost today, in my opinion, because of coaching. Play calling on offense was laughable. Defense looks like a screen door it has so many holes. There is no sense of urgency. No emotions. With the exception of Trooper Taylors chest bumps, there is no emotion. Our fearless leader stands on the sidelines smiles, and claps. And claps. And Claps. Keep grinning Phil. You know who is grinning right now? Randy Sanders. He wasn't the problem!!!! His work in Kentucky shows that.

Year after year we recruit well. Top five class year after year. But that does not translate to on the field success. If the talent is there, but the results are not, where does the blame lie? I think you know.......... I will hang up and listen.......

nuff said

2007-09-15T00:30:00.000-05:00

Coach Fulmer's Media Day Comments

2007-09-11T23:03:00.000-05:00

“Our entire football team and staff is really excited about this opportunity that we have to play a really outstanding University of Florida football team. We have made progress from game one to game two. It was encouraging from a fundamental standpoint, and that is one area I am absolutely going to insist that we make strides in. If you’re not careful, particular when you play a different style of offense, you can lose sight of the fundamentals and blocking and tackling and being responsible for your position and your assignment. We’re going to work very hard this week to make sure we stay on that track. I think it is a track that we need to be on the entire football season, being as young as we are and the challenges we have with some of the youth out there.

“I do think that playing two tough opponents will help us. Certainly, we’re going into an environment at Florida Field that is considerably different than even Cal was, which I think helped us. We need to understand that the decibel level will be considerably higher and we’ve got to be able to handle that, which is no different than when people come into Neyland Stadium.

“Florida is a very fine football team. Again, they’re outstanding on offense and defense and a really good team in the kicking game. Playing on the road always has its challenges. We’ve been a good road team through the years. We are working diligently to continue to find our balance from an offensive standpoint. I thought the second half of the Southern Miss game was more like we would like to look. We will do what we need to do to move the football, whether that’s with the passing game and ball control that way or if we have an opportunity to run the football, we will work toward that. I don’t think last year we called (the run) nearly enough in the ball game, even though at the end of the third quarter we were leading 17-7. Its not how you get there, it’s just a matter that you get there.

“Offensively, we’ll have to do a great job of managing their two outstanding defensive ends, (Derrick) Harvey and (Jermaine) Cunningham; both guys that we tried to recruit. They lost a lot of people, but you sure can’t tell it from watching the tape. They are a very gifted team. We’ve got to make our plays. One of the places that we’ve made really good strides since spring practice is at wide receiver. I think it showed up really nicely in the Southern Miss game. They played solid in both games, and I’m proud of those guys. They will certainly have an impact on this game if Florida tries to play a lot of man-to-man and pack it in. We have our challenges there. The running game, as I said, is crucial. You go back and see that the team that has rushed the best has won the most games. Well, you can look at any big game, and that’s usually the case. We want to try and find our balance there.

“Their offense centers on their outstanding quarterback, (Tim) Tebow. He is a really special football player, a big guy that can run and throw it. We’ll certainly have to do a good job with them. The wide receivers are special; the offensive line is very good. (Cornelius) Ingram is a guy that they call a tight end, but he is really a wide receiver playing tight end. He is just a really outstanding player. We’ve got to tackle well. We’ve got to play good assignment football because of the potential for the option and the other things that we will see.

“In practice, we started work yesterday. It is really important that we see, as close as we can, the speed from our scout team. We’re actually sending our second team down there to give us some looks at close to their speed, the speed of the option, the speed of the wide receivers; on the other side, the speed of their rushers, the defensive ends particularly.

“It’s always a big ball game. It has been since the start of divisional play. There are a lot of consequences to this football game always. I think us having played two physical football teams will be a plus for us. Certainly, playing on the road was a plus for us when we went to Cal. It won’t be foreign to 26 young guys that we took on the road for the first time against Cal.

“We are still working to get more of our young guys involved. I’m really happy with the progress that Chris Walker has made at defensive end. To this point we have played four defensive ends and four defensive tackles. I would like to get that to five or six defensive ends and five or six defensive tackles. Ben Martin is returning. I’m anxious to see today if his knee is back close to 100 percent.

“In Brent’s (Vinson) case, we made the decision on Sunday after we found out about Antonio Gaines, to play him both ways. He has considerable background in the secondary, and we worked him there quite a bit in camp. He’s just one of those guys that can be a natural. We’re not going to ask him to do everything that they do, but he is going to play both ways for us.

“To this point, the depth in our offensive line is paying dividends for us. Those guys went in and were on a really nice drive and provided our team a lift. I’m hoping they’ll continue to make those strides and we can play more guys that way.

“Certainly, kicking will play a very important role in this game. I think Britton (Colquitt) will be there and ready to go this weekend. I’m really anxious to see Daniel Lincoln go on the road and handle himself.”

Home Opener (or What Reciever issues?)

2007-09-09T11:03:00.001-05:00

Watching the game last night I saw a few things that stick out to me. First, our PPV coverage on the "Vol Network" is absolutely awful. You could not see the players numbers or names, half the time it looked as if the entire screen was a piece of aluminum foil. It is bad. Is this the best you guys can do?

The defense still has some issues. We did get a couple of key stops and did force turnovers, but we also allowed some major yardage. What makes this game worse than the Cal game was where the yards came from. We showed a lack of run defense in the first game. Against Southern Miss we gave up only ninety yards. Forty-eight of that going to the QB Young. What worries me is that I thought we had a fairly solid pass defense. With a lot of talent and experience in the linebackers and secondary that was our strength. We gave up 264 yds passing with 127 going to one receiver including a sixty-nine yard touchdown. What the???? We did though, only allow 108 yards of offense and 3 pts in the second half. Really have to work on some holes in the defense, because from what I have seen Florida is pretty stellar on offense, I do not want to get into a gunslinger type shootout with them.

Offensively we looked pretty solid again. thirty-nine points on a pretty balanced offensive front. With 193 yards rushing and 276 yards passing with only two late turnovers I was pretty pleased. Erik was a very efficient 23 of 36 with two touchdowns and still NO INTERCEPTIONS. Arian Foster looked good with 125 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. Now to the SHOCKER for some, we had a great night receiving. Ainge spread the ball around and picked the Golden Eagle Defense apart. Three receivers stepped up to the line and took the reins in leading the offense. Meachem, Swain,and Smith are back? Nope. Let me introduce you to Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers, and Josh Briscoe. They combined for two touchdowns, with Rogers and Taylor both amassing over 100 yards apiece (112 rogers, 118 taylor.) Maybe piece by piece we are starting to put this thing together. "The potential has always been there, so we aren't shocked that they're where they're supposed to be every time," Ainge said about his new top pass catchers.

Special Teams also showed some signs of life. And it came from some unexpected role players. For the first time in recent memory, we did not have a Colquitt handling punts. I understand the bloodline will only last so long, but it was weird to see. Still sore from a pulled quad muscle Britton, remained on the sidelines. Daniel Lincoln also stepped up to the plate and was perfect from the field on both field goals and PATs. Fulmer said he opted not to use Colquitt for punting or kicking responsibilities because he was still sore from punting in the Cal game with a lingering muscle pull. Fulmer said he was pleased with how Lincoln and punter Chad Cunningham have performed in his place.
"Lincoln, our young kicker, and Cunningham, our young punter, came through for us," Fulmer said. "Britton might have been able to play, but we took the chance that the youngster would get it done."

Southern Mississippi Comes to Town

2007-09-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

Week one is behind us. Nothing we can do about it. Gotta look forward. Got a couple of tough ones here in the next two weeks, and we have to take them very seriously.

Southern Miss comes to town to continue a long standing tradition, they have played an at least one SEC opponent every year since 1964. they are 34-95-3 against the top league in the land. Head Coach Jeff Bower has played an SEC foe twenty-six times, all on the road, registering a record of 4-22.
Tennessee enters the game 45-4 all time against Conference USA schools, including a perfect 32-0 at home. Under Phil Fulmer they are 13-1. The Vols have a perfect 4-0 record against Southern Miss, all meetings coming in Knoxville. Tennessee is looking to make this the 13th consecutive victory in their home opener.

"If you didn't know anything and you just said, 'Southern Miss vs. Tennessee,' then people would say, 'Oh, Tennessee should win,"' UT quarterback Erik Ainge said. "But if you look at the film and watch their players, they have a lot of good guys on defense."
Southern Miss will play anybody, anytime. And anything can happen. Since 2000, the Golden Eagles have defeated Alabama, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. They have played games at Florida, Virginia Tech and Penn State. No one expects Southern Miss to walk into Neyland Stadium wide-eyed.
The Golden Eagles also hope to add to UT's disturbing recent trend. The past two seasons have seen the Vols struggle against unranked, out-of-conference teams early in the schedule. In 2005, they opened the season by hosting UAB, but barely scratched out a 17-10 win. Last season, Air Force came into Neyland Stadium and almost walked out a winner before UT pulled out a 31-30 victory.
The vols have got to continue to move the ball on offense. But in a new twist the Chavis led defense has to learn to stop the run and establish some dominance on defense. Good luck guys, lets get through this one injury free, and make it thirteen in a row.

The world did not end!

2007-09-06T00:32:00.000-05:00

I can tell all of those concerned that you can take me off of suicide watch for a few days. (Check back on Sunday morning) Do I think we will be OK? Sure. Do I think Coach Fulmer will survive this year? I think so but there are those that are not as level headed as I am. Sunday morning I was thinking, "You know maybe 2005 wasn't really that bad. I mean we did beat LSU. I wonder if we really can get Gruden or Cower to coach the Vols?"

But I have cleared my head, we will be fine. Cal is a great team. I think by week four or five they will be a top five team. We looked good on offense. Defense has some holes. Special teams is a concern for the thirty ninth straight year. Southern Miss will be tough one. I can only hope that they are ready. I don't think they want to feel what the orange nation will say or do if they lose that one. Time will tell.

2007-08-30T22:21:00.000-05:00

Have been Incredibly busy this week. Have not had time to break down film and game tape and give you my breakdown for California this week. So i am gonna link to the best breakdown I have seen so far!!

http://thepowert.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-does-ut-stop-cal-passing-attack.html

LSU Cruises

2007-08-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Well the Bengal Tigers have cruised to a convincing win. Is hard to say if they are that good, or State is really THIS bad! The Bulldog defense has played pretty well at times, but the offense has given them absolutely no help. The first four scores came off of State interceptions. Not looking good for the boys in Maroon. But the comment was made earlier that the MSU fans are already writing this year off, but next year is the one that he has to win. Hated this. I have lost a bet of lunch with a co-worker. He is about 6'5" and about 330 lbs. Lord knows what this is gonna cost me!!

Coach Fulmer gives back.

2007-08-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

The University of Tennessee President Dr. John Peterson announced that Head Coach Phillip Fulmer and family have donated $1 million dollars to the University's "Campaign for Tennessee." It is one of the largest donations given by a coach and his family to their University. The gift, to be split equally between academics and athletics, will be used to support scholarships, athletics facilities and programming. Coach Fulmer has been affiliated with the university for more than 30 years – as a student-athlete, a coach and a parent of four UT students. “Phillip and Vicky always have been great supporters of the University,” Petersen said. “They approached us about making this donation several years ago, and we have been working over the summer to finalize their commitment. With the upcoming season and the anticipated announcement of our campaign in the spring, this is a great time for us to share the news of this commitment with alumni and friends.”“Our family originally chose to make this donation anonymously,” Vicky Fulmer said. “After several discussions with the university, we were convinced that by making this announcement publicly and taking this leadership role, the university would benefit positively and others would be encouraged to make their own contributions.” Coach Fulmer said his wife was a big part of the reason for the gift. “Everyone knows about the sacrifice and commitment of all who have worn the orange and white as players or coaches that have represented our wonderful university on the playing field. This donation will in part be to honor the sacrifices of the wives and families who have stood by these coaches.“My wife, who has stood by me as I have worked incredible hours, been away from home for long periods of time, often put other peoples’ children first, and sacrificed her own wants and needs, all the while never missing an opportunity to hug a player’s neck or provide an encouraging word to a player or coach when one was needed, has been my confidant for years. She has been strong for me when I needed her most, a loyal wife, and a wonderful mother to our children.” Coach's wife Vicky added “The University of Tennessee has been Phillip’s heart and soul for most of his life. We’re blessed to be in a position that allows us to do this.”

Some of Coach Fulmer's accomplishments while at UT

• UT has been in the national polls at game time for 157 of Fulmer's 177 games as head coach.

• Selection as National and SEC coach of the year in 1998.

• The first Tennessee team to post 13 victories in a single season, a record in 1998 that included an SEC championship and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl win for the national title.

• Fifteen Tennessee players have earned first-team All-America honors, including offensive tackle Arron Sears and wide receiver Robert Meachem in 2006.

• Fifteen first-round NFL selections since 1993 and a total of 90 players selected overall. The Vols have had the most players on opening-day NFL rosters each of the last two seasons and the team’s five first-day 2007 NFL Draft picks were the most of any school.

• Back-to-back SEC titles in 1997-98 and five Eastern Division crowns in the last 10 years. The Vols have won or tied for the division title six times under Fulmer.

• A record of 45-5 from 1995-98, the most victories over a four-year span in school history.

• The Vols have ended the season ranked in the top 10 six times under Fulmer.

• Each of the last two seasons, Tennessee has led the SEC in Fall Academic Honor Roll recipients.

Thanks to Stan Crawley for some of the quotes in this piece.

I said Its Great to be a VALLEY CUB!

2007-08-28T20:49:00.000-05:00

I graduated with pride from a small 4A high school in northeast Alabama. After going to another school my scholastic career, i transferred to Alexandria High School to play football my senior year. Well I didn't get to play, but did go through summer workouts and such. I met the greatest coach of my generation there by the name of Larry Ginn. He is loved by many in the "Valley" and disliked by a few there but by thousands in the surrounding counties that must lace em' up and face the man. They respect him, but do not look forward to playing him. I once heard another coach say, "When you play one of Ginn's teams it tells you one thing, where your weaknesses are, and what you need to work on. If you have a thin spot he will show it to you." I have seen this firsthand. My senior year he took us to Auburn , in the BLIZZARD of 1993, to win his second straight state 4A basketball title. And he did it with a team that included some junior college players but nothing spectacular. That was the way he did it. I heard Ryan Brown say today, he could take players, and make them play way beyond their potential. He would convince them to play harder than their talent level. Coach Larry Ginn stepped down as coach of the Valley Cubs Monday afternoon. After being diagnosed with skin cancer, he stated it as time to spend more time with family, and his church. A standout player at Alexandria and Gadsden State he can still shoot the jump shot. But he taught you fundamentals. Preached fundamentals. A man that won 195 times, with two state titles in football in 2o years of being the head coach. He also logged over 600 wins and three state titles in basketball. The Gym at the Valley is named in his honor. It is expected that long time assistant coach Frank Tucker will be his successor. He will be missed. Greatly.

4 Days 22 Hours 29 Minutes 31 Seconds

2007-08-27T21:27:00.000-05:00

That is exactly how much time is left until kickoff. Well when I started writing this anyway. Now that we are less than one week away I will be putting thoughts down on here a lot more regularly. I have a lot of things on my mind, so this will probably be one of those "Random Thoughts" posts that so many people like to do.

Thursday night is the Official Kickoff to the 2007 College football season. You notice the color of the text is purple in honor of one of the participants, the Bayou Bengal Tigers of Louisiana State University. Good grief that is a lot of words to have to spell out to try to say "Coon Ass." Yes I know that little name got the "Bionic Coach" in trouble but I have many a friend down on the bayou, and that is what they call themselves, so I will too. Back to business. The very highly touted tigers will make the short road trip north to Stark-Vegas to try to do their best Michael Vick impersonation. (I know that was bad, but every day on D & B some idiot makes the same joke about hiring him as coach at MSU or GA to put some fight........ you know the rest) Everyone has pretty much written off ol Coach Croom. They say he is on borrowed time, just thankful for each day his belongings are still on his desk and not in a cardboard box. Well let me be the first one to say this season........"Not so fast my friend," I am not so sure that ol Sly is not gonna make a game of it. I am not saying the Dogs are gonna hunker down and pull of a big upset, I just think the tigers are not ready for prime time yet. They may prove me wrong, but I think it will be closer than most. I think the tigers have a lot of talent, I just think they are gonna need some time to bring it all together. I am gonna say Bengals by 17. But I hope not more than that. Lets just say I bet lunch with a very healthy eater that it would not be a total blowout. So ring them cowbells, if you have to get down on your knees, just please, please, don't lose by more than TWENTY-THREE!!

I think for the first time today I heard some of the more delusional Bammers start to back up into the land of reality. I heard them start to back off of their 11 or 12 win prediction and start to come back to reality and admit that a 9 win season would be great and even 8 wins would be on the up-swing. But let me document it this way. Dawson, for all you non D&B listeners (And why not for that matter, http://www.dandbradio.com/ click on listen live 1 to 6 pm central mon-fri) is the definition of a delusional bammer, thinks they will be SEC if not national champions this year. Thinks the whole sports world gets out of bed each day just to see what the Bionic coach and the delusional nation are doing today. He made the statement today, that if they "do not win at least 10 or more games, then Saban is not near the coach they hired him to be." I am gonna hang up and listen, but I think those words will haunt our dear Rev. Dawson.

I got to thinking today what are some of the superstitious things that you all do on game day? Do you get up at a certain time? Eat a certain breakfast? I know as sports fans we get a little anal, and plum CRAZY enough to think that how we brush our teeth might affect the outcome of today's game. I do the same thing. I get up, will even set an alarm to watch college game day. I hate the show just as much as most, but I have to watch. I have to! I may play a game on the PS2 or if I have honey-do's now is the time to do them. I have an hour until the Lincoln Financial broadcast. (which is just enough time to go to my local watering hole to watch if that is the game plan) I will watch this, doesn't matter who is playing. Then at 2:30 if my Vols are not on the LF game I will switch over to the CBS broadcast. I may have time to go home, eat something, or talk to my wife, before the 6:45 ESPN or ESPN2 broadcast of the final SEC game of the day. Now here is where I get weird. The clothes I am wearing at the start of the games may not be what I am wearing when the game is over. I will change my shirt or jersey in a heartbeat if ol Rocky Top is not playin up to snuff. I think I was on my fourth shirt last year in the Georgia game before we started clicking. I have retired my #10 jersey. It just has too many losses on it. Am also retiring my current car flags. Also have losses, and a long road trip to the Outback Bowl in Tampa. Yes i believe what I do , and wear, determines our wins and losses.

Lastly. Tony Barnhart has finally lost his mind. He is usually an authority on SEC sports. He slipped. He wrote an article on the top five tailgates in the nation. http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/cfb/entries/2007/08/25/the_five_best_p.html Now he plain missed the boat on at least two of those. But It is nice that almost the whole five is (or should be) Sec schools. But how can you leave out beloved UT? Neyland? Vol Navy? Vol Walk? Let me lay out my day of tailgating. I think to me this is the perfect day. Wake up, go to adult beverage outlet, then make way to Episcopal church on Cumberland Ave. to tailgate. Drink almost all of your beverages, then make your way to Vol Walk. High-five all the players, Chest Bump Coach Taylor and then you feel like tackling someone yourself. Walk around the corner to watch the Pride of the Southland march dawn and do their traditional "Salute to the Hill" before marching in to the stadium. Go inside mother Neyland to see an already full student section yelling at the opposing team trying to warm up. Then watch the Pride in a "Pregame tradition un-rivaled in college sports." Then you lose your breath for a moment when you see them start to form the "T".........When it opens up and Smokey starts down the middle of the field running full speed leading the giant warriors in orange WOOOOOO!!!! I have chill bumps right now!! I am Ready!!!! Lets GO!! That is Game day!! That is Tennessee Football!! That is what I love!!

Let me introduce you to a friend of mine you already know

2007-08-23T20:25:00.000-05:00

I don't know of a fan in college football that has gotten as much camera time as the man you are about to meet. He has been on every televised game for the last year and a half. He has appeared in no less than five ESPN commercials, the Lincoln Financial SEC game of the week's opening video, USA Today and many many more newspapers, magazines and websites. I sat down and learned a lot about the man, the icon, and the story behind "Chief Checkered Head."

Buck Ellis is from a small area in West Virginia. A small two-town community named Ceredo-Kenova was home to the aspiring teenager with dreams of becoming a football coach in an area that borders Kentucky and Ohio, an area that lives for football. A lifelong Vol fan his intentions were to major in Architecture at UT. In order to pursue a coaching angle, Buck decided to major in mathematics. To stay close to home and a certain female companion he decided to begin his collegiate career at Marshall. So how did that work out for you? "Shortly after that we ended that relationship but I was one who hated to admit mistakes, and don't like to make commitments that I don't keep. So I tried to stay in the Math for 2 years and didn't like the Math teaching part so I started looking into schools to transfer to, and get into engineering." He narrowed it down to two schools, LSU, and the University of Tennessee. "Both schools were amazing. But, UT had 2 things LSU didn't. Neyland, and it was close to home." Buck brings up Neyland Stadium, a key starting point in an incredible ride that would take him places he never could have imagined he would go. Tell me about that first experience. "My first game in Neyland absolutely blew me away. I was a Marshall student and we played against UT the 2003 season. I sat in the upper deck with a couple buddies of mine cheering for Marshall. But being reminded that this (UT) was the school I where I belonged by my buddies. Little did I know just what was in store for me in that stadium."

Ok, so now we have you at UT. So how did you go from fan on game day, to crossing the line that would forever change your life? Was it planned or just spur of the moment? "The East Tennessee area is rich in Native American history and on my dad's side of the family I do have native roots leading back to Cherokee, and although I can not officially call myself Cherokee due to paperwork, I am proud of that heritage. I had planned on driving down to Cherokee NC to pick up a solid white Headdress (not a Cherokee tradition) to wear to the games with my orange. I thought that would be a cool idea." Yeah that would make you stand out. Is that what you were trying to do? "I hoped what it would show is not some white looking Native dressed crazy dude in the crowd, but how the true spirit of the Vols shows that a variety of individuals can join in moments of need and battle for the pride of their homeland also known as Neyland. What makes us (Vols) so unique is how we can band together and fight as one. Neyland is not 106,000 individuals but 106,000 breathing cells beating to one Rocky drum." That statement probably solidified Bucks true love for the Orange and White. True fans don't talk it, they LIVE it. So what changed? What happened to the headdress? "The morning of my trip to Cherokee I awoke with an idea like none other. I decided against my road trip and made an alternate route, on a quest for face paint." I would say that was a crucial decision. "The face was the beginning of something I wanted to start, only I had no clue to what It would become." So it all started that simple. How did you do it? "I came home that day and with a finger I painted my first checker. Every game for the first year I had a new person painting the back side of my head but I always did the front. The first game I wore the paint to was the Ole Miss game in 2005. When I walked down Vol Walk I started getting many pictures taken with me." You always seemed to be right up front in the stadium. "I was one of the first in line at the stadium with my usual crowd of wonderful friends. That first year I enjoyed sitting in seat F1,1. Right in the middle of Orange nation and I loved every minute of it. The last year I spent sitting in E1,1 and I really loved that seat! Front row 35 yard line and I could yell at the players on ours and their team. I could tell when they heard me." But 2005 was not a good year for Vol fans. A losing season makes it tough on even the rabid fans. It couldn't have all been good times, could it? "The first year was a tough year since we didn't quite play up to the Tennessee Par, but I was there week end week out. I remember one game the UGA game probably, was the hardest one to swallow that year and yes harder than the Vandy game. There were about 3 minutes left in the game and I had witnessed just about all that I could stand to see. But I hate leaving early. The crowd had just given up and I started making my way to the other side of the stadium to watch the final few minutes of the game before leaving at the end. I figured I'd watch the last few minutes by the players exit gate since that’s where I left out after the games. I was in no mood for taking my time getting home afterwards and was quite pissed. As I was on my way to my new seat, I remember a college mate harassing me and making fun of me and orange nation for leaving early. For his information I didn't leave early and didn't want to cause a scene so I just looked him in the eye and walked on." Yeah, it is pretty hard to blend in with a head like that. "I never wanted to be known as a person doing any of this to get any special deeds, or perks. Most times I would try to get the people on TV or the Jumbo Tron that were around me instead of myself. I just wanted to paint up more so to help the team by making the ones around me become even more of rabid fans. I wanted to contribute to making Neyland the house that it is and take it to an even higher level. Without improvement we are only as good as our ancestors and have learned nothing." Ok there are the bad times. Enough of that tell me about the good ones. What was your favorite game. What defined your legacy? "At the Memphis game I was walking around at half time and a gentleman came up to me asking to take a picture with his lil one and I did but what caught my eye was the line behind him. Almost all the way up the aisle was a line of children with their parents waiting to take a picture with me. That was a cool moment. It made me feel like one of them characters at Disney World when i was younger waiting to get an autograph. I'd have to say my favorite moments where the ones when I got to meet the lil kids at the games. Don't get me wrong I do love taking pictures with the beautiful lady Vols, but the kids are the future here. And when they look at you like 'that is awesome' you know they are well on their way to making what we know is the best in the land even better one day when it is their time to step up to the 30 yard line. That excites me. It tells me that what we are part of is something much larger than just a game, but the hope of a better future for this school, area, and game." So put it in perspective for me, what has the ride been like? "My time as the 'Chief Checkered Head' was absolutely amazing. I was on a Brooks and Dunn opening game video, Vol Junkie made a documentary of me, I was in I believe 5 ESPN commercials, SI website 3 times once as the main link from SC, UT Sports.com 3 times, USA Today, can't tell you how many newspapers, 2006 Vols highlight football movie, I got to meet most of the coaches excluding Fulmer, even a lady from England with undisclosed photographers took many pictures with me at the Memphis game. I would love to be able to be the Checked headed guy for the rest of my life, but now that I'm out of school it is hard to do. This season I will be out of the country on business so you won't see me painted up. I was hoping to make it into a scholarship, but nothing really ended up being made of it. This saddens me because I think its something special that everyone should experience in life. It would take a certain type of person to make it work though. I guess they had to be humble, passionate, and many more things. But most of all a die hard Vol fan!" Buck has definitely left a legacy at UT. I am anxious to see who steps up this year and does something out of the box to carry on the tradition. Buck graduated in the spring with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His Job will keep him out of the face paint. But to make sure he went out with a bang, Buck had his cap and gown pictures made with the paint, and even painted up for the commencement ceremony. Take a Bow O' Checkered one. You have earned it. And will truly be missed.

Join the Cause

2007-08-20T17:02:00.000-05:00

We have spent the last two blogs talking about the Big Orange Army. Where they came from, where they stand and want to go, and now I wanna tell you what they are working hard to see come to reality. They have since their inception, been working to become the largest fan based, fan oriented movement in college sports. Every Army needs a home, and they are working to establish one. They have just begun their largest, most aggressive membership drive to date. They want to build a 100,000 membership, and to see a stadium full of orange army helmets. that stadium is what brings us to the point of this entry. The stadium is named after the man that designed it, and led the team to a level of greatness that required a stadium of its size. A great legacy has been left by Brigadier General Robert Neyland. But in the recent years people have brought up wanting to give the stadium a nickname to intimidate opposing teams and fans when they come to town. You have "The Swamp," you have "Death Valley." Tennessee fans want the same type of name for their own stadium. If there is one negative label that has been given to the BOA it is that they are very aggressive and are not hesitant to act on an issue. The army took it upon themselves to start the campaign to nickname the stadium "Fort Neyland." In keeping the military theme, there is no greater honor bestowed upon a retired enlisted soldier than to name a fort in his honor. Neyland stadium is the home base of the BOA, it is the one place fans are willing to fight to defend, and would not go down without giving their all for her. To me, that sounds like what you would read about in history class, a soldier willing to give his life to ensure the colors of his fort were not taken. Nothing meant more to him. That describes most "True" Vol fans. My vote is a resounding YES to "Fort Neyland!"

Coming to a School near YOU!

2007-08-19T13:00:00.000-05:00

In 2005 the world was just beginning for the Big Orange Army. If some people had any say in the matter, this was as far as the group would travel. But there were two men that had other plans, Gen. Jamison who you met in the last piece, and a colleague named John Black. Together these two men would make a group into a corporate model that will very soon be seen at most SEC schools in your area. Not to mention, the NFL, Nascar, and MLB. But they did not get there overnight.

What started out as a plan to get fans involved, began to grow into a way to bring "Fandamonium" to Knoxville, and everywhere that Vol fans went. Things started with a membership package. For around twenty dollars fans would receive a personalized Certificate of membership including your serial number and Rank. A set of personalized Dog Tags to be worn any time you entered into battle for Tennessee, and stickers to show you were proud to be enlisted. Enlistment began slowly, then Jamison began to get the Army involved in the community. Fund raisers, blood drives, telethons any way that he could show the public that this was not just a game day gathering, he was serious in making the BOA a vital tool for all the people that support UT, an outlet to support and build up the great state of Tennessee and do it in the name of the Vols.

In 2005 they enlisted the Mayor of Knox County Tennessee into the BOA, in doing so pledged to be a force in the pursuit of community pride and advancement. In the next couple of months the south was hit with many hardships as mother nature unleashed her wrath on the gulf coast. The BOA helped in efforts by the Red Cross in the Knoxville area to raise money for our fallen brothers and sisters. They helped establish a fund raiser with other local establishments, there was no BOA merchandise, No membership drive, No self promotion, just hard work that ended up raising over $6,000 in a short time that day. Which started earning some respect for the growing Army. On February 16, 2006 the Senate of the State of Tennessee issued a Proclamation stating that the Big Orange Army is an organization that "Enriches the lives of the people living in the great state of Tennessee."

In the fall of 2006 every thing drastically changed. For the better. The big Orange Army merged with Action Sports Media, a collegiate sports marketing company specializing in game day multimedia. Basically, all of the signage in the stadiums, commercials you see on the jumbo tron, and in the programs come to you compliments of Action Sports. If you have been in to games at Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Florida, Rupp Arena, or Kansas State you have seen their work. Action Sports Media holds the contract for all of these institutions. And is doing so, has the inside tract for bringing an Army of the fans , for the fans to each one of these schools. With emphasis on bringing a Fan Army to Alabama, Kentucky, and South Carolina in the Very immediate future, ASM is working hard to promote fan interaction on an "everyday" basis. Unified Armies of America was formed to bring such groups to wanting teams across the country. Using the BOA as the patented working model, the Armies are based on a five factor structure.

1. Membership

2. Merchandising

3. Rewards

4. Corporate Sponsorship

5. Community Involvement

This is a "for-Profit" group, that donates portions of its membership packages to Children's Hospital of Tennessee, along with other specific product based donations to the Vol Athletic Scholarship Fund, and the Robert Neyland Scholarship fund. They provide a full line of apparel that can be purchased online, in their two retail stores, online, or now in Wal-Mart as well. They have an extensive interactive rewards program that allows fans discounts in many Knoxville area businesses and restaurants. Corporate sponsor and partners like the TVA and their Credit Unions, allow greater numbers and abilities when it comes to membership and raising funds for the Large number of charities that the BOA supports. And Community involvement in charity work, fund raising, and local events that allow members to assist using the broad spectrum of strengths and resources our the members possess. Merge that with the powerful contacts that Action sports media brings with it and you get a partnership that can not only build fan support. but the community will see the positive benefits as well. In Knoxville alone they have started football magazines, purchased the ESPN radio affiliate, and a station for Espn DePortes. Those alone can bring endless promotional opportunities for the partners involved.

So check out the websites for these two great groups.

http://www.bigorangearmy.com/

http://www.actionsportsmedia.com/

Look at them not as a Tennessee Site that makes you sick, but look at the possibility of your school having this same type Army. Could you imagine the Crimson Army invading the confines of Jordan-Hare stadium. Can you imagine the Army of blue rocking Rupp Arena? then email Gordon Whitener chairman and CEO of Action Sports Media at Gordon.whitener@actionsportsmedia.com and tell him you want to see an Army For the Fans, By the Fans at your school.

Next: what the BOA is pushing for this year.

The Big Orange Army wants YOU!!!

2007-08-17T17:23:00.000-05:00

I decided a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to do a piece on some of the most recognizable Vol fans. Then I said, They each deserve their own separate spotlight. But as i sat down and starting doing interviews with those involved, I realized this was way bigger than i had ever dreamed. So the first one will be broken down into at least three segments over the next few days and then I will move to the second spotlight leading up to the Cal kickoff.

A few years ago i came across a website that talked about a fan organization in Knox-Vegas. "For the fans, By the fans" it bragged. This was my first introduction to the Big Orange Army. that was back in 2004, and a lot has changed. I mean a LOT has changed. That same little fan group has now become a large corporate entity that will be the working model for groups like it all over the country and the world. That is haw far the Army stretches. two months ago as the Army began a huge membership drive, they had over five thousand registered members in thirty states and five different countries. Five countries. With celebrity members ranging from Coaches Fulmer and Pearl, Charlie Daniels, to Dolly Parton, Kid Rock to Bill Dance, people all over are growing to know the strength of the BOA. If you want to see for yourself, simply go to the nearest eastern Tennessee Wal-mart, because they are now stocking BOA apparel. From Knoxville to Nashville, Tuscaloosa to Tampa, where ever you see the Vols you will see the Battle helmets of the BOA. Let me introduce you to the group.

In 2002 a young man, under protocol, we will call him Jamison. General Jamison that is. The general was looking to get involved. Wanted to be more than just an average fan. There was a fan group in place. Known as the Vol Navy. But as the General told me, "If you can't afford a boat, you can't float." So that is where things were. He was not satisfied with that, but a visionary was beginning to take shape in the young General. He saw the growth potential of an organization that was fan based, fan motivated, and fan driven. But anytime you deal with the University of Tennessee athletics, you deal with very large numbers. Fans of UT sports are very passionate about their teams, traditions, and history. Something they would be willing to go to battle for. The more and more he looked at big picture, he saw what the answer was. If you need to give structure to large numbers of people, people that are willing to stand up for their convictions, and for the colors that run true in their heart, you have to look no farther than the United States Military to see the perfect example. Leadership, guidance, and structure are what strength is built upon. Under that premise, the Big Orange Army was born. But don't get me wrong, it was not all smooth sailing. Jamison was not the only person that saw the potential of the BOA. So did the administration of the University. So as soon as it began, the university began its effort to absorb the BOA into its own guidelines. But Jamison did not give up so easily. He knew if it was absorbed then it would not ever see its potential. If it was run by the powers that be, the fans would never have a say in its direction. They could never take ownership, or feel that they were truly a part of the heart of the movement. So he fought, for two years, and in a federal courtroom he was granted ownership of the BOA. And on September 30, 2005 General Jamison signed a license agreement with the University of Tennessee to give birth to what we know now as the Big Orange Army.

In the next installment I will go into the details of how the BOA grew from the adversity that tried to choke it down, to the Icon it has become.

"Taking A Dump On Tradition"

2007-08-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

My Blogging buddy has posted a Blog about yours truly. He is a very creative graphic artist. I am honored that he chose to throw a small spotlight my way! Check out the piece and check out the rest of his blog.

Thanks Sabanocchio!!

http://breatheifyoulovefootball.blogspot.com/2007/08/taking-dump-on-tradition.html

Half full, or half empty??

2007-08-05T16:13:00.000-05:00

On October first of 2005 I was sitting in a sports bar in Memphis TN doing something I hate to admit, yelling Roll Tide. In Tuscaloosa the University of Alabama was laying a licking on the Florida Gators. This was a good thing for my SEC East Vols. We needed the gators to go down, and this was a great sight in the land of Orange. Then came one of the most gruesome sights I have ever seen. With just under nine minutes left in the ball game, Brodie Croyle throws a pass to his favorite play maker, Tyrone Prothro. The pass was high, Pro went up for it, when he came down, the entire audience watching the nationally televised afternoon game, gasp in unison. Tyrone broke both bones in his lower leg. I could go into great detail the severity of the injury, but I think we can all recall what we witnessed that day. Then there was the sight of Pro on the back of the cart, with finger pointing to the sky as the fans of Bryant-Denney saluted him with ovation. Those cheers quickly changed to jeers as the whole state of Alabama called for the head of Mike Shula on a crimson platter, for having the star receiver in the game in the fourth quarter with a four touchdown lead. Some blame the coach's demise on that one decision. Some blame the Teams 2006 troubles on the missing star's inability to contribute to the team. But in truth Tyrone was fighting his on fight. Actually two foes stood before him. Survival, and the ability to walk. He has weathered multiple surgical procedures, and countless hours of therapy to gain the full use of that leg. But through it all he continues to make one prediction..."I will play again." That is painful to hear. I watched Tyrone make the effort to go on stage to receive an Espy award. I watched Him painfully limp on the field last year to deliver the game ball in the Iron Bowl. Yet last week when Coach Nick Saban announced that the team had taken Tyrone off of Athletic scholarship, I listened in pain as he once again declared "I will play again." It hurts to listen to a young man who has all of his hopes and dreams of the future hanging on one thing, playing football. It seems as if this young man has no reason to move forward without it revolving around playing again. But these stories don't always have to end this way.

On September ninth of last year the Tennessee Vols found themselves in the middle of a battle. The Falcons of Air Force had fought back and made every Volunteer very nervous as the bad guys were still charging. When corner back Inky Johnson made a play on the sideline, fans jumped up cheering at the intensity of the hit he made to stop the Falcons momentum. But the talented junior lay motionless on the turf. For minutes. Then he regained consciousness and could move his limbs, but it seemed he had fractured his collarbone. It wasn't until later at the hospital that the severity of the injury was discovered. Blood vessels and nerves had been damaged. Now the question was not when can I play again, but "Will I lose my arm?" Like Prothro he also had numerous surgical procedures on the arm. But what seemed to set him apart was the demeanor that carried him forward. The next day when coaches visited him, they talked about his smile and positive attitude. As soon as he was discharged from the hospital he was at practice. Motivating. Leading. Inky would have to spend time at the Mayo Clinic to try and make the most of what he had left in his arm. As spring practice started Inky was there. With his injury and the vols sending players to the NFL the vols are likely sending some true freshman to the field of battle. Inky is not letting them go into that battle without being properly prepared. He has been in the weight room, and on the practice field, arm in a sling, step by step with the young men trying to fill his shoes. Coach Phillip Fulmer, knowing how special this young man is, made him a student coach for the 2007 season. In an interview from Saturday Inky was smiling ear to ear and talked of the tremendous opportunity he has been given to help coach and continue to be a part of the team. He talked about growing up wanting to be a mentor, because of what mentors meant to him. Now he has the opportunity to help others and help the school and community he has grown to love, and have fell in Love with him. "Sometimes you cannot focus on the situation, you have to think about your destination." Profound words from a young man who looks like his career has just begun, and not come to an abrupt end. This past week the sports community has talked of how to honor Tyrone. Retire his number? The highest he stands in any category of the Bama record books is third for special teams. Permanent Captain? Name an award after the young man? At the same time, Inky just wants to help his team and do what he can to make the most of the gifts he has been given. Maybe it is just perception. But when comparing these two players I get the distinct feeling of looking at two identical glasses of water. One half full, and unfortunately one half empty.

How bad have you got it?

2007-07-31T21:49:00.000-05:00

How big a fan are you. Give me some feedback. Leave me a comment and tell me what have you done for your team that your friends or family have said "Ok you have gone too far." I have a couple. I will share one now and if I get some response from you guys I will go further. So my first one.. well let me introduce you to my three year old bluetick coonhound. What? You actually ask yourself what a tennessee fan would name their hound? Ladies and Gentleman meet 'PR' COOTERS SMOKEY MTN RIVER DREAM. Or as I call him ...Smokey.

The ONE thing I would change this Football Season

2007-07-31T20:41:00.000-05:00

There has been quite a bit of talk about the changing of the line of scrimmage on the kickoff. That most people say, will be the one thing that will have the biggest effect on the outcome of the season.

I disagree.

The one thing that will have the most effect on the season, is the one thing I want to see changed. The one thing that will keep some teams from never having a chance of even being in the hunt, and at the same time keep some teams in the hunt all year without deserving it. That one thing? What you haven't already figured it out.

It is the first College Football Top 25 Poll.

This is the single most penalizing aspect of the football world.

If a team starts out in the top 5, then loses a game early, they might drop to ummm 7, maybe 8 or 9. But lets say a team starts out at 17 they could win five or six straight and not crack the top 10. See where I am going with this? There is too much emphasis put on this early ranking. And all this, when no one has even played a game. I don't understand how you can give that much credit to where you finished the year before. Things change, coaches come and go, players change.

I propose that the first poll not come out until after the fourth week of the season. Then you know who has what and who is performing. Last years accomplishments would not play as big a role and teams that start strong could be rewarded. And would also make it a little more prevalent to schedule some good non-conference games early. This would take out the ol' Roody Poo's from the equation. Just my opinion.. For what it's worth.

My racing roots and feelings about Smoke

2007-07-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Well.....I have just heard MY BOY Tony Stewart drop an "S" bomb on national TV during the post race interview, and could not be more proud. Ok Ok lets go back a few years.

I grew up twenty minutes north of Talladega International Motor Speedway as it was known. When the teams would come in each year to race, if you went out to eat on Friday or Saturday night at Top O' the River in Anniston you were going to see many race teams or drivers in there. So racing was a popular thing where I grew up. I got to know Davey Allison when I was just out of high school, only to have my hero die a tragic death a year later. I lost interest in racing until a young sprint Driver came on the scene and charged to the top of the standings in a rainbow colored ride. But started losing interest in Nascar again when it started to become a political, good looks, corporate business. I started going to dirt track races at the Talladega Short Track. I fell in love with this down and dirty competition. I started helping and eventually Crew Chiefing on race cars on the Dirt Circuit. In 2004 I was approached by Talladega Short Track to become their Head Pit Official. I accepted it and began a career as a weekend race official. It was in 2004 I was introduced to someone that would reinstate my interest in the top racing league. I had to control the mobs of fans that paid $45 dollars a ticket in an effort to get close enough to get close to one man. Tony Stewart. One year before Stewart would be Boo'd for comments about the fans in Alabama. This year he received Rock Star status. Mobbed by fans as he was trying to drive a dirt car for friend and Chevy dealer Gary Kilpatrick. After he completed his match race I got the opportunity to spend the rest of the night hanging out with "Smoke" and getting to know the real Tony. Have since been able to spend time with him at the race track and on a personal basis. He is by far one of the coolest guys I have ever met. Down to earth, just one of the guys. But that is part of why people do not like him.

When he runs into bad luck or has a wreck, and someone sticks a microphone in his face he will tell you how he feels. He will tell you exactly what is on his mind. Like my daddy used to say, "Don't ask me a question if you don't wanna know the answer." He is a true racer. You can find him in a dirt Late Model or Sprint Car probably three or four nights a week in addition to his Nascar responsibilities. He is passionate, determined, and committed. He is an old school type driver. Which is why he catches a lot of grief from others. But you can draw a lot of comparisons, between Tony and Dale Earnhardt. Hard nosed, intimidating, move out of my way or I will move you out of the way. But in a fan base that still lifts "Big E" to a status of God, Stewart will be labeled as a crybaby, whiner, and troublemaker for some time. I applaud Mr. Stewart, for being true to himself, and true to his convictions, and passions that put him behind the wheel to begin with. In a day of corporate sponsors and ownership, he is still true to himself and his fans. Never sellout Smoke........Please.

Inky Johnson begins coaching career

2007-07-29T14:19:00.000-05:00

Gentry Estes of the Chatanooga Times Free Press wrote this great article about the emotional and Inspirational leader of the Vols Inky Johnson. Thought it was well worth sharing.

KNOXVILLE -- There was Inquoris Johnson, jogging through hills, sprinting past former teammates on a hot summer afternoon.
Quarterback Erik Ainge, resting his repaired knee on a stationary bicycle, observed with one thought: What am I doing here?
"He kind of makes the whole team feel like that," Ainge said. "I have more respect for Inky Johnson than I do for just about anybody that I've ever met."
The Inky Johnson story, once a tragedy, has become an inspiration for Tennessee's football team.
Nearly a year after suffering a career-ending injury on the field, Johnson will serve as a student coach for what would have been his senior season of eligibility.
He will be on Tennessee's sideline for all games and is expected to do more than simply cheer others onto the field.
"He's a demanding leader for them," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He'll call on them in a hurry as far as what he expects them to look like. Obviously, he doesn't want anybody feeling sorry for him.
"I'm proud to have him as part of our staff."
Fulmer later called Johnson the best cornerback on last season's team, and the Volunteers' defense never fully recovered from what occurred in the second game.
While making a tackle in the final minutes of a narrow victory over Air Force, Johnson severely damaged his "right brachial plexus," a network of nerves from the spinal cord that controls sensation in the shoulder, arm and hand.
Emergency surgery was needed to repair blood vessels, and additional surgery at the Mayo Clinic helped the cornerback begin to retain normal function in the right side of his body.
During his recovery, Johnson has been a consistent presence at the football complex, even when it became clear he wouldn't play again.
"It's a great inspiration for us," said linebacker Jerod Mayo, Johnson's current roommate. "Losing a lockdown corner like that is real tough, but his attitude on the field is what really got us through the day. Even with him out there now, it's really helping the young guys and helping me."
Soon after the incident, Johnson showed at football practices with his arm bandaged. He encouraged teammates before home games, receiving cheers from fans who noticed his presence.
"I didn't just want to be at home, just sitting around," Johnson said. "I wanted to be around my teammates, my classmates, my coaches, the trainers and everybody."
UT players and coaches marveled at Johnson's positive attitude and remarkable resiliency in spite of extraordinary adversity.
They still do.
"Talk about sacrifice and commitment," Fulmer said. "He could have lost his life. He fought through that. He could have had a real bad attitude about the injury. He hasn't done that one bit. He could blow away his academics. He hasn't done that.
"He could have been bitter at the football team or the program. He certainly hasn't done that."

Media days through Orange colored glasses

2007-07-29T13:02:00.000-05:00

I sit here on Sunday morning looking at various video interviews from media days. I have watched Coach Fulmer, Erik, Jerod, along with the other coaches and representatives from the SEC. I am thinking back over them and trying to decide, "What are the highlights?" What stands out about this years circus. I have decided that the biggest thing that sticks out is that nothing really stands out as the Must See event.

Sure, everyone wanted to lay eyes on the Bionic Coach(see the Kool-Aid article). Not sure what everyone wanted to see. Would he get kissed? Would he wear a purple shirt? Would he spend his mic time talking about his close ties in Baton Rouge, and what he accomplished at LSU? Nah we have seen and heard all of those before. I know we wanted to hear what he was going to do to set the standard for discipline at the all new and improved structured U of A program. But once again it was something we have seen before, last year as a matter of fact, nothing. In borrowing from the Mike Shula book of punishment, "We are handling this matter in house." In other words, lets get practice started and see how the three players perform, how big of a role they will play in our game plan, then we will make a decision as to when and if we will punish them. Nice . Check and make sure their faces are not too sticky. You know that ice cream melts fast this time of year.

Do wanna comment on maybe one of my favorite interviews from the week . And we stay at U of A. Simeon Castille said that the one moment that haunts him from last year came from his day in the shadows of Neyland. Erik made a very bad throw that sailed a good ten feet over the head of the intended receiver. Right to the waiting Castille. As he made his way up the sideline he met a determined Ainge on the eight yard line. Heckuva lick that prevented a touchdown, motivated the defense to hold the tide to only a field goal. A touchdown could have possibly led to a different outcome for the boys in crimson. Simeon said to this day he cannot watch the play, but promised if the opportunity comes again he WILL SCORE. He guarantees it. Job well done Erik.

Other than that it was really anti-climatic. Spurrier took a shot at Miles. Miles downplayed his rants. Johnson announced Vandy is moving forward. Croom bought himself a little time. Richt ummm. was he there? Oh yeah he talked about the movie he was a part of. Urban well he just had to show up. Tubberville is still trying to be the Hide and Seek champion. Brooks made sure we had been introduced to Woodson. Nutt asked if anyone would let him borrow their cell phone for a couple of minutes. Coach O ripped his shirt off and this is what he said.....(Why could he not do this) come on coach, give Bruce Pearl a call and ask him what playing to the cameras and fans will do for your program. Missed a golden opportunity here coach, tell em Jo Jo. Then there was Coach Fulmer. No Lawyers. No deposition. No plaque giving him the most players arrested in the off season award. In fact some complained he was ...Boring. Read where he was described as old school. Compared to Vince Dooley, show up, tell a couple of stories about your top players, then fend off uncomfortable questions. Like how did you handle the situation of getting Tee Martin ready following the career of Peyton Manning. Hmmm that was ten years ago. Maybe we slipped in some time warp or something.

Interesting tid bits in Eriks Interview. Talked about how the captains decided instead of just doing summer workouts and 7 on 7 drills they would have practice. Himself, Jerod Mayo, and Jonathon Hefney got together and drew up the plays and drills to run full mock practices. When the coaches came back from their "Coaches Retreat" and were informed of what the players had done, they mulled over making that the standard in years to come. I LIKE IT!!! Coaches can have NO involvement in summer programs. If players are taking charge, they are building leadership, teamwork, and unity. In a year where the no-huddle is going to require a comfort level among participants, this is very comforting to hear.

so in closing.......Kinda ho-hum not a lot to talk about. Maybe that is good. Tired of talking about it. Ready to see some ACTION!!!

Moving song that could apply to any of us.

2007-07-25T18:01:00.000-05:00

Just saw this video. It caught my attention because of the Tennessee reference. But as I listened I started to cry thinking about my nephew that is a United States Marine. He is just 20 years old, so it hit home to me. I know it will many of you. Tell me what you think of it.

Jimmy

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/694577/waycross_19/

General Neylands Maxims of Football

2007-07-21T14:39:00.000-05:00

Tennessee's version of the great coach that built the foundation that our program has stood on was General Robert Neyland. General Neyland graduated from West Point where he was a star pitcher, and football player in 1916. A great baseball prospect he was offered contracts by many teams including the Boston Red Sox who also owned the rights to a young Herman Ruth. Also known as "Babe." He served in WWI and was an Aide to Douglas MacArthur then the Superintendant at West Point and became an assistant football coach. He left to become the Professor of Military science and the head football coach at the University of Tennessee in 1926. He held the army rank of Major, and coached the Vols for nine years before being called back into service to Panama for one. He retired to coach football full time and had two undefeated seasons in 1938 and 1939. He was called back into the service of the army once again in 1941 and retired for a second time in 1946. As a Brigadier General he coached the Vols until 1952. Finishing his career with 173 wins in only 213 games (81%) with six conference titles and four national titles to his credit. Two things carry on the legacy of General Neyland, the stadium that bares his name and his "7 maxims of football."
The stadium was not just named in his honor. HE DESIGNED IT. The designs that he drew up included all of the expansions that have brought it to the size it is today.
He was famous for his notes and thoughts on motivation and simple knowlege that when looked at seem so simple, but when looked at after a game, if you achieved them, you did something great.
Some of these thoughts became his "7 Maxims of football" while others became simple folklore among the Orange nation. Such as before a Florida game he said "Some teams dash out on the field with tears in their eyes to do or die for alma mater" he said"if you go out there with tears in your eyes, you wont be able to see the ball. I want you to see it." They went on to win 13-12. The other two best examples of the greatness of Gen. Neyland came from Coaching peers. To argue the satement that "great players make great coaches" Alabama's Wallace Wade said of Gen. Neyland: "He could take his and beat yours, or he could take yours and beat his." After going undefeated in 1938 and 1939 Jock Sutherland the head coach from Pittsburgh who had won the national title two years earlier, said the vols could "beat any team in the country, and that goes for pro teams as well. General Neyland's work at Tennessee exceeds anything I have ever seenin all of my football experience. There are no flaws in the Tennessee team." One of his Maxim's stated that the team that made the fewest mistakes would win. To reduce the number of mistakes he limited his teams to two dozen offensive plays and four basic defenses. He also insisted "No offensive play should be used in a game until it has been rehearsed 500 times."

Seven Maxims of Football

The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.

Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way - SCORE.

If at first the game - or the breaks - go against you, don't let up... put on more steam.

Protect our kickers, our QB, our lead and our ball game.

Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.

Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.

Carry the fight to our opponent and keep it there for 60 minutes

Not ready to drink the Kool-Aid

2007-07-21T08:33:00.000-05:00

I live in the Birmingham metropolitan area of Alabama. Which most Bama fans want you to believe is "Tide Country." Although I will agree we are in the middle of enemy territory, on a daily basis I see more and more orange "T" tags on the front of cars or vinyl stickers displayed on the back window of a pickup truck. And can proudly say the numbers in attendance at the monthly Birmingham Big Orange Club meetings are growing. So why am I talking about these minor details in the big crimson scheme of things? Because most delusional fans think that the whole country is in awe of their "Bionic Coach." That is how I will be addressing him from now on. The Bionic man was, if you remember, the "Six Million Dollar Man." Rebuilt to be bigger, stronger, faster, super human even. The Bionic Coach was not rebuilt, was not improved, was not refined, or even New and Improved for Longer Lasting Flavor. But when he left LSU he was one of the highest paid coaches in america. Aside from a shared National Title, had been respectable as a head coach. I said it, Respectable. You cannot call him dominant due to his record. In big games he has faltered. In his time at Toledo, MSU, and LSU against big name, high profile, even Conference opponents he posted the folowing losing records against these opponents:
Opponent Record
UAB 0 wins 1 LOSS
Auburn 2 wins 3 LOSSES
Colorado St. 0 wins 1 LOSS
Florida 2 wins 3 LOSSES
Iowa 1 win 3 LOSSES
LSU 0 wins 1 LOSS
Michigan 2 wins 3 LOSSES
Navy 0 wins 1 LOSS
Nebraska 0 wins 2 LOSSES
Penn State 2 wins 3 LOSSES
Purdue 1 win 3 LOSSES
Stanford 0 wins 1 LOSS
Texas 0 wins 1 LOSS
Va Tech 0 wins 1 LOSS
Washington 0 wins 1LOSS
Wisconsin 1 win 2 LOSSES

Nick also "boasts" a stellar 3-6 bowl record (50%) and a losing NFL coaching record of 15-17 (46%). Yet after posting only two ten win seasons in his career, with all the hype of the Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan show, the Bionic Coach makes his "Triumphant Return" to the SEC ranks. Along the way once again becoming one of the highest paid coaches in NCAA history. To bring fear to the opposition..........No..........not really.
In my opinion he is a "good" coach. But the SEC is top heavy in "good" coaches. Is he a good recruiter, yes, Great Recruiter. Are we trembling in fear, no. Were we trembling when the "OL Ball Coach" returned, yeah a little, and he is at SOUTH CAROLINA!!!
The season kicks off in less than six weeks. I am ready for some football. I have had my fill of hype, trash talk, and delusional dreams. I am ready to stand along Peyton Manning Pass in the shadows of the great Neyland Stadium, shake the hands and high five each of the beloved men that put on the Orange and White, and coach them to greatness. Leave there and walk around the corner to watch the Pride of the Southland marching band make their parade to the stadium, stopping to "Salute the Hill" along the way. Then file into one of the Greatest Stadiums in College Sports, watch my Vols run through the T to the thunderous cheers of 110,000 screaming people in Orange! I am ready folks. It is time!

Time to let ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS!!!!!!!!!!!