August, 2006

Are the Vols ready to open the 2006 season? That question, my friends, is moot. Because, ready or not, here comes California.

Chavis will have his defense ready-- even with a fair share of new starting players. The Vols have plenty of quality up-front and at linebacker. Their defensive backfield has played solid all preseason.

Kasey Kahne may have given Knoxville television stations a scoop tonight. Kahne was visiting East Tennessee and signing autographs at NASCAR Speedpark in Sevier County. Speculation is mounting that Elliott Sadler will join Kahne as a teammate next season-- although there's been no official confirmation from Ray Evernham Motorsports-- or Sadler himself. Tonight, asked about the situation-- Kahne took things one-step further-- saying Sadler may join the team in time for this weekend's race at Michigan. Here's his quote:\r

Erik Ainge didn't do himself any favors at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, but it's not time to hit the panic button on the UT quarterback situation.

Ainge was 13 of 26 passing for 120 yards. But he threw two interceptions, and at times, didn't have overall control at the line of scrimmage.

Not to worry. Yet. For three reasons.

First, despite coaxing by the media, UT coaches were reluctant to even remotely consider Ainge at risk to lose his starting job.

The past five days may be the best example of the frustrations college coaches face. It also illustrates the media's frustration with the good news vs. bad news "rap" we sometimes (er, always!) get.

On Monday, UT presented us with a good story that was genuine, interesting, and legitimately newsworthy.