September, 2008

Peyton Manning was at the game.  But he was in street clothes and out of college eligibility.  Too bad.  The Vols needed him. 

After their 14-12 loss to Auburn, Tennessee coaches admitted they considered a quarterback change DURING the game.  That's drastic, but it's become obvious the team's issues on offense begin and end there. 

No pictures for this pre-game blog.  I'm anchoing the shows in Knoxville.  My colleague Mark Nagi is in Auburn.  

I've been to Jordan-Hare Stadium before.  It's one intimidating place!  In fact, my first time covering a road game in the SEC was there.  It was an eye-opener.  I vividly remember the Tennessee players' buses pulling up to the stadium-- and Auburn fans were, well, less than welcoming!  

That game, in 1990, ended tied.  

I should rename this column mrswoganonsports.   When I returned home after the UT-Florida game, at 2:30am Sunday, mrswogan was awake.  I was ready for quiet time. She was ready to breakdown why the Vols lost to the Gators.  We were up until 4am (and still made mass at 9).

This illustrated two things.  First, it's one example of why our marriage has latested 26 years. She's a sports fan too (ok, not just for that reason). Second, it shows how deeply the Vols cut into everyday life around here.

I've been around here for the highs, and also for a few lows. This one could go real low. Worse than 2005. 

I don't like saying that. UT is celebrating the 10th anniversary of their national championship season. That was a long time ago.  On a night like tonight (it's been five hours since the Vols lost 30-6 to Florida), it seems like even longer.

It's almost time.  The Vols host Florida on a near perfect day at Neyland Stadium.   It's obvious fans from both sides are ready.  I snapped off these pictures as I approached the stadium today.

The Vols will face a stiff test, and their recent history has not been good against Florida when Tim Tebow is involved. 

We all thought Tennessee's rivalry with Florida wouldn't survive without Steve Spurrier. 

Grossman, Weurffel, Matthews, and others came and went. But Spurrier was the name, face and voice most connected with one of college football's classic matchups. For twelve seasons, Spurrier was the thorn in UT's side; the reason for Vol fans' angst. Tennessee was 4-8 against the Gators during Spurrier's reign as the SEC's resident smart aleck.

Ok, I was close on my predictions.  Vols win by 32.Running game sets up win.  Foster 101 yards.   Hardesty below 100, but Creer with 90+.  Combined, Vols rush for nearly 300 yards.   Pretty much as I expected.   Scoreboard after the game, and Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson addresses media in post-game interview room.

The offense had its moments. Crompton to Gerald Jones, twice in the 1st quarter and it looked like the romp was on.  Vols led 14-0.  But a Crompton inteception and a miserable 2-minute drill that produced absolutely NOTHING offers continued reason for concern.  Unless something positive happens in the 2nd half, the Vols will come-up seriously short on the +40 I predicted.

It's like 900 degrees on the sidelines! The Vols and UAB are in for a hot afternoon.   Getting a good vibe about this game for Tennessee.  Don't worry about Crompton's accuracy.  Foster and Hardesty could both have 100-yard days rushing.   The Vols will run first, get some confidence and then pass later.   Could win by forty.   We'll see.

After the debacle that was UCLA, I have no doubt Vol quarterback Jonathan Crompton will play well against UAB this weekend. The whole team will. UAB is bad. 

The Blazers were also a bad team in 2005, but they still gave the Vols fits. UT won 17-10. It wasn't over until Demetrice Morely deflected a UAB pass in the endzone with time about to expire. Of course, the Vols were bad that season too.  UT won just five games.

The last time I saw a football game at Arizona Stadium was 1980.  Twenty-eight years later, with the Vols off, my wife suggested we return to Tucson to see a game.  That shows you what kind of sports fan she is, and how lucky I am.