October, 2008

I have a friend who is a Tennessee loyalist through and through.  He was brought up that way.  Travels with the team. Goes to bowl games. Attended Saturday night's game against Alabama.  My friend has multiple season tickets. Last week, he had two extras. He vowed to sell them outside Neyland Stadium before the game, but refused on multiple occasions to sell them to Alabama fans. He stuck to his guns, turning down various requests from Tide supporters hoping to see the game.  His loyalty to UT is admirable. It also has limits.

I've never experienced anything like it. Tennessee fans had mostly vacated Neyland Stadium early in the fourth quarter. As time expired against Alabama, Crimson Tide fans had taken over. There had to be at least 30-thousand. Their cheers and chants reverberated off the bleachers and high-priced club seats usually occupied by Vols fans. It was an impressive show of force. 

There is nothing like a night game at Neyland Stadium. The vibe just feels different. The crowd energizes this place. I snapped off this picture, under the lights, as anxious Tennessee fans file in, and the teams prepare for one of college football's best rivalry games.

 Alabama is ranked #2, and despite their second-half lapses, they're still a good team. Few people with any objectivity expect the Vols to win.

He's making great plays on defense, but Eric Berry isn't doing Phillip Fulmer any favors in this regard: The Berry to offense question isn't going away. After the Mississippi State game, it's only going to intensify.

Berry's spectucular 72-yard interception return for a touchdown Saturday night put me over the top. 

I understand Fulmer's concerns:

*Berry is crucial to the defense and is already involved in 50-60 plays a game.

A win over a hurtin' Mississippi State team won't turn this season around.  But it's a start.  It wasn't just the win-- it was how the Vols did it. 

After the game, I asked defensive coordinator John Chavis if he felt this was the best the Vols played on defense all season.  His reponse-- no question about it.  

Two hours before kickoff against Mississippi State.  Some, but not all, of the frustration of the first six weeks of this season can be erased tonight.   The Vols need a win over the Bulldogs to ease the tension.  It could be a good night.  Phillip Fulmer is chasing his 150th career win.  I think he'll get it.   The Vols are due to put together a big win.  Fulmer and his players started the evening with the Vol Walk-- a gr

The Vols did enough to keep themselves in the game against Georgia, but they didn't do enough to win.  The downward spiral that is the 2008 season continues and it could set a new standard for Tennessee football deficiency. 

The Vols haven't suffered a seven-loss season since 1977.  It was Johnny Majors' first year.    

Most concerning after the game was a comment from one of the Vols most productive, and smartest, players, Gerald Jones.

Nick Stephens impressed me in his first start.  As I said during our pregame coverage-- Stephens took an unusual path to get here, but if David Cutcliffe respected this kid-- he's gotta be good.  Ya know, I really think he is.

He had poise in the pocket.  He read his receivers.  He threw deep.  Still, too many dumb penalties on offense and dropped balls.   Score at half was 3-3.  That, quite simply, is a joke.  Two big passes in second half ignite the crowd and result in points.

Quick update from Neyland Stadium.  Perfect night for college football.  Neyland Stadium filling-up more than I expected-- but there are still plenty of empty seats.  Upper student section looks like UAB game.  

The Nick Stephens era begins tonight.  Vol fans are hoping it lasts a long time. Grabbed this quick shot of Stephens chatting with Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson before the game.  

Without being allowed to watch practice, the media is having a hard time picking-up any kind of vibe on Phillip Fulmer's quarterback decision. Because sports REALLY isn't that different than politics, here's what I think the coach will do. Keep in mind, I am not a coach, and I certainly don't get paid like one.

Start Stephens.

Unless he was absolutely clueless in practice this week, it's the smart thing to do.