Weird Day At Neyland, Vols Win

It was a weird day at Neyland Stadium.

Rain, and more worrisome-- lightning, postponed the start of Saturday's game 55 minutes. There was serious concern voiced to me by UT officials that the game might not be played.

Fortunately, it never came to that.

More weirdness. The sight of UT's football players running onto an empty field. For the first time since 1965, there was no "T" formed by the band. Football players are wound tight on game-day. Coaches are control freaks. When kickoff is schedued for 4pm, and it doesn't happen, coaches worry. Fans and the media wonder.

After the game, Vol offensive coordiator David Cutcliffe was still voicing concern. He called the Vols' play on offense erratic. He was right.

There were some big plays. Ainge threw a 47-yard beauty to Swain to open-up a 9-0 lead.

There were some good signs. Montario Hardesty's 20-yard touchdown run was a combination of speed, power, and toughness. (But it only happened after the Vols converted a strange 3rd down pass that was tipped off Bret Smith and into the hands of Swain).

There were also reasons to leap out of your seat. Lamarcus Coker's 89-yard touchdown run was the result of sheer speed. It was also the 3rd longest TD run in Tennessee football history.

There were other lapses. Marshall's only touchdown came on a long drive that was aided by two Tennessee defensive penalties.

The Vols won 33-7. But after watching Georgia survive agaisnt Colorado and Florida's lackluster effort against Kentucky-- I firmly believe the SEC East race is still wide-open.

Saturday's game at Neyland Stadium wasn't perfect. It was weird. And for Vol football fans it was also wonderful.