UTVols News and Opinions

Welcome to Coach Scooter’s College Football Diary for another action packed week! Thursday night begins rivalry week in college football as we see the season begin to wind down. Let’s get to the action in Pittsburgh as the Big East was on display.

Thursday Night

#8 W. Virginia 45
Pitt 27

After a first half scare, the #8 ranked Mountaineers blew away the upset hopes of the Panthers in an 18 point victory. Steve Slaton and Pat White were again the stars, and if WVA were still undefeated, Slaton might be in line for Heisman consideration. Once again he lit it up with four TD’s, 215 yards rushing and 130 yards receiving. Pat White ran for two TD's, gained 220 yards rushing and 204 yards passing. Hey Rich, (head coach Rich Rodriquez) can the Vols have those two during one of your off weeks? The highlight for Pitt could end up being the play of the year. Darrelle Revis took a Pat McAfee punt and picked it up on the bounce as he retreated. It looked as if he were going to be tackled for a huge loss, but he made it to the corner, aided by a devastating block by Derek Kinder, which took out two Mountaineers. He tightroped down the sidelines and after breaking one more tackle, he spun away from a hit inside the five yard line and trotted in. If you haven’t seen this play, watch ESPN all this weekend because it will be on their top ten plays of the week for sure.

Ainge will start on Saturday vs. Vanderbilt

Injuries have played a part in Tennessee’s fortunes of late, forcing quarterback Erik Ainge and tailback LaMarcus Coker to the bench. But Coker returned last week in a limited role and Head Coach Phillip Fulmer announced Thursday that Ainge would get the start behind center. Fulmer hopes to see Ainge play significant minutes for the first time since the Vols 31-24 win at South Carolina on Oct. 28.

"He’s right at 100 percent,” Fulmer said of Ainge. “We’ll be a little bit careful with him. We’ll try to be smart. I don’t anticipate a problem. I would have liked to had him the last couple of weeks but he couldn’t go. He knows the football team needs him and I hope we throw it and catch it like we were before he was injured.”

"Vanderbilt is a tough challenge,” Fulmer said. “They are a good offensive team, starting with the quarterback who is doing an outstanding job. They can run the ball well when they spread out, and their receivers are very talented."

"Their defense gives you lots of looks. They really make you work at finding the pressure, and they're a big pressure team. It's nothing that we haven't seen probably most of the year, just more of it as we prepare for them.”

"Week in and week out in the Southeastern Conference, you better be ready to play,” Fulmer said. “This year, I have seen more balance to the point where injuries and other factors have made a difference.”

This week’s games

Michigan at Ohio State
3:30 – ABC – Brent Musburger/Bob Davie/Kirk Herbstreit

The matchup ABC has been waiting for since the final gun sounded from last year’s Rose Bowl has finally come as #2 Michigan travels to Columbus to play #1 Ohio State. In all the years of this bitter rivalry, this is the first time these teams have come in as the top two ranked teams in the country, and the first time they both have come in undefeated and untied since 1973. (In 1975 both teams were unbeaten, but Michigan had two ties). This game has all the makings of a classic, but I wish it were Bo and Woody on the sidelines because that would have made this extra special.

Auburn at Alabama
3:30 - CBS – Verne Lundquist/Gary Danielson

As The Big Lebowski said, “This is a very complicated case. Lots of ins, lots of outs…” Can Auburn rebound after being bounced out of the BCS and SEC race? Auburn has only had three road games this year against fair to mediocre SEC teams, so how will they handle playing in Tuscaloosa against a seriously pissed off opponent? Will Bama do the unthinkable and lose for a fifth straight time to their arch rivals? And what might happen to Mike Shula if that happens? One person who I know doesn’t give a crap is Gary Danielson, since this game doesn’t have anything to do with his beloved Florida Gators. This tick turd should have his own Vonage commercial because CBS has not made a smart decision among many, many stupid ones in hiring him. I would be first in line to be the one who throws the Vonage box at that Gomer Pyle face of his.

Rutgers at Cincinnati
7:45 – ESPN – Mike Patrick/Todd Blackledge

What were the chances of this being the ESPN headline game when the schedule was looked at in August? This game had about as much of a chance as being the headline game as:

Aunt Molly getting through one UT game without using profanity
Gary Danielson not making a horse’s patoot out of himself every Saturday
The Big East producing a national champion
Paul McGuire being the spokesman for Vic Tanny health clubs

California at USC
8:00 – ABC – Brad Nessler/Bob Griese/Paul McGuire

Speaking of McGuire, I heard his friends wanted to throw him a birthday party, but the fire marshal wouldn’t allow them to put the right number of candles on his birthday cake… (Insert rimshot here) This game will determine if USC can keep their hopes of playing in the BCS championship game alive, while a Cal victory will keep their hopes of going to the Rose Bowl a strong possibility.

Tennessee at Vanderbilt
12:30 – Lincoln Financial – Dave Neal/Dave Rowe

The Vols still have a shot at a New Years Day bowl if they can sweep their long time traditional rivals, beginning with Vandy on Saturday. Erik Ainge is back, and that means the Vol passing game should be explosive, plus UT has extra motivation to avenge the loss to the Commodores last year. Even more explosive is the Big Orange Army, who will be at the game so look for the Big Orange Tank outside Dudley Field. Who knows, if Ainge and Crompton can’t blow holes in the ‘Doores defense, maybe General Jamison can wheel in the tank and give it a shot? (No pun intended…well, maybe a little one) If you would like to join the Big Orange Army, go to www.bigorangearmy.com and enlist today!

For more college football news, please check out my column on The Southern Ledger. The Southern Ledger is your source for news and cluture in the southeast! www.southernledger.com

All right, Vol fans, that’s your preview for the weekend. Keep those emails coming to volsdiary@yahoo.com with your questions and comments. Rub those orange and white rosary beads, repeat your game maxims, and never take Coach Fulmer’s name in vain. Until Tuesday, Vol fans, Go Big Orange!!