Tuesday, August 08, 2006
A War of Words--Football and the Military
The sports pages, especially this time of year, are just full of them: comparisons of sports, namely football, to the military. You hear phrases like ‘fight songs’, ‘sideline General’, ‘air attack’, ‘light skirmish’, ‘two platoon system’, and ‘readying the troops for battle’. None of these reference the real life wars being fought by our heroes in the Middle East, but rather War’s younger brother—Sports.
There have been recent incidents, even, where the athletes themselves (a la` Kellen Winslow Jr.) have actually called themselves ‘soldiers’ and the like. This is justified to a few, offensive to many, and just amusing to most of the rest of us. All of it, however, begs the question: where did we get this neurotic obsession with the comparison of football with the military? And is it accurate at all, or just artificial aggrandizement? Should we hold those who persist in the use of this analogy in contempt, or is it something that can truly help us better understand the game, those who play and/ or coach in it, and ourselves?
Before we begin, I wish to say that, as a former proud member of the military (3 yrs. Active, 4 National Guard), I will never attempt to equate the exploits of our athletes with the sacrifices our military personnel daily undertake. I do not denigrate the efforts of those proud Americans who actually fight for our freedoms by comparing them with the achievements, however noteworthy, of those who are privileged to play warlike games due to the freedom provided by that same military. I honor the offerings of our public servants in the military and heartily wish each and every one of them the very best life can offer. I’ll never forget what they have done for me and my family.
With that being said, let’s move on to look at some examples of that comparison. For the sake of familiarity, I’ve drawn on some experiences from our local beloved sons: the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The obvious starting place is their very name: bequeathed originally as a nickname for a fighting unit, the army that answered President Andrew Jackson’s call for volunteers in the war with Mexico in 1812. The tradition did not die with that war, but has actually been earned again and again with each volunteer fighting force down through the ages. In every armed conflict where no draft has been instituted, Tennessee as a state has the reputation of sending, if not the largest, then one of the largest contingents of personnel on a volunteer basis.
On a lighter note, please allow me to offer some colorful additions to this legacy with a bit of hyperbole:
In our football tradition, all branches of the military are represented.
We have the Vol Navy, the diehard cocktail crowd that puts in for every home game at the back door to Neyland Stadium on the Tennessee River;
We have an air force (you can see them flying overhead every home game, dropping humanitarian messages such as ‘Eat at Vinny’s’ or ‘Advertise your company name here’);
We very definitely have an army, clad in orange and white and ready for the conflict;
We even have a marine corps, and I don’t mean just the band. I consider our special teams (punting, placekicking, kick coverage, etc.) to have a marine corps type of mission: they get us started, establish a ‘beachhead’ of sorts for follow-on operations of a larger force, and provide the initial resistance to the same type of efforts from our opponents.
Let’s not overlook the importance of the band (marine corps): we depend on them to supply a major portion of the esprit de corps so necessary to small unit success.
Our organizational structure also mimics a military table of organization and equipment:
We have a field captain, in charge of the troops and the tactics to directly confront the opponent (Coach Phil Fulmer).
His lieutenants, the assistant coaches, responsible for the smaller units’ direction and execution.
The field sergeants, enforcing the orders of the chain of command on the field and in the flow of action (player captains).
We even have a couple of cadets, or extensions of the commander onto the field and with decision-making capacity over and above even the captains of the field units. There are namely two: the quarterback, leader of the offense; and the middle linebacker, leader of the defense.
We have forward observers, taking pictures in the flow of action, viewing them with the larger perspective afforded them in the booth upstairs, and making recommendations to directly impact the flow of action on the field.
We have an intelligence arm, i.e. film study.
We have recruiting—no elaboration necessary.
We call our blocks of pre-season practice time ‘camps’ much like ‘boot camp’.
We even have a political organization:
We have a Congress: 110,000 strong and very vocal.
We have a Congressional oversight committee, i.e the Media. (Wow—when you put it in that kind of perspective, you wonder how one man—the head coach—puts up with having so many armchair quarterbacks joggling his elbow every week. By comparison, George W. Bush only has roughly 2000 or so to worry about. That’s counting Congress and the press corps.)
These are just some small examples, in some cases not limited to Tennessee, where the military culture has overlapped with and changed the culture of football. To stretch a point, we even encountered a comparison in Blackhawk Down where the Special Operations unit (3rd Ranger Battalion) was likened to the special, tough, hardnosed units used for a short yardage situation: “…when we git down on the five yahd line, you gon’ need mah Rangers.” At some point, the analogy will break down; however, we can see that it is definitely a significant comparison that resonates with a lot of people.
Furthermore, some of our greatest coaches had been significantly influenced by the military. Consider the following four coaching icons:
Woody Hayes, famous coach at The Ohio State University: enlisted in the Navy during WWII, July 1941, subsequently attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander;
Bo Schembechler, famous coach at Hayes’ nemesis Michigan University: served in the Army before earning his master’s degree and re-taking the field;
Paul “Bear” Bryant, legendary coach at Alabama: following Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the Navy and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander before rejoining the civilian population;
General Robert Neyland, legendary coach of the University of Tennessee and coach Bryant’s nemesis: served in WWII, eventually reaching the rank of Brigadier General before returning to Tennessee. His ‘maxims’ live on today as an object lesson in strategy, tactics, and inspiration for players and coaches alike.
Upon examining all these ways in which football seems to be particularly interwoven with the military, it seems almost impossible to imagine football without the military’s influence.
So, why does it matter? Why go through this intellectual exercise? At this time in our nation’s history, we are particularly sensitive to any and all military references simply because it is so pervasive. We are daily reminded of the impact of military operations on our lives and our national consciousness.
With all the ardor and focus of a younger brother ‘aping’ his older, revered sibling, football readily and willingly takes on the trappings and attitudes of the military with reckless abandon. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; if you accept this as true, then it can only follow that America still has a tacit pride in its ability to project force and shape the flow of events. Football, and the passion with which it is devoured by so many, proves it. Our love of the game is, at least on some level, a celebration of the military.
It also may serve as a proxy for projecting our need for victory. In the face of frustration at the lack of a quick resolution abroad to some of our nation’s conflicts, we turn inward instead to find victory over our simulated ‘enemies’, i.e. our football nemesis across the sidelines. The popularity of college football, in particular, is at an all time high. Can it be only coincidence that this is true when we as a political power seem to be, if not losing, at least not winning as quickly as we might like in real conflicts? If so, then football and other proxies for war take on magnified importance in our consciousness particularly at these times, and may explain in part why it is so satisfying to send a proud opponent down in defeat on the gridiron. For Vol fans, almost nothing can replace that long lasting feeling of pride and euphoria when pummeling the Gators to a bleeding, vaguely reptilian pulp, or muzzling the Bulldogs and sending them back sniveling to their doggy houses with their tails tucked. Much more than any candy bar could, VICTORY really satisfies.
There have been recent incidents, even, where the athletes themselves (a la` Kellen Winslow Jr.) have actually called themselves ‘soldiers’ and the like. This is justified to a few, offensive to many, and just amusing to most of the rest of us. All of it, however, begs the question: where did we get this neurotic obsession with the comparison of football with the military? And is it accurate at all, or just artificial aggrandizement? Should we hold those who persist in the use of this analogy in contempt, or is it something that can truly help us better understand the game, those who play and/ or coach in it, and ourselves?
Before we begin, I wish to say that, as a former proud member of the military (3 yrs. Active, 4 National Guard), I will never attempt to equate the exploits of our athletes with the sacrifices our military personnel daily undertake. I do not denigrate the efforts of those proud Americans who actually fight for our freedoms by comparing them with the achievements, however noteworthy, of those who are privileged to play warlike games due to the freedom provided by that same military. I honor the offerings of our public servants in the military and heartily wish each and every one of them the very best life can offer. I’ll never forget what they have done for me and my family.
With that being said, let’s move on to look at some examples of that comparison. For the sake of familiarity, I’ve drawn on some experiences from our local beloved sons: the University of Tennessee Volunteers. The obvious starting place is their very name: bequeathed originally as a nickname for a fighting unit, the army that answered President Andrew Jackson’s call for volunteers in the war with Mexico in 1812. The tradition did not die with that war, but has actually been earned again and again with each volunteer fighting force down through the ages. In every armed conflict where no draft has been instituted, Tennessee as a state has the reputation of sending, if not the largest, then one of the largest contingents of personnel on a volunteer basis.
On a lighter note, please allow me to offer some colorful additions to this legacy with a bit of hyperbole:
In our football tradition, all branches of the military are represented.
We have the Vol Navy, the diehard cocktail crowd that puts in for every home game at the back door to Neyland Stadium on the Tennessee River;
We have an air force (you can see them flying overhead every home game, dropping humanitarian messages such as ‘Eat at Vinny’s’ or ‘Advertise your company name here’);
We very definitely have an army, clad in orange and white and ready for the conflict;
We even have a marine corps, and I don’t mean just the band. I consider our special teams (punting, placekicking, kick coverage, etc.) to have a marine corps type of mission: they get us started, establish a ‘beachhead’ of sorts for follow-on operations of a larger force, and provide the initial resistance to the same type of efforts from our opponents.
Let’s not overlook the importance of the band (marine corps): we depend on them to supply a major portion of the esprit de corps so necessary to small unit success.
Our organizational structure also mimics a military table of organization and equipment:
We have a field captain, in charge of the troops and the tactics to directly confront the opponent (Coach Phil Fulmer).
His lieutenants, the assistant coaches, responsible for the smaller units’ direction and execution.
The field sergeants, enforcing the orders of the chain of command on the field and in the flow of action (player captains).
We even have a couple of cadets, or extensions of the commander onto the field and with decision-making capacity over and above even the captains of the field units. There are namely two: the quarterback, leader of the offense; and the middle linebacker, leader of the defense.
We have forward observers, taking pictures in the flow of action, viewing them with the larger perspective afforded them in the booth upstairs, and making recommendations to directly impact the flow of action on the field.
We have an intelligence arm, i.e. film study.
We have recruiting—no elaboration necessary.
We call our blocks of pre-season practice time ‘camps’ much like ‘boot camp’.
We even have a political organization:
We have a Congress: 110,000 strong and very vocal.
We have a Congressional oversight committee, i.e the Media. (Wow—when you put it in that kind of perspective, you wonder how one man—the head coach—puts up with having so many armchair quarterbacks joggling his elbow every week. By comparison, George W. Bush only has roughly 2000 or so to worry about. That’s counting Congress and the press corps.)
These are just some small examples, in some cases not limited to Tennessee, where the military culture has overlapped with and changed the culture of football. To stretch a point, we even encountered a comparison in Blackhawk Down where the Special Operations unit (3rd Ranger Battalion) was likened to the special, tough, hardnosed units used for a short yardage situation: “…when we git down on the five yahd line, you gon’ need mah Rangers.” At some point, the analogy will break down; however, we can see that it is definitely a significant comparison that resonates with a lot of people.
Furthermore, some of our greatest coaches had been significantly influenced by the military. Consider the following four coaching icons:
Woody Hayes, famous coach at The Ohio State University: enlisted in the Navy during WWII, July 1941, subsequently attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander;
Bo Schembechler, famous coach at Hayes’ nemesis Michigan University: served in the Army before earning his master’s degree and re-taking the field;
Paul “Bear” Bryant, legendary coach at Alabama: following Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the Navy and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander before rejoining the civilian population;
General Robert Neyland, legendary coach of the University of Tennessee and coach Bryant’s nemesis: served in WWII, eventually reaching the rank of Brigadier General before returning to Tennessee. His ‘maxims’ live on today as an object lesson in strategy, tactics, and inspiration for players and coaches alike.
Upon examining all these ways in which football seems to be particularly interwoven with the military, it seems almost impossible to imagine football without the military’s influence.
So, why does it matter? Why go through this intellectual exercise? At this time in our nation’s history, we are particularly sensitive to any and all military references simply because it is so pervasive. We are daily reminded of the impact of military operations on our lives and our national consciousness.
With all the ardor and focus of a younger brother ‘aping’ his older, revered sibling, football readily and willingly takes on the trappings and attitudes of the military with reckless abandon. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; if you accept this as true, then it can only follow that America still has a tacit pride in its ability to project force and shape the flow of events. Football, and the passion with which it is devoured by so many, proves it. Our love of the game is, at least on some level, a celebration of the military.
It also may serve as a proxy for projecting our need for victory. In the face of frustration at the lack of a quick resolution abroad to some of our nation’s conflicts, we turn inward instead to find victory over our simulated ‘enemies’, i.e. our football nemesis across the sidelines. The popularity of college football, in particular, is at an all time high. Can it be only coincidence that this is true when we as a political power seem to be, if not losing, at least not winning as quickly as we might like in real conflicts? If so, then football and other proxies for war take on magnified importance in our consciousness particularly at these times, and may explain in part why it is so satisfying to send a proud opponent down in defeat on the gridiron. For Vol fans, almost nothing can replace that long lasting feeling of pride and euphoria when pummeling the Gators to a bleeding, vaguely reptilian pulp, or muzzling the Bulldogs and sending them back sniveling to their doggy houses with their tails tucked. Much more than any candy bar could, VICTORY really satisfies.
Moving The Chains...Barely
Get used to it now, Volunteer fans. This is a 7-5 team this year. At best UT could wind up third in the SEC, out of contention for a BCS at-large bid and most likely playing before New Year’s Day, if at all in the post season.
Fans hoping for redemption from last season, in which our beloved Orange and White warriors roar back to place us back on the top shelf of the conference, will most likely be sorely disappointed. This is the Fulmer era; the changes, when they happen, will mimic his preferred style of play on the field. Low scoring, grind it out, no frills or flair, three yards and a cloud of dust, hardnosed, incremental gains. Dramatic turnarounds simply aren’t his style.
This year will be no different. There will be improvements, but he won’t air it out. For those fans impatient for glory—i.e. every last one of us, bless our arrogant, obnoxious hearts—this change will feel like we’re moving at a glacial pace. Get used to it—that’s Fulmer, and that’s your team.
The problem with the kind of change he’s managing is this—in that style of play, small differences are crucial. Inches can literally make or break a possession, a quarter, a game. A season. There’s little room for error, because if you give up a big play or fail to convert on a critical series, it’s not likely that you’ll have a wealth of time left to make it up. You’re down to counting on big plays and big mistakes (from the other team), which haven’t historically been the type of game Tennessee plays to create.
And because there’s so little tolerance for mistakes, you have to have DISCIPLINE in a big way. You have to be known for it. You have to have metronome precision and consistency.
This team does not have it.
Oh, I grant you that discipline has taken a turn for the better, due in no small part to the addition of David Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator. He’s a drill sergeant type coach, and the players have definitely responded. However, we’re still faced with the undeniable reality of four arrests for UT players since May. Has the trend completely reversed?
Lack of discipline off the field translates to—that’s right, you guessed it: the same thing on the field. You’d be hard pressed to find a UT coach (especially in the face of last season’s debacle) or, I would argue, a coach nationwide that would dispute that statement. Lack of discipline on the field translates to costly penalties, hurried throws, interceptions, fumbles, etc. The SEC is an unforgiving conference to a mistake prone team.
So, here’s a list of the SEC foes that Tennessee will likely come unraveled against. (The fifth loss will most likely come in the first game from an out of conference opponent, Cal. Forget that it’s the first game. Forget that it will be hot, and Cal has to travel. Tedford will have his squad ready, and their discipline and running back duo will leave our proud warriors grasping for jersey.) So anyway, here you go:
1. Florida—Urban Meyer’s squad got by on guts and raw talent last year. Oh, that’s right, and UT’s mistakes. This year, however, the Gators are a year older and more experienced. Chris Leak is much more comfortable in Meyers’ scheme than last year, and is a likely Heismann candidate. Potential QB controversy notwithstanding—which Meyer should handle easily and not let it become an issue—this squad will be unified under the coach’s direction, and they have the talent to take it to the house. Cornelius Ingram will make life exciting for UT’s backfield, and solid rusher Billy Latsko is there to take up when DeShawn Wynn needs a breather. Defensive end Jarvis Moss will pressure Ainge early, and often. The only offensive question for the Gators is the offensive line, which had to replace four starters. There is a concern for depth at linebacker, but in the third game of the year that’s not likely to be much of an issue.
2. Georgia—UT has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this game. After all, the Bulldogs lost a lot of talent to the NFL last year. The quarterback position is still up for grabs, with several true freshmen and other untested gunslingers vying for the position. No matter how that shakes out, Richt is likely to be a tad more conservative offensively until the youngsters get a clue. Luckily for Richt, he has a solid stable of running backs to lean on. Thomas Brown will startle some people with his power and cuts, while Jason Johnson will make his mark as well. They’ve had to replace 3 starters, and depth may be limited up front. They’ve also had to replace 75% of their starting secondary with relative newcomers. On the plus side for Georgia, they’ve addressed a huge need by moving Mikey Henderson over to a receiver role, where they believe he will explode past most SEC foes. They have very imposing talent at defensive end with Charles Johnson, and Quentin Moses does not need any introduction to Tennessee players. They also look to have an embarrassment of riches on special teams, with proven veteran Thomas Flowers and newcomer Asher Allen expected to turn some heads. This last one is a particular concern for the Vols, whose persistent struggles on punt coverage are well known throughout the league. Expect this game to come down to 2 or 3 big plays, which Georgia will take full advantage of to get the victory. Oh, and it doesn’t help any that this game will be played between the infamous hedges at Sanford Stadium.
3. South Carolina—Steve Spurrier has his team in much better shape this year, and it’s their second year running his system. Sidney Rice has NFL size talent already, but the other receiver spots are less solid. There is the potential for this squad to be the best unit on the team this year, but it could go either way. They’ll either be stellar or vulnerable, if they have to build their strategy around a lone star in Rice. The signal caller is not going to be a nationally recognized name at the beginning of the year, but if Spurrier has a particular forte it’s in getting maximum production out of pedestrian quarterbacks. Cory Boyd, running back, will carry a lot of offensive production on his shoulders, and he looks to be more than capable. A new look for the ‘Cocks this year will be the expanded use of a tight end. They have a good one in Jared Cook, with lots of size and blocking ability along with nice soft hands. They have big questions on the offensive line—which was decidedly lackluster last year—and they’re replacing 3 starters. Their defense also has a lot to rebuild with the exception, in a big way, of the linebacking corps. OLB Marvin Sapp is a proven commodity, while big hitter Jasper Brinkley will cause Arian Foster et al big headaches up the middle. Expect Spurrier to rush these two to get to Ainge early. It doesn’t help any that this will be played in Columbia, where the fans are every bit as rabid and vociferous as any in Neyland Stadium. Ainge will get rattled and make at least one, maybe two costly interceptions here.
4. LSU—The Bayou Bengals are second maybe only to Florida in their ability to replace talent on an annual basis, just by opening the door. Despite a loss of three big contributors on both lines, they have several solid candidates to step in. Junior Glenn Dorsey already looks to fit the bill nicely on the defensive side, while LB Darry Beckwith is a bruiser. UT may match up evenly with the Tigers up front, but there are just too many offensive weapons. The Tigers are three deep in the backfield, with Jacob Hester a solid addition to an already stellar combo in Broussard and Vincent. Ditto for the QB rotation: JaMarcus Russell has locked up the starting job…for now. One falter early, and he’ll lose the job to Matt Flynn or Ryan Perilloux. Both are ready, and capable, to lead this team in dramatic fashion, despite playing second or third fiddle so far. Slot receiver Trindon Holliday will cause UT’s solid linebacking corps problems, leaving it up to the secondary to catch up to the elusive, diminutive comet. At 5’5”, 165 lbs., he’s easy to miss. He’ll also be the primary returner for the Tigers, so he’ll be another special teams nightmare for a Tennessee team not known for spectacular coverage. The best thing that could be said about this game for UT is that it will be in Knoxville, but the Tiger faithful travel well and they remember last year’s overtime loss to the Vols.
Fans hoping for redemption from last season, in which our beloved Orange and White warriors roar back to place us back on the top shelf of the conference, will most likely be sorely disappointed. This is the Fulmer era; the changes, when they happen, will mimic his preferred style of play on the field. Low scoring, grind it out, no frills or flair, three yards and a cloud of dust, hardnosed, incremental gains. Dramatic turnarounds simply aren’t his style.
This year will be no different. There will be improvements, but he won’t air it out. For those fans impatient for glory—i.e. every last one of us, bless our arrogant, obnoxious hearts—this change will feel like we’re moving at a glacial pace. Get used to it—that’s Fulmer, and that’s your team.
The problem with the kind of change he’s managing is this—in that style of play, small differences are crucial. Inches can literally make or break a possession, a quarter, a game. A season. There’s little room for error, because if you give up a big play or fail to convert on a critical series, it’s not likely that you’ll have a wealth of time left to make it up. You’re down to counting on big plays and big mistakes (from the other team), which haven’t historically been the type of game Tennessee plays to create.
And because there’s so little tolerance for mistakes, you have to have DISCIPLINE in a big way. You have to be known for it. You have to have metronome precision and consistency.
This team does not have it.
Oh, I grant you that discipline has taken a turn for the better, due in no small part to the addition of David Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator. He’s a drill sergeant type coach, and the players have definitely responded. However, we’re still faced with the undeniable reality of four arrests for UT players since May. Has the trend completely reversed?
Lack of discipline off the field translates to—that’s right, you guessed it: the same thing on the field. You’d be hard pressed to find a UT coach (especially in the face of last season’s debacle) or, I would argue, a coach nationwide that would dispute that statement. Lack of discipline on the field translates to costly penalties, hurried throws, interceptions, fumbles, etc. The SEC is an unforgiving conference to a mistake prone team.
So, here’s a list of the SEC foes that Tennessee will likely come unraveled against. (The fifth loss will most likely come in the first game from an out of conference opponent, Cal. Forget that it’s the first game. Forget that it will be hot, and Cal has to travel. Tedford will have his squad ready, and their discipline and running back duo will leave our proud warriors grasping for jersey.) So anyway, here you go:
1. Florida—Urban Meyer’s squad got by on guts and raw talent last year. Oh, that’s right, and UT’s mistakes. This year, however, the Gators are a year older and more experienced. Chris Leak is much more comfortable in Meyers’ scheme than last year, and is a likely Heismann candidate. Potential QB controversy notwithstanding—which Meyer should handle easily and not let it become an issue—this squad will be unified under the coach’s direction, and they have the talent to take it to the house. Cornelius Ingram will make life exciting for UT’s backfield, and solid rusher Billy Latsko is there to take up when DeShawn Wynn needs a breather. Defensive end Jarvis Moss will pressure Ainge early, and often. The only offensive question for the Gators is the offensive line, which had to replace four starters. There is a concern for depth at linebacker, but in the third game of the year that’s not likely to be much of an issue.
2. Georgia—UT has plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this game. After all, the Bulldogs lost a lot of talent to the NFL last year. The quarterback position is still up for grabs, with several true freshmen and other untested gunslingers vying for the position. No matter how that shakes out, Richt is likely to be a tad more conservative offensively until the youngsters get a clue. Luckily for Richt, he has a solid stable of running backs to lean on. Thomas Brown will startle some people with his power and cuts, while Jason Johnson will make his mark as well. They’ve had to replace 3 starters, and depth may be limited up front. They’ve also had to replace 75% of their starting secondary with relative newcomers. On the plus side for Georgia, they’ve addressed a huge need by moving Mikey Henderson over to a receiver role, where they believe he will explode past most SEC foes. They have very imposing talent at defensive end with Charles Johnson, and Quentin Moses does not need any introduction to Tennessee players. They also look to have an embarrassment of riches on special teams, with proven veteran Thomas Flowers and newcomer Asher Allen expected to turn some heads. This last one is a particular concern for the Vols, whose persistent struggles on punt coverage are well known throughout the league. Expect this game to come down to 2 or 3 big plays, which Georgia will take full advantage of to get the victory. Oh, and it doesn’t help any that this game will be played between the infamous hedges at Sanford Stadium.
3. South Carolina—Steve Spurrier has his team in much better shape this year, and it’s their second year running his system. Sidney Rice has NFL size talent already, but the other receiver spots are less solid. There is the potential for this squad to be the best unit on the team this year, but it could go either way. They’ll either be stellar or vulnerable, if they have to build their strategy around a lone star in Rice. The signal caller is not going to be a nationally recognized name at the beginning of the year, but if Spurrier has a particular forte it’s in getting maximum production out of pedestrian quarterbacks. Cory Boyd, running back, will carry a lot of offensive production on his shoulders, and he looks to be more than capable. A new look for the ‘Cocks this year will be the expanded use of a tight end. They have a good one in Jared Cook, with lots of size and blocking ability along with nice soft hands. They have big questions on the offensive line—which was decidedly lackluster last year—and they’re replacing 3 starters. Their defense also has a lot to rebuild with the exception, in a big way, of the linebacking corps. OLB Marvin Sapp is a proven commodity, while big hitter Jasper Brinkley will cause Arian Foster et al big headaches up the middle. Expect Spurrier to rush these two to get to Ainge early. It doesn’t help any that this will be played in Columbia, where the fans are every bit as rabid and vociferous as any in Neyland Stadium. Ainge will get rattled and make at least one, maybe two costly interceptions here.
4. LSU—The Bayou Bengals are second maybe only to Florida in their ability to replace talent on an annual basis, just by opening the door. Despite a loss of three big contributors on both lines, they have several solid candidates to step in. Junior Glenn Dorsey already looks to fit the bill nicely on the defensive side, while LB Darry Beckwith is a bruiser. UT may match up evenly with the Tigers up front, but there are just too many offensive weapons. The Tigers are three deep in the backfield, with Jacob Hester a solid addition to an already stellar combo in Broussard and Vincent. Ditto for the QB rotation: JaMarcus Russell has locked up the starting job…for now. One falter early, and he’ll lose the job to Matt Flynn or Ryan Perilloux. Both are ready, and capable, to lead this team in dramatic fashion, despite playing second or third fiddle so far. Slot receiver Trindon Holliday will cause UT’s solid linebacking corps problems, leaving it up to the secondary to catch up to the elusive, diminutive comet. At 5’5”, 165 lbs., he’s easy to miss. He’ll also be the primary returner for the Tigers, so he’ll be another special teams nightmare for a Tennessee team not known for spectacular coverage. The best thing that could be said about this game for UT is that it will be in Knoxville, but the Tiger faithful travel well and they remember last year’s overtime loss to the Vols.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Welcome to the UT Vols Blog
Beginning August 7, 2006, this blog will become the cornerstone of UTVOLS.COM. It is our goal to cultivate a core group of passionate and talented authors who can provide insight and hopefully entertain our readers. If you believe that you can contributive positively and on a weekly basis, please send an email to wmbutler@gmail.com.
If you are not familiar with the idea of blogs and feeds, don't worry, it's easy to simply visit utvols.com several times a week to keep up to date. For the more adventureous, there are programs available for keeping up with your favorite feeds. All major news services now provide their news in these rss formats. For a simple entry into feeds, both NetVibes and Google offer customizable pages without the need to install software on your computer. Go Vols!
If you are not familiar with the idea of blogs and feeds, don't worry, it's easy to simply visit utvols.com several times a week to keep up to date. For the more adventureous, there are programs available for keeping up with your favorite feeds. All major news services now provide their news in these rss formats. For a simple entry into feeds, both NetVibes and Google offer customizable pages without the need to install software on your computer. Go Vols!
