UTVols News and Opinions

Welcome to the Friday edition of Coach Scooter’s College Football Diary

The next test for the Vols comes from the Marshall Thundering Herd. The last time these two teams hooked up was 2003 when Tennessee held on for a tough 34-24 victory. This week both teams are coming of a loss as Marshall was beaten by Kansas State 23-7 while the Vols came up one point shy in a loss to Florida 21-20. More on that game later in the Friday edition of the Diary.

Let’s look at the top games of the week:

Big Ten

#24 Penn State at #1 Ohio State
ABC 3:30 Brad Nessler/Bob Griese/Paul McGuire

Penn State has failed to win in Columbus since they joined the Big Ten and with the roll Ohio State is on, that might be extended another year. Another streak that might be extended is me shooting out my TV when the walking Fathead, Paul McGuire, opens his pie hole to enlighten us with his expertise on the game of football.

Maybe it’s those all-white road unis that confuse Joe Pa’s boys when they step into the Horseshoe? As far as I know, the Lions could run out of the tunnel with painted faces, wearing kilts and wielding swords like in Braveheart and they still could not beat the Bucks in Columbus. Ohio State rolls.

SEC

Alabama at Arkansas
CBS 3:30 Verne Lunquist/Gary Danielson

You have to figure the conference shot its wad last week when not one, but two headline games hit on the same day, so we are left with what amounts to the Fayetteville Jaycees charity game. Wait, we have some breaking news: The SEC has just announced they are suspending Gary Danielson for one week. Apparently, after his one sided analysis towards Florida, which was confirmed as indisputable evidence on replay, it was determined he is an obnoxious turd head that needs a can of you know what opened up on him. Wait, I have a can here, so while I go get it, you can watch Bama beat the Hogs.

Independents

#12 Notre Dame at Michigan State
ABC 8:00 Brent Musburger/Bob Davie/Kirk Herbstreit

Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weiss had Brent Musburger’s tongue surgically removed after the ABC announcer found out the Irish signals for a checking to a pass play, what Knute Rockne’s hat size was, and what Brady Quinn did on his summer job as a roadie for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils Reunion Tour. I have a feeling after last year’s Spartan upset, as well as last week’s loss, the Irish are hungry and motivated to end the two game losing streak in this bitter series. And if they should lose, it has been decided that all Irish fans can give Musburger an atomic wedgeie. Irish beat the Spartans.

Late Game
Idaho at Oregon State
FSN 10:00 No Announcers listed

Once the whisky starts to wear off and you are coming off that emotionally charged Kentucky/Florida game (Which, for the life of me, I cannot figure out why this is the ESPN prime time game, unless they thought this was pre-season basketball), tune in to the Vandals playing the Beavers in Corvallis. Since no announcers are listed, does that mean they are going to do the same thing NBC did back in the 80’s when they tried not having announcers? I can just imagine two Oregon State fans at home passing time while watching the game so they don’t fall asleep. “You think Dokken is ever going to get back together? “Nah, but I think we are out of Funions. That’s a much more important issue right now. Hey, who are we playing again?”

Prediction? I will say without a doubt that Dokken will get back together. As far as the game goes, I have no idea. Tell ya what, you pick it an email me your choice so I can post it on Tuesday.

Marshall at #15 Tennessee
GP 4:00 Randy Smith/Pat Ryan

Well, Vol fans, Coach Scooter is going to see just how many of you are still keeping the faith. The true test of any fan is not where you are in times of victory, but in times of defeat. I heard Kirk Herbstreit talking on a sports talk show in Atlanta about how Coach Fulmer is on the hot seat and the Vols are just not the same powerhouse they were in the 90’s. What’s funny is everyone is talking about how the Vols just don’t have it any more, but consider Florida out played, out gained, and in particular, out hit us when it came to our running game and we still had a chance to beat the #7 team in the nation. We weren’t going to win them all, so you have to figure the media would be there to gloat when we went splat. However, we have a young, hungry team that has shown signs of improvement and can play with anyone in the nation on any given Saturday. We have an opportunity to erase last year’s debacle and shut the mouths of those who say the Vols are dead, and that means we have to be behind the team, starting Saturday afternoon. Now is the time to rally, Big Orange Nation, and it all starts on Saturday with Marshall. Vols go to 3-1 with a victory over the Thundering Herd.

Observations during the week

I watched the Georgia Tech/Virginia game last night and apart from the outstanding performance by probably the best WR in the game today, Calvin Johnson, did anyone else think Al Groh looks like Unger, the snitch, from The Longest Yard?

I also saw Erin Andrews roaming the sideline. Did anyone else think about being her bicycle seat during the Tour De France?

I saw where Auburn is a huge favorite over Buffalo tomorrow. I figured the Tigers would cover the 41 over the Bills, but the scary part is when I found out it was the University of Buffalo and not the NFL’s Buffalo, I didn’t change my bet since I am pretty sure Auburn would cover the 41 over several NFL teams, especially the Bills.

I see where Barry Tompkins is announcing the Arizona State/California game tomorrow night. FSN will hold a special awards ceremony before the game to honor Tompkins with a college football lifetime achievement award, since he has been announcing since the lifetime of college football began with the Princeton/Rutgers game in 1869. You know he was a waiter at the last supper before getting into broadcasting, didn’t you?

What is up with the chuckleheads at ESPN? I was shocked to see the King, Ron Franklin, downgraded to the ESPN2 broadcast of Boston College/N.C. State. I think someone has it in for the man who is the best college football announcer in the game today. If this keeps up, next month we’ll see Franklin doing the Home and Garden Network’s broadcast of the Saperstein family backyard touch football game

All right, Vol fans, until Tuesday, repeat your game maxims, rub those rosary beads and don’t take Coach Fulmer’s name is vain. Please send your comments and questions to: volsdiary@yahoo.com. I look forward to writing to you all on Tuesday!

vs.


Prediction: Tennessee 45 Marshall 12

The Usual Suspects: Erik Ainge, Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain, Bret Smith
Breakout games for: Quintin Hancock, Demetrice Morley, Lucas Taylor, Josh McNeil
Step up game for: Demonte Bolden, J.T. Mapu
Benchwarmer award: Britton Colquitt
Over/Under for turnovers: 4
Over/Under for “Rocky Top” renditions: 21

Focus: Stop the Run…

Coach Chavis’ squad is sick of hearing how they can’t stop the run. That’s not to say that their reputation is completely undeserved; however, it’s critical for this defensive line to have a big game against another option offense to show themselves and the world that they’re getting better. They’re going to have to have someone step up to fill some big shoes with the absence of Justin Harrell. Demonte Bolden, pictured left, and J.T. Mapu will have some trouble and Marshall will be able to move the ball, but this team will bow its neck and not allow any touchdowns this week.


…and Pound the Rock

Similarly, the offensive line is anxious to prove it can run against any opponent. The early success against a vastly overrated California team was very misleading, and everyone has been talking about the -11 rushing yards against Florida. However, we may not face another front seven like last week’s all season. Look for Montario Hardesty and LaMarcus Coker to be the beneficiaries of a breakout game for this young offensive line. Ainge will open up the field early with a long touchdown toss to Meachem or Swain, and the rout will be on from there.

Odds and Ends

• Backup QB Jonathan Crompton will see significant playing time in the second half and throw at least one touchdown
• Quintin Hancock will also see playing time and be the recipient of one touchdown pass
• Demetrice Morley will return punts, and has the speed and elusiveness to run one back
• Punter Britton Colquitt will achieve top score on his Gameboy Madden NFL ’07 as he sits on the bench


Trivia

1) When did UT first play the Herd, and what was the final score?
2) What is the name of the Thundering Herd Mascot?
3) Name at least one Tennessee native who has gone on to play for Marshall.

Email your answers, comments, or questions to brittain.n@gmail.com .

Well, not quite the Cinderella ending we were hoping for, right? However, after coming off a 5-6 season and giving the #7 team in the country all they wanted for 60 minutes, I will take it. Read more about what happened on this sad night in Big Orange Country, as well as the other great games during a thrilling college football weekend!

Thursday 10:13am

I get an email from Aunt Molly who writes: I have a great feeling about the game on Saturday. I was in tears this morning reading about Justin and Inky. I haven’t cried this much since I went to see Merle Haggard at the Civic Coliseum when he sang, “I think I’ll just sit here and have another drink.” I think there's a unity like never before. They're focused and disciplined and I think they're going to win. If not, they'll die trying. I’ll tell ya, it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol.

Somehow, with Aunt Molly, you had to know that was coming.

Saturday 9:00am

One hour until Gameday, and eleven hours before kickoff. My stomach is staring to get a little queasy, but I am OK for now. I felt better after I finished my pre-game rituals. The boxer shorts are on (Don’t tell Sweetie I didn’t wash them since you can’t wash the shorts if you win since it’s bad luck), I rubbed my orange and white rosary beads, and I got the UT flag on the pole. Things might work out today since Rik Chiddix was in front of his house, placing his black and gold Southern Mississippi flamingos in his yard. He raised his can of Strohs towards me and yelled, “Vols gonna whup some ass tonight?”

Everything was where it should be before the game.

12:14pm

Gameday just ended and it seems as if everyone is picking Florida to win. However, Aunt Molly calls me from her favorite watering hole, the Longbranch Saloon on Cumberland Blvd., to see if I saw the show. “Well, Beano Cook picked the Vols to win,” she tells me proudly. “He must have a crystal ball stuck somewhere between his three chins.”

2:37pm

We are going to have dinner with Coach B and his wife tonight, then watch the game after dinner. Coach called me to confirm the menu (which will be rib eyes and baked potatoes) as well as to tell me his son’s pee wee football game did not go well. “Yeah, we lost 22-0. Think I should pull a Fulmer and fire my offensive coordinator?”

6:46pm

My hands are shaking so badly Sweetie has to drive us up to Coach B’s. She asks, “Why do you get this way for Florida? I can see Georgia or Alabama, but Florida?” I tried to explain Spurrier, Wuerffel, the no catch in 2000, and 62-37 in 1995, plus the fact being a Tennessee fan means you get nervous before all games, especially SEC Games. She responds by shaking her head and asks, “Did you come with a 90 day money back guarantee?” She reminds me of Peyton Manning as a freshman; I can tell she’s going to be the best SEC wife in the history of the conference; she just needs a few games with Coach Scooter to get used to all of this.

7:50pm

We just finished dinner, although Coach B and I didn’t each much since we were both nervous. Our wives look at each other and quip, “If it were football season all year round, our husbands would be in much better shape.”

8:05pm

Coach B and I groaned when Ainge threw an interception on the first play. However, the receiver was open and if he had gotten it to him sooner, it would have gone for six, so we didn’t start throwing things at the TV just yet. Sweetie has taken note of the fact I am pacing, which I am sure will be laughed about at Thanksgiving dinner with her family.

8:37pm

I get a little worried since all I see are the white jerseys keeping the orange jerseys out of the Florida backfield. Sure enough, Florida scores first and Coach B starts stomping around his man room spewing obscenities. He kind of sounds like Gabby Johnson from Blazing Saddles.

End of 1st Quarter: Florida 7 – Tennessee 3

9:05pm

Things are looking up as Cutcliffe’s great call for the option pass works to perfection for our first TD of the night. That was something Randy Sanders would have never thought of. However, Coach B and I are really getting tired of listening to Gary Danielson. Verne Lunquist is all right in our book, but that Purdue reject claimed off waivers from ABC is getting on all our nerves. I think Danielson has something on the guy that makes the talent decisions at CBS since he couldn’t announce the winner of a one horse race.

9:15pm

Genius Danielson is at it again. He must have been in the little announcer’s room when we scored out TD since all I heard was Verne talking. Despite rushing for negative yardage in the first half, we lead 10-7. I like our chances, despite the fact we got jobbed on the roughing the passer call. Mapu had his arm up and was being blocked into Leak, who took a dive like is always does. Did he ever consider trying out for the Florida Diving Team? He’d be an All-America for sure. Coach B thinks it was a makeup call for the block in the back on the Florida punt return. Of course Dunghead Danielson completely agreed with the call, probably since he got a few of those when he played for the Lions and is still recovering from head trauma. “I hate Todd Blackledge,” Coach B shouts at the TV after one of Danielson’s boob comments. When I tell him it’s Gary Danielson, he looks at the TV with a confused stare for a few seconds, then looks back at me and says, “I know! I just thought I would say I hate Todd Blackledge. I also hate Gary Danielson. Leave me alone, I’m a vege right now…”

Halftime: Tennessee 10 – Florida 7

9:30pm

Aunt Molly calls and we discuss the first half, and in particular, the Mapu penalty. “That ref is so confused, he doesn’t know whether to scratch his watch or wind his ass.” We agree the Vols played well in the first half, but we have to find a running game if we are going to win. “Our running game is as bad off as a woodpecker with a rubber beak in a petrified forest,” she says, then I hear, “Molly, it’s your shot.” When I asked what was going on, Aunt Molly replies, “Me and Klondike Earl are shooting eight ball during halftime.” Klondike Earl? Come to find out Klondike Earl used to be a wrestler in the Southeastern Championship Wrestling organization, and used to get Aunt Molly free tickets to wrestling matches at the Civic Coliseum years ago. Of course that small gesture put him right up there with General Neyland, Coach Fulmer, and John Ward as far as she is concerned. “I’ll call you after the game if we win,” she says, then I hear the sound of pool balls crashing into each other and Aunt Molly calling someone a bad name as she hangs up the phone.

10:04pm

Thank God the game resumed. The halftime seemed to drag on longer than the Orange Bowl halftime. Coach B was certain they had an hour long version of Lee Greenwood singing “I’m glad to be an American.” Things are looking good for the Vols as we punch it in to take a 17-7 lead. However, our running game is so bad, it took us three plays to move the ball one yard for the TD, and that scares me. I’ve seen a wounded turtle move forward faster than we just did.

10:21pm

Danielson has been quiet since the Vols are leading. However, when the Gators score a TD to close the gap to 17-14, Rain Man finally pipes up. “Yeah, Leak is defiantly in a zone. Yeah. In a zone. Dallas Baker has been open all night. Yeah, all night on the crossing pattern. Definitely on the crossing pattern.” I am sure if they don’t turn his mic off, eventually we will hear, “Ut oh, I farted…” With all his comments about Florida, Coach B and I are convinced he is dating Urban Meyer.

End of 3rd Quarter: Tennessee 17- Florida 14

10:35pm

Memo to Coach Chavis: When Tim Tebow comes into the game, HE IS GOING TO RUN THE BALL! Even Ronnie Milsap can see what’s coming next. The frustrating thing is when they need two yards, he gets three. If they need ten yards, he gets eleven. At this point I considered calling Aunt Molly to see if we could suit up Klondike Earl so he could fall on Tebow and put him out of our misery. Where are Leonard Little and Al Wilson when you need them? This wouldn’t have happened on their watch. However, all is not lost since James Wilhoit, who must have been standing in Kingsport, kicked one through the uprights to give us a precarious 20-14 lead. Coach B quipped, “That kick came from so far away, you could time its arrival using a sundial." Later, I get a call from the Orange Bowl Halftime Show Director confirmed the kick took longer to go through the uprights than the Orange Bowl halftime show…

10:45pm

They nudged Danielson and woke him up in time for the Florida touchdown. He gushed, “That was a scheme thing. That’s the result of the coaches sitting in a room all week and scheming plays that will work against the other team.” Hmm, why doesn’t someone call Coach Fulmer and tell him of this new thing the coaches around the SEC are doing? I guess he told Cutcliffe to walk down to the huddle in the 3rd quarter and draw up a play in the Neyland Stadium grass for our touchdown. Another brilliant observation…

10:58pm

Coach B is now in lockdown mode since the Gators are driving and our defense looks tired. He won’t talk, he pulls the bill of his UT cap over his forehead and he looks through the tiny openings between the cap and his hands. Of course, I am no better since Sweetie finally got me to sit down, and my hands were shaking so badly I spilled my Jack on her leg, which Coach B’s dog licked up in a hurry. Like father like dog I always say. She reached over and felt my heart beating and gasped, “You are going to have a heart attack!” I replied, “Welcome to life in the SEC.”

Final Score: Florida 21 – Tennessee 20

Damn, I really would have loved to hear Aunt Molly in one of her vodka induced victory speeches. Sweetie and I packed up and prepared to leave. We say good bye to Coach B, who stares at the TV screen and says nothing. As Sweetie and I walk up the stairs, I remember his wife turned the TV off a few seconds earlier, so he was staring at a blank screen. God love that kid…

12:04am

Sweetie went to bed a little while ago, but I couldn’t sleep so I went to the couch to watch Telemundo. After the Vols lose, I have a hard time sleeping and since I can’t watch ESPN, I watch Telemundo to take my mind off the game. However, watching semi-naked Latin girls speaking Spanish is not going to cheer me up on this night. I will say they gave it a good try though. Suddenly, I hear music coming from next door, so I get up from the couch to see what was going on. It was Rik Chiddix having a sound check with his band, Hayseed Avenue. I walked over to his backyard and during a break in the set we sat on his deck. As we sipped beer, (Hey, this Strohs is not that bad), we talked about the game which made me feel a little better. With the sounds of Johnny Russell in the background singing, Red Necks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer, Chiddix said, “Yeah, I felt the same way when I lost my tickets to the Foghat concert years ago. That hurt like hell. But damn, son, it’s only September, and there are a lot of games left to be played.” Somehow, my depression lifted, but I was baffled at what Chiddix said. It wasn't because he nailed the moment so perfectly, which he did, but because it had to be the only thing in his life he ever said that made sense.

Vols Recap

You didn’t really think that having Cutcliffe, Chavis and Fulmer all in the same locker room meant UT was going to win every game, did you? However, I think the Vols are back and I'll tell you why. Tennessee lost by one point to the #7 team in the nation, and with a few breaks, they would have won the game. Remember, the Vols rushed for -11 yards and STILL had a shot to win the game at the end. I don’t think the Vols will go 5-6 again, especially since you can see improvement all over the place, especially on offense, and the defense is mean and fast. Although the running game was pretty bad on Saturday night, there is still plenty of time to make the necessary corrections as the meat of the conference schedule comes. The Vols still play Georgia, Alabama and LSU, and if they can pull off an upset or two, they could be in the hunt when November rolls around. You think the Gators are going to run the table? They get Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia all in a row, and I am going on record by betting my autographed Phil Fulmer Chili Dog Eating Camp T-Shirt they will not go unbeaten through that stretch. Don’t jump ship just yet, Vol fans, as Rik Chiddix said, there is still a lot of football to be played!

Around the Nation

Auburn 7 – L.S.U. 3

I expected to see Mel Gibson walk on to the field since this game looked as if it were held in a Thunderdome. Two teams enter, one team leaves, and until the final second, we did not know who that team would be. I have heard from more than one person that was the most violent hitting game they have ever seen. Also in agreement was the fact that while Auburn might have got the win, L.S.U. got the win for having the hottest fans. I love it when the L.S.U. girls wear the tiger ears on their heads. Rarrrrrrrrrr!

Michigan 47 – Notre Dame 21

I got an angry email from Lloyd Carr on Sunday morning about the Truck Master comment from last week, so I have to say Coach Scooter was wrong about the Wolverines chances against the Irish. Even Sweetie was happy ND lost since she still has the red ass about the ND-Tech game. Every time she hears about the Fighting Irish on TV, she throws whatever she has in her hands at the tube and says, “Notre Dame my ass!”

Oregon 34 - Oklahoma 33

This game reminded me of the time Camp North Star and Camp Mohawk fought it out on the basketball court and the refs looked away as the Mohawks cheated their way up and down the court. Can you believe how badly the Sooners got jobbed on the field and also in the reply booth? I was surprised Bob Stoops didn’t gather his team around and give them instructions to pull down Oregon’s pants during their last second field goal try. Then again, as ugly as the Ducks pants are, I think the players refused to touch them.

U.S.C. 28 – Nebraska 10

Whenever U.S.C. plays, I am reminded of the Richard Pryor line about George Forman. “George just looks across the ring and says, ‘Which one the referee, ‘cause I’m going to kill the other dude.’” I think the S.C. players line up before the game and say the same thing since they seem to blow out almost every team they play. The Trojans have not lost a regular season game in regulation time since October 2002 when they lost to Washington State 30-27. They lost to California in OT in 2003 and everyone remembers the epic Rose Bowl game last January, but that’s it.

This Week’s Trivia Question

When did the Vols first unveil the famous checkerboard end zones?

A) 1990
B) 1971
C) 1968
D) 1964

Last week’s trivia question:

In the 2003 Florida game, Casey Clausen threw a Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half for a touchdown that gave the Vols a 7-3 lead. The Vols ended up winning the game 24-10 to give them back-to-back victories in Gainesville. Name the WR who caught the pass for the touchdown:

A) Jason Whitten
B) James Banks
C) Tony Brown
D) C.J. Fayton

The correct answer is: B) James Banks. The winner of last week’s trivia question is Becky Taylor of Lenoir City. Congratulations, Becky, you have won a lifetime supply of Cas Walker’s Thumpin’ Good watermelons!

Mailbag

Dude,
Jason WITTEN is my cousin. Very few Wittens in the US without the H.

Sincerely,
William Witten Singleton formerly of Bristol, now in Sandbox, Ickystan

Thanks, William, for the correction. I have good news and bad news. The good news is we shot our Trivia Master for making this error. The bad news is Jason Witten was not the correct answer to the trivia question. We hope you enter the trivia contest again next week, and we don’t have to shoot anyone else.

I got several emails about Vol fans and their superstitions. Here are a few:

Coach Scooter:
In response to your question about superstitions, I have a unique superstition I follow before every game. I will wear one earring all game. I did this during the UT-Arkansas game in 1998, and have ever since.

Cindy Tollison
Nashville, Tennessee

Coach Scooter:
I will put on my George Jones CD’s before a game. However, I will not smack my wife if we lose or she hides the keys to the liquor cabinet.

Hugh Bailey
New Market, Tennessee

Coach Scooter:
Before the Vols play, I will take my autographed Phil Fulmer hat and place it on top of my framed picture of General Neyland, repeat the game maxims, then I am ready for the game.

Tom Marsh - Knoxville

Coach Scooter:
I try to have sex before each game. That might not bring the Vols any luck, but it sure does wonders for my morale.

Name withheld by request

Coming on Friday, Coach Scooter previews the Vols game against Marshall, plus all the action across the country! Email your questions and comments to:
volsdiary@yahoo.com I look forward to hearing from you!

Until Friday, this is Coach Scooter reminding you to rub those rosary beads, don’t take Coach Fulmer’s name in vain, and make sure to recite your game maxims!

OK, I know, I know. So we lost a close one to the hated Gators. Yeah, believe me, the gall is bitter in my mouth too. It shouldn't have been like this. No one in Hollywood would have written it like this. In the fantasy version, UT would have probably won by at least two touchdowns and Erik Ainge would have been perfect. Well, they didn't and he wasn't. This wasn't scripted. I'm here tonight to tell you, and help you over your knee jerk reactions that no doubt include suspending Ainge indefinitely and leaving Coach Fulmer adrift in a real swamp with real 'gators circling and his hands tied, why you should still feel great after losing a tough one.

I'm here to tell you it ain't that bad. I'm not here to tell you to be a 'good loser', because I don't even know what that is. But what you do need to hear, is why you should feel okay about losing this game tonight.

1. Florida is an extremely good SEC team this year, and could potentially be a national title contender. For a young team like Tennessee, with two key injuries a week before this game, and lots of freshman and sophomore talent, it's a foreshadowing of greatness to be within one point of beating such a quality opponent.

2. OK, it was tough for me to call them a quality opponent. Suffice it to say, I had to mouthwash before continuing. Reason number 2: they have a tough road ahead, and we could, just maybe, still back into the SEC East championship. They could lose to Georgia and Auburn. Of course, we need to beat LSU at home, but hey, it's still early and stranger things have happened.

3. Ainge wasn't really bad. In fact, I was still encouraged after seeing him play again tonight. Yeah, there were interceptions, but overall I thought he made good decisions for a quarterback in the positions he was in. Even the beloved Peyton Manning throws a couple of ill-advised passes when he's trying to carry a team to victory. I thought Ainge displayed good judgment, and when that appeared suspect, you could say he's showing leadership. he never appeared to lack confidence. He might be a Heisman contender next year.

4. Despite having absolutely no running game--this week against one of the nation's best run defenses, that is--we still almost won. That's a testament to several things: our receivers still stepped up, Ainge is a real talent, and our defense can still put some serious pressure on a QB despite having only half of one starter returning and going against a shotgun formation. (I'm counting Justin Harrell, who played with one arm tonight after sustaining a season-ending injury to his left bicep tendon against Air Force one week ago.)

5. With only one exception, our defensive backs stayed with the highly touted Florida receivers for the whole game. Even with the loss of a key starter in Inquoris Johnson, UT still has some real talent on the secondary. Demetrice Morley's star will shine bright at Tennessee.

6. Montario Hardesty can run, even if he got stuffed tonight. I'm anxious to see him against another team, and watch him develop over time. Same for our young offensive line.

7. Give credit to our coaching staff for being aggressive with the play calling. We tried to maybe get too aggressive, with the first ill-advised play that netted an interception for Florida. They changed things up a bit with the gutsy trick play, having Lucas Taylor (freshman!) throw a pass to LaMarcus Coker that resulted in a touchdown.

In summary, what happened tonight was just short of a miracle. Meanwhile, it bred character and kindled a fire in the bellies of our young team. Next year will be very special indeed, as our young playmakers gain experience and confidence this year. Nevetheless, there's still a lot of football to be played this year, and our Tennessee team showed me plenty to be positive about in tonight's tough loss. Vol fans, don't give up; we're still very much in the hunt, given Florida's schedule, and the future is very bright. It's time for the fan base to display the kind of toughness, and confidence that you ask of your favorite team on a weekly basis.

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