UTVols News and Opinions

Welcome to the Friday edition of Coach Scooter’s College Football Diary! This weekend promises to be extra exciting with the Vols in the hunt for the SEC Championship, a possible BCS Bowl game, and a long shot to be in the running for the national championship. Let’s take a look at the weekend ahead, starting with the ESPN Thursday night game between West Virginia and Louisville.

Thursday Night Game

#3 West Virginia 34
#5 Louisville 44

Coach Scooter has to admit he thought the Mountaineers would walk away with this one since Louisville was overrated. Well, as my Aunt Molly always says, “West Virginia ain’t nothin’ but a big hat, and no cattle.” I was stunned to see the Cards put up 44 points in a victory which should propel them past Texas to #3. Injuries to Pat White and Steve Slaton didn’t help matters, but I believe you put your best 11 players on the field and go to it so I don’t want to hear that excuse. However, Pat White had four TD’s last night, plus he has 222 passing yards and 125 rushing yards so he kept WVA in it for as long as he could. I wouldn’t mind if he came over to Big Orange Country and red shirted about five years so we could have him on our side when Jonathan Crompton leaves…

Weekend Games

Virginia (4-5) at Florida State (4-4)

12:30 Lincoln Financial – Steve Martin/Doc Walker

I am glad to see Steve Martin branching out from his movie career to try his hand at announcing football games. I just hope when he begins the play by play, some crazed fan doesn't start firing bullets into the booth like in The Jerk. "He hates these announcers! Stay away from the announcers!!"

Welcome to another edition of Coach Scooter’s College Football Diary for another week! The Vols were able to win a huge game in front of a hostile crowd in Columbia by beating South Carolina 31-24. The win was especially satisfying for Coach Fulmer, who avenged last year’s 16-15 loss to his old nemesis, Steve Spurrier as the Vols improved to 7-1. Let’s take a look at the victory, as well as the week that was in college football.


Tennessee 31 – South Carolina 24

The script stayed the same as Tennessee scored 17 fourth quarter points to end the upset hopes of the Gamecocks. UT got off on the right foot, or hands as the case may be, with Marvin Mitchell intercepting Syvelle Newton on the second play of the game and returning it 17 yards for a touchdown. However, the Vols trailed into the fourth quarter, 17-14. Erik Ainge drove his team down the field, finally hitting Bret Smith on a 12-yard TD pass to put the Vols ahead for good with 13:10 left. After forcing South Carolina to punt on its next possession, Jonathan Hefney had a 65-yard punt return to South Carolina's 5 and Arian Foster scored on the next play. The Gamecocks closed to 31-24 on Newton's 1-yard TD run with 2:24 to go. Tennessee went three and out and South Carolina had one final chance. However, Newton's desperation heave was intercepted by Demetrice Morley as time ran out.

Wade named SEC Defensive Player of the Week

Jonathan Wade strengthened his standing as one of the league's top cornerbacks Saturday with three drive-stopping plays in Tennessee's 31-24 win at South Carolina. For his efforts, he was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Coach Fulmer's Press Conference Notes

I am very proud of our football team, the win over South Carolina and to be at this point in the season as to what we've accomplished, but we're not nearly satisfied. I've expressed that to the team.

We have fought hard, the effort has been really good during the course of the year and they've been a responsive team. There are certainly some exciting elements to our team that have proven to be a real plus for us. Our leadership has grown as we've gone through and probably one of the most pleasing things, in some cases, is that we've continued to have young players step up and help us. The latest example would be Antonio Wardlow going in and doing a really, really good job at safety for us in the last ballgame.

One of the keys to what we've accomplished, particularly in the last few weeks, has been the improvement in our special teams. They have been fun to watch. Our coverage teams, in particular, and our punt return team has obviously made a difference in the ballgames. Our coverage teams and their improvement has been a real positive.

I think in many ways it's a reflection of the leadership on this team, the responsiveness of our players and the demands that we have put on them to continue to improve. The coordinators have done a really great job, and I think oftentimes the assistants don't get enough credit for the job that they're doing. We've got some veterans on the defensive staff that continue to do really well and have had to fight through some difficult circumstances between graduation and injury, and on the offensive side some young guys that have brought really good energy to our team and I think are real bright spots for us.

Looking at where we are right now, there are two clichés that we have used quite a bit. One is that 'They remember what you do in November.' It's something that we have taken a lot of stock in. Obviously this November is as challenging as we've had.

The second one, and this is where I'm anxious to see how our team handles themselves as they've put themselves in a positive position going into the last month of the season, is 'The wind will blow the hardest at the top of the flagpole.' We'll see if they are going to be able to handle that from a maturity standpoint, even though we have some challenges ahead of us for other guys at some positions to step up because of injuries, if they will be able to handle it. Everything from the media hype to the teams that they're playing, their own wear and tear as the season has gone on, we'll work with them on all those areas.

Weekend Games and Observations

Miami 23 - #21 Georgia Tech 30

Sweetie and I went to the Georgia Tech game on Saturday afternoon since it was homecoming on the Flats, as well as the fact the Vols didn’t play until 7:45, so it worked out great. The win put the Jackets in firm control of the ACC Coastal Division race, and as long as they show up for their final three conference games (I mean all they have to do is literally show up), they should be in Jacksonville on December 2nd.

I watched the replay on Sunday to get a different perspective on what I saw, and it was a huge mistake since I had to hear the insightful musings of the walking doughboy, Paul McGuire. Brad Nessler and Bob Griese will do anything to get McGuire out of the booth, and they must have told him they were giving out free hoagies in the sideline camera bay, since that is where he watched the game. He thought it would be cool to put those stick on eye black patches on his face, which I have to admit is a good start as long as he covers the majority of his face. Here is a little known fact about McGuire: He was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers of the old AFL, then traded to the Bills in 1963. The city of Buffalo was so overjoyed about the trade, they gave him a key to the city. Of course, they went out and changed all the locks by sundown that same night.

#7 Florida 21 – Georgia 14

The woes for the Bulldogs continue as they dropped their 15th game in the last 17 years to the Gators. We were sitting in the stands at the Tech game when they announced Florida was leading 21-0 and you would have thought the Jackets had just won the national championship. A little old lady sitting two seats down from me, who looked like she could be one of the Golden Girls, stood up and yelled, “To Hell with Georgia!”

The scary thing is the Dawgs could end up 6-6 on the year since they have to play at Kentucky, which has never been an easy place for UGA to play, then Auburn on the road before finishing with Georgia Tech. Would you have believed that in September?

Weekly Observations

As Sweetie mentioned a few weeks ago, take out the C in BCS and you have it right

While reading the paper yesterday morning, I took a great interest in the BCS standings. The reason why was I was out of toilet paper, because that is all the BCS is good for. Here are my thoughts:

As of print time right now, Ohio State and Michigan are the best two teams in the country and they deserve to be 1-2 in the polls.

Boise State and Rutgers are 14th and 12th respectively in the BCS. It’s like Rudy Russo said in Used Cars, “Come on, old man, ya gotta be jackin’ me?” Imagine a one loss SEC like Tennessee or Auburn being sent to the Capitol One Bowl, while a team like Boise State goes to a BCS Bowl. In my book, any team that plays on a blue field doesn’t deserve to go anywhere, except to a Twister game so they can learn colors. Did Boise State alum Papa Smurf donate the money for the football field?

Why is California one spot ahead of Tennessee? One reason is the Bears have an average computer ranking of #3, which is a complete croc. Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t a certain team in orange knock the crap out of them in September? Beefing up on the uniform tradition challenged Pac-10 teams (What? No, they are not retarded) sure looks nice when you see the scores on Sunday morning, but Cal is nothing but an over inflated bunch of wannabes that would be no more than 3rd or 4th in any of the SEC divisions. Their September chance to show who they are was nothing more than a Big Orange version of Smear the Queer so I think the BCS fatheads should think about that next time they conduct the poll. I am certain the way they select the BCS rankings is to have whoever is in charge put their hand under their armpit and flap it up and down and what ever team gets the most fart sounds gets ranked the highest.

Remind me to put Buck Belue on my Christmas Card list

On 680 The Fan yesterday, Buck Belue and John Kincade were talking about the best college football announcers. They agreed Verne Lundquist was one of the best, but interestingly enough, they made an observation about my buddy, the Court Jester Hat wearing goof, Gary Danielson. Buck said, “Usually, when I do the CSS games, I talk with the other announcers about the teams and players and for the most part, we exchange a lot of information which helps for both our broadcasts. Danielson is the type of guy who does whatever he needs to do to get ready for the game, and won’t talk to anyone else since he thinks he knows everything and doesn’t need help.”
It appears Danielson is a boob, but he makes up for it by being a butt puppet.

The Big Orange Army invades Cumberland Blvd. for the LSU game

I got an email from Captain Riptide of the Big Orange Army and he wanted me to let all the Vol fans know they will camped out next to the Longbranch Saloon with the Big Orange Tank for the LSU Game. The BOA was created by Big Orange fans to highlight the Volunteer spirit and to tap into the emotions that run so deep in the state of Tennessee when you think of UT sports. Coach B and I will meet the troops on Saturday on our way over to the Longbranch so come by for the party! If you want to join the Big Orange Army, go to: www.bigorangearmy.com.

A Good One From Captain Chris

Captain Chris sent me this. I think all the Vol fans who read this column should print this out and recite it before every game. Well, along with the game maxims. Let me know what you think!

I am Tennessee . . . . .

I am Tennessee . I am the 30 year old couple coming back to campus for the first time with both little ones in tow. One wears her orange and white cheerleader outfit; the other wears #16 even though he's too young to understand why.

I am the 50 year old man who hoped no one saw tears in his eyes when the T was formed by the band. I was too choked even to sing "Rocky Top". For a moment I felt foolish and then I didn't care. God, I love this place.

I am the 60 year old woman meeting her freshman grand-daughter who is now the 3rd generation of UT students in our family. Despite my age, I'd strap it on Saturday and hit someone if it weren't for my gender and this blasted arthritis.

I am Tennessee and I have always believed I was different.You can see it when you look up into the stands. My orange is not the same as Florida's or Auburn’s. But the differences go much deeper than my colors.

Read my creed. What other school has one? I genuinely believe in these things. To be a real Tennessee man or woman speaks of character, not of geography.All are welcome to walk though my gates, not just the wealthy or the elite.

Georgia and Alabama may have their nations, but we have always been family. Make no mistake, we loathe defeat, but even in defeat, we would rather be a Tennessee Vol than anything else.

We are family and you are the sons of Heisman, the sons of Majors and Neyland. You come from a long line of brothers who names include White, Gault, Wilson, Manning, Shuler, Nash and Mahelona. It is a great heritage.

So this Saturday, when the warm ups are over and the prayers and amen spoken, when you hear my thunder growing in the stands above you, when you stand in the tunnel and the smoke begins to form, listen for my voice when you runonto my field. Behind the frenzy of the shakers and deafening roar, I will tell you something in a whisper you may miss. I will be telling you that you are my sons and I am proud of you for the way you wear the orange and white. I am telling you that you are my sons and I love you.

Tennessee is so much more than a state or a school or a team or a degree. It is something that, once you have experienced it, will live inside of you forever and become a part of what makes up who you are.It is driving into town on a game day. You may have come from hundreds of miles away and as you get closer and closer to the city limits, you feel it rising inside of you. Other cars on the highway proudly display their Orange and White flags or magnets or car tags, and you honk and wave at them, because, for that one day, you are all on the same team.

It is the smell in the air and the ritualistic act of tailgating...catching up with old friends, making new ones, and invitations from perfect strangers to try their ribs or watch their satellite TV showing all of the day's important match-ups...of course, all being secondary to the one that will occur in the great cathedral of Neyland Stadium later that day.

It is the Vol Walk...where you might just see 300 pound men overcome with emotion and weeping with pride, because you have come there to cheer them on. As they walk by, you might exchange a glance with one or two of them, and you can see it in their eyes...it is going to be their day.

It is the students...dressed in their best, because going to a Tennessee game is like going to church for Tennessee people....you show the same respect as you would if you were in God's house. Those students remind you of the days when you were walking in their shoes and Tennessee was your home...but then you realize, in many ways, it is still and always will be HOME.

It is that lump that rises in your throat when the band plays Rocky Top as the "T" is formed.

It is walking around on a "foreign" and sometimes hostile campus. You are easily identified (Tennessee people always are) and the enemy jeers and shouts things at you to mask their feelings of intimidation. But just then you happen upon a friend you have never met before. You know they are your friend by the colors they wear or the shaker in their hand. You exchange a "Go Vols" and a confident grin, because he/she knows what you know.

It is when your heart leaps with every touchdown, field goal, sack, and interception...because those are our boys. And win or lose, they will always have our un-dying support. After all, it is those boys that you are really there for and not a coach or a logo or a trustee or a president.

It is the complete and utter exhilaration of walking away victorious over a worthy opponent...that feeling of pride and accomplishment as if it were your own feet that had crossed the goal line scoring the last points yourself...that feeling of wanting to scream "Go Big Orange" at the top of your lungs and hug complete strangers...and then there is the ultimate high of defeating your most hated foes from across the state.

No words can describe what this feels like, but you know because you have experienced it.

It is the sheer agony of defeat as the last minutes tick off of the clock and you realize that all hope of a victory is gone. You feel like crying and maybe you do...then you hear the faint sounds of a cheer that grows louder and louder...."Its Great To Be A Tennessee Vol.

It is knowing that year after year, no matter how things change in our hectic lives, you can always come back to "the Loveliest Place on the River"...the place where you came from...your home. It will probably look a little different and there will be new names on the backs of the jerseys, but deep down, no matter what, it is still the same. You still love it as much as you always have, because Tennessee is as much a part of you as your arms and your legs and the orange blood that runs through your veins.

And, finally, it is the feeling you have right now as you read these lines....the anticipation inside of you, because you know its almost time....Its about to start all over again...but then it really never goes away, does it?

GO BIG ORANGE!

All right Vol fans, I will be back to preview this weekends games on the CFD before Coach B and I head to Knoxville. Until then, rub those orange and white rosary beads, repeat your game maxims and never take Coach Fulmer’s name in vain. If you have a question or comment, drop me an email to: volsdiary@yahoo.com. Go Vols!