Big Things, Little Things, Everything
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Tennessee’s offense set a new school record for most number of total yards in a game (718). Tennessee’s defense set a new school record for the most number of total yards allowed in a game (721).
Both of these events happened on the same day, in the same game, which also saw the most combined yards in any Tennessee game (1,439).
During his introductory press conference in 2010, Derek Dooley said that under his leadership, the Vols would play exciting football. Saturday was exciting, but Dooley didn’t have Saturday in mind when he said this almost three years ago.
I’m Going to Miss the Dooley Pressers
This week in the Vol Nation, apart from being a Jon Gruden Worship Marathon, there was featured quite the weekly press conference hosted by Derek Dooley.
The Battle of Athens
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With 12 minutes left to play in the second quarter, it looked like Georgia’s 17-point lead would increase by the minute to the point where CBS would announce that at halftime they were switching to another game, any game, to prevent the nation from viewing the continuing carnage.
Instead, Tennessee would hold the lead before halftime after three unanswered touchdowns. It was a game that by the fourth quarter had turned into a football war — one fitting for this rivalry series already filled with crazy, memorable games.
Vols Survive Akron in Knoxville
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Beginning with Tyler Bray’s pass that was intercepted and returned for an Akron touchdown on just the fourth play of the game, Tennessee found themselves in a difficult position for much of this game. It wasn’t until the Vols were able to get their third interception deep into the final quarter that Big Orange Country was able to exhale.
For the neutral fan, this was a highly entertaining game. A tally of 977 total yards, 630 of which were in the air, will tend to create that kind of enjoyable viewing. But for the Volunteer fan, this was anything but fun. There were visions of a season-destroying loss that kept appearing in the collective consciousness of the Vol Nation.
Vols-Gators Preview: Tables are Turned
Get this…
It is the Tennessee Volunteers that are running an up-tempo, no-huddle, blitzkrieg offense instead of the Florida Gators whose offensive strategy is to slow the tempo down and milk the play clock as much as possible.
What happened?
A shift in the balance of offensive weapons.
Hunter and Bray Put Georgia State Away
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It was getting late in the second quarter and the natives were getting just a bit more than restless. The completely outmanned Georgia State Panthers were down only 14-6 in a game that should already have been decided. But Tennessee struck swiftly and decisively, just as they did last week against NC State. And then it was decided. Thoughts immediately turned to next Saturday.
Vols in Ellipses: Post-Week One Edition
One of my favorite sportswriters the I read in the local papers in the Bay Area is fond of a certain format that is based on three dots used to represent not so much missing information in a sentence as a pause in thought – a transition to another thought or subject.
Hence the title of this post, unless you failed english grammar, or are too old to remember.
Off we go. …
Tennessee-NC State Postscript
It’s funny how a single victory can turn around the entire vibe of a college program. But that is exactly what has happened with the Tennessee win Friday evening over NC State.
It is easier for that to happen with a season opener after a bad season rather than a late-season win after a few losses in the same season. A record of 1-0 with an impressive performance means that all things are possible. An upset victory getting your team to 3-5 means that you just might go bowling at the most.
The air is fresher, the grass a brighter green, the flowers more fragrant. It feels like a brand new world. That’s the first scenario.
Everything still stinks. That’s the second scenario.
Derek Dooley did his best to dampen runaway expectations on Friday night by saying that this win is just that – only a single win. A record of 1-0 doesn’t mean anything other than you are 1-0.
Nice try, coach.
PR is now driving the DeAnthony Arnett bus
Tennessee’s best wide receiver not named Justin Hunter or Da’Rick Rogers wants out of Knoxville. DeAnthony Arnett, the Saginaw, Michigan native who just finished his freshman season with the Vols, is petitioning the court of public opinion to be released from his scholarship so that he can play in his native state of Michigan. Among other outlets, Mr. Arnett chose GoBlueWolverine the Magazine to write his public petition. His penned plea finished with the following…
Therefore as a student athlete I feel coach Dooley is trying to hinder my success by not allowing me to compete at a BCS level and neglecting the fact my father is severely ill.
I Hate My Left Brain
Georgia (3-2) on a 3-game win streak come a-callin’ for a game that is understatedly crucial for both sides.
This year’s edition of one of the more entertaining rivalries in the league is being billed as Georgia’s moment to secure SEC East favorite status. The Gators and Gamecocks have QB problems. Nobody is taking the Vols seriously. A win over Tennessee could be followed with Bulldog victories against Vandy, the Gators, Auburn, and Kentucky.
Tyler Bray and the Vols Bury Buffalo
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Tennessee made quick work against a vastly outmatched Buffalo Bulls squad for an easy win on a sunny, breezy autumn afternoon at home, in front of an announced attendance that was below 90,000 for the first time in what must be decades. This was pretty much what was needed following the loss in Gainesville – a cupcake opponent after an off week.
Vols Snuffed in the Swamp Again
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Tennessee couldn’t take advantage of Florida’s numerous penalties in Gainesville on Saturday, and couldn’t stop the speed of Chris Rainey, in the Vols’ 7th consecutive loss to the Gators. The difference in this year’s version of these two rival squads is greater than the final score spread.
It looked like more of the same from the horrors of the last few seasons against Florida.
Nothing said it more than the first half of the third quarter. Read More…
Filler for a Hate-Week Friday
ESPN’s Chris Low is picking Florida, 34-24, because (1) Florida’s big-play potential [doesn't Tennessee have big-play potential?] and (2) the superiority of the Gator special teams. He adds that a key for Tennesse will be for Bray and Co. to gain lots of yards on first down. Amen on that one.
