Q: Can you find any logic in the fact that UT beats UGA and UGA still stays above UT in the polls (six spots in the coaches and one spot in the AP)? Both are one-loss teams and the Vols just beat UGA!

Last week we were five spots behind Florida in both the Coaches and AP polls. The Vols and UF were both one-loss teams at the time but we beat UF!

What gives? Why the lack of respect?

More importantly, what happens if the Vols and UGA win out? The Vols will win the SEC but couldn't UGA theoretically play for the national title before the Vols because Georgia might be ranked higher?

To me, UT is the best one loss team in the nation. We're better than UGA because we beat them. And I don't think Cal or Texas have beat programs of the caliber that we have (Georgia and Florida vs. what?).

So I ask if there's any logic whatsoever in ranking college football? And do you think being ranked so low in the group of the one-loss teams could hurt the Vols down the road?

heath@gearyi.com

GRIFF: I was shocked at the disparity in the coaches' poll, but only mildly surprised to see Georgia still ranked ahead of UT in the polls. I vote in the FWAA Grantland Rice Super 16 poll, and I voted Tennessee 10th and Georgia 12th.

Clearly, the fact that the Vols beat the Bulldogs head-to-head in their stadium justifies UT being ranked ahead of Georgia even though they have a "worse loss,'' that 34-10 debacle against Auburn.

My theory on why the pollsters ranked Georgia higher than Tennessee is two-fold:

No. 1: these same people voted the Vols the No. 6 team in the nation at the conclusion of last season, only to see them get beaten by unranked Clemson in the Peach Bowl.

No. 2: Voters don't have the opportunity to see all the teams play, so they rely heavily on ESPN's game night television broadcast. The highlights I saw from the Georgia-Tennessee game featured the Bulldogs driving the ball downfield before falling "just short'' at the end.

Based on those highlights, one would have thought the game was nip-and-tuck throughout. The truth is, UT should have won by at least 10 points if not more. There were three missed field goals by the Vols, and a turnover at their own 13.

Georgia, meanwhile, had just 126 total yards through three quarters and didn't move the ball until UT softened its defense and traded yardage for time with a 19-7 lead.

As for the tiebreaker scenario where rankings could count, that would require South Carolina to beat the Vols and somehow get in the mix. A lot would have to happen ... it's highly unlikely.

Q: Still smiling after Saturday ... but time to move on.

Seeing as how David Cutcliffe was with us for so long, what does Fulmer, Sanders and Chavis have to do to try and throw him off?

Should we or should we not be concerned about his closeness to the program?

Granted, talent wise we should beat them, but given the emotional state of the team and Cutcliffe's familiarity with UT, I think this is a HUGE game. Nothing would make David's year like beating us.

What do you think?

jzvanut@saia.com

GRIFF: Cutcliffe's familiarity would be more of a factor if he knew the Vols' personnel. He left in 1998, before any of these players arrived. As far as him knowing Tennessee's offensive scheme, it works both ways as they know how he thinks, too.

The Vols' defensive scheme is a work in progress, as they are playing more zone than ever before.

Q: Seems like the respect, or lack thereof is the motto of Govolsxtra.

Clearly the media (ESPN) never seem to give UT its share of respect.

Without the usual comments we hear form other coaches trying to stay away from locker room material, I was wondering how other teams around the country really feel about seeing UT on their schedule. Can you offer any insight one way or the other?

warwick@utlx.com

GRIFF: When I covered Alabama and Auburn, from 1993-97, I viewed Tennessee as a super-power that just couldn't get over the Florida hump. The Vols were always highly respected and there was a great deal of alarm when a team was preparing for them because the amount of talent.

I think there has been some drop off in terms of the national image because of the lack of success in the postseason. Tennessee has lost four of its last five bowl games.

It appears it will take some time to get that respect back.

Q: I know this may seem to be jumping ahead a lot. I am very encouraged about this year, although no other conference in America has to go through the schedule of every SEC team. Tennessee could still see some tough days ahead on the SEC road.

That having been said, does Saturday's performance of the offensive line, give us any insight into how good they might be next year. I realize the O-line will lose some good players next year. Yet, if next year's squad can perform like Saturday's level, things bode well for Ainge's passing and Riggs' running. Did those players represent next year's crew on the O-line?

pastorjohnny@elimbc.com

GRIFF: The Vols lose Michael Munoz, Jason Respert and junior Cody Douglas might possibly go pro early because of his family's financial situation.

I see Arron Sears, Rob Smith, Albert Toeaina, Eric Young, Richie Gandy, Steven Jones, David Ligon and Ramon Foster battling for playing time. Something good should come out of that group.

Also, Arian Foster will push Riggs hard for carries. Foster may be the most talented runner on the roster right now, but they are red-shirting him.

Q: Congrats to the whole Vol team for the great win at Georgia. The defense at last gave us a glimpse of what they are capable of doing. My question is about Tennessee's tackling. Although it appeared to be better in Athens than I have seen earlier this year, our defensive backs continue to try to make the big hit with their shoulders and fail to "wrap up''the ball carrier. Consequently, we have a lot of missed tackles.

I don't know if that would have stopped Georgia's last touchdown, but I would have liked to have seen it tried at least. We hit him at the 2 and he ran right through the hit for the TD. Recently, I heard a remark on TV about how the pro's are disappointed in the tackling ability of DB's when they come out of college. What do the coaches teach our guys to do?

rklein@kleindobbins.com

GRIFF: Brandon Johnson told me he hit Danny Ware high because he thought if he went low Ware would have fallen forward -- about 2A 1/2 yards -- for the touchdown.

It was tough for UT to work on tackling in the preseason because injuries mounted quickly on the defensive line and the Vols' lacked depth at that position.

Gibril Wilson was a pretty good tackler when he was at UT, so I don't think the problem is with instruction so much as execution.

Q: Thanks for the honesty that your bring to your columns and through your mailbag sessions. I have to agree with Heath, who wrote about the so-called QB "competition" going on this season. I agree that Schaeffer is not getting a legitimate chance to show off his passing ability.

He was recruited based on his passing statistics as well as his running ability, yet the UT coaches have simplified the play-calling when he is under center. Maybe I'm missing something here, but UT's offense becomes incredibly predictable when Schaeffer is on the field. He may be called Baby Vick, but I believe Schaeffer is a more accurate passer than the original Vick at this point. I do realize he's a freshman, but UT should at least give him as many passing chances as Ainge.

Although it should not be a relevant factor at all, I wonder if the actions of the UT coaches have discouraged black QB's from wanting to play in Knoxville. The coaches seem to try and turn every black QB into the next Tee Martin or Condredge Holloway. If that doesn't work, then they are moved to new positions like S and WR (see C.J. Leak and James Banks). Part of me believes that Chris Leak saw the same pattern and decided that Florida offered him a better chance to be a true QB in the traditional sense. I believe that if C.J Leak had the same running ability as Martin, then he would be the starter instead of Ainge. It may be uncomfortable to bring these points up, but it does make a person wonder what's going on within the UT program.

As much as I would like to see Schaeffer fight and become the starter at UT, I believe he should transfer to a school that will give him more than a token opportunity to lead an offense. Places like Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Georgia, and Alabama will have QB openings within the next two years (this includes the one-year transfer sit-out rule) and they would likely afford Schaeffer a better opportunity to show his passing skills. If you feel that I'm way off base, please offer a reality-check for me and other fans who might be thinking the same way. Keep up the great work!

frank.smith@thepowerofx.com

GRIFF: Schaeffer needs to show he can execute the plays and get out of the huddle quicker before he gets more playing time in crucial situations.

He has been sacked six times this season, fumbled on two of them, used a time out at Georgia to avoid a delay of game penalty and absorbed a delay of game penalty.

Q: I think you're spot on with your comments about the team. Schaeffer has got to learn to stay with the play a little longer. Most of the time, he leaves the pocket before he has to: why? Because he has unbelievable talent in his legs and he relies on it too much.

He needs to rely a little more on his teammates and not himself, but he is special. He may actually be the better college quarterback.

apark@new.rr.com

GRIFF: Schaeffer simply needs more time under center and more repetitions. I'm sure Tennessee's coaches will afford him that opportunity as soon as possible. But right now, it just makes sense to go with the quarterback who can run the offense more efficiently. That's not to say Schaeffer doesn't have a great upside, because he does. Ainge has just adjusted quicker to this point.