Talk about a sign of the times ... I received an e-mail promoting a new feature the Peach Bowl has added to its Web site called "Peach Bowl Blog,’’ where all the teams the bowl might possibly select are discussed.

Being a Tennessee writer, I assumed the Peach Bowl would mention the Vols as a possibility. You know, big-name team that could finish with three wins in a row?

Well, I was wrong. Four SEC teams were being considered, and Tennessee wasn’t one of them. It appears the days of the Vols living off their 1998 national title and "big name’’ are apparently over.

And, just think, a couple of years ago Tennessee looked down its nose at the Atlanta bowl game.

Now, a trip to Atlanta for a football game sounds like paradise, compared to a trip to Nashville or Shreveport, La.

A bowl scout for the Independence Bowl, Pesky Hill (yes, that’s his name), attended the Vols’ game against South Carolina a couple of weeks ago.

Before kickoff, Hill seemed very interested in UT.

After the game, a South Carolina win, he made his obligatory trip down to see coach Phillip Fulmer.

Fulmer, still in shock from the loss, barely paid the Pesky bowl scout (sorry, couldn’t resist), any attention.

Two weeks later, Fulmer might want to think about picking up his phone and talking to Pesky Hill.

The conversation might go something like this:

Fulmer: "Mr. Hill? This is Phillip Fulmer, the winningest active coach in college football.’’

Pesky: "Phillip who? Oh yes, Coach Fulmer from Tennessee. What can I do for you?

Fulmer: "Look, I know my team can only finish 6-5, and we really haven’t traveled well at all to bowl games since 1998. But really, we have top 10 talent and we’ll be the best 6-5 team in the country.’’

Pesky: "Coach, South Carolina will bring 30,000 people. How many tickets will you guarantee?’’

Fulmer: "Well, my athletic director says we’ll take our allotment of 12,000? look, it will be downright embarrassing for us to play in the Music City Bowl, especially if we get matched against a Big Ten team that could thump us.’’

Pesky: "Coach, you of all people should realize Steve Spurrier is quite an attraction, what with his wit and flair, and that freshman playmaker Sidney Rice. What can you offer?’’

Fulmer: "I have a running backs coach who puts on a show, and a quarterback controversy that everyone comments on and a great defense.’’

Pesky: "So that means a low-scoring game, an inefficient offense and an assistant coach on the sidelines who gets more ink than any of your players?

Fulmer: "Well, starting next year, we’ll have David ? uh, a new offensive coordinator.’’

Pesky: We’ve already had Cutcliffe in our bowl game, back when Ole Miss beat Oklahoma. (Beep)

Fulmer: Pesky, you there ...?

(Long Pause)

Pesky: (Click) Hey coach, sorry about that. I need to take this call, it’s Bobby Johnson at Vanderbilt.

Fulmer: Hey, we play Vanderbilt next week if you’d like to sit in the?

Pesky: Can’t do it, we’re going to a really big game. Baylor is at Missouri. Bye.

OK, back to reality now.

The truth is, Fulmer still commands a great deal of respect nationally. This season is a blip on the radar screen, and Fulmer has done a good job avoiding seasons like this over the past 13 years when most every other program has had a down year.

And, let’s face it, UT has played five teams ranked in the top 13 of the BCS standings.

So let’s all have our fun now, and accept the reality of the situation with some perspective.

Fulmer is not going to be fired, he hasn’t forgotten how to coach, and Tennessee will be back in a New Year’s bowl game next year.

For now, the Independence Bowl is the best UT can hope for this season.

I talked to Pesky Hill on Friday.

"We’d look at South Carolina and Tennessee, and we’d see how they finished and how many people they would bring,’’ Hill said.

Not exactly chomping at the bit for orange and white, was he?

Versus Memphis: The key to the game? Stop the run. Don’t turn the ball over. Avoid special teams mistakes.

Tennessee can do that. Vols’ win 27-10.

Q: Hey Griff, I think you nailed it a while back when you mentioned Tennessee not having playmakers on offense. Do you know the background of the receiver at Notre Dame who made the big catches? Was he a big time recruit? Also, have you heard anything about Slick Shelly, he looked like the type of playmaker Tennessee needs. When I look at the offenses in the SEC this year, they all seem to have the same issues. Alabama, Georgia and Florida all somewhat struggle on offense. It seems to me the difference at Tennessee is they struggle on offense, turnovers, and special teams.

CurtisHope@ohdnld.com

GRIFF: UT has the playmakers — they’re just not making plays. That can be attributed to attitudes (James Banks, Brent Schaeffer), injuries (Robert Meachem, Gerald Riggs) and coaching (receivers and running backs).

Haven’t heard much about Slick. As far as the other teams struggles, I’d say Georgia does pretty well with D.J. Shockley in the lineup and the Tide has been grounded since losing Tyrone Protho. Florida? Much of that has to do with Chris Leak getting comfortable in the system, though it’s worth noting he rushed for more than 60 yards last Saturday.

Q: The bottom line is the Vols simply do not have a consistent quarterback. If you have an athletic QB, one who can throw long and short, or pull it down and run, he can make up a lot for the shortcomings of the rest.

Ainge sees the deer in the headlights when a rush is in front of him, throws 10 yards over the receiver's head, or throws an interception/grounding the ball equals 41-percent.

Clausen just doesn’t have any speed either, and can’t throw the ball deep or across the field to a receiver waiting for it. So looking ahead, we better get people we can count on next year. We don't need any more QB controversies. Again, hopefully, they will find a third quarterback, one who can get it done.

E.T., Gordonsville, VA

GRIFF: Hey E.T., I’d agree that quarterback play has been inconsistent. I’ll cut Ainge a little slack, though, because he’s had to split repetitions in practice since arriving and he’s only played two complete games in his career.

Clausen is a drop-back passer who makes good decisions. The problem is the playmakers around him didn’t hold up their end of the bargain with runs after the catch or long rushes from scrimmage.

Q: Just finishing reading your Monday morning report card for the Tennessee Volunteers and have to disagree with your assessment of the coaching.

You gave the coaches a "C" and said the play-calling and schemes were good. I disagree. The offensive is very predictable and does not require the defense to defend the whole field. That was not the case with Notre Dame. How many quick slants did Tennessee run? How many screen passes to the running backs did Tennessee run? How many crossing routes did Tennessee run? How many times did they throw down the middle to the tight run? How many end arounds did Tennessee run? How many trick plays did Tennessee run?

Instead, Tennessee for the most part ran low percentage touch passes 20 or 30 yards down the field or short side line routes. Tennessee also ran the ball effectively and should have been able to utilize that to their advantage but didn’t.

Tennessee once again was beaten by a team with less talent. While I agree that the defensive unit has done a good job most of the season. However, the offensive unit has played poorly. In my opinion, it is due primarily to the coaching staff not putting them in a position to make plays. The media needs to hold the coaches accountable. Try reading your colleague's (John Adams) column in today's paper.

kpl99@charter.net

GRIFF: Tennessee’s play-calling is most always predicated on the scheme the defense is running. The reason Notre Dame ran screen passes was to neutralize the Vols’ blitzes and pressure. The reason UT did not run many screens is the Irish weren’t always applying pressure. Also, the timing between Ainge and tailback Arian Foster isn’t as polished as it needs to be, making that play very risky. Same goes for the slant pass, which requires a great deal of timing between receiver and quarterback, and passing accuracy, which Ainge has at times struggled with.

As for the end around ? didn’t we see that result in a big loss at Alabama earlier this season? What UT player do you want to see run it? I’m not sure the Vols have a healthy receiver worthy of that play.

I do read John Adams columns regularly, often proofing them for typos before he sends them in to the office from the game. But thanks for the advice.

Q: I know that big receivers like UT’s can be effective, but looking at some of these guys, they almost look too big. Is it possible that they have struggled this year because they added on bulk at the expense of speed?

flan55@yahoo.com

GRIFF: That’s a reasonable question, but no, I don’t think the weight room has to do with the receiver struggles. I think it’s a lack of focus and a lack of accountability. I’m in the crowd that believes the top three or four receivers should play — and that’s it. That strategy seems to be working for Notre Dame.

Q: Thanks for your column. You seem to be a voice of reason when UT is in rough seas — which we clearly are now. I hope you’re right about Randy coming back to UT as a position coach. He has been a class act through the years. He has also been a lightning rod as offensive coordinator — often unfairly. For whatever reason, UT has struggled because the offense has not kept up with the defense, but I sure hope Randy lands on his feet. Keep up the good work!

dawebster@plantationcable.net

GRIFF: I still don’t have any hard evidence to support my theory that Sanders will return. We’ll just have to see. It’s just hard for me to imagine Randy not being a part of college football any more. He does have a lot to offer, as a position coach and a recruiter. One bad season doesn’t take away all the positive things he has contributed, especially when this bad season is hardly his fault.