Question: When is a win not enough?

Answer: Today, when Tennessee plays Ole Miss.

The Vols don't need style points so much as they need to merely find an offensive style, identity and direction.

If quarterback Rick Clausen is indeed the Man of the Future then it's time for UT to settle into an offensive scheme that caters to his strengths and minimizes his weaknesses.

That means getting the run game clicking and the timing down with the receivers on deep routes. That means scoring points. Lots of 'em.

Should that happen -- and there's no reason why it shouldn't, when one considers the difference in the teams' talent -- Tennessee should have this game in hand by the end of the third quarter.

That's when the Vols can truly benefit by playing younger players.

It has been a while since UT has blown out an SEC opponent and given its younger players such valuable game experience. It sure didn't come against Kentucky or Vanderbilt last season.

Vols such as Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty, David Holbert, Ramon Foster, Eric Young and Steven Jones need some reps. I'd love to see LaMarcus Coker play, too, but there's talk he might be redshirted.

Robert Ayers, Daniel Brooks, Corey Campbell, Ryan Karl and Demonte Bolden are the guys to look for on defense.

Prediction: Tennessee 34, Ole Miss 7.

If I Were King: Who wouldn't like one game to call plays for the Vols?

I'd pick today to do it.

I'd run Gerald Riggs a lot in the first half. And when the handoffs didn't go to Riggs, I'd go play-action and find tight end Chris Brown over the middle and fullback Cory Anderson in the flats. I'd look to hit Robert Meachem or Chris Hannon deep on second-and-short. I'd find C.J. Fayton, Bret Smith and Jayson Swain on third down plays.

Defensively, well ... I'd let John Chavis keep calling the plays.

Look for Chavis & Company to keep a close eye on Ole Miss quarterback Michael Spurlock.

"If you don't, he can make you miserable,'' Chavis said.

The Vols likely won't need to blitz very much. The front four should be able to get pressure without the benefit of extra bodies. That means more in coverage and that should translate into a few turnovers.

As for Spurlock, according to UT linebacker Kevin Simon, he's Ole Miss' most dangerous threat with the ball in his hands.

"From what I've seen he's their best running back as well as quarterback,'' Simon said.

And speaking of Simon, he is getting ripped off on his tackle total. Against Florida, the tape showed at least 15 tackles that he made. Same thing happened against LSU.

The home teams are responsible for scoring tackles. It's interesting to note Florida and LSU have All-SEC linebacker candidates, too.

One Regret: It's not too often that I regret what I say or write. After all, I write and say what I believe to be true at the time, most always with facts or good reason behind it.

But last year I went on a Memphis radio station and blasted Ole Miss and David Cutcliffe.

I said the Rebels had always been a soft team, and that Ole Miss maybe shouldn't have hired Cutcliffe.

Upon further review, I was in the wrong.

While it's true that the Ole Miss teams I had seen while covering Auburn and Alabama in the early 1990s were indeed soft, Cutcliffe's troops stiffened up and played UT off their heels last season.

As for Cutcliffe, he did a lot at a place where few had won before him. I think it's becoming increasingly evident that the Rebels should have kept him around.

Did You Know: Cutcliffe and former Alabama coach Mike DuBose were tight buddies while with the Tide football program?

At one point, they'd made an agreement that whoever got a head coaching job first, the other would join him as coordinator.

DuBose thought he had Cutcliffe hired in 1997 before UT came back with some big money and David's wife put her foot down to stay in Knoxville.

That's some big-time loyalty, and as it turned out, I believe it led to DuBose's demise.

If Cutcliffe had been Mike's offensive coordinator, the Tide would not have gone 4-7 in 1997. Without that adversity, I believe DuBose's off-field distractions and problems (NCAA) would have never occurred, and DuBose might still be the head coach there.

DuBose was and is a very good football coach, but as his situation and many others have showed, it takes more than just knowing Xs and Os and the ability to lead young men to succeed.

It takes great management and a tremendous support staff.

That's been the key to Phillip Fulmer's run.

Chavis Watch: Word from within the sportswriters secret source network is that Chavis is going to be approached by a Big 12 school about a head coaching opportunity.

After last summer's raise debacle -- where some defensive assistants got the short end of the stick -- it will be interesting to see if or when the UT administration tries to lock down Chavis and his defensive staff.

Now, your questions ...

Q: I know schedules are made well in advance, but shouldn't we take a look at playing two games before UT-Florida instead of one and a bye week? Maybe that'd give the offense a little more time to gel.

jhbaker12@gmail.com

GRIFF: Not a bad suggestion, especially when you look at this year's split-QB situation. However, I think UT will get back to have a one-man QB system very soon, and the team will be much more polished early in the coming years.

Under those circumstances, I think the bye week is good because it prevents a key player or two from getting nicked up and keeps the team fresh.

Q: Since UT played on Monday night, I didn't see much change in the Week 5 AP and Coaches polls after UT's victory over LSU. In fact, the polls only show UT as having played 2 games and LSU is still at number 4. I realize that UT moved from 11th to 9th in the Coaches poll, but remained 10 in the AP poll. Will there be any change in the polls as a result of the LSU game? If UT is able to win out from here, wouldn't this lack of movement in the polls after the LSU game hurt their BCS ranking? Its almost like UT had an open week.

cboling@vhcc.edu

GRIFF: You're correct, the polls were voted on prior to the UT win over LSU. That does hurt the Vols a bit, as they'd surely have moved up.

It also means Tennessee needs an impressive win over Ole Miss to show the pollsters that it is indeed worthy of a top five or six ranking.

Q: Hey Griff, do you think we can call Rick Clausen the 2005 version of Daryl Dickey? Many people call Rick a great story ... and he is. But, Daryl Dickey's 1985 (or was it 1986?) Sugar Bowl triumph against the camouflage wearing, mighty, Miami Hurricanes was one of the great sports moments of my life -- just after the 1998 National Championship of course. So...what do you think?

pastorjohnny@greenacresbc.com

GRIFF: The Sugar Bowl win came at the end of the 1985 season and was played in January of 1986 with the Vols scoring a 35-7 win over Miami.

I think that's a good comparison.

You know, the Clausen family has certainly carved out their own legacy in UT football. It's a longshot the Vols land "little'' Jimmy at this point -- Notre Dame and Southern Cal will be hard to beat.

But should Tennessee get Jimmy Clausen, well, it would be another great story and mean more great wins.

Seems like every time someone wants to throw a shovel of dirt on the Clausens, they keep coming back and winning big games.

I've been accused of being partial to the family. So be it.

The results and records speak for themselves.

Q: Of course there is a scramble to put a catch label on the momentous game last Monday. Here's my nomination: Rally in the Valley.

rpillsbury@pillsburylawfirm.com

GRIFF: Much as I hate to be upstaged, I can't think of a better tag for the comeback win.

Q: Dear Griff, Please forward this to Rick Clausen -- Thank you.

Dear Rick, First -- Thank you for the victory over LSU Monday night. But the real reason for this e-mail is to tell you that you have many fans in Big Orange country and I am one of them.

I am a 1972 graduate of UT and if you cut me, I bleed orange. Your success on the football field will be talked about for years to come, but I want to mention something else to you.

I am a manufacturing executive and have been involved in numerous profit turnaround situations. Therefore, I know leadership qualities when I see them. Your leadership is something I admire and enjoy watching, your vision, and your calming affect on others, your ability to increase the level of performance of those around you, your humility, vision, your sense of humor, and your ability to overcome adversity.

I admired Casey because I don't think I have ever seen a more gutsy person. His determination to play even when injured was admirable. You and Casey obviously come from a solid family. I think coach Fulmer showed class when he admitted to making a mistake, and I know you will show the same class and put his mistake behind you.

You will win more football games, and you may lose a few, but you will always be successful. I have never met any person with leadership skills and ability that wasn't successful. I personally hope you become a football coach some day, and I would be pleased if you became the head coach at the University of Tennessee. We could do no better.

Take care and good luck,

Sonny Beckham

SonnyBeckham@metaldyne.com

GRIFF: Nice letter, Sonny.

Anything else I can do for you today, deliver some flowers, maybe?