Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, left, talks with quarterback Erik Ainge during the first day of spring practice.

And the barker said ...

"Step right up, ladies and gentlemen. Come one, come all. 'Cause I've got the magic miracle-worker you've all been looking for! It's guaranteed to fix what ails and it never, never fails!"

"From bladder weevils, fun drought, and quaking of the spleen to corns, the shingles, and the Peloponnesian Itch ... this baby can cure 'em all. But wait, there's more!

"Ever want to cut through a tin can? Well this little miracle can do just that! Why, it can even slice through an old shoe. It's more valuable than a collectible Elvis plate, more medicinal than leeches, and more practical than a Thigh-Master!

"I tell you there's nothing, absolutely nothing like Dr. Cutcliffe's Fantastic Fix-It-All Tonic and Sure-Fire Remedy Salve!"

OK, so maybe it's just me. But there sure seems to be a lot of folks counting on the Vols' old, new offensive coordinator to fix EVERYTHING that ails the Tennessee football program this year.

Don't get me wrong. For the record, I think David Cutcliffe was the smartest hire Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer could have made to replace Randy Sanders. He'll pay immediate dividends.

Face it, he was missed when he left after 1998. He's a good coach with a great reputation among other coaches. He's tutored some of the best quarterbacks in the history of Southern football. At Ole Miss (where he got the short end of the stick) his start with the Rebels was second-only to Johnny Vaught.

Now he returns to UT an even-wiser, more-experienced coach. And he knows the lay of the land. Sitting out last year allowed him to study the Vols minus the pressure of the fans and media. Minus the scrutiny. That's old-fashion book learnin'.

This year will be his chance to apply all that he's learned since he left. Which is good news for Erik Ainge and Jonathan Crompton who are rebounding from last season's mental (Ainge) and physical (Crompton) woes.

So I've got no doubts that Cutcliffe is the right man for the job. But does that mean he'll be able fix everything that Vol fans now seem to think he can fix? That's another question.

So far, the list of "he'll take care of this" items looks like this: Ainge's psyche and performance; Crompton's preparedness (just in case); solid offensive line play; wide receivers that do a better job of catching the ball; conditioning on offense (more agile, faster players); running backs who don't fumble in the Orange Zone; practice tempo; discipline on offense; off-the-field discipline; and as far as I can tell, he's also expected to make cold drinks colder and the autumn foliage prettier.

That's a lot of stuff for one man to fix. Especially in one year.

Yet, Cutcliffe has even gotten the benefit of the doubt when it comes to recruiting. When some have pointed to the fact that the Vols have been getting commitments from offensive players who were also targeted by Wake Forest, Chattanooga, and Duke ... a common response has been, "I trust Cutcliffe more than some recruiting guru."

Well, so do I, but not to the point of blind faith. I dole my blind faith out very carefully. Rarely do I use it for athletes or coaches. Sports are too complex. Too many variables. What worked yesterday might not work today.

Case in point, for those who believe that Cutcliffe has never met a quarterback he couldn't turn into a top NFL prospect, I give you three names:

Michael Spurlock. Ethan Flatt. Robert Lane.

That was the trifecta that Cutcliffe ran onto the field in his last year as coach at Ole Miss. Three players he recruited and signed.

The lesson? Nobody's perfect. So it's not fair for Vol fans to expect Cutcliffe to remedy all that ails UT.

Some believe in "perfect storms," and therefore, quick fixes. Not me. What was seen in Neyland Stadium last year was a product of some bad breaks AND some bad "trend numbers," as the pollsters say.

The conference is stronger and more balanced now than it was in 1998. Tennessee didn't last year, and won't this year, have the talent that it had in 1998. The game is constantly changing and Tennessee's been, in a word, "caught."

Ask Florida fans about this phenomenon. It's happened to their Gators, too.

So, Cutcliffe isn't just fixing a hitch in his quarterback's throwing motion or telling his receivers to show up for meetings on time. His "to do" list is much longer than that.

Pulling earrings from ears won't get the whole job done. There's a lot more hard work to do. Probably more work than can be accomplished in a single off-season.

Does Tennessee have the best offensive coordinator in the SEC this year? You could make an excellent argument for that very case. But to expect him to be a magic potion isn't fair.

He's one coach. Not a cure-all. Bruce Pearls come along once in a lifetime. And this year, Tennessee's already caught its limit.

John Pennington hosts The Hall's Salvage Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE. He also writes a blog at www.govolsxtra.com.