As we gathered around the table Thursday, I gave thanks for a remarkable college football season.
So much has happened that Appalachian State over Michigan seems like another season. There have been so many jaw-dropping scores to digest that jaw-dropping has become commonplace.
Slippery Rock beat Penn State? So what?
Folks at Kansas and Missouri gave thanks they lived long enough to see a day like Saturday. The border rivals have been clawing and scratching since 1891 but nobody in Bakersfield or Baltimore ever cared before.
At Notre Dame and Nebraska they gave thanks that the season is mercifully about over.
Around the SEC, an eavesdropper might have heard some specific gratitudes expressed. For example:
LSU’s Les Miles gave thanks for that lucky rabbit’s foot tied to a horseshoe by a string of four-leaf clovers he found last summer. Whatever it is, the force is with him.
Phillip Fulmer gave thanks that Eric Berry’s dad played football at Tennessee. Otherwise, does the top recruit in Georgia come to Knoxville?
Urban Meyer gave thanks that Tim Tebow, the prototypical talent to run his offense, happened to pop up in Jacksonville when he took the Florida job. Perfect timing. Perfect fit.
Nick Saban gave thanks he wasn’t at the World Trade Center, Pearl Harbor, Auschwitz, Jonestown or Wounded Knee. (Alabama football is serious, Nick, but not that serious.)
Tommy Tuberville gave thanks that every four-star recruit in the state of Alabama has watched the Crimson Tide lose to Mississippi State and Louisiana-Monroe the past two weeks.
Mark Richt gave thanks for the book he got for his birthday, “Motivational Tricks to Save a Football Season.” Chapter One: Celebration Penalties. Chapter Two: Break Out the Black Jerseys.
Rich Brooks gave thanks that Gardner-Webb stunned Billy Gillespie’s Wildcats in Rupp Arena. It’s taken attention away from the fade going on at Commonwealth Stadium. Kentuckians do have their priorities.
Steve Spurrier is still giving thanks for Danny Wuerffel. It’s been 11 years now and he hasn’t had another quarterback like him, especially these three seasons at South Carolina.
Georgia’s Priorities: Richt dismisses the theory making the rounds that Georgia is better off if Tennessee wins the East and has to go take its lumps against No. 1 LSU in the SEC championship game — thus allowing a 10-2 Georgia on a six-game winning streak to slide into a BCS at-large bowl slot.
“No way,” said Richt. “No way. We want to play for the Southeastern Conference championship.
“BCS bowls are great but in the pecking order of importance it’s national championship number one, SEC championship number two and BCS bowl number three.”
Voter Credibility: Fulmer said he doesn’t have time to watch enough games to comment on who should win the Heisman Trophy. It follows then that he and his colleagues might not have time to watch enough games to deliver a credible vote in the coaches’ poll that helps determine who plays for the national championship.
“Most coaches take it seriously,’’ Fulmer said. “I do. Our sports information (person) and I sit down and look at some scores. You rarely get to see other games.
“But I do think the coaches’ poll has a lot of merit because we probably, week in and week out, would know about good teams we have seen on film.”
Fulmer said he’s seen Oregon a couple of times on film “because I wanted to watch their offense.”
Heisman Helper: Spurrier said he’s not qualified to determine whether Florida’s Tebow or Arkansas’ Darren McFadden is the more deserving Heisman candidate.
“We made ‘em both look awfully good,” Spurrier said, “so you probably need to ask someone who slowed ’em down a little bit.
“They were probably both leading at one point after our games.’’
The Last Word: Fulmer, responding on the SEC teleconference about the stature of the vacant Michigan coaching job: “I think it would be very attractive (slight pause) if someone were interested. I have a good job. I don’t want our people thinking I’m going to Michigan.”
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
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Comments » 23
TommyJack writes:
CPF: Not to worry.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Gotta love that headline -- "Strange: Coaches Give Thanks."
Yes, it is strange why they would do that...
DennisVols writes:
It Thanksgiving and it is time to give thanks for what the UT Nation does have.
1. We are 8-3 and in charge of our own destiny in regards to being able to play for a SEC Championship
2. We are thankful that we are not any of the other 5 teams in the division that have either been eliminated or would require the Vols to lose so they could back into the championship game in Atlanta next week.
3. We are thankful that we have such a University that we can be so passionate about their sports programs (either mad or glad)
4. We can be thankful we have a tradition that is long and proud among the university systems throughout the country.
5. We can be thankful we have coaches that handle themselves with honor and respect the university. We may not always agree with how they coach but we do not have to question the way they perform off the field as humans.
6. W are very thankful for the men and women who have served their country(I am one of them) and given of themselves so that we can go to the games, attend the schools and churches, and be able to express our freedom of speech here and throughout our great land.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
Go Vols.
TommyJack writes:
Dennis: Well said.
DennisVols writes:
Thanks TommyJack
gohawks1 writes:
Hey dls, here's a few you forgot to mention:
1. We can be thankful that Notre Dame has a worse record than every team in the SEC this year.
2. We can be thankful that Alabama had UL Monroe on the schedule this year.
3. We can be thankful that Florida will be watching the SEC championship game from the couch, no matter what happens Saturday.
Now seriously, don't that warm your heart? Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Hunter writes:
I am thankful that I am not a Florida Gator, LSU Tiger, Georgia Bulldog, or any other vile foe in the SEC. I am a Tennessee Volunteer. Go Vols - beat the MildCats.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Man, I bet Michigan has burned up the phone lines to Phil! After all , he and Carr were nearly identical. Carr has taken the high road! Oh well, its time for a meal of Wildcats! Go Vols!
DSaVol writes:
Don't worry big fella - NOBODY thinks your going to Michigan! After all they are looking for a COACH!
philfan writes:
Good post, dlskaggs. Note that my handle is philfan, not philworshipper. There are a lot of things I do not like about Tennessee football, like the way the coaches approach a game_ for instance, holding on to a big lead and almost blowing it in the second half by playing ultra conservative football. Or, how about playing 2 quarterbacks as we did a few years ago, leading to the first losing season in many years. All in all, I am very thankful that Tennessee is in serious contention for an SEC championship this year. I am equally proud that we have a coaching staff that is high class and professional. That said, I am going to get the Jack Daniels ready and hope that LSU will beat Arkansas badly, so that we will hopefully have a chance to play the number one team in the country.
gohawks1 writes:
Good points, philfan. That ultra conservative game plan when trying to protect a lead is known around here on these boards as a "prevent offense". It can't really be considered a prevent defense, because that type of defense prevents nothing much at all, except maybe getting a W in the win/loss column.
navdocvol writes:
Funny article and good read. Go vols.
vol4jesus writes:
DSaunvol grow up please. Your tireless ugly remarks about COACH FULMER are empty and rude! Funny thing is he is THE Coach at UT and will be even after you slam me in your response. Anyway beat the Wildcats saturday!!!!
Vol_N_Texas writes:
DSaVol: Get a life!
DennisVols writes:
I think this bears repeating:
The Most Important Game of The Year
The way it used to be is over in college football. Last week #2 Oregon played an unranked team and walked out knowing their shot at a National Championship was over. “One game one championship.” This is the playoff system in the BCS division. UT’s shot at a national championship ended with their 2nd loss of the season to Florida, their shot at an SEC championship appeared over after the loss to Bama. Now here we are with 1 game remaining and UT is still in control of winning the Eastern division of the SEC. The opportunity has come because of 2 factors. Those who were in front of them failed to take care of business when they had the opportunity to do so, and UT has stepped up its game and won 7 of 8 games since the loss to UF.
Twice UT was beaten down, once by UF and then by long time rival Bama. On both occasions UT showed something few felt they had. Both times this team pulled its self up and came back to win. Over the past 8 games a UT defense that was hurt by youth and injuries, was once ranked last in the SEC as a scoring defense, now has the lowest scoring defense over those 8 games compared to LSU, Bama, UF, UGA, USC.
UT’s scoring offense ranks 2nd to only LSU (36.57ppg to 36.14ppg). Now we come to the UK game. No one is a “gimmie game”, a “cupcake” any more. The SEC has either feasted on or been feasted on by each other this year. UT beats UGA & USC, UGA beats UF & Bama, UT loses to UF & Bama and so on.
One game one championship is what is in front of UT. Handle their opponents and they go to ATL on Dec. 1st to face LSU. They have the same opportunity they had 11 games ago to win the east and get their first SEC title since ’98. No game this season is bigger than Saturday’s game against the Wildcats of Kentucky. If they win then no game will be bigger than the one next Saturday against LSU.
This is a test, a test of talent, mental fortitude, and preparedness by the coaching staff and players.
*See my blog for more on this and leave your comments
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn...
Go VOLS!!!!!!!!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
diskaggs-I think this bears repeating! Fla 59-Vols 20. Bama 41-Vols less. Chances against Cats, less than spectacular! Feeling with seeing Phil on sidelines! Uneasy! Go Cutcliff, you're our one chance. Dink and dunk us to the Dome! (shoulda patented that one) Please play Hardesty (remember Phil's - "Didn't know he didn't have but two carries"). Somehow Vols, keep us stumbling toward Atl! Lord, we're underdogs to Ky and talking about beating LSU!
vol4jesus writes:
pdhuff too much turkey maybe? Those games were early we were poor. We are not champions smashing all comers.............but we are VOL fans! Leave the low blow comments about coach Fulmer and just pull for good Ole Rocky Top!!!
DennisVols writes:
pdhuff
Unlike some I chose to look at both the wins and the loses. If you had read all the words, not just those limited to 2-3 letters you would have seen that.
No one is endorseing Fulmer in my post. Who in the SEC East would you rather have as UT's coach? How about Meyers? MMMMMMMMMmmmmm 3 loses in the last 8 games and eliminated from the division title race(seemed a few weeks ago all I saw was how much more talent they had than UT too). Spurrier? MMMMmmmmmmmm 4 loses in those 8 games(including one to UT). Richt? Naw I believe his team go drilled by UT and now must hope for UT to lose so they can play LSU.
Brooks? Top 10 team 6 weeks ago and now no where in the top 25. Not a good choice there. That leaves just Johnson and didn't his team have a 15 point lead going into the 4th qtr last week against UT and through his great coaching skills gave up 16 to UT to lose that game.
Point is there isn't a coach in the SEC, including Miles at LSU, that hasn't made a bad decision that cost them a game.
I would challenge you to name a coach in the SEC east right now that would rather be in the position they are currently in compared to the one UT is.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Vol4jesus -true- we are Vol fans. I'm sorry I didn't read the part about we had to blindly follow a coach who hasn't won a conference championship in how long! Pull for Rocky Top, I imagine that's what we all do. However some of us look past the feel -good warm and fuzzy of running thru the T etc!! A strange concept, but these are Phil's recruits wearing the orange, defense and offense. Early games count as much as late games, I think! Even Chavis admits he can't spin the Vols performance this year. The reason we look better late may just have something to do with the quality of opposition, not Phil's coaching brilliance. I simply believe that we have stayed the course too long! Phil's had many, many positives thru his career, but emotionless teams have a slight problem of winning! Sadly, its what have you done for us lately? Now, IF we beat Ky and go to the Dome, I say well done, oh faithful servant! But if we lose to the Cats, I'll look to you to borrow a dose of that blind faith I had a one time! It just may be that the king has no clothes! We'll always pull for Rockt Top, to do their best. Losing by 39 in a season is not their best, I hope. Happy holidays to you and yours!
DennisVols writes:
And for all those who think UT could not beat LSU. They have just lost to AR 50-48. UT so called poor defense only gave up 13 to the Hogs.
Funny how things work out during "The Most Important Game Of The Year"
pdhuff#552644 writes:
dlskaggs - you're right! Donkeys do fly sometimes! Did you catch Franchionne's (sic) interview after beating Texas? Man, when asked how he felt about his players, just stared at the interviewer and mumbled something while turning away! Hope big Phil gives a better one than that tomorrow with gatorade all over him! I don't think LSU was too inspired, especially on defense, today! 50 for Arkie, wow! Cajuns be drinking and female doging tonite. Sec's last chance of NC gone!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Although I hope not, it appears that the Wildcats will b eat my beloved Vols tomorrow> First of all, we cannot put pressure on the QB. at all..he can stand back there and fire away> Our defensive line is not strong enough to rush the passer whatsoever. Prediction: The loss to the Cats will end our season I'm afraid..and swe will be considered ...and I hope not for the Peach Bowl...(hope not) or the cold harsh Cotton bowl..The Vols should take this year off from bowls until they take the games seriously..They tarnish the Vols reputation on National TV.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Continously losing bowl games every year on national TV, the Vols lose the respect of fans around the country.
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