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When Tennessee takes the field for the SEC championship game Saturday, imagine how the rest of the coaches in the East Division will feel. They're probably saying something like this:
Georgia coach Mark Richt: "We're fourth in the country, and Tennessee is in the SEC championship game?"
Florida coach Urban Meyer: "We beat them 59-20, and they're in the SEC championship game."
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier: "We gained over 500 yards against them, and they're in the SEC championship game."
Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson and Kentucky coach Rich Brooks in unison: "If we had only made the field goal …"
I can appreciate their frustration. And I won't argue if anyone says UT is the worst team ever to represent the East in the SEC championship game.
But what does that say about the competition? It says they didn't take advantage of their opportunities.
This was Vanderbilt's chance to be bowl eligible. It was Kentucky's chance to end UT's 22-game winning streak in the series.
Both blew it.
The window of opportunity is about to close on the Least of the East. Kentucky will lose its top skill players on offense. Vanderbilt will lose its starting offensive line. And UT, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina should all be improved next season.
Back to this year: The Gators and Bulldogs should be kicking themselves for not winning the East. The Bulldogs should be kicking themselves the hardest.
Florida had more to overcome than either Georgia or UT. The Gators lost nine defensive starters, including four juniors who left early for the NFL. In the spring, they lost running back Mon Williams to a season-ending knee injury. In preseason, they lost their best offensive lineman to another season-ending injury. An inexperienced secondary was hampered by injuries throughout the season, and the Gators also had to play big games without two of their best offensive players, wide receiver Andre Caldwell and running back/wide receiver Percy Harvin.
Florida had another disadvantage. It had to play the two best teams in the West, LSU and Auburn. UT didn't have to play either one, and Georgia only played Auburn.
Nonetheless, the Gators still could have won the East with more thorough recruiting.
Meyer probably has recruited as many outstanding players as anyone in the country the last couple of years. But he hasn't recruited enough good running backs, which are a necessity in a conference as demanding as this one, even in Meyer's receiver-oriented offense.
The Gators had to rely too much on quarterback Tim Tebow to make the tough yards between the tackles. He filled that role as a backup quarterback on the 2006 national championship game but was asked to do too much this season. Although the workload enabled him to prove he was the best player in the country, it took a toll. Playing with an injured non-throwing shoulder against Georgia, Tebow couldn't run. And Florida couldn't win.
Georgia didn't have as many injuries as either Florida or UT. Apparently, its problem was more mental than physical.
The Bulldogs appeared to be going through the motions in the first half of the season. When the normally even-keel Richt became more emotional in the second half of the season, the team followed his lead.
You can credit Richt for finding a way to motivate his team through the last six games. You can fault him for not doing it sooner.
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer had a different challenge. He had to hold his team together after suffering embarrassing losses to Florida and Alabama in the first seven games.
This obviously isn't one of Fulmer's more talented teams. But it might be his most responsive.
When the Vols were at their worst, their coach helped convince them they were still good enough to win the division title. Now, they have a chance to win the conference championship as well.
If they pull it off, the East's other five teams will be kicking themselves even harder.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 116
RockyTopRosser writes:
Speaking of talent....does anybody know where Gerald Jones has been all season? Kid came up with several huge plays for us against UK, including the impressive TD catch and the 3rd down conversion splitting 2 defenders.
Colliervol writes:
Yep, it just brings a tear to my eye thinking about those coaches sitting in front of the TV Saturday wondering just exactly how UT ended up in Atlanta. We'll wave to 'ya fellas and eat a Varsity chili dog in your honor.
As Jackie Gleason used to say-- "How sweet it is!!"
CrankE writes:
Georgia says, "We're a BCS lock. Sweet."
Florida says, "Our 'hometown' bowls will always pick us ahead of Tennessee. Sweet."
james#216392 writes:
Let's not be negative and say "if they win". It should be when they win. No, again I am wrong, the Vols this year play better when everyone doubts them, so it should be If they win. Actually I am still frozen from from the KY game and don't have a clue. Go Vols.
hueypilot writes:
For all the people who hammer (repeatedly) John Adams, this is a well written thoroghly dissected analysis of why the Vols are going to Atlanta, and why Florida and/or Georgia aren't. It's just been a season for the ages. Not seen another like it in over 50 years of watching the SEC. You'll remember once we beat Florida and Georgia, and then lost to Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina. That season cost Johnny his job.
voiceofreason writes:
Did anyone else in the conference win all of their home games? I don't think so.
TommyJack writes:
Where IS allvolinarkie?
eefor10c writes:
Of course John Adams will agree we are the worst team to represent the East. He spent the entire season downing the Vols in both newsprint and with his Tee Hee sidekick, Hooker, on the radio. He and the Knoxville News allowed Pennington to put his unnamed trash in the paper and everyone was convinced that they would get Fulmer fired. Guess what! Fulmer won the east and now the KNS jerks are trying to kiss up. I would like to know, Pennington, what are your unnamed former players saying now that national championship coach Fulmer has motivated his team and coached them into the SEC championship game. The real reason the Vols are going to the championship game is that we won as many games as Georgia and drubbed them head to head. Poor Florida and their schedule. They may have have LSU and Auburn but they also had Troy State, Western KY., and Florida Atlantic. Whose fault is it that Tebow played some many downs in games the gators had already won and only wanted to pad Tebow's numbers. I call that poor coaching and poor sportsmanship and it came back and bit them. Quit making excuses for them. We beat the team from the west that beat LSU. Doesn't that make Arkansas better.
TommyJack writes:
TouchdownTD: There you go pouring more gas on the fire. I have pledged not to be mean sprited anymore. By the way, have you re-issued your fatwa on CPF?
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Agree. Great article. Especially agree with the "And I won't argue if anyone says UT is the worst team ever to represent the East in the SEC championship game." And the Vols have to be happy with all of the press around Les Miles leaving, next years #1 draft pick being at 50%, no starting quarterback, and Holiday/Taylor injured. The stars are lining up for the Vols!
voiceofreason writes:
TDTn- Florida lost to a decent Auburn team at home and were dominated in the 4th quarter by a team we humiliated. Bama played their best game of the year against us and we stunk up the field. We survived and that's at tribute to the coaches and players.
asleep#212036 writes:
hueypilot,
I was living in Missouri at the time (GoTigers - beat OU)) and had to listen to the Arkansas debacle on the radio because it wasn't on TV - it was even more agonizing hearing instead of seeing. What an amazing year this has been! And although I love my Vols, I wouldn't want any part of Georgia right now and I don't think we would fare much better in a rematch with the Gators. Give our boys credit though - they won when and how they had to and that's what champions do. In a way, I think I may love this team as much as any we've had simply because they have heart and they refused to give up on themselves or the season. Go Vols!!!
eefor10c writes:
Good to have you back to your old ways tdTN. Georgia was flat! Well, yea, after we flattened them. Just can't stand to give the national championship winning coach credit can you?
dfreeman writes:
This is sad reading the phooey lined dump that's being typed on this board! We soundly beat Arkansas and Georgia who at this time is the #4 ranked team in the country! Arkansas beat at the time the #1 team in the country! I'm sick of hearing that Georgia was flat because we hung 50 on them last year too!! If we win big against a good team people say they were flat. If we win a close game to a team that has either beaten or given other teams fits, then that team sucks!! How about giving credit where credit is due or just plain shutting the #$%@ up!!!
oasis3#214380 writes:
How about an award for John Adams. The worst columnist in the SEC East. And second place goes to his good buddy and sidekick Higgins from Memphis. Both have been mad at Fulmer since he didn't recruit Higgins' son and Adams' god son. Their petty agenda has gotten quite old.
asleep#212036 writes:
Touchdown,
Maybe they will. They missed one at Kentucky that cost them the game. I'm sorry folks, but I agree with Adams that this UT team could not beat any of the prior 15 SEC East champs. Our 2004 and 2001 teams would beat these guys by 21 points, easily. It will take every distraction imaginable, plus the Flynn and Dorsey injuries, plus a whale of a game from Foster, plus a defensive effort in the same vein as Georgia and Arkansas games, plus some UT luck to win. But in this season, would you bet against it? Go Vols!!!
dfreeman writes:
you do it well old man!!! LOL
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
Gotta agree with TouchdownTN and John Adams.
"And I won't argue if anyone says UT is the worst team ever to represent the East in the SEC championship game."
gohawks1 writes:
eefor10c - very good point about Tebow playing long after necessary and padding his numbers. Hey, keep on running him and sooner or later we'll be having Joe Theisman flashbacks. Ouch. That hurts just thinking about it. I'm not wishing an injury on anybody; I'm just saying the odds of an injury for a running QB go way up when he keeps on pushing it.
dfreeman writes:
IF our players could have caught a cold in the second half of the Kentucky game it would have been over by the fourth quarter! Play calls were correct but too many dropped passes! The same "hot" Georgia team that everyone seems to be lollipopping almost lost to Vanderbilt but survived by *gasp* A MISSED FIELD GOAL and a made field goal!! I'll give you South Carolina because I don't know what happened there we were terrible!! Even with "Georgia being flat", how do you explain us beating the phooey out of Arkansas?? The same Arkansas team that alot of you said we couldn't beat. The same Ark team that beat LSU!!! Sorry the Kentucky team we beat, ain't the same Kentucky team grandpa used to watch either!!
dfreeman writes:
BUT it will be the same Kentucky team granps used to watch next year!!
dfreeman writes:
"GRACE, she died years ago"...... "the blessing, they want you to say the blessing"!! Nah my grandmother has taken trips to New Zealand and Australia though!! you are right about the pass though... 430 yards passing doesn't breed confidence does it?
dfreeman writes:
Yep and Appalachia St. beat Michigan.... point is the sun shines on a dogs a$$ every now and then doesn't it??
dfreeman writes:
Do you really think Matt Flynn can hold a candle to Kentucky's QB though?? I think if LSU has trouble running on us, then they are in deep trouble. Arkansas beat LSU by making Flynn try to beat them!!
troubleinc writes:
TDTN: yawn.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
FYI everyone- THE SEC IS NOT THAT GOOD THIS YEAR!
South Florida, CAL, West Virginia, Missouri, Wake Forrest, Florida State, Louisina-Monroe, and Clemson have all proved that. You can point out that there they have X amount of teams ranked in the top 25, but it is obvious that they struggle outside the conference. Their big out-of-conferene win is LSU over Virginia Tech. That is pretty much it. This has to be by far the most OOC losses in the history of the SEC. And only the Lo.-Monroe and Clemson games were close. Can you say OVERRATTED?
Colliervol writes:
TDTN: What did we learn a couple of weeks ago when you tried to play that comparative score thing? Short memory.
And I'm hoping the sun shines on ours this Saturday. Even in the dome.
agentorange writes:
bored to piss with these articles. how about giving credit where it is due. we beat the #4 team in the country by 21pts. Fla scored 24 pts in the 4qtr with Tebow in while we put in Crompton. We beat the hogs who just beat the #1 team in the country. we have 3 losses and the team playing for a NC may have 2. so go kcuf yourself if you can't figure out that we are a "good team" compared to the other so-called "good teams" this year.
volfan_in_mississippi writes:
Did you listen to the youtube link posted by tngeoff? Spencer Tillman said that Les Miles will have to get away from his conservative coaching? What has he been watching? How many times has Miles elected to go for it on 4th down this year, and what about the end of the Auburn game? How was that conservative?
asleep#212036 writes:
touchdown,
Which bad Arkansas team? The one smoked last year or the one smoked about 10 years ago? Doesn't matter, I agree this team would not likely beat any of the previous SEC CG participants, winners or losers. However, they did make it there against all odds and we know from watching this year that anything can happen. We are not as much an underdog as either Kentucky or Arkansas was against this same team and look at the results from those games. You just never know. I also agree the Arkansas game was our most complete defensive effort. Georgia and Stafford were early, struggling, and unproven. Arkansas and McFadden were anything but and we did a great job shutting them down. If Flynn's injury is significant, another run-stuffing day like that would come in handy. Go Vols!!!
volfan_in_mississippi writes:
TouchdownTN: "voice of confusion: 59-20 and should have been worse. One of our TD's came from a defensive pick on a Florida scoring drive. That's a 14 point turn-around. The score could have easily been 66-13."
Yea, and one of their touchdowns was on poor punt coverage by us, and another was set up by the fumbled handoff b/t Ainge and Foster just after the int. return. That is a 28 point turn around. The argument can just as easily be made that it should have been much closer.
dfreeman writes:
The sun shines comment was more directed at TDTN's comment about us struggling with SC,KY, and VU!! I think we have a better than average chance of beating LSWHO personally!! Go Vols!!
SmokeDog72 writes:
Anyone who thinks our defense is solid is crazy (particularly against the pass). Damn Kentucky could have scored 100 if they would have thrown a few more fade routes and stuff up the sidelines. I know that they are new, but Vinson and Willingham are brutal. Not a whole lot of instinct made up for by poor technique. I am not going to get going on the fire so and so bandwagon this week (bad karma), but if Larry Slade were to take another job, I wouldn't lose any sleep. Anyone who accuses any of our coaches of having "the game pass them by" must be thinking of Larry Slade. Decent DB's that have come out of UT on his watch are overcoming his coaching with talent. My junior high DB's coach taught better technique and positioning than that guy.
He couldn't teach a turd to splash!!!!
FWBVol writes:
Since everyone is talking about woulda,coulda, shouldas, I'll throw mine in the mix. Of course I preface my statement with saying it is only my opinion. I agree that Florida ran up the score as has been Meyers' classless way of doing things. I know UT's job is to stop anyone that's on the field, but there comes a time in every game to call of the wolves. I still think the game turns on a turnover, I believe it may have been on a Foster fumble...I forget. We were driving in the first half when the game was still very much up for grabs.
As for the Alabama game, there were two or three calls against UT that were questionable and kept Tide drives alive and led to touchdowns. One was on a third down play in the first half on a very questionable roughing the passer call. The UT defender pushed Wilson down with a two hand push, and was flagged. A couple of plays later they scored. In the second half there was a questionabale pass interference call against UT on another third down incomplete pass. Two plays later DJ Hall caught a touchdown pass.
The bottom line is UT was in position to win the games, and being the worst team to represent the East in the SEC championship game is still better than being the best team, i.e. Georgia or Florida, not to.
fullbackless writes:
Anyone see that Boist St Hawaii game? Boise State got waxed.
voiceofreason writes:
TDTN - since you put so much empahsis on margin of victory and who beats who, how bad should we beat LSU, after all they lost to two teams that TN beat? My point - you can't put any weight on this stuff. There is no consistency with 18-22 year old kids.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Wow...this has got to be the most psychotic fan base imaginable...TN wins, great elation and relief on Sun/Mon, Tues the analysis begins, Wednesday starts the 'but we lost by...to...' and Thurs the cryin' and name calling begins in earnest. It would be disturbing if it wasn't so predictable.
Perhaps TN should just do the honorable thing and offer the SECCG to GA or FL...they clearly don't deserve it according to many on this board.
Or perhaps folks like TouchdownTD might be secret plants from Fulmer to stir the pot and fire up his team...heck TouchdownTN might be Fulmer himself.
iowavol writes:
I don't know what all you guys are referring too in your responses to ttn - I don't read his posts - but based on your comments to him, it seems tdtn is really crvol with another name. Regardless, I don't get this we don't want any of GA right now. I'd say bring it any time. The love GA is getting right now is the result of a celebration penalty and winning against a pretty banged up FLA team and finishing out their schedule against weaker teams (and needing as much luck as TN to do it eg: vandy and ky). What GA doesn't want is another shot at FLA or TN. Without a doubt, they are the worst top 10 ten team.
DSaVol writes:
Season is nothing more than a tale of survival by a VERY average team in a VERY average league. Does ANYBODY really believe it's a good sign when the division winner has to go 4 overtimes against the worst defense in the league? Or takes out a perennial patsy by a single point when they miss a chip shot FG? Or needs a late FG to whip up on a 6-6 team in the midst of what would be a 5 game losing streak? Yes GA and ARK were solid victories but not nearly as solid as the ass-whuppin's RECEIVED from FLA and Bama! A couple years ago that Big Fella that always claps on the sidelines was talking about how we were just this many and that many plays from having a bunch more wins instead of being 5-6 - well, the FACT is we're only 3 plays from being 6-6 again. So has ANYTHING really changed?????
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Call the SEC office and get a picture of the SEC East title trophy and official proclamation. You'll receive it along with copies of Phil's SEC champ rings since 1998. Don't overlook that tiny package that arrives. It'll be one paragraph explaining there AREN'T ANY! Orange blinders or not, we're here again and need to win this game. Its great to have faith like skaggs and quote "since Fla game". Man. I'd like to forget Fla too, but wins over the likes of Vandy, Ky and SC along with a 71st ranked defense cannot be explained away. All this can be made moot, Phil by stunning LSU. Feel better now. Off to store for 24 Buds, pre-game warm-up. Is it Saturday yet! Go Vols!
navyvolinva writes:
Espn, cnnsi, and the other sports channels keep saying that GA is the best in the SEC right now. They havent impressed me. They have a good running game but their QB is subpar. If you can limit that running game then its lights out.
GreerVol22 writes:
If your not a Vol, then it sucks to be you.
tenvolone writes:
The cream rises to the top...sorry UGA and UF. EVERYONE in the East could've won it. But they didn't. And it was their own fault. You couldn't overcome UTK with 3!!!!!! loses!?!?!?!?!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
iowavol...GA may be the worst top ten team after Ohio State...that's a sad statement of the state of the BCS. W VA is a bit of a stretch as well. I love their offense but their defense and schedule are offensive. Give them an SEC schedule and they have at least 3 losses. If you play their type of schedule and no conference championship, then you should have to be undefeated to even crack the top 10. College football is getting wacky.
volsrock writes:
GO VOLS! Lets become the worst team ever to win the SEC Championship. I don't mind that title one bit, as long as "Champions" is after it.
eefor10c writes:
Of course the Vols do not deserve to be in the championship game. They are a very average team, if that, in a very average conference, if that. That's what you Fulmer haters keep saying. Look at the facts. Four teams from the SEC in the top 14 in the BCS standings, three from the SEC EAST. That is half of the SEC-EAST. Obviously your hate keeps the elevator from going all the way to the top. It keeps getting stuck at your collective rears.
DennisVols writes:
ESPN is reporting Mich. had permission to talk to Miles and Pelini is one of two finalist for the Nebraska position.
Got to wonder if their focus is on playing UT this Sat.
You know it has been a crazy year. Not only did UF and GA not take advantage of their opportunities when they had them, the rest of the country had troubles as well.
In a year when on 5 different weeks, 5 different #2 teams were been beaten by unranked or lesser ranked teams. Since week 4 there have been 5 different #1 teams (LSU twice) USC, OSU and now MO all have laid claim to that position. We can expect even more changes before the season ends. No one can’t be beat. Only Hawaii has a perfect record but their suspect schedule makes the poll voters wonder if they could hold up against the 10 teams in front of them that are less than perfect. UT no doubt will go into the SEC Championship game as a decided under-dog. Their losses to UF & Bama by lopsided scores seems to have had more if an impact than their 8-1 record down the stretch.
It has been a crazy season with a few more strange twists available
Go Vols!!!!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
tngeoff...exactly why any voter based ranking system will never work, but also why it will be hard to get rid of it. Voting gives the chattering class power over the outcome. You don't have to be a southern paranoid or homer to see the obvious midwest/big10, East Coast and West Coast bias.
I like TN, GA, LSU, Ark, KU, AUB, FL's chances against just about anybody in this top ten.
mloaks#222092 writes:
To all the Fulmer haters and doubters:
dig it.
TommyJack writes:
mloaks: I presume from your post that you draw a distinction between haters and doubters. right?
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