Vol Report
Audio
- Podcast: Interviews with players, coaches and SEC commissioner about the SEC Championship game
- Dave Hooker interviews SEC commissioner Mike Slive.
Videos
- Players: The SEC Championship matuchup against LSU
- Does Tennessee play better when they're the underdogs?
- Coach and players on media and fan criticism
- Coach and players: Jerod Mayo as leader
- The Orange Nation celebration
Related links
Event Details
- What: SEC Championship
- When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Georgia Dome
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
SEC football season began at a hotel in Hoover, Ala., in late July. It ends Saturday at a dome in Atlanta.
In between, it was a 12-week pass to an amusement park.
In the beginning, LSU and Florida were projected to play at the end. At least that was the prediction at SEC Media Days, the gathering of the tribe that precedes the opening of practice.
We got it half right.
Sub in Tennessee for Florida - wish I'd put $100 on that the morning after the 59-20 massacre in The Swamp? - and you've got the players for the SEC's grand finale.
As for the other contestants, there are a few parting gifts.
Florida should get a Heisman Trophy for Tim Tebow.
If not, Arkansas might get one for Darren McFadden.
Georgia gets BCS bowl booty.
Alabama and its $4 million coach get to holiday in Shreveport or Memphis.
Ole Miss gets Houston Nutt. No word yet on how many players from Springdale High will follow.
From Tennessee's standpoint, it's been a turbulent journey, better at the end than the start. Ditto for LSU, with the order reversed.
Understandably, many UT fans have mixed emotions about the way things have played out. Here's a snapshot of the state of affairs on the last day of the SEC season.
The Good
The SEC championship is the No. 1 goal for any program in the conference. And you can't win it if you don't play for it on championship day in Atlanta.
Ten other programs envy Tennessee and LSU, would give anything to be in their place. And, yes, that includes Georgia.
If you profess to bleed orange, set aside whatever gripes you might have for 24 hours and relish the day. Your team is playing. The Gators, Bulldogs, Gamecocks and Crimson Tide are not.
The championship game is a super-charged setting for college football. If you can find your way to downtown Atlanta, good. If you can get inside the Georgia Dome, even better.
The Bad
Tennessee is to be saluted for having the resiliency and resourcefulness to get to Atlanta. That, however, does not mask the fact the program has issues.
A 9-3 Eastern Division champion is three missed field goals from being 6-6.
At 6-6, or even 7-5, Phillip Fulmer's status as the dean of SEC coaches might well have ended this week, so pervasive was the negativity at mid-season. If he wins Saturday, Fulmer may be voted SEC coach of the year, and deservedly so. But he was close to 2007 being his last year.
Some of this year's on-the-field concerns can be addressed with favorable results. Others, I'm not so sure.
The secondary should be better in 2008, but markedly better?
Search the roster and show me where the pass rush is going to improve dramatically next fall.
The Ugly
Tennessee has lived nearly a decade of doom in the Georgia Dome.
Since the 1998 SEC championship-game victory over Mississippi State, the Vols are 0-4 in the building.
There were championship-game losses in 2001 and 2004, sandwiched around Peach Bowl flops against Maryland and Clemson.
The only one UT fans came away not feeling completely rotten about was the 38-28 loss to unbeaten Auburn in '04.
And that's just football.
Much of the basketball Vols' dreary SEC tournament profile can be traced to a 3-8 lifetime rap sheet in the Georgia Dome.
Heck, even the Lady Vols lost an NCAA title game to UConn there in 2003.
The Bottom Line
Tennessee is a touchdown underdog. Still, New Year's Day on Bourbon Street is only four quarters away if the cards fall right.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 28
VolJas writes:
I'll take "on-the-field concerns" over off-the- field concern any day of the week. Thanks for a wild season Vols and thanks for the extra game Saturday. Unfortnately my wife won't be watching. She's five months pregnant and says the past few games has put way too much stress on the baby... GO VOLS!
CrankE writes:
Atlanta is right on the way to New Orleans, y'all.
LSU has this waaaay outside chance of getting into the BCS Championship. If they can duplicate a Florida style whipping on UT and the top three flounder, then they might leapfrog their way in. So Captain Jack Aubrey's "pre-game" speech from Master and Commander is in my head. "They mean to take us as a prize. (smirks) Their greed will be their downfall. Quick's the word and sharp's the action."
My pastor's wife told the Mrs. last night at choir practice that a friend of hers (dawgfan) wanted to unload her 4 SEC Championship tickets. Sweeeeeet. We got them for $100 each-only a slight markup. My crew will be there, loud, proud, and ORANGE.
SmokeDog72 writes:
Agree with the column.
Our secondary will continue to be suspect as long as Larry Slade is allowed to be in the same room with our DB's.
I would consider his coaching the weakest on the staff. And that is really saying something!!!
injunvol writes:
just seen this for myself - knwa reports arkansas new coach none other than tuberville - wow what a crazy season
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
Yeah I just Google News'd "Tuberville" and it looks like more than a "rumor".
Well, that leaves the door open at Auburn, will they be getting Orgeron? ROTFLMAO@Auburn for always taking Ole Miss sloppy seconds.
People, we are so damn lucky to have a stable, healthy program at UT and a GOOD coach at his Alma Mater who really cares about the team as much as his own ego.
CrankE writes:
How do you tell if Tuberville is fixin' ta leave?
When he tells you he's stayin'
Pullingguard writes:
The pass defense will be a problem so long as UT plays 10 yards off the receivers. Dont know who is responsible, Fulmer, Chavis or Slade but Fulmer should get a new coach for the DB and give him the resposibility to coach it... Chavis stay out of it, coach the LB and hope you can improve the defensive structure of the team for 2008.. Four teams UT played in 2007 passed for over 500 yards each. 2 others passed for over 450 yards each. and UT held only three teams less than 300 yards passing.. Its time for a change..
Chainsaw writes:
Strange, exactly what did you have in mind with the whole 007 heading leading to the Clint Eastwood spaghetti western era thing subheadings?
Makes absolutely no sense.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
as paul mccartney said.... "i've got a feeling, a feeling deep inside, oh yea.....OH YEA"
VOLS ARE GOING TO WIN SATURDAY
SO IS SULLIVAN SOUTH @ MARYVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT
EZVOL writes:
I see we still have some naysayers posting. Now is the time to rally around our team and stay positive. I believe our secondary will be one of strengths next year especially if we get Morley back. But lets focus on tomorrow. GO VOLS!
cgbtn writes:
Pullingguard, You are absolutely correct. After Kentucky made half-time adjustments, the camera literally could not pick up a Vol defender in the frame with the receiver who caught the ball. An opponent willing to take 10 yds at a time could probably throw for 500 yds.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
pullinguard- our pass defense consist of wearing the QBs arm out. We must have set a SEC record for yards allowed. I do not ever remember a worse defense or defensive effort. Lord help those teams worse than #71. Bright side is that we can only get better. Coach shuffling can help since you can't dynamite Phil out. Believe whole staff has gotten stale with no new ideas. Kudoes to Cutcliff as only one who coaches players up. Change in special teams has helped. 50 to Ky was awful anyway you spin it. Hard to accept games in which we had no chance. I digress, we've made it to Atl. Since we're here, it'd be nice to win. LSU thinks differently. #3 defense. Cinch it up, men!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
more of the same... watched the 04 CG against aubur and yes they were playing 10 yards off the ball, missing tackles and still throwing it on 3rd and short... yes auburn was a great team but our defense was much better from a player standpoint and still playing the same style and mistakes... is that a trend???
I will be pulling for tn sat but i do think the program has issues that need to be addressed and don't think fulmer can do it...
coaches make me eat my words..............GO VOLS
agentorange writes:
mike strange in the pants. go back to bama
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
Good article Mike. I think that summarizes the season well. This is a crazy year and anything can happen, still think the VOLS will need to win the turnover battle to beat LSU. I think it is fair to say they have more talent and if they play well they should win.
wskeen#212984 writes:
I totally disagree with pullinguard. Yes the DBs were a little deep, and from what Fulmer said, even deeper than he wanted. The guys are young, very first year for most. One was even converted from receiver after two a days. They made mistakes. This was not a systemic problem, it was a personnel problem. I'm sure the coaches, especially in the earlier part of the season coached these guys to keep everything in front of them. Early it was much better to givem a few extra yards than totally miss and give up a buch of sixes and loose all their confidence. Experience will allow these guys to man up and press the coverage. I can easliy see why Slade, Chavis and Fulmer coached them the way they did. Look at the results. It seems to me it paid off pretty bid dividends.
wskeen#212984 writes:
Sorry about the typos. In a hurry I guess.
SmokeDog72 writes:
EZVOL,
Morley is not the answer. He is more of the same. Not real strong on a man. He ought to fit right in when he gets back.
wskeen,
Tell me what kind of coaching allows a corner to be 12 yards off a man when the ball is at the 5?
I said it before and I'll say it again.....
Larry Slade can't coach a turd to splash!!!!!
wskeen#212984 writes:
That's not was I said. I didn't mention individual plays. Only their overall philosophy. I even mentioned that Fulmer complained about being too deep in a number of siutations. But he said it then. This was a young man making freshmen type mistakes.
Pullingguard writes:
wskeen if Fulmer thought they were playing too far off then he should have directed Slade to correct the situation, for it happened all game long. Anytime you give up over 500 yards passing and blame it on lack of experience there is a problem, and that problem is SLADE.. You were bragging about the 9-3 record, don't forget UT was 3 missed field goals from being 6-6.. It was a blessed season, the stars were aligned.
wskeen#212984 writes:
The coaching is sound. The philosophy is sound. Just look at the history of Chavis' defense over the years. The defense is youthful and inexperienced for now. And it's not only a youthful secondary. How many DBs are going to be able to hang with these guys when the QB has as much time as the DL has given them. And that may be a bigger problem down the line as mentioned in this very article. As far as coaching is concerned, I'm proud of what these guys were able to do considering the youth and inexperience of this team. Look up man. Your team, or at least my team, is playing for the SEC championship
asleep#212036 writes:
Fulmer COULD fix the problem by being willing to make coaching changes, even when that decision is personally difficult. Slade needs to go and has for some time. The D-line hasn't performed anywhere near pre-season expectations, further exposing our young secondary. If those two problems are not addressed in the off season, don't look for next year to get much better, likely worse. Florida, Georgia, and Alabama should be improved and we get Auburn on the plains as well. I'm no hater, I'm just being realistic. If those problems are addressed properly, we have a chance to be really good next year. C'mon Phil, pull the trigger and do the right thing. After all, that's what we pay you to do. Go Vols!!!
Colliervol writes:
Pretty accurate assessment by Strange. The situation is not as bad as the negaVols would try to make it and it's not as rosy as the orange blinder boys would believe either.
At the end of the day, the first two paragraphs under "The Good" say it all for me. Nobody can refute those statements no matter what they think about the situation.
GerryOP writes:
You are exactly right Colliervol. Whether we think Fulmer should stay or go, those two statements are not debatable. Our Vols are playing in Atlanta tomorrow and 10 other SEC teams are not! It could be that it was talent and not coaching that got us to ATL, but, we will see. It will take both to win tomorrow.
Colliervol writes:
Could be some luck too Gerry but I ain't ever been one to turn down luck or gifts. Whether it was the talent, the coaching or the negative articles and criticism that got them off the mat, it doesn't matter to me. We're there and that's all I care about.
GerryOP writes:
You got it Colliervol! Luck, talent, coaching -- don't matter! If the trophy is in the trophy case Sunday morning ... who cares how it got there! We can debate PAF and anything else that gets everyone all discombobulated all winter long!
asleep#212036 writes:
givim6,
I think your screen name has become the mantra for Slade's secondary! Go Vols!!!
gohawks1 writes:
Those who are questioning Chavis' coaching abilities seem to have forgotten that he has been highlighted as one of the top defensive coaches in recent years. Not so long ago, when the coaching carousel began turning like it often does, I seem to remember a magazine article that listed him as one of the top prospects for a head coaching spot. I for one am glad to have him, and I believe we'll see great things in the near future as this very young group of players matures and gains experience.
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