Home › Columns
Pennington: Youth is not automatically served by next year
Click image for larger version.
STORY TOOLS
More Columns
- Adams: McNabb hard to handle for '98 Vols
- Adams: NFL just a layover on return to beach for Chow
- Adams: UCLA to Southern Cal: Bring it on
Share and Enjoy [?]
Get Reprints
“He said, ‘don’t look surprised old man I’m older than you think.’ ” — Montgomery Gentry
Tennessee is a young football team. There’s no denying that.
The Vols are starting two freshmen in the secondary and have five more sophomores in the first-team line-up.
Those players should improve in the future, though that’s no guarantee (We’ll talk about Arkansas in a minute).
But youth is a relative thing. If Tennessee’s team played in a vacuum rather than in the SEC, then youth could be used as a solid rationalization for UT’s three lopsided losses.
But Tennessee does play in the SEC. And the SEC is young just about all over.
Having heard some chatter about this Vol team being “a year away,” I decided to see if the facts meshed with the “wait ’til next year” reasoning. I went to the official athletic department sites for each SEC school, clicked on their most recent game notes (for the week of October 20th) and examined their depth charts (you can do the same).
Did I find that Tennessee is indeed younger than most of the other teams in the conference? Are they at a disadvantage because of their youth? No, in fact, Tennessee has the fourth highest percentage of UPPERclassmen starters in the SEC right now.
Only four teams start more seniors than Tennessee’s eight (LSU with 12, Arkansas with 10, Vandy with 10, and Kentucky with 9). Arkansas is an interesting situation. Seventeen of their 22 starters are returning upperclassmen from last year’s Capital One Bowl team. Apparently “a year older” does not guarantee players will be “a year better.”
In the SEC, only four teams start fewer underclassmen than Tennessee.
Last week’s opponent, Alabama, starts four more underclassmen than the Vols and just as many freshmen (2). They beat Tennessee 41-17.
Florida also starts four more underclassmen than UT and they start twice as many freshmen (4). They beat the Vols 59-20.
Auburn (4), Georgia (5) and South Carolina (5) are all starting more freshmen than Tennessee, too.
This doesn’t mean Tennessee’s players can’t be coached up farther than their opponents’ young players in the years ahead, but it does show that nearly every team is young.
To automatically assume that “next year is the year” is to purposefully ignore the fact that some of the Vols’ biggest rivals (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina) are all younger than the Vols.
Alabama starts 11 underclassmen, Florida 11, Georgia 11, and South Carolina 10. The Vols are starting seven.
“Who’s watching? Tell me, who’s watching? Who’s watching me?” — Rockwell
Saturday night’s game on ESPN may be important for Tennessee not just in terms of the East division race, but also in terms of national drawing power.
Last week’s Alabama game wasn’t broadcast nationally for the first time since 1988. The Mississippi State game was the Vols’ first non-televised SEC game since 1995. Next week’s game against Louisiana-Lafayette will be the first UT game since 1994 that hasn’t been available on television at all.
The networks may well be picking up more interesting games from across the country. The South Floridas and Kentuckys of the world are draws now, too.
But this might also have something to do with Tennessee’s recent record on national television. In the past five seasons (and half of this one), UT has played on a national network 44 times. Their record is 22-22.
In those 22 losses, the Vols have been defeated by a combined 308 points. That averages out to a 14-point loss when the Vols lose on national TV. That’s not good for ratings.
That’s also part of an overall trend. From 1992 to 2001, Tennessee played 123 total games. They lost by 13 or more points just six times. That was once every 20.5 games.
Since 2002, Tennessee has played 70 games (including this year’s 4-3 record). The Vols have lost by 13 or more points 13 times in that span. That’s a 13-point loss once every 5.3 games. Instead of one big loss every two years, UT is now averaging two per season.
Unless that turns around, you may have to get used to more regional and pay-per-view games. A big win on ESPN tonight would be a step in the right direction.
“Don’t call it a comeback. I been here for years, rockin’ my peers and puttin’ suckas in fear.” — LL Cool J
In 2006, with folks closely eyeing the Cal game to see which direction the program was headed, Phillip Fulmer led the Vols to their best performance of the year … a nationally televised rout of the Golden Bears that immediately erased the taste of the previous 5-6 season.
Just a couple of weeks ago, with fan polls showing displeasure and talk shows calling for heads, Fulmer did it again. His Vols pounded Georgia in their most complete performance of the season, silencing critics and firing up the fanbase.
After Bama, some folks are upset again, but it won’t last. Fulmer knows how to get his team ready when his back’s against the wall. He’s also 3-3 in his last six versus Steve Spurrier.
By 11 Saturday night, Neyland Stadium will smell like a church picnic… plenty of fried chicken. The Gamecocks may be higher ranked, but the only upset would be if Tennessee doesn’t smack them around the way the Vols normally blast opponents when their coach gets his dander up.
John Pennington hosts the Hall’s Salvage Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- NCAA tweaks clock in football
- Not Favre, but Ainge leads Jets
- ESPN College GameDay set for basketball
- Odd couple enjoy their shots ... at each other
- Ward knew 1998 Vols were special
- Clemson coordinator apologizes for recruiting joke about Alabama
- Adams: UCLA to Southern Cal: Bring it on
- Foster has the mind of a coach
- The 1998 Vols: Where are they now?
- Strange: UT's sure of defense this trip
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Posted by vol4jesus on October 26, 2007 at 6:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Smack the gamecock huh? I'm in for that since I live in SC. Sir John has Spurriers appetite being whet via our secondary. I don't think sc will have same qb problems from last week. Did they fix ol problems of false starts and sacks enuff to prevent us getting to the qb as we rarely do normally? Hope their 10th in sec rating against rush is real and we exploit it . GO VOLS pluck the cocks!!!
Posted by CrankE on October 26, 2007 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a little pessimistic. I think Spurrier will find a way to move the ball and exploit that secondary. And I think they'll sell out to stop the run and make Ainge beat them. Go Vols, but I say flip a coin on this one.
Posted by CrankE on October 26, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a little pessimistic. I think Spurrier will find a way to move the ball and exploit that secondary. And I think they'll sell out to stop the run and make Ainge beat them. Go Vols, but I say flip a coin on this one.
Posted by asleep on October 26, 2007 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree John. I have never seen a team turn it on and unfortunately, turn it off, as easily as Fulmer's last few teams. As per usual, with their backs against the wall and failure not being an option, they will play well and beat USC handily. That will only make their next SEC blowout loss (Ark or Ky) that much harder to take. Go Vols!!!
Posted by yeavols on October 26, 2007 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Liberty bowl here we come. It could be fun I guess. At least it gives the Peach Bowl a break.
Posted by GrandCanyonVol on October 26, 2007 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The sadness that goes with this football program is unreal.
Posted by smokedoctor on October 26, 2007 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That ain't what the other John sez John.
Posted by 1974Vol on October 26, 2007 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Liberty Bowl? Memphis is great in late December! Fulmer was never a great game coach like say a Spurrier. He was the best recruiter in the country. The state of Tennessee produces maybe 2-3 four & five star D1 football recruits each year to Florida's 30-40, with California, & Texas right behind them. During the 90's when the Vols had their all-time greatest success they were sending 10 + players to the NFL every year with 2 or more in the first round. For most of the 00's the Vols have not had anywhere near that level of talent. Fulmer is not a bad coach, he is just not as good as Spurrier, Saban, Richt, and Meyer for sure and may not be as good as Miles; we'll see how good Miles is when he runs out of Saban recruits. The point I am making is unless Fulmer can get back to where he is out recruiting the other SEC top teams, Tennessee will be a 7-5 to a 9-4 type program. Because he just can not out coach the top of this league.
Posted by 02champs on October 26, 2007 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pennington is an idiot.
Posted by MariettaVol on October 26, 2007 at 8:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Vols are out-talented vs. Florida, but not anyone else on our schedule. We should walk over South Carolina, although the coaching makes it more of a question. In a MUST WIN situation, which I believe this game is, I say the Vols dig deep and win this one in a similar manner to the Georgia game. Coach Fulmer, I'm pulling for you.
Posted by murrayvol on October 26, 2007 at 8:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks John. I'm damn glad somebody's out there digging up all this info and pulling it together in a readable format. It gives me something else to grit my teeth about and I have neither the time or the inclination to look it up on my own.
Posted by IPOrange on October 26, 2007 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If the Vols can't play well until CPF gets his dander up like this article says, then somebody ought to insult his momma or kick his dog before every game.
Posted by gmccown007 on October 26, 2007 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What if I were to GUARANTEE you that I can give all of you the name of the ONE and ONLY coach in the whole of America that can return Tennessee to ALL of its heartbreakingly long lost days of glory? Now, if I could "do" such a miraculous, seemingly impossible thing, would you immediately "sign up" and --- with all of your heart --- "get on board"? Or would you --- with the NEGATIVITY that has now engulfed the VOL NATION --- and indeed, is now threatening to DESTROY it --- INSTEAD join --- GLEEFULLY, no doubt --- in the FLOOD OF NEGATIVITY that would almost certainly follow an idea so "wild" and, no doubt, certain to be PERFECT? Perfect, that is, once all EMOTION is completely wiped away.
I have --- literally --- been sitting in that once hallowed stadium for OVER 55 YEARS!!! NO ONE'S blood runs any more orange than mine! NO ONE'S!!! Consequently, there is NO PRICE (other than my immortal soul) that I would not pay for a return to those once halcyon days of glory.
Want to return to such days of triumphant joy? Admittedly, now, only for a mere handful of remaining years? Or do all of you prefer to merely continue to endlessly, fruitlessly bicker? There is only the tiniest window of opportunity now left. But that window DOES exist. With no blasphemy whatsoever intended, there is a "savior" available to us. Incredibly, he is even a native son. Tennessee born and bred. Further, he is, regardless of one’s prejudices, the GREATEST football "genius" alive. WITHOUT QUESTION!
Now, mind you, we do not always see eye-to-eye. Collectively, or otherwise. But who cares? Particularly, for such a magnificent ultimate "prize"? I have sat around a hundred tables and heard it repeated a thousand times.
"Native son or not he would never take the job. Besides, there is no one alive who hates Tennessee any more than he does”.
I promise you, folks. Neither statement is true. Now, it IS true that out of high school, he “refused” our recruitment. But only because he was determined to remain a quarterback.(Tennessee still ran exclusively single wing and not being a Tim Tebow “type” (of that day or any other), he knew his running skills simply were not adaptable to U-T's offensive sets. And, mind you, he was more than "right".
Once he became a coach, though, he has been ready --- more than once --- to come back to Tennessee. Justifiably, though, he has never judged it "right" or "proper" to do the asking. And, indeed, why should he have?
Of whom are we speaking? Well, the one and only one man who can save the "train-wreck" that is now Tennessee football. Steve Spurrier.
By the way, time is running out. Like Lou Pinella with the Cubs, this would, guaranteed, be Spurrier’s last hurrah.
At this stage, it would probably call for one dollar more than Lou Saban. In case you have forgotten, the man who just handed us our a$$.
I don’t know about you but I will never forget that pain. Never.
I’m good for the first $100,000.00. Anybody got a dollar?
Posted by cphil on October 27, 2007 at 2:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lol...Dan Proctor should make folks happy with this one:
http://web.knoxnews.com/gvx/cartoons/...
Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on October 27, 2007 at 2:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, John, for doing the homework but those of us who follow the team closely have already done it. We know that youth ain't the issue with this football team.
Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on October 27, 2007 at 2:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, John, for doing the homework but those of us who follow the team closely have already done it. We know that youth ain't the issue with this football team.
Posted by RocketVol on October 27, 2007 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pennington, good chart showing youth of the SEC - the parity and youth argument are just about dead.
I recommend a chart to show tolerance of SEC schools against bad football. Go back 10 years and look at the records of coaches that have been fired from their respective SEC schools. Compare these coaches-records to Fulmer over the same period. Let's see what school/fan-base has the highest standards. Be sure to show their record post coach change as well.
Posted by koamalina on October 27, 2007 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dan Proctor got it right. He even drew Kenny Chesney to the proper size. lol
Posted by secten on October 27, 2007 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
gmccown007....nice post, i couldn't have said it better! I would love to have Spurrier! we could sway him away from South Carolina if Hamilton really wanted him, I just don't think it will happen, all we can do is hope it gets done. Just think what he could do with our talent!
Posted by jcoble on October 27, 2007 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its time for Mr Pennington to coach a team, any team, and let the UT coaches write about him.
Posted by Colliervol on October 27, 2007 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
gmmccown, do you think it would be possible to come up with a different post? You've put that one on every article and I still haven't read it all. (One of the few times I've agreed with jwray about anything.) Sure, Steve Spurrier would be a fun choice but I'll believe it when I see it.
1974Vol, some of the coldest days I've ever spent have been in the Liberty Bowl in late December.
Posted by tngeoff on October 27, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope all you Fulmer folks got a chance to watch Game Day today. We are a joke. Thank you.
Parity? How moronic.
Posted by BuckFama on October 27, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The ESPN crew took a jab at the team. I don't think they made mention of any fan.
If a fan takes offense at a comment made by talking heads on a sports network to the point that he considers himself a "joke", perhaps a trip to a therapist is in order. Get a life.
Posted by NCCOLTSFAN on October 27, 2007 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I woke up remembering how great Saturdays used to be,looking forward to the Vols game.
Pre-game,post-game,Vol walk,etc.
Made me sad to think of what this football program has fallen to.
Then it hit me!
Somewhere a child woke up hungry.A homeless man woke under "his" bridge.
A mother woke wondering if her husband would be drunk and beat her again today.
An awful war is stil in progress and our brave men and women in uniform would be in Heaven to be home and see a Vols game.
So.Thank you Lord for another day.
I want be able to stand the suspense of the game tonight due to health problems.
Will tape it.Then go back and watch it and listen to the replay on yahoo.
You folks have a nice Saturday and remember.
Life goes on!
Git-r-dunnnnnnn Smokey!
Posted by BuckFama on October 27, 2007 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Words to live by, NCCOLTSFAN. Nicely said.
Git-r-dunnnnnn!
Posted by jh43 on October 27, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sick and tired of hearing about our "youth" on defense. It is amazing how I watch other teams play and see freshmen after freshmen showing up to play. And the fact that Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes year in and year out makes the argument even more ridiculous.
If other coaches can coach freshmen to play, then why can't we? The key word being, "coaches".
It was not only freshmen who played so far off D J Hall that they could not read his number, it was everyone we had on the field. The fact that our defensive line and linebackers watched John David Wilson throw the ball instead of putting pressure on him did not help.
Coach the players to play, and play only players who take the coaching.
Enough is enough.
Posted by tngeoff on October 27, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
BuckFama,
"considers himself a "joke","
Huh?
Posted by IPOrange on October 27, 2007 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jh43, I think you mean John Parker Wilson, unless I'm missing something.
Posted by gillblog on October 27, 2007 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prediction: Vols take an early lead, up 10 pts at the half. They go into a shell in the 2nd half, defense looses focus, Chavis has no answer as SC puts together a three td comeback. UT wakes up too late in 4th qt with one td. Final, SC 27, Vols 20.
Once again Fulmer's explanation, unable to conjure up anything else, young players. The 'youth'excuse is NOT dead because unless he blames himself, Fulmer has nothing else to use.
Posted by IPOrange on October 27, 2007 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Man, that's more like an observation than a prediction. How many times have I seen that happen? Too many to count.
Nevertheless, GO VOLS! Beat Spurrier and the cocky chickens.
Posted by utmdm on October 27, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jh43, so true. The defense not only put the 7 yard cushion around the receivers - I think they also put it around the qb.
Posted by slovog on October 28, 2007 at 3:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey gmc-
Could you please post that endless drivel on the Sunday morning columns. I'm sure some of the loser/haters need some laughs.
Posted by girdle1998 on October 28, 2007 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
looks like youth is playing a big roll for all teams in the SEC. I see inconsistent play from everyone except LSU and Ole Miss.
Posted by eschroeder on October 28, 2007 at 10:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John,
Good article and excellent point you make about youth being relative. However, doesn't one have to consider where the youth is? Big difference in a freshman kicker or O-lineman where a mistake doesn't automatically result in 7 pts for the other team as it does with a d-back as is the case with us. How do we compare in that regard?
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.