"They hired me and Fred and Joe to dig the grave and carry up some chairs."

- Tom T. Hall

The words "doom and gloom" sure have been thrown around a lot this week. You'd think that some folks are already scheduling a funeral for the Vols of 2007.

But personally, I haven't heard much actual "doom and gloom" from the masses. I think most of the realistic members of Vol Nation had a pretty good grasp on what issues might be facing the Vols heading into last week's game.

I also don't think it's alarmist to suggest that this year's Tennessee team looks an awful lot like last year's Tennessee team. In fact, most of the same problems from 2006 crawled out from under the bed last Saturday night in Berkeley.

So predicting a record similar to last year's isn't "doom and gloom," it's simply saying, "Where do you see improvement?" Until the improvement is evident, I'll continue to say what myself and many others have been saying since the summer … that this is probably going to be a three- or four-loss football team.

That's not doom and gloom. In fact, things could be much worse. Tennessee could have lost at home to Appalachian State. Now that's doom and gloom.

Sure, there have been a few folks this week who've started predicting five or six losses for the Vols, but for the most part, there haven't been that many bridge jumpers.

I would say that most of the Vol Nation went into this year optimistic, but with a twinge of uncertainty in theirbellies. One loss at Cal didn't change the feelings for most fans, it simply validated their concerns.

That said, a win over Southern Miss tonight will have many Vol fans back on the high end of the teeter-totter. The closer the following game in Gainesville gets, the more beatable the Gators will begin to look.

Those are the ups and downs of all college football fans. And to be honest, I didn't think this week's downs were all that low. I think most Tennessee fans had a pretty good grip on this year's team even before the season kicked off last week.

(On a side note, I have heard a few people suggest that "if Tennessee played Cal again, "etc, etc. But isn't that exactly what so many Vol fans were mad about Cal and ESPN saying on Cal's behalf last year?)

"How does it feel to be on your own? With no direction home?" - Bob Dylan

One of the new problems that popped up on the West Coast was Tennessee's lack of playmakers and deep threats in the receiving corps.

If you've ever had the opportunity to glance at a UT playbook, you know that there are dozens upon dozens of routes to learn. Quite simply, the freshmen and transfers haven't had enough repetitions in a month of practice to become comfortable with the Vols' myriad formations and routes.

But there's another issue to keep an eye on tonight versus Southern Miss. How well are the new wideouts getting off the line of scrimmage.

Denarius Moore, the Vol expected to make the biggest impact last week, had a hard time adjusting to the amount of jamming that goes on at the line of scrimmage at the college level.

This is an issue that bears watching for all the new receivers (in addition to knowing their route trees). Out on an island, can they beat the jams of opposing defensive backs and get off the line cleanly?

"Today I am your champion. I may have won your hearts, but I know the game. You'll forget my name and I won't be here in another year if I don't stay on the charts."

- Billy Joel

I continue to be puzzled by the lack of respect given to Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge. Former quarterback Kirk Herbstreit, who called the Cal game for ABC, gushed over the Vols' senior signal caller at almost every turn. At one point, seeming to have run out of adjectives, he just muttered "great stuff from Ainge."

Herbstreit also referred to Ainge's leadership skills on the field. Those skills popped up on the bench, as well, following the blindside hammer-shot that led to the Golden Bears' fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Ainge went straight to his offensive linemen and pumped them up by saying that they would soon get the ball back and then they would get back the touchdown they'd just given away. He did this while still reeling from the hit that nearly broke him in half.

Oh, and he completed 32 of 47 pass attempts. Now, I don't know about you, but that seems like a pretty good performance. And it seems pretty obvious why the coaching staff wants Ainge to be their man on the field.

So why is there still so much negativity out there? Here's an exchange from a couple of guys on my television show last Sunday that I think sums up the situation pretty well.

News Sentinel sportswriter Bob Hodge: "I don't see any reason why the people in this town don't really like Erik Ainge. He's the best quarterback they've had, I think, since Peyton Manning."

Former Vol and NFL quarterback Pat Ryan: "Well, that's your problem. Nobody likes anybody but Peyton Manning. Unless you're a back-up. They love Jonathan Crompton now, but let him play four or five weeks and see what happens. Since Peyton's been here, everybody else has been second fiddle."

Will every future Vol QB have to pass The Manning Test? If so, then we East Tennesseans are going to have to stop making fun of Alabama fans who compare all of their football coaches to Bear Bryant.

It would seem Manning's ghost is as big in Knoxville as Bryant's is in Tuscaloosa.

John Pennington hosts the Halls Salvage Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.