Tennessee Stat Book
UCLA Bruins
Luck. Fortune smiling. Good Karma.
Call it what you like, Tennessee's football program has had it this preseason. Around the conference, other schools have been dealing with issues left and right.
In Knoxville, the Vols have had productive days followed by blessedly silent nights.
Now, some of you might not believe in luck, but I do. Stuff happens.
In 2005, when Cory Anderson took a swing pass about 15 yards to the Alabama 5-yard line, got hit and fumbled? Well, that was football.
But when the ball shot forward like a cannonball and bounced 15 yards forward through the back of the end zone for a Tide touchback? That was luck.
And there was plenty of bad luck in 2005. Last year, the wheel of karma seemed to spin back around for the Vols. A Vandy field goal kissed off the upright in the final minutes of a close game for example.
An Arian Foster fumble versus South Carolina skips between two Gamecocks and into the arms of a UT lineman for a Vol first down. In 2005, a Foster fumble versus Carolina was recovered in the end zone by the Gamecocks. Two fumbles, two different bounces, two different outcomes to the games.
Luck. Fortune smiling. Good karma.
Early this season, it seems as though the Vols still have some of last year's positive vibes working in their favor. Just think about the following:
The SEC has not fared well on the West Coast (just 3-6 since 2000). UCLA, traditionally, is a tough place to open. But the Bruins have been decimated by injuries. They'll be starting a third-string quarterback, who in one practice threw three consecutive interceptions. There are no guarantees, but this game looks easier now than it did four months ago.
Then there are Tennessee's biggest rivals in the SEC East, the two teams picked to finish ahead of the Vols, Florida and Georgia.
Georgia, the number one team in the land, has seen its offensive line thrown into upheaval with the season-ending injury to left tackle Trinton Sturdivant. Injuries also have wiped out the Dawgs' linebacking corps. For three positions, Georgia has just seven scholarship linebackers . . . and two of those are freshmen.
This doesn't even include the rash of off-field incidents that have haunted the 'Dogs. Could that have a UT-circa-2005 effect on Mark Richt's team?
Florida also looks weaker now than it did a month ago. Five players lost for the season to ACL injuries will do that to you. One of them was go-to tight end/receiver hybrid Cornelius Ingram, who is a huge loss. Also banged up is Percy Harvin, who hasn't completed a full practice this preseason. No Ingram? Harvin less than 100 percent? That's good news for UT.
Now let's look closer at the Vols. They've finally added Gerald Williams to their roster. And they've also avoided major injuries, especially to starters.
In fact, on the same day it was announced that tight end Jeff Cottam would undergo back surgery and miss six to eight weeks, former freshman All-American tight end Brandon Warren was cleared by the NCAA to join the team.
Jerry Seinfeld would call Phillip Fulmer "Even Steven."
Now, some of you are starting to get mad, thinking "he's just trying to set it up to where if we win, he can call it luck!"
And that's not true. Though Tennessee's chances in the East look better now than they did a month ago, that doesn't mean UT will finish any better than what the SEC media predicted in July (third in the East).
The Vols still have to take advantage of the good fortune that seems to have set the table for them.
Luck is a part of the game. That doesn't take away from a team. The good teams simply take advantage of breaks.
If Colorado had been stuffed at the 1-yard line by Missouri back in 1990, do you think we'd still remember "fifth down?" The Buffaloes, who tied Tennessee that year, went on to win the national championship.
If in 1997, Matt Davison hadn't made a diving touchdown catch on a pass knocked into the air by a teammate's foot, would anyone remember Nebraska's "kicked ball" versus Missouri? The Cornhuskers went on to win the national championship.
If in 1998, Tennessee's offense hadn't come to life and pounded the football down Arkansas' throats for the game-winning score, would anyone remember Clint Stoerner's decision to try to prop himself up with the football? And, oh yeah, UT went on to win the national championship that year.
Luck is a part of the game. Providence. Good karma. Mojo. Good teams take advantage.
"Play for and make the breaks; when one comes your way - score." You might've heard that one a time or two.
Well, Tennessee has had some breaks come its way in August. Things look better than they did a month ago. So as September begins, it's time to see if they can take advantage.
John Pennington hosts the Hall's Salvage Sports Source on Sunday at 11 a.m. on WATE.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 34
invisiblekid writes:
Nope, not going to do it.
Snakebrown13 writes:
OK, I'll do it. 2nd.
rootin4volz writes:
Dear writer of this article: Who are you and what have you done with the normally assanine John Pennington? Oh, wait...you must be his producer...the one who realizes you catch more bees (translation: viewers and ratings) with honey.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I would swap karma for QB pressure anyday.
GerryOP writes:
Nice job John ... and ... how true. Can't control the breaks, but have to be ready to take advantage of them when they break our way.
FWBVol writes:
John, come on, how many times do people have to keep saying the Stoerner fumble was luck. Arkansas was lucky to still be in the lead at the time after the officials missed the call when the Arkansas punter kicked the ball through the end zone when UT should have had it inside the Razorback 10 and ready to score.
RJ_Vol writes:
JP has watched too much "My Name is Earl". I'm not much into karma - really not at all. However, I see his point(well written article IMO by the way) but don't agree in totality - really not at all. I firmly believe that hard work, talent, smart decisions, willingness to face adversity, attention to detail, sense of purpose, intensity, and where you place your hope...help "make your luck" in football games. I think most would agree that injuries, lack of discipline, poor decisions on/off the field by coaches/players, and a seemingly loss of intensity contributed to '05. UT has corrected most of those problems, and as if on queue, UT wins the East in '07.
DennisVols writes:
I saw weakness in GA's game, UF even showed some weak areas against a team MSU coul beat.
John is right about one thing UT needs to take advantage of the opportunity sent in front of them. By the end of OCT they will have played 3 top 10 teams and no one else in the country would have that many wins against top 10 teams if UT does what they should be able to do.
I know the schedule is tough but if you want to be considered the best in the nation then you have to beat the best.
I like UT's schedule going into the UF game. They get a week off to tweek the mistakes they will make during the first game. Then while UF is cooling down a week UT gets to put what they learned to use against UAB to prepare for UF.
Go Vols just 24 hours till "It's Football Time in Tennessee"
Vols1998 writes:
I do not believe in luck, nor do I bet on another man's abilities. Athletes create opportunities, all those you mentioned have nothing to do with bad or good luck. If you call a 19 year man getting hurt, good luck for anyone, then shame on you JP. Injuries are part of football and football players. I would rather play a team with its best players and loose than play a team that experiences injuries and win. JP all your equating this to is taking advantage of somone with a handicap. Luck is a sports writer taking advantage of someone's misfortune to write a column in a newspaper. You have no class!!!
Go Vols!!!
stroker writes:
what sjt18 x 2, but knock on wood.
TommyJack writes:
The Buddha doesn't care.
murrayvol writes:
sjt: I doubt that John P. had his bible at the ready when he wrote this column.
Vols1998: What?
John: Great piece. We've been missing you. Hope you're back for the run to December.
CoverOrange writes:
JP, great to see you back.
Error in the eleventh paragraph. I don't remember UT having played 9 games in California in the last 8 years.
As luck avoiding serious injuries, ask Holbert.
gavol2572 writes:
Luck shmuck- I totally agree with RJVol. RJ, well put friend.
eefor10c writes:
On, and was it karma that told you how bad things were on the UT football team when you wrote your hack article as you jumped on the get rid of Fulmer bandwagon with that other john.
Diggs writes:
Quoting from TurboFan - "Error in the eleventh paragraph. I don't remember UT having played 9 games in California in the last 8 years."
It says "The SEC has not fared well on the West Coast (just 3-6 since 2000)." which includes all SEC teams. not just UT.
That being said, I actually believe we make our own luck through hard work.
Diggs
andy112382#209793 writes:
John, good article and very true, I have said the same thing myself over the years. Now, you have to be a good team to be in the right position to take advantage of those lucky breaks, and to make some thing of them, but there is a certain combination of luck and skill that seems to always play into the picture.
GreerVol22 writes:
Does this Karma kid play on punt and kickoff coverage?
ccVOLS615 writes:
Ok so i think i have an idea for the spread offence,and i know im getting a little ahead of myself, but i might not be able to post much longer. So if anyone thinks this is a good idea please spread the word. Or if anyone knows of a rule that would prohibit this idea maybe they could shead some light on it for me. Here goes first i watched some of the florida game and a few others where the teams were running the spread. And while this idea doesnt include stoping the whole offence. I think it could stop one particular play that hurts everyone. The play where the QB hands the ball off to the RB or fakes the handoff and keeps the ball himself. Every time the QB does hand the ball off they run almost half heartedly to one side or the other always away from the RB but they dont run all out as they would if they had the ball, And eventually they all stop and look at the RB to see what happens to the guy with the ball. Once every one figures out that the QB didnt keep the ball they don't worry about him they all go after the RB. I suggest that just like with the option when the QB tosses the ball right before he gets hit and the deffense goes on and tackles him that we do the same thing to tebow every time he runs that play. Have a LB (G williams preferably) go and declete him take his head off and piledrive him to the ground..... Ball or not even if the LB knows he doesnt have the ball have one person (G.W) or any LB assigned to that play every time tebow hands off and then runs like he has the ball that one person doesnt worry about the man with the ball his job is to CRUSH the QB(Tebow) let the killer secondary tackle the RB. The QB's faking like he has the ball so if anyone thinks he has it and floors him there shouldn t be a problem with that. Since I notteiced that most of the time they dont run full speed and really stop looking in front of them but turn to watch the play. I'd say they would be perfact targets for decleting piledriving smashing bashing crushing or any other ing for that matter, And after a few of those smashings I think old urban meyer my think twice about running that play vary often. Or at least it would limit one of the hardest plays to stop. so let me know what everyone think's about that and if there's any rule that would prohibit doing such a thing.............18 hours till kickoff GO VOLS crush the bruins
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
John,
Good article, but it is Kosmo Kramer, my friend, who would refer to the Vols as Even Steven.
SmokeDog72 writes:
sjt18,
Yes. I always heard that luck was when preparation met opportunity. My father, who was an athlete at UT in the 60's said that the expression was posted in one of the locker rooms or athletic facilities.
Also, I will feel free to use the term providence. Being very Calvinistic in my beliefs, I don't really believe in random luck. To me, what we see as luck, is still providential. But, I will keep it to that (since this is a football site).
I am sure this season will provide us with some breaks. But, we have to be ready to capitalize on them. At the same time, we have to be resilient enough to deal with the bad breaks (injuries, poorly-timed turnovers, bad calls, etc). We need to be solid enough that neither wins nor losses are blamed on anything except performance.
Boy, am I ready for tonight!!!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Good article, Pennington.
TNdog writes:
Are you John Adams other brother John?
orangebloodgmc writes:
And if a ref blows a call, that could be counted as luck, either good or bad. Yet if your team benefits from a questionable call, opponents act like your team did something wrong.
CoverOrange writes:
Yep, Diggs, I'm a moron. Guess I read what I wanted to read. Not unusual in this crowd.
Sorry JP.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Lets simply not make any of them All-Pac 10 this evening.
No arm-tackling. They have used an impressive campaign (true or not) of poor-mouthing themselves the last few days.
Beware the jabberwocky....
Vols1998 writes:
Murrayvol: what??
is there something you are missing? JP just suggested that "injuries" have given Tennessee an edge over the other teams. Is that how we want to win because the other team's best players are injured? How does that prove anything? but I guess that is ok with most of the posters on this website.
Go Vols!!!
RJ_Vol writes:
Definitely agree w/ pdhuff's (1:57) comment about the poor-mouthing campaign by UCLA. Sounds a lot like Lou Holtz. Let's hope the coaches are "keeping things real". UCLA comes from a major conference and a rich recruiting area. Their talent level could very well rival our own. On the other hand, this is a UT team that feels somewhat "disrespected" by the media. Let's hope they are "just enough" mad. If we have intensity, then we should prevail.
Also, beware the Chow...
invisiblekid writes:
Vols1998 and sjt18, maybe you guys missed this comment from John in the article:
"Luck is a part of the game. That doesn't take away from a team. The good teams simply take advantage of breaks."
Seems to me John is simply stating the obvious advantages the Vols have gained through the misfortune of other teams this year. Doesn't appear to be deningrating the Vols in any way, shape, or form IMO.
Ultimately, I believe the thesis of this story is the second maxim from General Neyland:
2. Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way - SCORE.
invisiblekid writes:
Sorry for the extra "n" in denigrate.
spvol writes:
Unusually well thought-out article for the NS.
GerryOP writes:
Really great post i-kid! Sometimes we tend to "forget" the words of The General!
Sure do wish Pennington would post more often. He always presents an interesting and somewhat different perspective. But he usually speaketh the truth -- which many do not want to hear!
Be well my friend...
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks GerryP. I believe some of the more zealous Vol fans got the best of Pennington last year to an extent. Personally, I almost always appreciated his observations and took them as that and nothing more, his observations. He put the second maxim in near the end of the column but I felt it was worth repeating.
It's almost game time and Vol fans everywhere are getting that old familiar feeling in the pits of their stomachs. Few other programs can truly appreciate what it means to be a Vol fan. We should all consider ourselves lucky to be pulling for the best program with the most dedicated fans in the country.
Diggs writes:
So much for "the magic spinning wheel of Karma".
I think the wheel turned and ran over us.
Sorry. Just a sorry exhibit of big time football.
Diggs
Share your thoughts
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.