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Tennessee Stat Book
Tennessee’s 20-10 victory over Vanderbilt last Saturday proved it’s never too late in the season to improve. That applies to coaches as well as players.
Ten games into a disappointing season, UT coaches figured out that three things can happen when you pass — and all of them are bad. So they limited their pass attempts to nine and emerged with their second SEC victory of the season.
The Neanderthal approach to offense didn’t satisfy everyone. “I can’t believe we just threw nine passes,” one fan e-mailed me.
Frankly, I was stunned. The Vols a win a game, and a fan whines about the aesthetics. Please.
I applaud the game plan against the Commodores and would encourage more of the same this evening against Kentucky. My only recommendation: Nine fewer passes.
If you just said, “But you have to pass some,” you need to review the previous 11 UT games. Passing: What good has come of it?
A no-passes-allowed offense isn’t just the best path to victory. It’s the best way to say goodbye to outgoing UT coach Phillip Fulmer.
After all, he’s not famous for saying, “Let’s air it out.” He’s the guy who said, “Let’s pound the rock.”
Never mind quarterback Peyton Manning’s stardom. Or the series of proficient quarterbacks who preceded and succeeded him during the Fulmer era. When UT was at its best under Fulmer, it pounded the rock.
It pounded the rock when its unbeaten season was in jeopardy 10 years ago against Arkansas. It pounded the rock when it foiled Florida’s bid for an SEC and possible national championship in 2001.
And it pounded the rock when it beat Kentucky handily in 2005.
While that victory might seem insignificant compared to anything that happened in 1998 or 2001, it’s germane to this evening. Again, you have a UT team with a losing record, seemingly at risk of ending its epic winning streak (is it 23 or 123?) against Kentucky.
This is no time for taking chances. It’s a time for pounding the rock.
Tennessee 20, Kentucky 10: It’s Kentucky. And it’s Phillip Fulmer Day.
UT can’t lose.
Alabama 27, Auburn 7: The Tigers have 6,000,006 reasons not to fire coach Tommy Tuberville. He has a $6 million buyout and six consecutive victories against Alabama.
Relevant question: Will coach Nick Saban stay at Alabama long enough to beat Auburn six consecutive times?
Alabama answer: Who cares? The Tide is three consecutive victories away from winning a national title, which would equate to three more national championships in Alabama’s 2009 football media guide.
Florida 45, Florida State 12: No one can accuse the Seminoles of being slow learners. After practically threatening Tim Tebow’s very existence before last year’s game (which Florida won 45-12) they’ve zipped up their pregame comments.
Unfortunately for the Seminoles, silence won’t slow down college football’s best track team any more than talk did.
Georgia 27, Georgia Tech 24: Don’t expect the Bulldogs to stonewall Georgia Tech’s option-oriented offense, which embarrassed Miami last week. Instead, they will upstage the Yellow Jackets’ fourth-ranked rushing offense with a big game from its big three: quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Knowshon Moreno and wide receiver A.J. Green.
South Carolina 23, Clemson 20: You could find the longest running headline in college sports on The State’s Web site this week: “Spurrier continues search for answers at QB.”
His search no longer includes Tommy Beecher, who entered the witness protection program after starting the season opener. Instead, the search goes back and forth between the quarterback tag team of Stephen Garcia and Chris Smelley, who have done more to raise coach Steve Spurrier’s blood pressure than anyone since Florida’s Doug Johnson.
Wake Forest 23, Vanderbilt 17: The Commodores haven’t been the same since clinching a bowl bid with a victory over Kentucky a couple of weeks ago. And who can blame them?
You would be distracted, too, if you knew you might be traveling all the way across town to play in the Music City Bowl.
Top 25: Oklahoma 45, Oklahoma State 30; Southern California 37, Notre Dame 7; Texas Tech 56, Baylor 27; Missouri 44, Kansas 27; Cincinnati 30, Syracuse 13; Oregon 31, Oregon State 30; Boston College 24, Maryland 20.
Record: 204-57 (.782) overall, 123-110 (.528) against the spread.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 31
Alumni_06 writes:
better not
HateTheGator writes:
Sure he can.
mdvol writes:
Hope Mikey didn't burn his bridge with Fulmer. When Fulmer is President of UT he will be Hamilton's boss. Now isn't that ironic.
mdvol writes:
No way our offense can score 20. Two TD's from Berry and we MIGHT get to 20. See ya, Clawson.
Jeremy7679 writes:
John Adams sucks.
TheVolMan writes:
Blast away anti-JA Weenies. Jeremy, it's tough that you were wrong and John was right. Fulmer did some great things for UT but it was time for him to move on. Else his name would be changed to FAILMER.
OK Weenies, fire away at Mr. Adams. You have to blame someone for your own stupidity.
eefor10c writes:
No matter how hard you try you Fulmer haters can't admit that he coached us to a national championship win, won numerous SEC crowns and even more east division crowns, one last year.
We are not the ones who suffer from stupidity lil vol man. Those who think Kiffin, who has never been a head coach in college and very little assistant coaching experience, who is 5-15 overall, will lead us to the promised land had better check their maps to find out where the promised land is. It took Moses 40 years to get out of the wilderness. I hope the Vols don't take that long.
I hope Kiffin does the job but I have my doubts. As for adams I KNOW he can't do the job. If he picks the Vols to win then we are doomed.
dvols writes:
what is he right about?
iwilbeafan writes:
Adams you are an idiot. I vote that you are dismissed from you job. Your opinion is self centered and you only want your opinion to ount. So a subsciber a favor and resign before I cancel my patronage to this paper. I think more poeple should cancel if you don't resign.
Colliervol writes:
I know exactly where the promised land is and we haven't seen it in 10 years. And I'm not talking about a national championship either. I'm talking about an SEC title which is what all teams in the conference aspire to when they start out.
Did you see anything in this program that would lead you to believe that we were headed for an SEC title under Phil in the near future? Please elaborate if you can.
It's over. Time to move on. I'm going to focus on the future and not whine about the past.
CrankE writes:
UT figuring out that they should run the ball, pound the rock and rock the pound is about 4 years too late.
Fire the rock
Pound John Adams
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
its you and the other koolaide drinking Adams bashers who are the idiots----yeahhhhhhh cancel your subscription, that will bring the KNS to their knees
ncvol writes:
I hope we do get a win for the team, the coaches, and the fans. Go Vols !
I hope Phil continues to love the Big Orange. I will miss him !
tnbigg writes:
This is a big game for Tennessee...if we lose it will speak volumes...I will be glad to start a new chapter in Tennessee football history...with a new coach who comes in with desire and passion This season will forever be a blight...and if we don't win tomorrow...it will be the worst ever...we're only tied for that dubious distinction at this point...KY's all lubed up to shove their version of a football enigma into a place where the sun don't shine...don't understimate their potential...my wife and I gave our tickets away...We'll watch in on the tv...to the winner go the spoils...to the loser the soils...the bottom dweller of the SEC East...
serenehunter#668900 writes:
John you are right! the running game is a must. Now what do you really think about the hiring of unqualified Lane Kiffin? Candice "Legs" Allen tennesseesportsreviewer.com
hotrodvol writes:
Throw it, do we have someone that can throw it?
One other thing, send Clawsen through the T by his self so we can boo him.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Vols should win by 10.
rusty_shackleford writes:
I'm on record for being a tuscaloosa john detractor, but ya gotta give the devil his due, no truer words were written this year when he said..."Frankly, I was stunned. The Vols a win a game, and a fan whines about the aesthetics. Please."
BigOrangeVol writes:
Adams is a hack; always was, always will be. He's nothing but a an unhappy, insecure little Mr. Poison Pen with an axe to grind and a chip on his shoulder. I truly pity people like that. Here's a little geography for you Adams, Dudley Field is only 3.5 miles from Titans Stadium...that's not even halfway across town! I guess we should all be use to it by now since you have never let facts stand in the way of your useless op-ed columns used to spew your venom and vent your personal frustrations in a public forum.
Promised Land? The key word here is "Promised"! We aren't promised anything and the last time we won a National Championship was 47 years prior to Phillip getting us the one in '98; which he did in six years. The first idiot that promises you titles is the first one to run from. The first idiot to expect a promise for a title is the first one to call for heads to roll when they don't get one.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Fire Brooks, Johnson, Spurrier, Tubbs, Nutt, Petrino, Croom and Richt because they can't win!!!
Kentucky no National Championship in 127 years.
Vanderbilt no National Championship in 118 years.
South Carolina no National Championship in 116 years.
Auburn no National Championship in 116 years. (1 Co-National Championship 51 years ago)
Ole Miss no National Championship in 115 years.
Arkansas no National Championship in 114 years.
Mississippi State no National Championship in 113 years.
Georgia no National Championship in 28 years. (only 2 in 116 years)
BigOrangeVol writes:
SEC Champions since 1997…
LSU – 3
But what have you done lately? Fire Miles! The program is in a downward spiral and with their talent level he just can't coach 'em up anymore! Exit Lloyd, exit Rich, enter Les.
Tennessee – 2
You whiners and spoiled children got what you wanted - now live with it and don't ever let us hear you complain again. As if.
Florida – 2
Players run amuck of the law continuously and the program is out of control, probation is just around the corner. Urban Meyer - Buckeyes next coach.
Georgia – 2
Underachievers who continue to disappoint every year even with loads of talent - Richt has obviously lost the ability to lead and discipline his players plus he gets outcoached at every turn. Richt – ‘canes next hire.
Auburn – 1
The game has passed Tubbs by and fresh new blood is needed to keep up with the young guns.
Alabama - 1
If they aren't back on probation in three years and Saban has taken the next "hired gun" job in Morgantown then I'll eat my hat. Joey Jones is the next head coach at the Capstone in 2011!
blitzshoot writes:
Put your fist in the ground and fight. GO VOLS!
blitzshoot writes:
your comments are a joke!
FireJohnAdams writes:
End of an era.....too bad it isn't the end of the gargantuanly stupid John Adam's era....I'm surprised Hamilton didn't go after him for the coaching job!
shipperman#280095 writes:
UT can’t lose.
Please don't say that. they know how to lose. they have done it 7 times this year, so far
BigOrangeVol writes:
Glad you were amused!
I case you need it spelled out and defined, it's called sarcasm.
Sar·casm
ˈsär-ˌka-zəm
1: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2: a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against an individual
BigOrangeVol writes:
I'm batting 3 for 3 (jerkin, nafslov, hiresanders) who's next?
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
It's all relative, at best, Fulmer was hired to do this and that, given a raise and extension, and then the rest is history. An SEC championship? Sounds nice, Fulmer's been on the sidelines of 6 of our 13 SEC championships. That's 1 in every ? years the SEC's been inexistence? Heck, you might as well ask for National Championships , the quest for those is just as hard. It's always nice to want things and then to find scapegoats when we don't get what we want. Just like Socrates, our friend and buddy, had to drink his hemlock. Hire me or fire me, I am the greatest!
VOLinAthensGA writes:
Fire John Adams.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Numerous SEC crowns being 2 in 17 years. Not quite numerous. And lasy years SEC east was a fluke and everyone knows it. And Alabama and Florida handed our rears to us. Quit being blinded by Fulmer allegiance and be a UT fan for once.
blitzshoot writes:
Who's we kitten?
Oh I get it...you meant...
we we we like a pig squealing.
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