I'm not going to try to sell you that Tennessee's 13-9 win over Northern Illinois on Saturday night was any turning point.
It was what it was. The Vols labored to subdue a visitor from the Mid-American Conference. One significant play could have produced a different outcome. Toledo or Central Michigan might have done as well as UT or better.
For the sake of this exercise, however, pause for a moment and try to view the Vols' latest outing as a glass half full.
If you're a Tennessee fan, what do you take away from 13-9 that offers encouragement for a difficult road ahead?
I see two possibilities.
One, Nick Stephens handled himself well in his first start at quarterback. Perhaps he upgrades a glaring deficiency.
Two, the defense bent at times but didn't break. Keeping an opponent out of the end zone generally puts you in the win column. Five games in, UT's defense ranks fifth nationally in fewest yards allowed.
Beyond that, well, the weather was nice.
In fact, an overview of the weekend should provide even more encouragement for Tennessee's six remaining SEC opponents than it does for the Vols.
n Georgia: The Bulldogs are rested, ready and humbled for Tennessee's visit to Sanford Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Thanks to an open date, Georgia had a chance to heal up from being pounded by Alabama on Sept. 27. Most notably, All-SEC tailback Knowshon Moreno says he'll be fully recovered from the chipped elbow against Alabama.
And don't discount the revenge factor. The Vols manhandled Georgia last year in Neyland, 35-14, and routed the Bulldogs 51-33 on their 2006 visit to Athens.
n Vanderbilt: A 14-13 win over Auburn legitimized the Commodores. They're for real, 5-0 for the first time since 1943, 3-0 in the SEC for the first time since 1950.
Mackenzi Adams' clutch showing in relief of injured Chris Nickson at quarterback further bolsters Vandy's confidence.
n Kentucky: OK, the Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season. But put in context, a 17-14 setback at No. 2 Alabama is more encouraging than Tennessee's squeaker win at home over Northern Illinois.
Kentucky's defense proved its national ranking in several categories was no fluke achieved against inferior competition. Alabama scored one offensive touchdown.
UK quarterback Mike Hartline took some big-game strides, throwing a pair of TD passes late.
Finally, the Wildcats know they'll be even better with Randall Cobb, Micah Johnson and Ricky Lumpkin coming back from injuries.
n South Carolina: Maybe, just maybe, the Gamecocks have solved their quarterback dilemma. Chris Smelley passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns, going the distance in a 31-24 win at Ole Miss.
Furthermore, All-SEC receiver Kenny McKinley returned from a three-game injury absence with four catches.
n Alabama: Granted, a close-call home win over Kentucky is no reason to hold a Bear Bryant Day parade. However, Glen Coffee's 218-yard rushing day was the best for an Alabama back in 12 years.
The defense scored another touchdown - that's five TDs the Crimson Tide has scored either on defense or special teams this year. Given Tennessee's propensity for self-inflicted wounds, Alabama ought to be licking its chops.
n Mississippi State: The Bulldogs had an open date. That was encouragement in its own right, considering State got pummelled by Georgia Tech and LSU the two previous weeks.
Presumably, former walk-on Tyson Lee had a productive week of practice after his first game as the No. 1 quarterback.
Still, the most uplifting facet of the off week had to be watching Tennessee's offense continue to sputter. The scoring-challenged Bulldogs know they'll have a shot in their Oct. 18 visit to Neyland Stadium.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 37
FedUpVolFan writes:
Well written!
vol4gzus writes:
We need the rest of the team to pickup to Eric Berry level of intensity if it is in them.
Optimism is hard, but I still drink the KOOLAID, though the drinking is a little harder to do. I told a friend 7-5 or 6-6 is upside with 4-8 the downside.
Go VOLS dig deep and beat the Dawgs!!!
khelton657 writes:
Our coaches can't even keep the players focused during game..much less apparently in practice...if they don't care, which they don't seem to, then the view isn't going to change.
Mr "Players Coach" is incapable of making demands on his people, he would rather be understanding of their mistakes , treating them like Pop Warner players..and you see what it gets us ...you get what you demand from your people, especially in football where the diference is in the details...inches, tenth's of a second and a single play makes the difference.
If it is okay for your people to lay under a tree, they will lay under a tree..if it okay to grabaxx around and not pay attention, they will grabaxx and not pay attention..that will still be the mindset when it counts. Fulmer is too busy being "understanding " of his players and making his own excuses to extract from them what they are capable of producing.
volmoc writes:
Understandable. Kind of like how wild hyenas surround wounded gazelles.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Phil is mentoring and reaping the results.
Chief is doing well with bailing wire and duct tape, but the water is getting deeper, shortly.
Hope Moreno under 100 and I'll buy the twins some Huggies.
khelton657 writes:
"..wounded gazelles.."..they weren't recruited as wounded gazelles, the only thing wounded is their heart, they don't have any...Foster pulling up before he hits a hole isn't because he is wounded..offensive linemen not carying their load against a defense that is as much as 45 pounds lighter isn't because they are "wounded gazelles". No need to make something so simple and negative sound poetic.
The coaches aren't deamanding anything from the players and that is exactly what they are getting.
khelton657 writes:
"Wounded gazelles"..you're right, we should have been recruiting lions rather than lambs...to continue with the animal analogy
sbcheek#336574 writes:
One suggestion: Get rid of the indoor practice facility. It is an unnecessary indulgence. Train like you fight. Fight like you train. Of course that ain't going to happen because one big ole coach likes to keep cool when it's warm and warm when it's cold.
killeenvol writes:
Hey Strange:With that positive prologue to the rest of the season,what do you suggest that the coaches do(besides quit)?After reading your optimistic article
I don't even plan to watch any of the games they have left to play.
ncvol17 writes:
I was going to see SAW V for horror but instead I will just watch the UGA and the UA games. There will be no more horror than that. Maybe I can drink a lot of Kool AID 1st to dilute the results and see a glass half full.
Madkels writes:
Great article. Only possible W's on this schedule are Miss St. and Wyoming unless we get extremely lucky. This is worse than the 1988 season.
bmaples writes:
Let me be blunt: I've been a Vol fan for almost 45 years (since I was 10). I've tried to be a loyal fan, too, not some sort of fair-weather, only-when-you're-winning sort of fan. I've also been an observer of SEC football for a long time, and since 1992 I've lived in Louisville and watched both the Louisville and Kentucky programs improve to respectability and beyond.
Here's the point of this comment --
In looking at the remaining games, I think it is entirely possible that Tennessee loses them all. Georgia is ready to prove that their Bama loss is a fluke. Bama is also ready to prove that their loss to Vandy is a fluke.
South Carolina is starting to pile up the yards -- and of course there's Spurrier. Vandy is for real -- I watched that game, and they are fast, smart, and well-coached. Kentucky is also for real -- Brooks has been building it the right way for six years, and they are ready to end the drought.
The only win I might count on would be Ole Miss, and after barely beating Northern Illinois (NORTHERN ILLINOIS!?!), that may be a loss as well.
Frankly, it seems to me that something serious is wrong with UT football. Don't know what it is, because I'm not in that locker room or on that field. Might be recruiting, might be coaching, might be attitude, might be all three. But NIU should have been a 20-point win, at least.
Hope I'm wrong. Hope they win out. But if they are going to have a mediocre season -- frankly, I'd rather they have a HORRIBLE season, so we can fire everyone in sight and start over. Even that would be preferable to this dull toothache of a program.
My $0.02.
Bruce in Louisville
tripsavol3#650322 writes:
Yea bruce, I agree. I've lived in Lex since '02 and Nov. 29 scares the heck out of me. By the way, we don't play Ole Miss, we play Miss. St.
Voltillyafall writes:
Bama hasn't lost to Vandy.
Kentucky is still Kentucky.
The Vols don't play Ole Miss.
Get a refund on your $O.02.
If Rich Brooks is the best you can suggest for the next coach, please don't ask to be on the search committee. In Tennessee, we don't buy into 6 year rebuilding plans.
Everyone who pays any attention knows we could lose them all. When you rush for 69 yards against a MAC team, and can't protect your quarterback, it will be difficult to beat anyone left on the schedule.
Since Johnny Majors left Tennessee, he said one--and only one--accurate thing about Tennessee football. The Chief HAS saved PFP's job for the last 10 years.
He won't be able to save it for 11.
FedUpVolFan writes:
Wow!
Watching Fulmer's pre-game pep talk and it's so obvious the team doesn't have a clue.
No response to the Fulmer's challenge.
Every true fan should watch the sports south replay!
I said nothing else about this team and season could shock me.
I was so wrong!
Sad!
Crompton looking around while Fulmer trying to pump them up.
I bleed orange, but this almost makes me sick.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
I WONDER IF THIS MAN BETS ON THE GAMES? DO WE KNOW MUCH ABOUT THESE WRITERS EXCEPT WHAT WE SEE ON THE BEAT? LIKE MOST DICTATORS IF THE PEOPLE DON'T DO THE THINKING ON THEIR OWN(FREEDOM), THEN THE DICTATORS WILL DO THE THINKING FOR THEM. "I WILL GIVE YOU HOOPE, I WILL GIVE YOU CHANGE". well the outcomes and the odds which this writers states are the obvious(for which some dolts praise him for), so what about the x factors?/ The thinks which may or may not happen. Is it safe writing to write the obvious or just plain COWARDICE? If the News Sentinel wants me to write some articles for them, they only have to ask. I have a typewriter too, you know.
FedUpVolFan writes:
Fulmer's pre game speech:"Tonight is about respect.Tonight is about our idenity.Tonight is about TN football in 2008 and how we are going to respond.How we are going to react to adversity."(then a speech about last year's team)...
"But I'm asking you.Do you believe that you can do that ? (a pause ),(dead silence).Then coached stuttered a bit and said ,"Do you believe that you can bounce back.We pratice damn well.We know what to do.They don't respect you. They don't respect that T in the middle of the field."(not sure who the "they" is).Then another speech and finally. "You are a damn good football team.You are really close.Really,really close."
No comment needed.
We now know our idenity I suppose.
But.Let me go back and watch the tape to be sure!
God bless!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Thanks for whizzing in my cheerios.
w4tey#282182 writes:
I can see each team mentioned beating the Vols this year !
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Just relax, everybody. It's all part of CPF's master plan! All our future opponents will be so giddy with over-confidence, they won't be able to see straight when the Big Orange hits the field. We're just lying in the weeds, ready to strike when they overlook us...yeah, right--in my dreams. The world has truly turned upside-down when Vandy is 5-0, playing with passion, and we will be lucky to win two more, sleep-walking through the motions. Who would have thought we could fall so far?
GoVol writes:
It all comes down to coaching. I'd say the article should say our opponents have an edge not in optimism, but coaching. TN is the poorest coached team in the land and frankly has been since 2005.
AlpharettaVol writes:
When I watched all the games that were on TV Saturday preceding the Tennessee game, I was struck by the energy and enthusiasm that they showed. The players on all those other teams came to play and it was a pleasure to watch, even though I had no personal stake in their games.
Then came our game...what a letdown. The only person wearing orange and white who shows any enthusiasm and pride in what he is doing on the field is Eric Berry. You would think that the other players would look at the way he plays and conducts himself on the field and be embarrassed, but they obviously are not. Can't we find anybody who cares? Show a little pride in yourself and your school. If you can't do that, find some other way to kill a Saturday.
jasonn1970 writes:
This may be the best post I've ever read on this site. This program needs a coach who will instill discipline.
richvol writes:
Fulmer doesn't even engender respect from his own players in a locker room situation anymore. A video of him talking to the team showed that he may as well have been talking to the wall. Players were standing up,getting dressed,figeting with their uniforms,whispering to each other,stareing off into the distance and totally ignoring him.
Of course his players like him...there are no consequences for fumbling,personal fouls,dropped passes,terrible handoffs,blown plays,snap count mistakes,offsides,missed tackles,and worst of all,lack of intense effort...not if your one of the annointed ones that he insists on playing in spite of more talented players sitting on the bench.
I don't blame the kids for these mistakes anymore than you can blame a small child for his bad behavior due to his lack of disclipline. There's an old story about the farmer that takes a 2 by 4 to his mule...you've got to get their attention. Coach Saban has instilled discipline back into the Bama players like Coach Bryant did. I guarantee you they fear him and the consequences of making the mistakes I listed earlier. And for those of you that don't understand football I don't mean that he is going to beat them or something similarly stupid...but they will suffer.
Turning a kid into a man is tough and it requires learning hard lessons. I don't see this happening over there anymore. There doesn't seem to be any consequences except when the fans hit Fulmer over the head with that 2 by 4.
richvol writes:
This is also the result of recruiting solely based on how fast a guy can run and how high he can jump without consideration for the intangibles...like really wanting to play for Tennessee.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Sad, but true-they are an extension of the coach.
Malaise.
TENN80 writes:
This is my last post for the year --- as far as I can see the football season is a total loss. If we win another game I will be surprised. I hope that will not be the case but commonsense prevails. There are a multitude of problems that cannot be solved over night. How is it that a coach who is paid millions of dollars a year, and surrounded with well paid assistants, cannot identify the best player for each position is beyond me? You would think that our football team is being coached by hockey coaches. And once more, I will repeat: A team cannot win football games unless they can run the ball. If we cannot gain yardage with Pro Set or Single Set formations then change the formations to Power I or Wishbone Formations --- and forget about the Spread Formations, too. Put Jones, Greer, and Berry in the backfield and run the ball. Do something new even if it is wrong. Things could not be any worst. Go VOLS, just wait until next year.
skullit writes:
We have a solid answer if the top people will move on it. Do this: Terminate Fulmer.
How to pay for it? Hire Clausen and give him the chance to show what he can do. Pay him 1 million (Fulmer gets 2 now) per year with performance bonus incentives leaving 1 million to help pay termination fees to Fulmer. We don't dislike Fulmer but his time has past. Thank you for the highlights of that time, but the time is over. Business is Business.
khelton657 writes:
Skullit -
"...Do this: Terminate Fulmer.
Hire Clausen ...... Pay him 1 million (Fulmer gets 2 now) per year with performance bonus incentives leaving 1 million to help pay termination fees to Fulmer."
Interesting line of thought..He would probably take it since he is wondering now if he will even have a job next year. he would be gone at Auburn , Alabama, Florida and possisbly Ga if he performed this way there. Sure would like to see him do well this year though but he is just not doing what he said he would do..ala, getting the ball to the playmakers. .
pammyvol1000 writes:
If we could pull a big upset of the year and beat the Dawgs, then we might see more fire the rest of the year.
This team is playing under a dark, dark cloud!
mjaichele#464960 writes:
Fulmer should fire Hamilton.
TommyJack writes:
Some say NIU. I still say the worst played game EVER was the UCLA debacle. It was a disaster on several levels.
Knoxobserver writes:
The players now realize what they are up against. With a couple of exceptions the overall level of intensity and commitment was not there against NIU. This team has woken up to the fact that they are not prepared to play and won't be prepared to play the way things stand with the coaching staff. They see the freight train coming at them in the form of UGA, UA, USC, UK and VU. Some of us thought the darkest days of the program were the 0-6 start in '88. Babies, you ain't seen nothing yet. If we can only manage 13 pts against NIU, I see only 0's against most of the rest of the SEC. We are about to see what reviewing the film, staying the course and working like heck gets us.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I agree UCLA was close to the fine effort vs Wash St several years ago. Someone will know the year and score.
A fine outing.
khelton657 writes:
Don't know if they have woken up or not..have seen few signs of it....
1974Vol writes:
On the upside Stephens looked like a real QB and with another week of 1st team snaps will be better. Defense will bring it Saturday and if Stephens manages the game the Vols stay in it except for the "X" factor of special teams. With the 1st team punter back that helps, but lord help us if we need a pressure FG late to win. Most likely outcome Dawgs win a slug fest 24-13.
Knoxobserver writes:
By woken up, I mean they now realize how deep in the hole they are. They are demoralized now and it is only going to get worse as they face quality opponents. Example, our O-line getting outclassed by NIU's defensive line? That happens because their hearts are not in the game anymore.
To 1974Vol, I don't see Saturday as a slug fest. We don't have anything to slug with. We may hold UGA to a couple of TDs but w have nothing to answer with. If we could only score 13 on NIU, I can't imagine we will put up anything against UGA. Saturday will be a long day.
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