Tennessee fans probably have never been so conflicted before a UT-Alabama game.
If the Vols upset second-ranked Alabama, they could ruin their archrival's shot at a national championship. If the Vols upset Alabama, they also could save UT coach Phillip Fulmer's job.
That's a tough call for some UT fans, who must weigh immediate gratification versus their long-term concern for the program.
My best guess: Immediate gratification wins in a landslide, and the Neyland Stadium crowd unites behind the Vols as though an SEC championship were on the line.
Alabama 20, Tennessee 13: These teams aren't as far apart in talent as their records indicate. Unbeaten Alabama has over-achieved and 3-4 UT hasn't played up to expectations.
A large, loud crowd should help bring out the best in the Vols. But, based on how Alabama played at Georgia, a hostile crowd will bring out the best in the Tide, too.
LSU 24, Georgia 23: The Tigers have figured out that it's better to rush opposing quarterbacks than threaten them.
After LSU defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois threatened to take quarterback out of the game, the Gators were so terrified they scored 51 points. The Tigers were all-rush and no talk against South Carolina as they sacked quarterback Stephen Garcia six times.
And they better get to Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford before he can get to their secondary.
Florida 41, Kentucky 10: Tennessee isn't the only team Kentucky can't beat.
The Wildcats haven't beaten the Gators since 1986. And in most of their 21 consecutive losses, they didn't come close.
Excuse the Gators if they don't buy into Kentucky's defensive improvement. They're averaging 41 points per game during their winning streak against the Wildcats.
Ole Miss 27, Arkansas 24: Coach Houston Nutt returns home to Arkansas today. Included among the people who won't meet him at the airport: Mitch Mustain's mom.
Also in that group: Little Rock sports columnist Wally Hall.
Vanderbilt 24, Duke 20: In 1982, David Cutcliffe's first year as a college assistant coach, his Tennessee team lost to the Commodores. He has been paying them back ever since.
Cutcliffe is 18-0 against Vanderbilt as an assistant coach and 6-0 as a head coach. But that was at UT and Ole Miss, not Duke.
Mississippi State 17, Middle Tennessee State 10: Despite losing to the Vols last Saturday, the Bulldogs still have a shot at the Tennessee state championship.
If they could beat MTSU, they would finish 2-1 against Tennessee teams. Then, a Vanderbilt victory over UT next month, would give the Bulldogs the state championship.
If UT beats Vanderbilt, it would win the state title with a 1-0 record.
Top 25: Texas 45, Oklahoma State 30; Ohio State 30, Penn State 27; Oklahoma 48, Kansas State 20; Southern California 37, Arizona 14; Texas Tech 38, Kansas 34; South Florida 30, Louisville 24; TCU 34, Wyoming 0; Missouri 38, Colorado 24; Pittsburgh 24, Rutgers 20; Brigham Young 35, UNLV 20; Ball State 31, Eastern Michigan 7; Georgia Tech 27, Virginia 20; Tulsa 45, Central Florida 13; North Carolina 23, Boston College 20; Florida State 27, Virginia Tech 24; Minnesota 28, Purdue 21.
Record: 130-32 (.807) overall, 69-70 (.497) against the spread.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 105
fishportion writes:
why yeah
auttat writes:
Went out on a limb with that Florida/Kentucky score didn't you John?
Average 41, so they will score 41
utvolz#637682 writes:
Pick LSU to win? What a surprise!
tnbigg writes:
----------__________________
SemperVol writes:
That last line doesn't seem flaunting at all.
SemperVol writes:
I think you dropped your stapler on the keyboard....
ncvol writes:
John Adams continues to write articles that will make your blood boil. It would be nice if he would stop all these negative articles. We are going into a battle with Bama this weekend and we want a Win... Never want to lose to get a coach change...Lead us to victory CF and go Big Orange.
Go Vols !
ctexorange writes:
Who do you think will be our next coach Mr adams? Have you put your name in, you claim to be an expert and have spun up the anti-fulmer folks. Who will win UT a NC every year and bring home the SEC title every year? We need to raise the expectations right? Phil titles are just not good enough. Every coach prior to Phil won the SEC every year and the NC every other year right? Who will be able to live up to the hype you have created? I guess we fans are SOL......
woody45#537767 writes:
I love my UT Vols, but I think the crowd will be heading for the exits at the end of the third quarter when Alabama is leading by three touchdowns. I hope I'm wrong. Go Vols!!!
TommyJack writes:
NC: Specifically, what made your blood boil?
airship writes:
we need to beat bama and then fire fulmer. one game should not save his job.
silvertr6 writes:
No touchdowns for Tennessee and no win for Phil. Hopefully not the embarassment of last year, but a loss.
Sheepscape writes:
How about a coach that can win the SEC once in ten years? Other coaches here at UT most assuredly have done that, and if they haven't then said coach hasn't been here. Check the record books, UT has never went this long without an SEC title without a coaching change. It's a fact.
Losses to very bad UCLA and Auburn teams don't help, nor does losing to your biggest SEC east rivals. If folks are happy with beating Mississippi State, fine, but don't try and sell us a product demanding more and more from the fans and giving zero back.
glockjockey writes:
Why not root for Bama to win and fire Fulmer?
CheckerboardPhilosopher writes:
http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
I think the Vols will keep this one close.JMHO! Coach Fulmer we need Boyd,Brown,Moses, and Hicks with a couple of other surprises. This will help us get back to competing for championships!!
gohawks1 writes:
No way will I hope TN loses a game just to expediate a coaching change... especially this game. If a Vol fan finds himself pulling for bama for ANY reason, something just ain't right about that.
GO BIG ORANGE!
shipperman#280095 writes:
I think it will be close for about 10 minutes. That will be it at best.
Bama- 35 UT 17
sec_fan writes:
The truth hurts.
gohawks1 writes:
Maybe it was that part about an upset saving CPF's job. I don't know... I could be wrong.
SemperVol writes:
Question:
Why don't the Yella Jammer Stinky Hammer fans talk any trash on here? Where are they?
I mean we have to get our trash from 99gator and other gator fans, but nada, zilch, nothing from bammer dudes. I remember once when we ran them off of here but I figured they'd be back for a little more....
TommyJack writes:
I want a new coach bbbbaaaaaaadddddd. But pulling for Bama ain't in my DNA.
volsfansc writes:
Heard on a sports talk radio show today that CF last day could come as soon as tomm night.The guy said that he had some inside sources telling him that if UT lost that it was going to be the end of CF.
shipperman#280095 writes:
They have decided to kick our tails tomorrow night. Trash talk comes after the slaughter.
Colliervol writes:
I hear you but I can't imagine him resigning after a loss to Bama and letting them have the satisfaction of thinking a Bama win sealed his fate. He despises them too much to let that happen. If Bama wins, I think it will be at season's end unfortunately. And, by then, most of the good coaching candidates will be committed.
Personally, I'm surprised it wasn't announced this week so the team would be sky high for tomorrow. (Win one for the Phipper!)
drone#208075 writes:
First year in the past 10 years flammar fans aren't running their mouths down here. Did someone move Halloween up a week? Maybe it's the FEAR. I can't get a comment out of any of them this year. Maybe it's the PITY because 12 years in the desert didn't teach them a thing - up until this week. Strange, very strange times indeed.
volsfansc writes:
well yeah thats true but also they also it was also said that they would do this so they could have time to go after will muschamp. i am hoping for a change and to just beat the gamecocks bc i cant stand living down here and listening these fans !!!!
SemperVol writes:
Amen. I'd like to add to that, but last time my post got removed. Hope you have better luck.
EyeNoEvrthng writes:
The players have been told ,regardless of the outcome ,this is Coach Fulmer's last year. Maybe there's a "fall-guy" (like Randy Sanders )in the locker room. BTW , a friend called me to tell me many members of the 1998 Championship are in town for a reunion.( Glad Mr. Manning who gave away SO many Vol games is NOT here !)
DennisVols writes:
Tomorrow we will find out if Fulmer has any more magic left. Those of us who have followed this program through Neyland, Robinson, Wyatt, Dickey, Battle, Majors and now Fulmer have watched Fulmer pull the rabbit out of the hat more so than any other coach.
Every time you think he has won his last big game some how some way he pulls this team together and wins another one to some how save his job again. This isn't the 1st year Fulmer has been on the hot seat, though it may be his last.
I do admire Fulmer for not taking the cowards way out over the years of being in this hot seat. It would have been easier to quit following '98 than staying. Living under a microscope year in and year out knowing that anything less than what you have already obtained will never be enough.
Some say it is for the money but even that can't buy happiness and I don't know if any of us could bear the pressure and critisum, second guessing that any coach in this conference has to go through for this long.
It is easier to coach from our living room than it is from the sidelines. After all we never have to see if our plan was a big mistake or not.
I do however believe it is time for a change. Not because Fulmer is not a good coach, he will be remembered as one of the best, but because he is no longer the right coach.
I hope Fulmer has just a little bit more of that magic left for tomorrows game. No self-respecting Vols fan could ever want UT to lose to Bama for any reason.
Volchaz writes:
It really is a conflict.. I'll be at the game.. But what I'm thinking about, is will this be another game that could springboard us into relevancy for next year(much like '88), or will it be the straw that breaks the pumpkin's back. Either way, its a decisive game in UT football history, it could go either way.
msvolsfan writes:
As much as I would love a coaching change....I can NEVER bring myself to pull for the Bammer Moron Nation.
murrayvol writes:
You have a friend Naffy? I'll have to see documentation.
EyeNoEvrthng writes:
Not a friend (just agree with him)
golfballs03 writes:
How about none of the above?
Colliervol writes:
Getting a new coach lined up now would be the main reason for a mid-season announcement. For the good of the program, that's what should happen. And maybe the money would be such that Phil doesn't care how it would look. But I'm betting he just won't let Bama have any satisfaction that they were the final nail. The feelings are just too strong for him.
Now, if UT wins tomorrow and if we were to win out to get to 8 wins, all bets are off. I just don't know what would happen at that point.
murrayvol writes:
This is a watershed moment for UT football. Whether Coach Fulmer goes or stays isn't nearly as relevant as the direction of the two programs. The Tide is coming in as Vol fortunes ebb away with each underachieving effort.
I wish it weren't so but it is what it is. If we make it through the 1st quarter.
murrayvol writes:
Collier, at that point he would get an extension.
smokyredbone writes:
you sound like a real Vol fan, you bitter little man!!!
i hope you get fired.
blitzshoot writes:
Thanks Gatorzz. I needed that.
Awesome!
shipperman#280095 writes:
If Bama is not the final nail, Spurrier might be.
Colliervol writes:
You could be right but what are the chances we run the table even if we beat Bama? As much as somebody mistaking me for Brad Pitt probably. The magic dust supply ain't that good.
blitzshoot writes:
There is no way I will pull for Bama over Tennessee, maybe Syria. GO VOLS!
sameolvolalum writes:
Who's to say that Mike Hamilton isn't already having a dialogue with a coaching prospect or two-------or more. He made a great decision pertaining to Bruce Pearl. Maybe he's got another pearl up his sleeve. 'Hope it's not just wishful thinking. At any rate. Beat 'bama any time, any place, in any sport! Rock Neyland and scream like we're 7-0! Go Vols!
Colliervol writes:
I'm thinking he could handle Spurrier being the end of the line more than he could Bama.
EyeNoEvrthng writes:
Sadly, Mike Hamilton doesn't run the athletic dept. Jim Haslam does.
blitzshoot writes:
My wife is ticked. I just went outside and cut our bird feeder down. She asked why and I told her it was time they started earning their keep. She's concerned.
shipperman#280095 writes:
I don't know, close call either way. I have nothing against Phil, i just think it is time for a change. He like Majors has gotten too complacent i think
gavol74 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
shipperman#280095 writes:
Yeah Neyland will be rocking as the Tide celebrates another arse kicking of the Vols. There is nothing wrong with this article.
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