Here's what Tennessee's coach had to say after the Florida game:
"Certainly, that wasn't representative of what we intended for it to be down here today.''
Here's what the Tennessee quarterback had to say:
"If we go down and score there, it would be a different game.''
That was after the 2007 Florida game, by the way.
After the 2008 Florida game on Saturday, the coach was more succinct but of the same mind:
"That wasn't us.''
The quarterback again lamented turnovers that, in fact, turned over the game to Florida:
"We shot ourselves in the foot. In my opinion, we should have won the game.''
The comparison between Tennessee's sad state of post-Florida affairs in 2007 and its sad state of post-Florida affairs in 2008 is obvious.
Game 1: Vols go to California, bumble around like its the first day of camp and drop the opener.
Game 2: Vols come home to a middling win over a Conference USA team.
Game 3: Florida plays circles around Vols, making a mockery of a once-competitive rivalry.
Day After Game 3: Fandom howls that Phillip Fulmer's time has passed.
What's less obvious is where things go from here.
I know, you're thinking: No, it's plenty obvious. Tennessee is going down the drain.
You're also thinking: I just don't have that same gut feeling I did last year that they'll get it turned around.
Hold on. Immediately after the Florida game a year ago, nobody I ran into had any gut feeling that Tennessee was going to turn it around. The SEC Championship Game might as well have been on Pluto.
The Vols did, of course, gather themselves from not only a 1-2 start but an October butt-whipping at Alabama to get to Atlanta.
Inevitably, Saturday night they were raising aloft that 2007 example as a beacon in the darkness.
"We started out one-and-two last year and look where we ended up,'' said quarterback Jonathan Crompton, "in the championship game, with a good chance to win.''
Senior lineman Anthony Parker took up the torch:
"We've got a lot of the same guys that were on that team last year, and, hopefully, we'll have a lot of the same characteristics.''
That's no cinch. Fulmer says the locker-room leadership of this team is still unfinished business.
On the field, there are a few similarities to 2007 but also some significant differences.
One common theme: UT fans have learned to avert their eyes when the punt team takes the field. That issue got fixed last year. Maybe Britton Colquitt's return in October will be the answer this year.
The schedule, however, is less conducive to healing. The '07 team made its Lazarus statement at home against Georgia. The '08 Vols head to Auburn on Saturday - then to Georgia in three weeks.
The '07 Vols had a senior quarterback, a four-year starter, in Erik Ainge. The '08 Vols have Crompton, who is struggling.
"Erik certainly had his pluses,'' Fulmer said. "You knew what you were going to get from him, what he could do. He had a lot of consistency about him.
"We haven't been as consistent at quarterback as anyone would like.''
Last year, Fulmer also had trusted lieutenant and longtime friend David Cutcliffe running his offense. This year, he has a new coordinator, Dave Clawson, and three other new offensive assistants, installing a new system on the fly.
"This staff works very well together,'' Fulmer said. "I've been impressed with the adjustments we've tried to make in the first three weeks.''
Maybe, but the offense has yet to gel. The defense, on the other hand, is statistically much sounder than three games into the '07 season.
For whatever reasons, discipline is down, as evidenced by 26 penalties, 10 more than this time last year.
"We won't give up,'' Fulmer said. "We've got a chance to be there yet. It's just a little bit harder road.''
That the 2007 Vols found their way from the darkness of Florida to the bright lights of Atlanta is to their credit. Still, it was an improbable journey, and an immediate sequel is even more improbable.
Atlanta is still out there in 2008. But in the midst of another Florida blackout, you sure can't see it from here.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Volscars 2012
Bruce Pearl through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 70
eduardo writes:
1st you geeks. Fulmer is in total denial. This team is going nowhere fast. Check that actually they are spiraling downward rather quickly. Please do the right thing coach. Come in Monday Morning and announce your resignation. This is the only thing that will bring the fan base together.
DemocratVol writes:
Please sign the petition. I'm on a mission to make sure Mike Hamilton hears from the average joes like you and me.
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/UTcoach...
rabidvol1998 writes:
Good analysis Mike. We'll have to wait and see.
After singing the theme from Hee Haw "gloom despair and agony on me .......", then the theme from Annie "the sun will come up tomorrow ... " its time to focus on Auburn and get behind the team and see what we can do.
See you in Auburn. Go Vols.
BobbyGraham writes:
Philip Fulmer is 40-39-1 in his career against top 25 teams. i think that says enough. He has made his living beating up on Kentucky and Vandy and the mediocre Ga teams of the 90s.
teedub writes:
think we'll get the same help this year from Vandy and SC with errant field goals?
DekanGator writes:
As a Gator fan looking in from the outside, Here is what I see,
(1) No fumble, No Pick, No Kick return for a TD and its a close game.
(2) I don't see a leader on The Tenn football team.
(3) Missing one super player (Tebow,Harvin,Rainey,Demps)
(4) The players did not give up the fans did.
When a player says "We will play for our Football family" says alot.
5) Understand you have a QB in his first SEC game vs a good "D"
(6) Understanding If Urban Meyer and Steve Spurrier were Not coaches in the SEC phil would have 10 SEC championships.
tennisvol writes:
Ole Phil is in a bind. Randy Sanders left some time ago so you can't blame him. Cutcliffe returned to help Phil for two years but has left for Duke. That only leaves you, Phil. It's all on you and everyone can see what has happened to the football program at TN.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Dekan - This is the first clear analysis from a poster I have read. Congrats, but I hope you lose at least one more than we do. I have to keep hope alive.
Your most accurate comment is "the players didn't quit but the fans did". I'm embarrassed by our fans, not our team.
Go Vols
khelton657 writes:
"Locker room Leadership" - Whatever happened to electing team captains ? Back then we had some leadership. Fulmer makes something like 6 or 8 Team Captains for each game, sort of like employee of the week with his name on a parking spot. He doesn't understand leadership, either a young man is a leader or he isn't ,naming 6 of them "captains" doesn't make them a leader...sounds like moe grammar school stuff....
jaxvol75 writes:
Dekan gator....why don't you go and post somewhere else? Sooner or later(hopefully sooner) things will come back around as they always do. Then, I'd like to hear what your commentary will be? Gators are not good winners and they're not good losers. They never have been and they never will be. You don't understand long tradition. Your presence in the national championship is a "pipe dream". You'll blow it somewhere along the way. You no nothing more about your football team today than you did before kick-off yesterday. You can thank the underachieving vols for that. How many Florida games have you actually attended in person?
servinggrant writes:
Embarrassed of the fans? Please.......
99gator writes:
not a snowball's chance in......
rabidvol1998 writes:
Serving - I had a group of 30 people from all around the country attending the game. They talked about the mistakes and weaknesses of the team, but they mainly talked about the "pathetic performance" of the fans. They were amazed how quiet we were, how we gave up early in the first quarter and how we fight verbally with each other in the stands.
If you have data, state it, but Pleeeaaasee no more Please......
Go Vols
jaxvol75 writes:
Some to you to 99gator!
CoverOrange writes:
Two things Mike.
What does Britton Colquitt offer that would stop Brandon James' types from running down the field?
Clawson and company arrived 8 months ago not one month ago. It's obvious he doesn't know how to use the G-gun, how to spread the field for the running game, how to draw in a defense against a run and throw instead.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
tennisvol, Our pathetic excuse for a coach will use Clawson as the scapegoat. I've seen enough of Clawson's sorry game plans to form an opinion of him. We have no coaches. Everyone of them are stupid. Nothing but stupid!!
DekanGator writes:
Jax Vol
First I have Attended about 30 Games in my Life, Including games in Jax,Atlanta,And the Sugar bowl. If that makes any difference.
Second, You are showing your true colors,Talk about a sore loser!
Third, I have no pipe dream about an NC .. I know what the SEC is like. On any given day and SEC team can beat another team.
Did I answer all your Questions?
rblakeh writes:
Thanks for your comments dekangator. Those who do not have so much emotion wrapped up into UT football are analyzing it much more clearly than others.
Our defense is playing well enough to win. If the offense stops the dumb penalties and holds on to the football, we will have a good season. If not, we will have a very long season.
Go Vols beat Auburn!
vtvol#210290 writes:
On a positive note, the band looked really good.
jaxvol75 writes:
You got me Dekan gator! I'm a sore loser. As of 1996 I'd attended 100 Tennessee games in person. From Memphis to Lexington, from California to Arizona, and from New York back to Knoxville. You have the worst.....and I mean the worst fans in the S.E.C. At least the L.S.U. fans are clever. You all are just arrogant. Who wants to hear your damn commentary ? Those two chumps that work for C.B.S. that called the game yesterday might be right in line with your thinking, but we are not. Can I get an amen?
jaxvol75 writes:
Hey rblakeh....why don't you and dekan gator go on a cruise together? I'm sure there's another hurricane coming sometime. Can I get an amen?
rabidvol1998 writes:
Jaxvol - no amens from me. I've attended over 300 games since 1969. Dekan makes more sense than you and sounds a lot more mature.
DekanGator writes:
JaxVol
If you attended 100 games in 12 years, You have to much time on your hands, Get a Job!
hglover40#234154 writes:
It's not that we lose more than we win against Florida just based recruiting I would expect them to have a bit of advantage most years. It's HOW we have lost these last two years!!!!
The talent difference is not so much that we have to read headlines like this one on MSNBC - "Florida toys with Tenn. again". I defended CPF posting on here all last year how he was turning things around - Guess, I was wrong. It must be insane loyalty to keep playing Crompton. SIT Crompton down!! I don't care if you have to run G-gun all day. Hell - just snap it to G-gun and let him run the option and pitch it to Berry. But SIT Crompton!!
MrBamSeydu writes:
Here's the difference between 2007 and 2008: Jon Crompton.
We will go 7-5 this year, mark it down.
jaxvol75 writes:
I had attended 100 games up to 96' if you read my post correctly? Hey Dekan gator...I have a job where Florida gators work for me punk. I also have a college degree. And I also have a suspicion, "Ya bref stank?" And as for you rabidvol1998....you must just like bad football?
DekanGator writes:
JaxVol
You sound like such a leader, Keep up the good work!
jaxvol75 writes:
Thanks dekangator! All in a nights work!
rabidvol1998 writes:
I like TN football, always have always will. Is loyalty and commitment someting i should be ashamed of?
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Why are you being rude to this guy? Because he is telling the truth! Gators were headed down this path with Zook and Foley realized it before it got to bad and made the necessary changes. Now they are back on top. Hamilton needs to wake up. We are not a very good team.
VOLinGA writes:
There will be no repeat of 2007. We won't score on Auburn's defense. GA will put a beat down on us after what we did to them last year...they'll put up 40. Alabama will win by 20 too. The ole ball coach will get some vindication and pile on when we play South Carolina. And then Vandy will be the final dagger. Will that be enough to bring about any change?..one can only hope. I feel for the players, would never wish anything bad on them. There appears to be some talent on this team. But it's time to freshen things up with some new blood and fresh perspective/philosophies. We haven't had a "attacking" mentality in many years. Coach Phil has done a respectable job for us over the years...but it is time for a fresh look. Living outside of TN, I can say with absolute conviction that we have the least respected coaching staff in the SEC. The game has passed us by. It's been gradual...but it's finally caught up with us. The jabs at our staff from our fellow SEC fans come so fast and furious, they can't even be defended anymore. To me, when you can no longer even pretend to defend your program, you have hit bottom.
jaxvol75 writes:
I think I had to much caffeine today. My apologies for all the insults to dekangator, gator99, rblakeh, and rabidvol1998. I'm really not this way usually. I met Coach Fulmer at one of Coach Major's football camps and he was a salt of the earth human being. It's very unfortunate that he's in the position he's in after all his years of commitment to Tennessee football. I'm afraid this is not going to end diplomatically or well. Goodnight to all the posters and again...my sincere apologies. I went too far for a laugh.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Jax - I'm not sure how I'm going to do on my Big Orange Prozac, so apology accepted.
Go Vols beat Auburn.
orange_n_blood writes:
Our team this year is a joke so far. The new offense is horrible. I can't tell if it's the offense or if it is just the QB running the show. The special teams are what keep killing us too. They cost us 7 to 10 points a game either by field position or a TD. Well coached teams show that in the kicking game and our team shows that we have no idea how to actual use that part of the game to our advantage. Instead we close our eyes and hope for the best with every kickoff or punt.
SFOrange writes:
Hate to tell you Coach, but that WAS us out there.
As sickening as this is---this too shall pass.
Go Orange.
cdonsbach writes:
The Florida players jogged off the field during possession changes while the Tennessee players walked off.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
rabidvol,
seriously no one gives a damn. Just shut up.
Vol_N_Texas writes:
In response to VolinGA:
There will be no repeat of 2007. We won't score on Auburn's defense. GA will put a beat down on us after what we did to them last year...they'll put up 40. Alabama will win by 20 too. The ole ball coach will get some vindication and pile on when we play South Carolina. And then Vandy will be the final dagger. Will that be enough to bring about any change?..one can only hope. I feel for the players, would never wish anything bad on them. There appears to be some talent on this team. But it's time to freshen things up with some new blood and fresh perspective/philosophies. We haven't had a "attacking" mentality in many years. Coach Phil has done a respectable job for us over the years...but it is time for a fresh look. Living outside of TN, I can say with absolute conviction that we have the least respected coaching staff in the SEC. The game has passed us by. It's been gradual...but it's finally caught up with us. The jabs at our staff from our fellow SEC fans come so fast and furious, they can't even be defended anymore. To me, when you can no longer even pretend to defend your program, you have hit bottom.
I'll A-Men that one.
Personally, I think we go 4 and 8 unless Crompton is benched and they find another play caller besides Clawson. I believe Creer or Hardesty should be given a chance at starting. Maybe that will light some fury under the running backs. The G-Gun is a joke. If Jones played QB is highschool why won't they work in a throw. He did it once last year if I remember and it worked well.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Does anybody miss Trooper? He wasn't given the OC opportunity because CPF had to 'watch his back'. He didn't want the same results as Coach Majors.
Before anyones goes off on my comment about Majors here me out...I was glad to see CPF take over when the team was 4-0 at the time, he11, we whipped FL that year 45-3 in the rain. The team looked to be more respectful to Fulmer at the time. That was 17 years ago. Today is the day. We NEED change from the AD DOWN!!!
WaltGoVols writes:
One difference from last year is that the Gators are going to do a lot better; our chance to get into the SECCG died last Saturday.
For the first time, I am saying (writing) that Fulmer needs to go. A thorough house cleannig is needed.
Walt
UT '81
pdhuff#552644 writes:
That perfect strange scenario with gnat poots and 52-50 victories along with 18 yard gains on fumble recoveries vs SC, etc. is smoke on the wind.
Long gone.
Aubie should be a close game with field position a major factor.
Do they have a punt returner?
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
OH, and by the way, one can tell who the rats are. The ones deserting the sinking ship.
rusty_shackleford writes:
I agree. Plus, our fans were embarrassing.
On our way out, a young gun (20 or so) stopped at the foot of the steps and yelled "You've ruined my life, Fulmer!" Must be a pathetic life to have it "ruined" by a ballgame he didn't participate in!
volfan007 writes:
I'm predicting that the game at Auburn will get ugly... hopefully not before the 3rd quarter.
It pains me to write such things, but after what we've seen this year, I'm just trying to be real.
adimatteo#261830 writes:
I recall a few years back back, when the south Florida fans were not happy with having a football team (Dolphins) who were a class team, did it right, good people, always won.
They got tired of having a few years still winning,but not enough, so they decided to go out and get one of the new hot coaches...
Ask any of them how happy they have been the last several years, the number of wins,coaches who came and went..
Sometimes being number one is so important, we lose sight of what is and why we love our team, our school, our people.
Sorry folks, but Ill keep the people we have and forgo a few trips to the Sugar Bowl...
Funny in the pros there are only about 30 teams, in college over ahundred yet we believe we should be the best all the time or somehow our kids dont work enough or coaches forgot how to coach..
vol52 writes:
Change the QB. Cronpton is AJ Suggs Jr.
CoverOrange writes:
adimatteo, just ignore that brass ring every time it comes around and you'll never fall off that horse. Of course, you'll always be going in circles getting no where.
I predict the Auburn game will be a low scoring and close game. One mistake will make the difference. Mostly likely ours.
rootin4volz writes:
The post-game comments are indicative of those not living in the reality of the world around them...an inability to see factual events and occurrences for what they are. Last year, I had faith and hope. This year, I see nothing but doom and gloom.
10eceeVol4ever writes:
One thing I agree on is that it is hard to hear Tennessee fans booing their own team and coaches. However, I can understand the booing. Is it right, that is not for me to say. But when the product on the field hasn't matched the level of play that you see other programs in the SEC play with, then the frustration runs over. This team plays with nowhere near the talent level, the coaching level, or the intensity level, that Florida, Auburn, LSU, Georgia, or for that matter Vandy has. There needs to be some new blood in the program, the good ole boy days have to end, and all aspects of the Tennessee program have to be redone. From the Athletic Director to the Recruiting people, hell even change the janitors if that is what it takes. It has been a long time since I have seen this sorry brand of football played at UT, and I don't see things changing in the forseeable future.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Perfect Storm II - The Sequel
ROTFLMGDAO!!!!!!!!!!!!
KennesawVol writes:
I see more like 4-8. If this team plays as badly against the rest of their opponents this year as they have the first 3, I don't think they'll beat any SEC foes, except Miss. State.
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