If the Vols were taking notes last week, they might be able to salvage something from a 30-6 loss to Florida.
Florida coach Urban Meyer spelled out his game plan for winning on the road in the SEC: Protect the football, play great defense and come up big on special teams. The Gators then practiced what he preached.
Actually, the Vols know something about winning on the road. You just couldn't tell it by the season opener against UCLA or in lopsided losses to Florida and Alabama last year.
Some of UT's best games of this decade have been as underdogs on the road. Remember the upset of Florida in 2001?
There also was the victory against Miami in 2003; an upset of Georgia in 2004, a week after the Vols were routed by Auburn; and a victory over 10th-ranked Georgia in 2006.
Is Auburn next?
Auburn 23, UT 17: The Vols won't have to worry about hearing boos from their fans this afternoon. Even if their fans boo, the Vols won't be able to hear them in Jordan-Hare Stadium, which is underrated as a hostile environment.
Georgia 27, Alabama 23: It's not just the Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno and Uga VII Show at Georgia anymore. Freshman wide receiver A.J. Green has quickly assumed a starring role.
Green is big and fast, and reminds you of former South Carolina receiver Sidney Rice when he goes up for the ball.
Florida 34, Ole Miss 17: What do Temple, Louisiana-Monroe, Kentucky and Louisiana-Lafayette have in common?
They're all passing for more yards per game than the Gators, who rank 98th nationally in passing offense and 86th in total offense.
LSU 31, Mississippi State 0: Just what the Bulldogs' incredibly shrinking offense needs: LSU's defense.
In their last seven meetings, LSU has outscored Mississippi State 298-43.
Texas 45, Arkansas 17: I wonder if Bobby Petrino saw the Razorbacks' schedule before he accepted the head-coaching job. The Longhorns are the second of four consecutive nationally ranked opponents.
Good thing that Petrino is no quitter.
South Carolina 37, UAB 13: Freshman Stephen Garcia could become the Gamecocks' third starting quarterback against UAB. Since it's only September, you're probably wondering: Who's next?
My pick: wide receiver Kenny McKinley, once he recovers from a hamstring injury. He played quarterback in high school.
Kentucky 30, Western Kentucky 13: With a victory, the Wildcats can match Vanderbilt's 4-0 start. If you think that's unusual, you haven't been following the SEC for long.
Longtime SEC fans probably remember that it happened in 1984. And really longtime SEC fans remember that both teams started the season 4-0 in 1950.
It also happened in 1930, 1911, 1910 and 1904. I don't even remember that.
Vanderbilt: No pick. I just wanted to write once in my career, "nationally ranked Vanderbilt" has an open date.
Top 25: Oklahoma 38, TCU 17; Wisconsin 27, Michigan 14: Penn State 38, Illinois 27; South Florida 27, N.C. State 16; Ohio State 38, Minnesota 23; Wake Forest 34, Navy 17; Utah 45, Weber State 17; Clemson 34, Maryland 20; East Carolina 37, Houston 24; Fresno State 27, UCLA 13.
Record: 77-14 (.846) overall, 29-41 (.414) against the spread.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 36
imw8n4u writes:
I hope it's that close
hubbardcove writes:
Protect the football, play great defense and come up big on special teams. The Gators then practiced what he preached.
We are 1 out of three, if you don't count 3rd and long.
Waldorf writes:
Man - even more embarassing stuff from last week. The picture of Josh McNeil untying the Florida player's shoes at the bottom of the huddle in Sports Illustrated.
We're a joke.
Bench Crompton.
Fire Fulmer.
Fire Hamilton.
Gators0608 writes:
It was sad last Saturday to witness a program that was so strong and such a great rival for we Gators to look so incompetent and pathetic. I think a college team takes on the personality of the head coach. I had to go through the
miserable "Doug Dickey avoid losing" years at Florida. Dickey's avoid losing philosophy seems to have been adopted by Fulmer-the power I when it is not working. We wanted to get rid of Zook at Florida;it took a loss to Mississippi State who had lost to the Maine Black Bears the week before for Foley,A.D.,to decisively fire Zook.I enjoy your blogs; they are amusing and informative.I fully
understand your anger and frustration;we all spend a lot of money going to games. I have never been to a game which
the Gators lost and felt like it had been fun or exciting; we all expect college fotball to be fun and exciting.I knew
that until we got rid of Dickey and then Zook that we would always be where Tennesee is this year.Most of you get mad with Adams; especially when he writes the cold, hard truth
that Fulmer and your A.D. doesn't want to hear.Until you get rid of Fulmer, you are not going to be enjoying the big games. It might not be such a big rivalry any longer, but the trip to Knoxville,dinner at Ye Old Steak House, and emptying Neyland stadium is great fun-if you are a Florida Gator!
Colliervol writes:
No, I think Oregon State gave them the blueprint last night. Tennesee is certainly more talented than Oregon State and USC is more talented than Florida. And Oregon State got the job done. It's called getting in the grill of a more talented team for 60 minutes, playing with fire, and having a cohesive, organized effort. Oregon State did it to Southern Cal last night and it wasn't a fluke. Tennessee didn't against Florida and you can attribute it to a completely lackluster and disorganized effort. It's that simple.
chad_t31 writes:
And you're supposed to be who? You've had 20 years of being relevant to the SEC. Enjoy it while you can. Nothing lasts forever. Now, go find a gator site.
TommyJack writes:
Boycott Fulmerites.
Rockytop98 writes:
I can still believe! GO VOLS!! WAKE UP!!
TheVolMan writes:
Vols0074, thanks for giving JA's article another hit. Nice boycott--you have to use the KNS to get your message out for a boycott. You are a mega-weenie, whining about the messenger when he was right about the rot we are witnessing in the program. I like Fulmer and appreciate all he has done for UT. I don't think he can turn it around. But, no matter, Vols0074, you are still a Weenie.
Gators0608 writes:
We may have only been relevant the last 20 years, but it is those 20 years and the present that I care about as well as the immediate future. We have certainly been dominant and relevant over Tennesee.OH! that's right;your big hero Peyton, how many wins did he have against Florida?
Zero,nada Zilch.You need someone from a winning, sucessful
program on your blog sites;otherwise, you woul only have the usual whiners on here.
dvols writes:
funny thing is, gator fans don't realize they are gator fans!
MrBamSeydu writes:
It's funny how now that we're on the verge of 1-3 all the John Adams haters are nowhere to be found.
Maybe they realized he was right all along?
GreerVol22 writes:
TommyJack,
folks may not have a choice. on the eastern side of the smokies, there is no gas from Waynesville NC to Columbia SC. Now maybe if Hamilton will filler' up before we drive back then maybe I'll get to the next home game.
threehundredbowler writes:
Aub. 27 Tenn. 10
BNR10 writes:
ok we keep talkin about the vols back in 2001 and 2000 and those years .... we are in 2008 those years are dead... we need to pull an upset in 2008!
trl_x writes:
Two lousy offenses and two good defenses mean an ugly low scoring game. If UT can execute offensively and limit the mistakes, they can definitely win this game.
But from what I've seen so far...AU 13 UT 10.
vol_chaz writes:
We're playing too tight, and Crompton's leash just got shorter. We'll play our most vanilla game of the year, and get shutout....hope i'm wrong.....
invisiblekid writes:
It's ugly on the gas front all the way to the Piedmont and the mountains as well. City of Asheville and Buncombe Co. shut down non-essential services until Tuesday. Hate to say it, but I am suprised no one in Charlotte has gotten shot over this yet.
The Vols losing, no gas to go anywhere, this might drive me to drinking Greer LOL.
Orangebrewbasher writes:
Yeah im sick of talking about single wins we got back in 2000 and 2001. It is 2008 people. The rest of the league has stayed with the times and the times have passed tennessee by. When is the last time we won a significant game, besides georgia. Typical for this university I guess. All the jokes on this state are starting to make sense. Fulmer, thank you for all you have done for the great University of Tennessee but I believe we all understand that it is time for u to go. Please retire.
CoverOrange writes:
JA was right, but for the wrong reason. Are we pragmatists or just selective in memory.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
They came up big on special teams, otherwise we beat ourselves. And against UCLA we just didn't know what to expect.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I haven't noticed many GVXer's talking about going to the Lovliest Village on the Plains.
Is is petrol or has that 8x10 glossy of Phil faded?
Madkels writes:
Was offered, but turned down, tickets by friend here in ATL who chose to attend GA-Bama game instead....and we are both UT Alum's. Go figure.
Losing + no gasoline = not interested
pms151 writes:
We are playing football like we vote in this state. Too conservative with no guts for change.
OldNumber7 writes:
Good post. The becoming-more-apparent-each-week difference is Florida is a progressive environment that strives to be a head above the rest - and isn't afraid of change. I'm beginning to become embarassed that my alma mater, what I thought was a progressive university, has become a corpse.
OldNumber7 writes:
I agree with you again. Our rich history and $0.50 won't even buy coffee these days. And there's 1 realllll big good, clapping, gum-chewing reason our Manning-led, NFL Pro-Bowl-loaded teams of the mid '90's couldn't beat you or the University of Memphis...and to think they never once competed....COMPETED for a national title...
Volalumnus writes:
Folks,
some of you keep saying we have a good defense???
It is far from a good defense, really.
A good defense doesn't allow the opposing teams to shred you at will when they need to.
Face it, there is no part to the 08 team that is "good" right now.
oldbasshead writes:
My problem with all of this is the number of times you had to use "upset". That means that UT's reputation preceded them. We fans are tired of backing a team that plays the underdog role so much of the time because they simply have not been and are not a top program any more. Why can't the powers that be see the steady decline and take steps to reverse it. In this day and time i am sorry to have to say, you have to have a hotshot coaching staff. For example, I don't think I would personally like Urban Meyers, but boy does he win and the best recruits are drawn to him.
RJ_Vol writes:
RocketVol: Are you serious? I am assuming you are saying the football program is not "progressive". The University of Tennessee is finishing Howard Baker's building(just may be the one of the nicest buildings in our region), the "new" Glocker, and starting some building behind the chemistry building(engineering maybe?) Our campus has never had more resources for students. Just because the football team starts 1-2 doesn't mean an entire university is not "progressive" and is a corpse. I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and proud of it. I am a Vol and am wearing my orange today. So, I respectfully disagree with your remarks.
rockytoptilidie writes:
I'm honestly not sure how we're expected to score 17 points on Auburn at Auburn.
I dread hearing Tommy Tubberville referred to as a "Riverboat Gambler" for the 386th time in the 3rd quarter.
NVAVOLFAN writes:
Man you are so clueless I give you credit for being able to find this site. "We beat ourselves" What game were you watching? Our defense is ranked dead last in the SEC on third down conversions. We are an undisciplined team whose coaching staff does not prepare our team or put them in a position to win. The fact is, Florida didn't even have to open the playbook against us, they had no reason to play with a sense of urgency because they were up 17-0 before the seats were full. Jeez, for some reason Urban actually took it easy on us in the 4th quarter by sticking to running the ball an 4 straight downs, he could of laid another score on us.
Why does it not bother all of you Kool Aid drinkers that Florida called us quitters and we were not man enough to step up and hit them in the mouth! Fans like you who will settle for the pitiful phooey we have seen on the field this season are just as guilty of dragging this program down as Phil. Please wake up for the good of the program.
tennesseeike writes:
If I can progress to the game next week, would the administration consider moving the game time to the afternoon in order for us folks who drive 150 miles to get to the game and end up getting home at 3:00a.m. Sunday morning?
Since there is no tv except pay-for view,what would be the problem? Just wondering...
GahLee writes:
Tennessee 17 and Auburn 13.........snooze.
tulelakevol writes:
Auburn 26
Tennessee 9
I feel like this offense is ready to kick five field goals, and make three of them.
Madkels writes:
How about those gators today? Oops...I guess you aren't as high as you were this past week now that you lost at home. Hee hee hee!
JACK8254 writes:
crompton is the WORST QB IN THE HISTORY OF TENN FOOTBALL, tHERE IS NOTHING MORE TO SAY.
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