Here they come again, Vanderbilt and Kentucky - the best one-two punching bag in Tennessee football history. What a finish, huh?
That's a somewhat dated view of UT's two-game stretch run. In fact, the punching bags have been punching back lately. Nonetheless, it's still the best November parlay in the SEC.
Alabama closes with Auburn every year. Florida gets Florida State. Georgia gets Georgia Tech. South Carolina gets Clemson. You can go right on down the SEC line and not find a more favorable finish.
And UT doesn't just get Kentucky or Vanderbilt for its regular-season finale. It gets them both, back-to-back.
Why am I expounding on something as obvious as the sun coming up in the East? Because it is so obvious, you might take it for granted.
Also, because it's not as easy as it looks. Here's how it looks: 25 consecutive victories against Kentucky and 26 victories in the last 27 games against Vanderbilt.
In the last five years, UT has had only one blowout victory over the Commodores, up next in Neyland Stadium this Saturday. The Commodores won in 2005 and lost by a point in 2007.
The Kentucky series has followed a similar course. In the last five games, three of UT's victories have been by six or fewer points, and one required an overtime.
They're doing more than coming close against other SEC teams.
Since Kentucky last beat UT in 1984, it has won four games Georgia, back-to-back games against South Carolina in 1998-99, and even beaten Florida once (in 1986).
Vanderbilt beat Georgia just two years ago and has won two of it last three games against South Carolina. Since beating UT in 2005, it has beaten every other team in the SEC East except Florida. But it has come close against the Gators, losing in two overtimes in 2005 and by only six points to its 2006 national championship team.
Beating Vanderbilt and Kentucky hasn't been this challenging in awhile. Kentucky has gone to three consecutive bowl games and is eligible for a fourth. The Commodores had a rare winning season last year.
Their improvement speaks to the coaching of Rich Brooks at Kentucky and Bobby Johnson of Vanderbilt.
The improvement isn't reflected in Vanderbilt's current 2-9 record. But that's misleading in a way.
The Commodores have actually improved their running game this season through recruiting. Their defense is solid. It's just that their quarterbacking has been woefully inadequate.
And you know how inadequate quarterbacks get exposed in a conference as defensive-minded as this one.
You can't always project Vanderbilt's performance against UT based on how it might have struggled through the rest of its schedule. For example, Vanderbilt's 2-9 team challenged the 15th-ranked Vols until the final minutes before losing 38-33 in Nashville five years ago. Those kind of games have popped up throughout the recent history of the series, regardless of who Vanderbilt's coach was.
Woody Widenhofer's first Vanderbilt team won two games, yet played UT's 1997 SEC champions a 17-10 game. Rod Dowhower's last two teams each won two games, but lost to top-10 UT teams by five- and seven-point margins. Twenty years ago, Watson Brown's 1-10 team lost to the eighth-ranked Vols by only seven points.
Such games aren't a coincident. No matter how dreadfully Vanderbilt's season has gone, it can right the wrongs with an upset of its more famous in-state rival. That's powerful motivation.
It's also a warning for the Vols.
UT's fifth-year seniors don't need a warning. They were on the team that lost to Vanderbilt in 2005. And they probably haven't forgotten that Vanderbilt made that one game its 2005 highlight video.
That's powerful motivation, too.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 48
gwbask writes:
Just read on Rivals that coach Gran interviewed for the Memphis head coach job.
TommyJack writes:
John Brice on VQ says he has confirmed it.
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
He isn't lying. I don't know how to post links, but if you go to Yahoo Sports college football (which is supplied by Rivals.com), it's right there.
gwbask writes:
BS to you
TommyJack writes:
agree...very cheesy...sounds like maybe there's trouble in paradise.
givehim6 writes:
So what ya trying to say John? You jumping on the Vandy UK band wagon now? Funny how most of the rightersat KNS want to see CLK fallon his face.
gwbask writes:
Thanks 1st. I wouldn't post it if I hadn't seen it. It has been a tough 5 days.
secfan44 writes:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football...
bluetick writes:
I'm pretty positive Gran won't be the HC at Memphis. I know it was offered and he interviewed but he won't be the coach there.
chrisw2967 writes:
Gran might want to be a head coach but I dont think Mempuss is where he wants to start it at.
Thats a job that leads to no where. Ask Tommy West,the best he will be is a cordinator some place else.
tfoxi writes:
Ain't no way we lose to Vandy. We don't play down to teams anymore, this is a new era.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
Adams you are on target with ur work sir a few months ago I was not pleased with the info from ur articles or any other stuff by anyone else on here.
Lane has his work cut out for him these 2 games are not going to be a walkthru with the injuries and bb gun heist.We have to keep players in line this cost us bigtime and We are going to have to bring it against Vandy and KY is going to be a shootout. We are going to have to jump on them early and pound them.Ky thinks they can beat us and Cobb has to be shut down after what I saw against OLE PISZ trust me Ky is licking there chops with corn-Cobb.I think we got Vandy but Ky is going to be hard..im not joke-in
Anybody wanna weigh in on this?
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
to me he is already gone his intentions are clear.Cya GRAN MA you blew it buddy if you stayed at UT a few years you would have learned with the best buddy...and you would have got to coach some star players
tfoxi writes:
Cobb isn't nearly as good as McCluster. He plays QB as well, so we have to make him throw. We will not get embarrassed like we did on Saturday again this season. We have the advantage on pretty much every position on the field over Kentucky, and I know this team will be ready.
tfoxi writes:
But first we have to take care of Vandy.
dbc5361 writes:
Look at this phooey!
http://img691.imageshack.us/i/27abcd....
coalvol writes:
I wouldn't have a problem with Gran interviewing if for another job if he'd been here a few years but after only one year?? If he gets it good riddance...but then again loyalty is a thing of the past.....
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Let's play up to our capabilites and win out.
Including the bowl game, even if it is in Shreeveport.
TommyJack writes:
No one should be sent to Bossier City. Cruel & Unusual.
Madkels writes:
You gotta admit that's pretty dang funny and creative!
tnbigg writes:
Yup. Let's try to get the players who want to win on track and get rid of the morons who so selfishly do things that hurt the program. For me personally? I don't want to hear about "apologies"...especially not at FCA. That is disgusting. Grow up, man up and face the truth about disasterous choices. If you are a scholarship player and you choose to commit or be a part of an armed robbery attempt you need to go to prison and learn the lesson you never learned. Gun crimes in Tennessee ( READ http://bit.ly/1L0sLr ) are serious business. No prima donas. The "privelege" these fools earned is the "privelege" to get three meals a day in prison. "Privelege" has its price...
VolFanInTheBoro writes:
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football...
gillblog writes:
As a Memphis resident, I suggest that anyone interviewing for HC here is making a big big big mistake. Talk about a program in turmoil.... the Memphis football program is NOT in turmoil; they are absolutely stuck in the mud and it's thicker than Mississippi mud. It is now and will almost certainly always be a basketball school and the admin people are not interested in changing their focus. Local support of the football team pales in comparison to their bb support. The conference they play in is not even interesting and recruiting here is like trying to catch a big grouper in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy.
So, it's a great puzzle. Why would coach Gran who is supposedly on the ground floor of an up and coming program with lots of incoming talent and a headline-grabbing headcoach possibly do this? In summary: this doesn't make sense.
WytheVol writes:
I live about 45 miles from Blacksburg, VA and the rumors around here are that Bud Foster IS interested in the Memphis job. Haven't seen anything in writing, but I'm friends with many near the VT program that claim he is interested in the gig. If that is indeed the case, then I can't imagine Gran would get it over him.
Ironcity writes:
It does make sense. He can get a contract that pays 4 times what he makes right now. I would think any coach worth his weight would strive to be a head coach. We as fans need to get use to this. Our coaches will be sought after. We will likely lose coaches every year. If nobody wanted our coaches then we would probably need to get new ones anyway.
ETNTigerFan writes:
From everything I've heard it's Larry Porter or Foster.
jake2583 writes:
Anybody heard anything on where Fulmer might end up?
OTPVol writes:
Anybody care?
jake2583 writes:
I'm sure there are lots of folks out there that will be interested to see where he lands. I saw him at the airport the other day and it just got me wonderin.
WytheVol writes:
My pick would be UVA. UVA has to get somebody in there that can recruit Central and Eastern VA again.
WytheVol writes:
I'm interested in seeing how it all plays out. Either would be a good hire for Memphis.
GreeneVol writes:
I think we'll take care of Vandy on Saturday. Kentucky, another dose of that head-scratchin' spread, does scare me - at their place to boot. Auburn & Ole Miss ran wild on us with the spread...Monte didn't exactly perfect the cover 2 for the spread.
jake2583 writes:
yeah. he'd do well there. i heard somewhere that louisville is after him pretty hard and also colorodo. who knows? i know it will be wierd seeing him on the sidelines somewhere other then here.
seventysevenvol writes:
This Vandy game will not be close. It will be a lopsided win and Kiffin will run it up to wash the bad taste from the previous week- arrested players and the Ole Miss loss- from the team's mouth. Vanderbilt's defense will put up a little token D early, but will wear down and then fold. They do have good RB's, but no QB or receivers.
desfpvol13 writes:
I don't see a problem with an assistant coach interviewing for a head coaching job. It doesn't matter if he's been here 1 year or 10. If he was looking to jump ship for another assistant job, then that might be some cause for concern. But if he has aspirations to be a head coach, and sees an opportunity, then why wouldn't he at least put his name out there?
GerryOP writes:
You can look up ol' moanin' while you're down there.
jacksonvol writes:
Can you folks even run spell check? What a lousy article.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
Cracker Barrel
REC4GoVols writes:
I would be very surprised if Gran takes the job. We should take pride in the fact that other schools consider our asst. coaches as head coah material. When you have the arguably best coaching staff in college football it is unrealistic to think that UT can keep this talented staff together for longer than a few years. Especailly if the vols keep improving on a yearly basis. Aslong as we can keep CLK and Monte around for the long haul i wouldnt panic. USC often loses their asst coaches, but as long as Pete Carrol is there they have stability. Tennessee will be no different. Hopefully we can keep Ed Orgeron around by promising him the D cord. job in a few years. He will be more than qualified to take over after working under Monte. His energy and ability to recruit would be tough to replace. Since CLK has alot to do with the offense and in recruiting, i believe we will be fine as far as coaching is concerned! GO VOLS!
Psychovol writes:
I thought Memphis wanted a name like Bowden, Fulmer or Tuberville?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
One thing some are not considering about Gran's interview with Memphis is that it is good practice interviewing for a head job anywhere. As others have said, there aren't many assistants who just don't WANT to be a HC. When a guy first tries to step up to a higher-level job, he rarely gets it the first time, but every such interview he goes on, the better chance he will have the next time.
As for those who think this speaks badly for the program, first of all, several of them are well-known interloping trolls who, as we all know, will spin ANYTHING they can to make the program look bad. Recruits know that there is a chance that ANY coach recruiting them might go elsewhere. Plus, I think most of them are smart enough to know that that means the coach really IS someone worth knowing and playing for if he is regarded as head coach material.
Besides, I have never yet seen an announcement by any hiring school that said, "Yeah, we interviewed Coach So-and-so but we decided he just wasn't qualified after all. We can do better than that loser." Everybody will know well before National Signing Day whether Gran will get the job or if he will take it. You know Memphis will want to have someone on board before then if they possibly can, so HE will have a chance to recruit. For that matter, CLK will want to know so he can shuffle recruiting duties around and start the search for a successor.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
On the topic of this article, the Vols can't afford to take either Vandy or especially UK lightly. There have been more than a few wins against both of them that UT was lucky to get. After last Saturday, I am no longer convinced of UT's luck, so they are going to need all their skill and heart to win both. I think they will, but the football world doesn't OWE us victory just because we fans have come to expect it.
murrayvol writes:
First 250 fans through the turnstiles get themselves a genuine Poulan Weedeater. Now that's nothing to sneeze at.
And the game is on Dec. 12. Get that bowl trip out of the way early.
murrayvol writes:
Nope.
murrayvol writes:
Vandy doesn't owe us a victory but they're in no posistion to stop us from getting one.
asleep#212036 writes:
I would bet on Terry Bowden for that job. I live in north Alabama and UNA is doing great this year. He picked up a bunch of academic/behavioral D-1 rejects (like Richardson and Edwards) and is dominating in D-2. You know the guy can recruit and it's not like Memphis has some sort of winning tradition to uphold. Throw in the politics and I think he's their guy. He wants back in D-1 and a place like Memphis would be his most likely start. He won't comment of course until UNA's season is over, which could take a few more weeks.
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Overlook nobody! We could easily loose one or both of these games. Too many distractions & injuries (we're running out of players at some positions) to take either team lightly. It's up to the coaches to keep the players focused & ready to play, especialy after last week. I hope they can, I expect them to be ready to play.
I predicted a 8-4 or 7-5 season & some kind of bowl this year, please don't prove me wrong on all counts. Any bowl is better than no bowl at all.
GO VOLS!!!
p.s. Off topic, Many have said the two kids robbed were "stoners" & that Jackson failed a drug test. I have not seen any proof of either. Is any of this true or just wild speculation.
ctexorange writes:
My prediction is Lil Lane and The New UT football team will "Steal" the win from Vandy. Vandy will feel like they were "Mugged in an armed robbery" after the beating UT will put on em'. LOL! Are we wearing our New black uni's with the hoodies for the Vandy game?
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