OXFORD, Miss. — OXFORD, Miss. — On a week when three Tennessee players were arrested on attempted armed robbery charges, the rest of the Vols showed up at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday completely unarmed and definitely not dangerous.
UT put up only token opposition in a 42-17 blowout by Ole Miss in a major setback for Lane Kiffin's rebuilding plan.
Within the context of what happened in the wee hours of Thursday morning, it was as if the Vols brought a pellet gun to a firefight.
Afterward, we were left to wonder if there was an emotional hangover from that incident or if the Vols were simply overmatched by a middle-of-the-road SEC West opponent.
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Comments » 44
huntined#565710 writes:
We were just out-played the whole game period
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Lack of sppeed on the corners was never more apparent and the DE's getting sucked inside left a field day for Macluster.
VolunteerLifer writes:
That's what I saw, too. It was shocking the ease with which they turned our ends, and then more shocking to see no defenders in position at the edges. Their offensive staff really solved Monte's scheme, and/or their talent was simply superior to ours. Hats off to them - they exposed our talent-gap and our lack of depth like no one has this season. Their coaches outcoached ours, as well, with better plans and schemes. It was just an old fashioned azz whipping. Hopefully, our players and coaches will learn from it and get stronger. It's a transition year, and this is just a part of it.
VolQB writes:
Another great negative article by Climer.
Anyway, Nutt normally has his boys ready against us. I am not sure of his pregame speech but we need to steal it. We got him by fumble on the way to NC one year but his teams have whipped TN a number of times. Was Nutt coaching when we beat a Ark team with Adrian and Felix?
jhvol writes:
So does this mean that we have played above our heads the rest of the season. This is still going to be a good program and we can still have a good year. Simply put Saturday Ole Miss was better than us, it sucks, but its true.
CoverOrange writes:
The pre-game speech was by Tony Dungey. You know, the guy that used to coach Peyton Manning. You know, the guy that used to light it up in Neyland.
Seriously, I think Lane's statement that the team was focused in practice was a cover up. Ole Miss is this year's Wyoming. Team distracted by off-field events.
Regarding Houston, Adrian and Felix, that was two years ago so yes Nutt was at the helm.
chad_t31 writes:
It was darren mcfadded, not Adrian. He(nutt) was also at ark when we went 6 ots that one year. Not only did mccluster kill us with his spped, the misdirection plays hurt us too...time after time after time. I mean really, those type of plays mustve been run 12 times. The whole backside was open every single time and we can't adjust??
VolQB writes:
It's been awhile but remember when TN LB's shot gaps and made or disrupted plays in the backfield. We need Luc and a couple more like him.
chad_t31 writes:
speed*
lomas98 writes:
What is going on each week? After big wins TN is the next SEC champion, after losses TN makes major step backwards. It is a loss to a more talented team and the depth and injuries finally caught up. This is still a team that went 5-7 last year and had a couple years of average recruiting. The player development this year has been wonderful and the recruiting for next year is going to be fine. Don't see how one loss is a major step backwards. If TN finishes 7-5 and wins their bowl game, this guy will say they are favorites to win the east next year.
shane6#638715 writes:
Hey Gents. Just got back from Iraq and will be coming home during the weekend of the Vandy game. Anybody got 4 tickets to the game that they want to sell REAL cheap? Want to take the wife and kids. If so email shane6@mchsi.com. Thanks.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
This recruiting class just became that much more important..The difference between or OL and Ole Miss was like night and day..WR's Moore and Jones would be second string at Bama;LSU and FLa; They are decent 10 to 15 yard possesion recievers but they are small and have little to no breakaway speed..I was disappointed with our DE play, Walker;once called unblockable hasn't been dominate and Hughes needs more experience..Clearly we must bring on some top notch OL if we hope to compete...The reality that this teams return is a 3 year project has set in..As a loyal fan Iam fine with our new found reality
Skullz_VOL writes:
Thats what I'm talking about. 8-5 will be a success. Next year will be tough too, but the years following? Look out!
Psychovol writes:
The Three Amigos are antisocial narcistic entitled brats that are a legend in thier own minds. What about curfew on a school night during game week? Not to mention guilt by association. I'd like to see drug screens on all three but the public isn't privy to that info. Nevertheless, I'm sure they'd all test positive for stupidity.
the10sevol writes:
credit where credit is due. ole miss outplayed us, outcoached us, outhustled us, and outcheered us (at home, winning the game, granted).
having watched the game on tv, i can't swear it's true, but i would guess their team bus driver outran our team bus driver on the way to the stadium, and their towel-folders were folding their dried towels while our towel-folders were moving our towels from the washers to the driers, too.
congrats to the rebs, they were the best team yesterday. yesterday is over, let's get back to work.
GBO
HollySpringsVOL writes:
I believe they all *have" tested positive for stupidity. It is a shame that the backlash from their lack of common sense and foolishness was partly responsible for the melt down in Mississippi. I am pulling for the coaches to get the rest of the team's mind in the right place and finish up with wins against Vandy and Kentucky for a wining season. 7-5 is not bad for a rebuilding year in the SEC. That is my hope for this team, along with no additional criminal mishaps.
Roanewolf writes:
Tennessee was outplayed no doubt about it. I was concerned at the start however. When Ole Miss came running onto the field they were fired up. Tennessee walked onto the field with no fire. When I saw that I said this could be a long day, they are flat.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
Surprised that our front four was manhandled on defense. Not surprised at our linebackers, they have not played well all yr. - too slow. Our recruiting class of last yr. dropped from #10 down to about 25 with the loss of the 3 amigos. I don't see any of them coming back, especially with JJ's history of the past 3 weeks.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
I had this game circled on the scheduel as a loss all along with GA or Aub and AL and FL.I said 9 wins would be very unlikely and 7 or 8 would be the way it played out.We can still win 8 with the bowl.
The players need to stay focused as use this whipping to there advantage the next 2 games.
This is a rebuilding year no reason this loss should shock you... we beat JAWGA and USC and should deliver our anual killing to KY jelly and Vandy possums
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
The Goon that threw me out of Neyland for nothing besides standing by the rail last weekend looked like he used to work in a cemetary.
He shall be refered to as Gravedigger in future posts!
just giving a heads-up to the regulars
*thank you kindly
straightshooter writes:
This is not the time to be negative regarding the progress made based on this game. The facts are it was a rebuilding year and this team is still not on par with the upper tier teams with talent. Second the holdup incidence left the players unfocused and had to be a major distraction for the coaching staff as well. Third, Ole Miss was a preseason top ten team and they played like it Saturday. They had to break out sometime and UT happened to be the team it happened to. And fourth, injuries and the loss of Jackson certainly affected the UT defensive play. Finally,look at the Georgia win last night over an Auburn team UT got dominated by. Teams play at different levels every Saturday in college football.
RollTideJoe writes:
I think most of your posts are very accurate. First, the talent level just isn't there at this time. The team played over its head a couple of games, which is commendable. But, the season is waging onward and fatigue, depth, and speed were just not there. The comment about the three idiots caught on Cumberland during the week is also astute. What happened to kids being in class all day, working hard in afternoon football practice, and doing homework in the evening? Who, doing that, would have the time and energy to be carousing like they did in the wee hours of the morning? Yes, they are idiots and it clearly caused distractions for the team and coaches. Kiffin needs to maintain his disciplinary principles and show the team that he means business.
mm29680#645909 writes:
New Cheer:
"Keep 'em out of jail, and we won't fail."
Some of these recruits have a low EQ (emotional quotient rather than an IQ.)
mm29680#645909 writes:
There is not a better analysis than this post. Thank you.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Nutt should be fired for allowing that team to lose 3 games.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
his job isnt to misrepresent the facts just to blow blow sunshine up your tailpipe----------if you can only handle the truth when its positive but not when its not then quit reading any objective, unbiased journalist comments and just continue to stick you head in the sand or koolaide------your just not grownup enough if the truth may sometimes hurt your feelins
volntx writes:
#1- This is still a rebuilding year and can still be a decent one at that.
#2- We have lost 2 starting middle LBs,not easy for a defense to hide that fact,especially when they are not deep talent wise.
#3- Lost the starting free safety,yes he is that good.
#4- Tenn. has not won a road game all year and you expected different...why?
oldQB writes:
Poor Climer, he doesn't know which side of the fence to be on. We have big wins and everything is good, we suffer our first blowout and the sky is falling. Vols are fine and CLK has them going in the right direction.
t_tat writes:
If true, which I doubt, it would be because CLK knew what would happen without Jackson playing in the game.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
i dont believe the "word" that Saunders speaks of at all and suggest hes just making stuff up to try to make a point that the truth wouldnt support
VolunteerLifer writes:
We did NOT take a major step backward. We had a bad week, that's for sure. We were 'exposed' to put it the way Kiffin did, as a team lacking in talent and depth right now. And three of our players pulled one of the dumbest acts of betrayal of the program I have ever seen.
But the program remains intact and headed forward. The team will regroup after the loss, and the arrested players will be dealt with accordingly, and we will move on. We didn't make progress this week, but we didn't get thrown backwards either.
VolunteerLifer writes:
As someone else said, a great point. I was thinking as I was watching them whipping us, "Man, how did these guys ever lose a game this year?"
VolunteerLifer writes:
Prove it. Name names and cite sources.
Otherwise, I am hereby calling you out as a liar.
BluezVol writes:
So did Southern Cal take a major step backwards as well?
OTPVol writes:
We're rebuilding. First year, it's been better than expected and we still have two (three) games to go. It's only going to get better boys! Keep the faith. All Summer I said "Show me in September." I'm a believer. We're going to lose some games, some to great teams, some to not so great teams, but for the first time in a long time, I expect us to win every time we take the field. GBO!!!!!!!! Whip Vandy!!!!
JK4Vols writes:
Credit Ole Miss for a great game and McCluster for a super job...but Climber seriously dude crawl back under your rock! I live in Nashville and can't even listen to the afternoon sports talk when you are on there...what a jerk.
Ringside writes:
Agree. Houston Nutt loves beating Tennessee.
1998 is still in his gut. Load the stables.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
We will take the Dores but the Cats could cause us trouble. If we take both of them, you can order your Peach Bowl tickets.
VolQB writes:
Yabado are you Climers husband? What a wacko response. I live in N'ville so Climer being quick on a negative article is the norm. I was representing the facts. You calling Climer a journalist hurts my feelings.
TheFuj writes:
So true. The DB's looked horrible. Could not get off blocks. Evans and Prentiss definitely not ready for SEC. Evans has been helped all year with Jackson and Berry.
I thought Monte would align the DE's out more instead of heads up. Right now the wildcat pkg eats Monte up.
mm29680#645909 writes:
I remember thinking the very same thing as I watched the beginning. It reminded me of the time (1995?) we went to Memphis and got beat.
ctownvol writes:
We got beat. It happens guys. It will happen again either this year or in the future. I guarantee it!
537081 writes:
The team disapointed me this week. My kids disapointed me sometimes when they were young. I still loved and supported them. This team no matter if some break the law, or they have a bad day playing ball. How many young men on the team are doing right and getting a education? Coach Kiffen can't hold eveyones hand 24 hours a day. Why is everyone on him? What I'm trying to say is Coach Kiffen and The football team is I've got your back. I hate Vandy let's get ready for them.
PennVol writes:
We were out-prepared, out-played and out-coached. The most disappointing part of the game was our lack of adjustments at halftime to stop MacLuster in the 2nd half. Maybe our lack of speed at the ends prevented our ability to make any real adjustments.
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