A fire alarm went off inadvertently in the Wolf-Kaplan Center just prior to Tennessee's football press conference Tuesday. A little late, huh?
Shouldn't we have heard that four days before last year's opener? Maybe about the time then-offensive coordinator Dave Clawson was giving us "an all is well" with the new offense.
Actually, I'm not sure an alarm would have been sufficient. Ground tremors would have been more appropriate, followed by the roof collapsing just as Clawson assured us the offense was game-ready.
Instead, everybody - players, media and fans - stepped blindly into 2008 as though it were no different from any other football season. At least on the Titanic, the iceberg was spotted ahead of time.
No alarms are needed this preseason. UT's upperclassmen have a semester's worth of education in disasters, which they know can come out of nowhere, including Wyoming.
"Wyoming" joined the conversation anytime I asked players about the possibility of overlooking 30-point underdog Western Kentucky in Saturday's season opener at Neyland Stadium.
Wyoming was bad enough to get its coach fired last season. It also was good enough to defeat UT in Neyland Stadium. What does that tell you?
It tells you that when the Vols are watching videotape of the Hilltoppers, they're probably seeing Cowboys.
"Look at those guys," UT strong safety Eric Berry said. "Everyone expected us to beat (the Cowboys) and have a pretty big game, but we lost.
"We still have a bad taste in our mouths from last year. We just need to come out and make a statement."
It's in their best interests if the statement bears no resemblance to what UT has been offering up in recent games of this ilk. In fact, you can trace the decline of UT football by what the Vols have done against football nobodies as well the game's elite. Wyoming is merely the most flagrant example.
In the last four years, during which the Vols have had two losing seasons, look at all the close calls against undistinguished opponents.
In 2005, UT won its season opener against UAB 17-10. The Blazers finished the season 5-6.
Later that season, UT outlasted Memphis 20-16. By then, injuries had left the Tigers (7-5) with a converted wide receiver at quarterback and without star running back DeAngelo Williams.
In 2006, UT needed a great defensive play on a two-point conversion to turn back Air Force 31-30. That was the first of eight losses for the Falcons.
In 2007, the Vols didn't cut it that close against non-BCS opponents. But there was something unsettling about watching Arkansas State (5-7) move the ball so effectively in a 48-27 loss. It hadn't scored more than 21 points in its previous 15 games against BCS teams.
Last year, not only did the Vols lose to Wyoming, they squeaked past Northern Illinois 13-9. And the Huskies played the majority of the game with a third-string quarterback.
So don't bother telling the Vols that Western Kentucky might be the worst team in the country. Don't bother telling first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, either. He's not at Southern California anymore.
The Trojans were better than just about everyone for five of Kiffin's six years there as an assistant. Taking lesser opponents seriously was an ongoing challenge.
"It was a difficult thing to do," Kiffin said. "We're not in that situation because we're not very good yet.
"There will come a day when we'll be in that situation, where we'll have to worry about our players overlooking a team because of our success. Right now, if we have any players overlooking Western Kentucky, we've got a big issue, because there's no way that we're good enough to do that."
But the Vols don't need to hear that from Kiffin. Wyoming already made that point.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 67
fpcoach writes:
i'm expecting the VOLS to make a statement saturday. Go Big Orange.
xvolx writes:
I don't just want to win. I want to win by 60-0. so sick of Fulmer's win by a fieldgoal, if the mustang defense can hold them at the end.
BleedOrangeForever writes:
I agree, we will run it down their throats the whole game. They shouldn't have the ball enough to score very many points. TOP- UT 40 WK 20
Waldorf writes:
Good riddance Foolmore!
DooleyNoted writes:
want to win by 31. have a bet with a wku alum. Vols 35-3
Pullingguard writes:
The above article is an eye opener that few failed to realize at the time, but, it reflects the difficulty and lack of offense UT showed with teams that should have been cream puffs for the Vols.. And was, if not realized a detoration of the Fulmer coaching era.
appalachianvol writes:
You prepair for the next game! you can only play one game at a time. Overlooking is no excuse/ UT will not be looking ahead until next saturday night!
SHAWVOL writes:
cant wait to see bryce brown kick the door in and enter college football with a huge game i hope our freshman are ready to make a huge impact this game is a great way for them to start
AceVentura writes:
You think they're going to score 20 on us? I don't see that happening. We had the 3rd best D in the nation last year and yes we lost some players but I think we're going to be very solid on that side of the ball.
BleedOrangeForever writes:
Time of possession!
BleedOrangeForever writes:
Score 42-10
prideofthesouthland writes:
Good game-week read John!
jst4tdyvols writes:
We should destroy them. Our guys are hungry i would really like to see us hang 40 or more on them.
yeavols#228407 writes:
Appy State embarressed Michigan..Wyoming embarressed Tennessee..The only difference was that everyone saw the Michigan game and our wasn't televised thank goodness. We should not and will not overlook teams in the future. I am sure we won't lose this opener. One game at a time, but I can't help it: DESTROY UCLA and DEFEND NEYLAND!
4114 writes:
I hope they run the rock all game.No faith in any of the quaterbacks. Let's see that freshman duo destroy all the records.
UT 31
WKU 3
DannyVol writes:
Fulmer is gone, Adams. I know he was your bread-and-butter, but move on. You are going to have to become at least a two-trick pony...you useless hack.
Orangeblood13 writes:
one thing for sure, no matter who the coach, no matter what the records, no matter the players, Adams you always have a everlasting dig and jab at our home team. You are just plain phooey.
CoverOrange writes:
Our run defense was good, pass defense okay. Take a closer look at the offenses they went up against last year to pad the stats: UCLA, Auburn, Northern Illinois, Wyoming were mediocre to bad. South Carolina, Vandy and Kentucky weren't that great either. Also consider that Florida and Alabama were pretty much done at half time and just grinding it out after that. The defense last year was good but not really the third best in the nation.
warriorman86#667191 writes:
Were you absent in 3rd grade when they taught you how to spell "embarrass"? Please stop making us look like Mountain Gumps.
Cldvols1 writes:
Can't wait for CLK to make UT a dynasty like USC! But first we gotta game, in 4 days no less, against a WKU squad that can't be overlooked. I predict we don't and take out some frustration on the Pillpoppers! UT 45, WKU 6
Vol_FAN_atic writes:
UT -37
WKU-13
(3) Offensive TD's
(3) Field goals
(1) Defensive TD by UT
Volunteer writes:
Be easy on the guy warriorman of the enlish language...he got his point across, this is a freakin football posting site not english class.
Txvol57 writes:
I want to see the Vols blow them out also!! But I dont want to see any smiles or laughing on the sidelines if we are up big. This is all business and needs to be taken seriously. Plus...you dont need to get that excited if you hang 50 on a I-AA school...we are supposed to!
chrisw2967 writes:
Im thinking more like 54-7 , I dont see kiffin sitting on a lead and hanging on for a victory.Kiffin knows a statement needs to be made for this team and even though its WKU, I think he runs up the score to get this team some confidence going into UCLA week.
If Tenn doesnt blow them out ,the media will be all over Kiffin.
rich182x writes:
Is the game televised?
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
So this program is supposed to look in ther rear view mirror? It is time to stop talking about the 2008 season and move on. Was this article written by a Kentucky Basketball Fan or a Florida Football Fan?
gnm53108 writes:
I'm in a wait and see mode with Crompton,although I think we would be better off with Nick.
With ya on the rock thing.
300 + yrds.
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
Amen!
jmr68ut writes:
i'm expecting the VOLS to make a statement saturday
If not now, when??? GO TENNESSEE!!!!
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Maybe, after Saturday, we won't have to hear people bashing Fulmer anymore. I'm not holding my breath, but a man can hope, right?
yeavols#228407 writes:
My spelling is generally correct. I mistakenly put an "e" instead of an "a" on the word and missed it. Can you forgive me? By the way, mountain gumps isn't capitalized. It's not a proper noun. It's a common noun. Word of advice to you before you send a scathing memo to someone: proofread your own garbage before posting it!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Thanks VOLUNTEER. I'll be more careful in the future. I didn't know putting an "e" instead of an "a" on embarrass would qualify me as a "gump".
volaholic45 writes:
I remember watching the opener against Colorado State in Neyland some years back, sitting next to a dad with his 5-year old son. After a quarter or so of the Vols phoning it in and CS taking it to them, the kid complained, "Dad, those other boys are playing too rough."
The blind squirrel JA found a nut today - there have been way too many of those kinds of games in recent years.
I'm looking forward to something else beginning Saturday. Go Vols. Beat somebody.
doubledown writes:
I've been thinking 37-10 all week. So when we run the score up on WKU, what do we do next, put in the Juniors and Seniors?
Think about it, this score could get out of hand.
doubledown writes:
yes, on the New SEC network by ESPN which be on a local channel near you.. check listings in your area..
volaholic45 writes:
This is actually a very big game for Kiffin. Can you imagine the hell there will be to pay from national press and haters and even the faithful if the Vols do a rerun of Wyoming and tank this game? There would be less pressure on Kif if his first game was FL, a game no one expects us to win or even be that competitive in. He HAS to clear one (WK) or maybe two (UCLA) checks before the one he wrote on FL bounces.
Voluvr writes:
Man....we were awful.
jakethevolguy writes:
I'm with ya, CW. I was thinkin the Vols should score two TDs per qtr while holding WK to a couple of field goals. OK, so one qtr it's a TD and a FG. Vols 52 - Hilltoppers 6 GO BIG ORANGE!!!
GerryOP writes:
MSG in the NY/NJ/CT area.
NobodyCares (Inactive) writes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqT5M_...
Cldvols1 writes:
Were, as in past tense, as in 2008! Put it in your rear view mirror and don't look back. A new era is about to take place with rejuvinated players and coaches. I have respect for Fulmer but his time had come. Go 2009 Vols!!!
vol88 writes:
I was just about to lay into Adams for yet ANOTHER article talking about how bad last year was. But unfortunately, this column makes a compelling argument for the decline of the program. I think I've had a little too much Kool-Aid over the past few years...
GerryOP writes:
We must occasionally look back while we are looking ahead!
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," George Santayana
TommyJack writes:
Send somebody back for a chitload of dimes. -Slim Pickens
Mr_Brownstone writes:
I predict a GAME ON explosion; UT - 38 WKU - 7
GerryOP writes:
Always drink upstream from the herd - Riders In the Sky
Raynoch writes:
It's not possible to make a statement against a team like Western KY. We could be them by 60 and the SEC powers wouldn't bat an eye. The time to make a statement will be in Gainesville. And by statement, I mean playing hard and fundamentally sound and keeping it within two touchdowns.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I see what you're saying, but it WOULD be a statement, if not the kind we want, if we DON'T put a sound whipping on WKU. I'm not at all concerned about the final score as long as we win, don't get important people hurt, and play with poise, discipline, and execution. This is still a work in progress. Forget about the other team and even the score; this game is about how WE are progressing.
Raynoch writes:
That is a good point. We could certainly make a statement by playing poorly.
gogreen writes:
Surprise coming folks:
WKU Hilltoppers 21
UT 13
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