Preseason Game No. 5 is in the books. The video has been graded. Now, Tennessee moves on to the real season.
Lane Kiffin didn't use that terminology. He didn't call a 63-7 romp over Western Kentucky on Saturday a preseason game, as he had UT's August scrimmages.
There were, after all, 98,761 witnesses in the stands. Folks in Boca Raton and Bessemer were able to watch the rout on TV. So were folks in Marina del Rey, if they had the proper satellite coordinates.
And, bottom line, there is a 1-0 attached to Tennessee's 2009 schedule and Kiffin's ledger as a college head coach.
But as much fun as Saturday was for the victory-starved Vols and their excitement-starved fans, the real work begins today.
UCLA is up next and it won't be that easy. It won't be easy at all.
Which might or might not come as a surprise to Tennessee's precocious rookie class that played such a prominent role in Preseason Game No. 5. It's difficult to tell what's rattling around inside the head of a freshman flush with success.
"Western Kentucky was a good team today,'' David Oku said Saturday after scoring two touchdowns in his college debut. "They're not a terrible team.''
Ah, from the mouths of babes.
"It was their first game and they didn't know what to expect,'' senior linebacker Nick Reveiz said of his freshmen. "I'm not worried about them. They're great guys and they work hard.''
All the same, Reveiz and the other veterans will take the lead when the Vols hit the practice field today:
"We've got to really set the tone the first day of practice this week and let 'em know, 'Hey, these guys are going to be tough. They're going to be good.' ''
Even if the Bruins are only average, they'll be a quantum leap above the Hilltoppers.
UCLA and Tennessee have an unusual history for programs three time zones apart. Tennessee leads the series 7-5-2.
Saturday's 4 p.m. ESPN game finds the Bruins and Vols with more similarities than striking differences. Both have seen better days. Both have entrusted new coaches to do something about it.
The rivalry had sat dormant for 11 years until UT went to Pasadena last year as the favorite. UCLA sprung the upset for new coach Rick Neuheisel, 27-24.
The Bruins danced off the field - and then got poleaxed 59-0 by BYU the following week.
That should be the first reminder that opening-day success has no shelf life whatsoever.
UCLA's initial glow faded to a 4-8 finish. Tennessee never did recover, finished 5-7, and got its coach fired.
Now it's Tennessee with the new coach promising to restore the program to past glory.
That coach, Kiffin, can count UCLA among the opponents from whom he does not receive Christmas cards.
In 2005, as Southern Cal's offensive coordinator, Kiffin called the shots as the Trojans routed their crosstown rivals 66-19. He was also on the staff of USC teams that beat the Bruins by the likes of 27-0, 52-21 and 47-22.
"I tell you what, you will not find anybody else in the world that wants to beat UCLA more than Ed Orgeron and Lane Kiffin.''
That was Orgeron on Kiffin's TV show Sunday morning.
Orgeron, UT's recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach, was 6-1 against UCLA in his tenure at Southern Cal, part of which overlapped Kiffin's. Suffice it to say he won his share of recruiting wars with the Bruins.
Neuheisel, meanwhile, moves forward into Year Two of his rebuilding plan. The Bruins opened with a 33-14 win over San Diego State on Saturday and by all accounts are a better team than the one that beat UT last season.
The Vols, too, look improved from 2008. Just how much is still debatable, given Western Kentucky's deficiencies.
Chew this nugget for perspective:
The last time UT scored more points than Saturday was a 70-3 slaughter of over Louisiana-Monroe in 2000. The next week, the 11th-ranked Vols lost to unranked LSU 38-31 in overtime.
So the old heads, guys like Reveiz and Wes Brown and Jonathan Crompton, had better enlighten the freshmen this week.
Not all Saturdays will be like their first one.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
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Comments » 82
dvhill100 writes:
Monte vs Chow. A true coaching clinic. Should be a lot of fun. Coming from Charleston to see the game. I'll be sure to get gas in SC so I don't have to pump myself. :)
bhorton#213253 writes:
Went a long way to see the Vols lose last year. A little payback would be sweet.
utfpmd writes:
Better Monte vs Chow than Chavis vs Chow like we saw last year. That was nauseating.
flytnn writes:
Tennessee will beat UCLA this Saturday like red headed step children. UCLA is not a good team. They may score 7 on our D.
Tenn 45 UCLA 3
dlobh writes:
I'm with you there, bro.
ThurmondEppy writes:
"Poleaxed." Funny.
OrangeCrush writes:
Great point Mike about how high a team can be one week, and if the intensity isn't there the next - well you get the picture.
I would like nothing better than an old fashion behind the wood shed beating especially remembering how we beat ourselves last year.
orangepridenation writes:
i too think the vols will come out on top relatively easily. not quite 45-3, but i'm guessing somewhere within the 35-10 range. and to this strange guy that wrote the article, yes ucla was indeed playing the san diego state aztecs, and indeed won 33-14, now i don't know much about sdsu, but i imagine they can't be that much better than western ky considering the only time i hear about them is when they're getting creamed by the likes of usc or ucla. and 33-14 isn't quite 63-7 incase you haven't figured it out. and playing at san diego state isn't quite playing at neyland stadium. if this young talented team can keep its composure and not get overly confident between now and then, which believe me, i see a very low likelyhood of coach kiff allowing that to happen after what he's shown thus far, than i see no reason why the vols should not win this contest easily by at least three scores. believe in the kiff. go big orange SWARM!!
jcoop9909 writes:
UCLA will throw alot more than WKU did..that way we can go ahead and get that record for E Berry lol... UT:38 UCLA:10
eb502us#225637 writes:
Thanks for the shout out down here in Boca Raton.
UCLA might be an improved team, but could we have been any worse last year?
Even if we've improved the same amout, we've rid ourselves of an inept offensive system and coaches. That alone is worthy of this game not being as close as people might believe. Vols roll in this one.
orangepridenation writes:
i'm not going to sit here and hate on you for saying that, because you do make a few valid points. however, there is no way in this world or any other that the gators will EVER beat us by a score of that insane margin.
but to your points, it was the first game, yes there were a couple of balls thrown behind the receivers, but i think that was mostly rust, and will be fixed, punt returns, also, first game jitters, i believe we'll be just fine there too, now for those interceptions, tipped balls, i'm sorry but i can't put that on either crompton or the receivers. those were just really good efforts by the defense, but those too can be fixed, i would account those to the offensive linemen, anytime a d-lineman jumps up into the air, you put him on his rear, and i'm sure monte kiffin is giving them an earfull about that one, which they'll also fix.
i'm not saying that their is no room for improvement, because ofcourse there is. and there always will be, nobody will ever play a completely flawless game, not even the mighty florida gators. but what they must do is continue to improve, listen to these brilliant coaches and apply all aspects of the knowledge they're gaining to their game and the vols will continue to swarm. go vols!
balloonman writes:
i live in Bowling Green & can tell you that WKU could not stay within 30 of the top 30 1aa teams.....don't get too much kool aid yet!
orangepridenation writes:
yes thats basically what i meant, i was only referring to the one that was tipped at the line. the other..is what i meant by saying it was simply an excellent play by the defender. i'm not too worried about it, those types of things will happen every once in a while. great effort on the part of that defender whoever he was.
orangepridenation writes:
a little late for that one wouldn't you say? vol nation is on fire, and yes everyone knows we played a terrible opponent, but the only type of kool-aid that vols fans drink is orange, and you best believe we're gonna chug it after a 56 point victory...no matter who the opponent is. but its all sunk in with me now..on to UCLA. go big orange!
orangepridenation writes:
you could be very right. he does throw the rock with a low flying zip to it. we'll just hope for the best when it comes to that and hopefully when and if they are tipped, we won't have such negative luck and maybe have the balls fall into the ground rather than the hands of a defender.
tdforvols writes:
Don't forget the defense - only gave up 80 something yards. That's gotta be close to #1 in the country as well.
chefjorge writes:
Living in Seattle, Washington and being a Vol fan first and formost; but, also being a UW Husky fan (bummer they couldn't beat LSU), I have many reasons for hating UCLA and its complete cocky a-ess-ess of a coach Rick Neuweasel. I would love nothing better than to watch the Vols stomp them into oblivion.
By the by, I think a home and away with the Huskies is a natural. Kiffin and Sarkesian, both having coached at USC. It's the only other college stadium in America the Vol Navy could assault, if I'm not mistaken. Plus, I'd actually get to be a part of the sea of orange, albeit a slightly smaller one. It's completely beautiful out here. Come on now!
Stepchild_nFL writes:
Hey!
TNisPeerless writes:
good jab...nice and subtle
Stepchild_nFL writes:
In 2001, I was in the swamp on the 50 yard line, in the student section. UT had no chance again but Casey Clawsen came in and showed exceptional composure and simply ponded the rock (Travis Henry). Grossman was on his but all night long and the Vols prevailed. My point. It was as quiet as if you were IN the swamp. Anything is possible. With this staff I believe it is possible. Crompton needs to believe and then I have hope. Not easy n FL.
Stepchild say "Daddy don't beat me"
Cldvols1 writes:
UT 38, UCLA 10...payback's a bit*h!!!
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
I agree that we need not go out and buy Tickets to a 1 January BCS Game yet. We had a wonderful victory Saturday, and probably as great a begining to a season as I can remember, especiually after last season's failures.
With that said, Folks we need to do the same thing that the Vols have done! Winners expect to win,,and they do! Same goes the other way.
I doubt we will hang 63 on UCLA, but I'm confident we will hang 40 on them, and nobody is going to hang 40 on our defense this year. And CLK is not going to quit trying to score, until the other team quits trying to score! Something CPF never understood.
WE have a backfield that could best be described as a "Full Stable of Stallions"! And a diverse one at that,,,Race horses and plow horses, and teams of horses, (with good hands).
But more than anything else we have a Coaching Staff that understands what horse to run when, and how to put a rope on the other teams ponies.
WHAT WE ALSO HAVE, THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD IN A VERY LONG TIME IS DISCIPLINED PLAYERS! THEY ARE EDUCATED ON WHAT THEIR ROLE IS, AND THEY PERFORM IT WITHOUT FAILURE. oR SOMEONE ELSE WILL GET A CHANCE.
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
Vols 42 UCLA 9
imavolsfanforlife writes:
Funny this article doesn't mention the fact UCLA is playing HERE. I think that will have a huge impact on the game.
GahLee writes:
UT falls back down to Earth this weekend...sort of, we till win but not by the margin some of you are guessing...24-9
VolFanInTheBoro writes:
You posted: several balls behind the receivers. Crompton finished 21 of 28 passing. If 2 of those are the picks that only leaves that is only 5 incompletions. Thats not many balls behind receivers
xvolx writes:
If the vols start against ucla the way they did against west ky., they will be down 21-0 very fast. We made too many turnovers in 1st qtr, that a good team will turn into points.
OldNumber7 writes:
This is a measuring stick game for the new staff. They certainly want to demonstrate this ISN'T last year's team. The focus and discipline will be there with coaches and players. No let down this week. I'm certain UCLA is puckered.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Huge factor is correcting (if possible) the staring down the primary receiver from the get-go.
Better corners will lay back for a fast break on the telegraphed flare routes.
That said, pound the rock.
Then, pound it some more.
volsfannsc writes:
I see a win scheduled for this coming Saturday, and regardless of the final score that leaves us undefeated. From last year's perspective, that's great in my book. I've been on these posts for years now and I have always been amazed at how greedy most of us had become when it comes to Vol football. There's a difference between expecting a win by a large margin and having the confidence your team will deliver a win. How soon we forget a 5 & 7 season. Frankly I'm ecstatic for:
The improvement of this years coaching staff
The improvement of our running game
I see fire in our defense
Crompton looks like a QB this year
Our players play the game with attitude
We don't 'protect' a lead anymore- we extend it
This coaching staff has turned this team around 180 degrees and I feel blessed for that. I was a huge Fulmer fan but due to this coaching staff's efforts, I see things in a much different light.
Running up the score is great for the stats and I am aware this helps in the standings. All I'm saying is after last year, if we win 21-20, we are still undefeated. I'll take that.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I'm with you. All the windows for success get narrower against a better team. I'm sure everyone was as thrilled as I was about SO much obvious improvement in the team. Forget statistics; you could just tell by watching that these guys have SOMETHING about them that has been missing around here for some time now.
UCLA WILL be a tougher test and some of the flaws from Saturday that others have mentioned need fixing. I think it was a BIT of an exaggeration to say, as someone did above, that if we play against UCLA like we did against WKU we will get beat. That said, there were enough little mistakes and such to allow the coaches to get the players' full attention in practice this week. I think we will win, but I don't care by how much as long as we continue to show improvement and nobody gets hurt.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
No way this defense gets 73 hung on it by anybody. It held it's own against the Gators last year until it was worn out from being on the field all the time.
jimr07 writes:
Coach, i hope you have pointed these things out to Lane. I am sure he would welcome your help.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True. Overall, I think he rated a A-.
Stephens looked crisp and that one fake was picture perfect.
whistlinwingman writes:
Good points, however:
I know we didn't play a formidable opponent as other teams...but Geogia, South Carolina, LSU, Ohio St., Oklahoma are just a few teams that looked just as rusty and made just as many mistakes. Thats the reason you schedule a weak team for week one. So you can work out the kinks and rust and in return, build confidence. This ain't the Fulmer era anymore folks. It won't take until week 8 to start playing our best footbal. I am excited about what I saw Saturday and look for an even better team to hit the field against UCLA.
appalachianvol writes:
I disagree with the title of this article. The true test will be when we start playing SEC teams.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
you are right no one likes what you are saying because you are looking at the glass half empty. For a change I think you don't have to fear good things happening to this program. The days of expecting the worse is over. And when the worse happens I believe this regime has a plan to fix it. Fear not!
Hounddog writes:
UCLA is coming to town, tell your friends.
Let's play football. Hounddog.
arkyvol writes:
"UCLA is up next and it won't be that easy. It won't be easy at all." so saith the columnist.
if the vols lose to or even struggle with that excuse for a team, then all the so-called experts who have lightly regarded the vols will have been proven right. i don't believe it for a minute. i think the vols will do to u.c.l.a. what they should have done last year.
mtvols writes:
I've watched the game 3 times already and that is as well as we have played in years. Why all the negativity? It was the first game, good grief. I will take 2 INT by Crompton every week if he throws 5 TD passes also. Take a look at last year vs. N. Illinois, Wyoming, Auburn, etc. compared to Saturday. What is there to complain about?
chargervol writes:
You have to have faith, longvol. Just have faith. The Vols will be just fine. The coaches were coaching the players up even during the game. Did you not see Gran chewing Brown's behind for going out of bounds and not delivering a hit to the defender. These coaches we have don't believe in finesse, they play physical football. The way you have to play in today's SEC, physical. This team will be dreaded by everybody next year. We might not win them all, but, we will bruise them all. Keep the faith! GO VOLS!!!
CoverOrange writes:
According to Naffy, Aaron Rogers dropped all seven. jk
volsgirl writes:
I'm with you on this one.........Go Vols
Volways writes:
Ditto on the payback this year after the long trip out there last year. We had a blast there last year except for the game! It's time to get back to showing non-conference teams why SEC football rules!
TDTN writes:
I think the Vol Navy could make it to a Pitt game.
SFOrange writes:
UT 24 UCLA 21
kman29 writes:
if any of you havent checked out the SEC digital network yet, its pretty cool. If you missed any SEC games this past weekend you can go back and watch the full game online. pretty good stuff
dbc5361 writes:
WKU is HORRIBLE and they scored 7 on the Vols D. You think its not possible for UCLA to score more than a FG? And don't even say it wasn't the starters. Go and look at the gamebook at who was making tackles on that drive.
10eceeVol4ever writes:
Although Crompton did have too many tipped passes, I refuse to put all of that on him. When the Defensive line jumps with outstretched arms to tip the ball, our offensive lineman needs to put them flat on their backs. Both Crompton and offensive line need to improve in this aspect.
TommyJack writes:
Sounds about right.
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