There's a football documentary film I recommend. It's called "Harvard Beats Yale 29-29,'' which comes from the Harvard school newspaper's headline after the Crimson ruined arch-rival Yale's perfect 1968 season.
By the way, have you heard the latest headline?
"Tennessee Beats Florida 13-23!''
That was the odd vibe emanating from The Swamp on Saturday. It also was the general spin disseminated by a national media contingent that came to witness the human sacrifice of Lane Kiffin and his allegedly overmatched team.
Never, I would propose, has Tennessee felt so upbeat after losing to the dreaded Gators.
Rarely, I would imagine, has Florida felt less giddy about getting to 3-0 and launching an SEC campaign with a 'W' against a traditional rival.
Less was expected of Tennessee. More was expected of Florida. Of such are moral victories made.
UT coach Lane Kiffin was hardly silenced by the Gators. In fact, he said the Vols sent a "powerful message" to recruits - while slipping to 1-2 and 0-1 in the SEC.
Florida coach Urban Meyer said, hey, lighten up, folks - while looking forward to another week at No. 1 and extending the Gators' winning streak to a school-record 13 games.
Is there something wrong with this picture?
The Monday Morning Quarterbacks, East Tennessee Chapter, are giving a pass on the fact that the Vols remain 0-for-Urban. Or that UT has produced 208 and 210 yards of offense, respectively, the past two weeks.
The MMQ, North Central Florida Chapter, are fidgeting that Tennessee exposed the reality that the Gators might have to rely too heavily on Tim "Superman" Tebow to successfully defend their national title.
There were two themes to the conversation in the press box at Florida Field after Saturday's game. And I point out that several national football writers were involved in addition to the usual Florida and Tennessee media tribes.
The first is that Kiffin has assembled a heckuva coaching staff. Those who had questioned whether NFL defensive legend Monte Kiffin could match Xs and Os with the varied college offensive schemes, question no more.
Both Kiffins deserve kudos for the game plan against the Gators. Monte's defense didn't allow Florida to overwhelm the Vols the way it does so many opponents (59-20 ring a bell?).
Lane's conservative offensive plan was a matter of survival but it worked better than most gave it a chance to.
Kiffin said Saturday he was hired to win, not produce stats.
Meyer, in his Sunday teleconference, wondered aloud about Kiffin's objective.
"When I saw them start handing the ball off,'' Meyer said, "you didn't feel like they were going for the win. They wanted to shorten the game. I think it was 23-6 and (there was) no urgency.''
Better 23-6 than 53-6, Kiffin figured.
Kiffin is coming to grips with the fact that he doesn't have Matt Leinart or Carson Palmer at quarterback. And, that he can't call Reggie Bush's number when he needs a big play.
In other words, his UT depth chart bears little resemblance to the one at his command during his days running Southern Cal's offense.
But I digress. The other theme in the Florida press box was that the best team in not just the SEC but the nation might have been misidentified prior to Saturday.
Dare I say it: Could Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 24 be the real beat-down threat on Tennessee's schedule?
The Crimson Tide looks powerfully good on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Of course, we're only three weeks in and Bama has yet to play an SEC opponent.
Alabama moved up one notch to No. 3 in the new Associated Press poll. So did Ole Miss, another UT road opponent (Nov. 14), from fifth to fourth.
In fact, aside from Vanderbilt, a 15-3 loser to Mississippi State, most all of Tennessee's future SEC opponents look tougher on Monday than they did on Friday.
Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia each scored in the 50s. Auburn is 3-0 and averaging 42 points a game. Kentucky didn't play great but a 31-27 decision over Louisville is evidence the Wildcats now know how to win games they used to lose.
So, a glass-half-empty case could be made that Tennessee's road actually got tougher over the weekend. But nobody wants to hear that now.
Not after Tennessee beat Florida 13-23.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6276.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 54
CharlotteVol writes:
Everyone knows that there are no cupcakes in the SEC. What is the point of this article?? Of course Alabama will be tough. So will Georgia, Ole Miss, and Auburn. I don't think Kiffin or his staff are now thinking they've faced the toughest game on their schedule.
I'm glad I can read these articles for free on the internet and don't have to pay for a subscription to the Sentinel...
CRFVols writes:
Man....these are tough times in the SEC for us to be rebuilding in....lol
But hey....shows how dominant the SEC is...and I believe it was UT, UF and Bama that got the SEC to be so dominant. The other teams had to get better to compete with us.
Minorcan writes:
Gators should get used to beating Tennessee. As ugly as the top ranked Gators believe the game was with the Vols on Saturday, Coach Crusty had no thought of trying to win that game. For him and his staff, it was all about getting in and getting out with a score that wasn't humiliating. For that, give him credit. But that is no way to coach a game at a big time program like Tennessee.
chad_t31 writes:
Yesterday
Voluvr writes:
Let's just stick with some quick slants and some crossing routes across the middle about 5 yds. shorter than he's throwing. Then, lull em to sleep and go deep.
88 out the gate.
Great job team and coaches!
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
This article is stupid.Who did Alabamma play?
This is why I don't come on this site much.
The KNS needs to have these writers retire or have there head examined.
Adams is just as bad!
BravoUmp writes:
It was all a part of Kiffin's plan. Run your mouth in the off season to give Florida "Motivation", which made the media increase the point spread from probably 17-18 to 28-30. When the vols kept it close, they claimed a moral victory. Now he is able to pitch to recruits that "you" are the high prospect that puts us over the top.
It all part of the master scheme!
golfballs03 writes:
Mike Strange is a copycat...
he took that intro from a Rivals article
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football...
CoverOrange writes:
The point is relative-ism. If MMQ are going to measure UT by how not-so-blown-out they were they also have to measure how much tougher than last year Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky will be. In other words, the true measure may be yet to come.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
"Meyer, in his Sunday teleconference, wondered aloud about Kiffin's objective.
"When I saw them start handing the ball off,'' Meyer said, "you didn't feel like they were going for the win. They wanted to shorten the game. I think it was 23-6 and (there was) no urgency.''
This quote showed me only a real loser and a crybaby continues to cry about "a win" and downplay a good performance from his rival.
I got a few excuses I didn't do better next time I have success everybody don't you.....moronic
Laydbakvol writes:
Everybody knows that Tebow basically won the game for UF. But does Meyer really think that letting his quarterback get beat up like a running back for sixty minutes is going to help him get ready for the NFL.
Oh, by the way, has any body seen a good still shot of "the collision"? I'd like it for my desktop.
cmoore7 writes:
Sorry that I'm not too concerned w/ a team(Kentucky) that just beat one of the most floundering programs(Louisville, other than Colorado) in college football by 4 on one of the final plays of the game. Vols were terrible last year, had quit by the time we played Kentucky, and they still couldn't win.
DrJCrown_theMagicMan writes:
this post is moronic!
Everybody knows we have about 10 players at most that are the talent level of all the Gay-ter players on there roster.
great post coach....any other ways the game should have been coached so we win?
volfrommarion writes:
give them a yr or two.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
I don't think anyone really thought much about beating Ala. or Ole Miss, that's why everyone was hoping for 8-4 record. We have enough to beat the other opponents, even with JC. If we execute the off. line like Sat., we don't need much of a passing game, remember Fla. has a top 3 defense. We'll score against anyone else except maybe Bama.
givehim6 writes:
The game between UT and UF was a great game, it proved to the country that UT was more then talk, but a win,don't blow any ones up, please. The reason I say this? I think UT lost there edge after winning so big over WKY so did not play that hungry against UCLA. So a lose woke them for UF. Not playing with an edge against Ohio U might be OK, but UT will need it as there SEC stretch starts.
smokey_vols writes:
Never thought about it that way but it makes sense.
GahLee writes:
Arkansas, no question.
TommyJack writes:
Confirmed. Urban still an a-hole.
CRFVols writes:
I think from here we have to get some solid wins against good teams. Florida was supposed to be the best and we hung right in there with them, so I think at least the same will be expected against UGA, Bama, Ole Miss, etc....
Halls3 writes:
When asked the question did you feel Kiffin was trying to just remain close & give an answer how are you being a crybaby & a loser. The losers are they ones trying to claim a moral victory for losing by 10.
xvolx writes:
I thought landing the head job at UT by Kiffin was a great sales pitch, but convincing everyone that losing is a win takes the cake. It was obvious that he was playing to keep the score at 23-13 with 5 minutes to go in the game. He's got to be the greatest salesman in the world. You people will buy anything.
Hounddog writes:
Absolufrekinloutly! We can keep it going here. We went to Florida and sang R-E-S-P-E-C-T all night. These VOLS won't be distracted visting BAMA,MS,KY! They just came out of the SWAMP with their heads held high. Maybe a better football team from the experience...we'll see.
Let's play football. Hounddog
VOLMAN40 writes:
All I see here are loser Gator trolls, a few idiot poser vol fans and maybe a couple of true VOLS................ If you don't think UT earned some respect just read the stories about the game on some of the sports sites. And, watch UT have a top 5 class in recruiting. Of course urbie won't give TN any respect. We will, however, earn it next year in Knoxville. Book it Gator trolls! poor little Timmie Teabag and his teammates could not run up the score on the Vols. Sad state of affairs for the Gators when they can only outscore the Vols by 10 when they were supposed to win by 30 or more.......... Hear that Gators/bammers?? That is the sound of inevitability......... UT will be relevant again!
mcever writes:
Auburn, Kentucky got better... Georgia doesn't look so great, wait till they play a real defense, then see if they throw that long ball with defenders within range.
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
You are half right. He was indeed trying to keep one end of the score at 23.
You people will try to sell your trash to anybody,
OldNumber7 writes:
More boneheads out there than I thought. At 23-16 Kiffin could not throw down field with Crompton, so was still trapped in a 1D offense - which still moved the sticks...albeit slowly. On 4th down what happened? nuff said. Without a QB and paper thin depth chart loaded with freshmen and sophomores, Kiffin held Florida's 2-deep returning champs to a very meager 23 points. Without Tebow and when UT gets a QB, that's a margin we will easily overcome. That's the big picture and the recruit sales pitch. UF won the battle; UT will win the war.
golfballs03 writes:
The intro. Harvard beats Yale bit is straight from that other article. Maybe it's just coincidence....
leedsvol2007 writes:
I think most of recognized Florida has tremendous talent.
We had a game plan that gave us a chance and the result showed we have a chance to be much better as the season goes along. We were not out-hit or out played. That is a huge step in the right direction to play better against them in the future. This blunts the disappointment of the loss.
Kiffin has gotten us back to playing fundamentally sound football.
Doug Dickey always said he remembered the 1964 team not as his best but the team that set the tone for his program.
This team has the opportunity to do the same by winning the majority of their games and getting to a bowl. Saturday was a big step.
Jonathan Crompton also made strides on Saturday. It looks like Kiffin has decided to use him like a first year starter. He has a chance to be a much better performing quarterback by years end.
GoVols!
Carlitovol writes:
"Tennessee didn't play to win, blah blah blah". Genius, did you happen to catch any highlights of the UCLA game? 3 picks on consecutive drives. Against a middle-of-the-road PAC 10 team. AT HOME. Do you really think Kiffin could honestly take the risk of being more aggressive against the stacked Gator D (22 deep as many of you trolls like to point out)? In the freakin' swamp no less???
Did you seriously expect Crompton to come out firing downfield every other play?
Look, Kiff's hands are tied - bottom line. He knows he can't use the passing game consistently to move the chains. It's a risk vs. reward philosophy. With a pick-6 at any point on Sat., it could have easily turned it into a blowout and we would've had ZERO chance in that game.
So he stuck with the run and had enough success to make it work and keep us within striking distance coming down the home stretch. That's about the best scenario any realistic Vol fan could hope for.
BTW, keep making those excuses (sick, injured, blah blah blah) if it helps you sleep at night. We're sleeping pretty soundly here in Knoxville.
Volumnus writes:
There is light at the end of the tunnel, it is unfortunately a flashing sign, "We are still 1/2 a QB short of a full team!" Recruit one, JC transfer, school one, whatever it takes, we need a calm steady hand at the helm. The young man improved, and played very well for the venue and the pressure, probably as well as he can play. We just need more.
Razzle writes:
This guy picked Cincinnati #2 in his pole. LOL
Razzle writes:
Poll. LOL... Sorry was laughing so hard at Patsy dredging up anything and everything he can find to make Tenn. look bad.
GaGATOR writes:
It was nice to see that DADDY Kiffen loves his baby. Any father would do all he could to keep the baby from getting his tail whipped. Now let’s get serious you have one of the great defensive coaches of all time and he did a great job. As you know, all he has done for the entire time he has been with you, he was plan on stopping the GATORS, and he certainly slowed them down, but stop-----I don’t think so. What you should be concerned is you have a head coach that didn’t want to win, he just didn’t want to get blown out. That certainly is sending a strong message across the nation. If he had tried to win ya’ll would have been blow out with that quarterback. The reason the Gators were favored by 30 was the odds makers assumed the Vols would try and win and not just play to keep it close.
Tenn. was running the ball half way through the 4th quarter when you actually had a chance to win. Lane was running that clock as fast as he could, I wouldn’t be too proud of that. The Gators played their worst game in 2 years and we still bet you by 10, did I mention that 3 of our 1st team played with the flu and weren’t particularity effective and our All American middle line backer was at 50 % in the first half and didn’t even play in the second half. That moral victory as you call it, did nothing for you in the polls, not even 1 vote was cast for the Vols and the Gators are still the unanimous number1. Another thing you should be concerned is you new high expectation for this year, It is amusing the that your poll believes you will have 6 SEC wins. Let’s get real; you have no chance against GA., ALA, or Miss., you will be the underdog against Auburn, SC, and UK. and could win one of these. You should be favored against Vandy. As I see it,
2, 3 at best will be your SEC record, so its 2-6 or 3-5. But there is always next year, good luck on finding a quarterback to go with your fine defense and running backs( and I sincerely meant that).
iowavol writes:
That's why we play the game. All comers taken, one at a time. I like our chances going forward. I certainly like our team, one and all.
oldbasshead writes:
I also think that the schedule ahead might be tougher than the Florida game. Ala, Ga, Ky, Miss all looked good to me this weekend. If the what if's had fallen our way Saturday,and that includes Tebow's interception and fumble, we could have actually won the game on the score board. Take away just one of Crompton's interceptions plus add a completion to Jones in the end zone and most likely this is a win for UT. To me this means that Fl may not be UT's toughest opponent. However, it is hard not to feel good about this UT team. They have confidence in themselves and their coaching staff.
cooper65#432178 writes:
If Lane doesn't make the vswitch to Nick next game, he is conceding this season. Points will continue to be as scarce as chicken's teeth.
The Vols have the defense, running backs, and probably receivers to be a very good team, but are getting nothing but misery from the QB position.
Lane has no confidence in Jon, but won't make the switch. It doesn't make sense unless he has decided Bray will be his QB next year or maybe the guy who committed to USC will change his mind. Verbal commitments aren't worth the paper they are written on.
Nick may not be great, but see what he can do. He might even be a real competitor for the starting job next year. Nick has proven nothing, but Jon has shown he can't get it done.
Defense and running game may get us 2 or 3 SEC wins, but we will need a passing game against the better teams and we KNOW we won't get that with Jon.
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
Aftyer leaving BHM stadium Saturday, I heard " Mopral Victory" " this is like a tie" Folks you are seeing the same offense last year being run by the worse QB in the SEC, aka Jonathon Crompton.
A few notes to Kiffin:
- If you do not get Stephens in their to at least stretch the field UT will Loose to the following teams:
- Georgia, Auburn, South Carolina, Alabama and Ole Miss and maybe the drought at UK ends for the Cats-- you cannot just play a " smash mouth football"
CLK just face facts your project of thinking you can mask Crompton for a year while letting the other parts of the offense work. Folks this guy played to keep the score tight and not get blown out, i thought his job was to win games--great play calling- Crompton cannot throw ball down field, maybe the worse game day QB in the past 20 years at UT and personally i tired of it and the players are getting tired of it, you should have seen them getting on the buses they were as happy with the offense as they were at the UCLA game-- Lane I am not impressed and Sarkisian was the guy Al Davis thought he was hiring and he is a better coach--players win games and Coaches Loose Games-Bones Never Lie
Raynoch writes:
Terrible take on the game. Couldn't be further from the truth. I hope you aren't a Tennessee fan.
Raynoch writes:
Wow. So you think our staff came up with those great gameplans just to not lose? And having Stephens play his first game in the Swamp would have been a good idea? I'd venture to say that the entire country believes this program is heading in the right direction with the new staff. If you can't see that you should stop watching. Or at least stop posting all this negative garbage.
Pompey writes:
You obviously have missed the point. The Gators problem with the Vols is not this year....its the next ten years!
marinevol writes:
"Verbal commitments aren't worth the paper they are written on." I love that line. That may be the post of the year.
Volinar_21 writes:
Tennessee didn't play to win. 3rd and 21 in the 3rd quarter and we run the ball? If you don't have confidence in your quarterback, play somebody else. Tennessee played to keep it respectable on the scoreboard. I was proud of our defense and running backs, but that's about it. A loss is a loss. Great effort on the players part, but the plays that were called show that the coaches played the game to keep it close, not to win. Read this link http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id...
VolunteerLifer writes:
Strange, your headline asks "When does a loss feel like a win?"
Answer: Whenever the general collection of herd journalists, by virtue of what they said before the game, are embarrased by the result. That's when.
ChrisM30TN writes:
He was JACKED UP!!! by a freshman at that! Don't forget to add that, it makes it so much better.
CrankE writes:
Three days later, a coherent campaign of disrespecting a defeated opponent takes shape. The goal; to achieve through smears what was unattainable on the football field.
I'd expect nothing less from Gatrolls.
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
Just wait, CLK has not won a big game in his vast stellar career and maynot..Oh yes, Nick Stephens started at Georgia last year when they were #2 and had a solid game...but you knew that-I cannot wait to see what Mr. Solich does to Boy Wonder offense, he is not that good of a coach period end of story--anyone can recruit with promises; he said these areas were better than 08;
Special teams: leads the country in bobbled punt returns and return yardage is awful and coverage is worse then last year, i guess that's his dad's problem
Offense is worse then last year.
If you cannot see that then you should watch Steve Sarkisian at Washington, who Lanie Boy took all the credit, Lane is not a good offensive minded coach...another coach Brian Kelly at Cincinnati is who I told Mike Hamilton to interview personally, but he wanted LK, well two things happen Mike Hamilton will either get a raise for this or get fired over this hire--recruiting does not get you Wins...JMO Stephens is the best QB in UT stable last year, this year and maybe next year.
The good lord knows one thing, i know alot more this program then you will ever know or imagine.
PS; Phil Fulmer was chuckling the last 2 weekends...and so was Chief
10volunteers98 writes:
Maybe you could do better?
transplantiam writes:
What's with the name calling? You sound jealous that CLK knew how to game plan to our strengths. He knows just how far to allow JC to play. He knows not to turn him loose with throwing all over the field against FL.s db's. If he had done that, y'all might have ran the score up the way you wanted. Frustrating when the other team won't play the way UB wants them to, isn't it? CLK knows that JC wouldn't have made some of those throws that it would have taken to open the field up. In doing that, even if y'all didn't get interceptions, it would have given Fl. several more posessions, therefore more opportunity's to score. Smart football, huh!! Wait until we do have a qb that can execute CLK's total playbook.Be careful what you wish for, it might be next year, minus Tebow and JC. What are you gonna female dog about then. i can see it now! 2010--halftime, Tn. vs Fl. " Dang why is Kiffin letting those boy's score so much? He's let us get the ball after every td., but his dad won't let us run but 3 plays, then we gotta give it bback. This ain't fair. I just feel so bad that UB up and run to ND, just cause we didn't win the NC last year! Well, if 'Bamma hadn;t beat us for the SEC title, we might have had a chance with ???. in the title game. I feel sick, ooh, I've got the flu. Yeah, that's whats wrong, our boys are sic with the flu. (hmmm, UB used that last yr. and got away with it -thinking,thinking--it might work, I'll try it)
this is how you think, or so it seems!
GO VOLS!!
utvolfan16 writes:
Strange: Way too much underlying sarcasm! Don't burst my Big Orange bubble!
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