No question, the Vols weren't the Gator bait the rowdy reptiles expected them to be. Even Superman (Tim Tebow) couldn't deliver on a 30-plus-point victory. Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin says it wasn't a moral victory and he's right, but what it should be is a springboard towards improved play and more wins. This team and this program can't afford to take one step forward and two steps back. Anything less would diminish the effort in the Swamp. At this point, Vol fans are very much on board the Lane train, keeping them there will be the task at hand in the coming weeks.
Down in Gainesville, the Vols displayed the heart and desire fans like to see coming from their football team. It certainly was an improvement over the previous week. And while the Kiffin plan continues to be a work in progress, glimpses of the future are starting to come into focus. Is that future as bright as the Big Orange Nation hopes? Sorry, there's no crystal ball here Vol fans, but there certainly is something to say about hard work. This staff and it's players have worked diligently since the onset of fall camp and while hard work doesn't guarantee you wins, it earns you respect.
While there still isn't a whole lot of love lost here, I'm sure Urban Meyer and his Gators came out of the game feeling a little differently about an SEC East rival they figured left for dead after last season. These Vols appear to be very much alive with plenty of season and fight left in the tank.
But what about the team's starting quarterback? Coach Kiffin told both Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens back during fall camp, that there wouldn't be a quick hook once he made his choice. So far true to his word, Kiffin has yet to see the consistent play he had expected to see from that position. How that situation develops could very well decide the level of fight left in a team desperate to become a winner.
Rick Russo is sports director of Volunteer TV.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 11
UTfaninYankeeland writes:
No doubt. We will be the joke of everyone if we let Ohio come in to our house and beat us. We will win though. Go Vols
TommyJack writes:
That's a good one, Bob4. Hahahahhaha
reidtownriverrat writes:
the only thing he is disgusted about is the seven pics his wonder boy JC has tossed up.
2407westTN_VOLSfan writes:
Let's see, last 2 years Vols vs Gators, UT quits playing after falling behind. All the big hits made by Florida. Fulmer moves hat all over his face in disgust.
Kiffin game, Vols hit Gators hard! Tebow says this was the best defense he would face all year. EB gets INT from Tebow and Rogan gets fumble while as a unit, prevent TEBOW from completing a TD pass breaking his consecutive streak.
Coach Phil enjoy your retirement. Things went a little downhill and are now being turned around by the new blood. Go Coach Kiffin and staff! Get these big named recruits!! Good times are ahead for the Big Orange nation.
seventysevenvol writes:
Russo, you sound like "Bagdad Bob". Shut your pie hole and move on. Florida is OVER, and we have the next game to play.
Enough about Florida already!
westknoxvol24 writes:
Good Grief BoB...Fulmer is gone nothing you can do...get over it
Vol_in_Mich writes:
I think I liked the Gator trolls better than the Fulmer trolls. At least they trolled for a winner, not like the newest Fat F-ing Fulmer troll. Where do these jerks come from, somebody turn over a rock down there or something?
GO VOLS!!!
navarrebeachvol writes:
Vicki, pls tell Phil to return the $ if he doesnt care about it...I'm waiting...and waiting
Stokes44yrs writes:
I think we should rehire Bill Battle personally. What do you think Bobfourvollies? Hey is that Neyman guy still around? Maybe Pat Summitt? I here he's a good coach.(Sorry Pat I just can't let a good joke go by...or a bad one for that matter)
Stokes44yrs writes:
"heAr he's a good..." I do knoe how to spell just so you know. I dont mishpale offen.
allvol32 writes:
If if's and but's were candy and nuts this guy would weigh 300lbs.
I have tons of respect for Fulmer but if you can't see the difference in the attitude in this team and the fan base then you're not living in the real world.
Besides that this poster and his ilk keep posting the same phooey over and over. If you're going to post please try to come up with a new thought from time to time.
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