HOOVER, Ala. - After an agent-induced rant by Alabama's Nick Saban on Wednesday and the homespun humor of Vanderbilt interim coach Robbie Caldwell on Thursday, grim reality ruled the last day of SEC football media days.
It was grim if you're not Alabama and Florida, who again were picked to meet in the SEC championship game for a third consecutive year. It was especially grim if you're Tennessee, which was picked to finish fifth in the SEC East.
That's right. The media voters are so unimpressed with the upcoming edition of the Vols, they're projecting them to finish behind Kentucky, a team that for the last quarter of a century has routinely turned to mush at the mere sight of the color orange.
The dire prediction didn't faze first-year UT coach Derek Dooley, who was attending his first SEC media days. He addressed a spate of questions - that ranged from his famous mom and dad to his players' recent barroom brawl - with eloquence, poise and occasional humor.
As for the fifth-place prediction, Dooley said: "Here's what I do know about preseason polls. Generally, it's based on how you performed last year and who you have coming back this year."
Or, in UT's case, who isn't coming back. There's no offensive lineman with starting experience, no quarterback with any significant college experience, and Eric Berry is only available on an NFL rookie card.
But behind Kentucky? Ouch.
If Kentucky is UT's challenge, Alabama and Florida are everybody's concern. In a league famous for balance, the conference's two marquee programs are leaving everyone else wobbly.
Alabama lost nine defensive starters from its unbeaten national championship team. Yet it's an overwhelming favorite to win the West for the third consecutive year.
And, with only four seniors in the starting lineup, it will be an overwhelming favorite to make it four in a row next season. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Alabama had 157 first-place votes Friday. Auburn was next with 10, followed by Arkansas with six. Ole Miss also had first-place votes, apparently from three lost souls who didn't pack their medication for the trip to Hoover.
The preseason All-SEC team provided confirmation of Alabama's prominence. Eight Tide players were voted to the first team. That not only included Heisman Trophy running back Mark Ingram, but his backup, Trent Richardson, as well.
Florida was almost as popular of a pick to lead the East for a third consecutive year. The Gators had 153 first-place votes to Georgia's 15.
The disparity between first and second was overshadowed by one first-place vote for Vanderbilt, which was 0-8 in the SEC last season. Did Lindsay Lohan get a ballot?
Alabama and Florida at the top of a preseason poll should turn no one's head. With Saban at Alabama and Urban Meyer at Florida, they're replacing great players with great recruits, and they're creating a great dilemma for the rest of the league.
Do you really think Georgia's Mark Richt, who has never won fewer than eight games in a season, would be on the hot seat if not for the sheer excellence of Florida and Alabama?
Many LSU fans are ready to send coach Les Miles packing three years after he won a national title. That's not just because a trained chimp could manage a clock more wisely in the final minutes. He's another victim of Alabama's and Florida's success.
The Tide periodically ruled the conference under Bear Bryant in the 1960s and 1970s. Florida dominated for much of the 1990s under Steve Spurrier. But now you have both powerhouse programs battering the competition.
And, unless your view is distorted enough to pick Vanderbilt No. 1 in the East, there's no drop-off in sight.
John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 43
RJ_Vol writes:
You know what preseason polls are worth?
TDTenn writes:
How about a "never site?"
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Hopefully this team will be motivated by this prediction.
mrvol2u writes:
Remember these brainiacs have members who voted the Rebels, Bulldogs(MSU), and Vandy 1st place.
UT very well might place 5th if we do not get good coaching and play from what we have. I will say that looking at our roster, a few injuries could put us deeper than that.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Well...that prediciton sure motivates me, but I'm not the one that needs to be motivated because I'm not the one that suits up and plays..BUT I am looking forward to football season!!!
GBO!!!
feathersax writes:
Preseason prediction below Kentucky? I was at Neyland in '84 when we last lost to those blue mist losers. "Joker" & Randy Sanders? Gimme a break.
gohawks1 writes:
The last time UK beat UT, people were still talking about who shot J.R.
rootin4volz writes:
Come on, John...'fess up. YOU voted for Vandy, didn't ya?
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Kentucky has an easier schedule than us; Lets face it our sept and oct schedule is rough and playing against really good teams back to back usually leads to injuries..Head to head at home KY doesn't have the advantage...I wouldn't want to be Les Miles this season..He had the #1 recruiting class in 09 and a top#10 in 2010; loads of talent in LA.;But may finish behind ARK and Auburn
RoadTrip writes:
No less than an authority on the subject since he is a motor mouth from Orlando, right?!
DebKY writes:
If Kentucky beats Tennessee, I'll have to move out of the state! I may be Kentucky born, but my blood runs ORANGE!
wazzya69vol writes:
I keep thinking of the basketball game against Kansas,,, and we all know what happened there. Some Big Orange bb players (Chism, etc.) took charge and wouldn't be denied their opportunity to prove people (naysayers) wrong---and the rest is history!! And Tyler Smith took responsibility and I think is overall a better person. So don't surrender Big Orange faithful,, did we "surrender when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor"? Hell know, the Vols are just beginning to fight. Pass the whiskey,GBO!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
We may well finish behind Kentucky but won't lose to them. I just don't see this year's Vols beating Alabama or Florida for sure, and likely won't beat Georgia or LSU either. Throw in possible losses to Ole Miss and South Carolina, and yeah, even if we beat Kentucky and Vandy, that's 2-6 in conference, right in the range of 5th in the East. With a predicted loss to Oregon added in, this season is looking pretty gruesome. But so what? Dooley is all about the future and so am I. If we see some improvement in the organization and some consecutive solid recruiting classes, we'll be back in a couple of years. And who knows? Maybe Tauren Poole breaks out, the O-line plays beyond their years, Bray is the real deal and we sneak out with 7 or 8 wins. In that case, we're back at least a year ahead of schedule. Go Vols!!!
Southland writes:
6-6 this year maybe 5-7; 7-5 next year; 8-4 the year after Can fans be patient as we try to rebuild a program that is filled with thugs and is in total disarray? I hope so because changing coaches in two years will not help things be turned around any quicker. We will be back but not in one or two seasons. We have fallen to far to bounce back against the present state of Bama and Florida. Put a new coach in at LSU and you have a three headed monster and each one could win a national championship against anyone else.
PharmDVol writes:
I agree with the basis of your post and I hate to be one of those bloggers that goes around correcting people but couldn't resist this one. The Germans did not bomb Pearl Harbor - It was Japan - December 7, 1941. Aside from that blunder - good post. GBO!
luvthavols writes:
Yes we know the Germans did not bomb Pearl Harbor. That was a reference to Animal House.
Go Vols
luvthavols writes:
At least I hope it was a reference.....lol
1963volfan writes:
I love the way the media is trying to sell us this, how Alabubba, and the Gators, are the best thing since sliced bread.How many close games were they in last year? one break here or one holding call there and they could have had 2 to 3 losses. Thats why you play the game on the feild not on paper. What comes around goes around. Go Vols!!!
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
Pretty well spoken; except the recruiting part..Every time I log on to a recruiting site the headlines are about Bama;FLa;Ga and Lsu signing some high profile player..It worries me..Right now UT is recruiting like Miss St..Our incoming class must stay intact because they will carry this team 2 years from now
orangecountyvols writes:
Duke
You and your sidekick, Doctortroll50 get together and give us your expert opinions on how things should be done. Wait, you've already tried to do that.
Once you move into the AD and coach's offices, we'll
get a better take on the new operation.
volfanatic929 writes:
You know, preseason polls aren't worth much at all. Usually something you can just look past. Our talent level may very well be down but I have a hard time believing that we will be so uncompetitive that we will finish 5th in the east. Hoping the Vols can prove the preseason polls wrong.....oh, and continue our dominance of the Cats. Go Vols
SummittsCourt writes:
Didn't that happen a couple of years ago? Tennessee was predicted to finish 5th and they ended up winning the east. Didn't that happen about 3-4 years ago?
The Fightin' Dooleys will put the bloody scare in many a team this year, may even pull off a big upset.
This team will beat UT-Martin, UAB, Memphis, Vandy, & Kentucky and will need to pull of beating either SC or Ga or bothe and you have at least 6-6 or 7-5. Knock off either Oregon, Bama, UF & LSU and UT could finish 8-4. It could happen despite the "experts" saying otherwise.
The one variable no one knows about is how well Derek Dooley and staff can coach these kids, how well will they be prepared each week, how well will they execute the game plan, how often the ball will bounce our way and how motivated an underdog team can be with a chip on it's collective shoulder.
It's going to be fun, win or lose!
tennesseebee writes:
I am in the same predicament. Maybe we can be roommates. There's no way I can stay here! Although I AM from Tennessee.
SummittsCourt writes:
Not to worry, don't go get change of address cards just yet. I look for another Tennessee win as UK will be over rated again.
TLepage writes:
will we be a 10 win team this year???? Probably not, but that does not mean we will loose to the pussycats and finish behind them.... But maybe i'm wrong.... I guess i keep forgetting that Randy "the morristown moron" Sanders is an offensive genius.... Joking aside, I think we will surprise some people this year... From everything i've read and seen, this team seems to be real motivated... I've been a vols fan my entire life, and if memory serves me correctly we always play better when we are the underdog and have a chip on our shoulder.... So, I more then welcome all of the hate... It just adds fuel to the fire.... Go ahead haters and continue to hate, hate, hate!!!!!
TLepage writes:
I totally agree with you and would like to add one thing.... Aubie fans were upset with the Chizik hire and often pointed to his record at Iowa State (very similar to a lot of UT fans pointing to Dooley's record at LA tech).... Talent makes all the difference in the world.... Yes, our depth and talent pool is not where it has been in the past.... But we still have a lot more talent then Dooley had at La Tech.... Time will tell, but i think this staff is capable of winning 7 or 8 games with the personnel that we have... Its time for all of the naysayers to get on board and give our coaches a fair chance.... They are here now, and nothing can change that... Its time for all of us to rally behind our coaches and team....
TommyJack writes:
OrangeCounty: Perhaps "Mr. DeLuca" IS, I mean IS, FHCPF. Or at the very least, a member of his coffee klatch at K.Kreme.
ncvol17 writes:
For all the 'oldies'on this site who got the reference to the classic 'Animal House' Pearl Harbor bombing, I hope it doesn't take 3 to 5 years to power back up. We're getting old now, it's not like we are 25 and looking towards the 2015 - 2020 seasons....
luvthavols writes:
I don't put much stock in polls as because they are just peoples opinions. I am not going to let it ruin my excitement.I don't expect great things this year, but an upset here and there would be great. In any case I am going to be patient and supportive of CDD and players. We have no clue what they are capable of until they get out there on the field in an actual game. GO VOLS!
Hey Gerryop, how many days is it?
luvthavols writes:
I didn't think I was that old...but I guess I would be to some people.
southerner1212#395546 writes:
Oh John Adams. I hope you legitimate job to go along with your side job as an abhorrent writer. I enjoy reading your mocking of other SEC schools when the real humor is that Vols will be the same team they were in 90s.
They have no recruiting base, and the areas they used to recruit so well from have dried up due to those local schools stepping up their efforts there.
I find your humor against Ole Miss probably the most absurd due their absolute waxing of the Vols this past year with a probably repeat performance this year.
But please keep writing because you're sure to go far in this life with your eloquent prose. And if nothing else, you'll be the pride of a Nascar/football fan base. Congratulations Sir
whistlinwingman writes:
Im still blaming Fulmer and his 2 star recruits for the hole we are in. If we lose to Ky it ought to go on his record.
BubbaJ writes:
Bubba has had a hard time with this one, but. I've gone through the preseason pubs, tried to be objective, and folks. UK is probably more tallented on paper, and given the instability and newness this year in Knoxville, I couldn't totally disagree with picking UK above the Vols.
This may finally be the year that Cats win the head to head match-up and finish above the Vols. It's unrealistic to think we will continue the streak forever. Of course, I for one think Dooley will fix this mess, and the Vols will just start the streak over in 2011!
leedsvol2007 writes:
Ditto!
Just a thought on preseason polls in 1988 we were picked very high nationally and in the conference and went 5-6.
In 1989 we were not expected to do anything and went 11-1.
More recently in 2005 we looked poised for a great season and went 5-6. 2008 was about the same.
What can't be predicted at this point is how well our offensive line will jell and perform, what our injury situation might become, and whether we find a quarterback that can play.
And how well Dooley and his staff will mesh and perform as coaches.
If the answers are all affirmative we could be a surprise team. If not we are in for a rough year by our standards.
Tennessee has weathered many tough periods and come back strong because we have a great fan and alumni backing and everything a program needs for excellence in the long term.
Let's get up on our feet and start moving in the right direction.
GoVols!
brokebackvol writes:
I am disgusted by the pick, and am hoping that CDD and the VOLS will make them look stupid when they finish 3rd in the East. Sorry but I still think UGA and USC can be beaten. So can UK and ole Vandy. I am willing to chalk Bama and Florida up as losses for having too much talent and firepower, but the rest of them are potential wins. Quit with the gloom and doom in JULY for pete's sake.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Since the original poster put that famous movie saying in quotes, I am pretty sure that it was an intentional reference to "Animal House". People below a certain age are not familiar with "Blutarsky's" famous rant.
TheOpinion writes:
UT has 34 Freshmen(including redshirts) on the roster and excluding walk-ons. And 15 sophomores (including redshirts) and excluding walk-ons. 13 juniors (including redshirts) excluding walk-ons and excluding JUCO transfers. 12 seniors (including redshirts) excluding all walk-ons and transfers except Nick Reveiz. I think this speaks volumes about why we are in the situation we are in. Fulmer and company for some reason ignored their best tool (recruiting) for the last couple of years of their stay. Their player development was always criticized but their recruiting was very good in the 90s and early 00s. But they really slacked the since 06. I think it will take several years to get this program on track again. We have to let these freshmen and sophomores develop and become juniors and seniors before we see any significant improvement. We also have to recruit well so we can have good young backups who can grow into their roles. Now we also have to take into account that some of these young guys will become good college players, some will be average, and some will not be good. That's another reason that recruiting is important. I'll point to Alabama. The 1st year Saban was there he recruited well and they went 7-6 then the next season his second recruiting class came in and was there to back up his first recruiting class and they went 12-0 and lost their 2 post season games. Then last season they had a 3rd good recruiting class which added depth and more talent and they went on to win national championship. We cant ignore the facts.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
In some ways, it is even worse that what we are getting from the media, opposing fans, and even some of our own resident naysayers is not hate, it is contempt. The Vols are not widely hated, but they are currently widely dismissed. The emotion may not be as hot, but the implied snubs are real enough that they may be real motivation for the staff, players, and true Vol fans.
TheOpinion writes:
I could not agree with you more. I recall last season when we were going into that stretch in October which consisted of Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina. After Auburn a lot of the media was predicting we wouldn't win a single game in October. But we ended up coming out with a 2-2 record. Which was the catalyst in us finishing second in the East. And nobody was predicting that at all. I think the season is long and anyone can beat anyone if certain things line up correctly. Will we beat Florida and Alabama? Probably not, but that's what most said last year and we were a blocked FG away from beating Bama. Florida lost to Ole Miss the year before. Like I said if you get caught slipping and the other team shows up ready to play anything can happen. I'm not sure what our record will be but I'll say that 6 wins seems possible, 7 wins would require us to pull off an upset or two and win the games we're suppose to win, 8 wins would show that we really played as a team and pulled off several upsets.
TokyoKatfan writes:
Movin' on up. To the Eats side. We finally got a piece of the piiiieeeee!
Guess that makes UT the Bunkers. :)
TokyoKatfan writes:
Should be East side. We didn't learnt to spel at UK.
stevefrommemphis writes:
Biggest oxymoron in college sports: "Kentucky football."
nothinglastsforever writes:
Dam* right. What would (insert any coaches name in America here)'s record have been at La Tech? This is a hungry, young staff that is going to get it done.
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