Hey Folks, the Scenic City Sportsblog is back, but it has new address. Find it here: Scenic City SportsBlog. Thanks!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Scenic City Sportsblog is Back!
Hey Folks, the Scenic City Sportsblog is back, but it has new address. Find it here: Scenic City SportsBlog. Thanks!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Shutting It Down
It has been a fun ride, but I'm shutting down the Scenic City Sportsblog. With UT football being a miserable subject and my current job demanding more time and energy than my previous one, my heart just isn't in keeping this thing updated with enough good material to justify a readership or existence.
To my loyal readers - thanks for the comments, criticism and for reading my sometimes good/sometimes lousy posts. You made this fun.
Until I get the itch again,
CC
To my loyal readers - thanks for the comments, criticism and for reading my sometimes good/sometimes lousy posts. You made this fun.
Until I get the itch again,
CC
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Whatever Happened to the Tennessee Vols?
Where to start?
In a game I, and most Vol fans, did not expect to be competitive, the Florida Gators were up 17-0 in minutes and never threatened by the terrible Tennessee Vols. My expectations were low and they were met.
I can't remember a worse quarterback in my Tennessee watching life than Jonathan Crompton. He is just awful. If there was any lingering doubt in my mind about his ability to be an SEC-caliber QB, it was erased on two plays today. The first was when the "athletic" Crompton scrambled forward to be lit up by a measly cornerback. Crompton was supposed to be a mobile quarterback, but his scrambles are less effective than Peyton's. The other play was Crompton throwing behind an open receiver as both Vols scrambled in the same direction. To miss a guy by that much at this level?
Those plays closed the verdict for me on Crompton (though for more evidence I could cite A: throwing a line drive to an wide receiver streaking past the Gator secondary that was picked off B: throwing a line drive that was batted down to a wide open tight end on a two-point conversion C: fumbling the ball on a routine hand-off D: throwing an interception on the one-yard line E: the entire UCLA game F: pretty much the entire UAB game).
Let's keep passing out blame for this afternoon's debacle:
The punting game has given up two touchdowns in three games.
Kickoff coverage gave up a short field to start the game.
The defense was decent, though Florida got chunks of yards at a time.
Demetrice Morley was a good five yards off Percy Harvin on the touchdown pass.
Montario Hardesty joined Fumbling Foster when he coughed up the ball in Gator territory (yes, he got killed on that hit, but he can't fumble there).
Arian Foster, our senior "leader", picks a fight on 3rd and 1 to create 3rd and 16.
Austin Rogers? Josh Briscoe? Lucas Taylor?
And finally, the coaching staff. I don't know what got Dave Clawson the OC job in Knoxville, but I haven't seen anything interesting out of his play-calling or philosophy. The only thing I see is a focus on getting the ball to the tight ends. I'm willing to give Clawson a pass because of how awful Crompton is, but it is a temporary pass.
Fulmer gets no pass. I love the guy and always will. He brought the Glory Days to Knoxville and truly loves the school. But these are all his guys. All his coaches. These guys look awful. Florida hardly seemed tested today. I'm watching Auburn/LSU right now and the skills, intensity and overall effort in this game are all greater than what the Vols gave today.
A few years ago, I was convinced that Randy Sanders was the problem. He was. David Cutcliffe was the solution. Now? I don't know. B.J. Coleman? Nick Stephens? Gerald Jones? Is it time to let loose with the play-calling on both sides of the ball since playing close the vest isn't going to get it done with the heartless, speedless, seemingly talentless group of duds on the field right now?
Basketball practice started today and I'm ready to think about Bruce Pearl instead of Phil Fulmer. This football season looks lost and beyond saving.
In a game I, and most Vol fans, did not expect to be competitive, the Florida Gators were up 17-0 in minutes and never threatened by the terrible Tennessee Vols. My expectations were low and they were met.
I can't remember a worse quarterback in my Tennessee watching life than Jonathan Crompton. He is just awful. If there was any lingering doubt in my mind about his ability to be an SEC-caliber QB, it was erased on two plays today. The first was when the "athletic" Crompton scrambled forward to be lit up by a measly cornerback. Crompton was supposed to be a mobile quarterback, but his scrambles are less effective than Peyton's. The other play was Crompton throwing behind an open receiver as both Vols scrambled in the same direction. To miss a guy by that much at this level?
Those plays closed the verdict for me on Crompton (though for more evidence I could cite A: throwing a line drive to an wide receiver streaking past the Gator secondary that was picked off B: throwing a line drive that was batted down to a wide open tight end on a two-point conversion C: fumbling the ball on a routine hand-off D: throwing an interception on the one-yard line E: the entire UCLA game F: pretty much the entire UAB game).
Let's keep passing out blame for this afternoon's debacle:
The punting game has given up two touchdowns in three games.
Kickoff coverage gave up a short field to start the game.
The defense was decent, though Florida got chunks of yards at a time.
Demetrice Morley was a good five yards off Percy Harvin on the touchdown pass.
Montario Hardesty joined Fumbling Foster when he coughed up the ball in Gator territory (yes, he got killed on that hit, but he can't fumble there).
Arian Foster, our senior "leader", picks a fight on 3rd and 1 to create 3rd and 16.
Austin Rogers? Josh Briscoe? Lucas Taylor?
And finally, the coaching staff. I don't know what got Dave Clawson the OC job in Knoxville, but I haven't seen anything interesting out of his play-calling or philosophy. The only thing I see is a focus on getting the ball to the tight ends. I'm willing to give Clawson a pass because of how awful Crompton is, but it is a temporary pass.
Fulmer gets no pass. I love the guy and always will. He brought the Glory Days to Knoxville and truly loves the school. But these are all his guys. All his coaches. These guys look awful. Florida hardly seemed tested today. I'm watching Auburn/LSU right now and the skills, intensity and overall effort in this game are all greater than what the Vols gave today.
A few years ago, I was convinced that Randy Sanders was the problem. He was. David Cutcliffe was the solution. Now? I don't know. B.J. Coleman? Nick Stephens? Gerald Jones? Is it time to let loose with the play-calling on both sides of the ball since playing close the vest isn't going to get it done with the heartless, speedless, seemingly talentless group of duds on the field right now?
Basketball practice started today and I'm ready to think about Bruce Pearl instead of Phil Fulmer. This football season looks lost and beyond saving.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tennessee Vols vs. Florida Gators - A History
I'm going back in time to a post I put together last year about the Florida/Tennessee rivalry, updating it a bit and putting it into the blogosphere to once again wet your appetite for this weekend's big game. I could not have any lower expectations for the Vols' performance after the UCLA loss and UAB snoozefest, which probably means the Vols will win in a romp.
Let's hope so.
To the retrospective:
2007 Florida 59 Tennessee 20 - The Swamp has rarely been kind to the Big Orange, but it was especially humiliating in 2007. Future Heisman winner Tim Tebow scorched the Vols on the ground and through the air (while also making out with his roommate on the sideline) as Urban Meyer ran it up on a thoroughly-beaten Vols squad. Somehow, someway the Vols rebounded from this crushing defeat to win the SEC East. I'm still not sure how they did that. Let's forget about this one as much as we can.
2006 Florida 21 Tennessee 20 - This game is perhaps best remembered for a premature celebration and one of the gutsiest performances in Tennessee football history. Urban Meyer made his first trip to Knoxville and got his second win in a row over Phil Fulmer. The win was especially sweet for Chris Leak, who spurned Tennessee after the perceived mistreatment of his brother C.J. and remained bitter towards Fulmer about it during his tenure at UF. Justin Harrell played his final game as a Vol after suffering a season-ending injury the previous week against Air Force. He put off surgery to play the game, but wasn't especially effective with one arm. The most memorable moment of the game occurred when Vols QB Erik Ainge did the Gator chomp toward the Tennessee fans after a score put the Vols up in the 3rd quarter. It was way too early for taunts and celebration as the Tennessee defense could not figure out how to cover Dallas Baker or stop Tim Tebow's QB sneaks. Florida went on to win a National Championship.
2005 Florida 16 Tennessee 7 - This game featured several special teams breakdowns that cost the Vols, including a botched fake punt by a confused freshman (Britton Colquitt) and a blocked field goal. This was the first meeting between Urban Meyer and Phil Fulmer after Ron Zook's firing in the off-season. Meyer's tricky offense was on display when the Gators took a 7-0 lead on a reverse off the option to Andre Caldwell. The 2005 season was a terrible one for the Vols as the team fell to 5-6 behind Randy Sanders's clueless offensive scheme and the internal team war over whether Erik Ainge or Rick Clausen should be leading the team.
2004 Tennessee 30 Florida 28 - A classic game in the rivalry as Tennessee's James Wilhoit nailed a 50 yard field goal with 6 seconds left to give the Vols the lead. Wilhoit had missed an extra point earlier in the game, so hitting the game-winner was extra sweet. Many Florida fans remember a controversial call late in the game as Dallas Baker slapped Jonathan Wade (who had just slapped him) and got a 15 yard penalty that (incorrectly) stopped the clock. This was not the first time there was controversy in Knoxville between these teams. Vols fans thought they might have found the next Peyton Manning in Erik Ainge, but were also excited about starter Brent Schaeffer. It turned out they were wrong on both accounts.
2003 Tennessee 24 Florida 10 - Casey Clausen's senior season was mostly a disappointment, but this impressive win in the Swamp was a highlight. The most memorable play of the game was just before the half when Clausen found James Banks on a Hail Mary play that gave the Vols the lead. Florida tried to run the ball all game, basically out-Fulmering Fulmer, and it didn't work.
2002 Florida 30 Tennessee 13 - The score was embarrassingly lop-sided and so was the game. In fact, Phil Fulmer apologized afterwards for the performance. The Vols had 8 fumbles throughout the rain-soaked game, losing 3 of them, and could not contain Rex Grossman throughout. To me, this game was a sign of the sinking Vol ship. Casey Clausen was a junior, but looked no better than when he was a freshman. The special teams were terrible. The discipline was non-existent. It was becoming frustrating to watch the under-achieving Vols.
2001 Tennessee 34 Florida 32 - This game is remembered for several reasons: 1) it was moved back into December because of the 9/11 tragedy 2)#2 Florida was playing #5 Tennessee for the right to go to the SEC Championship game 3) Travis Stephens carried the Vols on his back with 226 yards and 2 touchdowns 4) it was an instant college football classic. It was a game of back and forth football, finally put into the hands Heisman-hopeful Rex Grossman for a two-point conversion play that was no good. Tennessee went on to lay an egg against LSU in the SEC Championship game, losing a chance to play for the National Championship in the Rose Bowl.
2000 Florida 27 Tennessee 23 - Controversy in Knoxville. The Volunteers ran the ball down the throats of the Gators, but were desperately holding on to a 23-20 lead when Rex Grossman threw a quick pass to Jabar Gaffney that he caught for .00001 seconds before it hit the ground. Touchdown? According to the referees, yes. According to 108,000 Vols fans, no.
1999 Florida 23 Tennessee 21 - The Alex Brown game. Tennessee's hopes of defending their National Championship fell apart in the Swamp as the Vols looked lackadaisical and slow compared to the Gators. Alex Brown had 5 sacks of Tee Martin. Tennessee fans remember a couple of mistakes down the stretch, most notably Deon Grant's decision to run out-of-bounds with a late game interception instead of turning it upfield and for the odd 4th & 3 sweep call with Jamal Lewis who turned it inside when the outside looked open. Would the Vols ever win in the Swamp? It would take a California kid to pull off the feat in 2001 in an instant classic.
1998 Tennessee 20 Florida 17 - FINALLY! After Peyton Manning failed to beat Spurrier's Gators for four years, Tee Martin got the job done in overtime. To be fair, the outcome had much more to do with Al Wilson and the Tennessee defense than it did Tee Martin, but he made one big pass to Peerless Price (while his arm was hit) and did not make the multiple mistakes the Gators made. Spurrier was revolving QBs throughout the game, but could not find an answer to the swarming John Chavis defense. I stormed the field with my friends and walked away with a Gatorade bottle from the Tennessee bench.
Let's hope so.
To the retrospective:
2007 Florida 59 Tennessee 20 - The Swamp has rarely been kind to the Big Orange, but it was especially humiliating in 2007. Future Heisman winner Tim Tebow scorched the Vols on the ground and through the air (while also making out with his roommate on the sideline) as Urban Meyer ran it up on a thoroughly-beaten Vols squad. Somehow, someway the Vols rebounded from this crushing defeat to win the SEC East. I'm still not sure how they did that. Let's forget about this one as much as we can.
2006 Florida 21 Tennessee 20 - This game is perhaps best remembered for a premature celebration and one of the gutsiest performances in Tennessee football history. Urban Meyer made his first trip to Knoxville and got his second win in a row over Phil Fulmer. The win was especially sweet for Chris Leak, who spurned Tennessee after the perceived mistreatment of his brother C.J. and remained bitter towards Fulmer about it during his tenure at UF. Justin Harrell played his final game as a Vol after suffering a season-ending injury the previous week against Air Force. He put off surgery to play the game, but wasn't especially effective with one arm. The most memorable moment of the game occurred when Vols QB Erik Ainge did the Gator chomp toward the Tennessee fans after a score put the Vols up in the 3rd quarter. It was way too early for taunts and celebration as the Tennessee defense could not figure out how to cover Dallas Baker or stop Tim Tebow's QB sneaks. Florida went on to win a National Championship.
2005 Florida 16 Tennessee 7 - This game featured several special teams breakdowns that cost the Vols, including a botched fake punt by a confused freshman (Britton Colquitt) and a blocked field goal. This was the first meeting between Urban Meyer and Phil Fulmer after Ron Zook's firing in the off-season. Meyer's tricky offense was on display when the Gators took a 7-0 lead on a reverse off the option to Andre Caldwell. The 2005 season was a terrible one for the Vols as the team fell to 5-6 behind Randy Sanders's clueless offensive scheme and the internal team war over whether Erik Ainge or Rick Clausen should be leading the team.
2004 Tennessee 30 Florida 28 - A classic game in the rivalry as Tennessee's James Wilhoit nailed a 50 yard field goal with 6 seconds left to give the Vols the lead. Wilhoit had missed an extra point earlier in the game, so hitting the game-winner was extra sweet. Many Florida fans remember a controversial call late in the game as Dallas Baker slapped Jonathan Wade (who had just slapped him) and got a 15 yard penalty that (incorrectly) stopped the clock. This was not the first time there was controversy in Knoxville between these teams. Vols fans thought they might have found the next Peyton Manning in Erik Ainge, but were also excited about starter Brent Schaeffer. It turned out they were wrong on both accounts.
2003 Tennessee 24 Florida 10 - Casey Clausen's senior season was mostly a disappointment, but this impressive win in the Swamp was a highlight. The most memorable play of the game was just before the half when Clausen found James Banks on a Hail Mary play that gave the Vols the lead. Florida tried to run the ball all game, basically out-Fulmering Fulmer, and it didn't work.
2002 Florida 30 Tennessee 13 - The score was embarrassingly lop-sided and so was the game. In fact, Phil Fulmer apologized afterwards for the performance. The Vols had 8 fumbles throughout the rain-soaked game, losing 3 of them, and could not contain Rex Grossman throughout. To me, this game was a sign of the sinking Vol ship. Casey Clausen was a junior, but looked no better than when he was a freshman. The special teams were terrible. The discipline was non-existent. It was becoming frustrating to watch the under-achieving Vols.
2001 Tennessee 34 Florida 32 - This game is remembered for several reasons: 1) it was moved back into December because of the 9/11 tragedy 2)#2 Florida was playing #5 Tennessee for the right to go to the SEC Championship game 3) Travis Stephens carried the Vols on his back with 226 yards and 2 touchdowns 4) it was an instant college football classic. It was a game of back and forth football, finally put into the hands Heisman-hopeful Rex Grossman for a two-point conversion play that was no good. Tennessee went on to lay an egg against LSU in the SEC Championship game, losing a chance to play for the National Championship in the Rose Bowl.
2000 Florida 27 Tennessee 23 - Controversy in Knoxville. The Volunteers ran the ball down the throats of the Gators, but were desperately holding on to a 23-20 lead when Rex Grossman threw a quick pass to Jabar Gaffney that he caught for .00001 seconds before it hit the ground. Touchdown? According to the referees, yes. According to 108,000 Vols fans, no.
1999 Florida 23 Tennessee 21 - The Alex Brown game. Tennessee's hopes of defending their National Championship fell apart in the Swamp as the Vols looked lackadaisical and slow compared to the Gators. Alex Brown had 5 sacks of Tee Martin. Tennessee fans remember a couple of mistakes down the stretch, most notably Deon Grant's decision to run out-of-bounds with a late game interception instead of turning it upfield and for the odd 4th & 3 sweep call with Jamal Lewis who turned it inside when the outside looked open. Would the Vols ever win in the Swamp? It would take a California kid to pull off the feat in 2001 in an instant classic.
1998 Tennessee 20 Florida 17 - FINALLY! After Peyton Manning failed to beat Spurrier's Gators for four years, Tee Martin got the job done in overtime. To be fair, the outcome had much more to do with Al Wilson and the Tennessee defense than it did Tee Martin, but he made one big pass to Peerless Price (while his arm was hit) and did not make the multiple mistakes the Gators made. Spurrier was revolving QBs throughout the game, but could not find an answer to the swarming John Chavis defense. I stormed the field with my friends and walked away with a Gatorade bottle from the Tennessee bench.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Monday Morning Football Frenzy
Friday Night Lights
* Nothing shocking about Friday night's results, though Baylor has a running back that scampered for over 300 yards. The kid was just a soccer player and us McCallie folk are hoping he goes back to that sport exclusively before the October 3rd game.
* The Big Blue got its second win of the year on Saturday afternoon over some Charlotte team. I'll always use space to brag about a McCallie win.
College Saturday
* My thoughts on the UAB game are up in another post. It is worth noting here that UCLA, the team that beat the Vols, lost to BYU 59-0.
59-0.
Someone pointed out that UAB is probably about as good as UCLA, but I don't buy that. The Blazers had one player, a tough Tebow-like QB, and little else. There defense is miserable, but Crompton still couldn't carve it up. I'm almost dreading Saturday's game with Florida.
* The Dawgs escaped South Carolina thanks to a terrible fumble on the goal line and the continued terrible quarterback play for Steve Spurrier. Knowshon Moreno is freaking fast and so much fun to watch. For whatever reason, though, the Bulldogs leave me wanting. They are like that movie "Crash" with all the big stars and connected storylines and social commentary that comes together to be a cheesy, lousy flick. The Dawgs have the players, coaches and pieces for a title run, but it just ain't working right now like it ought.
* Was Arizona State looking ahead to the Dawgs? The Sun Devils lost at home to UNLV? For the weekend, the Pac-10 was 0-4 against the Mountain West. Yeesh.
* At least it can boast the USC Trojans who are so much better than any team I've watched all year. They are all Knowshon fast, from the backs to the linemen. Poor Boeckman had no prayer back there most of the time (Terrelle Pryor sure looked legit though). Back to the Trojans, they have back-ups who would star for the Vols right now. Pete Carroll might be the greatest hire in college coaching...ever. His reign in L.A. has been unbelievable and it looks like they are loaded for several more years of dominance.
* Ohio State gets killed again by a good team. And they wonder why they get so little respect from us Southern folk.
* UTC improved from scoring 2 against Oklahoma to 7 against Florida State. The biggest improvement for the Mocs from these games is in their bank account.
* 3-2? Auburn and Mississippi State set back the sport of football back thirty years with its horrible effort Saturday night. Exhibit A for what sucks about the Spread Offense was on display in Starkville. All Auburn needed to do to win the game was run the clock out, but there they are in the shotgun (!) playing cutesy football against an inferior opponent. Sure enough, the War Eagles fumbled the ball on a bad pitch (!!!) and were only saved by an amazing interception on the next play.
I'm about two weeks away from starting an anti-Spread Offense blog. My hatred of it is admittedly irrational, much like my disdain of Van Morrison and people who put bumper stickers on their cars, but each and every game I'm watching the same offense being run by this week's offensive coordinating flavor of the month. How long until the Spread sits beside the Wing-T and Run & Shoot in the pile of relic football offenses?
The Pros
* Here is my take on the end of the Broncos/Chargers game: yes, the Chargers got hosed. Yes, it was a fumble and yes, Hochuli and his massive upper body blew it. However...the Chargers did NOTHING to cause that fumble. The ball slipped out of Cutler's hand in a freakish play. The Chargers did not force that error whatsoever. They did benefit from it (or should have), but the idea that they did what it took to win and had it stolen is a bit dubious to me. Besides, they could have stopped Denver from scoring, stopped Denver from converting the two-point conversion and successfully gotten into field goal range to win in regulation. It was an injustice, but not a colossal one.
* Look at all the 0-2 teams right now: Vikings, Chargers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Browns - these were all supposed to be playoff contenders. Crazy start to the season.
* The Titans/Bengals game was tough to watch in that windstorm, but it played right into Jeff Fisher's hands with his run attack and defensive unit. Did anyone else get the feeling from the post-game handshake that Fisher figures he'll never be shaking Marvin Lewis' hand again as the head coach of the Bengals? They are awful.
* How long until the Vikings trade for Jeff Garcia? Give up a 1st-rounder for him. Whatever it takes to get rid of Taterrible Jackson.
The Cowboys ought to handle the Eagles tonight, though Donovan McNabb has typically owned the Pokes. If Dallas wins, it sets up a great game next week between the Packers and Cowboys that could preview the NFC Championship game. Is Aaron Rodgers really this good?
* Nothing shocking about Friday night's results, though Baylor has a running back that scampered for over 300 yards. The kid was just a soccer player and us McCallie folk are hoping he goes back to that sport exclusively before the October 3rd game.
* The Big Blue got its second win of the year on Saturday afternoon over some Charlotte team. I'll always use space to brag about a McCallie win.
College Saturday
* My thoughts on the UAB game are up in another post. It is worth noting here that UCLA, the team that beat the Vols, lost to BYU 59-0.
59-0.
Someone pointed out that UAB is probably about as good as UCLA, but I don't buy that. The Blazers had one player, a tough Tebow-like QB, and little else. There defense is miserable, but Crompton still couldn't carve it up. I'm almost dreading Saturday's game with Florida.
* The Dawgs escaped South Carolina thanks to a terrible fumble on the goal line and the continued terrible quarterback play for Steve Spurrier. Knowshon Moreno is freaking fast and so much fun to watch. For whatever reason, though, the Bulldogs leave me wanting. They are like that movie "Crash" with all the big stars and connected storylines and social commentary that comes together to be a cheesy, lousy flick. The Dawgs have the players, coaches and pieces for a title run, but it just ain't working right now like it ought.
* Was Arizona State looking ahead to the Dawgs? The Sun Devils lost at home to UNLV? For the weekend, the Pac-10 was 0-4 against the Mountain West. Yeesh.
* At least it can boast the USC Trojans who are so much better than any team I've watched all year. They are all Knowshon fast, from the backs to the linemen. Poor Boeckman had no prayer back there most of the time (Terrelle Pryor sure looked legit though). Back to the Trojans, they have back-ups who would star for the Vols right now. Pete Carroll might be the greatest hire in college coaching...ever. His reign in L.A. has been unbelievable and it looks like they are loaded for several more years of dominance.
* Ohio State gets killed again by a good team. And they wonder why they get so little respect from us Southern folk.
* UTC improved from scoring 2 against Oklahoma to 7 against Florida State. The biggest improvement for the Mocs from these games is in their bank account.
* 3-2? Auburn and Mississippi State set back the sport of football back thirty years with its horrible effort Saturday night. Exhibit A for what sucks about the Spread Offense was on display in Starkville. All Auburn needed to do to win the game was run the clock out, but there they are in the shotgun (!) playing cutesy football against an inferior opponent. Sure enough, the War Eagles fumbled the ball on a bad pitch (!!!) and were only saved by an amazing interception on the next play.
I'm about two weeks away from starting an anti-Spread Offense blog. My hatred of it is admittedly irrational, much like my disdain of Van Morrison and people who put bumper stickers on their cars, but each and every game I'm watching the same offense being run by this week's offensive coordinating flavor of the month. How long until the Spread sits beside the Wing-T and Run & Shoot in the pile of relic football offenses?
The Pros
* Here is my take on the end of the Broncos/Chargers game: yes, the Chargers got hosed. Yes, it was a fumble and yes, Hochuli and his massive upper body blew it. However...the Chargers did NOTHING to cause that fumble. The ball slipped out of Cutler's hand in a freakish play. The Chargers did not force that error whatsoever. They did benefit from it (or should have), but the idea that they did what it took to win and had it stolen is a bit dubious to me. Besides, they could have stopped Denver from scoring, stopped Denver from converting the two-point conversion and successfully gotten into field goal range to win in regulation. It was an injustice, but not a colossal one.
* Look at all the 0-2 teams right now: Vikings, Chargers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Browns - these were all supposed to be playoff contenders. Crazy start to the season.
* The Titans/Bengals game was tough to watch in that windstorm, but it played right into Jeff Fisher's hands with his run attack and defensive unit. Did anyone else get the feeling from the post-game handshake that Fisher figures he'll never be shaking Marvin Lewis' hand again as the head coach of the Bengals? They are awful.
* How long until the Vikings trade for Jeff Garcia? Give up a 1st-rounder for him. Whatever it takes to get rid of Taterrible Jackson.
The Cowboys ought to handle the Eagles tonight, though Donovan McNabb has typically owned the Pokes. If Dallas wins, it sets up a great game next week between the Packers and Cowboys that could preview the NFC Championship game. Is Aaron Rodgers really this good?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Vols/Blazers Thoughts
My first game at Neyland Stadium in several years was a hot, sweaty, fairly frustrating afternoon as the Vols put away a pesky UAB team.
Did I mention it was hot?
After grabbing two tickets from a scalper, Martha and I entered Neyland Stadium to find much of the upper deck empty. In all of 10 seconds, I went from thinking I got a good deal to thinking I could have paid much less for my tickets. In all my years of going to Tennessee games, including several years with season tickets and four years with student tickets, I can't ever remember seeing the stadium so empty. While AD Mike Hamilton is chalking it up to gas prices and high definition television (really, Mike?), the palpable feeling of frustration in the air probably had more to do with the empty seats.
My dad got our family season tickets back when I was a middle schooler and nothing in the pregame show has changed a bit. I do remember a year or two when they gave the male cheerleaders a microphone for a couple of cheers that led to massive groans rather than the desired "orange/white" silliness. They killed that nonsense and have stuck with the tried and true set-up ever since.
It did not take long for a sun-soaked crowd to get fussy with the inconsistent Vols. Our section was overly supportive at times. An orange-clad idiot in front of us yelled, "I'll take that all day!" after Arian Foster rushed for...nothing. 2nd and 10. I'll take that all day.
(Martha and I spent most of the 2nd half proclaiming we would take various Vol failures all day).
By the 2nd quarter, the boo birds were out in our section. Actually, there was only one boo bird in our section - me. Not sure why our section was so kind to the terrible Tennessee team, but it was just me letting them have it. Most of my anger was directed at Jonathan Crompton, but Luke Stocker got his share as well (though I blamed Crompton for continuing to throw it to him). Crompton missed wide open receivers and the interceptions were just awful.
The good news from my view is Section AA was the secondary's stellar play, a slightly improved pass rush and the running game in the second half. Do I feel good about the Florida game after beating UAB?
Are you kidding?
My expectations are so low for Saturday I'm going to be pleasantly surprised with any points at all.
Monday Morning thoughts coming, well, tomorrow.
Did I mention it was hot?
After grabbing two tickets from a scalper, Martha and I entered Neyland Stadium to find much of the upper deck empty. In all of 10 seconds, I went from thinking I got a good deal to thinking I could have paid much less for my tickets. In all my years of going to Tennessee games, including several years with season tickets and four years with student tickets, I can't ever remember seeing the stadium so empty. While AD Mike Hamilton is chalking it up to gas prices and high definition television (really, Mike?), the palpable feeling of frustration in the air probably had more to do with the empty seats.
My dad got our family season tickets back when I was a middle schooler and nothing in the pregame show has changed a bit. I do remember a year or two when they gave the male cheerleaders a microphone for a couple of cheers that led to massive groans rather than the desired "orange/white" silliness. They killed that nonsense and have stuck with the tried and true set-up ever since.
It did not take long for a sun-soaked crowd to get fussy with the inconsistent Vols. Our section was overly supportive at times. An orange-clad idiot in front of us yelled, "I'll take that all day!" after Arian Foster rushed for...nothing. 2nd and 10. I'll take that all day.
(Martha and I spent most of the 2nd half proclaiming we would take various Vol failures all day).
By the 2nd quarter, the boo birds were out in our section. Actually, there was only one boo bird in our section - me. Not sure why our section was so kind to the terrible Tennessee team, but it was just me letting them have it. Most of my anger was directed at Jonathan Crompton, but Luke Stocker got his share as well (though I blamed Crompton for continuing to throw it to him). Crompton missed wide open receivers and the interceptions were just awful.
The good news from my view is Section AA was the secondary's stellar play, a slightly improved pass rush and the running game in the second half. Do I feel good about the Florida game after beating UAB?
Are you kidding?
My expectations are so low for Saturday I'm going to be pleasantly surprised with any points at all.
Monday Morning thoughts coming, well, tomorrow.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Is Tennessee Still an "Elite" Football Program?
A group of us were talking up SEC football at lunch the other day when this topic came up: Is Tennessee still an elite program?
The guy across from me, who happened to be an LSU fan, argued they are since they played in the championship game of the country's toughest conference last season. Of course, that is a game they lost, but they did hang with eventual National Champion LSU and really outplayed them for most of the game.
The guy next to me laughed at the suggestion. The Vols have not been in a BCS bowl game since the 1999-2000 season. They have not won a meaningful bowl game since the 1998/99 season. They have not won the SEC in years. Right now, they are the 6th best team in their own conference - how can they be an elite program?
So who is right?
At this point, in the aftermath of the Horror in Hollywood (I really like that moniker, by the way, much more than the Collision in the Coliseum this Saturday), it is easy to argue against the Vols. They are on nobody's National Championship watch list, let alone SEC East watch list. While the Dawgs and Gators grab national attention with Heisman winners and contenders, the Vols can only boast a really good secondary.
And what about NFL talent? Elite programs like USC, Ohio State and Florida are sending player after player into the pros. Do the Vols have guys who will play on Sunday?
Yes - Eric Berry, Arian Foster, Demetrice Morley, Gerald Jones, Brandon Warren and Britton Colquitt all strike me as plausible professionals. I imagine we have a linemen or two as well. Fulmer has rarely lacked talent because of his outstanding recruiting abilities. The Vols are a national power each year on Signing Day, even if some of those big recruits (LaMarcus Coker, Jonathan Crompton) don't pan out as advertised.
Back to the question - is Tennessee still "elite"?
Yes - stadium, facilities, fan base, tradition, national exposure, recruiting, winning seasons, consistently in bowl games, marque victories.
No - unranked, middle of pack in conference, not contending for titles, dissatisfied fan base, lack of football creativity, lack of significant wins.
So which is it?
As orange as my blood runs, I think the Vols are a full step away from being an elite program at this point. There is no doubt that the SEC is the toughest conference in the country and being in the upper half of it says something. Heck, Florida and Georgia watched the Vols play LSU in the title game last season. But that was also a season that featured an admittedly lucky victory over Kentucky, an overtime win over a mediocre South Carolina team and three blowout losses. Elite teams don't get blown out three times in one season.
Maybe The Clawfense will turn things around. Maybe the big recruits will pan out. Maybe the Vols will find the heart they had in the 1990s. Until then, they are a good, not elite, football program.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Should Tennessee Play Cupcakes?
Phil Fulmer and AD Mike Hamilton like to brag about the Vols' football schedule which includes future games with Oregon, Oklahoma and Ohio State. But is it a good idea for the Vols to play such tough out-of-conference competition, especially so early in the season?The case for cupcakes makes good sense. The Vols are a notoriously slow-starting team that usually peaks in November (and not just because Kentucky and Vanderbilt are usual November opponents). For years, Tennessee fans longed for the Florida game to be moved back because the Vols were a better team later in the year. It makes little sense to open the year with teams that can beat the Vols - teams like California and UCLA. Why not get the Crompton kinks out against UTC instead of UCLA?
An opening cupcake also keeps spirits high for longer than four quarters. I'm expecting empty seats at the opening home game on Saturday because of post-UCLA frustrations. The Vols are out of the national polls and the laughing stock of the SEC (which is saying something with Arkansas and Mississippi State in the conference). Instead of losing to a 3rd-string quarterback across the country, the Vols could be 1-0 against an FBS team in the comfort of their own dorm rooms.
Playing tough out-of-conference teams in the season opener is like the politician who tells the truth: it might earn national respect, but it doesn't win elections. Ask Walter Mondale. Remember the National Championship season of 1998? Remember that the Vols were one generous pass interference call away from losing its opener at Syracuse? Most Tennessee fans don't, but that loss would have ruined any hopes of a national crown. The long-term costs outweigh the benefits.
The track record of opening up against a tough opponent dispells the myth that it prepares the Vols for the SEC schedule. Did losing to Cal help against Tim Tebow last year? Did beating Cal at home two years ago help the Vols against Urban Meyer a few weeks later?
Quick trivia - do you remember who the Vols opened up with the last time they beat Florida?
How many of you said UNLV?
Look around the country - Oklahoma plays UTC, Florida State plays Western Carolina, Alabama plays Western Kentucky, LSU plays Appy State, Ohio State plays Youngstown State...you get my drift.
There is no, okay not much, shame in playing a cupcake. The SEC is challenging enough without playing at UCLA, Oregon, Ohio State, etc. on top of it.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday Morning Football Frenzy
The latest in a long line of short-lived weekly segments, the Monday Morning Football Frenzy will recap the weekend that was in the world of football. Enough introduction - let's get to the goods.Friday Night Lights
Two impressive performances from Chattanooga private schools against Nashville juggernauts have me even more excited about their big October 3rd meeting. McCallie and Baylor were both over-matched in their meetings with Brentwood Academy and MBA, respectively, but both put up good fights in losses.
The end of Baylor's 14-3 loss to the MBA Big Red was puzzling. Baylor had three timeouts remaining as MBA tried to run out the clock. Instead of using those timeouts with the hope of a fluke fumble, a chance to get the ball back, etc., the Red Raiders decided to let the clock run out. What kind of message is that for the boys? There does come a point in the game where "quitting" is justified (i.e. not taking timeouts when down 30), but a two-possession game with two minutes left? Why not play it out and see what happens?
The other highlights of the high school weekend were Ooltewah's dominance of McMinn County and Soddy Daisy showing its win over Red Bank was no fluke as it beat William Blount.
College Highlights
No Vols this Saturday, but Tennessee schools had a good weekend as Vanderbilt beat South Carolina, MTSU upset Maryland (how bad is the ACC?) and UTC destroyed Cumberland.
Then, there was Memphis. I actually stayed up to watch the miserable ending of its game with Rice. The Tigers were driving for a field goal that would break at 35-35 tie, but instead the Owls picked off a pass and returned it for the game-winning touchdown. Tommy West looked like he was going to get sick on the sideline. What a miserable loss and miserable start to the season after getting spanked by Ole Miss last weekend.
Speaking of Ole Miss, Houston Nutt is doing a job in Oxford (and don't tell me its Ed O's players). The Rebels whipped rival Memphis, then nearly shocked Wake Forest in North Carolina. While I don't expect Ole Miss to contend against LSU, Alabama and Auburn in the SEC West, I imagine the Rebels will be bowling at the season's end.
Who won't be bowling? How about Bobby Petrino and Arkansas. They barely beat FCS team Western Illinois last week, then survived a missed field goal at the buzzer to beat Louisiana-Monroe. Why aren't the Hogs on Tennessee's schedule this year?
There is only one way to describe Petrino's start in Fayetteville - karma.
Either Miami is better than advertised or Florida is vulnerable. Tim Tebow did not look as strong as he did running the ball last year, despite ESPN's piece on his workouts. (And how long until the Erin Andrews/Tim Tebow sex tape hits the market?). I actually find myself liking Tebow more and more, but I think Urban Meyer is running his stud quarterback into Earl Campbell status with the constant and often unnecessary hits he is taking.
The BYU/Washington ending did not bother me at all. Remember when Arian Foster was penalized 15 yards in overtime for spiking the football after a failed 2-point conversion? Same thing. How can that kid not know that he cannot flip the ball up into the air after a touchdown? That has always been a penalty in college football and it should have been flagged. Blame the kid, not the ref.
East Carolina? If they were in the ACC, they would be the conference's best team. They dominated West Virginia on Saturday, who was one of my sleeper teams to make a national championship run (for full disclosure, West Virginia has been my sleeper team for about five straight years. Don't know why exactly, but I always like them). Where will Skip Holtz be next year - South Carolina? Maryland? Mississippi State?
Notre Dame? You heard it here first.
The Pros
I know the big stories are Brady and Favre, but how about them Cowboys? They dominated a good Cleveland team in Cleveland. Romo looked sharp except for a terrible decision in the end zone (I blame his bloody chin for it), T.O. was open all day and making big plays, Marion Barber and Felix Jones are studs and the defense held Cleveland to 10 points. I'm a happy Cowboys fan this morning.
I'm a happy Titans fan too. Tennessee once again shocked Jacksonville in the season opener despite the pitiful play of Vince Young. Kerry Collins is the future in Nashville. Okay, maybe not the future, but I think he ought to be the present. Young is holding the Titans back with his poor passing. Even the touchdown pass to Chris Johnson, who looks like a draft steal right now, was barely catchable. The Titans can be a playoff team once again with a big arm like Collins in the pocket, but will continue to struggle to score with the heartless Vince Young back there.
The Colts looked old last night.
Weird results all day - Bears over Colts, Bills over Seahawks, Panthers over Chargers...I don't know what to make of them. Flukes or parity? Good teams were losing at home yesterday. Weird.
Worst team in the NFL? It is not the Atlanta Falcons who blew out Detroit yesterday behind Matt Ryan and Michael Turner. Um, what? Vick who? Is Detroit just awful or is Atlanta okay?
The worst team must be Cincinnati. Did you see Joe Flacco's touchdown run? I can outrun that guy. It was the slowest football run I've ever seen in a professional game since Steve Bono ran a naked bootleg against the Cardinals last decade (my football memory is a vault of useless information).
Next Week
USC vs. Ohio State. Can you believe they are playing each other? Me neither. Plus I'm heading to Knoxville for the UAB game. If Crompton starts the game with an incompletion, I'm booing him the rest of the day.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Murray through to the Final
Well CBS is probably a little disappointed that there will not be a Nadal vs Federer III in 2008, but rest assured the better player won in the second men's semifinal match today in Arthur Ashe Stadium. This match was as good as it gets in men's tennis. Andy Murray played a nearly flawless match, under ridiculous circumstances. He was up two sets to love yesterday when the rains came. Moments after the match was postponed, it was announced they would resume play on Sunday at 4:00 pm. Everyone under the sun was predicting this would help Nadal-- it was a forgone conclusion that he would compose himself in order to meet Roger in the final on Monday. Nadal certainly played better today, but it was not enough. Rafa managed to win the third set, but it was Murray who was dictating play throughout. I can't imagine the final will be as good as this one was today. Federer lucked out by playing a visibly dejected Novak Djokovic in his semifinal. Djokovic said some idiotic things to the New York crowd after his win over Roddick, and his heart was never in it on Saturday. That's not to say Federer doesn't have a chance on Monday-- he is the greatest player ever, but if Murray plays anywhere near the level he played on Saturday and Sunday, he should walk away with the first Grand Slam title for the British Isles since Fred Perry won here in 1936-- and I thought we Americans had a drought going!
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