Will They or Won't They?

Chris



I’ve got my chips. I’ve located my adult beverage. I’m ready to veg out on the couch for the entire day and soak up all that is COLLEGE FOOTBALL!


That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for football; college football. And as I prepare myself for “battle”, I find myself wondering how my beloved Volunteers are going to fare this season. We’ve got (another) new head coach, a new O-line, a new quarterback, and lost the face of the program, Eric Berry to the NFL. I would be dishonest with myself if I thought that the Vols would win more than 5 games this season. Now I fully understand that there’s always the chance for an upset, but if the Vols don’t do exactly that, pull an upset, they will be watching the Bowl season from the comfort of their own dorm rooms, yet again this season.


We start off with U.T-Martin this evening. The anticipation is running high since no Vol fan truly knows what to expect. Of course, Martin isn’t exactly a measuring stick on which to base the entire season. Next week, Oregon (not Orgeron) comes to Knox Vegas. They will likely be ranked in the top 10, if not just a bit outside it. This will be the first true test of the team, and will undoubtedly result in a 14-20 point beat-down at the hands of the Ducks.


As I look at U.T.’s schedule, there’s just not many games that are winnable. I predict that they will beat Martin, and they will beat Memphis. Other than that, it’s really a coin toss. They might beat Vanderbilt, there’s a chance they can beat South Carolina, and as long as Jeremiah Masloi tears a major knee ligament sometime between now and then, we could beat Ole Miss. There’s a hole lot of ifs and maybes in there dear reader.


All I’m saying is not to get your hopes to high this season, or next. By year 3 of the Dooley era, we should be back to competing with the best teams in the SEC.




Mike


Howdy folks! I gotta disagree with The Ole Coach on this one. I feel like UT is going to embrace this underdog role and kick a lil ass this year! I say were gonna go with at least 7 wins this year! Call me crazy but I remember last year we played with all the big boys and barely lost. If not for Mt. Cody and his removable helmet last year - we possibly best the Tide. If not for Superman - I think the Vols ate the gators lunch. Just couldn't find the Kryptonite.


Disillusioned Vol fans have long thought we were a team that should be vying for the national championship yr in and yr out but we need to establish ourselves as a Top 10 team again first and then we can start talking about titles again. I have to admit I wrote this blog a day late and a dollar short after watching UT play the JV team.


Here are some thoughts I have:


New Ball Coachilla - I liked Lane’s enthusiasm but I think he had the wrong road map to success. The one with "Carroll’s Cliff notes to Succeeding - IE - Winning for dummies (cheating)"


Not having a head case qb. I felt like we were in great shape for at the play calling position.


Loved seeing us going for it on 4th down - even if the game was well in hand by that point. Gets us those reps for when we need it. Shotgun formation no less.


Bryce who?!? - I think were just fine at the tail as well even without the primadonna Bryce Brown back there. Props to Dooley for making these boys understand there will be some law and order under Sheriff Dooley!


Looking forward to a fun season either way and looking especially forward to exchanging barbs with my wonderful buddy Chris "Beefcake" Barbour. You guys are in for some treats.


Chris


Pretty good points, Ninja, but I’m looking at the season as a whole here. Spit the Orange Kool-Aid out and listen to me just for one minute….


Let’s take it game-by-game, and maybe, just maybe that will make my point.


Next game Oregon at Neyland Stadium. The only legitimate chance we have of winning this game is if the team is killed a plane crash on the cross-country flight to K-Town! I’ll be shocked if the spread isn’t 12-14 points.


Florida: They’ll be hitting on all cylinders by the time that land in Knoxville.


U.A.B.: O.K., this one we should win…for no other reason than we’re Tennessee and they’re not!


L.S.U.: U.T. will lose this one despite Les Miles’ best efforts to hand it to us!


Georgia: If this one were in Knoxville, maybe…but it’s not.


Ala-damn-bama: Not on our best day this year….


South Carolina: The Ol’ Ball Coach owned Phil Fulmer, and beat U.T. with lesser talent. This one’s in Columbia, expect him to dog pile.


Memphis: Maybe we win this one. I’ll give us the nod here.


Mississippi: Jeremiah Masloi will be firmly entrenched as the QB by the time The Rebs roll into Knoxville. They’ll still be looking for revenge for that Jacksonville State debacle. We lose a close one.


Vandy: We should beat these bookworms….just like we always do.


Kentucky: Joker Phillips is going to be out to prove a point; along with Mr. Cobb.


That’s four wins by my count. MAYBE five is we pull an upset along the way. I know this, if Derek Dooley gets this team to a bowl game; ANY bowl game this season, they should build a statue of him and place it beside the flame carrier at the top of the hill. I love my Vols, I’m just being realistic.


Mike


Your constant glass is half empty outlook on our beloved Vols never fails. I've known you for the start of three seasons and each one has brought the gloom and doom out of you. While I concur that we have seen better days - I also see the light at the end of the tunnel. I feel like we're on the right track to restore glory to our University. By all means - the stadium looks GORGEOUS now so why can't the team play well to assist all our hostesses and the looks of the stadium. A few W's wouldn't do too bad in recruiting the talent to the Smokies. Mark my words(because I may end up eating them and I don't want to be able to deny them) - I think we're in for one helluva season this year. You've made some VERY good points about the teams we play, but I also think you're basing a lot on what happened last season. I think we've improved in all areas, but at the same time - we do have a lot we can work on. Without further ado - BRING ON THE #7 Ducks.






PS - That's not Kool-Aid I'm drankin' - it's Duck Blood(new mixture I brewed up for the tailgate this weekend). Hope to see my co-host down there. Toss the ole pigskin around.