ESPN College GameDay will be in Columbia, SC this week, where the Vols will take on South Carolina in a game televised by ESPN at 7:45 PM. Sometimes things just fall your way, and with Navy's QB out with a dislocated knee in a loss to Rutgers (taking away a significant storyline of the Navy-Notre Dame game, as well as Navy's chances of winning), and Georgia Tech and Miami both at a down point based on the events of the last few weeks, the most interesting Saturday matchup will indeed be Steve Spurrier against the Vols.
This is the 15th time a game featuring the Vols has been accompanied by the GameDay crew, who've been airing live on campus since 1993. The Vols were also scheduled to appear last year in Baton Rouge, but the game was moved to Monday night and GameDay went elsewhere.
Tennessee Games on ESPN College GameDay
09/09/95 - Georgia at Tennessee (W 30-27)
10/14/95 - Tennessee at Alabama (at Birmingham) (W 41-14)
09/21/96 - Florida at Tennessee (L 35-29)
09/20/97 - Tennessee at Florida (L 33-20)
01/02/98 - Orange Bowl - Nebraska vs. Tennessee (L 42-17)
10/10/98 - Tennessee at Georgia (W 22-3)
01/04/99 - Fiesta Bowl/BCS National Championship - Tennessee vs. Florida State (W 23-16)
09/18/99 - Tennessee at Florida (L 23-21)
11/06/99 - Notre Dame at Tennessee (W 38-14)
09/16/00 - Florida at Tennessee (L 27-23)
12/01/01 - Tennessee at Florida (W 34-32)
09/21/02 - Florida at Tennessee (L 30-13)
11/09/02 - Miami at Tennessee (L 26-3)
10/02/04 - Auburn at Tennessee (L 34-10)
12/03/04 - SEC Championship - Auburn vs. Tennessee (L 38-28)
Thanks to Wikipedia, I researched the number of times GameDay has been to each city. The Vols are right up there, and it's interesting to note that Knoxville would be first on the list if not for Chris Fowler's comments about "trailer park trash" following the 1997 Heisman Trophy being given to Charles Woodson over Peyton Manning, and the subsequent ESPN fear that if GameDay came to Knoxville, Fowler would be killed. So in 1998, GameDay stayed in-studio during the Tennessee/Florida game, and chose to go to Manhattan, Kansas for the Kansas State vs. Nebraska game instead of showing the undefeated showdown between the Vols and Arkansas. I don't care what ESPN or anyone else says, Fowler's comments are the one and only reason the show wasn't in Knoxville during our National Championship year. When Vol fans did get the upper hand finally in Tempe that year, a few folks got a little too excited and tried to bomb the GameDay set with assorted beverages at the Fiesta Bowl after the Vols had won. And to be fair, I was also at GameDay in Knoxville the following year when Notre Dame was in town, and heard Chris Fowler say off camera how much he loved coming to Knoxville in a very sincere way, and the show has certainly been back since.
The places ESPN GameDay has been the most as of this weekend:
9 - Columbus, Gainesville
8 - Ann Arbor
7 - Knoxville, South Bend, Tuscaloosa/Birmingham
6 - Miami, Tallahassee
5 - Auburn, Baton Rouge, Blacksburg, Lincoln
4 - Austin, East Lansing, Los Angeles, Norman
3 - Boulder, Columbia, Happy Valley, Madison
2 - Atlanta, Colorado Springs, Iowa City, Manhattan, Pittsburgh
In specialty games:
4 - Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl
3 - The Cocktail Party, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl
2 - The Red River Rivalry
1 - Big 12 Championship, SEC Championship
Appearances by conference:
SEC - 40
Big 10 - 31
ACC - 23
Big 12 - 23
This is why when Kirk Herbstreit is asked about his favorite place to have GameDay, his response is "anywhere in the SEC."
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Third Saturday Memories
Like all of Tennessee's greatest rivalries, there are a few moments that stand out in your mind, in both the wins and losses. During the Third Saturday renewal yesterday, and with the tight nature of the 16-13 Tennessee win, new memories were written into the lore of this rivalry. There are some things that would seem insignificant in regular games, but everything is special when it's Tennessee and Alabama.
You can read lots of stuff in the blog archives about a few of the UT victories over Alabama, but beyond entire games or just the Tennessee victories, this rivalry is its own animal. You could write volumes about this rivalry before I was born (and they have been written), and you can look at a myriad of games in the 1980s that were classics. As stated in the blog below, I went to my first Tennessee-Alabama game in 1988...in the spirit of Saturday's game, a few of the more memorable moments in the recent past during the Third Saturday in October:
Top 10 Tennessee-Alabama Moments (1989-2006)
10. Peerless Price 100 yard kickoff return - 1998 (Vols 35 - Tide 18)
- Answering Shaun Alexander's TD run that cut the lead to 3; Vols win national championship later that year
9. Casey Clausen to CJ Fayton on 4th and 19 in second overtime - 2003 (Vols 51 - Tide 43 5OT)
- Vols were facing defeat, instead rallied for 5 OT victory in Tuscaloosa
8. Peyton Manning misses James Stewart on 4th down - 1994 (Tide 17 - Vols 13)
- With Stewart on the opposite side of the field wide open in the end zone, Manning throws where he's coached, misses Nilo Silvan for final Bama victory in their most recent streak (86-94)
7. Gerald Dixon 66 yard fumble return for TD to open the floodgates - 2002 (Tide 34 - Vols 14)
- The first Bama victory since 1994, Dixon's TD led to a flood of Vol turnovers and a Bama win
6. Shaun Alexander drops a sure touchdown - 1999 (Vols 21 - Tide 7)
- The definitive image from a 99 contest that saw the Vol D dominate; Alexander's 3rd down drop came with the Tide looking to tie it in the second half
5. Corey Anderson fumbles through the end zone - 2005 (Tide 6 - Vols 3)
- The clearest symbol of the Vols' entire season was Anderson turning a 10-3 lead into a 6-3 loss.
4. Greg Burke's blocked field goal - 1990 (Tide 9 - Vols 6)
- If you're too young at this to remember, the game was tied at 6 with under :30 to play and Burke lined up to kick the game winner...instead, Bama blocked the kick, ball went back about 30-40 yards, and kicked their own game winner on the final play. The definition of heartbreak for most Vol fans in this series and/or in general.
3. Peyton Manning to Joey Kent for 80 yards on play number one - 1995 (Vols 41 - Tide 14)
- Manning's bootleg and Jay Graham's third quarter TD run are also memorable, but this set the tone for the entire evening and the decade to follow
2. David Palmer around right tackle for two - 1993 (Vols 17 - Tide 17)
- The tie that felt like a loss after the Vol prevent D allowed a Bama TD; the Deuce ran played QB and put it in for two and the tie; game later forfeited to the Vols thanks to Antonio Langham, who had a pick in the game.
1. Jay Graham goes 70 yards down the sideline for the lead - 1996 (Vols 20 - Tide 13)
- The most memorable for me, moreso than anything from 95, because (A) I was there and (B) this was an outstanding football game and (C) this is the one that made it feel real, like the Vols had finally broken Bama's hold on us. First win over the Tide in Knoxville since 1984, postgame elation matched only by 98 Florida.
While there wasn't a specific play or definitive moment that would make this list from yesterday's game, it was exactly what you should expect. And let me say that the Neyland Stadium crowd noise in the final five minutes - especially when Alabama had the football - was certainly up and memorable. It felt right in that stadium on the Third Saturday.
You can read lots of stuff in the blog archives about a few of the UT victories over Alabama, but beyond entire games or just the Tennessee victories, this rivalry is its own animal. You could write volumes about this rivalry before I was born (and they have been written), and you can look at a myriad of games in the 1980s that were classics. As stated in the blog below, I went to my first Tennessee-Alabama game in 1988...in the spirit of Saturday's game, a few of the more memorable moments in the recent past during the Third Saturday in October:
Top 10 Tennessee-Alabama Moments (1989-2006)
10. Peerless Price 100 yard kickoff return - 1998 (Vols 35 - Tide 18)
- Answering Shaun Alexander's TD run that cut the lead to 3; Vols win national championship later that year
9. Casey Clausen to CJ Fayton on 4th and 19 in second overtime - 2003 (Vols 51 - Tide 43 5OT)
- Vols were facing defeat, instead rallied for 5 OT victory in Tuscaloosa
8. Peyton Manning misses James Stewart on 4th down - 1994 (Tide 17 - Vols 13)
- With Stewart on the opposite side of the field wide open in the end zone, Manning throws where he's coached, misses Nilo Silvan for final Bama victory in their most recent streak (86-94)
7. Gerald Dixon 66 yard fumble return for TD to open the floodgates - 2002 (Tide 34 - Vols 14)
- The first Bama victory since 1994, Dixon's TD led to a flood of Vol turnovers and a Bama win
6. Shaun Alexander drops a sure touchdown - 1999 (Vols 21 - Tide 7)
- The definitive image from a 99 contest that saw the Vol D dominate; Alexander's 3rd down drop came with the Tide looking to tie it in the second half
5. Corey Anderson fumbles through the end zone - 2005 (Tide 6 - Vols 3)
- The clearest symbol of the Vols' entire season was Anderson turning a 10-3 lead into a 6-3 loss.
4. Greg Burke's blocked field goal - 1990 (Tide 9 - Vols 6)
- If you're too young at this to remember, the game was tied at 6 with under :30 to play and Burke lined up to kick the game winner...instead, Bama blocked the kick, ball went back about 30-40 yards, and kicked their own game winner on the final play. The definition of heartbreak for most Vol fans in this series and/or in general.
3. Peyton Manning to Joey Kent for 80 yards on play number one - 1995 (Vols 41 - Tide 14)
- Manning's bootleg and Jay Graham's third quarter TD run are also memorable, but this set the tone for the entire evening and the decade to follow
2. David Palmer around right tackle for two - 1993 (Vols 17 - Tide 17)
- The tie that felt like a loss after the Vol prevent D allowed a Bama TD; the Deuce ran played QB and put it in for two and the tie; game later forfeited to the Vols thanks to Antonio Langham, who had a pick in the game.
1. Jay Graham goes 70 yards down the sideline for the lead - 1996 (Vols 20 - Tide 13)
- The most memorable for me, moreso than anything from 95, because (A) I was there and (B) this was an outstanding football game and (C) this is the one that made it feel real, like the Vols had finally broken Bama's hold on us. First win over the Tide in Knoxville since 1984, postgame elation matched only by 98 Florida.
While there wasn't a specific play or definitive moment that would make this list from yesterday's game, it was exactly what you should expect. And let me say that the Neyland Stadium crowd noise in the final five minutes - especially when Alabama had the football - was certainly up and memorable. It felt right in that stadium on the Third Saturday.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The 50 Best Vol Games 1989-2005: Top 15 03. At Last...
3. 1995: #6 Tennessee 41 - #12 Alabama 14 (Birmingham, AL)
This list starts in 1989. I was born in 1981. So that means when the Vols ended a decade of futility to the Tide in a 35-28 win in 1982 in Knoxville, uh, I can't really tell you about it. I can remember my Dad telling me about Johnnie Jones breaking Tide hearts (which I needed an explanation of after my Dad and all his ex-frat brothers started yelling "Johnnie Jones!" in the immediate aftermath of Jay Graham's backbreaking run in the 1996 game). And I've seen the videotape from 1985 of Dale Jones saving the day against the Tide in Birmingham.
I went to my first UT game that year, but didn't start going regularly until 1988. By that time, the first time I'd saw the Vols and Tide in person, Alabama had already won two in a row, and Tennessee's season was already in the tank in 88. Alabama won again in 89, the Vols' only loss that year.
By the 1990 game, I was old enough to have vivid memories of it. So I remember 9-6. I remember the anticipation, the blocked field goal, and the inexplicable ending. I remember 1992, I remember how much it hurt to lose to Arkansas the week before because we were going to be undefeated going into the Third Saturday. I remember thinking that when Charlie Garner busted that long run in 1993, we finally had them. And I remember watching in horror as David Palmer ran around right tackle for a two point conversion in a tie that felt like a loss. And I remember Jay Barker getting it done one more time, and a young Peyton Manning leaving the win in the red zone, missing a wide open James Stewart while trying to force one to Nilo Silvan on 4th down. When Alabama won in Knoxville in 2002 and their fans celebrated in euphoria at the end of the game, I remember telling those I was with how strangely, painfully familiar that all was to me.
And those who are older and who've followed the Vols longer than me know exactly how much frustration was alive and well on October 14, 1995. And so, from Birmingham on an ESPN night telecast, the Vols would line them up and attempt to end ten years of agony. The Vols had lost only once, having escaped against Georgia and having blown a 30-14 lead in The Swamp en route to a 62-37 beatdown. Peyton Manning wasn't quite famous yet. The Vols were highly regarded at #6, but hadn't made a real statement yet. And you hadn't really seen anything from this team to make you think that we had any greater chance to beat #12 Alabama in Birmingham than we'd had at any point over the last ten years.
No one was prepared for what came next.
And it didn't take long.
People who say that Peyton Manning never won a big game simply don't understand the weight of what he did on the first play of this football game. I already wrote about how Manning's win in the 1997 SEC Championship certainly qualifies as a big win, and that he has a ring. But what he helped accomplish on this night, starting from the opening snap, turned him from a young talented quarterback into a living legend in Knoxville in one night.
On the first snap, Peyton Manning hit Joey Kent across the middle, and Kent weaved past the Alabama secondary for an 80 yard touchdown. It sounds and looks so simple, but it was monumental. Tennessee showed from the opening snap that they weren't going to have any flair for the dramatic, they were kicking the door down.
It didn't stop there. Leonard Little repeatedly tried to kill Brian Burgdorf. This wasn't Jay Barker's Alabama offense. When Manning hit Marcus Nash, the Vols were up 14-0.
In a game of repeated big plays, Peyton Manning's bootleg - which froze 10 of Alabama's 11 defenders, and the fake dive to Jay Graham would've worked anyway (and made one UT offensive lineman signal touchdown) - but Manning's run that made the game 21-0, and all of a sudden, the past ten years seemed to be fading.
But you still couldn't believe, as Alabama scored to make it 21-7. And even when Manning hit Nash for another TD to make it 28-7 with less than a minute left in the first half, you couldn't be sure.
As the third quarter opened - while Mark Wohlers was striking out the Cincinnati Reds to complete a 4-0 sweep in the NLCS (this was a good day for me) - Alabama scored to make it 28-14. And all of a sudden, here we go. Here comes Alabama, finding a way to win no matter the circumstances against the Vols. Tennessee would fold.
And then Jay Graham made arguably the biggest play of the game.
Nothing answers an Alabama touchdown and the assumption that you're back in the game like a 70 yard touchdown run. But that's exactly what he did, rolling down the sideline - foreshadowing what he'd do the next year - and momentum returned to the Tennessee sideline for good, 35-14.
The rest of the game was highlighted by a tenacious Vol D that wouldn't allow any more points. Two Jeff Hall field goals sealed the deal. By the time the 4th quarter was underway, the celebration was on.
Florida beat the Vols five in a row before 1998. Georgia won four in a row before 2004. Both of those were sweet victories. But this was ten years against your biggest rival. And Tennessee didn't just survive, they dominated. This night in Birmingham turned the entire rivalry around - the Vols have now won 9 of 11. Of all the big games, special plays, everything in Tennessee history, this night in Birmingham will live forever.
This list starts in 1989. I was born in 1981. So that means when the Vols ended a decade of futility to the Tide in a 35-28 win in 1982 in Knoxville, uh, I can't really tell you about it. I can remember my Dad telling me about Johnnie Jones breaking Tide hearts (which I needed an explanation of after my Dad and all his ex-frat brothers started yelling "Johnnie Jones!" in the immediate aftermath of Jay Graham's backbreaking run in the 1996 game). And I've seen the videotape from 1985 of Dale Jones saving the day against the Tide in Birmingham.
I went to my first UT game that year, but didn't start going regularly until 1988. By that time, the first time I'd saw the Vols and Tide in person, Alabama had already won two in a row, and Tennessee's season was already in the tank in 88. Alabama won again in 89, the Vols' only loss that year.
By the 1990 game, I was old enough to have vivid memories of it. So I remember 9-6. I remember the anticipation, the blocked field goal, and the inexplicable ending. I remember 1992, I remember how much it hurt to lose to Arkansas the week before because we were going to be undefeated going into the Third Saturday. I remember thinking that when Charlie Garner busted that long run in 1993, we finally had them. And I remember watching in horror as David Palmer ran around right tackle for a two point conversion in a tie that felt like a loss. And I remember Jay Barker getting it done one more time, and a young Peyton Manning leaving the win in the red zone, missing a wide open James Stewart while trying to force one to Nilo Silvan on 4th down. When Alabama won in Knoxville in 2002 and their fans celebrated in euphoria at the end of the game, I remember telling those I was with how strangely, painfully familiar that all was to me.
And those who are older and who've followed the Vols longer than me know exactly how much frustration was alive and well on October 14, 1995. And so, from Birmingham on an ESPN night telecast, the Vols would line them up and attempt to end ten years of agony. The Vols had lost only once, having escaped against Georgia and having blown a 30-14 lead in The Swamp en route to a 62-37 beatdown. Peyton Manning wasn't quite famous yet. The Vols were highly regarded at #6, but hadn't made a real statement yet. And you hadn't really seen anything from this team to make you think that we had any greater chance to beat #12 Alabama in Birmingham than we'd had at any point over the last ten years.
No one was prepared for what came next.
And it didn't take long.
People who say that Peyton Manning never won a big game simply don't understand the weight of what he did on the first play of this football game. I already wrote about how Manning's win in the 1997 SEC Championship certainly qualifies as a big win, and that he has a ring. But what he helped accomplish on this night, starting from the opening snap, turned him from a young talented quarterback into a living legend in Knoxville in one night.
On the first snap, Peyton Manning hit Joey Kent across the middle, and Kent weaved past the Alabama secondary for an 80 yard touchdown. It sounds and looks so simple, but it was monumental. Tennessee showed from the opening snap that they weren't going to have any flair for the dramatic, they were kicking the door down.
It didn't stop there. Leonard Little repeatedly tried to kill Brian Burgdorf. This wasn't Jay Barker's Alabama offense. When Manning hit Marcus Nash, the Vols were up 14-0.
In a game of repeated big plays, Peyton Manning's bootleg - which froze 10 of Alabama's 11 defenders, and the fake dive to Jay Graham would've worked anyway (and made one UT offensive lineman signal touchdown) - but Manning's run that made the game 21-0, and all of a sudden, the past ten years seemed to be fading.
But you still couldn't believe, as Alabama scored to make it 21-7. And even when Manning hit Nash for another TD to make it 28-7 with less than a minute left in the first half, you couldn't be sure.
As the third quarter opened - while Mark Wohlers was striking out the Cincinnati Reds to complete a 4-0 sweep in the NLCS (this was a good day for me) - Alabama scored to make it 28-14. And all of a sudden, here we go. Here comes Alabama, finding a way to win no matter the circumstances against the Vols. Tennessee would fold.
And then Jay Graham made arguably the biggest play of the game.
Nothing answers an Alabama touchdown and the assumption that you're back in the game like a 70 yard touchdown run. But that's exactly what he did, rolling down the sideline - foreshadowing what he'd do the next year - and momentum returned to the Tennessee sideline for good, 35-14.
The rest of the game was highlighted by a tenacious Vol D that wouldn't allow any more points. Two Jeff Hall field goals sealed the deal. By the time the 4th quarter was underway, the celebration was on.
Florida beat the Vols five in a row before 1998. Georgia won four in a row before 2004. Both of those were sweet victories. But this was ten years against your biggest rival. And Tennessee didn't just survive, they dominated. This night in Birmingham turned the entire rivalry around - the Vols have now won 9 of 11. Of all the big games, special plays, everything in Tennessee history, this night in Birmingham will live forever.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The best SEC ever?
You can check out Sports Illustrated, or check just about any sports website this weekend to find an article about the strength of the SEC. The conference is, right now, unquestionably the best and toughest in America, and with Auburn's victory over Florida last night, each of the 12 SEC teams has at least one conference loss. There are 3 teams in the Top 10 and 5 in the Top 15 in this week's AP poll. What's more, with Vanderbilt's upset over Georgia, it would seem that everyone except Mississippi State is capable of beating everyone else in the league every week. You have to come to work every single Saturday.
Whether or not the Vols, Tigers, Gators (or Pigs?) get into the National Championship mix come December may not really matter. This league has gone from being a two headed monster ten years ago to having six elite programs every single season (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee), plus programs at Arkansas and South Carolina that are fully capable of winning their divisions. And Kentucky and Vanderbilt are no longer free.
So an interesting question comes up, while this season is still only half finished: could this be the best SEC ever (under the 12 team format since 1992)?
We won't know the answer to that until January, but here are my picks for the Top 5 SEC years since the 12 team format was introduced in 1992:
(Note: poll data is final AP Top 25)
5. 1996
(5 Top 25 teams, 2 Top 10 teams, National Champion: Florida)
Two things keep the 96 SEC from being in the top three, if not #1: Memphis' upset win over Tennessee, and Florida's backdoor into the National Championship game after losing the regular season matchup to FSU and needing a Nebraska loss in the Big 12 Championship to earn the rematch with the Noles, which they won handily. That said, these teams were loaded. The Gators included the Heisman Trophy winning Danny Wuerfful and first round draft picks Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony. The Vols, who finished the year ranked #9 after winning the Citrus Bowl, featured Peyton Manning, Jay Graham, and Joey Kent. The 96 Alabama team was also the last of the great Gene Stallings Alabama teams, finishing ranked #11 and featuring future first round draft pick Dwayne Rudd and DeShea Townsend on defense. LSU finished right behind them at #12, and Auburn snuck in at #24, with those teams featuring Kevin Faulk and Takeo Spikes.
4. 1992
(6 Top 25 teams, 3 Top 10 teams, National Champion: Alabama)
As the first super conference, the SEC didn't take long to establish their dominance. In the first season of the 12-team, divisional format SEC, the conference placed five teams in the top sixteen (plus Mississippi State at #23) in the final AP Poll. Alabama was the cream of the crop, going undefeated in the regular season, winning the first SEC Championship Game, and then beating Miami to win the National Championship at 13-0. The Tide defense may be the best the SEC has seen in the last 15 years, and the offense featured Jay Barker, Derrick Lassic, and David Palmer. Three teams from the Eastern Division - Georgia (8), Florida (10), and Tennessee (12) - were all particularly loaded and finished in the Top 12 with great quarterbacks in Eric Zeier, Shane Matthews, and Heath Shuler. Ole Miss would finish second in the SEC West and end the season ranked #16. Newcomers Arkansas and South Carolina also made instant impact by knocking the Vols out of the SEC East lead.
3. 1999
(7 Top 25 teams, 2 Top 10 teams)
If you like quantity, then 1999 is the league for you. The league was highlighted by a surprising Alabama team, led by Shaun Alexander, which beat Florida not once but twice to win the SEC Championship, and were a missed extra point in the Orange Bowl away from finishing in the Top 5. The Tide would finish 8th, one spot ahead of the defending National Champion Vols, who finished 9th and beat Alabama. Florida, with a tremendous defense, finished 12th, and Mississippi State finished 13. Georgia, Arkansas, and Ole Miss all found a spot in the final Top 25 as well.
2. 1997
(6 Top 25 teams, 3 Top 10 teams)
The defending National Champion Florida Gators finished ranked 4th, despite failing to win the SEC for the first time since 1992. That honor went to Peyton Manning and the Vols, who went to January 1 with an outside chance to win the National Championship and still finished 7th. Georgia - who beat Florida for the first time in forever - finished 10, with Auburn 11th and LSU 13th. Five teams in the Top 13 is incredible. Add Ole Miss at 22nd for six in the Top 25, and perhaps the most impressive stat: until the Vols ran into Nebraska, the SEC was undefeated in bowl games following the 1997 season. Along with the usual suspects at Florida and Tennessee, the 97 SEC featured breakout seasons from Georgia WR Hines Ward and Kentucky QB Tim Couch. Peyton Manning finished second in the Heisman voting.
1. 2001
(5 Top 25 teams, 3 Top 10 teams)
The 2001 SEC gets my vote as the best under the new format since 1992. The 01 SEC isn't skewed by a National Champion, or by two really dominant teams as several of those mid-90s runs were with the Vols and Gators. However, those two teams, plus LSU, played key roles in determining the National Championship in the final two weeks of the season. The first weekend in December is perhaps the best single day of SEC football, when Tennessee and Florida played to determine the Eastern Division title, and Auburn and LSU met to determine the Western Division title. When the dust had settled after LSU's surprise SEC Championship, and after the bowls, Florida was ranked 3rd, Tennessee 4th, and LSU 7th. Three teams in the top seven, who weren't ranked higher simply because they beat each other. Future NFL stars? Florida was led by Rex Grossman, Jabar Gaffney, and Lito Sheppard. The Vols fielded Donte' Stallworth, John Henderson, and Al Haynesworth. LSU had LaBrandon Toefield and Josh Reed. Also, 2001 is the best season in the history of South Carolina football, and under Lou Holtz, the Gamecocks finished the year ranked 13th. Factor in year one of Mark Richt and the Bulldogs' 22nd finish, and you've got a solid year. Aside from the Gators/Vols/LSU in the National Championship picture and finishing in the Top 7, the other factor that separates 2001 is that in January 1/BCS bowls, the league went 4-1.
Will the 2006 SEC rise to this list, or to the top of it? We'll find out in January, and every Saturday between now and then. But so far, so good.
Whether or not the Vols, Tigers, Gators (or Pigs?) get into the National Championship mix come December may not really matter. This league has gone from being a two headed monster ten years ago to having six elite programs every single season (Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee), plus programs at Arkansas and South Carolina that are fully capable of winning their divisions. And Kentucky and Vanderbilt are no longer free.
So an interesting question comes up, while this season is still only half finished: could this be the best SEC ever (under the 12 team format since 1992)?
We won't know the answer to that until January, but here are my picks for the Top 5 SEC years since the 12 team format was introduced in 1992:
(Note: poll data is final AP Top 25)
5. 1996
(5 Top 25 teams, 2 Top 10 teams, National Champion: Florida)
Two things keep the 96 SEC from being in the top three, if not #1: Memphis' upset win over Tennessee, and Florida's backdoor into the National Championship game after losing the regular season matchup to FSU and needing a Nebraska loss in the Big 12 Championship to earn the rematch with the Noles, which they won handily. That said, these teams were loaded. The Gators included the Heisman Trophy winning Danny Wuerfful and first round draft picks Ike Hilliard and Reidel Anthony. The Vols, who finished the year ranked #9 after winning the Citrus Bowl, featured Peyton Manning, Jay Graham, and Joey Kent. The 96 Alabama team was also the last of the great Gene Stallings Alabama teams, finishing ranked #11 and featuring future first round draft pick Dwayne Rudd and DeShea Townsend on defense. LSU finished right behind them at #12, and Auburn snuck in at #24, with those teams featuring Kevin Faulk and Takeo Spikes.
4. 1992
(6 Top 25 teams, 3 Top 10 teams, National Champion: Alabama)
As the first super conference, the SEC didn't take long to establish their dominance. In the first season of the 12-team, divisional format SEC, the conference placed five teams in the top sixteen (plus Mississippi State at #23) in the final AP Poll. Alabama was the cream of the crop, going undefeated in the regular season, winning the first SEC Championship Game, and then beating Miami to win the National Championship at 13-0. The Tide defense may be the best the SEC has seen in the last 15 years, and the offense featured Jay Barker, Derrick Lassic, and David Palmer. Three teams from the Eastern Division - Georgia (8), Florida (10), and Tennessee (12) - were all particularly loaded and finished in the Top 12 with great quarterbacks in Eric Zeier, Shane Matthews, and Heath Shuler. Ole Miss would finish second in the SEC West and end the season ranked #16. Newcomers Arkansas and South Carolina also made instant impact by knocking the Vols out of the SEC East lead.
3. 1999
(7 Top 25 teams, 2 Top 10 teams)
If you like quantity, then 1999 is the league for you. The league was highlighted by a surprising Alabama team, led by Shaun Alexander, which beat Florida not once but twice to win the SEC Championship, and were a missed extra point in the Orange Bowl away from finishing in the Top 5. The Tide would finish 8th, one spot ahead of the defending National Champion Vols, who finished 9th and beat Alabama. Florida, with a tremendous defense, finished 12th, and Mississippi State finished 13. Georgia, Arkansas, and Ole Miss all found a spot in the final Top 25 as well.
2. 1997
(6 Top 25 teams, 3 Top 10 teams)
The defending National Champion Florida Gators finished ranked 4th, despite failing to win the SEC for the first time since 1992. That honor went to Peyton Manning and the Vols, who went to January 1 with an outside chance to win the National Championship and still finished 7th. Georgia - who beat Florida for the first time in forever - finished 10, with Auburn 11th and LSU 13th. Five teams in the Top 13 is incredible. Add Ole Miss at 22nd for six in the Top 25, and perhaps the most impressive stat: until the Vols ran into Nebraska, the SEC was undefeated in bowl games following the 1997 season. Along with the usual suspects at Florida and Tennessee, the 97 SEC featured breakout seasons from Georgia WR Hines Ward and Kentucky QB Tim Couch. Peyton Manning finished second in the Heisman voting.
1. 2001
(5 Top 25 teams, 3 Top 10 teams)
The 2001 SEC gets my vote as the best under the new format since 1992. The 01 SEC isn't skewed by a National Champion, or by two really dominant teams as several of those mid-90s runs were with the Vols and Gators. However, those two teams, plus LSU, played key roles in determining the National Championship in the final two weeks of the season. The first weekend in December is perhaps the best single day of SEC football, when Tennessee and Florida played to determine the Eastern Division title, and Auburn and LSU met to determine the Western Division title. When the dust had settled after LSU's surprise SEC Championship, and after the bowls, Florida was ranked 3rd, Tennessee 4th, and LSU 7th. Three teams in the top seven, who weren't ranked higher simply because they beat each other. Future NFL stars? Florida was led by Rex Grossman, Jabar Gaffney, and Lito Sheppard. The Vols fielded Donte' Stallworth, John Henderson, and Al Haynesworth. LSU had LaBrandon Toefield and Josh Reed. Also, 2001 is the best season in the history of South Carolina football, and under Lou Holtz, the Gamecocks finished the year ranked 13th. Factor in year one of Mark Richt and the Bulldogs' 22nd finish, and you've got a solid year. Aside from the Gators/Vols/LSU in the National Championship picture and finishing in the Top 7, the other factor that separates 2001 is that in January 1/BCS bowls, the league went 4-1.
Will the 2006 SEC rise to this list, or to the top of it? We'll find out in January, and every Saturday between now and then. But so far, so good.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
This doesn't happen everyday...
Last time you saw the Vols on the cover of Sports Illustrated, we had just won the national title. Other than that, I can remember one cover for Pat Summitt, and two for Peyton Manning (the 96 college football preview edition where SI had the Vols ranked #1, and the week before the 97 Florida game with a cartoon version of Manning fighting a gator). So all that to say, if you had picked the Vols to grace the cover of SI in 2006, you might've gotten better odds on a picture of Phil Fulmer after he'd been fired than you would've after scoring 51 points at Georgia. And I'd say the odds on Antonio Wardlow getting on the cover were a made up number ending in -ion to one. But here we are...and from what I've seen this morning, the issue that comes out tomorrow doesn't have regional covers, or with the feature story on the SEC, covers for Florida or Arkansas, who also won big last week. This means that, in Knoxville, Ceres, or California - you're getting the Vols in your mailbox.What's also great is the fact that a national respected publication like SI has, in print, on the cover for everyone to see, that the SEC is the best conference in college football. And at this point, that fact really isn't up for debate, but it's always good to read - and if, at any point, I saw something like this with Michigan on the cover saying that the Big 10 was the best conference in football, I'd be pretty pissed about it. So I hope everybody else is pissed at the SEC this week - easily the most hated conference in football (we ride Notre Dame for having their own TV deal, and rightfully so...but don't you think all those northerners, midwesterners, and those two guys out in Pac-10 country who actually watch football get pissed about the fact that the SEC has its own exclusive television deal with CBS?)
Now, about that cover jinx...all I've got to say is, at least they didn't put him on the cover of Madden, because that one has taken over (see Shaun Alexander's broken foot).
Monday, October 09, 2006
College Football Midseason Thoughts
The only bad thing about the fall is it comes and goes so incredibly fast. Because it seems like I was just sitting in Neyland Stadium before the kickoff against Cal, feeling nothing but anxiety. And now we're halfway home.
As college football nears the break, and the Vols have an off week, some of the questions left out there...
Who's going to win the ACC, and will they be any good anyway?
The Atlantic Division currently finds NC State on top, and with some breathing room because they've already beaten Boston College and Florida State. Clemson is second at 3-1 in conference, after Gaines Adams saved the day against Wake Forest, and these two teams are yet to play. Don't count out Wake Forest, who can rebound in a big way if they beat NC State in Raleigh this week. And Boston College owns the tiebreaker with Clemson but has only played two ACC games thus far. So in this division alone, you've gotta talk about four teams before you even mention Florida State. In essence, the whole division is wide freaking open, and every single game counts. Across the way in the Coastal Division, it's a little more clear with Georgia Tech looking strong at the top. The Coastal is bottom heavy with Virginia, UNC and Duke, and since the Jackets have already beat Virginia Tech, if they can beat Miami they should be fine the rest of the way. The Hokies and Canes each have one conference loss and will play each other in November, but if they want to keep pace, again, every game is critical. I think you'll ultimately end up with Clemson and Georgia Tech in Jacksonville, but unless one or both run the table from here, which seems highly unlikely, the ACC representative is going to be the weakest member of the BCS, and who would've picked that in preseason?
Is West Virginia going to lose?
I know about Louisville, but I know about injuries too. And yeah, there are some other landmines out there, including the season finale at undefeated Rutgers. But so far, no one has even come close to the Mountaineers. If they go into Papa John's and beat Louisville on Thursday Night November 2, it would be a total embarassment for them not to finish 12-0. So here's a nightmare scenario for you - aside from the obvious one where 4-5 teams finish undefeated, which won't happen - what if #3 Michigan beats #1 Ohio State in a close game in late November, only to have the BCS computers leave Ohio State above the Mountaineers, setting up an Ohio State-Michigan rematch and leaving 12-0 West Virginia out of the picture? And then, what if Ohio State wins the rematch and the Mountaineers win their bowl game? And you'd have two 12-1 Big 10 teams and 13-0 West Virginia. Don't laugh, that's a very real picture.
Are Missouri, Rutgers, and Boise State for real?
I think the answer is yes to Missouri, though they won't go 12-0 (I think). The Tigers do avoid Texas (unless they win the division) and get Oklahoma at home before having to travel to Nebraska, so keep an eye on them. Boise State is a good football team and has almost no one on their radar that would frighten except for Fresno State at home on Wednesday November 1, but history suggests they'll fall somewhere along the way. Rutgers two point win over South Florida speaks volumes about their schedule to this point, and starting with a trip to Navy this week, it gets much more difficult. Of the three, I think only Boise State will make a serious run towards their conference title and the BCS, and the Broncos still may not get in.
What gets in the way of a USC/Cal showdown on November 18 in the Pac-10?
The Golden Bears have Washington State on the road, UDub and UCLA at home, and a trip to Arizona between now and then. The Trojans have it tougher, starting with Arizona State this week, then trips to Oregon State and Stanford, before hosting Oregon the week before. The best case scenario for other Top 10 teams has Cal beating USC, then the Trojans rebounding to take out Notre Dame the following week. Neither team, nor Notre Dame, will be playing for the National Championship.
How do things fall in the SEC?
There are two scenarios for the Vols to get to Atlanta, and both include them running the table. The first, obviously, is that Florida loses two of their four remaining SEC games: at Auburn, the Cocktail Party, at Vanderbilt, and vs. South Carolina. The other scenario is for Georgia to run the table, beating Florida along the way. If the Vols, Gators, and Dawgs all finish 7-1 in the SEC, based on the FLA beat TEN, TEN beat UGA, UGA beat FLA tie, the tiebreaker would be the team ranked highest in the BCS standings, which would be close between the Vols and Gators. Under that scenario, Florida could lose to FSU or Georgia to Georgia Tech and it would only help the Vols. But if Florida beats Auburn and then loses to Georgia, the tie would be broken if Georgia lost again, so you would need the Dawgs to beat Auburn as well. Not pretty. Out west, Arkansas has a two game lead on Auburn and LSU and doesn't play Florida or Georgia. If Arkansas beats South Carolina, the November 18 game between the Hogs and the Vols would be to clinch the SEC West for Arkansas, no matter what they did against LSU the following week. Ultimately, I think you're still going to see Florida and Auburn in the SEC Championship...but expect the unexpected.
The Heisman Trophy
Troy Smith is a good football player, but he's not the best in America, nor is he the most valuable. But if Ohio State goes 12-0 and he continues to be highlight-friendly with his athleticism, who's going to stop him? Garrett Wolfe is being written off by some just for playing at Northern Illinois, but let me say this: if he gets Barry Sanders' record - and I don't care if he has an extra game to do it with - and NIU keeps winning, he has to be in the conversation if not at the front of it. Adrian Peterson is probably out, and Calvin Johnson might deserve it more than most, but I'm not sure he'll get invited or that GT will keep winning. Don't talk to me about Brady Quinn, though I bet he gets invited. Who else? Steve Slaton is going to get screwed - West Virginia doesn't play enough on national TV to get him noticed, and doesn't have the insane numbers that Wolfe has. If I had to pick, I'd say that it's Wolfe if he gets the record, Calvin Johnson if GT wins out, and if neither take place, Troy Smith by default.
Bowl Projections
BCS National Championship: Michigan (BCS #1) vs. West Virginia (BCS #2)
Rose Bowl: Southern Cal (Pac-10 champ) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
Sugar Bowl: Florida (SEC champ) vs. Louisville (at-large)
Orange Bowl: Clemson (ACC champ) vs. Tennessee (at-large)
Fiesta Bowl: Texas (Big 12 champ) vs. Notre Dame (at-large)
Captial One Bowl: LSU vs. Iowa
Cotton Bowl: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma
Outback Bowl: Auburn vs. Penn State
Gator Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Pittsburgh
Peach Bowl: Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
Other SEC selections:
Music City Bowl: South Carolina
Independence Bowl: Alabama
will end up somewhere: Kentucky (if they win at Starkville and beat Vandy/UL Monroe)
The Immediate Future
If Florida gets out of Auburn alive this weekend, don't expect much to change in the polls until November...unless you're Michigan. The Wolverines can either climb up the polls or fall out of the race with a trip to Happy Valley this week followed by a visit from Iowa on Oct. 21. But other than that, things should be status quo until November. On Thursday November 2, West Virginia and Louisville play. The Vols host LSU on November 4. If the favorites keep winning, things won't really get interesting until November 18. In the final three weeks of the season, you'll have USC vs. Cal & USC vs. Notre Dame, Ohio State vs. Michigan, Florida vs. Florida State, plus the SEC Championship Game. So even if it's status quo for the next few weeks, things can change and change quickly once the calendar turns to November. And we're due a few upsets here and there.
Can Tennessee win the SEC? Can Tennessee win the National Championship?
The first question is an easy "yes" - and remember, the question is "can they", not "will they". Can the Vols put themselves in position to play for the whole thing? Sure, though West Virginia appears to be ready to make life difficult for everyone playing in a major conference. So, with much fear and trembling, here's the easiest best case realistic scenario for the Vols:
- Tennessee runs the table (Bama, at SCarolina, LSU, at Arkansas, UK, Vandy)
- Auburn beats Florida on October 14, then Auburn runs the table
- Michigan loses either at Penn State on October 14 or vs. Iowa on October 21
- Texas loses one game (at Nebraska 10/21, at TTU 10/28, A&M 11/24, Big 12 title game)
- Georgia beats Florida on October 28 (best case; Gators can also lose to SCarolina)
- West Virginia beats Louisville on November 2
- California beats Southern Cal on November 18
- Southern Cal beats Notre Dame on November 25
- Michigan beats Ohio State on November 25
- 11-1 Tennessee beats 11-1 Auburn in the SEC Championship
- BCS Championship should then be West Virginia vs. Tennessee
Of course, Ohio State could lose to Michigan State this week, or a myriad of other potential upsets. You never know. Tennessee has one job: win.
As college football nears the break, and the Vols have an off week, some of the questions left out there...
Who's going to win the ACC, and will they be any good anyway?
The Atlantic Division currently finds NC State on top, and with some breathing room because they've already beaten Boston College and Florida State. Clemson is second at 3-1 in conference, after Gaines Adams saved the day against Wake Forest, and these two teams are yet to play. Don't count out Wake Forest, who can rebound in a big way if they beat NC State in Raleigh this week. And Boston College owns the tiebreaker with Clemson but has only played two ACC games thus far. So in this division alone, you've gotta talk about four teams before you even mention Florida State. In essence, the whole division is wide freaking open, and every single game counts. Across the way in the Coastal Division, it's a little more clear with Georgia Tech looking strong at the top. The Coastal is bottom heavy with Virginia, UNC and Duke, and since the Jackets have already beat Virginia Tech, if they can beat Miami they should be fine the rest of the way. The Hokies and Canes each have one conference loss and will play each other in November, but if they want to keep pace, again, every game is critical. I think you'll ultimately end up with Clemson and Georgia Tech in Jacksonville, but unless one or both run the table from here, which seems highly unlikely, the ACC representative is going to be the weakest member of the BCS, and who would've picked that in preseason?
Is West Virginia going to lose?
I know about Louisville, but I know about injuries too. And yeah, there are some other landmines out there, including the season finale at undefeated Rutgers. But so far, no one has even come close to the Mountaineers. If they go into Papa John's and beat Louisville on Thursday Night November 2, it would be a total embarassment for them not to finish 12-0. So here's a nightmare scenario for you - aside from the obvious one where 4-5 teams finish undefeated, which won't happen - what if #3 Michigan beats #1 Ohio State in a close game in late November, only to have the BCS computers leave Ohio State above the Mountaineers, setting up an Ohio State-Michigan rematch and leaving 12-0 West Virginia out of the picture? And then, what if Ohio State wins the rematch and the Mountaineers win their bowl game? And you'd have two 12-1 Big 10 teams and 13-0 West Virginia. Don't laugh, that's a very real picture.
Are Missouri, Rutgers, and Boise State for real?
I think the answer is yes to Missouri, though they won't go 12-0 (I think). The Tigers do avoid Texas (unless they win the division) and get Oklahoma at home before having to travel to Nebraska, so keep an eye on them. Boise State is a good football team and has almost no one on their radar that would frighten except for Fresno State at home on Wednesday November 1, but history suggests they'll fall somewhere along the way. Rutgers two point win over South Florida speaks volumes about their schedule to this point, and starting with a trip to Navy this week, it gets much more difficult. Of the three, I think only Boise State will make a serious run towards their conference title and the BCS, and the Broncos still may not get in.
What gets in the way of a USC/Cal showdown on November 18 in the Pac-10?
The Golden Bears have Washington State on the road, UDub and UCLA at home, and a trip to Arizona between now and then. The Trojans have it tougher, starting with Arizona State this week, then trips to Oregon State and Stanford, before hosting Oregon the week before. The best case scenario for other Top 10 teams has Cal beating USC, then the Trojans rebounding to take out Notre Dame the following week. Neither team, nor Notre Dame, will be playing for the National Championship.
How do things fall in the SEC?
There are two scenarios for the Vols to get to Atlanta, and both include them running the table. The first, obviously, is that Florida loses two of their four remaining SEC games: at Auburn, the Cocktail Party, at Vanderbilt, and vs. South Carolina. The other scenario is for Georgia to run the table, beating Florida along the way. If the Vols, Gators, and Dawgs all finish 7-1 in the SEC, based on the FLA beat TEN, TEN beat UGA, UGA beat FLA tie, the tiebreaker would be the team ranked highest in the BCS standings, which would be close between the Vols and Gators. Under that scenario, Florida could lose to FSU or Georgia to Georgia Tech and it would only help the Vols. But if Florida beats Auburn and then loses to Georgia, the tie would be broken if Georgia lost again, so you would need the Dawgs to beat Auburn as well. Not pretty. Out west, Arkansas has a two game lead on Auburn and LSU and doesn't play Florida or Georgia. If Arkansas beats South Carolina, the November 18 game between the Hogs and the Vols would be to clinch the SEC West for Arkansas, no matter what they did against LSU the following week. Ultimately, I think you're still going to see Florida and Auburn in the SEC Championship...but expect the unexpected.
The Heisman Trophy
Troy Smith is a good football player, but he's not the best in America, nor is he the most valuable. But if Ohio State goes 12-0 and he continues to be highlight-friendly with his athleticism, who's going to stop him? Garrett Wolfe is being written off by some just for playing at Northern Illinois, but let me say this: if he gets Barry Sanders' record - and I don't care if he has an extra game to do it with - and NIU keeps winning, he has to be in the conversation if not at the front of it. Adrian Peterson is probably out, and Calvin Johnson might deserve it more than most, but I'm not sure he'll get invited or that GT will keep winning. Don't talk to me about Brady Quinn, though I bet he gets invited. Who else? Steve Slaton is going to get screwed - West Virginia doesn't play enough on national TV to get him noticed, and doesn't have the insane numbers that Wolfe has. If I had to pick, I'd say that it's Wolfe if he gets the record, Calvin Johnson if GT wins out, and if neither take place, Troy Smith by default.
Bowl Projections
BCS National Championship: Michigan (BCS #1) vs. West Virginia (BCS #2)
Rose Bowl: Southern Cal (Pac-10 champ) vs. Ohio State (at-large)
Sugar Bowl: Florida (SEC champ) vs. Louisville (at-large)
Orange Bowl: Clemson (ACC champ) vs. Tennessee (at-large)
Fiesta Bowl: Texas (Big 12 champ) vs. Notre Dame (at-large)
Captial One Bowl: LSU vs. Iowa
Cotton Bowl: Arkansas vs. Oklahoma
Outback Bowl: Auburn vs. Penn State
Gator Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Pittsburgh
Peach Bowl: Georgia vs. Virginia Tech
Other SEC selections:
Music City Bowl: South Carolina
Independence Bowl: Alabama
will end up somewhere: Kentucky (if they win at Starkville and beat Vandy/UL Monroe)
The Immediate Future
If Florida gets out of Auburn alive this weekend, don't expect much to change in the polls until November...unless you're Michigan. The Wolverines can either climb up the polls or fall out of the race with a trip to Happy Valley this week followed by a visit from Iowa on Oct. 21. But other than that, things should be status quo until November. On Thursday November 2, West Virginia and Louisville play. The Vols host LSU on November 4. If the favorites keep winning, things won't really get interesting until November 18. In the final three weeks of the season, you'll have USC vs. Cal & USC vs. Notre Dame, Ohio State vs. Michigan, Florida vs. Florida State, plus the SEC Championship Game. So even if it's status quo for the next few weeks, things can change and change quickly once the calendar turns to November. And we're due a few upsets here and there.
Can Tennessee win the SEC? Can Tennessee win the National Championship?
The first question is an easy "yes" - and remember, the question is "can they", not "will they". Can the Vols put themselves in position to play for the whole thing? Sure, though West Virginia appears to be ready to make life difficult for everyone playing in a major conference. So, with much fear and trembling, here's the easiest best case realistic scenario for the Vols:
- Tennessee runs the table (Bama, at SCarolina, LSU, at Arkansas, UK, Vandy)
- Auburn beats Florida on October 14, then Auburn runs the table
- Michigan loses either at Penn State on October 14 or vs. Iowa on October 21
- Texas loses one game (at Nebraska 10/21, at TTU 10/28, A&M 11/24, Big 12 title game)
- Georgia beats Florida on October 28 (best case; Gators can also lose to SCarolina)
- West Virginia beats Louisville on November 2
- California beats Southern Cal on November 18
- Southern Cal beats Notre Dame on November 25
- Michigan beats Ohio State on November 25
- 11-1 Tennessee beats 11-1 Auburn in the SEC Championship
- BCS Championship should then be West Virginia vs. Tennessee
Of course, Ohio State could lose to Michigan State this week, or a myriad of other potential upsets. You never know. Tennessee has one job: win.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
Paddle That Behind
I've seen lots of things in following the Vols for the last 20 years. I've seen some miraculous comebacks from 17+ points down. I've seen the Vols spot a bad team an early lead, and then roll as the game progressed. And I've seen the Vols get behind in a hostile environment, only to take control of the game away.
But that last night - kick coverage aside - was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen a Tennessee team do.
The Vols got into a 24-7 hole on the road against a team they've been unable to beat in this millenium save once. The crowd was beyond hostile. The Vols were still unproven on the road. This team had the number one defense in the nation.
And Tennessee didn't just win. They did what they wanted, when they wanted. This wasn't just anyone - this was undefeated Georgia. And when the Vols did get behind 17 points, there was no panic, only execution. Stone cold execution for the rest of the football game. The Vols didn't just make a comeback, they won the game by 18 points. They were absolutely unstoppable on offense and made all the big plays on defense. This game was two kick returns away from being a 30 point blowout, and even at 51-33, Tennessee decimated Georgia (other words used by studio analysts last night to describe it: "wiped out", "dominated", and my personal favorite, "punished".) Can you remember something like this recently? Ever?
The sky continues to be the limit for the Vols. Even if Florida doesn't lose twice and the Vols cannot win the SEC, Tennessee - currently sitting 8th in the AP poll - would finish no worse than a BCS at-large bid if they won out. Winning out is an enormous task, and right now the Vols need a week off to get their feet and their heads back on straight for the Third Saturday. But let's not forget the conversations we were having in August. And yeah, the one point loss to the Gators hurts. But think about the conversations we're having now. It's hard to ask for more.
Life is good.
But that last night - kick coverage aside - was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen a Tennessee team do.
The Vols got into a 24-7 hole on the road against a team they've been unable to beat in this millenium save once. The crowd was beyond hostile. The Vols were still unproven on the road. This team had the number one defense in the nation.
And Tennessee didn't just win. They did what they wanted, when they wanted. This wasn't just anyone - this was undefeated Georgia. And when the Vols did get behind 17 points, there was no panic, only execution. Stone cold execution for the rest of the football game. The Vols didn't just make a comeback, they won the game by 18 points. They were absolutely unstoppable on offense and made all the big plays on defense. This game was two kick returns away from being a 30 point blowout, and even at 51-33, Tennessee decimated Georgia (other words used by studio analysts last night to describe it: "wiped out", "dominated", and my personal favorite, "punished".) Can you remember something like this recently? Ever?
The sky continues to be the limit for the Vols. Even if Florida doesn't lose twice and the Vols cannot win the SEC, Tennessee - currently sitting 8th in the AP poll - would finish no worse than a BCS at-large bid if they won out. Winning out is an enormous task, and right now the Vols need a week off to get their feet and their heads back on straight for the Third Saturday. But let's not forget the conversations we were having in August. And yeah, the one point loss to the Gators hurts. But think about the conversations we're having now. It's hard to ask for more.
Life is good.
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