Ray of Hope vs. Oncoming Train

Much like Denarius Moore's fingertips, the Vols gave themselves just enough room to believe that something good might happen on Saturday night.

Emphasis on might.

Before we dive headfirst into our annual lovefest with the Alabama Crimson Tide, let's point out the good that took place against Mississippi State. The Vols put the clamps on the Bulldogs to the tune of 189 total yards, intercepted three passes for an NCAA-leading 14 through seven games, and took two of them to the house on consecutive drives, something I'm not sure I've ever seen Tennessee do before. Some of that is attributed to a stronger pass rush than we've seen in awhile, with five sacks on the evening.

Nick Stephens continues to do his job, while Lennon Creer ran the ball 12 consecutive times on the final scoring drive, finishing with 17 for 68, which is a nod both to his productivity and the coaching staff for continuing to feed him. Fulmer said the rotation with Foster/Hardesty/Creer will continue, which I have fewer problems with as long as the best back is getting the important carries late.

Denarius Moore has 7 catches for 195 yards this season, because apparently they don't like to use him for anything under 40 yards. His adjustment on the pictured catch up there was an incredibly savvy play for a young guy who doesn't see much playing time.

And the offensive line showed a renewed energy, even when Anthony Parker left the field. They'll need to amp that up this week, but it was an improvement.

And look...Eric Berry now goes in that super elite group with Chuck Webb, Carl Pickens, Dale Carter, Heath Shuler, Peyton Manning, Leonard Little, Al Wilson, Peerless Price, Jamal Lewis, and John Henderson: guys who are both insanely talented and incredible playmakers, and all on their own level on both counts. That's the group you tell your grandchildren about, and EB belongs in it just a year and a half into his college career. The boys at Rocky Top Talk - who were the first I know of to unleash the "Clawfense" moniker - have started calling him Crunch Berry, which means we're one photoshop away from his 2009 Heisman campaign. And that's not a joke. Because Eric Berry would destroy Charles Woodson.

It felt good in there Saturday night. The first half was a telling sign of how bad things have gotten, when you're up 6-3 at halftime on Mississippi State and you're okay with that. The second half was a reminder of how good things could be when Tennessee is playing well.

The Vols did enough to find a spark in the 2008 season. This week, we'll find out if that light is enough to carry us out of the tunnel, or if Alabama's train is going to run us over anyway.

Because we also have to talk about the bad news from Saturday night: Tennessee still only managed 275 yards of offense and 20 points from that side of the ball. Gerald Jones and Anthony Parker, otherwise known as your best offensive playmaker and your best offensive lineman, are both questionable with high ankle sprains, and both will probably be slowed even if they play. Nick Stephens is still the quarterback, which means he'll once again have a chance to manage, but remember this is the kid's fourth start and he's not Erik Ainge by a longshot.

Brandon Warren continues to be a tease, not because he's not talented, but because they run him on the field about once every two drives for one play.

And it disturbs me that we can't find someone to kick the ball deeper than the 10 yard line.

And all of our flaws become magnified against a team like Alabama, who's interesting in their own right. Crimson Daddy at Third Saturday made a solid statement today when he said that Alabama is the best team in the country in the first half, and might be outside the Top 40 in the second. But despite their bipolar tendencies, this Alabama team is tough, physical, and clearly knows how to win. They'll bring a #2 ranking and control of their own crystal football destiny into Knoxville. They're a touchdown favorite at the open and methinks you'll see that grow.

We'll talk more about this during the week, but a couple of observations to start:

One, come to the game.

I'm not going to lecture anyone for not showing up against Mississippi State. I am absolutely going to show my disgust at any Vol fan who has tickets for this one and doesn't come.

You don't need to go any further than "it's Alabama". It's added bonus that they're #2 and undefeated, making this the last nationally relevant game the Vols will play this season. Ignore the bad vibes from that last sentence and get to the game.

Because if you don't...they will.

That giant swath of empty seats in the Neyland Stadium upper deck last week? It's solid red next week if you don't come. Mississippi State didn't travel. Alabama will. There's already going to be a ton of them in there in the first place. You come and be loud. We need the hostile environment, because this team clearly feeds off it. Tennessee needs the best crowd of the season on Saturday night, no exaggeration, and no reason for you not to be a part of it. Get to the game.

Second...this is the last domino to fall for Fulmer's modern perception.

If the Vols lose to Vanderbilt again or Kentucky for the first time in 24 years, it'll suck and it'll be more gloom and doom.

But it won't hurt as much as losing to Alabama for two straight years for the first time ever under Phillip Fulmer.

It's been sixteen years - 1991-1992 - since Alabama won two straight against the Vols. Since that time, Tennessee is 10-4-1 against the Tide. What everyone has forgotten is what Phillip Fulmer did to the Alabama rivalry, including every Alabama fan who says "I hope Fulmer stays forever!"

Maybe you're too young to know this, but you think losing to Florida five straight times was bad?

Trying losing seven straight to Alabama, then watching them drive the length of the field to tie you, then losing again the next year. Those nine years from 1986-1994 were so, so much worse than what Florida was doing. And the Vols fans older than me would love to enlighten you about the misery of this rivalry in the 1970s.

When Florida beat Tennessee five straight, only the first one was close and the Gators were ranked in the top five every time. They were simply better than us and they showed it.

Against Alabama, it didn't matter how bad they were or how good we were. They just always found a way. And more often than not, it involved the scalpel instead of the hatchet: slow, painful, unexpected yet familiar heartbreak. They always found a way to beat us.

When Alabama ended seven years of their own misery against the Vols in Knoxville in 2002, I remember sitting on row one in the student section in the end zone, and looking across the field at that mass of crimson, those shakers and hearing "Hey Vols!"...and it was like a bad dream from my childhood that I'd repressed from 1995-2001.

That's the only time in the last six tries the Tide have won in Neyland Stadium. Alabama got fortunate in 2005 and got mean in 2007 in Tuscaloosa. As a result, the balance of this rivalry is up for grabs on Saturday night.

The series in Knoxville is deadlocked at 20-20-1. Ties are made to be broken.

If Alabama wins...they'll have suddenly taken three of four from the Vols, two straight, 2-0 for Saban...and we'll be right back there. Right back to the late 80s and early 90s, where Alabama is better than you, and you have to deal with those insufferable Bammers, and life is just worse. Make no mistake, we've spent 16 years keeping it at bay. The Tide may have pulled even in this rivalry since 2002, but they're not ahead. Not yet. If you thought last year was bad, you have no idea what it's like when they've got something on you and there's nothing you can say in return. 16 years of freedom isn't long enough. I want to stay free from the Crimson oppressors for the rest of my life, because my childhood experiences were bad enough. Adult Will won't know how to deal with it.

But if Tennessee wins...then 2008 has its high note. The Vols pull even for the year, maintain the current even nature of this rivalry, make some national noise, and can start thinking about maybe slipping into a bowl game outside the state lines. Phillip Fulmer's job will be safer. And the direction of this program keeps going forward.

And oh, the joy of ruining their season.

The Vols found some light on Saturday night. A strong Alabama train is coming towards Knoxville. Is there enough light left to escape this tunnel, or will our one true rival keep us in darkness?

This is the Third Saturday in October. And there's no better week on earth.