Sometimes, all we can do is sit back and reflect on the beauty of the English language. Sure, the classical languages are more descriptive, and French and Italian sound more romantic, but for a football coach, only English will do. After all can you imagine coach Fulmer handing down a suspension in Latin? I cannot. So this week we celebrate words beginning with the “in†prefix, and give them a big whack with the old six string.
Indefinite.The dictionary says that indefinite means not clearly defined or determined. In football coach speak, however, fans find that it means as soon as my athletic director signs off on my plan to get my star player back in the fold. When a coach begins to use the adverb indefinitely it means can’t you see we need this guy on the team? Please give me a little wiggle room.
Here is the word in a sentence: As happy as the Volnation is to have a definite return of Mr. Coker to the sidelines, perhaps this experience will indefinitely suspend all criticism of the way Urban Meyer and Jeremy Foley conduct the suspensions of Florida players who enjoy smoking weed every now and then.
Inevitable: Unable to be avoided or escaped.
At least that is what the dictionary says. When it comes to the Vols special teams it means this: sooner or later, the UT football team will wake up and….well….make their kickoff/punt and kickoff return/punt returns special again.
Special teams are predicated on attention and talent. If a team is stacked with talent, normally, their special teams are very consistent. A talent assessment of the Vols, as compared to LSU and Florida in particular is an entirely different story for a different day, but there is no doubt that the speed recruited in 2005 and 2007 have our team speed once again on the rise. While I expect the special teams to be much improved with this speed infusion the inconsistencies make me wonder if the coaching staff devotes enough attention to the details.
To put this in a sentence: If the Vols are not much improved on special teams this year, it will inevitably cost UT one or two losses on Saturday.
Inexplicable: having no explantation.
This is my least favorite of the “in prefix†words, because generally I believe there is a reason for everything. In coach speak this means we are going to work our tails off to get better, watch the film, and prepare for our next opponent.
In fan speak, it means something completely different; it applies to Cal fans who actually don’t understand why UT fans are so confident about this years match up. To clarify for the Cal fans in the Nation, I will put it in a sentence: After watching the game last year, it is inexplicable to think that a Cal fan would ever expect anything more than another beat down this year.
In depth commentary: editorial remarks made near the end of Guitar Shots.
In this case it is used to make a point. I will admit in 2004 I was drinking the orange kool aid. Yes, I had a confidence that Ainge, Meach, Smith, and Swain would mature into a high powered offensive team. Alas, it never really came to pass. Those hopes and dreams were dashed against the rocks during the “Perfect Storm†back in 2005. There are a lot more words that I have for this digression, but I will look on the positive side, because that is what fans do the week before the first season.
Erik Ainge is a senior with talent. The 2007 Vols will benefit from and infusion of speed offered by a pair of Texans (Creer and Moore), a superstar corner in the making (Berry), and a forgotten recruit that may one day be another favorite son in the state of Tennesee (Rogan). There are pieces in place to make this a successful campaign for the Vols and their fans this year. I only hope that when the first ball is kicked next Saturday that the Volnation will not have to use the most feared of all these words…..inept.
Let’s get this party started. Go Vols![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]