Volstorm
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From the Hill...
- Thread starter Volstorm
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Volstorm
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All year long the Vols have been tested, and have done quite well. What do you get as a result of a year oif hard work? A battle with one of the three teams looking toward the National Championship.
How bad do they want that A+?
On the heels of getting lit up by categorically the two worst teams in the conference, the Vols must now face one of the best offenses in the country. While the offense, with a third string QB, has shown the determination to keep the team headed in the right direction. The only trouble is they now face the number one scoring defense in the country in Auburn, who shut them down even with Erik Ainge at the helm. On paper the Vols dont stand a chance in stopping Auburns run at and SEC and National Title. Which is the way they like it. However, for UT to win on Saturday, they will have to do the one thing that is a staple of an underdog Tennessee team, play with heart.
The road to the SEC championship has not been an easy one for this team. They have had to fight for every victory they have, and they have done a good job playing up to top level competition with one exception, the Auburn Tigers. The Vols have been on a downward trend following the South Carolina game, in which they pretty much had the SEC locked up. This mentality caused the Vols to lose to an average Notre Dame team, who recently lost their head coach. And the Vols had to post fourth quarter rallies aginst the two worst teams in the SEC, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Now granted they did lose their starting QB, freshman sensation Erik Ainge, but great teams find a way to win through adversity. No matter the reason, Tennessee has not been able to rise above their predicament and do what they were supposed to do, blowout lesser teams.
In the past you could put the blame on the offense, which has had poor performances over the past few years. But the offense has been the bright spot. Rick Clausen, the third string QB, was named offensive player of the week in the SEC against KY. So you cant blame Sanders for this. No it is a fairly inexperienced defense that is the reason for the letdown. The defense only showed its potential near the end of the KY game, by forcing 3 and outs on a team that was running wild on them the whole game. But the Cats should have been put away long before the D got it's act together. Coach Chavis said he looked better after seeing the film, but I dont think many agree with him.
Of course no one thinks Tennessee can win. And no one thinks that Tennessee can keep the game close. Given the circumstances, I would agree. Lets face it, Tennessee has not had the best of luck in the Georgia Dome. Since the 1998 SEC Championship Game, the Vols are 0 for 3. But there is one thing you can hang your hat on, the Vols are at their best when their backs are to the wall. Since 1998 the Vols have posted crucial victories over Florida, Miami and Georgia, in games where they are underdogs by 10 or more points. And as much frustration as there is for this defense, Coach Chavis is the most consistent coach on the team. It all boils down to whether or not the players really want it. You can coach your heart out, and have all the talent you ever need, but without heart it means nothing.
Remember the SEC Championship in 2001? And the Peach Bowls? Tennessee lost because they overlooked their opponents, and their hearts were not in it. Auburn is overlooking Tennessee, and they are ripe for the picking. The question is, how bad does this team want that ring?
Grades must be handed in by Sunday morning. Class dismissed.
How bad do they want that A+?
On the heels of getting lit up by categorically the two worst teams in the conference, the Vols must now face one of the best offenses in the country. While the offense, with a third string QB, has shown the determination to keep the team headed in the right direction. The only trouble is they now face the number one scoring defense in the country in Auburn, who shut them down even with Erik Ainge at the helm. On paper the Vols dont stand a chance in stopping Auburns run at and SEC and National Title. Which is the way they like it. However, for UT to win on Saturday, they will have to do the one thing that is a staple of an underdog Tennessee team, play with heart.
The road to the SEC championship has not been an easy one for this team. They have had to fight for every victory they have, and they have done a good job playing up to top level competition with one exception, the Auburn Tigers. The Vols have been on a downward trend following the South Carolina game, in which they pretty much had the SEC locked up. This mentality caused the Vols to lose to an average Notre Dame team, who recently lost their head coach. And the Vols had to post fourth quarter rallies aginst the two worst teams in the SEC, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Now granted they did lose their starting QB, freshman sensation Erik Ainge, but great teams find a way to win through adversity. No matter the reason, Tennessee has not been able to rise above their predicament and do what they were supposed to do, blowout lesser teams.
In the past you could put the blame on the offense, which has had poor performances over the past few years. But the offense has been the bright spot. Rick Clausen, the third string QB, was named offensive player of the week in the SEC against KY. So you cant blame Sanders for this. No it is a fairly inexperienced defense that is the reason for the letdown. The defense only showed its potential near the end of the KY game, by forcing 3 and outs on a team that was running wild on them the whole game. But the Cats should have been put away long before the D got it's act together. Coach Chavis said he looked better after seeing the film, but I dont think many agree with him.
Of course no one thinks Tennessee can win. And no one thinks that Tennessee can keep the game close. Given the circumstances, I would agree. Lets face it, Tennessee has not had the best of luck in the Georgia Dome. Since the 1998 SEC Championship Game, the Vols are 0 for 3. But there is one thing you can hang your hat on, the Vols are at their best when their backs are to the wall. Since 1998 the Vols have posted crucial victories over Florida, Miami and Georgia, in games where they are underdogs by 10 or more points. And as much frustration as there is for this defense, Coach Chavis is the most consistent coach on the team. It all boils down to whether or not the players really want it. You can coach your heart out, and have all the talent you ever need, but without heart it means nothing.
Remember the SEC Championship in 2001? And the Peach Bowls? Tennessee lost because they overlooked their opponents, and their hearts were not in it. Auburn is overlooking Tennessee, and they are ripe for the picking. The question is, how bad does this team want that ring?
Grades must be handed in by Sunday morning. Class dismissed.
milohimself
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volinbham
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Excellent analysis.
As fans, we need to take the optimistic side. This team and other UT teams have stepped up. Who can forget the Sugar Bowl against Miami -- we had "no chance".
I'm tired of saying "if it all goes our way" or "Auburn is the better team but we might just win".
We are UT. We should expect to win. We will win. Losing is not an option.
As fans, we need to take the optimistic side. This team and other UT teams have stepped up. Who can forget the Sugar Bowl against Miami -- we had "no chance".
I'm tired of saying "if it all goes our way" or "Auburn is the better team but we might just win".
We are UT. We should expect to win. We will win. Losing is not an option.
_volfan_
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allvol
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Even if the Tennessee Volunteers are playing the No. 1 team, I fully expect them to win.
Ironically, the last 2 games in which the Vols played against a team ranked No. 3..... both times it was Auburn....
1990 Tennessee 26, Auburn 26
1987 Tennessee 20, Auburn 20
The Vols record vs Auburn when the Eagle-Tigers are ranked No. 3 is 1-1-2 and when the Eagle-Tigers are ranked in the top 5, the record is 3-3-2 vs Auburn.
Previous Vols' games vs # 3....
1972 Alabama 17, Tennessee 10
1967 Oklahoma 26, Tennessee 24 (Orange Bowl)
1966 Alabama 11, Tennessee 10
1964 Alabama 19, Tennessee 8
1963 Ole Miss 20, Tennessee 0
1958 Ga Tech 14, Tennessee 7
1958 Tennessee 3, Auburn 0
1957 Auburn 13, Tennessee 0
1951 Maryland 28, Tennessee 13 (Sugar Bowl)
1950 Tennessee 20, Texas 14 (Cotton Bowl)
1950 Tennessee 7, Kentucky 0
1948 North Carolina 14, Tennessee 7
1939 USC 14, Tennessee 0
Games vs Auburn when the Eagle-Tigers are in the top 5...
1990 Tennessee 26, #3 Auburn 26
1989 Tennessee 21, #4 Auburn 14
1988 #4 Auburn 38, Tennessee 6
1987 Tennessee 20, #3 Auburn 20
1985 Tennessee 38, #1 Auburn 20
1971 #5 Auburn 10, Tennessee 9
1958 Tennessee 3, #3 Auburn 0
1957 #3 Auburn 13, Tennessee 0
Ironically, the last 2 games in which the Vols played against a team ranked No. 3..... both times it was Auburn....
1990 Tennessee 26, Auburn 26
1987 Tennessee 20, Auburn 20
The Vols record vs Auburn when the Eagle-Tigers are ranked No. 3 is 1-1-2 and when the Eagle-Tigers are ranked in the top 5, the record is 3-3-2 vs Auburn.
Previous Vols' games vs # 3....
1972 Alabama 17, Tennessee 10
1967 Oklahoma 26, Tennessee 24 (Orange Bowl)
1966 Alabama 11, Tennessee 10
1964 Alabama 19, Tennessee 8
1963 Ole Miss 20, Tennessee 0
1958 Ga Tech 14, Tennessee 7
1958 Tennessee 3, Auburn 0
1957 Auburn 13, Tennessee 0
1951 Maryland 28, Tennessee 13 (Sugar Bowl)
1950 Tennessee 20, Texas 14 (Cotton Bowl)
1950 Tennessee 7, Kentucky 0
1948 North Carolina 14, Tennessee 7
1939 USC 14, Tennessee 0
Games vs Auburn when the Eagle-Tigers are in the top 5...
1990 Tennessee 26, #3 Auburn 26
1989 Tennessee 21, #4 Auburn 14
1988 #4 Auburn 38, Tennessee 6
1987 Tennessee 20, #3 Auburn 20
1985 Tennessee 38, #1 Auburn 20
1971 #5 Auburn 10, Tennessee 9
1958 Tennessee 3, #3 Auburn 0
1957 #3 Auburn 13, Tennessee 0
BHAMVOLFAN
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rwemyss
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BHAMVOLFAN
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CHEAP???? Ryan, try it sometime. It is "less expensive" right now as the distillery over produced a few years back. They shut down the distillery fo a while (as any good McMinnville ex-citizen would know) to allow the demand to catch up with the supply.
Actually, damn is a tradition that goes back to my UT years. We'd buy the small flat bottles from the "House of Freezing Steel" on the strip and tuck it into the back of our pants in order to smuggle it into the stadium. The taste still lingers!!!
I'll bet your missing Birmingham about now.........................NOT!
rwemyss
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LOL Nice B'ham! I certainly have tasted Dickel, as he was the first whiskey to pass my lips, but I don't think it goes down near as smooth as Jack. 
I guess that's what being a youngster gets me.
Back in McVegas, they've been a dry county for so long, lots of kids don't get a real lesson in liquor until they hit MTSU, or UT.
George has just never been my best of buds.
I guess that's what being a youngster gets me.Back in McVegas, they've been a dry county for so long, lots of kids don't get a real lesson in liquor until they hit MTSU, or UT.
George has just never been my best of buds.
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