Unfortunately, this attitude also has deep historical roots among Tennessee fans. Majors eloquently dubbed this contingent of the Big Orange Nation as the "Legions of the Miserable." In the statistical sense of the word, I have no idea just how prevalent this hypercritical attitude is. I would like to think that it is characteristic of only a tiny, but very vocal, fraction of Tennessee fans. Although I am not so vain as to think that our collective contributions to this forum would significantly impact the interest level of prospective coaching candidates, one could erroneously conclude, based on the acrimony expressed in dialogue on this board, that the Big Orange Nation is a pit of vipers that canibalistically consumes its own. Hart hinted at this in the most diplomatic terms when he stated that "we are blessed to have such a passionate fanbase. That passion, of course, assumes many forms."
I could understand the venom that has permeated so much of the recent dialogue here . . . if it was directed at our SEC adversaries. We need to conduct ourselves, particularly in communication with each other, with the class and dignity of the champions we have so often been. After all, as my brother has often said, God only made 108,000 perfect people; the rest he made Gator, 'Bama, Georgia and, perhaps, most contemptible of all, Vanderbilt fans.
