Tennessee vs The Maxims vs Auburn

#1
OneManGang

OneManGang

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2004
Messages
2,012
Likes
9,509
#1
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Author's Note: Monday is Veterans Day. If you can read this bit of fluff, thank a teacher. If you are reading it as a free citizen of the United States of America, thank a vet.

Tennessee vs The Maxims vs Auburn[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]In many ways, James Ewell Brown Stuart is the embodiment of everything most people think of when the words “Confederate Cavalry” are mentioned. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Virtually everyone with even a smattering of knowledge of the Civil War carries an image of “Jeb” Stuart with his beplumed hat leading his men on thrilling raids and missions laughing and singing as he outwits the bumbling Blue-Belly cavalry once again. Arguably his most famous exploit came in 1862. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]On July 15 of that year, Stuart set out with some 1200 troopers and rode completely around the Union Army of the Potomac under John Pope, cutting his communications and capturing vast quantities of supplies and destroying even more. On his return, Stuart was greeted by the citizens of Richmond scattering flower petals before him and his men.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]In August, a Yankee cavalry detachment very nearly captured Stuart and he fled so rapidly that he left behind his hat and cloak which were gleefully displayed by the Union at every rally for the rest of the war. Stuart was not one to take such an affront lying down and the very next day launched a raid on Pope's headquarters at Catlett's Station and captured General Popes ENTIRE uniform. More importantly, Pope and his staff ran away so quickly that many orders, maps and other vital intelligence were found there and were thence forwarded to General Lee who used them to plan the Battle of Second Bull Run (Second Manassas to you unreconstructed types) in which Lee came within an eyelash of annihilating Pope's army. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]In their defense, the Union horse soldiers were indifferently led and their mounts and tempo of operations simply couldn't match Stuart's boys, most of whom were literally born in the saddle. Stuart was a thorn in Union's collective side and they seemed at a loss what to do about him. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Stuart's performance at Gettysburg has been the subject of a great deal of criticism and that is a bit beyond what we are discussing here. Suffice to say that his Cavalry Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia was still the “gold standard” by which all other “Yellow Legs” (so called due to the distinctive gold stripes running down the legs of their trousers) were judged.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Until 1864. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]In that year a failed shopkeeper from Galena, Illinois was named Commanding General of the Union Army with specific orders from Abraham Lincoln, “Lee's Army – this MUST be your objective.” That failed shopkeeper is known better as General Ulysses Grant.[/FONT]

 [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Grant brought with him a diminutive General who had played vital roles at Murfreesboro, Vicksburg and Missionary Ridge by the name of Philip Sheridan. He put Sheridan in charge of the heretofore lackluster Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac with one simple order, “Kill Jeb Stuart.”[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sheridan took a “brick-by-brick” approach and reorganized his troopers into basically mounted infantry, taking advantage of the recent development of repeating rifles and demanding better mounts for them. His “new and improved” Cavalry Corps finally ran down Stuart at the Battle of Yellow Tavern. Jeb Stuart was shot and killed during that engagement.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Sheridan then took his Cavalry Corps to the Shenandoah Valley and “peeled” that region rendering it useless to the Confederacy for the balance of the war. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]After the war, Jeb Stuart mouldered in his grave. Philip Sheridan was named Commanding General of the United States Army in 1883.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Combat effectiveness? Well, in 1870, then-President Grant sent him to be an observer during the Franco-Prussian War. He was asked what he thought of European fighting techniques. He grunted that he believed his old Cavalry Corps would have whipped both sides.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]He was probably right.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tennessee had three false-start calls in the first eighteen minutes of game time. I'm going to try not laugh the next time someone brings up Tennessee's “experienced” offensive line. I really am. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]2.Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way … SCORE![/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
 [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Tennessee did take advantage of two Auburn turnovers and put points on the board. Damning statistic of the day: counting those two turnovers, the Vols only managed to stop Auburn FOUR times all day. The last drive doesn't count as Auburn was running out the clock in scoring position. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]3. If at first the game – or the breaks – go against you, don’t let up … PUT ON MORE STEAM![/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]

Over the last three games, Tennessee has given up a total of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY ONE points. Just for reference, that is only three points shy of what the Vols surrendered in the ENTIRE 1985 regular season. From all appearances, Tennessee's defense has come to the conclusion that “more steam” refers to sandwiches at Gus's Deli.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]

With 14:50 left in the 2[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]nd[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] quarter, after a nifty bit of running by Raijon Neal, the Vols led the Tigers 13-6. THIRTY-TWO SECONDS later, Auburn[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif] tied the game and 3:27 later took the lead and never looked back.

Tennessee never looked up. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle … THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]

[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The Incredible Disappearing Vol Defense picked up where it left off last week. Normally, the knowledgeable Vol fan, seeing that Tennessee gained over two hundred yards rushing, would be celebrating yet another example of the Superiority of Our Way of Life. Unfortunately, the Tigers demolished the eleven guys in orange shirts on the other side of scrimmage (I honestly don't think what we saw Saturday can realistically be called a “defense.”) for FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR yards rushing. To add insult to injury most of Auburn's rush yards came from their quarterback. [/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif](Insert 4500-word obscenity-laced rant *here*)[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]

Michael Palardy did just about as well he could possibly have done Saturday. Note to all involved in Tennessee's special teams: When you give up a punt and a kickoff return for touchdowns AND your KICKER is the leading tackler on punt and kickoff coverage, you have fundamentally FAILED. Thank you very much.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]7. Carry the fight to Auburn and keep it there for sixty minutes.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]

It took Auburn exactly thirty-two seconds to end any hopes the Vols had of winning this thing. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Other than the fact that Michael Palardy can make an open-field tackle (see rant above), that Raijon Neal with a competent offensive line would be putting up Chuck Webb numbers, and that Josh Dobbs is shaping up into a dandy signal-caller who desperately needs a better supporting cast, anything positive one takes from this game is thin gruel indeed. [/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Head Vol Butch Jones simply has no alternative. He simply MUST take advantage of the upcoming open date make whatever changes are necessary and remind his charges that the season is not nearly over. Either way, the Vols must prepare to greet yet another horde of interlopers – this time the much-hated Vandahbilt Common-hoes - who will heave onto the benighted shores of Lake Loudon come the 23rd. One hopes he can find enough mortar, brick fragments, spit and bailing twine to put the boat-boys to fly.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]MAXOMG [/FONT]
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 12 people
#2
#2
For those who may be wondering, no. I am not going negative. From my perspective, Head Vol Jones is on the right track. His problem is, and really has been all year, that he is pulling a train loaded with five years of mediocrity disguised as Tennessee football. I'm not sure that Bob Neyland with John Majors, Doug Dickey and Philip Fulmer on staff could keep this team on the rails.

I've made a point over the years that football teams have to learn how to win big games. The 2013 Vols, at this point, need to remember how to WIN, period. It's not something a coach can teach. It has to come from somewhere inside the individual players. All a coach can do is try to inspire them to find it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#7
#7
OneManGang said:
For those who may be wondering, no. I am not going negative. From my perspective, Head Vol Jones is on the right track. His problem is, and really has been all year, that he is pulling a train loaded with five years of mediocrity disguised as Tennessee football. I'm not sure that Bob Neyland with John Majors, Doug Dickey and Philip Fulmer on staff could keep this team on the rails.

I've made a point over the years that football teams have to learn how to win big games. The 2013 Vols, at this point, need to remember how to WIN, period. It's not something a coach can teach. It has to come from somewhere inside the individual players. All a coach can do is try to inspire them to find it.
Click to expand...

I enjoy your write-ups, first class stuff.

I don't want to be negative either. But maybe Coach Jones might want to re-evaluate his assistant coaches at some time before next year. Something ain't right, and I don't think poor talent is the lone culprit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#8
#8
Enjoyed the read, OMG.

Like many I too are perplexed by the play of the OL, esp of late. I keep reminding myself that this is the very same line that returned four of five starters, ranked first in the SEC and fifth (FBS) in sacks, finished 22nd in scoring, 18th in Total Offense and 15th in passing in '12. That said, I am not dismissing the mental mistakes or poor play nor am I absolving the coaches or schematics.
We can scratch our heads in dismay or wonder until raw but the fact remains that our starting five were / are a talented unit that will by all indications play at the next level.
 
#13
#13
Michael Palardy did just about as well he could possibly have done Saturday. Note to all involved in Tennessee's special teams: When you give up a punt and a kickoff return for touchdowns AND your KICKER is the leading tackler on punt and kickoff coverage, you have fundamentally FAILED. Thank you very much.
Click to expand...

I wasn't sure if I was really seeing that yesterday, or if it was the pain meds.

Excellent post as always OMG.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#15
#15
OMG, your thoughts about Jones' postgame comments ("...If it kills me, it kills me...")?

I know a lot of folks, particularly those of our former site of residence, have sniped and snarked about Jones' coach speak.

But yesterday, for me anyway, was the first time I truly understood why recruits are signing up like they are.

The guy strikes me as that bulldog of a man (in business or any organization really) with a plain state college degree and humble roots, that, given the time, will work circles around and achieve more than those from more impressive, Ivy covered backgrounds. A 'charge the gates of hell' type...

Have I just purchased a drum of snake oil, or can I keep these nice rosy glasses on?
 
#16
#16
Good post.

But, General Pope was actually General of the Army of Virginia, not the Army of the Potomac. McClellan was still in charge at the time of the Army of the Potomac, later being replaced by Burnside, Hooker, Meade, then Grant took over as General in Chief of all Armies, and Meade retained operational control of Army of the Potomac till the end.

I like your post, but are you saying Kiffin is Pope, Dooley is Burnside, and Butch is our General Grant?
 
#17
#17
I don't presume to speak for OMG, but I took the article to be more about the reorganization of US Cavalry units to be able to 'compete' with their CSA counterparts that, up to that point, had mauled them.

Not necessarily comparing generals to coaches.
 
#18
#18
WallyBalls said:
OMG, your thoughts about Jones' postgame comments ("...If it kills me, it kills me...")?

I know a lot of folks, particularly those of our former site of residence, have sniped and snarked about Jones' coach speak.

But yesterday, for me anyway, was the first time I truly understood why recruits are signing up like they are.

The guy strikes me as that bulldog of a man (in business or any organization really) with a plain state college degree and humble roots, that, given the time, will work circles around and achieve more than those from more impressive, Ivy covered backgrounds. A 'charge the gates of hell' type...

Have I just purchased a drum of snake oil, or can I keep these nice rosy glasses on?
Click to expand...

I believe our current Head Vol has that kind of "fire in the belly" that has, sadly, been in short supply on The Hill since about 2000.

I've told this story too many times to count. My seats used to look straight down the Tennessee sideline. One thing I always appreciated during the early days of the reign of Sir Philip of Winchester was that when the O-line would be stinking it up, Fulmer would meet them coming off the field and commence chewing their a$$es all the way to the bench. He would chew them out the entire time they were on the bench and follow them back onto the field chewing the entire way. The linemen always responded.

Coach Fulmer had, of course, made his mark as O-line Coach at Tennessee before being named OC and later Head Vol.

After 1998, I never saw him do that. To me that spoke of the lack of fire that you referenced and the ONLY coach I saw do anything similar was Monte Kiffin during that benighted period in Vol history. Would that his son had that same fire.

Dooley was far too "chairman of the board-ish" inspire his troops that way and IMO too insecure to let an assistant do something like that.

Football is still a game of emotion. The most successful coaches understand that and are able to pass their will-to-win on to their players.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#19
#19
SALAMANDER DRAKE said:
Good post.

But, General Pope was actually General of the Army of Virginia, not the Army of the Potomac. McClellan was still in charge at the time of the Army of the Potomac, later being replaced by Burnside, Hooker, Meade, then Grant took over as General in Chief of all Armies, and Meade retained operational control of Army of the Potomac till the end.

I like your post, but are you saying Kiffin is Pope, Dooley is Burnside, and Butch is our General Grant?
Click to expand...

I admit I had forgotten that about Gen. Pope. I blame a 32-point loss and a deep conversation with Mr. Samuel Adams.

I would add that Mike Hamilton was UT's McClellan - a capable organizer (fund-raiser) but a terrible combat commander and Fulmer was Tennessee's version of Winfield Scott - brilliant in his early days but unable to get the job done later on. Scott due to age and Philip for other reasons.
 
#20
#20
OneManGang said:
Football is still a game of emotion. The most successful coaches understand that and are able to pass their will-to-win on to their players.
Click to expand...

The way Coach Jones has worked his way up (advancing through hard effort, not who he knows) is what gives me the most hope I think. He works to get what he wants, and that's what we all have to do.
 
#21
#21
WallyBalls said:
I don't presume to speak for OMG, but I took the article to be more about the reorganization of US Cavalry units to be able to 'compete' with their CSA counterparts that, up to that point, had mauled them.

Not necessarily comparing generals to coaches.
Click to expand...


I agree. Just havin a little fun with OMG, I think he gets it. Some of those other threads they are arguing about fans and this and that. Just came here to this thread for a nice break and I love Civil War history and trivia.
 
#22
#22
SALAMANDER DRAKE said:
I agree. Just havin a little fun with OMG, I think he gets it. Some of those other threads they are arguing about fans and this and that. Just came here to this thread for a nice break and I love Civil War history and trivia.
Click to expand...

Good deal, no hard feelings here.
 
#23
#23
OneManGang said:
I believe our current Head Vol has that kind of "fire in the belly" that has, sadly, been in short supply on The Hill since about 2000.

I've told this story too many times to count. My seats used to look straight down the Tennessee sideline. One thing I always appreciated during the early days of the reign of Sir Philip of Winchester was that when the O-line would be stinking it up, Fulmer would meet them coming off the field and commence chewing their a$$es all the way to the bench. He would chew them out the entire time they were on the bench and follow them back onto the field chewing the entire way. The linemen always responded.

Coach Fulmer had, of course, made his mark as O-line Coach at Tennessee before being named OC and later Head Vol.

After 1998, I never saw him do that. To me that spoke of the lack of fire that you referenced and the ONLY coach I saw do anything similar was Monte Kiffin during that benighted period in Vol history. Would that his son had that same fire.

Dooley was far too "chairman of the board-ish" inspire his troops that way and IMO too insecure to let an assistant do something like that.

Football is still a game of emotion. The most successful coaches understand that and are able to pass their will-to-win on to their players.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir. Brighter days ahead...
 
#24
#24
OMG, anytime you want to rap about the Civil War, or other conflicts, I like history, we can talk about General Burnside and Antietam, or the wild adventures of General Hooker at Fredericksburg, WW II, or anything in history, I'm here.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top