Fall From Grace:
The empirical data suggests that the Tennessee football program has fallen from the conference elite into more of an SEC middle class. The numbers speak for themselves. Tennessee is the fifth best team in the SEC since 2001. However, the more recent history is more disturbing to Tennessee fans. Since 2004, the Vols are 15-12 and 8-9 in conference play. That’s good for eighth in the SEC. Only Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi St. and Vanderbilt have won fewer games since 2004.
Phillip Fulmer is a decent, kind and giving man. He has accomplished much on and off the field. He helped bring Tennessee its first consensus National Title since 1951. He has 2 SEC Titles and has coached four teams to the SEC Championship game. Away from the gridiron Coach Fulmer’s work with the Jason Foundation has been nothing short of amazing, helping a great man Clark Flatt and his wonderful organization raise the awareness level of teen suicide, the silent killer.
It pains me to even ask this question about a truly great man. However, it is my job to ask. Should Tennessee go in another direction?
– E-mail comments to brentd@wlac.com. Responses may be read on Prime Time Sports on 1510 WLAC.
South Carolina offers LSU bulletin board material:
South Carolina will be in Baton Rouge on Saturday to play the number two ranked LSU Tigers. LSU is favored to win by seventeen points and that may not be enough. LSU is going to win this game. I know it, you know it and Steve Tanneyhill knows it.
When told that few people were giving South Carolina a chance in Baton Rouge this weekend, South Carolina running back Cory Boyd told a reporter, “They said the same thing about Georgia.â€
That is an interesting point. Let’s compare Georgia and LSU. Does Cory Boyd understand the fact that LSU has defended 91 rushing attempts in three games giving up a total of 90 yards on the ground. Georgia gives up more than that number…per game. LSU has the nation’s top overall defense statistically and it’s not even close.
It’s nice to have confidence. In fact, you must have confidence to realize success. The Gamecock players are obviously buying what the OBC is selling.
A dismal 2007 outlook for the Fighting Irish:
Many projected a poor season for Notre Dame suggesting that the Fighting Irish would be 2-6 following eight games. After further review the golden-domers may be 0-8. If Notre Dame plays its first eight games without a win, Charlie Weiss would own a 19-14 record. Tyrone Willingham was fired after just three seasons in South Bend. Coach Willingham was 21-14. Is Charlie Weiss in trouble? The numbers suggest that he should.
Notre Dame is dead last in America in the following offensive categories:
o points per game (4.3)
o offensive touchdowns (0)
o Total offense per game (115)
o Sacks allowed (23)
Perhaps Charlie Weiss needs to video tape opposing defensive coach’s signals.
Predictions:
South Carolina 10
LSU 31
Florida 45
Ole Miss 7
Georgia 20
Alabama 24
Kentucky 34
Arkansas 31
Arkansas St. 20
Tennessee 31
As always, I encourage you to listen to our Nashville sports talk show. Prime Time Sports airs weeknights from 5p-8p central time. You can check out the show on the net at wlac.com keyword:PTS.
I also encourage e-mails. You can get in touch with me at: brentd@wlac.com. E-mails may be used on the air.
Thanks for reading. –Brent Dougherty 1510 WLAC
4 responses to “Dougherty’s Diatribe 9/20/2007”
Thanks Brent. One does get the sense that a shake up on the Hill will soon be a reality. We have seen tremors around this staff before, but from the way the media is treating the situation this year, it looks like the quake is just around the corner.
I’m going to have to disagree with you on your take of Notre Dame. The stats DON’T show that Weis is in the same boat as Willingham.
LSU is no doubt loaded with talent, but don’t put it past Les Miles to screw things up.
“Should Tenn. go in another direction?” Is there really any debating that Fulmer should go?
Coach Fulmer is a nice guy and I like him. But, it’s time for a change. Since the fall to LSU in the title game of 2001, we have enjoyed a slow decent into mediocrity. Those that that think otherwise are foolish. The time for change should have been after that horrible loss to a team we had beaten earlier in the season. A real house cleaning of coaches and mentality was in order. That’s what great minds do when they see a problem. Instead, as normal, Fulmer chose the status quo (and loyalty) and went back to work. Fulmer is a hard worker and motivator. This is something I don’t question. However, he is not and never has been a great thinker or for that matter a great game day coach. The game hasn’t changed but the approach has. Teams are too evenly divided and no one team really has overwhelming talent anymore. In our 90s run, we had superior talent but we never ever had superior coaching. Those that still relish the 1998 NC trophy are stuck in a time warp. Who cares? That’s ten years old anyway.
It’s time UT allows the normal process of selecting a coach take place. Meaning, let’s get someone from the outside with zero ties to UT and the trustees. I’m tired of our trustees having a say so in the selection anyway. Who cares if some of them played football or that they give ridiculous amounts of money to the school. This should NOT have a bearing on who our football coach is. I point to the fact that when your coaches (save Cutcliffe) are not heavily recruited to head coach elsewhere, something is seriously wrong. Would Pete Carroll stand for his coaches not being hot commodities? No, he wouldn’t and neither should UT. Your coaches’ value should be in direct comparison with the success of the program. When we were good, how many of our coaches left? Few, very few!
This reply may upset some of the faithful, but I’ve been a UT fan since the Bill Battle days. I was 0-5 versus Alabama while in school. I was also in school when the Florida rivalry began with the 45-3 drubbing we gave them in 1990. I remember the days when UT took the field opposing teams (save Florida) worried. This isn’t the case anymore and as long as Fulmer is there it won’t be. Let’s be honest. When UT fans start looking forward to basketball something is wrong and that’s exactly where we are now!