Dougherty’s Diatribe 11/8

As I began the drive from Nashville to Knoxville last Saturday with my four-year-old son Connor I thought back to the days I rode to Neyland Stadium with my grandparents. I soaked in the traditions and the passion that is Tennessee football and want the same for my boy. Connor was beaming with anticipation as the miles passed and as we moved closer to Knoxville. We were a bit later than I would normally choose to be due to Connor’s first pee-wee basketball game. C-Dog, as he is known on the little man hardwood, actually managed to hit the game winner so the day was off to a nice start. This was not his first UT football game. In fact, Connor has already seen the Vols play four times in person in his young life. However, at this wide-eyed age every memory is like the first.

With limited traffic, we would hit our parking lot a little bit after 4pm Eastern and we would make our way to our seats mid-way through the first quarter. That was the plan. As we drive closer we notice that I-40 is relatively clear. Alcoa Highway is exactly the same. We take the Neyland Drive exit with no waiting and head along the river towards our destination. We pull into the lot, get our stuff together and begin walking towards the stadium. I cannot believe that we have made it from Nashville to Knoxville on a game-day Saturday in just over two and a half hours. Connor marches through the Gate and up the ramp with section BB as our goal. He notices the river from our increasingly elevated view and explains to me that the parked boats by Calhoun’s are termed, “The Vol Navy.” We climb to our seats, put our things down and take in the wonderful view of Tennessee football on a glorious November Saturday afternoon.

As I look around Neyland Stadium, I notice something that I have never seen before; many empty seats. I’ve been making the trek to the Hill since I was my son’s age in the late ‘70’s and I have never experienced Neyland Stadium as I did last Saturday. I remember being in Neyland Stadium during the 0-6 start to the 1988 season and watching the Vols get hammered by LSU in the rain with few empty seats. Not only were there pockets of empty seats, the fans that were there were eerily quiet. Connor didn’t know the difference and enjoyed the second half as we sat on the fifty about twelve rows up. But, I did and I’m sure that I am not alone.

That brings me to Saturday. The match-ups don’t favor the Vols in this one. The same South Carolina defense that shut Tennessee down in the second half a couple of weeks ago was absolutely gashed by the Arkansas running game that visits the Vols on Saturday. This team is in desperate need of a full and noisy house.

This may be one of those “Vols against the world” set-ups that usually lead to Tennessee wins. But, I don’t think so. I think that Arkansas will run the ball at will. Arkansas 38, Tennessee 30.

Black Out in Athens:

If Georgia runs the football against Auburn they will win, if not they won’t. It’s that cut and dry in this rivalry situation. Auburn held Arkansas to 67 yards rushing and will provide the Bulldog run game with a real challenge. Georgia is leaning on Knowshon Moreno and the freshman running back has delivered averaging 192 yards and three touchdowns per game the last two weeks. Moreno has to get loose consistently against Auburn for Georgia to get it done. But look for Auburn to continue the road win tradition in this series. War Eagle 24, UGA 20.

Vandy Shoots for Bowl Eligibility:

Kentucky has won three in a row in the series and four out of the last five. The Wildcats had the week off to get over the stinker against State. If UK gets hot offensively, Vanderbilt will not be able to keep up. However, if the Dores manage to stay calm on D and read their keys this one will go down to the wire. Andre Woodson threw for 450 yards and four touchdowns against the Dores last year, but Earl Bennett has been a monster against the Cats. Bennett has 24 receptions for 319 yards and 6 touchdowns in two games against the Big Blue. It won’t be enough.

Kentucky 41, Vanderbilt 24.

Upset Alert:

Alabama is better, but so is Mississippi St. The Bulldogs have been hard on opposing quarterbacks. Brandon Cox failed to finish Auburn’s home loss to State. And Andre Woodson was completely ineffective in Kentucky’s meltdown against this bunch. John Parker Wilson will need to play well, but look for the State D to frustrate the Bama offense. This game may be ugly at times, but in the end, Mississippi St. gets bowl eligible. Croom 24, Saban 20.

The OBC hosts his old team:

` The Gators are 6 ½ point favorites in this one, which may not seem high enough to some. Until you consider that the Gators have struggled statistically against the pass ranking tenth in the league. And, Gamecock quarterback Blake Mitchell has had the hot hand recently throwing for almost 300 yards in just over 2 ½ quarters against the Vols and 364 yards and 2 scores last week against the Hogs. This will be a shootout with the Gators chomping their way to a 31-27 win.

My Heisman Rankings this week:

1. Dennis Dixon QB Oregon – ranked number one last week and then threw four touchdown passes in a win against a top 5 team.

2. Tim Tebow QB Florida – the production has been unbelievable, but three losses will definitely get in the way.

3. Darren McFadden RB Arkansas – this is about the same time he got in the race last year. He will aim to make another point Saturday in Knoxville.

4. Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma – #2 in the nation (behind Tebow) in passing efficiency. Bradford has completed almost 70% of his passes and tossed 25 touchdown passes with only 5 picks.

Have a great college football weekend and thanks for reading. –Brent Dougherty brentd@wlac.com