I have never been a student of the paranormal. Last week I was driving through town and saw an old Jeep Cherokee with KY Ghost Hunters printed in large letters across the back of the windshield. It made me laugh out loud. It also made me wonder about the kind of person that would hire a spook sleuth to inspect their property. Then it hit me. Perhaps this UT football program could use a ghost hunter or two to come out to Neyland stadium and run some tests on the Vol sidelines.
Despite a ten win season in 2007, the UT football team is fighting for respect in a top heavy SEC Eastern division. For people who wonder why, I think the answer is simple. This football team is still struggling to overcome the “evil spirits” brought on at the onset of this decade. Critics and members of the media are still unwilling to give up the ghosts confronting this UT program. Looking at them objectively it is hard to blame them.
If the Vols are to make a splash this year here are some of the Ghosts they may be able to exorcise.
• The Ghost of the 2001 SEC Championship Game: It is becoming popular opinion that this was actually the turning point of the Tennessee Volunteer juggernaut. LSU, a heavy underdog, laid the wood to the Vols with a back up quarterback. Turnovers certainly attributed heavily to the defeat, but Nick Saban seemed to keep UT off balance for the entire game. This erased Tennessee’s chances of an SEC title, and it kept them out of a BCS championship game.
• The Ghost of 2005: Fresh off another appearance the SEC Championship game popular opinion had the Vols poised to compete for another national title. All of the offensive and defensive players were in place to make a run. Fulmer was talking Rose Bowl in August. All was right with the world…….until the Vols turned in a six loss season.
• The Clausen Ghost (aka the Texas A&M spook): This may be the sneakiest haunt that has faced the Vols in the last few years. After a spectacular showing against a Texas A&M team in a meaningless bowl, a quarterback controversy was born. Rick Clausen seemingly gained the confidence of teammates and coaches. Erik Ainge was rattled. With no championships to speak of, two interceptions against the LSU Tigers are now the definitive moments of his tenure at UT. The first occurred in the end zone of Tiger stadium in 2005. The second was a pick six that cost UT a chance to win the 2007 SEC championship.
• The Ghost of the Trenches: The Vols used to push people around up front. They punched teams in the mouth on both the offensive and defensive lines. In more recent times, good backs typically run wild on the defensive units, and third and three is always a passing down.
• The Ghost of Special Teams: It has been said before, but it is worth repeating. Special teams are always an indicator of the depth of talent on your football team. Punt returns, kick off returns, and one ill advised fake punt have caused the Vols too many games in the last five years. Improvement in this area was evident in 2007, but there is still room for tremendous growth in special team’s production.
• The Florida/Bama Ghost: Say what you will about the Gator defense or Alabama’s loss to a directional school from Louisiana. In 2008, the ghost of butt kicking’s past still linger in the minds of Vol fans and media members alike.
Some think we are poised to reclaim a spot atop the eastern division. Others are looking for proof. Unfortunately, magic dust and holy water aren’t going to get the job done against the ghosts the Vols are facing in 2008. We don’t need a priest. We need a football team that can run the football and stop the run. Winning is the only thing that will exorcise these spooks. Until next time Go Vols.