People continually ask me how I feel about the UT football season. I’m sure that most of you have had similar experiences. When asked, I simply drop one word: excited. Nobody knows exactly what to expect from this football team this year. For me that is exciting. I know, you usually need a more descriptive word, but hey, I’m no journalist. You don’t have to read too many of my blogs to figure that out.
There is something about the new era of Tennessee football that a lot of people just cannot put their finger on. After being battered with two losing seasons in four years, the word excited will have to do.
This UT program is like a wrecked car that you take to a body shop. After they work on the car it isn’t brand new. Most of the original parts are still there, but for some reason it looks better. Maybe it is the new paint, or the removed blemishes.
Most of the time people are happy to have their car back, but they aren’t generally excited about driving a previously wrecked car around. So why all the buzz?
It could be that UT fans are ready to share their game day traditions with a brand new coaching staff. Let me be clear. I don’t believe in magic dust. I’m not naïve enough to think that participating in the Vol Walk, singing Rocky Top, or running through the T wins any football games. However, when it helps fans and coaches ring in the new era of Tennessee football it can help win recruiting battles
Lane and Company will get to experience all of the electrifying rituals that make Tennessee football great. They will get to hear one hundred thousand people sing Rocky Top with the accompaniment of the Pride of the Southland Band. For the first time in years, UT will have a head coach that did not run through the T as a Tennessee football player.
Ed Orgeron will be running through the T. I’ll say it again. On Saturday, September 5, 2009, Ed Orgeron IS running through the T. If that doesn’t make the hair on the back of your neck stand at attention, you might be a Bammer.
We are living vicariously through the new staff this week. With apologies to Foreigner, for a lot of us “It feels like the first time.” We are seeing the world through their eyes, and giving them a game day baptism that they will not likely forget.
Perhaps, through that lens, UT fans have a renewed appreciation for what we have on the Hill.
Listening to and watching this coaching staff embrace this University has reminded us all that the Tennessee Volunteers are not a Johnny Come Lately to the college football world. Like that old car, the program has recently been a little battered and bruised, but by God it is still our car.
On Saturday the tradition continues. IT IS FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
That is exciting.
Until next time, Go Vols!