The Baby, Bathwater, and a Roller Coaster

Nine days ago many Tennessee fans had a plan. It was reasonable, doable, and above all believable. This plan called for a seven, maybe eight win season. While it was not reaching for the stars, it made sense.

After all, Nick Saban went 7-6 his first season on the heels of a 6-7 campaign that cost Mike Shula his job. Perhaps, Lane Kiffin would be a step ahead.

Beginning with Kiffin’s hire, the news from the Hill has been positive. The attitude demanded and the work ethic employed has made Tennessee fans feel proud and encouraged. The talent that is being brought in is on the upswing and is for real. So there has been a sense of forward momentum and a rebirth of the program.

Enter Western Kentucky. The number 120 (out of 120) FBS team in all the land. A week ago, the Vols took the Hilltoppers to the proverbial woodshed. There were offensive and defensive statistics to make your head swirl. Could the Lane Train be running THAT far ahead of schedule? A euphoric sense of climbing to the top began to settle in.

In the cold, harsh, ultra competitive reality that is big time college football, quick fixes are hard to come by. And today was a reality check deluxe. This game was supposed to make restitution for last year’s debacle. A gauge of how much better the Big Orange offense has gotten. Instead, the deficiencies and an unresolved issue at quarterback have reared their ugly heads.

The defense while doing its job to keep the Vols in the game was not stellar. UCLA brought a red-shirt freshman QB into Rocky Top and won the turnover battle with a +3. It was THE big number in the game. The Bruins put the ball on the ground, but managed to get it back every time but one.

Time and again in the last six months, ‘I trust this coaching staff’ has echoed throughout the Vol Nation. During the game today, that trust took a hit. Many in the stands felt Tennessee should have made a change when the Quarterback clearly had lost his confidence. The one-dimensional strategy that followed allowed UCLA to load up in the box, resulting in a 2.6 yards per carry average.

So where do things go now? Next weekend get much more difficult. Tennessee has lost a home game that many pointed to as a key marker to the season. What is there to look for at this point?

DO. . . NOT. . . PANIC. There is no reason to throw the ‘baby out with the bathwater’. This program is heading in the right direction. There will be growing pains. If dialing up a ten win season was like ordering through the drive thru at McDonald’s, then certainly, panic to your hearts content. But it’s not.

Fans can make a difference. And there are plenty of opportunities to do what Tennessee fans do best. And here is how. Stay strong, understanding that this season is going to a roller coaster ride. Tempered expectations are not a bad thing. The coaches will coach better as the season progresses. The players will step up and improve or they won’t be playing.

Sixty minutes of football this afternoon did not derail what has been put in motion. Who knows, in another eight days . . . well just hang onto the baby.