Guitar Shots to the Head: A Cruel, Cruel Summer

Wake me up in August. For a myriad of reasons, this summer seems much longer than the last. Between the lack of recruiting news and the Dooley prognostications I am beginning to wonder if the summer heat is going to do me in. By most accounts the fall could be even longer, but I do have a guitar shot ready for your noggin.

Things were much more interesting this time last year. There, I said it. Those of you unwilling to admit it are lying to yourselves. The previous regime and energized the fan base (a fan base that knew UT would be lucky to go to a bowl in 2009) immediately. Throngs of fans were awakened from their slumber with one jab at Urban Meyer.

Don’t get me wrong. Keeping fans entertained during the off season is not Derek Dooley’s job. It wasn’t Kiffin’s job either. It simply gave the small percentage of fans on message boards plenty to talk about, and frankly it was fun. As my Pappy used to tell me, “Life ain’t always about having fun.”

Unfortunately, for UT fans the 2010 season isn’t looking all that fun either, but here is another shot to the head for all the UT fans on the VolNation. These players deserve 100% of our support.

I’m not talking about being a mouth piece for Dooley. Nor am I advocating pumping sunshine about the talent on this football team, but when they suit it up in August, I expect fans to show some appreciation for what these players have been through.

The few on this board that know me, know that I’m no sunshine pumper. I see no reason to impart victim status on these players for what they have been through. They are grown men that made a commitment to this University. What happened to them at UT could have happened to them at Alabama, Florida, LSU, or any other program in the SEC. However, they have been through several valleys without much peak since their time on The Hill.

Before you give me a discourse on what Tennessee has done for them, please think twice. I love UT, but for these athletes this situation has been a raw deal. Three different head coaches in three years is nearly unthinkable, especially for players with NFL aspirations.

Perhaps the real benefit to a player who has lived through this transition is the preparation for real life. It has taught them more than Phil, Lane, or Derek could ever really teach them. The bumps and bruises they’ve collected should serve a startling lesson that life is not easy, fair, and rarely turns out according to plan. That doesn’t sound like a very good recruiting pitch, does it?

I’m not on the Dooley bandwagon, and I don’t begrudge anyone for being on it either. The emotional burnout from the last bandwagon is keeping several people off. I understand that too.

This year is not about the new coach. It is about the players that have remained on the sidelines wearing our beloved orange. This is about one of the rare cases where I’ll admit that those players don’t have to earn our respect on the field (though I’m sure most of them would disagree). The players have stuck with UT. The VolNation should stick with them too. Go Vols!