The Three S’s

Rather than give keys to this weeks game against Alabama, highlight game stats, and talk X’s and O’s this Voball is giving you the three S’s.  Stellar, Surprise, and Strayed.  Words I am using to describe three players on this years Tennessee Volunteers.  The players who have been stellar, a huge surprise, and have strayed from last season’s marks.  So this week Volball gives you the three S’s.

Stellar

There is no other word to describe Mr. Eric Berry.  Only a sophomore there is no question this kid is an undisputed leader on this football team, not only on defense but overall.  Before he leaves Tennessee there is no doubt he will hold multiple records and be an all-time Volunteer great.  This past Saturday Eric Berry recorded his fifth interception of the season and 10th of his career at Tennessee in only his second season. With that pick he shattered the all-time SEC record set way back in the 1940’s.  Berry is proving his worth every game with big plays, big hits, and big picks.  So far this season Berry has recorded 175 yards in interception returns and one touchdown, did you know that is the same figure as Senior bust Lucas Taylor, who has only one touchdown.

Strayed

There is no doubt Senior wide receiver Lucas Taylor has strayed a long way from his Junior effort consisting of 1000 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Here we are over halfway through the season and this superstar of old is being overshadowed by underclassman game in and game out.  There is a definite argument that Tennessee has struggled at Quarterback early this season hurting receiving stats but, playmakers make plays and Lucas Taylor far from a playmaker this season.  Drops and inferior route running have plagued Lucas Taylor’s senior effort and the receiving reigns have been taking by youngsters like Denarius Moore.

Surprise

Denarius Moore is the biggest surprise for most Volunteer fans.  Moore has recorded just short of 200 receiving yards on only seven receptions.  Averaging a blistering 27 yards per catch Moore is developing as the Volunteers key deep threat.  Phillip Fulmer is already calling Moore a starter in just his sophomore season.  With receivers like Josh Briscoe, Austin Rodgers, and Gerald Jones its hard to make a splash at receiver but, Moore is screaming CANNONBALL!  With Stephens and Moore both in just their second season you have to see promise between this duo.  Already raking in two deep touchdown passes look for Moore to get more involved in the coming weeks.

 

This Week Marks Another Storied Rivarlry, the Third Saturday in October.  Go Vols!

Till Next Time Volball Out!

Let’s talk Replacements.

So with all the buzz about the Phillip Fulmer hot seat you have to think who does Tennessee need to go out and get to bring Big Orange football back to greatness.  There is no question in my mind it is time for Tennessee to clean house, I say empty the offices and leave nothing in the locker room but the players.  There have already been names thrown around to take the throne in Knoxville, its time that I review my own top choices to raise the proverbial ship from the depths.  Personally I want to get someone who has never seen the likes of Southeastern Conference football, a rising star or a NFL great.  Those are my two options and here are my top 5 prospects in no particular order.  Volball hires.

Kyle Whittingham

Why:  Whittingham has done an excellent job at Utah.  He has been the head coach for three season in Ute country and has lead them to three bowl games, and won all three.  They have broken into the top 25 this college football year and are sitting at #14 right now with BCS buster potential.  Prior to serving as head coach at Utah Whittingham was the school’s defensive coordinator for 10 years.  Kyle Whittingham was offered the head coaching position after you guessed it Urban Myer took over at Florida.  People haven’t mentioned this name a whole bunch and it probably won’t happen but, I am praying Mike Hamilton looks out West for this sleeping giant.

Butch Davis

Why:  Davis is a fiery coach currently located at the University of North Carolina, a great job no doubt but, Tennessee would be an excellent step up for this Tarheel.  Davis has proven himself in the college ranks and knows how to create winning college football teams.  He has the Carolina flying high this season as a top 25 team.  He has won Super Bowls with the Cowboys and a National Championship with the Miami Hurricanes as an assistant coach both places.  The man knows how to win, this is a quality we need at the University of Tennessee right now.  Davis’ name has already been thrown around some posting on the internet and it has this Vol fan smiling. 

Jon Gruden

Why:  Intensity.  Gruden has it and I want it.  Its no secret Tennessee lacks intensity on the sidelines with head coach Phillip Fulmer.  The simple fact is players want to play for a coach that is as emotional, passionate, and heavy hearted, for example Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Urban Meyer.  Gruden has that spark and not only that spark but ties to Rocky Top as well.  Gruden received his masters from Tennessee and his wife is an Alum as well.  He has already said this is a college coaching interest of his and would welcome the opportunity.  He won a Super Bowl in his very first season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, not saying he could take us to the top right out of the gate but you never know.  

Will Muschamp

Why: Muschamp is fiery one.  You may see a trend in my picks by now.  He has experience in the SEC from a defensive stand point and is looking for a big time head coaching position.  Currently he is sitting pretty as the defensive coordinator for the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns.  Most of all, he is YOUNG!  Muschamp is a ripe 37 years of age.  He played at Georgia and understands what it takes to win football games.  He knows how to recruit like a beast as well, something we need right now with Big Orange recruiting on a downhill slide.  I say its unlikely we will see Mr. Muschamp on the sidelines but, this Vol fan would be beemin’ if we did.

Lane Kiffin

Why: Sure not a lot of success in the NFL with the Raiders but, talk about success with the University of Southern California Trojans.  What can you say, in 2005 Kiffin took over the duties as offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator, and receivers coach for the Trojans.  The man is a beast.  And another youngster, only 31 years of age.  Definitely a fresh face who knows the ranks of college football.  And after developing names like Matt Leinhart, Reggie Bush, Dwayne Jarret, and Steve Smith can you really argue this guy knows talent.  He didn’t get them there but he did use them to the best of their ability, something Tennessee is struggling with right now.  And although he didn’t get those players to USC, in Kiffin’s 3 year stent as recruiting coordinator the Trojans had the nations #1 recruiting class all three years!

Now that I have told you my top 5 prospects I have to give you my do nots for Tennessee football.  The coaches I am begging Mike Hamilton not to call in the coming weeks.  As I said I want someone on the rise, someone looking for their start, or someone who has been to the top.  Nothing mediocre, if you haven’t noticed ever since 1998 we have been mediocre.  If you want mediocre we don’t need to spend any money, its on our sidelines every Saturday. Now the do nots. Volball says no!

Steve Spurrier

Why: Are you kidding me? You call yourself a Tennessee fan? Obviously you are not if you are considering the Old Ball Coach as an option for the Big Orange.  Spurrier was a cold blooded reptile for a full decade, a Gator thru and thru.  There should be no coach Tennessee fans hate more, although Urban Meyer is climbing higher and higher with every win.  Sure he is a great football coach, there is no doubt about that.  But, based off principle alone you should not turn to this man to cure the cold in Knoxville.

David Cutcliffe

Why: Thats right folks I said it.  No way, I can’t turn to Mr. Cutcliffe.  There is no other man I want in Knoxville more than Coach Cut.  But, not at the helm.  He is a great Offensive Coordinator and he turns decent Quarterbacks into stars.  Despite being a great offensive mind I don’t see him being a GREAT head coach.  He had a decent run a Ole’ Miss and some argue he didn’t have the time to take the program as far as he could have.  He may not have had ample time, those folks may be right.  I just don’t see Coach Cut taking us to a National Title as a head coach.  Sorry everyone, I realize he is a front runner but, he definitely is not for this Big Orange fan.

Lovie Smith

Why: Discpline.  The Vols already have a problem with keeping their youngsters out of trouble.  Smith has made excuses for players like Lance Briggs and Tank Johnson.  I really don’t want a guy coming into Knoxville who has placed his players above the law, EVER.  For me how a coach disciplines a football team and/or handles his team is the biggest thing for me as a fan.  I have before and continue to make the argument that discipline is the single best thing a head coach can bring to an organization.  It keeps players focused, grounded, and real.  In today’s college football world you see players, teams, and even coaches thinking they are larger than life and that is unacceptable.  That is what Lovie brings to the table in my book, his Bears thought they were larger than life while Tony Dungy’s Colts went about their business. Result was not a Super Bowl title for Lovie’s Bears.

I as much as anyone am ready for a change in the Tennessee coaching staff.  That is not to say I don’t appreciate and acknowledge what Phillip Fulmer has done for Tennessee football.  Phil has bleed Orange for three decades, he has played, coached, and loved everything about Knoxville ever since he stepped into the city.  I am just ready for a new age in Tennessee football, I think a new coaching staff is the best move at this point.  And although I have continued to write about the needed change on Rocky Top my thoughts are with Phil and his family during this extremely tough time.  

Until next time. Go Vols. Keep reading. Volball out.

Next four weeks. Make or BREAK.

The next month will no doubt make or break head coach Phillip Fulmer’s job security at the University of Tennessee. Four straight SEC tests, splitting the four in half, two home two away. Now some say calling for Fulmer’s job is not right given his history at the University of Tennessee.  History aside, Fulmer will show fans and players what he is really made of the next month.  The Volunteers have a seemly impossible schedule in front on them.  

First, the Bulldogs between the hedges.  Despite your recent Kingsford commercials Georgia hasn’t proved they are the better football team in the last couple of years.  This has been Fulmer’s fall back game.  It seems over the last few years he has crawled his way out of the grave with wins over the Dawgs.  The Volunteers have taken care of business in this rivalry even in Athens, where in their last visit the struggling Volunteers dropped half a hundred on the dawgs.  But, the Dawgs are coming off a by week and frustrating loss to the Crimson Tide.  They need to get back on track, and lets just say the Vols are the track Georgia is the train. Chu-Chu!

Next, the Vols have Mississippi State.  This will be no easy test like your average Mississippi State game.  It is quite evident that the Vols have no easy games on their schedule after the romping of Northern Illinois.  The State bulldogs played Auburn to a 3-2 loss which obviously attests to their defense, and lets face it the Volunteer offense isn’t carving up D’s this season.  To earn a win for the Big Orange Faithful things will have to change in a hurry.

Then, the third Saturday in October.  Does anything really need to be said about Saban and the Crimson Tide?  I will be honest, that is the kind of coach I want at my school.  The man doesn’t celebrate for a minute, the Volunteers have been celebrating for ten years.  Or at least the lone national championship has saved Phil for that long.  Its time that we forget about the history and think about the future.  Saban is the future, and he is going to make history of Phil and the Vols in Knoxville, losses are not an option for Nick Saban and his football team.  When are we going to stop looking in the rear view?

The last leg, off to South Carolina to the Gamecocks home turf.  Its no secret the Old Ball Coach is a nemesis of Phillip Fulmer.  South Carolina is fresh off a victory against the Rebels of Ole’ Miss who knocked off the same Gators who dominated the Big Orange in Knoxville.  The Gamecocks are finally healthy and improving. Plus by this time we are going to have one tired football team.  

If I was a betting man their is no way I would put money on Tennessee in any of these games, not even against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, on homecoming, in Neyland Stadium.  Without a big turn around of the offense and special teams their is no way the Volunteers get victories in these tough SEC games.  

My question Volunteers fans, when do you start routing for losses?  I know I know.  You say never but, lets be honest here one or two upset wins will feel good now but, how will you feel next year with another lack luster season.  The fact is all it will take is one big upset win and one mediocre upset and Phil will again have job security, that is something I can not be happy with.  All I hear is buy out this buy out that, please the Tennessee Athletic Department has some deep pockets and 6 million is pocket change.  And tell me that upset Alumni won’t help fit that bill.  You better believe their are some Vol Alum that can’t stand what they have seen the past five saturdays.  Heck I will give some money to get Phil out of there, and you can quote me on that. The Volunteers are now the doormat of the SEC and its down right unacceptable.

The University of Tennessee like it or not is built around or central figure, and that is Neyland Stadium.  The winning tradition and fall saturday afternoon is losing its luster in a hurry.  Rival games are turning into embarrassments, cheers to boos, tickets to empty seats, touchdowns to interceptions, wins to losses,  and football to basketball.  I seem to encourter some random person every week who wants to talk Tennessee football with me, this week, a doctor during a visit.  You know what that man said, “basketball season can’t come soon enough.”  I never thought I would hear that statement from a Big Orange fan.

VolBall. Till next time, Go Big Orange!