CHAMPIONS
COTTON BOWL CHAMPS
VOLS 38 Texas A&M 7
At last. PitiFulmer said this bowl game was a business trip; the VOLS took care of business. It's been awhile since the VOLS have totally dominated a team...blown them away. This first day of 2005, they did it. With a 28-0 lead, I still waited for the melt down. A&M drove inside the five, but the VOLS held on 4th down and then drove the length of the field for a 35-0 lead. No fear, no melt down to come and those annoying screaming Aggie fans finally sit down and Shuuuuuuuuuuuuuut Uuuuuuuuuuuuup!
This was probably the VOLS most impressive effort of the year, looking nothing like the team that gave up over 30 points in each of their last three games. This should be big momentum heading into the 2005 season....18 returning starters and a wealth of quarterbacks.....the VOLS could be headed back to the top!
SEC EAST CHAMPIONS
Conference
Overall
Tennessee 7-1 9-2
Georgia 6-2 9-2
Florida 4-4 7-4
South Carolina 4-4 6-5
Kentucky 1-7 2-9
Vanderbilt 1-7 2-9
SEC Championship - VOLS 28 Auburn 38
Go figure. The VOLS put up a valiant effort but came up short. Out the gate, the VOLS were decimated, but hung in and came back. They came close , but did not have the talent or coaching to pull it off. It was not the Holy Nightmare expected....but still another defeat.
On to the Cotton Bowl vs Texas A&M.
VOLS 37 Kentucky 31
Another Escape. The VOLS score a touchdown with 40 seconds remaining to defeat the Wildcats for the 20th straight year. As with Vandy last week, humiliation and embarrassment were close to reality. However, games such as this with Kentucky are the norm; it has happened many times in the past when the VOLS have been a much better team.
Alas, another "W" in the column, drop it and move on.....to the Dome of Gloom. The Georgia Dome has become the VOLS's venue of horrors. Based upon the performances in the last two weeks and the high flying Auburn Tigers waiting, licking their chops....the VOLS must crank it up several notches if they hope to avoid another hellish nightmare.
However, can the VOLS once again pull off the big surprise? Remember Miami last year. Remember Georgia this year. Remember the VOLS are SEC East Champs....no one gave them a chance.
VOLS 38 Vanderbilt 33
Escape. The VOLS escaped Nashville with the 22nd in a row win over the 'Dores and the SEC East Championship. It's hard to believe that the VOLS with a lead of 22 points could not put the Black and Gold away. It's hard to believe the VOL defense gave up 33 points. It's hard to believe that if it were not for two Vandy turnovers, the VOLS would have lost. It's hard to believe Vandy has only won two games this season.
Vandy came to play and never let up. The VOLS came and played and won. Works for me; whatever, however...just never, ever, loose to Vandy!
VOLS 13 Notre Dame 17
The VOLS loose another quarterback, another game and another season. It could be considered a classic defensive struggle...the VOLS defense played well enough to win....but the Randy Sanders offense could not deliver as third string quarterback Clausin dumped the ball into the hands of the Irish for a TD. That was the difference.
You can point to loss of Ainge as the turning point. You can, but I don't. Once again the VOLS come out in their house uninspired, flat, emotionless. That's PitiFulmers fault. That makes two times this year. The Vols should have come out and put the game away before the fall of Ainge.
The VOLS wanted a little national respect out of this game. What they got was confirmation of mediocrity for a program that should be at the top. Is the Tennessee program headed in the direction of Penn State? PitiFulmer is Mr. Tennessee Football no matter what?
Enough is enough. PitiFulmer promised the next level. Ain't seen it this millennium.
VOLS 43 South Carolina 29
The Gamecocks dominated the game for first 28 minutes but could only muster a 8-0 lead. Not good enough as the quick striking VOLS made it 8-8 at the half. The rest is history as the VOLS took control in the second half and made it 12 in row over the Cocks.
The SEC East Championship is clearly within reach as the VOLS must now only defeat Kentucky and Vanderbilt. Considering that Georgia must go to the Plains to play Auburn...which could be a big loss for the Dogs....the and in the defeat of KY and Vandy becomes an or! Not a done deal. But close!
VOLS 17 Alabama 13
Beating Bama is always special, no matter how ugly it might be. Randy's offense has once again gone into a cave, but the defense came through.....again. A fumble by Bama returned for a TD was the difference and it happened at the very beginning...who would have thought? Well, this is UT football.
The VOLS still control their destiny in the SEC East race but the offensive must step up if they are to survive the Gamecocks who are foaming at the mouth to finally beat the VOLS. "They" say one of Lou Holtz's goals at South Carolina is to beat the VOLS. Let's hope the VOLS can continue to find a way to win and continue the domination of the Cocks!
VOLS 21 Ole Miss 17
It looked like a blow out as the Vols rushed to a 14-0 lead. Not to be. Slowly and methodically, the Rebs rallied back to a 17-14 lead due to UT miscues (that would be 14 points due to turnovers)! You could call this one a classic defensive battle, but, in reality, a battle of offensive offenses. However, once again in the clutch, a couple of passes by that Freshman Boy, Ainge* and Touchdown Tennessee.
Not pretty. Not impressive. Not a loss. The VOLS went to Oxford and came home still in the drivers seat. 11 in a row against the Rebs! I'll take it!
* "Most impressive Freshman Quarterback I have seen since John Elway in the 70's." -David Norre, ESPN
"He is very special." -Todd Blackledge, CBS Sports
VOLS 19 Georgia 14
Outhouse to Penthouse. Gone is Georgia's 17 game home wining streak, 4 game wining steak against the Vols and #3 ranking. A remarkable turnaround for the VOLS who appeared to be headed for disaster. Back is optimism for this VOL team.
The VOLS control their destiny in the SEC East. If last week's fiasco is a thing of the past and if this performance is indicative of things to come, no reason to think the VOLS can't run the table and get some revenge against Auburn. It could happen.
Fans at Blondies, NYC's home for Big Orange Football, revel in the win over the Dogs!
VOLS 10 Auburn 34
The 2004 version of Rocky Flop begins. Optimism is out the door. The defense sucked big...and the offense looked like something from a playground pick up game. Obviously this team is on track to continue mediocrity.
Coach PitiFulmer Quotes:
"I didn't have the team ready to play." At your salary, I wouldn't be saying this!
"Auburn is a good football team, but not that better than us." DUH, what game did you watch?
There is always hope, but going down to Georgia will be very, very ugly. Think 34-10 is bad?
VOLS 42 Louisiana Tech 17
A little slow in getting the show started, but the Vols roll again! The offense is showing signs of an oiled machine. The defense, after a dismal start, pulled together to finally slow Tech. There is reason for optimism, though, with Auburn and Georgia up next, caution is the word!
VOLS 30 Florida 28
The Vols fail to tie the game late, but come back with a field goal with 6 seconds to pull out the second win in a row over the Gators. Perhaps a bit of home cooking, but I do enjoy a bit of blackened Gator! The offense ran and passed with precision....looking real fine. However, the defense still has issues to resolve, but managed to get the job done when the chips were down.
VOLS 42 UNLV 17
The Vols win opener in big way. The offense led by duel Freshmen Quarterbacks shows promise. The defense has some holes that must be patched before the SEC schedule kicks in.