I know you guys would really enjoy him. At joint Tide and UT tailgates starting back in 2002 in Knoxville -thanks Emeril- eventually Celtic and I always end up together talking Bama and UT for sometimes literally hours, especially when both he and a UT doc (can't remember his name) brought Tennessee shine to the first get-together. That was both different and fun! :)

For those here that don't know him, Celtic is a genuine first class guy all Vol fans should be proud of. He is a retired Marine Colonial and his love for the Corps and the Vols are second to no one. I think he is older than 70 years and looks and acts 50. I really look up to this guy and he knows it.

His knowledge of the series is incredible, and goes back to the forties when he was a child. Guys the stories he tells.......I believe his Dad played for UT many moons ago.

Here's a link where other Vols are speaking of him. Next year I may have to subscribe to that site just so I can attempt to get him over here to post and discuss the Tide-UT series the week before the game  


Here's what other Vols think of him:

http://forums.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=7&f=1372&t=8118645

As you see, it appears UT had him talk to the players before a game. I swear he could go to the Tide locker room and fire them up too.

He never really posted much on the old Vol Chat so my name may now be unfamiliar to him, but I know my face would be known to him. I haven't seen him in about 5 years, but have been at joint UT-Tide gatherings in Knoxville, Huntsville, B'ham, and T-town, and I always spent the most time with him. Maybe next year we can get him here and have some really good discussion of the Third Saturday in October series. No one loves this series more than he.


BG

Excellent observations; dead on the money. I was at the game, and you are right on AJ. He tends to overthrow his receivers and force them to make too many great catches. He had both our TE and Hanks open for TD's, and missed on one and forced Hanks to make a diving catch when he would still be running on green grass if the pass were thrown in-stride That being said, he hasn't made many mistakes and does have an excellent arm.

Agree on you comments about the future of the Volunteers. They played damn tough that first half, and I was impressed. They don't have the personnel to do that, but they did it anyway. Hats off to them.  Second half adjustments, and according to the Bama players a come to Jesus sermon by Minister Saban were keys to the Crimson Tide win.


BG

Same sad thing has happened to former Tide and NFL fullback Kevin Turner. Note both players were known as hard hitters and suffered concussions, and both articles point out the possible connection to football as a cause for their problems.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2010/08/21/ex_patriot_hit_with_als_diagnosis/



BG

"Plax was framed"

Those guys at MSU are hilarious! Last year in the Bowl game, Bama blew-them out and their board on 247 was a thing of one-liner beauties! These guys are good.

Two of my favorites were "Julio just took us to schoolio," and "Marcel Darius just jumped threw the TV and threw me over my sofa for a ten yard loss."...............


BG

In no particular order

1. A young man around 23 and distantly kin to my wife took his life by overdose. He leaves two kids. Not sure what set him off but he was one those kids with sorry parents who had to fight just to survive. It wasnt long ago my wife saw him buying something for his kids.

2. My youngest son, his girlfriends dad is supposed to be undergoing a liver transplant tonight. He has been very sick and was recently( i think recently) placed on the donor list.


[/quote


My prayers, Inspector. The death of kids so young really gets me.


BG

hope.   I am siding with the patient portion of the fan base.  We knew our problems going into the season, although the run game has been an abysmal disappointment.  Couple that, with losing Bray, and Hunter, and I can see this season getting really ugly.  I hope not.  I'm hoping Bama shows a little mercy.  I'm not going to watch.  I doubt we'll score, and it will just be a matter of how much they want to score.      We'll be back, though.  The earliest game I can remember was the Texas/UT game, and Bobby Scott was our QB.  (a very vague memory  ) We were driving in our VW beatle, and my Dad was listening to the game.  We lost that one I think, but were mighty good way back then.  Then there was a period of malaise, and the Majors roller coaster ride.  By far, 1993 - 2001 was one of our best runs ever.  We'll have more.  

You'll score, and maybe **more** than once or twice. This is a rivalry game, and the underdog usually leaves everything on the field. Maybe not so much last year, but look at the game that went down to the LAST play just two years ago. The Vols played the Tide to the very end and that Alabama team went 14-0 and won the NC. NOBODY expected that game to go down to the last play. That game was supposed to be a blow-out.

What about 1990 in Knoxville, when an undefeated UT team played a 3 loss Tide team that Lee Corso said that morning on ESPN was a bunch of high-school players compared to UT's talent. That news was discussed at length in the Tide's locker room before the game. Final score: Alabama 9-UT 6.

Anything can happen. The football has an odd shape to it and often takes funny and strange bounces..........you never know.


BG

I can actually *feel* the music in my office. Of course all teams do this to try to get ready for the noise, but I'm laughing because the people that work around me are PISSED. Another conflict between athletics and academics.  

Something I heard your head Coach's dad once say: In the 1980's when getting ready for a Bama game with his Dawgs he mentioned his favorite fight song from the time he was growing up in Mobile, Al. to his time in Athens GA. was always the same song.

Just think Vince may jump to his feet tomorrow night when the Million Dollar Band welcomes the Crimson Tide of Alabama onto the field with Vince Dooley's favorite fight song of all time, "Yea Alabama"!!!!



BG

What we need is a better football team.

Well, you knew coming into this season the outcome could very well be 6-6 type of season. Even with the injuries (and they ARE major), the results so far is not far from what most projected. Most said next season would be telling of Dooley's abilities and not this year, which made sense.

If the above is true, then I'm not sure I understand why the board's attitude has dropped so low. I don't know, I guess given the downward-spiral of the past few years, and with the key injuries to Bray and Hunter, events may have you guys feeling a bit snake-bit.  ??????


BG

are about computers!   Oh My!!    :

HATE BAMA!!  HATE BAMA!!  HATE BAMA!!  HATE BAMA!!

Granny is spunky! She was the only one to tell me that everyone should hate Bama Early, and no one else would/will say a thing.! Go Granny!

Also, I've looked at the board this week just hoping there would be some good Tide-Vols discussion, but noooooooo, NADA! NONE! ZERO! NOTHING!!!


You guys need more spunky Vol  posters like Granny around here.........


BG

[Oliver Stone]

but seriously....I did not realize Oliver Stone was on the team. Does WBIR proofread?

"Change is also around on both sides of the ball as Oliver Stone and Alex Bullard have switched spots on the line."


http://www.wbir.com/sports/article/188211/5/Changes-in-the-air-for-some-Vol-players

They've added Oliver Stone to the lineup in case the Vols lose this game. That way Oliver Stone can rewrite actual history anyway he wants, and can make the Vols the victor if he so chooses................. 


BG

nt

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7117069/report-missouri-tigers-application-join-sec-imminent

http://missouri.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1280431

Well, the SEC and the potentially third group of SEC '"Tigers"  better have an agreement that puts them in the SEC East, or we're going to lose our rivalry. Slive has maintained all long that the future expansion should not jeopardize traditions this conference has established.

I hope some of the younger Tide fans, and you younger Vol fans here and elsewhere understand fully this conference was build on the back of the Bama-UT rivalry. That is not hyperbole, that is fact!!!

If we lose this rivalry CelticVol would raise so much hell that Mike Slive would wish he were never born. BTW, I wish to high-heaven he posted here.



BG




      

Appreciate the thoughts IT, but we are gonna beat your butt Saturday anyway.


 

Really appreciate posts like the above after reading some of the "we have no chance" posts and the future may be bleak stuff.    

Cuss us, hate us, and say We WILL BE Back!

Tusk is right (I do know him, and he means what he says), and we have been there and done that. You'll be back since the past is always the best predictor for the future. No doubt in my mine. And you DO have a chance this week. Anything can happen in this series and has over the years.



BG

HATE BAMA EARLY AND OFTEN!!!!!

GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


BG 'I needed to hear that!' Harper

What do you all think?

Basketball, uh.

Well, I think.......... WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO THE 3rd/4TH SATURDAY IN OCTOBER!!!


GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY!!! Look what a few crappy seasons have DONE to you folks!!!!




BG;)

The one thing I want to see moving forward:


Much less orange on the uniforms. Much Less.



BG 'Just a suggestion' Harper ;)

Thanks BG
You hosting a tailgate this year?
I will be coming to the game and I may be bringing Mrs PV this year

No, but at the least maybe we can get together either that Friday night before the game for dinner and drinks, and/or meeting up at the Quad or The Houndstooth for a cold one or two. As we get closer to the game, I'll contact you here by PM and surely we can set something up. Maybe we can get Emeril to FEDX us something good to eat! lol


BG

Just saw this. Big time congrats to you and the Mrs.!


BG

Thanks BG! BTW, how's the QB situation looking?

We really know nothing at this point. Saban isn't releasing the QB's scrimmage stats, and has said both will get playing time in the first few games, or until one separates themselves from the other (There was no real separation during the spring ).

BG

Mostly Bill Dyer and John Ward.  Some of my first memories were reading the Dyergrams on Sunday mornings, then I graduated to listening to John.  The Swamp Rat was my first favorite and yes Emeril the Crossville Comet (and later Blue Angel #2) is still one of my fav RBs (though the raw bacon types in Fayeteville might not share our view ...).

Oh, Mrs PV claims that ReVOLver and certain other orangelife's around here turned me into a ORANGE & WHITE FANATIC.

The Swamp Rat Dewey Warren was great one, too. As I've already said to Emeril, Curt Watson was a truly great short yardage back. Tough as nails. A few names from my Crimson memory of the some of the first Vols I remember: Steve Kiner, Paul Naumoff (I had to look up the spelling) Lester McClain, Jackie Walker, and Bobby Majors.


BG

I am a UT Fan cause my Dad brought me up right and introduced me to the ghosts of Vols past...from Neyland to George Cafego and the boys to Peyton Manning and Tee Martin to today's future stars I have always wanted to emulate a certain RB ffrom Crossville TN who was my first hero in Orange to a large degree.  Yes I am speaking of the Crossville Comet Mr Curt Watson.  I have met Curt (I went to high school with his sister) and always thought Curt was the best fullback/rb for short yardages that has ever played at UT.  He got behind Chip Kell and got you that yard when you needed it.

Curt was a great one, and Chip Kell was pretty decent himself (center, if my Crimson memory serves me).

My favorite Vol is Gary Wright. (look it up) Former FG kicker of some note. I think he is somehow related to Daniel Lincoln.


BG:)

My main purpose for stopping by was to share my sympathy for your truly great coach Pat Summitt. When was the last time you heard a Tide fan say UT's coach was great? Well, she is and we Tide fans have known that for years...a great person too...so classy!

My mother in law has had this problem for  the past few years, and now it appears she is in the latter stages. This thing is so hard on my wife and her family, as it will be on Coach Summitt's family. They are the ones that will really need the support from the UT faithful.

On brighter news, I'm impressed with Mr. Dooley and the way he is handling things in his program. In the long run, it will help your program immensely. Again, color me impressed by this young coach and his willingness to do things the right way.


BG

Note to board: I'm hijacking Emeril Vol and the tailgate and moving it to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for the first game. See yall on the quad! 


PS: Gyros sound fine to me.


BG