Funny how John Ward could completely flub a call, and it becomes one of his signature moments- but Kessling does the same thing all time and can't get any love.  

That's because Kessling does it SO MUCH.   

Well that's disappointing.  I thought Katy Perry was going to sing "I kissed a girl" and well, you know.   

Yep, that plus the fact that the other team sees who is coming on to the field, as well.  It won't take them long to figure out who is on the field and what "package" is on the field and adjust accordingly. 

There are no gimmicks that are consistently successful in the SEC.  The players are too good and the coaches are too smart to fall for that more than once. 

Adjusting to the package is one thing, adjusting to the play called by the D is another.  You could have the same personnel execute a blitz or drop back in coverage.  You might even try to associate a package with a particular play early in the game only to change it late. 

It seems to me that coaching will determine how successful or not the package approach is.  I would not call it a "gimmick".  The NFL does it that way all the time.

An example of how NOT to do it....put Leake in at QB and the whole WORLD, let alone stadium, knows he is going to run it.   

yeah we knew, that was Burlsworth that stepped on him.  Shoulda gone shotgun, that's all i'm sayin

Let's not forget that Burlsworth was pushed.  Can't recall who, but he was from Mississippi and later got injured, I think.

06 UF game pick six called back for illegal hands to the face. We score there and have 2 or 3 score lead can't remember exactly and doesn't play for a NC that year.

GO VOLS! 

Good one.  That game let the Urban-Meyer-Tim-Tebow demon out of the bottle.

I would say 1990 block by bammer in Neyland.  Another one is Ainge's first int in 2007 to cost us the SECC.  We may still lose that game, but it would have been much tougher.  Cody's second block also sucks, and I don't care if bammer wins the MNC or not, I just wanted to beat them that day.

Bullock has a strong leg, but I'm really surprised we offered at this time.  His only other offer so far was Navy.  With limited numbers to give this year, and lots of needs to fill, it seems to me like this one could have waited.

On the other hand, the fact that we offered and accepted a commitment now suggests to me that one of the kickers currently on scholarship may not be come next fall. 

If only Lincoln had never been on schollie....

I rarely if ever criticize a player per se, but I make an exception for him.  Bad, bad, bad, BAD kicker for a school like UT with the kicking tradition we have.  He cost us at least 4 games, including perhaps bammer in 2009.

I love September 1, myself, but August 1 is an improvement over July 1

It's true, and rumor is that Gus Mahlzon will be hired to replace him.

Maryville High QB Patton Robbinette has verbaled to North Carolina.  He is the kid who scored a perfect 36 on the ACT, and has in the neighborhood of a 4.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale.  

Would have liked to get malzohn at ut.  Not sure he makes the transition to Hc  but I have said it before ... he does not get enough credit for cam newtons success.   Cam is a great talent but Gus worked wonders WITH NOTHING the year before.   I predict that can struggles more than anyone thinks in the NFL and that if Gus stays at auburn this year their o is better than expected...again.

It's also 4 out of 10 commits that are from GA, which is notable by itself. I looked back at previous years in Rivals, and we got 7 a year ago w/ Dooley and 7 the year before w/ Kiffin. The previous 9 years under Fulmer we never signed more than 4 out of GA. This could be interpreted a number of ways-- Fulmer wasn't getting it done in GA after Richt showed up, or  Richt's starting to lose his grip on the GA talent, or perhaps both. Either way, history tells us that Georgians can make awfully good Vols.

I'm pretty sure Dooley has asome good ties to Georgia.   

Also, here is a lengthy article by the ESPN Omsbudsman, who does claim that ESPN screwed up it's coverage of the James-Leach affair during the Alamo Bowl:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=ohlmeyer_don&id=4844048

He also talks about the Bobby Knight comments on Calipari.

I wrote an angry email to ESPN, and they responded by linking me to this:

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/6781816/bruce-feldman-saga-espn-marked-bad-decisions

They claim he was not suspended, FWIW. 

Hey I didnt say it was good or bad that Fulmer left.  I DID say that 2008 probably goes a lot differently without the Arian fumble in that UCLA game, which I was at by the way. 

I am speculating that maybe we go 8-4 instead of 5-7 and Phil holds on to his job.

I do have to say that his replacement could hardly have done worse, but we can all pray the worst of it is over.  Onward and upward from here, I say.

Maybe so, but I hope you are wrong.  It would seem the NCAA would want to get it out of the way prior to the season also.  But at least the bottom line is that it will come sometime near the beginning of the season at least. That's probably about the best time for it to happen.  At least we won't hear about it all summer.

I still have not even bothered with Netflix, perhaps because I am VERY causual renter of movies.  Just a handful a year.  The streaming option is attractive for catching up on a few shows I missed, but right now thats a future goal.

I am still working on getting a wireless router and changing internet providers.  Next on the list is a sound system upgrade.  Then I will choose between updating my gaming system or getting netflix.

So many entertainment options, so little time. 

Bray will be a top 10 pick if he continues to progress, AFTER THE 2012 season. There's already a mock draft in 2013 that has him as the #1 pick. He has the tools to do it.

A 2013 draft projection?  LOL.  I think that proves my point more than anything.  Good grief, do you also believe tech analysis can actually predict future stock prices? 

Seriously though, I will believe Bray when he faces a level of defense somewhat higher than "vapor".

I can't recall exactly when the COI meeting was.  I think maybe early June?  News reports at that time said 6-8 weeks after the COI meeting is a typical timeframe for the penalties to be announced.  For reference, USC had their COI meeting in December 2009, Carroll bolted in late January, and well, you know the rest.      (here is where I insert an obligatory fizzle YOU KIFFIN!   ).

Okay, I looked it up.  The COI meeting was June 12.  6-8 weeks would be sometime between August 1-15, which reminds me of my comment at the time...that it will probably come right smack in the middle of preseason practice.   

I guess that at least gets it out of the way early.  That also leaves a whole lot of time for the recruiting impact to be washed away by a highly successful season.   

"@schadjoe: Spurrier says Slives multiyear scholarship idea "is a terrible idea."

"@Andrew_Gribble: Spurrier said South Carolina spent about $12,000 on recruiting services last season. UT spent $177,697."

"@schadjoe: Spurrier quipped "we operate pretty cheaply. I see Mississippi State has a jet airplane out there. They've got all kinds of $ at Miss St."

NOt bad, but he is FOS saying USC spent 12K on recruiting services.  GMAFB.  I would guess a typical trip for one coach to see one athlete costs at least $300-400, more if he flies.  And how many recruiting trips did they take?  Ridiculous. 


Of course, "recruiting services" may mean what is paid to outside consultants, not what they spent on recruiting overall. In which case it makes sense.

I voted for Cali, because I saw an article a couple years ago that said Cali had the greatest number of HS football players in the NFL.  Texas was second and Florida third.  I do think La was 4th, but it may have been either Georgia or Ohio.

The question is, who here would be a Colts fan if he was no longer a Colt?   I'm admittedly a Peyton fan, myself... Secondly to Dallas.

I personally can't imagine him playing for anyone besides Indy.

Me.  I spent most of my childhood growing up about 50 miles from their stadium and have been a fan since they moved to Indy.  Peyton has admittedly made me a BIGGER fan though.

I can't see the Colts letting him go, at least not yet.  IMO he IS the franchise at this point in time, and is wildly popular with the fans.  He is only in his early 30s.  Five years down the road, he might get traded or more likely retire, but IMO he has 5-6 good productive years left.  No way do they trade him.

This is true. Bray was also an underrated prospect. If he blows up this year as we hope, he's gone after 2012 on his way to the draft...

That would be great, but I don't see it happening.  I don't mean to imply you thought it was likely, because I am pretty sure you did not, I just wanted to comment on Bray's prospects.

To which, given how incredibly soft the defenses were at the end of last year, I am still in wait and see mode.  In some of our games a HS D might have been more of a challenge.

Obviously I want him to do well, but my expectations are dialed down a notch.  Let's see if he can get it done against the gators in gtown and then I might be an optimist.

But at this point I think it highly unlikely he will ever be considered a prospect to go pro early.  I would LOVE for him to prove me wrong though.   

Dang, thought they had it.  The first goal by Japan should never have happened.  As a person who has played D in soccer, the most ELEMENTARY thing is "never clear the ball towards the goal" but that's the exact stupid thing our defender did.  She might as well get credit for an assist.

Oh well, it was a nice run by our lady team.  Better luck next time.

No matter what, I can look forward to several years of Alex Morgan playing.   

http://www.thesportsbrewery.com/xyz/other-sports/soccer-other-sports/i-have-found-a-reason-to-watch-the-u-s-womens-world-cup-i-give-you-alex-morgan

"...the Horns are probably being more aggressive and less subtle than anyone at the remaining 9 Big Twelve schools imagined."

LOL!  No, really?  The texas longhorns?  Surely you jest!

I attended a party this past New Year's Eve on the other side of town.  It was in MADISON, which will mean something to local drivers.   

I got stopped on one of the local 4-lanes as I was turning left in a lane that ONLY turned left (a T-intersection with TWO left turn lanes).   I had seen the officer approaching me in the opposite lane and also saw him pull up behind me at the light.

He pulled me over after I turned left.  I need to add the detail that it was POURING DOWN RAIN.  He asked for my registration and I could not find it and he stood there and got soaked.  Then he went back to his car.

He then wrote me THREE TICKETS.  One for not having my registration, one for "failure to dim high beams" and one for "failure to use turn signal" as I executed the left turn (in a lane that ONLY turned left!!!).

Let me add that I had been at a Church party, and had not HAD A DROP of alcohol, and was proud to tell him so.

It was immediately obvious that he was simply pissed that he had to stand out in the rain early in the AM of New Year's Day (about 12:15 AM to be exact...it was a CHURCH PARTY, lol, everyone went home right after New Year's.) and was taking it out on me.

I disputed all three tickets.  First, on the registration, it's standard that you simply show up on the court date, show them your replacement registration (which is free at the courthouse) and they dismiss the charge.  Let me say though, that he had radioed in my license plate and KNEW my registration was okay!  This law is a relic of a bygone era and should be modified, IMO.  But whatever, either way it was no big deal.

On the failure to dim it was written on a four-lane road in POURING RAIN and I felt the high beams were necessary to even see the road!   This one was fun.  I actually bothered to read the law, and there was a LEGAL DEFINITION of what high beams constitute in the state of Alabama. Specifically, your lights have to illuminate something no less than TWO HUNDRED FIFTY FEET down the road in NORMAL ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS and IN TOTAL DARKNESS.  The place where the ticket was written had VERY BRIGHT STREET LIGHTS and it was POURING DOWN RAIN!   Furthermore, I had been involved in an accident in November (FTR, not one that was my fault  ). Someone pulled out in front of me when they should not have and I hit them (forutnately at a low speed), but my point is that there had been work on my car in early December at a body shop, and MY BRIGHT LIGHTS WERE NOT EVEN ADJUSTED properly.  LOL!  There are actually bubble levels on the headlights themselves that showed they were pointed way too far at the gound.  I even took my car out and tested it, and the high beams only went about 150 feet.  It was a SLAM DUNK.  That one was dismissed.

As for the turn signal, I thought I DID use one.  But even if I had not, I was prepared to argue that I didn't need one under the circumstances (no where to go but to the left!).  The officer stated that he had video evidence, so I asked to see it, and if it had showed that I did NOT use my turn signal then I *probably* wasn't going to fiight it (I doubt the judge would buy the "didn't really need it" argument, no matter how true it was).   Plus, the prosecutor had the other two tix to use as leverage.  He offered defensive driving for the turn signal and outright dismissal of the other two.  I took it.

I might not have bothered with the defensive driving, but I am looking for a new car and don't want my rates spiking up.

Okay this is very long...sorry for that, but it was complicated.  But here is what I think.  THe cop was an ahole abusing his authority, and I have HONESTLY thought about suing him AND the City of Madison for violating my Constitutional rights.  There is in fact an Amendment that says we are not to be subject to "unreasonable search and siezure".  I think the officer was VERY unreasonable.  I could decide to be unreasonable and SUE THEIR ASSES OFF.  So far I have not, but I am keeping my options open.   

UT has no players on the preseason coaches' All-SEC 1st team, 2nd team or 3rd team. Malik Jackson is on 1st team defense and Prentice Waggner is 3rd team defense, making Tennessee the least-represented team in the conference.

Good. I'm glad the rest of the league is overlooking this team.

I assume the first part means "on offense".  I am pretty surprised at that.  I think we have an OL or two that should at least be third team.

Being underrated is a VERY good thing.  Let em!

Well I didn't think it would be that difficult of a question for an Aubie to answer, so I did some quick googling and it does appear that Auburn came under investigation (the latest round, anyway) during Chizik's regime.

Now, you go out and try to find a UT fan that thinks we don't deserve being "eyed" by the NCAA after all of Kiffin's shenanigans.  Reasonable fans I know felt dirty at the time and still do.  While he was here, when and if Kiffin would complain about how the NCAA taking a look into his backyard is not fair.. I personally would find that hilarious.  Why?  He brought it on himself.  Now I'm not comparing UT's violations to AUB's alleged violations and I'm not comparing Kiffin to Chizik, I'm just giving you my opinion on the "White and Orange" picture you painted.  Chizik is responsible for the Aub ship at the end of the day.  And if the investigation began under his watch, I find it quite ironic that he is crying to the NCAA about how their investigation is inconveniencing him.  Cry me a river.

Dooley is an entirely different matter.  Dooley is having to play the hand he was dealt.  He knew what he was walking into, but he bears no responsibility for the things UT's fb program is feeling heat for.

Ive said it before, I'll say it again.  I think Kiffin to Chizik is a good, though imperfect analogy in terms of what a fan IMO should think or feel.  When Kiffin was here I supported him out of necessity.  But as each slimy accusation was made, I was reduced to HOPING that there was nothing to it.  The fan part of me said "either there is nothing here or it's relatively minor".  Meanwhile the objective part of my brain was really worried.

I am looking on from the outside, but if I was an Aubie, given all the crap that was around Cameron, his attitude, and the fact that he was the key to the success of my team, I would be VERY worried.  I might put a brave face on in public, but deep down inside I would feel that there was a high probablity that the other shoe would drop any day.  I would NOT feel good about it.

Thus I am a bit puzzled that Aubies would want to defend Chizik publically.  I never even attempted to defend kiffin's bs, I just wanted it to blow away.  In fairness, I did occassionally post that most of what came out about Kiffin was secondary or otherwise seemingly minor violations and I still think that.  But even then, there is that creeping feeling of dread that maybe the worst has yet to come out.  With Kiffin, who knows????

There is similarly a lot of smoke around Auburn.

But what I really want to know is, given the UNNATURAL SUCCESS of satan in ttown recruiting, why isnt there more attention  there?  The argument is that satan is simply a gifted recruiter.  BS.  I have heard very solid stories from local aubies about how the players are being bought and paid for by satan's minions.  There is plenty of smoke.  Maybe the NCAA just doesnt want to get sued again?  Or perhaps they are worried that some crazed bammers will come after them with guns.  Who knows.