I am having trouble reconciling my disappointment since we are exactly where I thought we would be record wise.  I thought 6-6 given our schedule, and now I hope 6-6 given our remaining schedule.  I think my disappointment stems from the fact that we have not been competitive in several of the expected losses, and have frittered away chances to steal one along the way.  Also, I am really disappointed that we cannot run the ball, I talked myself into thinking that our OL would be more influenced by experience than by youth.  Obviously, losing our two best players on offense, and our best player on defense has an impact, but my biggest issue is that we are not improving at any position except LB (IMHO).  I don't recall the last time I stopped watching a UT game before the end, but I did last night. 

"He did do the right thing though, don't get me wrong.  But none of us were present to see exactly what he told JoePa either, were we?"


Does it matter exactly what he told him.  Paterno says the GA was very distraught and told him he witnessed Sandusky in the shower with a boy he estimated at 10 years old and there was (according to Paterno's statement) inappropriate behavior.  If that alone is not enough to trigger Paterno's moral outrage and immediate action to insure the matter is legally addressed, then I certainly have all the answers I will ever need regarding Joe Paterno.

Should be required reading before criticizing Dooley.  Don't mean there is nothing there to criticize, fans always find something to criticize, but IMHO his recruiting classes, while not rated as highly as in the past, will be solid, will be here, and will be SEC caliber players.  He will do things the right way, and he will win.  How much he wins, and whether that is enough to satisfy our fan base remains to be seen, but my money is on the dude in the orange pants.

Exactly where I am.

First six bama plays second half:

1.  McCarron rolls away from pressure and dumps the ball to Richardson at LOS, he breaks tackle and makes long run.

2.  Crossing route that Wagner recognizes and runs with, so-so throw but great layout catch by Hanks.

3.  Sideline pattern to Maze that we have both a corner and a safety within 2-3 yards, perfect throw.

4.  Pressure again, McCarron rolls away and freezes Brewer, Smelly wheels by Brewer and McCarron floats it over.  Great recognition by Smelly, just a really smart and good play by bama.

5.  McCarron runs it in when DB coverage is pretty close to perfect.

6.  Deep throw that was covered about as well as could be expected, but a great throw and catch for TD.

How do you adjust?  We got pressure, we had coverage, they just flat out beat our pressure and beat our coverage.  We were in position to make plays, so were they--they made them, we didn't.  Had nothing to do with scheme or adjustments, had to do with players making plays. 

Long time since I put on the pads, so I don't claim to know much about the game anymore, but I would be interested to hear what adjustments would have prevented the above plays.

The problem with "adjustments" against teams with clearly superior talent is that they can exploit whatever "adjustments" you make.  If McCarron had been as accurate as usual in the first half, they would have dominated that half as much as the second half--he just missed several throws that let us stay in the game with our plan to try and limit what is clearly viewed as their strength--pound the ball. 

If we had a crystal ball and came out second half without stacking the box, all they do is run it down our throats rather than passing it over our heads--pick your poison. 

I thought we did a fantastic job of playing their strength--but they can adjust their strength, they have the athletes and depth to do that--we don't.  I don't think it is fatigue, I don't think it is emotion, I don't think it is motivation, I don't think it is coaching.  I think they are just that much better, faster, bigger, stronger.  Only one way to close that gap, and that is at least a couple of classes away.

I'm thinking Robinson needs to work on his trash talk:  “There were people fighting out there,” Robinson said. “And then (MSU quarterback Chris) Relf is pointing his finger in my face. I said, ‘Y’all, we’re gonna come back out, and they’re not gonna be doing what they think they’re going to do. They have no idea what we’re about to do.’ ”   Huh?



Read more: http://www.macon.com/2011/10/02/1727054/georgia-gets-mad-then-gets-above.html#ixzz1Zisozjzh

Same with both Dyer and Lattimore, they are accelerating to the line, and then looking for seams/creases.  If there are no seams/creases, they are accelerating to impact and beyond.  We have not shown a back that accelerates to the hole, or makes a hole when there isn't one.  To win big in the SEC, gotta have it.

I've been watching the bama gotor game and one thing that is obvious.  Richardson is making runs that would be stopped for losses if it were any back on our team.  He gets 5 - 10 yards where our guys would of been stopped (and were) for 5 yard losses.  We really need to find a back like that.  A good back needs at least one of 3 components.  Speed, power,and vision.  I haven't seen anybody on our team that ranks above average in any of those categories. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16044093/ns/business-consumer_news/t/stay-connected-best-cell-phones-children/#.ToNObtSA0fw

I know AT&T also has a limited access phone, not sure about T-Mobile.

I absolutely buy into his year 0 rationale, and I think he gets 5 of his years to build his program with his recruits, so 6 total. 

That said, he has to show growth in the right direction pretty much annually to keep me at 100%, and I do not define right direction necessarily by wins.  If we are a tough, fundamentally sound, intelligent, spirited football team, I consider that to be the right direction.  Still gotta win, and we have to start winning a few we shouldn't, but I am solid behind Dooley and it would take a lot to make me believe he is not the coach to succeed long term and get us back to the upper echelon of the SEC and therefore the nation.

I really did not see anything to put me off Bray yesterday and still think he will be a major NFL talent if he stays healthy.  He made a couple of ill-advised throws and misread some coverage, but desperate times breed mistakes.  I give him a partial pass because his read times were cut in half having to field the rolling ball.  I think his greatest improvement this year is reading progressions and checking to the open receiver--no time to do that yesterday with the snaps and the rush--find the ball--throw the ball.  I will definitely say that Tyler Bray is the best fielding quarterback we have had.  Brooks Robinson would have been in awe (yeah, I'm old, but anyone who saw Brooks will agree that he is the standard over where the ball gets there quick).

At first I thought "Hal Mumme is coaching high school now?".  But after watching the video, this guy is way yonder smarter than Hal Mumme to the nth.  Really innovative, unbelievably well designed and varied onside kick formations and execution.  I like his mathematical approach, I would like to see the percentages for college games as a comparison.

all the above.  Muschamp will switch it up, especially if we get rolling.  When Bradford was at OK, Texas brought the house, especially in critical downs, other times sat back in two deep.  I expect he will do whatever he thinks will disrupt any rhythm Bray/receivers develop.

Those guys pretty much insure that we will NOT be running the toss sweep with the game on the line, so that alone makes me giddy.

1. Duh!
2. Louisville Cards Basketball
3. Lady Vols Basketball
4. Vols Basketball
5. Colts

Here is what I think:

The Pope should resign, and there is absolutely no reason to continue the traditional selection of a Pope by Cardinals.  The time has come to acknowledge Calipari as the most righteous of men, and having the ear of God.  Elevate him to his rightful position of kentucky basketball coach/part time Pope.

By the grace of God! 

From an old timer, my first in person UT game was the 1959 LSU game, Billy Cannon, #1, defending National Champs, etc.  Therefore, my first heroes were Jim Cartwright and Bill Majors.  Coach Majors later recruited me (lightly recruited) and was at my high school game on Oct 1, 1965.  I remember to this day what a thrill it was to shake his hand.  The next game was bama (yes, we had off week before bama even back then, I am sure bama fans complained about it since that has become part of their tradition) and that was the infamous Snake to the chains pass that allowed us to get out of B'ham with a 7-7 tie.  Two days later, Coach Majors, Bob Jones, and Charlie Rash were in the crash that cost all three their lives.  The next game was Houston with Warren McVea, the black cross game, and all I remember is we won, but there was no joy.  Later Charlie Fulton went down against Ole Miss, and the legend that is the Swamp Rat began.  Dewey Warren is one of my favorite Vols to this day.  At the Georgia Tech game, I had a visit, and my Vol Hostess later became my first wife (not every Vol memory has a happy ending).  In Jan 1999, I called my Dad and my first words were "I didn't know if it would happen in my lifetime".  His were, "I just hoped I would live long enough to see another one".  My hope is that we both live long enough to see yet another.  But if we don't, doesn't matter, we are Vols!

By the grace of God!

And Lance has seen some pretty special linebackers.

doesn't bother me a bit to say that I was one of those who, when Urban Meyer was hired, thought that gimmick offense was about to be exposed by SEC defenses.  Obviously, I was wrong.  I do not like the man, think he is FOS and disingenuous, but his offense worked just as well at Florida because he was able (again giving him credit) to recruit to his needs as well or better than any coach in the SEC.

Muschamp did not have a gimmick defense, and truthfully, I was never overly impressed with Texas defense.  He is, however, a fiery guy with great press and people skills, and if he recruits as I expect he will given his base, he will do fine. 

I sure question his hiring mentality re Weis, I think there is going to be one messy ego crash down the road. 

That Tyler Bray is one controversial dude.  He will provide bulletin board material for every team on the schedule. 

Don't you know the media just hates trying to get an article-lead quote from him, like pulling teeth.  Cool Hand Tyler.

Coca-Cola and Cognac!  That alone should get him kicked off the team, if not out of school.  There just has to be a law against Coca-Cola and Cognac, that is just not right.

Yep, many chances to put it out of reach, and many chances to stop comeback hopes for Japan.  And worst penalty kick exhibition I have ever seen.  That said, as wrapped in the flag as I get for any sports event, I can't help but feel OK for Japan--if an American team had done the same after such a national tragedy, we would have all been saying it was a team of destiny, embodiment of the American spirit, etc.  So congrats to Japan, a team of destiny and the embodiment of Japanese spirit.  And, while I have the flag partially undraped, congrats to Darren Clarke, I know the British Open win means far more to him than it could possibly mean to Dustin Johnson or Phil, plus he is a great guy. 

OK, enough of this crap---USA!  USA!  USA!!