Only 260+ yards at halftime?  He sucks.  At this rate, he won't even reach 600 tonight.

Damn.  That will hurt the per game average.   

I had forgotten about that!

He probably wishes he could forget it too, Stogie. 

And he was not in a bed in a strange apartment, either.   

So, what ever happened to Forrest Davis, anyway? 

he's no Freddie Kitchens!

And thank goodness he wasn't.   

Yep. Don't think there were any major upsets this past week. 

One of the big games this week will be Maryville at Sevier County in a non-district class 6A game.  Those two teams are both unbeaten and ranked 1 and 5 by the AP in 6A this week. 

I'll disagree with those saying to redshirt the freshmen. Here's why. Five years is too long a horizon to plan for. IF either is better than Worley play him. We'll be much better this year, and next year. That's about as far down the road as we need to look.

If neither is better than Worley I suggest we all take up bow hunting...and muzzleloading...and develop an interest in the MLB...and yard work...

Yep.  Unless Worley is going to be the guy next year come hell or high water you have to get one of those guys some meaningful Saturday snaps, too. 

Got to have 2 QBs ready to play. 

I hope you don't mind an outsider's observation. I have never seen so little talent at UT. Kiffiin and Dooley let the program go down talent-wise. I don't think it makes a difference who the Vols start at QB because I do not think you are going to win many SEC games and I do not think you are going to a bowl game. Even if you do go to a bowl game it won't be for a meaningful championship. I also am making an assumption that the other two QBs have talent.

So, if the above is accurate, I just play Worley and Peterman all season and take my lumps and recruit my butt off. Take the short term pain for long term gain. Build a strong foundation by stockpiling the good players that I think UT can get. Do not waste their eligibility this year unless it is absolutely necessary to field a team. I could possibly see, maybe playing one to create a year of separation between them but I am not sure I would.

I realize that that is a hard thing for a fan. We all want to win now. Hell, even when a team goes undefeated it does not please some because they did not have the flashiest offense or a smothering defense etc... However, you can't build a house by putting up the roof before the walls and foundation. The roof will collapse.

You are correct, and many of us have been saying exactly that for a while, now.  The talent level decline began with Fulmer's last 3-4 years, and continued through that idiot Derek Dooley's tenure.

It's going to take Butch 3 full recruiting classes to see that level increase to the point where UT will be able to get back to the competitive SEC level again. 

The team fought to get back into it in the 4th quarter. I'll take that as one of very few positives in the game, as that's something that didn't happen much with Dooley.

Absolutely agree, CO.  A Dooley team would have folded at halftime. 

Well, like the old saying goes, you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shizzle.  Right now our offense is chicken shizzle.  

Our defense seems to be a little better than I thought they might be, but they are still just gizzards and necks.

Our talent level is just too low to legitimately compete in the SEC.  I like the effort, but effort alone can't win games at this level.   

Start Worley, and play which ever one of the freshmen seem to be more ready right now, and from all reports that appears to be Ferguson.  Got to have two QBs ready to play, even in a rebuilding time like we are in right now.  If something happens to Worley, somebody has to be ready down the road when we actually play some "winable" games. 

I'm not questioning the plan at all.  It's just a plan that is going to take 3 full recruiting classes to see results.  Our talent level had fallen that low when he came in. 

We are trying to play an SEC schedule with Sun Belt level talent right now.  One only has to look no further than the QBs on our roster to see that. 

So, Trooper knew how to do something besides waive towels?  He was also a late night taco delivery guy?  Glad he did something to earn his money. 

The bottom line here is that Arian has an agenda. Not an anti-UT agenda, but he simply doesn't care if his alma mater and his coaches' legacy are damaged in the process. He obviously has a philosophical problem with the current setup and thinks that somehow his voice will carry weight. He also doesn't mind stretching the truth on his money/food/housing situation if it will help support his position.

It's selfish and irresponsible on Arian's part, and the UT fans that have stayed in his corner all this time should give some serious thought to leaving it.

Well said, CO.  Like I said, just really disappointed he would go in that direction. 

Even if he did it, why make it public through the media when you know it is a violation that is only going to get UT, and not you - the athlete, in trouble because you are long gone?

Damn.  Just damn.   

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130920/arian-foster-documentary-comments-about-being-paid-at-tennessee/?mobile=no

Yep.  Saw him do it a couple of times while he played for UT, too. 

He's pretty good at it. 

I will be leaving the office at 11:30 today in order to celebrate the last Friday of summer by playing golf. And because that's what I do every Friday.

Thank you. That is all. Carry on.

Last Friday of summer?  Au contraire.  It will be summer in Australia soon. 

Erk Bury.  I loved that guy.   

Anything is possible. But not probable.

The tiglets' only challenges for the rest of the season are Florida State and South Carolina. And Carolina had better stiffen up the defense before that game.

danged rat bastard tiglets.

Quote corrected.   

pulls a Clemson and loses though. Do you think they will run the table. God, I hope not.

They are just good enough to do it if they get a break or two. 

I'd even have to pull for Corch Irving Meyers (go Gata) if they played the Rat Bastards in the BCSCG.  ABtRBs. 

For obvious reasons.   

UT has beaten Austin Peay, who could be the worst team in D1-AA, and Western Kentucky, who lost to South Alabama on Saturday.  

And then, of course, the Oregon debacle.  And it's not just the way Oregon beat UT, but the fact that with the exception of the first quarter UT wasn't even competitive with the Ducks.  

There's really not much one can say to dispute Forde's contention.  All UT can do is play its way back up the SEC food chain.  

Edit:  And one other comment - If Butch's players need something like that to motivate them, then things are a whole lot worse off than any of us realize.  Thinking that stuff like that can "motivate" players is pretty silly.  Words can't increase the talent level, and that's what UT is short on - not motivation.

That Campbell County and Anerson COunty game was one that CC let slip away. The difference was a pick 6 by AC and CC self distructing with about a minute and change left on the ten yard line and then having a 15 yard and a ten yard penalty on consecuative plays. When CC scored to take the lead AC went ona  6 or 7 play drive to retake the lead, but during that drive a CC linebacker could ahve picked off a  pass and took it back. Instead he knocked it down. It was a very good game.

Yeah, I talked to Justin yesterday.  He was disappointed that they didn't win, but he's very pleased with the progress the program is making. 

Like I said, those guys are really doing a good job. 

crushing teams.

Yes, they have been scoring a lot of points, and they should with the teams they have played thus far.  Stacy Carter is a good coach, but he has a reputation of running up the score at every opportunity, earned or not.  In the Crockett game it was 72-0 at the half and he played reserves the entire second half, so I am not going to point the RUTS finger like some have.  Crockett is just awful. 

Honestly, D-B and Science Hill don't have a lot of competition in that part of the state.  Once the playoffs begin they tend to struggle with Knoxville area teams, however. 

Sevier County had a good win over D-B Friday in a non-district game.  They have a very good senior QB in Luke Manning, and Steve Brewer is one of the best football coaches in the state. They look to be the best team coming out of Districts 1AAA and 2 AAA. 

Maryville looks really good again coming from 3AAA and 4AAA. 

Other than when they play a highly ranked team, that's pretty much where UT is going to be in the SEC Network pecking order.  Unfortunately, that's just a reality right now.