Making Average Look Easy

In mid-March just east of Dana Point in Southern California, the swallows of San Juan Capistrano return home. As every Autumn approaches, the green leaves of summer begin their journey to magnificent shades of purple, red and orange. And with the end of summer, we also welcome the arrival of a new college football season.

For fans of the Tennessee Volunteers over the past few seasons, that arrival has generally meant suffering through too many games like the one against UCLA in the Rose Bowl Monday evening. The only difference with this one was the Vols didn't follow their usual script. They didn't play down to an overmatched team only to pull out an unimpressive victory in the 4th quarter. No, they managed to extend the game into overtime before finally securing their 27-24 loss.

I've never been a football player or a coach. But no different than going to movies, you don't need to be a critic to have an opinion. All you need is a set of eyes and a reasonable amount of objectivity to go along with the passion you have for your favorite team. That said . . .

Why does the Tennessee football program, no matter who's playing or coaching, make a habit of turning games against overmatched opponents adventures into absurdity?

UCLA entered the game starting their third-string quarterback against the Vols. Throw in injuries to other key personnel and it's amazing former Bruins quarterback and new head coach Rick Neuheisel didn't suit up. This was a game that shaped up to be a Tennessee rout. Even ESPN, The Great Satan in the view of many Vols fans, called for the Vols to make a major statement; a beat-down on a team that looked to stand virtually no chance against a bigger, faster and much more talented Vols team.

Think again. This is Tennessee, not USC.

As so often happens, the Vols played the part of perfect opponent. If this program has been consistent in their inability to keep up with other SEC programs that have long-since passed them, LSU and Florida come to mind, it also remains one of the most frustrating examples of making an inferior team feel darn good about themselves. And make no mistake, UCLA is a decent team but they're not Georgia. Or Florida. It's doubtful they're even South Carolina.

But on Monday night in the Rose Bowl, they were a team that played with purpose, fire, focus and a will to win that broke the Vols far earlier than overtime, or even the 4th quarter.

Logic suggests this UCLA team should have been put away by halftime had the Vols simply played to the level of their talent. But if you follow the Vols, you know logic often needs to be thrown out of the equation faster than their offensive line picks up a procedure penalty.

Fans refusing to take off the blinders will insist this was a tough, hard-fought game; that it was unfortunate the Vols just couldn't pull it out in overtime. And that's tantamount to saying the 59-20 loss to Florida really wasn't all that bad when you look at the film.

Certainly, coach Phillip Fulmer will be looking at the UCLA film. What he'll see will be the same Vols mess the rest of America saw.

For far too many years, this is a football team - a football program - that makes too many dumb plays, too many mistakes and squanders too many opportunities. The list of games where UT was flat-out fortunate to win, even though they should have buried their opponent, include Vanderbilt ('07), Kentucky ('06), Air Force ('06), UAB ('05), Memphis ('05), Vanderbilt ('04'), Kentucky ('04), Vanderbilt ('00) and Memphis ('99) to name just a few.

The UCLA game now stands on its own list. This wasn't one that got away from the Vols. This one ran away from them, laughing all the way back to Westwood.

UCLA deserves every accolade thrown their way after this victory. During the second half, it was the Bruins that looked like a team ready to compete for the SEC East championship. The Vols? Except for the occasional flash of brilliance - and I'm using that word loosely - they seemed more in line with a middle-of-the-pack team from the Mountain West Conference.

Prior to Monday night, there were fans and writers suggesting a 10-win season was easily within reach. Anything's possible, but based solely on what transpired in Pasadena how realistic do wins against Florida, Auburn, Georgia and Alabama really seem? How about South Carolina? Kentucky?

When future schedules are put together, and keeping in mind the last two west coast vacations to Cal and UCLA, perhaps the Vols should look for opponents a little east of the California border. Maybe hook up with Utah State or New Mexico. Logan and Albuquerque are really quite nice. There are plenty of good restaurants, beautiful scenery and some good tourist destinations for Vols fans making the trip . . .

And playing the Aggies and Lobos should prove to be very competitive games.

CGabriel is a radio talk show host, freelance writer and voiceover artist. A native of Chicago, he makes his home in Minneapolis with the three loves of his life: His beautiful wife and two daughters.