Vols: Start Your Day with a Glass of Demonte

The USA Today preseason college football poll is out. It took awhile before I finally stumbled upon Tennessee at #18. On ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio, I listened in to college football preview shows. The hosts on both never stumbled upon Tennessee. And here in Minneapolis, I tuned in a local radio sportstalk show that happened to be discussing the SEC. Georgia, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Alabama and even Kentucky were mentioned.

Tennessee was not mentioned.

It's one thing to be a middle-of-the-pack college football program and annually expect little to nothing in the way of coverage from the national media. When you're Tennessee - top 10 all-time in wins, top five all-time in bowl wins and appearances and second in SEC championships - and you're not even being hinted at, much less being mentioned at all, that's a problem.

Coach Phillip Fulmer began to address that problem by venturing forth into what some might call his Final Frontier: The ESPN studios in Bristol (Conn.). Fulmer went through what they call the "car wash," appearing on "ESPN First Take" and on ESPN Radio's "The Herd" and “Tirico and Van Pelt.’’ Incredibly, he even did a live ESPN.com chat. I know, I know . . . it's all a bit much to fully comprehend at one sitting. So let's all take a moment to relax, catch our breath and try to move forward. BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE . . .

Throw in a few taped appearances for “College Football Live" and "The Hot List" for ESPNews and now, you've got a head coach ready for a kayak trip down the Tennessee River.

Knowing Fulmer's history, it's hard to imagine he initiated the trip to Bristol. Surely, he must have lost at cards to Bruce Pearl and Pat Summitt and when he ran out of chips, they said he'd be square if he did a little UT pub on ESPN.

While I give him credit for getting outside of himself and actually doing the Vols a great service by going up there, he stayed well within The Fulmer Parameters with safe, cushy remarks. Though that's Fulmer, that's where I think he did the program a disservice.

One of the things that's been missing with this program is fire. A little extra juice that actually makes it to an opponent's bulletin board. Someone willing to step out on a limb and say something provocative, or even borderline provocative. Someone like, say, Demonte Bolden?

Did you catch what he said to an ESPN.com writer about Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow at Saturday's media day? “I don’t care about Tebow. Yeah, he’s an All-American, but he’s a regular player. Get him back on the field. You know what I’m saying. I made hits on him last year. This year, I’m going to get back to him a lot quicker."

Now, there was nothing out of bounds with what he said. But considering Tennessee's recent history of "let's play nice," he might as well have been sending missiles across the bow, in front of the bow and at Tebow himself. These were practically fighting words. One wonders if Fulmer, upon learning of the quotes, suspended Bolden for the season.

The comment was a very small facet of media day, but they were words the rest of Bolden's teammates should hear.

A quick sampling of some Vols fans brought reactions nothing short of fear. "Oh I wish he wouldn't have said that. That'll just get Florida more revved up to play us." Another said "Great. I wish Fulmer would rein these guys in."

Are you kidding me? Those kinds of comments are exactly what the Vols have been missing for too many years. I'm not for a moment suggesting Vols players need to act like the Miami Hurricanes of old, showing little to no class for opponents. But there is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. In the case of Tennessee players, what they say is usually just this side of PBS Sprout.

Recent seasons have shown the Vols to be a little less talented than their teams of the mid to late 1990's. But that doesn't mean the cupboard's been bare. Often times, the collective state of mind a team has going into a game can carry it just a bit further than their talent should reasonably allow. I contend that the converse has been the case with UT.

Rather than have a little swagger, rather than throwing a few comments out there and coming out on the field breathing fire and chewing glass ready to back them up, they have gone out of their way to out-nice everyone.

While this might seem fine and dandy to Fulmer and the coaching staff, it often strikes in the face of what makes a great player who he is.

Last year, shots of Florida coach Urban Meyer on the sideline during their game with the Vols seemed to indicate profound joy, bordering on laughing, over beating UT into submission. You almost got the idea he was annoyed the Gators didn't break 60. And leading up to the game, Florida players, though showing respect to the Vols, made it quite clear they fully expected to win the game.

The Vols have tried the Barney method of comments leading up to a game. The "I love you, you love me..." approach. Maybe now is the time to throw out that playbook, along with last season's offense, and begin bringing some heat.

So what if they ruffle a few feathers. So what if they get under the skin of a few players. So what if a rival coach takes issue. This team - this program - hasn't done anything significant in the college football world since 1998. They won't say it publicly, but the coaches know it. They know it only too well.

And let's face it, most of that has to do with what the players do on the field on a Saturday afternoon or evening. But perhaps...perhaps...what they do off the field before Saturday can begin to set the table differently than fans have seen for the past 10 years.

You don't think that matters? Think again. At the highest level of athletics, in any sport, it's often little more than attitude that tips the scales of winning or losing. Individually and collectively, it's the difference between hope and expectation.

It says here a little Demonte will go a long way towards changing the culture of this team - this program.

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.

2008 Vols - Game by Game Predictions

Sept. 1st @ UCLA

Back about the first of the year, this was setting up to be a very good match-up on paper. The Vols had the new QB angle working, Trooper was looking around. Cutcliffe was entertaining the Duke offer. It looked like we might be getting an infusion of new blood into the coaching ranks. Ironically, all of that came to fruition. From a UCLA standpoint, Dorrell was fired. Neuheisel was hired. He picked up Norm Chow, who had been recently fired as Titans OC. Many Vol fans had visions of a Neuheisel/Chow-led offense dissecting a Chavis-defense rail-thin along the DL and not collectively very good in the front seven. But a funny thing happened on the way to the forum(s). UCLA players started dropping like flies. Injuries, suspensions, academics, transfers. The Bruins have had an offseason that they would just as soon forget. That’s not to say that Tennessee is unbeatable in this one. The Vols still have their fair share of questions to be answered. But barring a complete meltdown and UCLA playing way above their heads, the Vols should win this game.

Win (1-0)

Sept. 13^th UAB

UAB is picked to finish dead last in CUSA for 2008. Though there have been some pretty formidable UAB teams come to Knoxville and give the Vols more trouble than they wanted in year’s past – this is not going to be one of them.

Win (2-0)

Sept. 20^th Florida

Florida is actually off the week leading up to this game and many feel that is a decided advantage for the Gators. Truth be told, the Vols will likely use a large portion of their prep work leading up to the UAB game on the Gators. So the off week is a moot point from a strategy standpoint. The harsh reality is that Florida is superior to the Vols and should win this game with ease. Florida gets to warm up two weeks earlier by hosting Miami. They will have seen a whole greater collection of athletes outside of their practice field than the Vols will have seen by the time the Gators come calling. This will be Dave Clawson’s baptism into big-time college football and with more play makers on Florida’s offense this year than last – Chavis and his rag-tag defensive unit will have no answers. Florida. As big as they want to win.

Loss (2-1)

Sept. 27^th @ Auburn

Unfortunately for the Vols, life doesn’t get much easier. The Vols have to travel to Auburn after getting their hats handed to them on national TV a week earlier and attempt to avoid the same. This one is a little harder to figure. Auburn has more talent than the Vols do. The Vols will be smartin’ from their Florida loss. But it would appear that the Tigers will likely be smartin’ from their loss to LSU as well. And if they aren’t, for my money, the Tigers will enter this game undefeated and ranked in the Top 10 easily. The Tigers have a new offense themselves. And I can assure you they will be salty on defense because of Tuberville and the fact that they hired Paul Rhoads in the offseason from Pitt. All things considered, I have to go with Auburn in this one by at least a TD.

Loss (2-2)

October 4^th Northern Illinois

This will be a big coming out win for the Vols. Northern Illinois may be one of the current worst teams in the country. Many reserves will play and many of our fans will feel that the ship has been righted and that we are on our way! Vols win. Big.

Win (3-2)

October 11th @ Georgia

Many people are again making a bigger deal than it really is of Georgia having a week off prior to this one. See UAB above. Except NIU couldn’t beat UAB’s JV squad. The Vols will have an “off week” for this one as well. Many people (mostly orange-clad glasses wearing Vol fans) are predicting a Georgia implosion and that they are vastly overrated. Please don’t count me as one of them. Nevermind that the Vols have won two in a row vs. the Dawgs. While impressive, that was prior to the Dawgs transformation as a team capable of playing as their talent level indicates they should be playing. The 2007 Dawgs went 11-2 in a “rebuilding year.” The Bulldogs return 15 starters from last year and their schedule (though difficult as a whole) sets up nicely for them to enter this contest 5-0 and ranked in the Top 3 in America. Don’t be surprised if they break out the black jersies and their dance moves for this one as well. I think the Vols will make a valiant effort, but come up short at 0:00.

Loss (3-3)

October 18th Mississippi State

Somebody call Mike Hamilton and remind him to not let whoever made this schedule out do it anymore. The Dawgs (Mississippi State – no relation) will stand on the opposing sideline once again this week. The 6^th week in a row that the Vols have played. This is a VERY SCARY game for the Vols. Barring injury at this juncture in the season, MSU returns 8 starters on a defense that was pretty good in ’07. Wesley Carroll played admirable in 2007 after being forced into a difficult situation. But I am not sure if they have grown enough play makers in the offseason on offense to pull a major upset in Neyland Stadium. I will say this much though. They are a grind it out team that will lull you to sleep. And they don’t beat themselves either. If they can get into the 4^th quarter, they will pound a defense into oblivion with their big, strong RB’s. They have the discipline and mettle to close the deal if given the opportunity. I’m not ready to predict the upset here, but won’t be at all shocked if it were to happen. Sly Croom probably gets as much out of what he has to work with as any coach in this league. And there is a good chance that they come to Knoxville 4-2 on the year and believing they are about as good at that point as the 3-3 Vols.

Win (4-3)

October 25^th Alabama

I’ll be danged if we aren’t playing again this week. Mike? Alabama will have tangled with Ole Miss the prior week and their schedule sets up nicely for them to enter the 3^rd…..er…..4^th Saturday In October at 5-2 on the year and ranked. And I wouldn’t say it is out of the question for them to beat Clemson (in a game that I am really looking forward to as a college football fan) to open the year, pushing them to 6 wins. The Crimson Tide returns 17 starters from a 2007 team that finished 7-6 during Nick Saban’s inaugural campaign in T-Town. But hidden somewhere deep within those 6 losses was something that as a predictor of sports involving 18-22 year old kids you have to consider – all 6 were by 7 pts. or less. Folks, that means they were playing pretty competitive football with a roster not nearly as good as the upper tier of the SEC. Now, I’d tell you that they should have been 3-3 in those games given the opponent and using hindsight. Alabama has recruited very well, but using the crystal ball I am not sure at this juncture how many of those young men will be making a significant contribution. I so want to pick the Vols in this one. But much like 1995 in Birmingham, AL, (and in the other direction) I see this game as a symbol of two teams passing as ships in the night and going in opposite directions. I am going with the Tide in a nailbiter.

Loss (4-4)

November 1^st @ South Carolina

You gotta be kidding me! Eight is Enough will take on another symbolic meeting as the Vols travel to Columbia, SC, to take on The Ol’ Ball Coach and the Gamecocks. The Gamecocks fell apart down the stretch in 2007. And the snowball really picked up momentum in Knoxville following the Vols dramatic overtime win on a Daniel Lincoln field goal. The Gamecocks should enter Williams-Brice Stadium sporting a 6-2 record (at best) or 5-3 (at worst). I don’t see them getting by Georgia or LSU and feel that Ole Miss could pull an upset out of the hat. This should be the best OL that Spurrier has fielded in Columbia, an area that has been his Achilles’s heel since assuming the coaching duties at the flagship school in The Palmetto State. Kenny McKinley is explosive at WR, but they have little playing experience beyond that. Mike Davis takes over as a starter for Cory Boyd. Tommy Beecher is the leading candidate to start out the year at QB. Defensively, Ellis Johnson, after his SEC West pinball tour – finally landed in Columbia just in time for the 2008 season. And he’s a nice get for a unit that was decimated by injuries a year ago. Overall the gamecocks return 18 starters and 10 on defense. Spurrier is much maligned by opposing fans and his recent coaching exploits are often unfairly held to the modern day SEC standard established at Florida. But this should be the best team he has fielded at South Carolina from top to bottom. All they are really lacking at this point is adequate QB play. Did I mention that the Gamecocks also get the token week off prior to this game? I believe that the Vols will be too beat up at this point in the year, both physically and mentally, to pull this one out. South Carolina unseats the Vols from 3^rd place in the SEC East and sends a shot across the bow for the future of this series becoming more of a rivalry.

Loss (4-5)

November 8 Wyoming

9 in a row. And I am not talking about wins here. The Vols get a much needed “break” vs. the Cowboys from Wyoming. Vols will win and many will make the participation sheet. And we finally get an Off Weak vs. Bye.

Win (5-5)

November 22^nd @ Vanderbilt

By this point in the season, Vandy’s schedule lends itself to them entering this game at 1-6 (at best) in the SEC. But I am not sold on them winning an SEC game this year. The Commodores have many holes to fill and although I think Bobby Johnson is a good coach and is doing about as much on West End as anyone else could, this is going to be a long year for the Commode Oars. Barring Oral Roberts making a guest appearance at the Southern Baptist Convention @ Memorial Gym and laying hands on the VU football players, the Vols will coast in this one. And the fanbase will suddenly believe that the corner has been turned.

Win (6-5)

November 29^th Kentucky

The 2007 UT @ Kentucky game was one for the ages and provided heart doctors in Tennessee with many new patients and lots of repeat business. Kentucky was a pleasant surprise in 2007. But they’ll limp into this one in classic Cat fashion with 7-8 losses and thankful that Midnight Madness has kicked off basketball season. Vols will big on Senior Day in Knoxville and momentum builds with the fanbase that we are starting to get things on the right path.

Win (7-5)

This will prove to be a difficult year for The Big Orange. I hope my predictions are incorrect. But I don’t see any more than a 1 game swing (i.e. 8-4) barring some catastrophic situations that our opponents have to deal with. We have new starters in key roles, new coaches in key roles, depleted talent, and a lack of depth. But more importantly, I believe that this is the year that we really begin to see the gap between our program and some of the other heralded SEC programs. But the greatest difference of all is that we are now not much better than some of the other mid-tier SEC programs. For the record, here are my W/L predictions for the SEC and order of finish:

East

Florida 12-0 (8-0)

Georgia 11-1 (7-1)

South Carolina 9-3 (5-3)

Tennessee 7-5 (3-5)

Kentucky 4-8 (1-7)

Vandy 3-9 (0-8)

West

Auburn 10-2 (6-2)

Alabama 8-4 (5-3)

LSU 8-4 (4-4)

Mississippi State 8-4 (4-4)

Ole Miss 7-5 (3-5)

Arkansas 6-6 (3-5)

Sheep Dog is a freelance writer for the Vol Blog. He lives in Western Vermont with his wife, children, and their two sheep dogs. He holds a PhD. in clinical psychology from the University of Tennessee and is a proud supporter of the VASF.