Tennessee-Cal Game Day open thread

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:47 AM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

	September 1, 2007, 8:00 p.m. EST TV: ABC Radio:Vol Network XM Radio: 199 Live Stats: CSTV GameTracker Live
No. 20 (BlogPoll)		No. 12 (BlogPoll)

It's here folks. Game Day.

More to come later, possibly, after the lawn gets some attention, but I thought I'd get this posted so y'all could start early if you felt like it.

Leave your pre-, in-, and post-game thoughts below.

Go Vols!

Update [2007-9-1 16:53:1 by Joel]: The Power T is on location and providing updates. I have two already, so . . . bullets!

12:17 p.m. -- True story from this morning: guy in Bay area asked us why we were here, and we said "for the football game." He then asked, "Cal has a football team?" And he was dead serious.
4:14 p.m. -- Tons of orange in downtown Berkeley. Split pretty evenly so far, but we're a bit away from Memorial Stadium.

Update [2007-9-1 18:44:35 by Joel]: 6:43 p.m. Erik Ainge is throwing just fine in warmups. Update [2007-9-1 18:45:34 by Joel]: 6:43 p.m. Oh, and I traded fist bumps with Kirk Herbstreit as he arrived at the stadium. He said he was "neutral" and he had pretty makeup.

Update [2007-9-1 18:57:57 by Joel]: 6:56 p.m. Oh, and no mini-megaphones.

Update [2007-9-1 19:17:32 by Joel]: Forty-five minutes to go, and I just now finished the banner so that it does something other than just sit at all zeroes at kickoff. Plus, I think I may have just gone over my text messaging limit. I know nothing about it, so that could be wrong, but that may be the end of the text messages from The Power T. If I do get any more, I'm putting them in the comments. So hit the comment link and keep hitting refresh. So you down under. Go vols!

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Comments

I'm pumped

I'd like to see a repeat of last year. Longshore couldn't do anything last year, I think he had less than a hundred yds passing. Hard to stop DeSean Jackson, even if you double up you're leaving Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins open. Tough situation. New starters on the line and secondary. Should be fun!

by primetime 07 on Sep 1, 2007 3:23 PM EDT reply actions

Good luck guys!!!

Would love to see a repeat of last year's amazing performance; but a simple win would be good enough.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 5:52 PM EDT reply actions

Follow up

I say "good enough" meaning, of course, that I'm rooting for the conference. K, just clearing that up.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

IFTIT: Cal game

To be honest, I had a hard time getting fired up for this game until today. It felt like the game would be somewhat meaningless. There's no conference standing at stake, and as far as national reputation goes, whatever happens in the Swamp in two weeks will go a lot further in determining UT's rep than what happens in Berkley tonight. Then two things happened:

Michigan lost to Appy State, proving there is no such thing as a meaningless game.
Every single "pundit" out there said the same thing: "Last year, I picked Cal and they disappointed me, so I'm picking them again."

Wha? It makes no sense. Cal has never proven they can play football at the highest level, Tennessee has been doing it for the better part of 115 years or so. And yet, we're stuck playing Rodney Dangerfield, again. I made an official pick this morning at FanHouse and I'll do it again here: Tennessee 28, Cal 24; on the basis of Tennessee being a more physical team who "gets it." It, of course, being how to play football.

Go Vols.

It's time.

It's Football Time In Tennessee!

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 7:03 PM EDT reply actions

[Great or Foolish] minds think alike

That's hilarious. I made the very same pick on the Bleacher Blogger thing yesterday. We'll either be crowing or eating crow five hours from now.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, man

I just read your FanHouse article and had not realized you closed it the same way I closed the above comment. Scary.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions

From The Power T

Coquitt punts are meh. Rocky Top count is over 10 already.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 7:18 PM EDT reply actions

What happened

. . . to the Wake/BC ref they're carting off the field?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 7:20 PM EDT reply actions

Ready?

Sitting in the cockpit, pizza in the belly. Pre-game show winding down.

Ready.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 7:54 PM EDT reply actions

From The Power T

The PA announcer is awful.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:01 PM EDT reply actions

Is this MTV or football?

Horrible. What is this?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

This opener is awesome

Seriously, these shiny rock stars are just pumping me up for football. WTF? This is terrible.

Oh wait, there's 50 Cent. I know who he is.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:05 PM EDT reply actions

Cue it up, folks

Right after I post this, I'm typing in the magic words and will let them fly when the toe meets leather. Play along, won't you?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

SEC Update for you guys

Not sure if you're doing the double-TV thing, but Okie State just scored to make it 21-14 Georgia, and K State has had a decent time moving the ball on Auburn, back across midfield with a 3-0 lead.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:09 PM EDT reply actions

IFTIT

It's football time in Tennessee!

Woo!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:15 PM EDT reply actions

Boy

Guy's pretty excited about making a tackle five yards down field on first down, huh?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:16 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh.

Throwing motion? Please?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:19 PM EDT reply actions

Ugh

Looks like you've got more of a battle ahead of you than last year.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Who?

Who should have blocked him?

Only Foster was in the backfield, and he had picked up another. Maybe Ainge just took too much time.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Woo!

Nice hit, Foster!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

From The Power T

Cal PA playing sound effects while we're at the line of scrim.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:27 PM EDT reply actions

So much for Ainge's pinky

That was a BEAUTIFUL pass he just floated in there.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:28 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah . . .

. . . and so much for Ainge going into a funk after a mistake.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions

TD, Foster!

Woo! Nice moves.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

Whew

Now you can pretend that first drive didn't happen. Back to square one.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Let's . . .

. . . pretend that one didn't just happen, too.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions

That . . .

. . . is not a good sign. Interior defense looks too much like last year.

So far.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:37 PM EDT reply actions

Woo!

That run started with me starting to type "Arian's too slow to run back kickoffs."

Never mind.

Woo!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:49 PM EDT reply actions

TD, Hardesty!

Answers.

Cal's serve.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

Looks like...

...you guys will win if you just get ONE stop all day, and commit no more turnovers.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

HAHAHAH

I hate hippies.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 8:54 PM EDT reply actions

Brent . . .

. . . breaks out the TREEHUGGER!

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 8:55 PM EDT reply actions

Bleh

Blehk. ack. uhg.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:07 PM EDT reply actions

Oops

That stuff about the needing just one stop all game, nevermind.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 9:10 PM EDT reply actions

whew

atta boy, brit

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 9:14 PM EDT reply actions

hmm

we still own the 3rd quarter, right?

right?!

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 9:15 PM EDT reply actions

Nice

Really nice call.

Perhaps serviceable receivers will be enough.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

How did he get that wide open?

Oh, right, this is Cal's defense...

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 9:23 PM EDT reply actions

Oh yeah.

TE catches a TD pass. Woo.

Tied again. Let's get in front of these guys.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:25 PM EDT reply actions

you know...

the offense looks fantastic.

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 9:26 PM EDT reply actions

by the way

i'm a long time reader, and i am watching this game all alone. i have a 12-pack of beck's and internet service.

so just smack me on the hand with a ruler if i talk too much.

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

Still looking for the defensive line.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

trivia question...

BOOOOOOOOOOOONE!

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 9:28 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm.

I thought it was in Virginia somewhere. Just east of Bristol? I don't know. Should look it up before I hit post, but won't.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:30 PM EDT up reply actions

"g" is for "geography"

You're the man. Geo-man.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

McCoy!

Nice shot on the ball carrier.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:31 PM EDT reply actions

Mayo!

Nice shot on the ball carrier.

Now if we could just erase the play in between those two.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

Defensive line, anyone?

Anyone?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:34 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, no

Hefney's down. Not good.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Hefney goes out

Four inexperienced guys in the secondary.

Exploited.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:46 PM EDT reply actions

Well

Holding them to a FG is kind of a big deal.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

yeah

some defense might be nice for the 2nd half.

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 9:50 PM EDT reply actions

Time for a special from Chief

John Chavis should lay into his defense at halftime.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 9:51 PM EDT reply actions

hef

oh man, i hope hefney comes back.

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 10:00 PM EDT reply actions

If not . . .

. . . we don't have a chance.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Halftime stats

	Tennessee	Cal
Total Yards	201	202
Passing Yards	171	153
Rushing Yards	30	49
Total Plays	37	30
Penalties/Yards	1/0	4/32
Turnovers	1	0
Time of Possession	15:42	14:16

We knew our secondary might give up 153 yards passing, but our offense only getting 30 yards rushing?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:04 PM EDT reply actions

By the way . . .

. . . here are my notes from a post I didn't get to this week:

Uh-oh stats:

DeSean Jackson ran four kickoffs back for TDs? Plus Britton Colquitt's quad.
http://tennessee.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=707342

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:16 PM EDT reply actions

Let's go D

Defense

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:18 PM EDT reply actions

We continue . . .

. . . to underestimate their speed.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

D needs to wake up

They're executing well on offense, you have to hand it to them.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep

They're good.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:28 PM EDT up reply actions

FOSTER!

Ride him the rest of the way.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 10:30 PM EDT reply actions

Yes

We can't get away from him. The more time we keep the ball, the fewer stops our defense will need to get.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Go on four

. . . and . . . time out.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

. . . and . . .

. . . shotgun? Incomplete. Can we stop their offense? I'd bet not.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Any takers?

No?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, that's one way

Does two bobbled snaps count? Hefney's not returning punts, so must be out. What's the word?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

More Physical Team

I forget which team that was? Who gets it?

by Poor Little Cal on Sep 1, 2007 10:45 PM EDT reply actions

Well that was timely

That would be us last year and you this year, except that our guy leans forward without his helmet. So that's something.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Word

Word.

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Okay, there's another 7

This is doable. But we need a stop.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:52 PM EDT reply actions

The frustration

I'm loving this offense. This offense will win in the SEC. But can we make a stop?

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

There you go!

Whew. I don't know what the hell you CAN do on defense to change things, but Phil's getting paid to figure that out. So do it!

One stop and you can have all the momentum back, even with the 10 point deficit.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

Solution

Is it too late to recruit some new d-tackles?

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

NICE

That was as good as you could have hoped. No need to press at all on this drive.

And I agree w/ Corn, your offense has very few problems.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

No real complaints

But we will need to stretch the field at some point.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

There's one stop

Offense must keep doing what it's doing. Once we field the punt.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Can we throw . . .

. . . just one over the top?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 10:59 PM EDT reply actions

Nice, Brown!

Good catch, knew where he was and where he needed to be, and got the first down. Looked like a goal line jump over the pile. Nice.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:00 PM EDT reply actions

Over the top . . .

. . . uh, never mind.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:01 PM EDT reply actions

4

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 11:04 PM EDT reply actions

FROSH KICKER!

Lincoln is a Cadillac!

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

Daniel Lincoln

hits a three. Lead down to seven.

Got another stop? Is it Johnny Long time?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

Big third down coming

Very big.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:14 PM EDT reply actions

We hold them . . . but . . . a flag

But it's on Cal. Whew.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Sometimes Kirk sounds like Bill Clinton

Anyway, that sound you hear is the massive sigh of release coming out of the state of Tennessee on that formation call!

In other news, TD Auburn with 2 min left puts em up 16-13 pending the XP

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

What kind of 3rd down call was that??

That was atrocious...

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Argh. First drive-killing penalty

Bunch of new guys in the lineup on this drive. Sort of odd. One of them false starts and another doesn't run through the route.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

Plenty of time...

but pressure's on the D

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Which falls like a house of cards.

Ugh.

by CornFromAJar on Sep 1, 2007 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions

. . . followed by a momentum-swing

Lead back to 14.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

Two straight horrific 3rd down calls

Defense aside, there's going to be a lot of heat about those calls.

by GeauxTigers on Sep 1, 2007 11:35 PM EDT reply actions

That doesn't look good

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:45 PM EDT reply actions

Awful

This is absolutely horrible.

Oh, but he's moving his left arm.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:50 PM EDT up reply actions

damn

this is a trip i'm wishing we hadn't taken.

here's hoping x. mitchell can walk that one off sometime soon.

by davyg on Sep 1, 2007 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

We have nothing deep

We need something deep.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

Are we really punting?

Really? Down by 14 w/ 1:30 left?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 1, 2007 11:57 PM EDT reply actions

And . . .

. . . we're out.

Props to the Bears.

Prayers for the X.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 2, 2007 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

Well, at least it's not a conference loss

Better luck the rest of the way, guys

by GeauxTigers on Sep 2, 2007 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

Well,

In keeping with RTT's family-friendly theme, let me say: darn it to heck, the freaking stunk. Tedford is a butthole, and the whole state of California can rot in hades. Freak California all the way to heck, those freaking freakers.

Hippies.

Go Vols.

by CornFromAJar on Sep 2, 2007 12:08 AM EDT reply actions