Tennessee-Arkansas State game day open thread

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 2:31 PM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Football

	September 22, 2007, 7:00 p.m. EST TV: VideoSeat PPV Radio: Vol Network XM Radio: 232 Phone Broadcast: TeamLine Live Stats: GameTracker
NR (BlogPoll)		NR (BlogPoll)

Oh, no. There's a football game today? Already? It seems that all we've done for a week is talk about how bad the Florida loss was and whether coach Fulmer and the Tennessee coaching staff will survive. If the football team has done the same thing, we could really be in trouble tonight.

But you know what? This could be a good day for the Vols. First, our team might just show some signs of life. Then, our SEC foes could have rough days. Georgia could lose its second SEC game today at Alabama (7:45 p.m. EST, ESPN). Kentucky could lose its first SEC game when it plays at Arkansas (6:00 p.m. EST, ESPN2). Steve Spurrier will almost certainly suffer his first SEC loss against LSU (3:30 p.m. EST, CBS). At the end of the day, everybody in the East (except Florida) could have one SEC loss, and Georgia could have two. And Florida does still have to play Auburn (okay, nevermind), LSU (!), Kentucky (?), Georgia (?), Vandy, and Steve Spurrier (?).

And I know it seems like an annual September event, hoping Tennessee will do better, the rest of the SEC East falters, and Florida suffers some calamity, but you play the hand you're dealt. So, Go Vols and Go Opponents of the Rest of the SEC East!

This week's winner of the Hail Mary Haiku:

The Indians catch
Tennessee on the rebound.
Trail of Volun-tears?

I'll be in and out, disappearing from 4:45 p.m. EST and reappearing right around kickoff. Leave your pre-, in-, and post-game thoughts below.

Update [2007-9-22 14:35:53 by Joel]: Oh, and one more thing. Anyone horrified at the idea of a Tennessee special teams player giving up shouldn't give up as a fan, right?

Update [2007-9-22 16:28:7 by Joel]: Bonus widget!

Update [2007-9-22 19:26:52 by Joel]: Removed the widget. It wasn't a very good one.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

What are u smoking

What are u smoking? I don't know if you've watched our 2 losses but it will take more than the other teams in the east falling for there to be light at the end of the tunnel. It's time for a change. No more mediocrity. It's sad that we've slipped from the times when a 3 loss season was a bad season and now a 3 loss season is considered a turn-around. We need need new blood and a fresh start.

by jwogan on Sep 22, 2007 3:11 PM EDT reply actions

Fine

We need to improve, no doubt. Me, I don't care how we do it. Today and the rest of the season with our current coaches, or at the end of the season with someone else. But we're all for improvement, right?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Are we worse than Ole Miss?

But you certainly have a point when Ole Miss is playing Florida so much better than we did.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Ole Miss just pulled to within 3

77 yard TD and a two-point conversion. They're down 24-27 to Florida going into the fourth.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 3:18 PM EDT reply actions

And...

Syracuse, yes Syracuse football, is beating Louisville by 2 scores late in the fourth, and Ball State continues to lead Nebraska in the about half way through the fourth. If we beat Ark. St. are we back in the top 25?

Ainge in Orange and the amazing 7 yard route runners, coming to a campus near you!

by Volorado on Sep 22, 2007 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

Right now, Ole Miss is better than Tennessee

As of right now, it's looking like I'll need revise this Bump Ole Miss up and Tennessee down to 10th in the SEC. Ugh.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 4:04 PM EDT reply actions

I'm back

Anybody else here?

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

Offense, good

The offense looks fantastic.

The defense gave up a TD on the first try, but . . . we'll see.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 7:30 PM EDT reply actions

Daniel Lincoln

is having a great year.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 7:50 PM EDT reply actions

Good first quarter

Tennessee 17-7.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 7:53 PM EDT reply actions

Argh

Ainge rolled right, threw an INT right to a guy, who ran it in for a TD. Score 17-14, and what looked like the beginnings of a rout, is now a three point game.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:11 PM EDT reply actions

Now that's more like it

First punt, the returner is clobbered by two guys as soon as he catches the ball.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:17 PM EDT reply actions

Coker

Coker looks great.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

But . . .

. . . looks like he's hurting.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Really nice

Nice call and execution, Ainge pump fake left, screen to Coker on the right, lead blocker (Josh McNeil) put his guy on the ground, Coker jogs into the checkerboards.

Tennessee up 10, 24-14.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:31 PM EDT reply actions

Vinson

Brent Vinson looks like a pretty good tackler, too.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

Nice play from the defense. Jerod Mayo storms to the QB from the right side, forces a quick throw, that's tipped, and Vinson gets the INT with a knee on the ground. He probably would have scored if his knee wasn't down.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Sep 22, 2007 8:35 PM EDT reply actions