Why do we care so much?

This is the question that is asked of everyone who is diehard fan of Tennessee, college football, and/or most other sports. Those who don't understand ask, "Why does any of this matter?" They always say that this is just a game and does not count for anything in real life. They may be right to a certain degree, but I would say that our devotion is beneficial nonetheless.

Yes, this is just a game . But, there is something noble believing in something that is larger than any one person. Of course, I would not dare to compare our obsession to one's devotion to God. At the same time, there is something that makes us feel compelled to follow our team(s) with an unconditional love. Why is this? Is there something lacking in our lives that requires an outside belief in something that we have no control over to make us happy? Personally, I don't believe so.

We believe that it is still possible for hard work to be rewarded.

How many times has it been said that you can do anything you set your mind to? We've heard it so many times that it has become trite. Yet, we believe it when it comes to our teams. This cannot be a bad thing. Take our Vols, for example. Did anyone believe that the year after Peyton Manning graduated we would win the National Championship? I didn't. The members of that team worked relentlessly to prove all naysayers wrong. Players like Al Wilson proved that sheer determination can overcome any obstacle (see TN/FL 1998). Those players showed us fans that against terrible odds, we can still triumph. Who wouldn't want that in their own lives? That brings me to another point.

We want to believe that we can triumph in the face of adversity.

Tennessee has known adversity before. The January arrests of some of our most prized basketball players put the team in a terrible position. Some may have asked, "do we even make the tournament now?" How did the team respond? With a bunch of walk-ons and bench players, Tennessee beat Kansas. Is there one Tennessee fan who did not feel ecstatic for our team and Tennessee as a state? Turns out, they were just getting warmed up. They fought through that terrible incident and came through the other side. That other side was the Elite Eight in which we all know was probably the best moment in Tennessee Basketball history. Now, our football team faces a similar challenge with the embarrassing arrests that occurred. We can only hope they take a page from the basketball team's gameplan.

We want to feel pride in where we come from.

Yes, there are many walks of life people go through to get to Tennessee. It can be where we went to school, where we live, and even where life simply takes us. It doesn't make us any less of a Tennessee Vol. No matter what, we have come together to become Tennessee. This unity is an amazing force that I dare anyone to cross. We are a prideful bunch and we should be. I don't care what happens in the future. We are all still Tennessee Vols -- and it is still great to be one.

Why does it matter?

We are Tennessee. We know our challenges and we will face them. Even in the light of inexcusable behavior by certain players on our football team, we still have to get back up and carry the banner. Why? Because we will not give up on our team, our university, or our Tennessee family. The Tennessee spirit doesn't give up because times are difficult. Regardless of the outcome of this football season, the way these guys persevere may just give us fans an idea how to keep carrying our own personal torches when things become hard. If that isn't a life lesson, I don't know what is. That is why it matters -- to me anyway.