Aww, Smitty!  We all knew it in our heads...why'd you have to go and put it in text?!  

"1-6 (.142) vs. Top 10 teams at home 2000 - present"

This one just has me reeling...but probably not half as much as our total home record over the same time period.  Not sure what it is, but I'd be willing to bet it's not much over 0.500.

Everything went to pot after 1998, right? What changed after '98?

Here's a clue: look at Knoxville on a map. Then follow I-75 up to Lexington. You'll find your answer there, still coaching QBs but wearing a different color for the first time in his life.

Randy Sanders was death to this program. And now he's gone, and having Cutcliffe back has already helped (look at the difference in Ainge, the reported difference in practice tempo, the upswing in points, ect).

What we didn't know is that the road to recovery is going to be a long one. Even with the impact Cut has had, some players still don't seem to get it; for example Bret Smith not getting his classwork done and the overall lack of urgency in the bowl game. Even Cut's greatest reclamation project, Ainge-in-Orange, was making dumb comments about the PSU defense prior to the bowl.

Before Cut came back, this program was in worse shape than we realized. The healing process has begun, and this year's recruiting class is the next step. But it could take a while, so be prepared. If Fulmer was gone now, we'd be starting over with a complete unknown. At least now we have a formula in place that we know can be successful.

So no, Fulmer shouldn't retire; he should get to work right away.

It's not sexy or cool to go to Tennessee anymore.  With the other coaches in the league (Meyer, Spurrier, and now Saban) there is more media attention, hype, etc. surrounding these schools.  Tennessee, and more specifically, Fulmer, must find a way to put swagger and pizzaz back into the program.  There are four coaches in the SEC with an NC and 2 others (Richt and Tuberville) who have the potential.  This confernce is loaded with coaches and recruiters right now and UT must find a way to seperate themselves from the rest and make it cool to be a Vol.

I 100% disagree with Volorado on his idea that UT is lacking in the "sex appeal" department.  If you recall, the onset of the "season of which we do not speak", we started the season with a #3 ranking, overloads of media attention, hype, swagger, and pizzaz...and look at what transpired.  2006 was supposed to be another "rebuilding year" with lessons learned from the abuses of excessive preseason media attention and we stayed on the down-low with zero expectations of success...and rocketed off to a 7-1 start.  Tennessee has a penchant for embracing the role of the underdog--to the same capacity that UF exhibited against OSU last night--and often folds in the face of expectation (no examples necessary).

With the commitments of Ben Martin and Chris Donald (#22 and #37 overall) to the Vols, and previous recruiting classes, Phil is not hurting for top-notch talent.  The idea that "it's not sexy or cool to go to Tennessee anymore" is absurd.

Granted, Coach Fulmer isn't as smug as Meyer, as cocky as Richt, as outspoken as Spurrier, or as greedy as Saban; but top players often don't want to play for such personalities.  Media outlets focus on such characters because they create headlines.  Phil prefers to stay out of the media by focusing the attention on the performance of his team, and not on his ego.  I commend him for doing such.

Additionally, and by no means am I making excuses for our 9-4 record, injuries really hurt us this year.  From the season ending injuries of Inky and Justin, to the bummed ankles of Ainge, Foster, Coker, Meacham, Swain, and the numerous others who play(ed) in pain and/or delayed surgeries over the course of the season, we got thin in filling the gaps.  The upside is that some "youngins" got some quality playing time and did make the most of it.

Our losses this season were to quality teams (#1, #3, #15, and #24 teams in the final AP).  While disappointed that we didn't go 14-0, I'm definately not crying and certainly not going to accuse the program of losing their mojo.  

Wanna know the good thing about having UF win the championship?  It'll be that much sweeter come Sept. 15 when we knock them off down in the Swamp!

My apologies on the rambling; Go Vols!