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Joke used by Vols for motivation provokes more mystery than mirth
By John Moorehouse
Go figure.

All season long -- check that, since the day Lane Kiffin was hired at Tennessee -- opponents have been using statements by Kiffin as motivational material.

It did not matter whether these statements were genuine and incorrect (calling Urban Meyer a cheater), taken out of context (the "sing Rocky Top" after beating Florida remark), or remain unsubstantiated (telling Alshon Jeffery he'd "pump gas" if he signed at South Carolina).

But this week, the Vols got fired up about a joke about Kiffin made by Memphis head coach Tommy West.

Let's ignore the fact UT used bulletin-board material against a horrible Memphis team that was completely overmatched.

The joke itself? Well, it wasn't much of a joke.

Here's the <a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/aug/15/no-laughing-matter/?print=1">quip in question</a>, as quoted in a column by the very fine writer Geoff Calkins at the Commercial Appeal in Memphis.

Go ahead and read it. Then come back.

...

...

Everybody back?

OK, then.

Did anybody actually get the joke?

If the answer is no, you have something in common with me. And nearly the entire Tennessee football team.

"Nobody got it," linebacker LaMarcus Thompson said after Saturday night's 56-28 beatdown of the Tigers. "It was posted up in the complex. We'd walk by and read it. Nobody got it."

Tight end Luke Stocker said one Vol--walk-on tight end Ben Lenning--did understand itt.

"The way it's supposed to go, Kiffin didn't realize that the point wasn't that the dog was lying. The point was that the dog talked and was worth more than 5 dollars," Stocker said.

So, does understanding it make it funnier?

"It's not funny at all," Stocker said. "Anytime you've got to think about a joke, it's not funny at all."

Kiffin did respond to West's joke.

"I guess that dog bit back a little bit today, didn't he?" Kiffin said. "Take it from there."

In the end, though, whether or not the joke was funny didn't matter.

"We didn't understand why somebody would put that out," Thompson said. "Either way, we were going to defend our coach."

"It really got under their skin," Kiffin said of the joke. "But I still don't get it."

Don't worry, coach. You've got company.
Live-blog: Tennessee vs. Memphis
By John Moorehouse
10:05 P.M.: If you can't tell from the massive silence of the past 40 minutes, I've been trying to get a jump on tonight's deadline.

Thanks to all who followed along, and check tomorrow's edition of the Times-news for the full story on the game.

9:23 P.M.: Memphis scores again, but it'd take a miracle to make this a competitive game.

They're doing the wave at Neyland Stadium. Always the sign of an enthralling and dramatic football game.

And here comes Nick Stephens at quarterback.

9:09 P.M.: With his fifth TD of the night, Crompton has 331 passing yards on the night, a new career high. He had 310 against Georgia last month.

It's been that kind of night for the Vols.

8:15 P.M.: Luke Stocker's got the chance to have a very special senior season.

Stocker, the Vols' junior tight end, had a 23-yard TD catch earler in the game and just had a very impressive 29-yard grab from Crompton. He's got good speed for such a big guy.

As I type this, Crompton just hit Nu'Keese Richardson for a TD. Vols lead by 35.

8:10 P.M.: Even when things go right for Memphis, they go wrong.

After Dennis Rogan muffs the punt, the Tigers got the ball back deep in Tennessee turf -- but the drive went nowhere because Eric Berry snared the tipped pass for his second interception of the year.

Berry tried all he could to get a solid return, but he was stopped short well shy of the 15 yards he needed to set the NCAA record for interception return yardage.

If the Vols score here, and lead by 35 at halftime, I'd be surprised if the starters played more than the first series of the third quarter.

8:02 P.M.: It's blowout central here in Knoxville.

The Vols lead by four scores with 8:57 still to play in the first half.

How good has Tennessee been? The Vols are averaging a robust 7.7 yards PER OFFENSIVE SNAP, and Memphis still hasn't made it past the Tennessee 41 on offense.

I predicted 52-9 Tennessee. I'm thinking I outkicked my coverage... by saying Memphis would score 9.

7:52 P.M.: The Vols go for it on another fourth down.

Just so everyone knows, Chad Cunningham hasn't been kidnapped or anything.

7:45 P.M.: One fairly tedious quarter in the books.

Memphis has 25 yards of total offense and a big fat negative-3 yards rushing. The Tigers haven't advanced past the Tennessee 41-yard-line.

Crompton's stats: 6 of 10 for 100 yards.

The Vols are now 10 of 15 on the season on fourth downs after getting stopped to stifle the previous possession.

Aaaaaand, UT does the homecoming presentation during the quarter break just outside one of the end zones. That's a little odd. I thought thats usually a halftime thing.

7:38 P.M.: Quintin Hancock just got shaken up after hauling in a short pass from Crompton.

Incidentally, was interesting to watch some of the earlier games today and see other guys from Tennessee shining.

For example, how good would this year's UT team be if guys like Golden Tate (Notre Dame) hadn't slipped away?

Meanwhile, the Vols go for it on fourth down--again--and convert. Like I said about the onsides kick, cutthroat.

7:25 P.M.: 5:28 into the ballgame, and the Vols hold a 14-0 lead. Jonathan Crompton is 3 of 6 for 57 yards and a 17-yard TD to Gerald Jones through the first two possessions.

I've been a vocal critic of Crompton but he really has turned a corner and is playing much better football.

And there is no better advertising for Tennessee when it comes to recruiting a top-flight QB than Crompton's improvement.

EDIT: As I wrote this, Tennessee kicked onsides and recovered. Play was negated by an offsides penalty but still... Kicking onsides with a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Wow. That's cutthroat.

7:11 P.M.: The Vols finally got that big play in the kicking game that they'd been lacking all season. David Oku's 69-yard return of the opening kickoff was by far the biggest return of a punt or kick this season.

Nu'Keese Richardson's 37-yarder was the previous high.

As an aside, I hate to be accused of "grasping at straws", but if you're the Vols, why in the world do you bust out a trick play like Montario Hardesty's halfback pass attempt against Memphis?

It shouldn't take any trickeration for UT to win this game.

6:44 P.M.: Haywood Harris, a UT institution, is not manning the press box microphone tonight.

Harris was the longtime SID at Tennessee, appointed to the position by Robert Neyland.

6:22 P.M.: Defensive end Gerald Williams is in uniform and taking part in warmups. Williams was considered a game-time decision to play tonight.

We'll see how much time he actually logs during the game.

Also, for what it's worth, Josh McNeil is nowhere to be seen.

6:09 P.M.: Here come the Vols' offensive players for warmups.

Plenty of good seats still available, folks. Announced attendance will be based on tickets sold, but I'd be surprised if there are 80,000 actual attendees tonight based on traffic and how empty the stadium is right now with less than an hour to go before kickoff.

6:05 P.M.: Daniel Lincoln is on the field taking part in warmups with the rest of the specialists for Tennessee.

Lincoln didn't play last week against South Carolina and has been fighting a quad issue ever since the Alabama game.

5:11 P.M.: Greetings from the press box!

I'm here and ready to go. Check back throughout the game for live updates as the Vols take on the Tigers.
Slippery Slope in SEC
By John Moorehouse
So, let me see if I get this straight.

If a coach criticizes the officials for making an incorrect call, he gets an immediate letter of reprimand.

But if a player is caught on tape trying to gouge an opponent's eyes during a game, that's not as urgent to the league office.

That appears to be the case, at least. Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes clearly attempted to gouge the eyes of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey during Saturday's game in Jacksonville.

Today, Florida coach Urban Meyer suspended Spikes for the first half of this week's game against Vanderbilt. Meyer also said Spikes was retaliating after getting poked in the eye earlier in the game.

So Spikes resorts to eye-gouging--considered a dirty tactic even by the low standards of an extremely violent game--and his punishment is having to sit out the first half against the only team in the SEC that's winless in conference play.

That'll teach him!

Oh, and the SEC says it's going to look at the incident at some point today. No rush, guys, it's not like Spikes was going after a vital part of another player's anatomy.

Just his eyeball.

Those totally grow back, right?
Live blog: Tennessee vs. Georgia
By John Moorehouse
3:02 P.M.: One last stat before heading downstairs.

Vols have 20 first downs in 53 offensive plays thus far. That's one for every 2.5 snaps.

A great day for Tennessee, and another horrendous day for the Georgia defense.

Thanks everyone for reading!

2:48 P.M.: Wow, a fine exclamation point on a banner day for both Crompton AND Gerald Jones. Crompton hits a wide open Gerald Jones on a deep ball to the end zone. 51-yard touchdown. Vols lead 38-19.

And that's the ball game, folks.

2:41 P.M.: Montario Hardesty's had a pretty quiet day... until just now. The Vols' stalwart senior tailback knifed through a pair of would-be tacklers and scored a 39-yard touchdown run. That gives UT a little bit of a cushion as the game enters the final stretch.

2:31 P.M.: Bacarri Rambo with the pick-six on Crompton. Threw the pass way behind the intended receiver.

2:22 P.M.: Zach Rogers and David Oku make appearances on the Vols' first offensive possession of the second half.

Meanwhile, Joe Cox just made a horrible throw after recovering his own fumble.

If the Vols win this game by two or three scores, think it puts Georgia coach Mark Richt on the hot seat?

1:42 P.M.: Berry with a sinus-clearing hit and hurry on Georgia QB Joe Cox. Knowshon Moreno feels your pain, Joe.

Dan Williams just leveled Cox again. The Vols have some serious momentum.

By the way, UT is 2-0 this season when leading at the half.

1:39 P.M.: Crompton is tearing it up. 12 of 15 passing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. He's playing very well. And Georgia's pass defense is bad, as advertised.

1:30 P.M.: Blair Walsh with a BOOMING 52-yard field goal to make it a 14-10 ballgame. That sucker might have been good from the parking lot.

Vols brought the house on that last third down by Georgia. No mustang package or prevent needed. Both Kiffins were after the side judge for not calling grounding on Cox.

1:14 P.M.: Tremendous effort by Denarius Moore to keep the ball in bounds on Vols' second touchdown of the day. Moore had the presence to take his last step inbounds and, as he leapt, make sure the ball crossed the plane.

Big start by the Vols, and exactly what that offense needed.

1:08 P.M.: Didn't last long. Anyone know the last time the Vols gave up two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the same season?

1:03 P.M.: TD pass from Crompton to Jones marks Tennessee's first lead against an SEC opponent all season.

1:00 P.M.: Pass interference call on Reshad Jones gives the Vols a first-and-goal. Tennessee has to cash in. Willing to bet Jones wasn't as handsy when he escorted Eric Berry's cousin to homecoming in high school.

12:55 P.M.: Crompton 5-for-7 for 87 yards after one quarter. That's more completions and passing yards than he had in the entire first half against Auburn. Right now it looks like another physical, low-scoring game for the Vols, but they are driving.

12:51 P.M.: Big play at the line by Gerald Williams, who tipped the pass to Chris Walker for an interception. Georgia was driving and picking apart the Vols with sound underneath throws and great pass protection. Isn't it odd to see Chris Walker, a D-end, has two interceptions right now and Berry just has one?

12:42 P.M.: Georgia is completely selling out against the run when UT has the ball. Crompton will have to pass, and do it consistently enough to make the Dawgs back off. Ruh roh.

12:32 P.M.: Spoke too soon. Nu'Keese Richardson misplays the punt, letting it bounce by him, and it rolls for about 15 more yards before Georgia downs it.

12:31 P.M.: Outstanding punt and coverage by the Vols, with Eric Berry downing it at the 1. UT winning the field position battle.

12:22 P.M.: And we're off!

11:41 A.M.: Vladimir Richard, Greg King and Chris Walker all in uniform during warmups. It appears as if the Vols will have everyone available who's not out for the season.

11:33 A.M.: Sign of how far this rivalry has fallen. Tickets going for 10 bucks outside the stadium. Heck, you can get 10 houses in Detroit for that much!

11:04 A.M.: We are LIVE from Neyland Stadium press box, and will bring you updates as they happen as Tennessee plays Georgia this afternoon.

One thought on the biggest game of the day, Florida-LSU. It sure would be nice if people cared as much about every football player who gets a concussion, and not just Tim Tebow. There's players at every level of football who take shots like the one Tebow did, and play the next week.

If you don't believe that, you're kidding yourself.
Live Blog: Tennessee vs Auburn
By John Moorehouse
10:49--One final update before crunch time. A personal foul in special teams in the first half was attributed to No. 17 for Tennessee. Nick Stephens wears No. 17, but the guy who committed the penalty was reserve defensive back Derrick Furlow.

Furlow had been weairng No. 6, which is also worn by wide receiver Denarius Moore. Furlow switched to No. 17 for this game.

I guess he knew something about who would, and wouldn't, be playing on offense?

9:44--Halftime stats. Auburn 19:31 TOP, Tennessee 10:29. That long catch and run by Luke Stocker boosted Crompton to 62 yards passing on 4 of 16 completions. The Vols have had only 13 designed running plays so far.

Tonight, we'll see how the coaches and players actually can make adjustments.

9:13--After a big run by Auburn's Ben Tate deep into UT territory, the Vols call a badly needed timeout. UT looks completely blown up on defense. Tate was pinballing off several guys trying to make tackles out of desperation. As I said earlier, you can't expect miracles when you can't get off the field.

9:06--Tennessee's passing game has gone from bad to laughable. Crompton's stats with 6:29 to go in the first half.. 2 of 11, for 9 yards. NINE.

9:00--After an Auburn touchdown put the Vols in a 13-0 hole, UT's players just had an all-hands-on-deck huddle on their sideline with Chris Walker, Wes Brown and Vladimir Richard trying to rally the troops. We'll see if it works. You can't fault the way the defense has played. They just haven't been able to get off the field because the Vols' offense can't make a first down.

8:48--Another Tennessee punt. For those of you keeping score at home, the Vols have TWO first downs, on Nu'Keese Richardson's big run to open the game and Montario Hardesty's 21-yard run on the recently completed drive. You notice who was absent from either play, aside from handing off on the latter.

8:38 P.M.--End of the first quarter. Auburn enjoyed a nearly 2/1 advantage in time of possession. Monte Kiffin and the defense have adjusted and kept the Tigers from doing anything too crazy on the last couple of possessions.

Tennessee's offense, however, remains horrible. Is there another player on any other team in the entire country who could make as many mistakes as Crompton has and still keep his job?

8:15 P.M.--Vols buckle down and stop Auburn deep in Tennessee territory but the Tigers have been moving the ball at will aside from a chop block penalty that scuttled Auburn's opening drive. Tennessee looks a little lost on defense. You've got to wonder how much of a factor Reveiz' absence is.

7:59 P.M.--Wes Brown took a nasty chop block from Auburn on the Tigers' first offensive series of the night, but he appears to be fine on the sideline now. Still, a scary moment for a guy who already was fighting some significant knee issues.

By the way, LOVED the play call to go right to the "Nukular Option" fresh out of the gate.

7:44 P.M.--Injured linebacker Nick Reveiz joins the other captains at midfield for the coin toss. Got a nice round of applause. Classy move by the Vols.

7:32 P.M.--They just played a video with UT basketball player Renaldo Woolridge doing a rap about Eric Berry. Pretty cool.

7:23 P.M.--Listed as starters tonight...

LaMarcus Thompson back at SLB
Savion Frazier, as expected, at MLB in Nick Reveiz' place
Cory Sullins at LG and Aaron Douglas at RT for a second straight game (which doesn't say much for the contributions of Jarrod Shaw...)
Quintin Hancock and Gerald Jones at receiver

7:05 P.M.--Chris Walker and Wes Brown, two vital defensive linemen who've been trying to play with pain, are dressed out and on the field.

Offensive lineman Vladimir Richard, who's battling an Achilles ailment and a knee injury, is not among those taking part in warmups.

6:50 P.M.--Forgot to mention that there are a ton of Auburn fans here.

Ton of folks were ready for the don't-call-it-a Tiger Walk. I'm talking elbow to elbow crowd. No band or cheerleaders, though, that might have caused safety problems.

Incidentally, for those who missed it, my pick tonight is 16-13 Auburn.

Quintin Hancock is dressed out and taking part in warmups. Hancock missed the Ohio game with a jaw injury.

6:35 P.M.--The Fightin' Creamsicles are in the house!

Tennessee's specialty unit is on the field and the Vols are wearing their orange jerseys and orange pants tonight.

If memory serves, that's the first time UT has gone with that ensemble since the 2007 SEC Championship Game.
Blog Exchange: Auburn
By John Moorehouse
Evan Woodbery, the fine Auburn beat writer for the Mobile Press-Register, steps into the barrel this week to answer eight burning questions about the Tigers as we head into Tennessee's first Southeastern Conference home game under Lane Kiffin.

You can read Evan's blog <a href="http://blog.al.com/auburnbeat/index.html/">here</a>.

1. The difference in performance and production is obvious, but from an Xs and Os perspective, how does the spread offense of Gus Malzahn differ from the one Tony Franklin brought into the Plains last season?

EVAN: 1. The only common denominator is speed. Both offenses are no-huddle, hurry-up style, although Auburn never reached its desired pace last year because there were so many three-and-outs. Other than that, Malzhan's offense puts a much greater emphasis on the run. He doesn't like call it a spread, but rather a fast-paced, run-play-action attack. Franklin's offense was more comparable -- but far from identical -- to an Air Raid style attack used by Hal Mumme or Mike Leach.

2. Chris Todd's off to an impressive start. I'd say he's the most improved player in the SEC. Your thoughts on his season so far?

EVAN: He's been very good. His pass efficiency rating reflects his lack of interceptions, which is probably the biggest factor in his success. His arm strength is much better than it was later year, which helps. Winning the job outright, rather than staying locked in a two-quarterback battle for the early part of the season, probably didn't hurt either.

Auburn doesn't need Todd to be spectacular, just adequate. If he continues to avoid turnovers, he can have a lot of success in this offense.

3. Trooper Taylor's an individual very well known to Tennessee folks. What has
Taylor brought for Auburn so far, both as a position coach and a recruiter?

EVAN: He's been very active in recruiting and also served as sort of a public voice for the program in some ways. He's much more comfortable in front of the microphones than head coach Gene Chizik, and Chizik has allowed him to be a public face of the team at times in his role as assistant head coach.

The jury is still out on the wide receivers, but a couple of players (Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams) have made big strides from last season.

4. How would you evaluate Auburn's line play so far this season, on either side of the ball?

EVAN: The offensive line might be the single biggest factor in Auburn's success. It's a veteran unit that has played together a long time and has really rebounded after a tough 2008. Depth is a major concern, however, and that could be an issue as the year goes on. The defensive line is another unit with a solid veteran core up front -- Antonio Coleman, Jake Ricks, Mike Goggans, etc. Coaches have worked hard to develop depth behind the starters, and they might be in better shape now than they were back in August.

5. Any major injuries for the Tigers heading into this game?

EVAN: We aren't told much, or anything, about injuries. RB Onterio McCalebb and QB/WR Kodi Burns are supposed to be back, but we'll see. The possible suspension of offensive lineman Byron Isom might be even bigger than any injury.

6. Are you surprised Auburn is unranked, and an underdog, despite being 4-0?

EVAN: Yes, a bit surprised. It shows you how low the pre-season expectations for Auburn were that an SEC team with a 4-0 record and a high-profile, nationally televised win against a good team (West Virginia) still can't crack the Top 25.

7. Regarding Gene Chizik's public persona. Some have said he's basic and businesslike. Others have said he's boring. Surely he's not as bland as he appears in his public comments, right? (And I realize almost anyone seems vanilla compared to the guy I cover)

EVAN: He's a hundred times better than he was when he started, but he's still fairly cautious in what he says to reporters. That said, he's pleasant and professional to deal with, and we're told that he can be quite charismatic in non-media settings (like locker room pep talks).

8. Your prediction on the game.

EVAN: Auburn 31, Tennessee 24. I'm basing my pick on my belief that, at the end of the day, Auburn will be able to outscore Tennessee. After last year, it's hard to believe I'm picking Auburn based on its offensive firepower, but I suppose that's a credit to Gus Malzahn. Part of me thinks next week's game against Arkansas could be more dangerous for Auburn than this one, because Arkansas has the ability to win a shootout. I'm not sure Tennessee can do the same.
Rocky Top double talk
By John Moorehouse
Lane Kiffin might be the youngest head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but he's learning how to misdirect with the best of them.

Kiffin indulged in a bit of classic coach-speak verbal obfuscation, when answering a question about quarterback Jonathan Crompton's interceptions. Crompton has seven interceptions through three games, or a little less than one pick per every 10 pass attempts.

Here was Kiffin's answer.

"We’ve got to make better decisions. The last play of the game, prior to that, was one interception, which is one too many but he was playing better than the week before. Another interception that got called back because they (the Florida defense) were offsides. But I thought he improved, played better, especially in a much tougher environment."

So, until the last play of the game, Crompton only had one interception. But he should have had two, except one got called back. But he finished with two interceptions. Although, again, if not for that penalty, he would have had three.

Everybody followed that, right?
Week 3 picks: Getting Swamped?
By John Moorehouse
Based on all the talk on a national level this week, there's no point in even watching Tennessee play Florida Saturday.

The Gators will win. The Gators will win big. Based on ESPN chatter and the work of several national columnists, you'd think Florida was beginning the game with a 14-0 lead.

Here's the thing, though. Monte Kiffin knows a little something about the option offense. And considering the general amount of talent in the Tennessee defense, especially at the back end, I find it hard to believe the Vols give up 50 points to anybody.

Assuming, of course, Tennessee doesn't do anything to help out Florida.

That means no interceptions by Jonathan Crompton in Tennessee territory. In fact, no turnovers of any kind by the offense.

It also means the Vols keep Brandon James contained in the kicking game, which translates to kicking the ball out of bounds. Every time.

Florida is a better team. And a better program. That's indisputable fact, and it's something even the most fervent Tennessee fan seems to accept these days--which is a statement in itself about how far the Vols fell under Phillip Fulmer over the course of this decade.

Florida will win big, but I think Kiffin's defense keeps it reasonable until the fourth quarter. Florida 37, Tennessee 10.

Last week was a much more respectable 13-2 performance. The only losses? Notre Dame at Michigan and... Tennessee over UCLA. It should be noted I picked the Bruins to win that game in my preseason predictions column.

Remember, kids, that first instinct's usually a good one.

Some from-the-gut picks for Week 3.

Virginia Tech 26, Nebraska 22: That season opener against Alabama toughened up the Hokies, whose ground game is humming along right now. The Cornhuskers will be a tougher foe than Marshall, but Lane Stadium, "Beamerball" and Bud Foster's tough defense make up the difference.

Georgia Tech 23, Miami 21: The Hurricanes would love to get back to the top of the mountain in the ACC this season. If they win this game, I'll be a believer. Until then, I'm taking the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia 36, Arkansas 34: This is a must-win for the Bulldogs, who are showing some serious flaws through two games--albeit against some good competition. Still, Georgia has to win this one. We'll see how much the Hogs' defense has really improved. Arkansas played Missouri State, then had last week off.

Vanderbilt 14, Mississippi State 10: The Bulldogs looked rough last week, and now have to travel to Vanderbilt. The Commodores aren't going to blow away anybody in the SEC, but they won't be a pushover either. All those experienced starters, home field and a quality coaching staff give Vandy the edge.

West Virginia 27, Auburn 23: The Tigers look like the most improved team in the SEC through the first two weeks of the season. Still, West Virginia is the first team Auburn will face that has legitimate aspirations this year. And the Mountaineers arguably have more speed than the Tigers.

Alabama 38, North Texas 17: The Crimson Tide's tour through the Sun Belt Conference continues. This is also part of the unofficial SEC-Sun Belt "challenge" (now coming with 50 percent less challenge) taking place at three SEC schools on Saturday. Did you hear that North Texas coach Todd Dodge coached current Alabama QB Greg McElroy in high school? Don't worry, if you watch the SEC Network telecast of this game, you'll have that tidbit drilled into your cerebral cortex.

South Carolina 28, Florida Atlantic 10: Part II of the SEC-Sun Belt swing. The Owls have some talent, but they'll be overwhelmed by the Gamecocks.

LSU 41, Louisiana Lafayette 21: Lafayette beat Kansas State last week in Manhattan (fine timing after giving a five-year extension to 70-year-old once and former coach Bill Snyder). The streak ends on Saturday. The real Ragin' Cajuns are the ones who fill up Tiger Stadium.

Ole Miss 42, Southeastern Louisiana 0: You could accuse me of including this game just to pad my stats. Or, you could salute me for being a Southeastern Conference completist to give all the teams in the league I cover their just due.

Southern Miss 27, Virginia 16: Another week, and another loss for my alma mater. The Cavaliers' football program has become one big, steaming batch of fail.

Boise State 41, Fresno State 31: The WAC and Mountain West Conferences certainly have evolved into a couple of entertaining football leagues, haven't they? This is the best chance a WAC team will have to unseat the Broncos and spoil their attempt to be a BCS spoiler. I don't think it happens.

BYU 24, Florida State 14: The Cougars make a statement to the pollsters by beating the Seminoles. This would mean more if BYU did it in Tallahassee, but it's still going to send an impressive message. If Florida and Southern Cal stumble, would a BYU-Boise State national championship game be so farfetched?

Ohio State 34, Toledo 31: Upset Alert! Toledo puts a major scare into the Buckeyes one week after OSU's letdown against Southern Cal.

Texas 41, Texas Tech 21: Graham Harrell is not walking through that door, Red Raiders fans.

Last Week: 13-2
2009 Season: 22-8
Blog Exchange: Florida
By John Moorehouse
It's back!

In an attempt to gain some insight into what's going on in Gator country, I turned to someone who follows Florida football on a daily basis. Jeremy Fowler covers the Gators for the Orlando Sentinel. I sent him a batch of questions leading into the Tennessee-Florida game, and he answered them.

You can read Jeremy's blog <a href="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_college_uf/">here</a>.

1. Let's just get it out of the way. How much are Kiffin's comments this offseason being used as a motivational factor for Florida this week?

JEREMY: It's certainly motivation, but players might be tired of hearing about it by now. They've been fired up about this since February after the recruiting allegations went down. They might get a healthy reminder from coaches on Friday or Saturday, but by now the motivation is already built-in. They are ready. They will let The Swamp crowd carry them.

2. Everyone's expecting Florida to just run roughshod over Tennessee. If that happens, could it be a bad thing for the Gators, since they arguably won't face a tough test until their trip to LSU next month?

JEREMY: I don't see it as a bad thing at all. They get that bye week before LSU on Oct. 10, so they certainly won't overlook that game. Next week they play Kentucky, which has always been a pretty easy win for them. A blowout Saturday just validates what they thought would happen all along.

3. How different is the Gators' offense without Percy Harvin?

JEREMY: There's not a player on the roster with Harvin's versatility, but collectively the Gators can do almost everything they want. They can still line up receivers out wide. They can still swing Jeff Demps and Brandon James as hybrid weapons. They still have deep threats. The one thing we haven't seen is whether Tim Tebow has enough bailout options when games are tight against tough SEC defenses. Percy was always a bailout because he could make a play at any time, in any game. I think tight end Aaron Hernandez could fill that void because he can catch almost anything. The wide receivers are vastly unproven, and though Riley Cooper has impressed so far, he's impressed against Charleston Southern and Troy. We'll learn more about this offense this week.

4. Special teams has been a huge factor in the last three meetings. Are the Gators still as good in the kicking game, or is the jury still out there because the previous two contests have been so one-sided.

JEREMY: Only question mark right now is the field-goal unit after Jonathan Phillips, Mr. Reliable all of last year, missed one from less than 40 last week and missed an extra point in the opener. His inconsistency has prompted Urban Meyer to open the position battle between Phillips and Caleb Sturgis. But Brandon James is still Brandon James and the Gators are still a threat to block a punt at any time.

5. Health on the offensive line's an issue for the Vols right now. How are the Gators' defensive linemen looking through two games?

JEREMY: It's a mixed bag. On the edge they are lethal with Jermaine Cunningham, Justin Trattou and Carlos Dunlap, and there's no reason to worry about their no sacks in week one -- the Gators played a vanilla defense on purpose. But starting DT Lawrence Marsh missed the first two games with an ankle, and backup Omar Hunter isn't ready to be the primary weapon up front. DT Jaye Howard hasn't made many plays so far.

6. Lastly, a prediction on the game. Think Florida wins by four TDs as the bookies expect?

JEREMY: Florida covers the spread, but barely. Tennessee's defense is good enough to avoid a 50-point blowout. I get the feeling Eric Berry isn't going to
let that happen. But Florida's going to put eight in the box and force Jonathan
Crompton to beat them. And I'm pretty sure Crompton isn't the guy to get he job done. It feels like Tennessee has been trying to run the ball up the middle on Florida for years without much success.
Week 2 picks: The ol' switcheroo
By John Moorehouse
This week's Tennessee-UCLA game looks more and more like a toss-up.

I thought it would be decided in the trenches, where UCLA has a distinct advantage.

On the defensive line, UCLA has 300-pound Brian Price, one of the best defensive tackles in the country. The guy beside him, Jerzy Siewierski, is regarded as a highly gifted athlete and potential nightmare for offensive linemen, not to mention copy editors and spell checkers. Tennessee has Cody Sullins (now bulked up to 275 pounds, I'm told) at center making his first start against a real major opponent. And Vlad Richard--the team's best lineman--is battling an Achilles issue.

But the matchups have shifted on the perimeter. Tennessee should have Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore both back to go with Nu'Keese Richardson, Marsalis Teague, Brandon Warren and Quintin Hancock. UCLA safety Rahim Moore snared three picks and Alterraun Verner is a top-notch cornerback. However, with Aaron Hester out, 5-foot-7 sophomore Courtney Viney will be starting at the other corner. Viney might as well be wearing a bull's-eye on his jersey.

Both teams have top-notch placekickers. UCLA can make things happen in special teams (just ask Chad Cunningham), but Eddie Gran has brought a new and long-overdue attention to detail to the kicking game for the Vols.

I think Viney gets picked on all day. And after the supreme focus displayed by Tennessee's coaches against Western Kentucky, I can only imagine how locked in Kiffin and company will be for the Bruins.

Tennessee does not have top-shelf talent across the board... yet. I think motivation, preparation and the advantage of not having to travel across three time zones gives the Vols the edge.

I picked UCLA to win this game in my preseason predictions column. Count this one as an official reversal. It will be a fight, but in the end it's... Tennessee 30, UCLA 26.

The first week of picks was an inexcusable 9-6 performance.

Blame the Georgia team's flu bug. And Oregon completely laying an egg on the Smurf Turf. And N.C. State reminding me that it's... well, still N.C. State.

And as for Virginia... well, let's just get to this week's picks instead. K?

Virginia Tech 35, Marshall 7: Did you know Virginia Tech has lost its opener in four of the past six seasons? The Thundering Herd gave up 300-plus yards to Southern Illinois. Sounds like a get-better kind of game for the Hokies. FYI: Marshall tight end and former Tennessee signee Lee Smith is a team captain this year.

Southern Cal 37, Ohio State 17: Good news, Buckeye fans. Ohio State will make this more of a game. The bad news, it won't be close enough.

Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 20: I like the Yellow Jackets at home on a Thursday night. I should mention, however, that I am absolutely horrible picking Thursday night college games. Last week? 0-2. Horrible.

Notre Dame 28, Michigan 27: Total toss-up. I'll take the team that hasn't been accused of illegal practices.

Wisconsin 21, Fresno State 17: The Badgers are riddled with a flu bug but should have enough to get past Fresno. Curt Phillips is expected to see time at quarterback behind starter Scott Tolzien. Hmmmm, wonder what the Vols' QB situation would look like right now if Phillips ended up in Knoxville.

Georgia 16, South Carolina 7: Half of Georgia's team was sick last week. Watching the Gamecocks' offense against N.C. State could induce nausea. I don't think Ellis Johnson's defense can hold the Bulldogs to three points.

LSU 24, Vanderbilt 13: Wow, the Tigers really struggled in third-and-long situations against Washington. Why did that look so familiar? No way the Commodores can hang in the first home game in the Bayou. At night.

Auburn 23, Mississippi State 10: Two first-year coaches open their SEC schedules against each other. Ah, the circle of life. I think the Tigers win this one with ease.

Alabama 27, Florida International 14: Nick Saban's teams are always tough against top competition. But, his squad has the tenedency to underachieve against mediocre opponents. Louisiana-Monroe, anybody? FIU puts a scare into the Tide before superior talent makes the difference.

Florida 59, Troy 6: Troy couldn't solve Bowling Green, so I don't like the reigning Sun Belt champ's chances here against much tougher competition unless Urban Meyer pulls his starters early. I predict Florida allows just two field goals, adding a "no touchdowns scored against the Gators" subplot to next week's tilt with Tennessee.

TCU 30, Virginia 3: I'd even take Dan Ellis at quarterback over the mess the Cavaliers currently have at that position. Losing to William & Mary by double digits? Sad, sad days for my alma mater...

Maryland 14, James Madison 7: Sorry, the third time's not the charm for another CAA upset of an ACC team. JMU has too many new guys at their offensive skill position players, and it's the season opener in (presumably) hostile territory. That's a recipe for turnovers, which can't happen if Madison wants to score the upset.

Oregon 31, Purdue 21: The Ducks get back on track. Not to forgive or make excuses for LeGarrette Blount, but Boise State's Byron Hout has gotten a free pass for his own unsportsmanlike behavior, which provoked Blount's punch seen 'round the world.

Missouri 44, Bowling Green 17: Did I hallucinate, or did a Dave Clawson offense roll up 31 points, with a quarterback who completed 32 of 44 passes for two touchdowns last week? So much for it taking two years to master his system, I guess. Clawson has been made out to be the fall guy in Knoxville for what went down in 2008. Bowling Green can't win this one, but I still see this as a season of vindication for the former Tennessee coordinator.
Week 1 picks
By John Moorehouse
We're mere minutes away from the start of the major college football season, but I wanted to go ahead and make my picks for this week.

I had a horrible record in Thursday night games last year. Let's see if I improve.

Tennessee 34, Western Kentucky 12: The Vols are sure to have some sputters on offense, but the talent divide between Tennessee and Western Kentucky is just too great. I find it hard to believe this coaching staff will permit a repeat of the Wyoming debacle from last November.

Virginia Tech 15, Alabama 13: I'll take Bud Foster over any defensive coordinator in the country. No one does more with less. It's been a very hectic and crazy week for the Crimson Tide, who are breaking in a new quarterback and some new starters up front. That bodes well for Tech DE Jason Worilds. I'll take the Hokies in a defensive struggle.

N.C. State 23, South Carolina 19: The Gamecocks have the horses on defense to wear out N.C. State QB Russell Wilson, but he's still much better and much more proven that South Carolina counterpart Stephen Garcia. I predicted a long, trying season for Steve Spurrier's squad. It starts tonight.

LSU 31, Washington 10: Enough talk about how difficult it is to travel cross country to play football. Given how putrid the Huskies have been, that doesn't matter. The Tigers win in a walk.

Georgia 45, Oklahoma State 40!: These two teams could put on a show in Stillwater. Running back Richard Samuel has got some serious game and a big performance here could have Dawg faithful forgetting about Knowshon Moreno in a hurry. Call it SEC bias if you will, but match up an SEC team with a comparable Big 12 foe, and I'll usually pick the SEC team. That's because they play a little something called defense in the SEC. (And yes, I'll continue to pick the Cowboys to score 40 exclamation-point points in every game as long as coach Mike Gundy continues to act like a spoiled brat... which I guess will mean the duration of his tenure in Stillwater.)

Auburn 21, Louisiana Tech 10: The Tigers were offensively challenged last year, and I don't expect much to change. Is the "Alcoa Offense" an option? Because the Tigers probably could beat the Techsters without throwing a pass.

Ole Miss 37, Memphis 14: Again, too much talent for the Rebels. A resounding win adds a little more gas to the Ole Miss bandwagon.

Kentucky 28, Miami (Ohio) 13: A good chance for Mike Hartline to gain confidence at quarterback and Randall (not Reggie, my bad) Cobb to get some work in the Wildcat formation. UK could be the sleeper in the East.

Florida 62, Charleston Southern 3: What a mismatch. The Gators could almost run it up by accident.

Mississippi State 34, Jackson State 15: Dan Mullen's spread offense should look pretty nifty on Saturday. Too bad the Bulldogs can't just play a full FCS schedule.

Arkansas 38, Missouri State 7: This amounts to a glorified scrimmage for the Razorbacks. You have to think Bobby Petrino won't show much of the offense, if he can get away with it and still win the game.

Vanderbilt 19, Western Carolina 6: The Commodores have to stay healthy, especially with no breaks in their schedule.

Oklahoma 41, BYU 14: It could be a long day on the Oklahoma plain for Brigham Young.

Oregon 37, Boise State 34: Love the Ducks' chances this season against almost everyone on their schedule but Southern Cal.

Virginia 5, William & Mary 0: Forgive me for not having a ton of faith in the offense of my alma mater. Explain to me how Tommy Tuberville is unemployed and Al Groh still has a job in Charlottesville. Really. I'm asking.
The next Chris Weinke? (I'm talking about the Florida State version, not the mediocre NFL one)
By John Moorehouse
Does the name Daniel Stegall ring any bells?

If you went to Kingsport Mets games earlier this decade, it should.

Stegall played for the K-Mets in 2007 and 2008, but was released by the New York Mets earlier this year.

He's now made the transition to college football. Stegall has walked on at Mississippi State as a quarterback. Miami recruited Stegall to play QB out of high school, but he chose to play baseball instead.

Just a fun fact.
Youth served as Tennessee releases pre-opener depth chart
By John Moorehouse
With Lane Kiffin in charge at Tennessee, there's no such thing as a slow news day.

If it's not Nu'Keese Richardson working at quarterback, it's Kiffin naming Jonathan Crompton as the starter.

If it's not Bryce Brown having his eligibility investigated by the NCAA, it's center Josh McNeil facing a potentially career-ending knee injury.

Under Phillip Fulmer, the weekend prior to game-week preparations for the season opener usually was a slow news time. He'd have the kicking scrimmage, and that'd be about it.

Not so under Kiffin, who will hold a situational scrimmage today, then make his freshmen available for interviews for the first time since Aug. 9.

About those freshmen...

Kiffin released the Vols' depth chart leading into the season opener against Western Kentucky, and freshmen are all over the place.

Here's the complete two-deep, followed by some analysis.

OFFENSE

TE-Luke Stocker / Jeff Cottam

LT-Chris Scott / Dallas Thomas

LG-Vladimir Richard / Cody Pope

C-Cody Sullins / Cory Sullins

RG-Jacques McClendon / William Brimfield

RT-Aaron Douglas OR Jarrod Shaw

WR - Nu'Keese Richardson / Brandon Warren

WR - Quintin Hancock / Marsalis Teague

TB - Bryce Brown OR Montario Hardesty / David Oku

FB - Kevin Cooper / Austin Johnson

QB - Jonathan Crompton / Nick Stephens

DEFENSE

LE - Gerald Williams / Willie Bohannon OR Ben Martin

DT - Wes Brown / Andre Mathis OR Marlon Walls

NT - Montori Hughes OR Dan Williams / Chase Nelson OR Victor Thomas

RE - Chris Walker / Steven Fowlkes

SLB - LaMarcus Thompson / Greg King

MLB - Nick Reveiz / Herman Lathers

WLB - Rico McCoy / Savion Frazier

LCB - Anthony Anderson OR Mike Edwards / C.J. Fleming

RCB - Art Evans / Marsalous Johnson

SS - Eric Berry / Darren Myles Jr. OR Prentiss Waggner

FS - Janzen Jackson OR Dennis Rogan / Derrick Furlow

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK - Daniel Lincoln / Chad Cunningham

P - Chad Cunningham / David Harrington

KO - Chad Cunningham / Daniel Lincoln

DS - Morgan Cox / Nick Guess

H - Bram Cannon

PR - Nu'Keese Richardson

KR - David Oku AND Dennis Rogan

I was a little surprised to see Stocker listed ahead of Cottam, considering that Stocker missed a good percentage of preseason camp due to injury. Stocker does have a little more upside as a receiver than Cottam.

I wouldn't feel bad for Montario Hardesty. Even if Brown starts, I'd wager both backs will see plenty of reps. Where in the world is Tauren Poole on the depth chart, though? Poole was the most impressive runner I saw over the entirety of preseason practice. If he's out of the mix now, and stays that way, I wouldn't be surprised if he considered a transfer.

That receiver depth chart is going to change in a hurry when Gerald Jones and Denarius Moore get back. We'll see what Hancock does now that he's got a starting job. I think it's going to be hard to keep Brandon Warren off the field. He's a playmaker.

Last week, I pondered whether Aaron Douglas eventually will overtake Shaw at right tackle. Looks like it might happen sooner than later. Given Thomas' presence as the backup behind Scott, it's obvious the Vols want tall, athletic guys at tackle.

Center is a major point of concern. Neither Sullins has significant experience, further underlining the lack of depth on the offensive line. And how is Sullins going to handle D-tackles like UCLA's Brian Price or--if McNeil is out indefinitely--Alabama monster Terence Cody?

On the defensive side... WOW the stock of Martin appears to be dropping. He begins preseason camp as the starter, loses that spot to Gerald Williams and now has Willie Bohannon pushing him for reps.

They really need to update Walls' weight for the press releases. He's already making an impact on the interior, it appears. Rae Sykes' name is conspicuously absent from the two-deep at tackle. I just wish they'd list the two spots as D-tackle and nose tackle, since they're two separate positions with different responsibilities and physical requirements in Monte Kiffin's scheme.

No major surprises at linebacker, though I think King is starting on the strong side before the end of the season. I think Askew has the talent to play a good number of snaps, if necessary.

I want to see more of Edwards. Anderson has a great story, as a Knoxville guy who was buried on the depth chart under Fulmer and now is flourishing. C.J. Fleming's a pretty good underdog in his own right.

I'd expect Jackson or Rogan to end up the nickel back with the other at safety opposite Berry. Both Jackson and Rogan have corner skills, and Monte Kiffin likes having that versatility at the back end of his defense.

I think Waggner still plays a bunch even though he might not start.

Putting some of those speedy freshmen in the return game is the right move. Also it could bring some instant advertisement via highlight reels should Richardson or Oku break off a long return to the house.

That's what I think. How about you?
Sweet, and not so sweet, music
By John Moorehouse
Drivers in Saturday night's Sharpie 500 got the chance to pick their own entrance music prior to the race. The results provoked a variety of crowd reactions, and some hilarious moments.

My snarky analysis follows.

Elliott Sadler and David Reutimann-Both picked “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” more commonly known for its use in the opening of “2001” and even better known locally as Ric Flair’s entrance music. Sadler threw in the Flair strut and “Whoo!” for good measure. Reutimann neither strutted nor “Whooo!”ed. Sadler made me think it was time for a cage match. Reutimann made me think he was about to tell me how much money I could save on my car insurance.

Kurt Busch and AJ Allmendinger-Both picked “Going The Distance” by Cake. I think Kurt would have had a hard time getting a favorable reaction from the crowd unless he responded each of the 100,000-plus in attendance WITH cake.

Eighties rock was popular. Sam Hornish picked “Fight For Your Right” by the Beastie Boys. Jeff Burton chose ”Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns N Roses

Michael Waltrip picked “I Ain’t As Good As I Once Was” by Toby Keith. I bet Clint Bowyer would agree.

Jeff Gordon's entrance music: “Boooo.” I think I heard “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones in the background fr a few seconds before Gordon came out. Perhaps that was an auditory glitch.

Kyle Busch's entrance music: “BOOOOOOO!” Motorsports guru Dave Ongie just referred to the younger Busch as “the Iron Shiek” of these proceedings. Couldn’t even hear what music Busch supposedly chose. Seriously.

Casey Mears chose a Nickelback song. As a result, he was docked 25 points in the Coolness Standings.

Carl Edwards picked “Jump Around” by House Of Pain. Appropriate for a guy who does backflips after every race win.

Tony Stewart picked “Bawitdaba” by Kid Rock. Stewart was booed until he referred to Bristol as the greatest stop on the NASCAR schedule. Such shameless pandering… and yet so effective.

Marcos Ambrose picked “Land Down Under” by Men At Work. Of course. Bonus points for Ambrose saying, “I hope I finish.”

Terry Labonte picked “Heartland” by George Strait. That’ll make my wife happy. She loves the Strait!
Tennessee's starting lineup: Pick 'ems heading into final scrimmage
By John Moorehouse
Tennessee holds its final "preseason game" today, and it should be the determining factor in those position battles that have persisted throughout the August camp.

Figuring out who starts and who won't might be a bit overblown in this case. All indications are that competition will continue throughout the season, and it stands to reason that the freshmen will only improve -- and thus, push for increased playing time -- as the 2009 season progresses.

Just the same, it's a season opener, this is college football-crazed Vol country and interest is especially high with it being the debut of Lane Kiffin as Tennessee coach. So the lineup matters.

I humbly suggest, however, that who sees the field first against Western Kentucky matters a lot less than where guys lie on the depth chart heading into the Florida game.

One note: I won't be able to attend Saturday's scrimmage, as I'll be covering the Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway instead.

Though Kiffin promised there would be open competition, the battle appears to be all but over at the following positions:

OFFENSE
Tailback-Montario Hardesty (The system is tailor-made for his skill set, and there is something to be said for experience. Might not be able to hold off Bryce Brown all season.)

Offensive guards-Vladimir Richard and Jacques McClendon (Yes, they're both good--especially Vlad. But quite simply, the Vols have no proven players to challenge them.)

Left tackle-Chris Scott (See the comments regarding the offensive guards.)

Wide receiver-Gerald Jones (Working his way through camp essentially one-handed has bolstered his reputation as a potential playmaker.)

DEFENSE
Free safety-Eric Berry (Duh)

Weakside linebacker-Rico McCoy (if he's truly healthy)

Middle linebacker-Nick Reveiz (Can't match up athletically, but his grasp of the playbook, checks and general mental acuity gives him the edge at a position that demands a high Football IQ in Monte Kiffin's defense)

Noseguard-Dan Williams (Could be great under the tutelage of Ed Orgeron, who was suspect as a head coach but is top-notch as a position coach.)

Defensive ends-Chris Walker and Gerald Williams (Walker's knee is still a slight cause for concern, but he and Williams could form a formidable playmaking duo. Ben Martin had the early lead opposite Walker, but hasn't lived up to his scouting report coming out of high school as a five-star D-end.)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker-Daniel Lincoln (He's been much better in August practice, and needed to be after an uneven sophomore season and erratic spring practice.)

Punter-Chad Cunningham (Doesn't have any major challengers. Hang time's improved but we'll see how he does with directional kicks againsst game-breaking returners like Florida's Brandon James.)

Here's how I see the battle at the other spots.

OFFENSE
Quarterback-Kiffin swears the competition between Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens is still ongoing. Based on scrimmages and practices, Crompton is the guy. But he still has issues with simple things like cadence, handoffs and taking the snap, which is inexcusable for a fifth-year senior college QB. Stephens has less mobility and is probably more prone to an ill-advised deep pass. For what it's worth, though, Stephens also showed greater mastery of Dave Clawson's offense than either Crompton or Coleman. Just go back and look at which QB ran more open sets. It's no contest. Kiffin's offense is theoretically less complex but the signaling system is still quite new. If Stephens could catch on to Clawson's scheme, I like his chances to demonstrate superior game management and mental grasp of Kiffin's play calling system. He could overtake Crompton if he plays a mistake-free game and Crompton has a few boo-boos Saturday.

No matter what, I think both QBs end up getting a chance at some point this season.

Second-string tailback-This might as well be considered a starting spot given Kiffin's espoused commitment to the run. Bryce Brown might be out of the picture right now and David Oku's had some fumble issues. I like Tauren Poole, who's had a slew of explosive runs both this spring and this August.

The other receiver spot-Quintin Hancock gives the Vols the big possession receiver the likes of which Kiffin worked with at Southern Cal when guys like Dwayne Jarrett and Mike Williams wore a Trojans uni. Brandon Warren has reshaped his body and finally looks ready to live up to the promise he showed at Florida State. Marsalis Teague has been the best of the bunch among the freshmen. Denarius Moore has some work to do when he returns from his foot injury and tries to crack the rotation.

Tight end-Jeff Cottam has the rep as a superior blocker but has had some nice catches, too. Luke Stocker has missed practice time this August, and has shown a slight case of the stone hands at times. Both will play, but right now I give Cottam the edge.

Right tackle-Redshirt freshman Aaron Douglas is pushing Jarrod Shaw. Shaw has more size and might start the season as the guy at that spot. I see the situation shaking out mich like the Vols' situation at center in 2006, when Michael Frogg began the season as the starter but Josh McNeil eventually took over and became the guy. I like the younger guy, Douglas, in this case as well.

Center-Speaking of McNeil, he's still apparently locked in a dogfight for reps with Cody Sullins. It's not just a motivational ploy at this point. I would've thought McNeil would assert himself undoubtedly as the guy this August. Apparently, that hasn't happened yet. Knee trouble hasn't helped McNeil's case.

DEFENSE
Defensive tackle-If Wes Brown is healthy, he'll start. Realistically, though, he won't be able to play much this season. That means Montori Hughes will have his chance to contribute right away. It also probably means more reps for Victor Thomas, who's gotten lots of first-team work as of late. If Thomas can be a stalwart up front, what's that say about Orgeron's coaching ability? Thomas showed next to nothing under the previous coaching staff. And Dan Brooks is no slouch when it comes to coaching up D-tackles.

Strong side linebacker-Greg King. Taking a bit of a reach here on the freshman, but he keeps making plays. LaMarcus Thompson might hold on to this spot. Both guys will play plenty, so this probably doesn't matter much.

Cornerback-Pick em. Lots of options here. Anthony Anderson and Marsalous Johnson have gotten a boatload of first-team reps. Art Evans was running with the ones before he got hurt. Brent Vinson surely has to be considered for significant playing time. Mike Edwards and Eric Gordon have had their moments during fall camp. Dennis Rogan started every game at corner last season, but he might see the field more at safety, or as the extra DB in nickel situations. The Vols are absolutely loaded at this position, but the question is whether all this depth translates to talent-- and lockdown play--in the meat of the season against top-flight receivers.

Strong safety-Prentiss Waggner impressed me this spring and has continued to do so based on what I've seen of preseason practice. Janzen Jackson's pushing here as well but I like Waggner for his size and hard hits. He apparently has a good grasp on the alignments and assignments in Monte Kiffin's defense, as well.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickoff return--This seems like the best chance to get a young guy on the field. Oku and Nu'Keese Richardson would be good choices. Ditto for Teague, or even Jackson. Don't forget about Rogan, who has experience in this facet of the game.

Punt return--Rogan also has experience here, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Vols went "Nukular" at this spot.
It's scrimmage day!
By John Moorehouse
Tennessee holds its second scrimmage of preseason camp this afternoon at Neyland Stadium, and I am leaving in a few minutes to attend.

With the race coming up, this probably will be my only chance to get a good look at this year's team in a competitive situation prior to the season opener against Western Kentucky.

Check back later at www.timesnews.net for a full report.
Thoughts on Tennessee's scrimmage
By John Moorehouse
Just filed my lead on the Tennessee football team's scrimmage on Saturday. Here are some general thoughts and observations.

One note: In a departure from what was done under the Phillip Fulmer administration, Tennessee's sports information department is NOT releasing official statistics on its preseason scrimmages. So consider all these numbers to be unofficial. Or educated guesses. Unofficial guesses, even.

OFFENSE
-Aaron Douglas is really coming along at offensive tackle. On the twos' first series of the day, he made a nice block to help spring David Oku for a frst down.

-Montario Hardesty had a short day. You'd have to think he will remain a key part of the offense, at least to start the season, but Tauren Poole, Bryce Brown and Oku all have made a case for reps. Poole ran for 103 yards, and got several reps going against the first-team defense in the second half of the scrimmage. Lane Kiffin did say he didn't envision going with a four-back rotation throughout the season, and thought he'd have to pare it down to three at some point.

-Crompton looked good but still had a couple of bad moments. Dennis Rogan should have picked off Crompton on one throw, and another bad lateral pass that Zach Rogers fell on for negative yardage could have been disastrous against a legitimate opponent. Crompton went 10 of 12 in the frst half, but half of his completions went for zero, minimal or negative yardage.

-Tennessee fans should feel very very good about the way Crompton ran the hurry-up offense at the end of the first half. The Vols clicked on all cylinders during that drive.

-Nick Stephens' numbers would have been much better if not for a slew of dropped passes. Those with butter fingers included fullback Ben Bartholomew, and receiver Nu'Keese Richardson.

-Speaking of Richardson, he had a tough day. He ran two reverses, neither of which turned out to be much. He fumbled away the ball on the latter reverse, after slipping and falling with no one around him. Richardson also botched a snap during his package at QB. (Still trying to think of the best moniker for that. "Nuke" something or other...)

-Brandon Warren is making a case to start. He has changed his body in the offseason and looks smooth at receiver. His catch on an intermediate crossing route provided the first big play of the scrimmage.

-Luke Stocker gets the hype as the better pass catcher of Tennessee's two veteran tight ends, but Jeff Cottam did well, making two catches for 31 yards in the first half of Saturday's faux game.

-From what I saw, Zach Rogers did not make a catch.

-William Brimfield looks like he still has plenty of work to do before establishing himself at offensive tackle. Brimfield played on the right side Saturday.

-JerQuari Schofield got second-team and third-team reps at left tackle.

-So far, quarterback Nick Lamaison does NOT live up to the hype. He looks small for the position at the Southeastern Conference level, and threw a pick-six to Rod Wilks that was so ugly it deserved two heavy-duty paper bags.

DEFENSE
-Victor Thomas got the start at defensive tackle opposite Dan Williams. Wes Brown was out and Montori Hughes stuck primarily with the second team. I'm told Hughes has been inconsistent in practice this week.

-Marsalous Johnson and Anthony Anderson started the scrimmage at cornerback. Prentiss Waggner was the starting safety opposite Eric Berry.

-Greg King got a ton of reps with the first team. He could end up starting at strong-side linebacker. Either way, he should play a ton.

-The injuries on defense allowed a slew of guys to get work with the first team, including a bunch of freshmen. The group of rookies to see first-team reps included Eric Gordon and Mike Edwards at cornerback, Janzen Jackson at safety when Berry's day ended after two series,

-Jerod Askew delivered the hit of the day, a sinus-clearing shot to Oku that forced the first of two fumbles by the tailback.

-With Berry getting a short day, Gordon got the call in the first-team nickel package. Rogan would have to be considered a candidate there given his experience playing both corner and safety.

-A Chris Donald sighting! The former highly-touted high school linebacker has been moved to end, and made a sack in the second half.

-Willie Bohannon got a little work at defensive tackle during the drive at the end of the first half. If Wes Brown's knees don't hold up, Bohannon would be the likely candidate to move inside from the end position and pitch in there.

SPECIAL TEAMS
-If something happens to Daniel Lincoln or he struggles as placekicker, Chad Cunningham looks like he'll be up for a job. Cunningham made a 47-yard field goal to cap the second-team offense's first series of the day.

-Cunningham attempted two punts during the full scrimmage work. Both were fair catches, and the second got particularly good hang time.

-Teague, Oku, Edwards and Richardson all got a look on kickoff returns. Oku had the only signifcant return, bringing it out to the 30.

-Dennis Rogan and Richardson were deep on Cunningham's two punts.
Ranking the SEC... Quarterbacks
By John Moorehouse
First, a correction. Bryce Brown, the highly touted freshman tailback at Tennessee, was previously a verbal commitment to Miami, not Kansas State. My fault.

I wrote about Tennessee's quarterbacks for the <a href="http://timesnews.net/article.php?id=9015569">Tuesday edition</a>. Now, as promised, here's a look at how the Vols' signal callers measure up with the rest of the Southeastern Conference.

In my rankings, depth was a huge factor, especially given the extremely physical defenses in the conference.

It was basically a toss-up from the No. 3 spot down. Every team except Ole Miss and Florida has either an underachieving returning starter, no proven returnee or a shocking lack of depth.

1. FLORIDA

A no-brainer. Former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow has thrived while playing in the toughest conference in all the land, and the intangibles he brings to the Gators as a team leader are invaluable.

Watch to see how Tebow's passing game evolves this season under new position coach Scot Loeffler, who interviewed for the QB coaching job at Tennessee that eventually went to Dave Clawson.

And if something should happen to Tebow, the Gators have John Brantley, who impressed during spring practice, and probably is good enough to start for any other SEC team this season except Ole Miss.

2. OLE MISS

Jevan Snead is the best pure passer in the conference and probably will be a more highly-regarded pro prospect than Tebow once the NFL draft rolls around.

The bad news? Snead's offensive line lost star tackle Michael Oher, and there's zero established depth behind the former Texas backup.

If Snead gets hurt, it's up to Nathan Stanley and Billy Tapp to get the job done. Bad news for the Rebels and their "Atlanta Or Bust" plan.

3. GEORGIA

Like some of his predecessors, Joe Cox waited his turn and now he has the starting job locked down.

Will he thrive, as D.J. Shockley did, or pull a Joe Tereshinski and tank?

True freshmen Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger are good enough to push Cox if he struggles, while sophomore Logan Gray has a fight on his hand just to keep the backup job. That speaks well to the Bulldogs' depth at QB.

4. LSU

A stellar performance in the Tigers' Chick-fil-A Bowl rout of Georgia Tech left LSU's passionate fan base downright giddy about the potential of sophomore Jordan Jefferson. The question for Jefferson, however, is whether or not he can sustain such strong play. His cumulative body of work in 2008 produced a modest 49 percent completion ratio, with just four touchdowns.

That's still a world better than the record of Jarrett Lee, who threw a whopping 16 picks that all but erased the good feelings from his 1,873 yards and 14 scoring strikes. Then there's promising freshman Russell Shepard, who enrolled early at LSU and went through spring practice.

Shepard has the potential and Lee has the experience, but right now Jefferson is the man in Baton Rouge. At least LSU has options if Jefferson struggles.

5. ARKANSAS

Ryan Mallett, the former Michigan QB, has the buzz and the inside track on the starting job. Coach Bobby Petrino likes what he sees in Mallett, who could be a perfect fit for Petrino's offense.

Just don't count out redshirt freshman Tyler Wilson, who pushed Mallett this spring and will be right there if the ex-Wolverine gets hurt or falters. At SEC Media Days, Petrino said the biggest challenge Wilson faces is adjusting to a pro-style scheme after working in a no-huddle shotgun offense for his entire high school career.

6. KENTUCKY

After splitting time with Randall Cobb last season, it's Mike Hartline's job to lose. Hartline had a solid 2008, but needs to make more big plays.

If he can't, then maybe highly-touted newcomers Ryan Mossakowski and Morgan Newton can. Will Fidler, a junior and the No. 3 QB last season, also will try to get in the mix.

Cobb, now primarily a wide receiver, will still get the occasional direct snap. You'd have to think he'd get a longer look at QB if Hartline struggles or gets hurt and neither freshman rises to the occasion.

7. ALABAMA

John Parker Wilson is gone and Greg McElroy is in. McElroy, a junior, has the experience within the program but little to no seasoning in competitive situations. Alabama coach Nick Saban praised McElroy for his instincts and good decisions. If all McElroy does is play sound fundamental football, it will go a long way for the Crimson Tide.

Mobility might be the biggest key with Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell no longer manning the offensive line. If it's necessary to make plays on the run, look out for redshirt freshman Star Jackson, who's waiting in the wings behind McElroy.

Whomever lines up under center has the luxury of throwing to Julio Jones, the Crimson Tide's singularly gifted wide receiver. Jones makes any QB look better.

8. SOUTH CAROLINA

The good news? There won't be a QB competition in Columbia. The incumbent is Stephen Garcia, who is talented but has been a major headcase to this point in his collegiate career. Garcia had a solid spring and, if he avoids more knuckle-headed behavior, could be the quarterback Steve Spurrier has been searching for since he took over the Gamecocks.

If Garcia gets hurt, however, it's back to the drawing board for the Ol' Ball Coach.

9. VANDERBILT

Necessity forced coach Bobby Johnson to play three QBs last year: Chris Nickson, Larry Smith and MacKenzi Adams. Smith and Adams both are back, and will compete with unproven junior Jared Funk.

Picking a favorite is anyone's guess. Smith is a better passer, but Adams has slightly more mobility. Neither one is a world-beater and the Commodores will probably need both QBs at some point in the season -- especially with no open date on the 2009 schedule.

10. TENNESSEE

A vocal percentage of Vol fans would love to see anyone but Jonathan Crompton at quarterback this season. The reality, however, is that Crompton is the man to beat in Knoxville as preseason camp begins.

Nick Stephens has the most potential, but little mobility. Crompton has the experience edge, but you wonder how badly he'll get rattled the first time something goes wrong in a real game.

How different would this competition be had B.J. Coleman stuck around?

11. MISSISSIPPI STATE

The clamor from MSU fans to see ballyhooed freshman Tyler Russell under center will begin the moment that the Bulldogs open preseason camp.

Returnee Tyson Lee still is the man to beat, despite his modest statistics last season. Chris Relf is the third option at QB.

The key is finding the best fit for new coach Dan Mullen's multiple spread offense. At SEC Media Days, Mullen said he'd take as long as necessary to find the right QB, even if the competition continues into the season.

12. AUBURN
The Tigers played three quarterbacks last year--Kodi Burns, Chris Todd and Neil Caudle. None of them distinguished themselves well enough to lock down the job, and the Tigers scuffled to a 5-7 record that cost coach Tommy Tuberville his job.

Sound familiar, Vol fans?

New Auburn coach Gene Chizik said the competition is wide open. It will be interesting to see how the three QBs fare in Gus Malzahn's spread offense after tanking in Tony Franklin's spread scheme a year ago.
Get ready for the SEC Network
By John Moorehouse
ESPN and the Southeastern Conference announced the SEC Network, which will air a regionally syndicated television package as part of the recent 15-year contract signed between ESPN and the SEC.

Coverage will feature extensive telecasts of football, men's basketball and women's basketball games.

The package will include a game of the week during football season, every Saturday at 12:21 p.m. Eastern time.

The local affiliates of the SEC network are WCYB and CW4.
Back at it
By John Moorehouse
It's been a pretty slow month for Tennessee football news, unless you count the will-he-or-won't-he saga of recruiting in the summer. You call them verbal commitments. I call them "maybes" until the national letter of intent is signed.

Potato, potahto.

The Volunteers will make some players available to the media Tuesday and I plan to be there. Then, after the chaotic carnival of SEC Media Days, fall camps will begin to open around the Southeastern Conference.

The start of the season will be here before we know it, and I'll continue to bring you all the Vol news that's fit to print -- whether it's in the newspaper, here on my "Orange Clockwork" blog or in one of the online exclusive stories on www.timesnews.net. You can also look forward to video reports on the team this season, a first for the Times-News.

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