A Little Poem For the Vols

T’was the night before the Big One,

and all through the south,

the Big Orange fans were all busy running their d**n mouths.

Better coaches, better players, better stadium, better fans,

the only thing they didn’t attack was our Million Dollar Band.

Fat Phil swore up and down that he and the Vols were good and ready,

but Saturday was a new day; beautiful, hot, and heavy.

From the opening kick-off, the Vols were on their knees,

I guess still looking to clear their dog Smokey of all its darn fleas.

It was a constant movement up and down the field,

Bama racked up 500 plus that UT’s defense would yield.

We threw, threw, threw that day as it was Wilson to Hall,

Why couldn’t Chavis stop us, it was all the same call!

The more the game went on, the less I heard Rocky Top,

just like in ‘05, Tennessee would Rocky Flop.

I ask you, Tennesseee why were you so lame?

I guess you have one thing going for you, at least you’re not Notre Dame.

Where was UT’s tradition, their heart, and their pride?

Bama took them to the wood-shed with loud chants of “Roll Tide.”

Rammer Jammer could be heard for miles and miles, loud and clear,

as Saban and company gave gut shot after gut shot that UT fans will forever fear.

It will always be remembered as the day of all days,

the day the Tide stem-rolled and cleared UT’s orange colored haze. 

The game wasn’t even close, and quite frankly a one-sided fight,

have a safe trip home Vol fans and to all a good night.

The Capstone King

Congrats Alabama

As a Tennessee fan there is really nothing to say. I was wrong about Alabama and way wrong about Tennessee. I try to be an optimistic fan, but it is getting harder and harder every week.

There is no way to have seen this coming after the way we played Georgia and the way Bama played Houston, but apparently I’m incredibly biased so what do I know. There is no doubt about it, Alabama was the better team on the field today. It makes me sick to admit it, but Saban may turn this thing around quicker than I thought.

I know a lot of the Bama readers don’t really care for me too much right now because of the “I Hate Alabama” post, but just know it was all in good fun. As much as that game made me sick to my stomach, at least it will make the rivalry even more fun next year. Enjoy the victory, you guys earned it.

A Final Look Back from Ghost on Today

I’m not going to dwell on the game, obviously. I’m sure you guys knew that already.

I told you I’d be back on here and take it, win or lose. In the movie 300, the dude stands there at the end and takes the arrows. There’s nothing he can do. That’s what I’m going to do. I don’t have a leg to stand on.

Me and Boomtown each did a running diary of the game. We’ll post it tomorrow or Monday, but it’ll probably be Monday because as much as I love this site, I’m pretty sick, pretty down right now. I don’t want to do too much game re-visiting. I know y’all have all been there. This is the most important game of the year for me, and when your team doesn’t show up, it’s more than disheartening. It’s devastating.

But you know what? If I still can, I’ll be in Knoxville to cheer on the Vols next week against South Carolina. That’s what true fans do. And Bammer fans have stood by their team through the most part of the thin. Enjoy some thick.

Now, a quick aside: In that diary, you will see some stuff from me you won’t like. I call out the officiating a WHOLE lot in the first half. I still think it was a poorly officiated game, and I do believe it was one-sided. What you’ll see from me was the honesty in the moment. I hope you all can respect that. IN NO WAY DO I BELIEVE THE OFFICIATING DECIDED THAT GAME. I want to get that out of the way. We were abused by Alabama. Dominated. Crushed. Exposed.

I completely agree with tidefanintn that it’s very possible Chavis will be the sacrificial lamb. That much, for sure, is going to happen. When that happens, we will just have to live with Fulmer. Unless he’s fired, which isn’t out of the realm of possibility anymore.

That was a poorly, poorly coached game. We punted twice from midfield on fourth-and-short while Alabama took control, when Arian Foster was dominating the game running the football, we shied away from the run and went to the intermediate passing game, we burned a redshirt for Gerald Jones by playing him, we absolutely played too softly on defense. I haven’t seen that much cushion since my wife’s sofa.

And, finally, the third-down conversions were downright embarrassing. That was not a football team out there. I really don’t know what to say. I am pretty ashamed of my team. In our two biggest rivalries we were outscored 100-37. It’s not the end of the world for me. I’ll still stick by my team, but it looked like these were two teams headed in completely opposite directions. I hope I’m wrong.

I also won’t call out John Parker Wilson anymore. All of you guys know how I feel about D.J. Hall. He’s the first receiver on my All-SEC ballot (which I, um, don’t have). Lucas Taylor was nonexistent, as was Chris Brown. Erik Ainge played very well when we were in the game, and we simply just don’t have the downfield weapons to play from behind. JPW was amazing. He had some pressure on him, but he stepped up in the pocket. After sailing some early passes, he made all the throws and he looked like an All-American. As bad as our secondary is, passing like that against air is pretty impressive. The Vols were little more than air today.

Finally, I just want to say that I’m very proud of this site this week. We had good arguments and kept everything relatively clean and well-argued. I’ve had a really good year analyzing games, I think, overall. But I feel like an idiot after the Florida and Bama breakdowns. I’m just blinded by orange-colored glasses. I know we all seem to have that problem, but this week, it’s Boomtown and Crimson Daddy who look like the geniuses.

I, like the Vols, look like a sham.

I ask one thing from everybody: You guys can give it to me all you want. I can take it. I didn’t suit up, but I put my mouth out there because I thought my Vols were a team on a mission. The biggest reason why Fulmer/Cutcliffe/Chavis deserve everything they get from here on out is that this team had SO MUCH to play for, and it choked it away. It didn’t even show up. Just don’t turn this week into a name-calling event. Y’all can Roll Tide and badmouth the Big Orange all you want. You deserve it. And like I said, here I am. I’ll be around all week.

Perhaps the worst thing for Vols fans is Bama has a bye week. LOL. We get to hear about it two weeks. Have a good time, Tide. Your team earned it for you. I’ll be around after the weekend. I need some time to heal somewhat, chill and relax and try to decide if I can afford to go to Knoxville next week and watch a second-rate game. I’m sure you understand.

Ghost of Neyland 

First UA-UT Scoreboard pic………

There will be more to come from Crimson Daddy for sure.

Congratulations to the Alabama Crimson Tide for the hard earned victory today.

 

 Boomtown Madman

UNCLE!! UNCLE!!!

Here I am, boys. Let’s get the comments rolling.

I was wrong. Totally wrong. Bama imposed it’s will on the Vols. The crow tastes bitter, but maybe it’ll be enough to get things done at Tennessee.

41-17. Wow. I don’t know what to say.

Congratulations. The domination is over. Now, we’ve got to guard against getting it done to us.  There was one football team on the field today. And one sham.

Here I am, Bammers. Bombard me. I deserve it.

Ghost of Neyland