As far as I'm concerned, a miracle. I'd like to take this oppourtunity to thank two people instrumental in this victory. First off: A shout-out to Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, who seemed unwilling to give the ball to Darren McFadden, despite his 22 carries for 126 yards and a porous Tennessee defense, resulting in, for the first time all year, the press not immediately anointing someone who has played against Tennessee for the Heisman (see: DeSean Jackson, DJ Hall, Tim Tebow, that quarterback from Southern Miss, etc.). Second: Major props to Casey Dick for playing like one, getting himself benched for an even worse back-up, and them promptly returning to the game and tossing up a gimmie interception to star freshman DB Eric Berry (one of my newest man-crushes)--we will not forget your contributions.
Why not praise John Chavis and the Vol coaching staff after such a dominating win? Because I'm a realist. I haven't been one of these people openly advocating for Fulmer to resign, but I've been painfully made aware over the last several weeks (who am I kidding--years) how he has been outcoached in big games. Still, this is a young team--our only senior leadership coming from the quarterback position--and I have been, despite the heart palpitations, gradually imagining how good this defense will be next year (and the year after). I'd be willing to forgive all if we made it to Atlanta and didn't get completely steamrolled by LSU. And wouldn't it be fitting if an underdog Tennessee team went in and upset the favorite LSU, thus costing them a shot at the national championship game, ala 2001? A man can dream... A man can dream...
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