Tennessee finishes 10-4

[Pointer 78]

A 10 win season wasn't expected at the beginning of the season and seemed highly unlikely after losing to Alabama, but the players rallied around their coach and won 6 out of their last 7 games to finish 10-4. The Vols played inspired defense in the second half of the Outback Bowl and held off the Wisconsin Badgers 21-17.
What's up for the 2008 season? Too many questions remain answered. Tennessee loses their Offensive Coordinator in Cutcliff and their best recruiter in Taylor. Then there's the possibilty of losing their leading rusher in Foster and their best defensive player in Mayo, both juniors, to the NFL Draft. I don't look for the underachieving Demonte Boldin to come back after academic suspension. Vol fans should pray that Rico McCoy and Lucas Taylor work to be reinstated from academic suspension. They're gonna need them. Who's gonna be the QB? Both Crompton and Coleman are excellent signal callers. It'll be fun to watch the battle with the edge going to Crompton. One bright spot is at Safety where Eric Berry returns. We've got him for 3 more years if he doesn't go pro after his Junior year. Let's hear whatcha think Vols fans.

 

[drumking]

Congratulations to the Vols on a 10 win season. They did it is spite of some questionable coaching. Losing the offensive staff might not be a bad thing after seeing some of the calls made in the bowl game.???? What's up with that???

Phillip Fullmer's hires this time are critical, IMO. If he stays in house and hires people who have been here before and doesn't go after new blood and thinking, then the Vols are gonna end up just ahead of Vandy in the east probably.

Hope for the best, but knowing Pf's track record on hires over the past 15 years, I expect just more of the same old, same old. Too bad that Chavis and Caldwell aren't going somewhere else.

You are probably right on Bolden. Doesn't know the definition of the words "work ethic". Unless the Vols have some great players that are redshirting this year, it doesn't look too good for next year. Sorry for the negativity. I guess that I'm one of the ones that Coach criticizes over and over.

 

[blazer]

im with you drumking.and after some of the decisions today i feel like tn will be in trouble until fulmer is gone.why in the world would you take out your qb after he drives you down to the 15 yard lineemoScratch the way i see it is the players overcame some bad coaching to win today.and seeing how the defense has keep dropping over the last 3 years,i cant believe they are keeping chavis.
enough bad mouthing the coaches,the players played there heart out today especially the defense.go vols

 

[hl&s]

Go Vols !!! I'm just glad there wasn't another quarter !emoSmile

There was a time this year when 4 and 10 looked like a real possibility.

 

[Fishheadspin]

the vols should be quite good next year. all of the play makers yesterday are underclassmen. berry, gerald jones, wardlow ....

our big question mark is still going to be DT. it is impossible to stop the run without at least one good DT.

I also would like to beg Fulmer to stop all the stupid tricks inside the 10 yard line. If you are pounding it down the field, why the heck do you run a trick play from the 5????

and why play for a field goal when up by 3 with a R at QB abd run it 3 straight times. My 9 year old step son knew what was coming with him at QB.

I like Fulmer and have always took up for him. I also think Coach Cut is a great coach, but I am personally glad to see all of the coachs moving on. i still think Fulmer is a great head coach and game manager but some new blood will be welcome.

And one last note i still say Richt is the best coach in the SEC.

 

[fishinvol]

Cutcliff has done a great job with Ainge and the offense, but his play calling at times is just plain stupid!! Twice in the red zone yesterday!! The Vols should have rolled over that team! I think they have most of the cogs in place to be a real good team next year.

 

[drumking]

fishinvol - 1/2/2008 8:19 AM

Cutcliff has done a great job with Ainge and the offense, but his play calling at times is just plain stupid!! Twice in the red zone yesterday!! The Vols should have rolled over that team! I think they have most of the cogs in place to be a real good team next year.

Yes, Coach Cut has done a great job with Eric Ainge, but his play calling in the red zone has left a lot to be desired. They may have been intended to impress his Duke bosses who were in attendence at the game. Brilliant calls if they work, dumb calls if they don't. Coach Fullmer made a halftime comment that he thought that they should have been up by 35-7. What does that tell you about the calls?

The Vols should be ok if some of the juniors come back, expecially Mayo. Losing Arian Foster if he goes pro wouldn't hurt any, IMO. Capable backs are in the fold right now. The entire O line is back and the secondary should be one of the best in the SEC (except for Chavis' schemes). They are great atletes. The receivers will be better and new expected TE Warren will only add a great player to that position. Kickers are already some of the best in the SEC. The biggest question mark will be at defensive line. Need some more tackles and with the questions around Bolden (will he be qualified and stay qualified) is a very worrisome thing to deal with. I think that Dan Brooks is the best defensive coach on the staff and he will do something with whoever he gets to play that position. I just wish that he had more to work with.

Pre season, I thought that the Vols would be 8-5 and they finished 10-4 so they exceeded my expectations. They had great chemistry on the team this year and I think that helped a bunch. The kids are so good and worked so hard that they overcame some poor coaching. My hat is off to them and hope that they hit the weight rooms hard and eagerly look forward to spring practice with a new offensive staff (hopefully with new blood). Go Vols.

 

[bd angler]

Just read on Govols extra that George Quarles from Maryville is interested in being a position coach. Phil should jerk his arm off to get him. He has taken that program to unheard of levels.

 

[drumking]

bd angler - 1/4/2008 10:33 AM

Just read on Govols extra that George Quarles from Maryville is interested in being a position coach. Phil should jerk his arm off to get him. He has taken that program to unheard of levels.

I saw Maryville play Alcoa last year at the beginning of the season and I thought then that they were the best coached high school team that I had ever seen and I watch all the Rhea Co teams when Andy Kelly was QB and they went to the state a couple of times.

If Quarles wants to come be a part of the staff, then I'm all for it. He may be burned out at the high school level. No competition seems like.