All Things Vols

We made it to the O&W game, but not the Fanfare portion. It wasn’t that we didn’t get there early enough, the line was wrapped around the block when we got there. If we would have stood in the line, we probably would not have gotten to the gate before 1PM - which of course was when it was supposed to end. So instead, we decided to go ahead and get seats, skipping the Vol Walk too. Opted to go up the ramp - that gate was much faster than the lower level gate. Was happy to see the concession stands open too.

Got to watch 4 players do “stadium stairs” - so what type of “rehab” was it

Seems I wasn’t the only one keeping up with who scored - what a crazy format. Why not have the first team offense play the first team defense? Now that would have been a game! Only one play caught my eye, definitely need to mix up that spread offense.

I took 464 pictures that I have to go through and pick out the publish worthy ones to share.

Color me stupid, where do I find tickets for the Orange & White Game? It’s been a couple years since we went, but we are looking to go this year. Every time before we ordered the tickets online - now I can’t find anything. Guess I need to hunt down a forum or two to ask, sigh…

Congratulations to Pat Summit for win number 100! And congratulations to Pat and the Lady Vols for their win over Purdue. You can read more about it at utladyvols.com

This was a game I wanted to go to. It was here in Birmingham and I thought it would be great to go to. My husband had a differing opinion, he thought that the Men would lose in this round, that the money for tickets could be enjoyed elsewhere.

He was almost right, they almost gave it away. To me it looked like they were trying to play too fast, getting in too much of a rush and losing control of the ball resulting in turn overs. But what do I know, I’m still learning this game too.

The best quote I’ve found came from Pat Summit: “Just tell those guys to rebound the basketball.” Hey Pat, any words of wisdom you can give Phil Fulmer?

First let me congratulate Bruce Pearl and the Tennessee Men’s Basketball team for a job well done! That had to been one of the most fast paced games I’ve watched in a while.

Now before you go screaming bandwagon or fair weather fan at me, please don’t. I have been just that damn busy since my last post.

I’ve got some great tie-ins with Bruce Pearl and the Big Orange Fans in Alabama. Bruce Pearl Thanks The BBOC and back in 2005 Bruce Pearl, the new (little known to Vols fans) Mens Basketball head coach came with the Big Orange Caravan to Birmingham, Alabama.

While others were in line talking to Coach Pat Summit, my husband Jeff spent time talking with Coach Pearl. I don’t think Coach Pearl will need a name tag the next time he visits.

Again, good job guys!

Guess it’s time to give my two cents. I was extremely impressed with the defensive - good ol fashioned smash mouth football. I also liked the “try something different” attitude when it came to the offensive. But my big question is - did that throw Ainge off? What on earth happened? I’m listening to the commentator talk kindly about him - that “we will see him on Sunday’s, that wouldn’t it be great if the Colts drafted him?”, and on and on. By the way, that was probably one of the least biased games commentaries I have listened to.

I thought we had a chance until that final interception. My husband told me later, that his father saw the interception coming all the way up from their seats. If it was that obvious to someone watching the game, can you imagine  how obvious it was to LSU?

I was going to pop over to UT Sports to double check the penalty stats - I almost fell over when I saw the Outback Bowl intro, I thought maybe the site had been hijacked. Yeah, one year I would like to go to a bowl game but I think we have spent enough money on losses this year. Ticket prices aren’t too bad $65 each. I loved the NO LIMIT comment. Hmmm, is it that hard of a sell? Okay, I’ll go if you include a hotel, gas and food. But then I would have to cancel my New Year’s Eve plans…

Oh, and as for the penalties 0 for 0 yards - “The Vols committed no penalties for the first time under 16th year head coach Phillip Fulmer.” Now that’s cool.

Not cool - the orange creamcicle uniforms. I like orange, but not those uniforms.

Did you hears the cries of fire Fulmer at the end of game? Now I’ve had time to think about it, it’s like the “you can lead a horse to water” analogy. These players can only be coached so much, they also need to be able to execute the plays. This time around, I think some creative coaching was going on.

So, now we sit and wait to see how the season will wrap up.

If you are in Birmingham, AL and want to join other Vols fans watch the SEC Championship Game, check out the BBOC TV viewing party:

Football TV Viewing Party – SEC Championship Game - TN vs. LSU

GO BIG ORANGE!!!
GO VOLS!

Trying to keep a low profile with this upcoming game in Atlanta. It’s interesting to listen to the rumblings and rumors about the teams in Alabama and even LSU. I don’t want to get into the fray. I’m hoping the team is studying the heck out of game film and getting even more ready for the game of their life than they did with Arkansas. I want THAT team to show up.

A friend of my husband’s called him and asked him if he wanted two tickets to “the game”. It put him in a real dilemma - he wanted to take both me and and his father. But it was only two tickets. I tried to make it easy for him - “take your dad as a birthday present for him.” He still struggled, but finally decided to get the two tickets and take his dad. Pretty good seats in the “Prime Upper Level”.

Since this “staying under the radar” (no car decorations on Friday or Saturday, no orange on Friday) attitude has become this year’s game day superstition I’ve asked him to not fly the flags or display the magnets on the truck during the drive over to Atlanta. BUT he’s to carry them with him and to display it all on the way home in the event of a win.

We shall see.

Been hearing some rumblings that the Vols just got lucky. Well, heck yeah they did! Sometimes it’s that little bit of luck that swings things in your favor that makes all the difference in the world. How many times have the Vols been on the other end of luck? Hopefully, the luck will hang on a little longer

I absolutely loved Chris Low’s (ESPN.com) remark about “a more schizophrenic team.” Isn’t that what I have been saying? The Jekyll and Hyde team? But Low’s comment about “one of the wildest roller-coaster rides” of Fulmer’s career makes me want to give up riding roller-coasters.

Resilient Vols, Fulmer reach SEC title game By Chris Low ESPN.com