While packing for San Francisco and ruminating about lunch at Big Nate’s BBQ tomorrow, I started thinking about travel. That led me to ponder which transfers are most important to their team’s fate this season.

It’s go time college football fan! Right now, everyone has the same dream. With the 2007 season kicking off this week, all fans carry the torch of hope and possibility. Some torches will be extinguished in the first week.

Sometimes, all we can do is sit back and reflect on the beauty of the English language. Sure, the classical languages are more descriptive, and French and Italian sound more romantic, but for a football coach, only English will do.

According to several sources LaMarcus Coker has rejoined the Vols football team.

As we thankfully head towards the game next weekend in Berkeley against Cal, some valid concerns are surfacing concerning the 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team. Through my experience, fans and coaches alike go through paralysis by analysis at this point in the preseason and forget that these young men were all All-State or All-America somewhere in high school.

Being in the SEC can sometimes make you think twice about who you schedule your out of conference games against. This year, like most, Tennessee will be playing 6 SEC teams that played in bowl games last season.

There’s not much news to report coming from campus. The Vols had a light 45-minute workout on Wednesday as the students had their first day of classes. The Vols did get word that starting tight end Brad Cottam will miss 2-3 months with a wrist injury.

On Tuesday, Tennessee held their final major scrimmage of the pre-season. All that remains at this point will be a kicking scrimmage on Saturday morning. Here are a few notes and thoughts from Tuesday night.

Sitting at the epic Marlins-Giants tilt yesterday afternoon, inspiration for this week’s column came from above. The sun beating down on me brought thoughts of coaches who will feel the glare of the spotlight in ‘07-’08.

I have often wondered what it takes to make a journalist or any news contributor bare his or her soul to an audience. The last week of my life has given me a small taste.