[donsargegolf]

Originally posted by brg72@Oct 30, 2005 1:13 PM
[b]When is a loss really a win? When it forces a change.

Every goal Tennessee had before this season is out of reach. Fans and media are trying to decide if the Volunteers were overrated or just not good at football.

Everyone in the student body talks about that “gosh danged Randy Sanders” and the “boring old Vols”. There was even an instance of two students wearing orange trying to tear each other apart at the Georgia game.

But people, it’s time to stop the fighting and start the losing.

The only way to make sure things get changed is for a mild disaster to turn into a embarrassing catastrophe. (Achieved)

If the Vols lose five games (my preseason prediction), there will be either be a new coaching philosophy or some new people pacing the sideline.

I’m not saying it will spell the end of the Phillip Fulmer era. It doesn’t even have to be the end of the Randy Sanders era.

But an awful season could bring an end to that lingering, strip-club feeling that something great is so close you can touch it, but not close enough to do anything with it. Instead of reaching the goal, you’re left with a smelly jacket, empty wallet and a heart full of shattered dreams.

What are eight-, nine- and 10-win seasons good for? Absolutely nothing (much like war, hooh, good G-d y’all).

The Vols recent trend of not meeting expectations makes fans feel like they’re going to Regas to get a steak but instead end up with a burger from Chili’s. It’s not bad enough to really complain about, but not good enough to be excited over — just enough to be content with the status quo.

What’s worse is that Tennessee fans have been led like a blind man through a salad bar into believing that the Vols can continue their current trend and have a legitimate chance at a championship.

This is not going to happen if UT continues to throw a 3-yard pass on fourth-and-10. Or tries to milk the clock by running three straight draws up by six points in the third quarter.

Yes, it’s bad play-calling, but that is due to a 1950s philosophy. I know the coaches appreciate General Neyland’s game maxims, but do they really have to use his playbook, too?

There is enough talent at nearly every position that the Vols can find a way to score on a somewhat consistent basis. But its not this style.

And there won’t be any need to find solutions to the problems unless UT crumbles down the stretch.

If Tennessee really flops this year, the sun glaring off Neyland Stadium’s empty bleachers could wake up someone on the coaching staff. Maybe Fulmer will take his hands off Sanders’ neck and allow him to open up the offense and at least experiment with his talent.

Sanders has shown an ability to put points on the board when he has to. See the ‘03 Alabama game or last year’s Kentucky game.

Guys like Chris Hannon and Robert Meachem should be making big plays and just aren’t. This not only affects the happiness of those players, but will keep major recruits from coming to UT.

If you were an all-American receiver why would you come to Tennessee?

To catch an 8-yard pass across the middle or to block for a 2-yard run off guard? No chance.

So if the Vols’ high talent level drops off, what will UT be left with?

They could turn into a replica of Penn State circa 2001-2004, when even PSU’s tradition couldn’t get it into a bowl game.

But enough losses even forced the ancient Joe Paterno to change so he could fix the problems that were ailing his dying program. Paterno is playing freshmen for the first time and even using the spread option, things people in Beaver Stadium have been begging for.

Now the Nittany Lions are undefeated and in the top 10.

Right now, PSU is proving to Tennessee that sometimes the biggest win for a program can be too many losses.

— Scott Kushner is the assistant sports editor of The Daily Beacon and a junior in Journalism and Electronic Media. He can be reached at skushner@utk.edu.

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Cannot pull against the Vols but Scott's philosophy is right on.