OneManGang
Senior Member
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,853
- Likes
- 8,240
Tennessee vs The Maxims vs Cincinnati
As Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead broke loose before most fans had sat down and shot by Tennessee defenders for a touchdown to put the Bearcats up by seven, this writer had visions of another “Bearcat” incident many years ago.
Late in World War II, in the Spring of 1945 some bright spark in Congress noticed that the United States was buying five different front-line fighters for the Army Air Force and the Navy and began to ask why. Noting that the North American P-51 was dominating the skies over Europe, it was decided that a test would be held to see if the mighty Mustang could be adapted for the Navy and cut out at least one Navy fighter. Since it would take most of the year to adapt the P-51 to life at sea, the Navy decided the Mustang would be tested against the new Grumman F8F Bearcat which would be deploying in squadron service in the Autumn of 1945.
The two planes taxied out and were parked next to each other at the end of the runway, both the Packard Merlin of the Mustang and the Pratt&Whitney R-2800 of the F8f were pushed to full power and the brakes released. The Mustang was designed for longer land bases and took about 2500 feet to get airborne. The Bearcat lifted off in 110 feet and made two simulated firing passes on the P-51 before the Mustang could get its gear up.
The Congressman returned to Washington.
The tale of the tape, though, is this: the F8F reached the Pacific just as the war ended and NEVER shot down an enemy plane in air-to-air combat. Its only active service came with the French in Vietnam in the early 1950s where it was used as a bomb-lugger. The P-51 is widely regarded as the best air-superiority fighter of World War II and possibly the best of all time. The 4th Fighter Group, one of fourteen fighter groups operating the Mustang with the 8th Air Force flew escort missions in P-51s over Germany. The 4th was credited with the destruction of 4004 German planes by itself. It was the P-51 that enabled Eisenhower to tell his boys going into Normandy that, “If you see airplanes overhead, they will be ours.”
Cincinnati threw a scare into the Vols early on and had the game tied 14-14 at the end of the 1st quarter, but that was it. Simply put, the Vols play in what is possibly the toughest conference in all of college football and even in a “rebuilding” year simply operate at a different level. Like the Mustang of yore, University of Tennessee football is the stuff of legends, Cincinnati is the late-comer who, while quite capable - like its Grumman Bearcat namesake - is only a footnote to the annals of college football.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Great Day, just how many brain cells does it take to figure out that the ROI on a 4th down play is about 10 per cent? That being said, Riverboat Gambler Derek Dooley's onside kick call followed by Tyler Bray's strike to Hunter swung the momentum to Tennessee and it stayed there for most of the game.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way … SCORE!
See above.
3. If at first the game – or the breaks – go against you, don’t let up … PUT ON MORE STEAM!
The Old General has to be pleased with the way the Vols fought through adversity and prevailed.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Tyler Bray had days to throw the ball and shredded the Cincinnati defense. Tennessee gave up a late score but a Palardy field goal to extend the lead to 45-23 settled the Bearcats' hash.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle … THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
The offensive line still can't consistently open holes. Far too many times Tauren Poole or Marlin Lane were dropped behind the line. The defense looked like it had paid attention and is well on the way to fixing errors made against Montana.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Derek Dooley must have ice water in his veins if the onside kick is any indication. I like this coach. I really do. Palardy started out booming kickoffs into the end zone but seemed to lose range as the game wore on.
7. Carry the fight to Cincinnati and keep it there for sixty minutes.
More like 53:18, but you get the picture.
The preliminaries are over. The practice missions are done. Come Saturday the Volunteers square off with the Florida Gators in Gainesville.
The 2011 campaign begins in earnest.
It's time.
- One Man Gang
As Cincinnati running back Isaiah Pead broke loose before most fans had sat down and shot by Tennessee defenders for a touchdown to put the Bearcats up by seven, this writer had visions of another “Bearcat” incident many years ago.
Late in World War II, in the Spring of 1945 some bright spark in Congress noticed that the United States was buying five different front-line fighters for the Army Air Force and the Navy and began to ask why. Noting that the North American P-51 was dominating the skies over Europe, it was decided that a test would be held to see if the mighty Mustang could be adapted for the Navy and cut out at least one Navy fighter. Since it would take most of the year to adapt the P-51 to life at sea, the Navy decided the Mustang would be tested against the new Grumman F8F Bearcat which would be deploying in squadron service in the Autumn of 1945.
The two planes taxied out and were parked next to each other at the end of the runway, both the Packard Merlin of the Mustang and the Pratt&Whitney R-2800 of the F8f were pushed to full power and the brakes released. The Mustang was designed for longer land bases and took about 2500 feet to get airborne. The Bearcat lifted off in 110 feet and made two simulated firing passes on the P-51 before the Mustang could get its gear up.
The Congressman returned to Washington.
The tale of the tape, though, is this: the F8F reached the Pacific just as the war ended and NEVER shot down an enemy plane in air-to-air combat. Its only active service came with the French in Vietnam in the early 1950s where it was used as a bomb-lugger. The P-51 is widely regarded as the best air-superiority fighter of World War II and possibly the best of all time. The 4th Fighter Group, one of fourteen fighter groups operating the Mustang with the 8th Air Force flew escort missions in P-51s over Germany. The 4th was credited with the destruction of 4004 German planes by itself. It was the P-51 that enabled Eisenhower to tell his boys going into Normandy that, “If you see airplanes overhead, they will be ours.”
Cincinnati threw a scare into the Vols early on and had the game tied 14-14 at the end of the 1st quarter, but that was it. Simply put, the Vols play in what is possibly the toughest conference in all of college football and even in a “rebuilding” year simply operate at a different level. Like the Mustang of yore, University of Tennessee football is the stuff of legends, Cincinnati is the late-comer who, while quite capable - like its Grumman Bearcat namesake - is only a footnote to the annals of college football.
So how did the team do compared to the Maxims?
1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Great Day, just how many brain cells does it take to figure out that the ROI on a 4th down play is about 10 per cent? That being said, Riverboat Gambler Derek Dooley's onside kick call followed by Tyler Bray's strike to Hunter swung the momentum to Tennessee and it stayed there for most of the game.
2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way … SCORE!
See above.
3. If at first the game – or the breaks – go against you, don’t let up … PUT ON MORE STEAM!
The Old General has to be pleased with the way the Vols fought through adversity and prevailed.
4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.
Tyler Bray had days to throw the ball and shredded the Cincinnati defense. Tennessee gave up a late score but a Palardy field goal to extend the lead to 45-23 settled the Bearcats' hash.
5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle … THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.
The offensive line still can't consistently open holes. Far too many times Tauren Poole or Marlin Lane were dropped behind the line. The defense looked like it had paid attention and is well on the way to fixing errors made against Montana.
6. Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
Derek Dooley must have ice water in his veins if the onside kick is any indication. I like this coach. I really do. Palardy started out booming kickoffs into the end zone but seemed to lose range as the game wore on.
7. Carry the fight to Cincinnati and keep it there for sixty minutes.
More like 53:18, but you get the picture.
The preliminaries are over. The practice missions are done. Come Saturday the Volunteers square off with the Florida Gators in Gainesville.
The 2011 campaign begins in earnest.
It's time.
- One Man Gang
Last edited:
