I can only assume (hope?) that the 'strength-of-schedule' factor will give UT a nice boost in the BCS..yes? I mean, come on, I don't know of another team schedule nearly as brutal as ours. Of the teams on our schedule, three (I think) are either top 10ers now or were when we played them (LSU), not to mention the back-to-back road trips to top 10 venues. Plus, Bama could conceivably be top 10 by that time, yet another tough road trip. Notre Dame will be no pushover, confident I'm sure after knocking us off last year. AND, as much as I hate to recall it, if two years ago still lingers around the Neyland air, playing Georgia at home is a small consolation, although the general concensus seems to be...they are overrated/overranked.
I think the prayer from us Vol fans should be that the collective team mindset is ready to take care of business and not hung up on 'Glory in Baton Rouge.' There is no doubt Rick Clausen is the man for the job, but the level we soared to in the 2nd half at LSU is tough to sustain. And just to look at it objectively, the now deified Clausen is a little loose-cannon-ish himself on longer pass plays it seems. Ainge or Clausen, I get nervous as hell when those guys air it out. But again, although Clausen is not heavy on finesse, he has the sort of Steve McNairish toughness and resiliency to get the job done in a majority of games, I think. If UT gets a BCS bowl, and especially if they win it, I won't be surprised if somebody in the NFL gives him coach-class ticket, lol.
I hope so much that Monday night was the beginning of a true Cinderella story, one in which she wears, of course, an orange dress.
By the way, in case it doesn't get mentioned enough anymore, I sure miss John Ward!
Peace out, my orange brethren!