bobothevol

Hearts go out to Swipa's family, even if he's chilling in Hollywood.

These are the sort of things that, I think, you're duty-bound as a Vo to read.

(Note: Comments are NSFW. Article is fine. Run Home Jack has uncovered the ailing of Tennessee Football.

"You stared at me in bewilderment, unable to comprehend why you were on the floor and why the whole room was suddenly staring at you. I wanted to shrink away in embarrassment, but I would never give up on you that easily. So I helped you up and dusted you off, determined to help you regain your confidence and get rid of those big-party jitters. I whirled and twirled and curled, dancing my hardest for you. I tried to help you, but you always did the most inexplicable things at the worst times. Occasionally, we would be in sync, but those times always seemed accidental, as if you were just busting moves at random to see if one of them would work on me." Absolute writing gold from DawgSport's Cherokee's Grip. Definitely worth the whole read, and probably a few dozen more recs than it has. There's been a lot of comparisons made between Mark Richt and Phillip Fulmer, and I think I finally really understand them. It almost makes me want to root for Georgia secretly this year. Don't worry VolBrian: almost. Besides, we've got a young jock of our own, and this club's ripe for the taking by a man with stars on in his back eyes.

Based on a highly unscientific internet survey of invested fans, I present three troll-based solutions offered free to Slive and whatever poachers he can round up as a token of my undying esteem and hubris: ... 2. That as long as the SEC is apparently willing to do away entirely with the "East" portion of its title, it dispense with the "South" as well and spurn A&M in favor of inviting the far-flung high-profile teams of West Virginia and Boise State. Cultural fit matters! (HT: edsbs)

Tennessee tennis player John-Patrick Smith and Alabama gymnast Kayla Hoffman have been named the 2010-2011 Roy F. Kramer SEC Male and Female Athletes of the Year by a vote of the league's athletics directors, Commissioner Mike Slive announced today.

The greatest thing about this story? Is it that it isn't a joke, and that Tennessee does have someone like this involved with their program? Is it that none of us have ever heard of the person? Probably none of those, it's most likely the fact that, again, we are reminded that the power of sports isn't in the great way we feel after our team wins but in the way it brings people together to affect the world for the better. Well done, Hallie King.

Let’s not pretend that this any other game: it’s Army-Navy, and no other game means more to the fans, players and alumni associated with each program. Take Alabama and Auburn, for example. If that pair entered the Iron Bowl at 8-3 and 6-5 — as is the case tomorrow — the game would be important, it would be for bragging rights, but it wouldn’t be, well, vital.

S is for Surprising. The pleasant surprise of the SEC East down the stretch has been the Tennessee offense and Tyler Bray, the freshman QB whose relationship with receiver Denarius Moore borders on the telepathic. (Not that their conversations are that interesting. "Hey, get open." "Okay, done." "Cool, bro. TD." "Thanks.") Bray threw for 354 yards and a pair of scores against Kentucky, Moore had over 200 yards receiving, and Derek Dooley is bowl eligible in a year that started out with complete program disaster for the Vols. They're not even close to horrible, and for that Dooley should be lauded.

Can I get a "Woo-Hoo" up in haer?

"I just found out from the compliance department today that I’ve been cleared,’’ said McRae, a 6-foot-5 wing who has been allowed to practice while UT officials worked on reinstating his eligibility to play in games this season. "Put it out there in bold letters, please. "Do you know how many times I was asked about that?’’

Yeah, okay, it's nothing as serious as the ticker on ESPN made it out to be, like the title of this fanshot, but Bruce Pearl is working without a contract as legal people try to get his new one worked out. The contract was terminated the day before Pearl's press conference on September 10th, and was done so because Bruce broke the last contract he had. It's pretty simple stuff, and nothing I think we should worry about, right?

I don't exactly know where to begin. The conclusion of the article is fine, I suppose, if that's your thing but the logic used to get there is broken, misleading, and reeks of a horribly written opinion piece. Omitting or slanting facts in the investigation aren't really needed to prove your point in this case, so when you choose to be more biased it really speaks a lot to your confidence of a writer. But it is ESPN, after all. I think I'm going to have to drag out a fanpost with this sometime.

Tennessee’s Gerald Jones, who missed the Vols' last three games after breaking a bone in his hand in the opener, said he’s like a "kid at a candy store" in anticipation of his return to the lineup and his matchup with Peterson.

Something’s got to give when two teams whose offenses and defenses both appear to decline after 30 minutes of play face off on the gridiron. Maybe it’s because I strongly suspect that Les Miles will spend the second half staring longingly across the field while thinking he wouldn’t have to wear such a huge hat if only he had hair like Derek’s, but I can’t shake the feeling that "Dooley’s Junkyard Vols" are about to score an SEC upset on the road.