Finally. I thought this day would never arrive and now we are about to start another season. In my 35 years as a Vol fan no offseason can even come close to compare to this one. I thought the 2011 season would never end, and then late in the 4th quarter of the Kentucky game I was hoping it would not end. It did. As the Kentucky fans stormed the field to celebrate the end of the streak I could not believe that Tennessee Football had fallen so low.
During the offseason I dove into every type of information I possibly could to find out what are we doing to get back on top. For the first time ever I got into the bowels of recruiting, coaching hires, and workout reports. While so many friends and family members looked to have given up hope occasionally I would learn about something we were doing that finally showed promise.
Today I write to you to encourage you and give you great hope that we are only hours away and UT Football will begin to claw its way out of the mire and take back its God given right as a premiere football program.
Why will this team be better? In order for you to compete at any level in the game of football you have to be good at the line of scrimmage. Tennessee this offseason could not have done anything better to improve its defensive front. This coaching staff should be given some credit by putting guys where they can make an immediate impact. Against NC State we will start three Jucos. Maurice Couch has proven he is an SEC talent and a leader of this team. With him and Darrington Sentimore on the ends we will be much improved and the guys backing them up have played in more SEC games than they have. Not to mention the man in the middle Daniel McCullers who comes in at 360lbs. As for our linebackers we now have put some guys in a position to make plays. Dooley said that when our starting LBs are on the field it is our best unit on the team.
On the other side of the ball we now have an SEC offensive line that is pissed off and nasty. When Dooley started the O-line had zero starts and now has over 100. The addition of Tiny Richardson at left Tackle has put Dallas Thomas in a better spot for him and we have speed to pull tackles and guards to create mismatch in the running game. Rajion Neal worked out all summer with the O-line and he is a little bigger and faster than 2011 Heisman finalist Monte Ball from Wisconsin. Make no mistake this team will run the ball well!
The best way I know to relate this upcoming season is to think about the 2006 team. Erik Ainge was coming back for his junior year and had yet play an entire season as a starting QB. We had our old OC back and were tougher on the O-Line again. We had a nasty attitude and a terrible taste in our mouth from the 2005 season that ended on senior day with a loss to Vandy. When we took the field against Cal there were pads popping early and orange jerseys flying to the ball.
I have heard for two weeks the typical down trodden fan accepting the fact we are in a tough game with NC State. There is no way we lose this game. If you think this team who has not been on a field since Lexington will let this golden moment pass them by then you are only thinking of the 2010-2011 football team. Daniel Hood said “we will always be remembered as the team that broke the streak to Kentucky until we win again”. This is the mindset of this football team. They have worked their tails off this summer and have heard the heartache of the VolNation. These players are ready for the Dome……… are you? Vol Fans are you ready for success? Are you ready to rock Cumberland Avenue again? Are you ready to chant SEC after we have sung Rocky Top for the 97th time in the Dome? Well I am, and God willing I will be there to see it all happen!
GBO
