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Tennessee vs The Maxims vs The 2010 Orange & White Game

Your fearless and zipper-scarred scribe sallied forth today to watch his beloved Volunteers do battle with not only themselves but also the still palpable ghosts of the previous season and other scars left by the scurrilous California Crowd who decamped from the benighted shores of Lake Loudon under cover of darkness.  I was amply aided in this by both Elder (a current UT student) and Younger Sons&Heirs. Your reporter was gratified that Younger S&H, despite being a dyed-in-the-wool Notre Dame fan, sported not only a UT hat but an orange & white checkerboard polo!

My first appraisal is that this is going to be a process.  Head Volunteer Derek Dooley may be a lot of things, but flashy isn't one of them.  That being said, Coach Dooley spent the entire game ON THE FIELD roaming the offensive backfields and taking mental notes of “who did what and who sat on his butt” on both sides of the ball. No press box. No headphones.  Just him and the players.  The assistant coaches called the plays from the sidelines. He was Right There to praise the praiseworthy and point out the erroneous in real time and did so.  I like that. After nigh on to 20 years of stoicism and gum-chewing it seemed refreshing.

Actual game play was uneven.  It took most of the first quarter for the teams to get their feet under them and their heads in the game. Tauren Poole is the real deal.  He displayed pass-catching skills and spin moves that left Orange defenders grasping at the air – one aspect of Tennessee's game that still persists from the previous regimes. *sigh*

Both lines had moments good and bad.  The Orange offensive line never did clear a path for David Oku.  Whether that was a reflection of the Orange o-line, the White d-line, or what is uncertain.  Shane Reviez had a good outing at MLB.  

Freshman QB Tyler Bray certainly had the better day over rival Matt Simms.  He threw long and short completing 18 of 40 (many drops *sigh* x2) for 200 yards and one TD.  Simms (12/26 for 125) also had a TD throw but was sacked five times and threw three picks.  Simms seemed indecisive and not really in command of the offense despite having two years experience over Bray.  Coach Dooley says the job is still open and I'm sure he has real hesitation over throwing a true freshman to the SEC wolves. My bet is we'll see a lot of both in the UT Martin and Oregon games come September.

It is very hard to say anything definitive about the 2010 version of the Vols based on one O&W game with its attendant restrictions, the mixed teams, and the simple fact that I have  NEVER seen a spring game (high school or college) where a lot of "bother-in-law-ing" wasn't a common feature.  It's just the nature of the beast.

Final game assessment: I mostly watched the lines and Coach Dooley. I am still unsure of the former but feel much better about the latter.  No doubt about it, the Vols have their work cut out for them in 2010 and certainly won't be contending for the SEC crown unless the Gators and the Tide come down with mass outbreaks of the Pig Flu on September 18 and October 23 respectively.

(Hmmm, where are those vials I picked up at the CDC?)

In the end, I saw flashes of skill and talent that bode well for the Vols at least equaling last year's record.  

We all know the real keys to victory in 2010 or any other year. So, Volunteers, one last time before the Skyhawks heave upon our shores September 4th:

1. The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.  

2. Play for and make the breaks. When one comes your way … SCORE!

3. If at first the game – or the breaks – go against you, don’t let up … PUT ON MORE STEAM!  

4. Protect our kickers, our quarterback, our lead and our ballgame.  

5. Ball! Oskie! Cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle … THIS IS THE WINNING EDGE.  

6.Press the kicking game.  Here is where the breaks are made.  

7. Carry the fight to the opponent and keep it there for sixty minutes.

One more festive note, today featured absolutely perfect weather conditions for a spring game.  It was warm but not hot with random clouds set against brilliant blue skies. It was also good to see the tradition continue of bevies of legendary beauties that seem to sprout from the very earth itself on a bright spring day on the campus of the The University of Tennessee.  *good sigh*

Speaking of legends, the half-time flag football game between former Vols was NEXT LEVEL.

Another Tennessee legend sat a mere row or two behind us.  Fuad Reveiz was there to watch Shane in action.  He and I talked for a few minutes after the game and he said Nick is doing OK.  

I'll see you all in 140 days.  

Be there.

Aloha!

MAXOMG

© 2010 One Man Gang