Underachieving nothing new
Ryan Callahan - Sports Editor
Tuesday, October 11, 2005 issue
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At least 50,000 fans probably left Neyland Stadium shocked that Tennessee played so poorly against Georgia, depressed about the overall direction of the program and thinking the Vols finally have lost their grip on the top tier of the Southeastern Conference.

But if you’re surprised they lost, you shouldn’t be.

Seasons like this are no longer the exception for Tennessee. The Vols are entering an era and welcoming an attitude in which 8-3 is fine and 9-2 is a terrific season. With the hideous 27-14 loss Saturday to the fifth-ranked Bulldogs, UT will almost certainly be without a championship for the seventh straight year.

Yeah, this is still Tennessee. But it’s not that Tennessee.

This is now the norm: a team loaded at almost every position, highly ranked in both preseason polls and somehow given the benefit of the doubt after an impressive bowl game and a loss in the SEC Championship Game amazingly has failed to live up to sky-high expectations.

Shocking? No, not really. Not anymore.

Maybe in the days of Peyton Manning, when the offense was too good to score under 20 points in three of the first five games. Maybe in the days of Cedrick Wilson, when the receivers weren’t five-star recruits but made five-star catches anyway.

For those fans in denial, it’s time to face the facts. The top programs in the SEC are passing by Tennessee year after year, and it’s going to take something drastic to change it.

Yes, the Vols did make the SEC Championship Game last year, and they did in 2001, too. But they lost them both, and with Tennessee’s talent, that shouldn’t happen.

The truth is, as sad as it may be, that No. 1 recruiting classes aren’t doing anything to help Tennessee. All-Americans from across the country have been assembled by Phillip Fulmer, and it’s resulted in two embarrassing losses within the first six weeks of the season.

How did it ever come to this?

Wasn't there a time not too long ago when Tennessee could line up and run the ball right at an opponent, and then spread them out and throw it downfield on them? Wasn’t there an age in which the Vols could almost will their way to a win simply because they were Tennessee and they weren’t supposed to lose?

Well, now the Vols aren’t good on offense, they can’t win on reputation alone and they can’t win a big game at home.

With another loss, Tennessee will almost be assured of its sixth finish outside the top 10 in the last seven years. The results speak for themselves — UT is no longer a top-10 program.

And no matter the problem, the blame falls on the coaching staff. Forget play-calling. The Vols can’t even line up and get off a play in the biggest game of the year.

Think back to the last time you saw a good team make the mistakes UT made Saturday. Things like that reflect on coaching, just the same as an unproductive business would reflect poorly upon its executives.

An offensive line advertised as the best in school history isn’t overpowering anybody. Supposedly world-class receivers look like they play for Kentucky. Mistakes on special teams make you wonder if they even practice punting.

Before the Vols can think about overtaking Florida and Georgia, something has to change, and it better happen soon. All-Americans won't continue coming to Tennessee to be average.

In the meantime, nothing should surprise you. This is Tennessee football.

— Ryan Callahan is the sports editor of The Daily Beacon and a junior in journalism and electronic media. He can be reached at callahan@utk.edu.

This is the exact point that most Vols fans on here have been trying to get across. You guys keep harping on the rather obvious fact that Fulmer shares a good deal of the blame for our situation, but lets face it, he isn't going anywhere. Every head coach shares the blame when things go downhill, but the buck only stops there in theory. What is South Carolina going to do, fire Spurrier because they can't run the ball or stop the run? Getting rid of Fulmer is not an option. We would be the laughing stock of college football if we got rid of someone with his impressive record. Thus, those who place the blame solely on his shoulders are in essence offering no solution to the problem.
What is clear is that we need a philosophical change from the top down. Fulmer treats his coaches the same way that he does his players, too leniently. One of the advantages of this is that he has continuity in the staff, but when that staff sucks, then continuity obviously becomes a bad thing. Randy Sanders, Pat Washington, and Jimmy Ray Stephens are not good coaches. For those who don't know, Washington is the receivers coach. Stephens handles the offensive line and Sanders is the offensive coordinator. We need to swap these guys out for ones who know what they are doing.
If we do bring in some quality guys at these spots, then Fulmer needs to leave them alone and let them coach. I realize that our way has been successful, but it isn't any longer. We desperately need new ideas and Phil must get past his reputation as a control freak. It is time to bring in someone with a solid reputation and give him the reins. Chavis and our defense deserve much better than they are getting.

I agree, and Randy Sanders should be the first one to go. Today, if possible.

No It's not .. Most fans give me the

" I bet you woul dtake a NC and FUlmers record at Oxford " REsponse when I point out the underachiement at UT

Its kinda funny how the coaches never get the credit for the great wins, only blamed for the bad losses. After the LSU/UT game all we heard was how horrible the LSU coaches were, with barely a mention of the UT coaching staff. Now UT loses to UGA and we hear about how horrible the UT coaches are, without even the first post about how good the UGA staff did in the game.

In the SEC we have probably the best overall collection of coaches from top to bottom. If you're here long enough the other coaches will start to figure out ways to beat you. Look at Spurriers first 6 years in the SEC compared to his last 6 years in the SEC. Now Fulmer isnt getting the same records he used to, even with better talent. The list goes on and on. UT has hade a great run and will still be a competitor in the SEC each year. I find it funny that the writer of this article basically came off as saying UT wasnt that good anymore because the fans think 9-2 is a great season. Damn, I mean, this is the SEC we're talking about here. I would say that 9-2 IS a great season. However, people are starting to figure out ways to beat UT, which is bound to happen when you have basically 14 years of film to watch. If you wanna stay on top you gotta change things up.

I completely disagree with this article and the fact that Fulmer needs to make changes to his gameplan in order to win. The gameplan is not at fault, it is the execution that is lacking. I see two problems with this Tennessee team.

1. Both quarterbacks are inconsistent and lack confidence.

2. The lack of discipline, and lack of accountability for off-the-field problems.

This team would be great, if it were a team. It seems like they are just a bunch of players with the same goal, no team chemistry.

Who is to blame?

Who else can you blame but Fulmer? I don't think that he should be fired, but I would expect the AD to step in and force stricter punishments for players who get out of line. I would also force Fulmer to choose one QB and stay with him through thick and thin. You have to put up with mistakes when you play a young QB, deal with it, let Ainge learn and in 2 years you will have an all-american, and a shot at the NC.

Those are good points. I think one of the things that adds to the problem is that HS players see UT as a school that puts a lot of players in the pros. Miami is seen the same way and look at how they act down there. There is a such thing as having TOO many stars on your team. A lot of players have their own agenda, and thats to boost their own stats so they go pro at the highest possible bid. The leniancy thing going on at UT is just adding fuel to the fire.

Coudnt have said it better myself

I wish that I had posted that.

I tried to rep you, but I have to "spread" first.

The someone else you can blame is the OC Randy Sanders. You can blame Fulmer for hiring/not firing him, but Sanders offense is way too predictable. You can get away with this against lesser talented teams but not against teams with equal or more talent.
As for the QB's, I just don't see how you can leave a QB in the game when he will just throw it up for grabs from his own endzone, i.e. Ainge/LSU. Clausen was put in to not make mistakes. Against UGA he made 2 inexcusable turnovers. I do agree I wouldn't continue to shuffle QB's, I wouldn't play either one and go with the next in line.

I think that part of this is also what FernandoMike was saying when he wrote, "Fulmer treats his coaches the same way that he does his players, too leniently." Everytime I see Tony McDaniel (sp?) on the field, it makes me physically ill.