This has been, without doubt, the most interesting offseason for the Vols in my life time. For the first time since General Neyland was brought in to “beat Vanderbilt,” someone without past ties to the program takes over.

As everyone knows, Phillip Fulmer was forced to step down near the end of one of the worst seasons in Tennessee history. Fulmer was the dean of SEC coaches and finished with 100 more wins than losses. He brought the university a national championship and brought in the program’s most famous athlete. He went to Tennessee. He loved the school. He lived the dream of most East Tennessee boys and played for the Vols. However, when things end, they usually end badly.

Personally, I like Fulmer. I would rather win with Fulmer than anyone else. He loves the team the same way I do. In an era of mercenary coaches like Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, Fulmer was the last of a dying breed of guys who came home to coach.

However, I do agree with the decision. Fulmer wasn’t handling the media well. He wasn’t bringing in the level of athletes he once did. There were legal issues with the ones he did have. The Vols weren’t in sniffing range of Florida, Alabama or a BCS game. It was just unacceptable. Enter Lane Kiffin.

The hiring of Kiffin has brought a lot of attention to the Tennessee football program. Without a doubt, Kiffin won his first press conference. The line about beating Florida is a little over played because after he said it, he said AD Mike Hamilton told him to say something like that.

Quickly Kiffin brought in one of the best coaching staffs in the country. I would assume that Hamilton hired him based on the staff he would bring with him. In a matter of a few months the Volunteers assembled a top 10 recruiting class and landed number one prospect Bryce Brown.

Since then Kiffin has gone on a barn storming tour of the state and saying all the things the fans want to hear. While it has irritated coaches from Florida to Alabama and back, the fans are eating it up.

2009 Season

The first season of the “Kiffin Experiment” is going to be a difficult one. The Vols have inexperience on the offensive line and no one has stepped up to be “the guy” at quarterback. Both are huge problems that followed Fulmer to the door.

The defense finished the 2008 season in the top five in the nation. Led by all world safety Eric Berry and NFL coaching sensation, Monte Kiffin, the Vols defense should be a solid unit again.

Schedule

9/05/09 Western Kentucky 10/24/09 At Alabama

9/12/09 UCLA 10/31/09 SOUTH CAROLINA

9/19/09 At Florida 11/07/09 MEMPHIS

9/26/09 OHIO UNIVERSITY 11/14/09 At Ole’ Miss

10/03/09 AUBURN 11/21/09 VANDERBILT

10/10/09 GEORGIA 11/28/09 At Kentucky

I think the Vols will improve on last years 5-7 season. While the Vols did struggle on offense last season under Dave Clawson, I can’t help but think with the talent on that side of the ball won’t be better. Clawson’s scheme wasn’t very good and the players just didn’t buy in to it.

With that being said, I don’t know how good/ or bad this team is going to be. No one does. But this being a preview and all I will say the Vols beat Western Kentucky, UCLA, Ohio, Memphis, Vandy and Kentucky. Toss ups to Auburn, UGA, Carolina and Ole Miss. Eight wins and a trip to the Peach Bowl might not be out of the question. Nine wins might be a stretch. Seven or less would be viewed as another down year.

–Smitty

It has been ten years since the Vols somehow managed to win the National Title. Many will argue that the Phil Fulmer’s job still rests on that 1998 team. For the first time since like 1908 the Volunteers have gone outside the program to hire a coordinator and an offensive staff. This may be one of the signs of the apocalypse, but that whirling sound you have been hearing since late spring is the General Robert Neyland spinning in his grave.

The 2007 team was one of the most bizarre teams in Tennessee history. They took poundings at Alabama and Florida, a crazy loss at California, and a close loss to LSU in the SEC Championship Game. However, they stomped Arkansas and cost Georgia a shot at the National Title, while both teams were arguably much more talented. Then they went up big on South Carolina, only to let them back in the game in the second half. They went 35 overtimes with Kentucky and somehow came from behind to beat Vandy.

At the end of the season OC David Cutcliffe took the head coaching position at that ACC powerhouse, Duke, and took most of the offensive staff with him. QB Erik Ainge graduated and all world linebacker Jerod Mayo went to the NFL. Former Richmond Head Coach Dave Clawson brings a west coast/ spread attack (well that is what it is being referred to in Knoxville, no one really knows what it he is going to do because there isn’t a lot of video on the Richmond Spiders floating around on You Tube.)

Offense

Tennessee is stacked on the line and at the wide receiver position. Running back Arian Foster is 685 yards away from being the schools all time leading rusher and has two solid back-ups in Lennon Creer and Montario Hardesty. However, the season will come down to weather or not junior Jonathan Crompton can pick up the new offense and replace Ainge. Crompton was a five star recruit out of North Carolina. He has a big-time arm and isn’t afraid to take a hit (both qualities Ainge didn’t have.) Lucas Taylor and Gerald Jones are both talented playmakers Crompton will have to get the ball to.

Defense

Losing Jerod Mayo hurt: in fact if he had returned for another season the Vols might be picked to be a top ten team. However, Tennessee is quietly becoming Linebacker U. Rico McCoy and Eliz Wilson both have seen a lot of playing time and will fill the void nicely.

The defensive line showed much improvement as the 2007 season went on. Dan Williams and DeMonte Bolden are the leaders up front. Look for Ben Martin and Walt Fisher to have big seasons.

If for some reason a player makes it past the linebackers, he is probably going to wish he hadn’t. Freshman All-American safety Eric Berry will be there waiting to unload some pain. I have been watching Tennessee football for over 20 years and Berry is the hardest hitting safety the Vols have had in that time period. This kid is going to be a special player. Former strong safety Demetrice Morley was reinstated and along with Brent Vinson and DeAngelo Willingham (Cornerbacks), and all-world return man/shut down corner Dennis Rogan, this is probably the best secondary in the conference.

Special Teams

Rogan will be returning the punts and sharing kickoff duty with Berry and Vinson, with a few others mixed in.

Daniel Lincoln was solid in his freshman year and has gained a lot of trust with Fulmer.

The real weakness will be punter Britton Colquitt’s suspension due to his DUI arrest. Chad Cunningham will handle the punting duties for the first five games. Colquitt handled the kickoffs last season and I assume Cunningham will do so for the first five games.

Schedule

The season starts for the Vols with a visit to UCLA. After that UAB comes to town for a tune-up before the real fun begins. Florida, a trip to the plains against Auburn and at Georgia comprises a three-out-of-four week gauntlet with Northern Ill. thrown in the middle. After that it doesn’t get easier with home games with Mississippi State and Bama. Then off to visit our friend Steve Spurrier in Columbia. Followed by an eaier November with Wyoming, Vandy and Kentucky (both of whom should have beaten Tennessee last year.)

Overall

This is a tough season to predict. If Crompton can catch on quick to Clawson’s vision and Clawson’s vision is worth a damn, then this could be a dangerous team that could win the East and maybe the whole conference. If you win the SEC Title, then you are in the National Title hunt. However, Tennessee always plays a tough schedule and with a first year starting quarterback National Title might be too much to ask. Of course, Tee Martin was a first year starter ten years ago…

The games with UAB, Wyoming and Northern Illinois are W’s. UCLA, MSU, Vandy and Kentucky are all games I think the Vols should win (UCLA had big time injuries at QB and RB.) Alabama, Spurrier, and Auburn are going to toss ups. Florida and Georgia will require Tennessee to bring their A game. I think Florida is a little overrated, but let’s face it, they own the Vols. It is kind of the other way around with UGA. So right now I say the Vols beat UCLA, UAB, Northern Ill, MSU, Spurrier, Bama, Wyoming, Kentucky, and Vandy. There is a good chance they split the UGA/Florida games and I think the Auburn game is a loss. That gives the Vols around a 10-2/ 9-3 record. Not too bad. It could easily go from 10-2 to 7-5, you never know in the SEC. I will go out on a limb and say the Vols go to on of three bowls: Sugar, Cotton, or whatever the Citrus Bowl is called now.

–Smitty

By Smitty

2006 in Review

The 2006 Volunteers regrouped and showed that 2005 was just a fluke. David Cutcliffe returned as offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach and apparently fixed Erik Ainge. Ainge was second in the league in passing averaging around 249 yards a game. On a funny note, Andre’ Woodson of Kentucky lead the league in passing while being coached by former Vol QB’s coach Randy Sanders. Maybe the most important coaching move was to shift Trooper Taylor from Running Backs to Wide Receivers coach. Taylor took an underachieving group and made them into studs, including first round pick Robert Meachem. Key injuries in the Air Force game to Justin Harrell and Inky Johnson really put a strain on the Tennessee Defense.

The season was rolling along smoothly until the LSU game. The Vols had come from behind late in the game, thanks to LSU’s many turnovers. But the Vols lost Ainge and the game. The next week Fulmer started back up Jonathan Crompton at Arkansas, but Darren McFadden completely dominated the Vols with a Hershel Walker like game.

Tennessee looked like they might finish in the top 12, but an embarrassing loss to Penn State in the Out Back Bowl put a sour taste back into many fan’s mouths.

2007 Positions Quarterback Erik Ainge is back after a good 2006 season. It is hard to believe that he is already a senior. Off season knee surgery may have set him back with feeling out his new receivers, but he should be ready to start the season. In both seasons where he was the primary starter he has been injured and forced to miss games. Super Sophomore, Jonathan Crompton should be a capable fill in, but will be pressed by Freshman Nick Stephens. Running Backs

This group was injury plagued and didn’t get many holes to run through all season. However, LaMarcus Coker stepped up and proved to be the home run threat the Vols have been without since Travis Stephens. Arian Foster was hurt al of last season and may even surpass Coker as the starter. Montario Hardesty may have the most talent of all the Vols backs, but is consistently injured.

Wide Receivers All three starters from last season are gone and no one in the spring really pulled away from the pack. It looks like Trooper Taylor may rely on some very talented freshman to step up early. That is never a good sign. Sophomore Quinton Hancock will probably start out as the number one with transfer Kenny O’Neal being the deep threat (trust me, he is like 4.2 fast) and Freshman Bret Vinson being the other target for Ainge. My vote for new comer of the year in the SEC is Vinson. All reports on him are that he might be the best athlete Tennessee has had at receiver in many years. He also has great hands. O’Neal is a former FSU track star and will return kicks. Josh Briscoe, Lucus Taylor, and Austin Rogers will all be in the fold as well, but really have been lack luster at best at UT. There are a few incoming freshman, like Ahmad Paige and Gerald Jones, that may pass them by as well. The Vols also have solid targets at tight end with Chris Brown, Jeff and Brad Cottam. O-Line

This is another of Tennessee possible weaknesses. The only sure starters are Josh McNeil, Anthony Parker, and Eric Young. That leaves a tackle and a guard slot open. Chris Scott seems to have won the left tackle spot and Ramon Foster should get the nod at guard. Jacques McClendon will battle Foster for his job all season. This group could be really good, but could very well be average at best.

Kicker

Daniel Lincoln will probably start off as the place kicker, but if he falters it will be punter Britton Colquitt.

DEFENSE

D-Line

Demonte Bolden, Dan Williams, Walter Fisher and J.T. Mapu will rotate at the tackle spots. Xavier Mitchell, Antonio Reynolds, Wes Brown and Robert Ayers will share time at the ends with Reynolds and Mitchell poised to cause a lot of damage. This group should be stronger that last years. Hopefully the pass rush will improve, because defensive back is green group of guys. John Chavis is also working in some 3-4 schemes, more on that in a second. Freshman Ben Martin should see some playing time as well.

Linebacker

The Vols strongest area has to be at linebacker. In fact, their depth is why Chavis wants to use a few 3-4 packages so he can get these guys on the field. Jerod Mayo, Ryan Karl, Rico McCoy, Adam Myers-White and Ellix Wilson all come to hit. Mayo, Karl, and McCoy will probably be the starters. If they can avoid injuries, they are going to be scary good. Look out for freshman Chris Donald to make an impact this season.

Secondary

The Good: All American Safety Jonathan Hefney is back and will also return kicks.

The Bad: The rest of last years starting secondary are no longer on the team.

The Ugly: Antonio Gaines, Marsalous Johnson, and Jarod Parrish all won starting jobs in the spring. None of them really seem ready to start in the SEC

Safety Nevin McKenzie and corner/safety DeAngelo Willingham, from the junior college ranks, will provide some support in the fall and will probably start. Antonio Wardlow will be a solid reserve as well. Freshmen Eric Berry may figure in too.

Punter

Britton Colquitt is the man! How could he not be with that last name? When he graduates I hope we can find another Colquitt, even if it is a sister.

Schedule and Smitty’s Forecast (This assumes everyone stays healthy)

California- This should be a good game. I am giving the edge to the Vols after last years romp.

Southern Mississippi- Will also be a tough test, but Tennessee SHOULD pull this one out.

Florida- The defending national champs (ugh) only beat the Vols by a point last year and they lose a lot of key personnel. UT starts off 3-0.

Arkansas State- Whatever.

Georgia- UGA owns the Vols at home. I think Tennessee will pull out a close one however and get the upper hand in the SEC East.

Mississippi State- Arkansas State would give them a run for their money.

Alabama- “The Nick” effect won’t have settled in yet. Tennessee by 10.

South Carolina- Spurrier scares me, his team does not. 8-0.

Louisiana-Lafayette- 9-0

Darren McFadden…I mean Arkansas- Not with Nutt and not in Knoxville.

Vanderbilt- Vandy is going to a bowl this year, but not turning the trick again in Knoxville.

Kentucky- The Mildcats will be better this year, but they won’t stop this undefeated party.

SEC Championship Game (LSU)- The Vols come from behind late and beat LSU with a game winning field goal.

BCS National Title Game- Well I think USC will probably trip the Vols up, but I went out this far, minus well take them. Tennessee 28 USC 21, we are turning the trick in men’s and women’s basketball too!