All in the Game: An unusual situation

November 8, 2012

All in the Game: An unusual situation

By Jim Butler Chronicle correspondent The Crossville Chronicle Thu Nov 08, 2012, 01:43 PM CST

CROSSVILLE — What I am talking about here is the fact that so deep into the season Tennessee is still looking for their first SEC win, and Vandy has three. Of course, anyone who knows me, knows that I would trade those three for one over the Volunteers.

That meaningful victory happens so very infrequently and quite possibly won't happen this season, but for now my Vanderbilt flag is beautifully gracing my Ford Taurus.

Tennessee's offense certainly showed what it is capable of against Troy, and the defense showed what it cannot do, at least to this point in the season. I'm sure Frank Gale must have some idea on how to fix the problem. For Coach Derek Dooley's sake it must happen soon.

The sports talk shows that I listen to on a regular basis seem to agree that Bobby Petrino and Charlie Strong are two likely candidates for the UT job should there be a change.

Kentucky's Joker Phillips will be job hunting after this season. I guess a 40-0 beatdown by Vanderbilt on your home field is a bad mark on your resume. Sorry Randy Bond.

I thought that the Commodores played very well in that one and hopefully that will carry over into this weekend in Oxford. Ole Miss is playing some very good football this year and, like Vanderbilt, they have a 5-4 record.

Tennessee shouldn't have any problem with the Missouri Tigers, especially facing them at home. They simply need Buddy Hackett look-a-like Sal Sunseri to get the defensive plan in place properly. I read that Dooley is going to have some input into the defense this week. I think that we all can agree they need to change something.

One of the Sunseri sons almost was able to celebrate a huge upset, as the Pittsburgh quarterback and his teammates fell to Notre Dame in triple overtime. They were unsuccessful on a chip shot field goal that would have won it for them.

After the Titans appeared to have turned things around, they come out and lose two home games in a row, the last in a most embarassing way to the Chicago Bears.

Apparently owner Bud Adams has threatened everyone from the tee retrievers to the general manager with job losses if things don't improve. I think I'd try to offer a little more positivity, rather than threats, but he does have the money and the control.

Let's all be positive this weekend because by thinking good thoughts good things will occur. It has always worked for me and it will for you also. You yell for yours and I'll yell even louder for mine. Have a great week.

Go Jets! Go Panthers! Go USA!

(Jim Butler is a Chronicle correspondent and his column appears regularly.)

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