I said all week Tennessee was facing the toughest road game in all of college football & MY GOSH did they go out and perform. Even in defeat I sure would have been proud of those guys. TN took the fight to Fla and kept it there for 60 minutes. That's all you can ask. Congrats to players and coaches alike.

At the end of the Natl Champ game I remember Keith Jackson saying something to the effect that Phillip Fulmer had been "validated" as a head coach. However, I will argue the win in the Swamp gives Fulmer more credence & respect than the '98 season--particularly if we back it up next week in Atlanta.

You can tell me I'm nuts but I truly believe beating LSU for the 2nd time the the SECC game will be more difficult than beating the Gators last night or Miami in Pasadena. Why? MENTAL FOCUS. Fulmer & his staff have an INCREDIBLY tough task in getting this team as physically & mentally prepared for LSU as they were for Fla. All the negative this team heard for a week turned out to be on HUGE positive. These guys had something to prove & they were determined to "show the world" what they were made of. This week all the adoration & pressure will now be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Vols by pundits across the country. They better not pay attention or they'll get burned just like Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Florida.

In the words of my man Chuck D & Public Enemy, "Don't believe the hype". Not yet.

I don't think it is going to be tougher than the swamp, but I think we are going to have a battle on our hands in Atl next week. LSU has a very balanced Offense. If we take the fight to them like we did the Gators we will win pretty big, but if we stay on cloud 9 it is going to be tough.

WE DRAINED THE SWAMP!!!!!

and that is very difficult to do against two quality opponents in back to back weeks.

I am confident our guys will be ready but our coaches and captains have to work really hard to get the focus off Fla & on to LSU IMMEDIATELY.

Also, I can certainly understand Clausen's comments at Tom Black Track concerning winning next week & "going home" to the Rose Bowl. However, I hope I don't here the RB words out of a player or coach all week.

Lets keep hamerin away at the maxims and keeping the Vol Nation faithfull to them.
I'm tellin ya, the dang things work if ya keep them in focus.
Coach Fulmer, just keep on being the leader.
I saw you in my binocks on that ref givin him hell, I saw ya give Witten that great damn bear hug that brought a Vol tear to this mans eye, and I saw you shoulder to shoulder in fact...arm around shoulder as you and Sanders planned your strategy in the early 4th quarter goings.
I saw your gamesfaces as you took the ramp from the bus to the stadium. The Gators could not set up their gauntlet because the walk was full of Tennessee Vol fans!!!!HA!!
Coach Chavis I've been on your ass all year. You were the first one off the bus. That look told me you were ready for BEAR much less what SS had to offer. One hell of a job.
I saw all the players game face at 2:10 pm on Sat. I even interviewed Casey's little brother Richard with Carters cam.
And the man at defensive end, my old position, looked at my VolBandit game face, cracked up and we clasped hands for the moment.
Hell of a game Will.
We need yet another in Atlanta.

LSU IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN WHEN WE PLAYED THEM EARLIER, AND DON'T FORGET WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR

Speaking of the swamp..I think we should refer to it as
"the pond" from now on.

Let us not over inflate the ORANGE-HYPER BUBBLE. Some of the wise hands like, PV & Brocky Top are explaining to you the similarities in results that a FLAT team & an OVER HYPED team often produce: LOSSES!!!

Glad you are here though!!

but what did I tell ya?

However, I must admit I didn't dream TN's rear ends would be smacked as badly they were--particularly in the 2nd half.