Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!







Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

It was a circus-like atmosphere before the SEC Championship Game. First it was announced that LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini would be taking the Nebraska job...

SEC Championship: LSU Wins; Tennessee Fades into Oblivion

by Tim Pollock (Senior Writer)

17

1693 reads

Sports

December 01, 2007

Les Miles gets a Gatorade bath
http://www.collegefootballnow.com/files/images/les-miles-gatorade-bath.jpgIt was a circus-like atmosphere before the SEC Championship Game.

First it was announced that LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini would be taking the Nebraska job. Then came word that LSU head coach Les Miles was leaving for Michigan—which was followed by assurances that he would in fact be staying in Baton Rouge.

To top it off, LSU fifth-year senior quarterback Matt Flynn was a late scratch due to injury.

Talk about distractions.

But the the Tigers stayed the course, held Tennessee to one first-half score, and took control late in the game. 

The question now:  Did Miles and Co. just play themselves into the BCS Championship Game?

Given that the only blemishes on their resume have come courtesy of two triple-overtime games, you'd have to think the Tigers will get a shot at the title.  

As for Rocky Top—the country tried to tell you...but you didn’t want to listen. 

You just aren’t good enough. 

1998—that’s the last time you won the SEC Championship. Both Georgia and Florida have won two titles since then—and the Bulldogs and Gators look likely to vie for the top spot again next year.

We’ve heard the excuses, Vol fans: injuries, youth, schedule, coaching changes.

Welcome to college football. Every team in the nation deals with those problems. 

If any game were ever UT's for the taking, it was this one. The coaching distractions; the second-string quarterback with a busted finger; the missed 30-yard field goal by Colt David; the early injury to LSU RB Keiland Williams; the momentum-changing Trindon Holliday fumble caused by his own teammate; the awful interception by Ryan Perriloux—it was all there for you, Tennessee.

And you still couldn’t get it done.

As it stands, the 11 AM Outback Bowl likely awaits the Volunteers.  That’s where the fourth-best SEC team goes come bowl season.

It's been 10 years, Rocky Top. 

When will it end?
Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

17 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Smith J. Howard about 1 year ago

    Oblivion is a strong word. And personally, I think the Chick-fil-a bowl will offer UT a spot. Outback will most likely be Florida.

    Back to Tennessee though. LSU is better, clearly. No one needs you to fill us in on that.

    So what about distractions? So what about fumbles, interceptions, and injuries...after all didn't you address that point yourself then disregard it with your rant about UT wasting the game?

    I'll recap...
    "Welcome to college football."

    Face it Tim, you were going to hate on the Vols either way. If Ainge had led UT to the game-tying score you'd discredit UT's accomplishments by stating those same LSU injuries, missed field goals, coaching distractions, blah blah blah.

    I'll admit - LSU is better. Maybe UT *did* miss a pretty good opportunity... but I feel this article is a little childish if you ask me.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  2. Tim Pollock about 1 year ago

    Thanks for reading my childish article. I enjoyed the one about your messy room.

    You are free to your opinion. I'm free to disagree. Isn't that what this forum is for?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Smith J. Howard about 1 year ago

      Yeah, of course the forum is for self-expression. I wasn't really "dogging" on your article or any of your others. If fact, I dont' think I've ever commented on any others before now.

      I was simply pointing out that you seem to have some sort of problem with the Tennessee team and the Vol fans - that's all. (I do remember some UT fans attacking you, which I don't agree with either)

      You can do as you please, but I won't hold grudges against entire fan bases or teams.

      If you think my analogies are lame, ok - I don't mind. I'd rather be lame and corny than degrading and belittling. It's not really much of a way to win over readers, UT fans or not.

      Just my thoughts.

      -R.H.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  3. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Tim I dont know where you get off slamming Tennessee as you do. Tennessee deserves more credit than you give them. They made it to the SEC championship game. They covered the spread, and only lost by one touchdown. Given, they made costly mistakes that cost them the game, but LSU could have done better as well. Tennessee started off the season 1-2, and was left for dead. They came back and went 8-1. Im not blaming the loss on anything, but the team is indeed young and should have a squad next year. So your predictions for next year's SEC East champions should also consider the Volunteers. I agree with Robert, you were going to hate the Vols either way..

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  4. Tim Pollock about 1 year ago

    I've given my reasons for criticizing Tennessee's 2007 football team (not their entire fan base or institution) far too many times; I don't feel it would do any good to do so again.

    I do not consider Tennessee a viable competitor for next year's East crown. To me, last night's game was their season in a nutshell. Great effort, but just not talented enough to win. I feel that will be the case next year as well, especially with the loss of Ainge. If you feel confident in Jonathan Crompton, great. Maybe he is the next star. I don't think he is the answer, however.

    But feel free to write an article of your own expressing your opinions.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  5. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    shut up tim..damn

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  6. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    I agree with the anonymus person ahead of me. Tennessee leads the series with LSU, 20-6-3. That's enough information to say, fuck, I think i know the better dynasty. Second of all, the Vols are 2-2 in its previous visits to Atlanta while LSU is 2-1.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

    • Kevin Brown about 1 year ago

      Did you just call Tennessee a dynasty?

      I think with the way LSU played, UGA and even Florida would have been more competitive and most likely would have won the SEC had they earned their way into the game. As it was, Tennessee benefited by not playing LSU or Auburn in the regular season and deserved to be in the game because of that.

      I'm just glad the SEC champ didn't lose to the 7th (give or take) place team in the Pac-10.

      Edit Comment Cancel

      Reply
      Great Comment (
      0
      )

  7. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    I agree with the two persons to my north.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  8. Kevin Brown about 1 year ago

    By the way, that's the best picture I think I have ever seen.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  9. Tim Pollock about 1 year ago

    Agreed, Kevin. I imagine the media would have had a field day with Tennessee's losses if the Vols found their way to a BCS bowl game.

    Angry Les Miles: "Have a GREAT day" (weird smirk).

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  10. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    This is a horrible article. Yes, I am a Vol die hard fan and to think that someone can write an article that downgrades a team like this one. So, what you are saying is this horrible Tennessee team had control over a team that was ranked number 1 throughout the year and is now playing in the National Championship. Yes, Tennessee let this game go right through their hands. Its hard to say TN as a whole. The 2 Ints late in the game by a senior QB was huge. The defense for TN held the nations 10th best offense to 1 touchdown. No one this year has done that. Your a damn idiot. Go Vols . Go SEC. Best conference in college football. Period!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  11. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    You are aware that Matt Flynn didn't play right? And that the back-up was injured for most of the 2nd half? I knew vols were dumb but damn.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  12. Kevin Brown about 1 year ago

    You are aware that Matt Flynn didn't play right? And that the back-up was injured for most of the 2nd half? I knew vols were dumb but damn.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  13. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    I hate tennessee fans just for the reasons above. When they lose they blame it on something or someone else, just cant accept it was the teams fault. They think that their one of the elite teams in the country (eccpecially when they try to say that their one of the elite teams of all time). they all need to get a reality check

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  14. Anonymous about 1 year ago

    Colt Brennan - 131 touchdown passes, 23 NCAA records, only undefeated team in America. Who else can say that? How can he not win the Heisman?

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

  15. joe clark about 1 year ago

    ho hum. Bet he wishes he didn't have that off the field problem which kept him out of a real football school. consequences. Next time, Hawaii can schedule some SEC teams. That would help

    geaux ellessu

    Edit Comment Cancel

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

    • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »

    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.