Go Big OrAINGE

Yes, that says, "orainge". It is my pathetic attempt at being creative, incorporating the cheer for Tennessee's football team with the senior quarterback’s last name (Erik Ainge). I think someone should print orange shirts that has “go big orAINGE” on it. Cute, huh? As long as I get a free shirt out of the deal, I'll let the University use it. Why not?

I thought of the shirt idea at Tennessee's 2007 home opener where the Vols answered a lot of questions that UT fans had concerning the rest of the season. Would Coach Fulmer get the guys ready to play after the Cal loss? How would the defense fair against a talented young Southern Miss running back. Could the defense have less than 22 missed tackles? What would happen with the no-huddle offense? I felt like all of those questions were answered. Fulmer fired up the troops; the defense played well against the run; there were less than 22 tackles missed; and the no-huddle seemed to work fine. Okay, well, all wasn't perfect on Rocky Top, but the second half surely answered the previous questions. Twenty point wins are pretty good in my book, regardles of who the opponent is. Ask Auburn if they would like to agree.  While the Vols on the field answered questions, I conjured up one of my own for the Vols in the stands, "Where has all the class gone?" During the first half, UT was in a dogfight (not the Michael Vick kind) with the Eagles. Ainge and the offense had to drive down the field and score a quick touchdown before the half just to have the lead 17-16. Like I said earlier, the second half was a different story. The final score was 39-19, Tennessee. (I'd like to exceed the point of this article by using this sentence to boast about the fact that I predicted a 20 point win, although I picked a 41-21 win.)

During this "dog fight" of a first half, some fans around me were going beyond obnoxious with some of their comments. The worst of the comments had to do with the booing and cursing of injured Vol, Antonio Gaines. In my book, you just don't do that. PERIOD. I don't care if you hate the Florida Gators, as I do. If Tebow goes down this Saturday, you wait patiently, and clap when he gets on his feet (even if you are secretly hoping that their backup QB is an eighth of a man that Tebow is). Remember, that's an opposing team's player, much less a player from the team you are pulling for.  How would you feel if a UT player were lying on the field in Hattiesburg, MS, and you heard one of USM's fans booing, cursing, and questioning the legitimacy of his injury?  You wouldn't be too happy.  I sure hope you don't feel too great about the fact that Antonio Gaines is now out for the rest of the season due to this injury.  Utsports.com reported that Gaines's ACL has a tear in it, according to Jason McVeigh, Tennessee's head athletic trainer.  Freshman phenom, Eric Berry should move from safety to corner, while Jarod Parrish is expected to fill Berry's saftey spot.

I couldn't believe that in the second game of 2006, exactly a year ago, against Air Force, Inquoris "Inky" Johnson laid on the field, injured. We now know that Inky's football playing days are quite doubtful, most likely impossible. How could a true fan forget Inky's situation so quickly? How could a true fan actually trash talk his own team? How could a true fan actually delve into the possibility of the team being better off due to the injury of a solidified starter(something this specific fan actually dared to do about Gaines's injury)? No class, that's how. I understand being pissed. I understand being upset. I even understand loudly voicing your opinion about dumb play calls. Trust me. I might have been the biggest hater of the "lets let Jonathon Crompton act like Tim Tebow on 3rd and inches" call in the first half of the USM game. I wanted to see Coker, Foster, or Hardesty touch the ball in that situation. Ask anyone around me. They probably thought I was drunk out of my mind for constantly yelling about that specific play call even when The Pride of The Southland Marching Band was putting on their halftime show half an hour later. There is a distinct difference between the two. One you do only if you are willing to get weird looks from the people 19 rows down. The other you do only if you truly aren't a fan at all. You, my friend, fit the mold of the second of the two. And in that case, no one wants you at the game in the first place. So, tailgate all you want. Enjoy the festivities. Go buy a “go big orAINGE” shirt. But, do every fan in that stadium a favor, and check your classless attitude at the gates.