Vol football: Reflections and outlook

Marvin Westwestwords

Forty-two percent of the Tennessee football season is gone. One hundred percent of optimistic expectations have vanished. Saturday at 4 p.m. will be the midpoint. Self-respect is the big remaining …

Quiet, please

Marvin Westwestwords

“If you can’t say something good, keep quiet” was an early coaching point from my first teacher, my dear grandmother.
I searched and searched for something good to say about the …

Willie Thomas dies

Marvin Westwestwords

One of Tennessee’s all-time brightest track stars has died of cancer.
The life of half-miler Willie Thomas, 67, will be celebrated Friday in Chicago. He was a two-time NCAA champion for …

The end is near

Marvin Westwestwords

The sign said “The end is near.”
The bearded man was carrying it along the sidewalk. I assumed he was a religious zealot, warning us of things to come.
My second thought …

Bits ’n pieces and what might have been

Marvin Westwestwords

What a strange place is our football world.
ESPN says Tennessee football is in free fall, that the offense is inept. Tennessee was the only team with a winning record to …

Salute the Vols of ‘67

Marvin Westwestwords

How strange that a great Tennessee football success story started and ended wrong.
Fifty years and a few weeks ago, the Volunteers opened in sunny, southern California and lost to UCLA …

As the General said, don’t ever give up

Marvin Westwestwords

Do not despair. There is an immediate future to replace the recent past. UMass is coming to Neyland Stadium. I am almost certain Tennessee can defend a last-gasp 63-yard pass …

A game within the game

Marvin Westwestwords

There is a game within the game.
A few days ago, in the aftermath of Florida-Michigan, Gator fans “fired” offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. He’s got to go. Here is bus fare.
Their beloved …