Josh Heupel says he is excited that the talking season is finally over and the football season is about to begin.
I say hooray, never have so many weeks of words been wasted and so little of substance said. Hmmm, present company excepted.
Nico is preparing for his second start as Tennessee quarterback of the present and future. He did better than OK in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa. Some have him already in the race for the Heisman Trophy.
James Pearce is primed to build on his reputation as the No. 1 edge rusher in the college football world.
The secondary has been reconstructed. Say a prayer. Wide receiver Bru McCoy is said to be healed and eager to block as needed and to resume the fight for footballs in flight.
Linebacker Keenan Pili says he, too, has recovered from injury and is mentally and physically prepared for his seventh season. Cooper Mays is not as old but he’s again the center of the offensive line. What Coop knows and does means a lot to Nico.
The defensive front is blessed with riches.
Freshman Boo Carter may make his debut as a nickel.
Dylan Sampson has waited his turn and projects as the featured running back. In reference to wasted words, Sampson is bracketed as even with four others on the official Tennessee depth chart.
That list is good for a smile. It carefully guards every secret. There are 34 one or another or the other starters. Chattanooga will never figure it out. Example at RB: Sampson or Cameron Seldon or DeSean Bishop or Khalifa Keith or Peyton Lewis.
Example 2 at LEO: Pearce or Joshua Josephs or Caleb Herring or Jordan Ross.
The other defensive end is example 3: Dominic Bailey or Tyre West or Jayson Jenkins or Tyree Weathersby.
Unbelievable.
The 2024 iteration of the Smokey Grey alternant uniforms will be worn Saturday versus Chattanooga.
You can vote: The coach really hasn’t made up his mind or wants to keep more players properly motivated or didn’t dare hurt any mother’s feelings. Almost all sons are in the tentative starting lineup. Rules still limit grand openings to 11, be it offense or defense.
The show starts Saturday in the general vicinity of Neyland Stadium. Boats will be docked across the street. The Vol Walk will be exciting, beginning at the Torchbearer statue in Circle Park, then down Peyton Manning Pass with a left turn onto Phillip Fulmer Way and into the arena through Gate 21-A.
On Shields-Watkins Field, the team will again run through the T as formed by the Pride of the Southland band. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 but will be when SEC Network says go.
Cheers for Bob Kesling, new honoree in the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. This will be the launch of his 26th season as play-by-play announcer on the Vol Network.
Player attire will include the newest alternate greys with Tennessee across the jerseys. That is good. It will help people figure out which team is inside. Before the marketing department (money) gained absolute control, school colors were orange and white.
The Vols are favored by 38.5 points. They are ranked 15th in polls of coaches and the Associated Press. ESPN says 14th. Athlon magazine and Fox Sports have them 13th. Fox credibility is suspect. It thinks the Georgia game is in Knoxville.
Phil Steele didn’t play football and isn’t a famous writer but is a very successful entrepreneur who publishes football magazines in the summer. He is convinced he is one of the best analysts in the entire country. Alas, he left Tennessee out of his top 25. Oops.
College Football News used a lot of words to reach a 9-3 season prediction. The Sporting News says the schedule is too tough for the Vols to realistically work their way into the College Football Playoff. Subscription websites On3 says 10-2 and 247Sports casts three votes for 10-2 and one for 9-3.
Heupel, asked what he likes about these Vols, said the competitive makeup, how hard they work, how intentional they are every single day. He likes the togetherness they have.
“I love being with these guys every single day out on the practice field. Can’t wait for the kickoff.”
Thankfully, it is near.
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com.