an outside view

We all see the world through different eyes. There are optimists and there are pessimists. Some people always see the glass as being half full while others always see it as half empty.

So it is with this year’s Tennessee Volunteer football team. Some Big Orange fans will tell you it was a tremendously successful year and Fulmer should be named SEC Coach of the Year.  But others will tell you it was just another season of mediocrity and it is time for a change at the top. 

Here’s an example of what I mean.

Half Full: It was really a great year. We won the SEC East.

 Half Empty: We haven’t won an SEC title this century. This is 9 years in a row without a championship

Half Full: At least we made it to the SEC title game.

Half Empty: And we lost to a team playing its second string quarterback and most of its best players hurt.  

Half Full: We won 9 games.

Half Empty: We were 3 missed field goals away from being 6-6 and completely out of the postseason picture.  

Half Full: This team played with a lot of grit and determination.

Half Empty: This team played with Lady Luck on its side. Did I mention the 3 missed field goals?

Half Full: We whipped up on Georgia and the Bulldogs ended up ranked in the top 5 in the nation. 

Half Empty: And Florida and Alabama whipped up on us by a combined score of 100-37..

Half Full: We lost to a team that is playing for a national title.

Half Empty: And we lost to a team (Alabama) that had only a .500 record.

Half Full: We beat our two arch rivals – Vandy and Kentucky.

Half Empty: By a total of 3 points thanks to 2 missed field goals.

Half Full: Our offense is better than it has been in years.

Half Empty: Our defense is worse than it’s been in years.

Half Full: We’re going to a bowl game.

Half Empty: But it’s not a BCS bowl. LSU and Georgia play in BCS bowls and we are going to a bowl named after a steakhouse for the second straight year.

Half Full: We have the winningest coach in the country.

Half Empty: He’s lost 14 games the last 3 years.

Half Full: Things are looking bright for next season. Fulmer already has 12 commitments fro next year’s recruiting class.

Half Empty: But not one is a top 100 prospect.

Half Full: Our entire coaching staff will be back next year.

Half Empty: Our entire coaching staff will be back next year.

And that’s how it goes when evaluating the 2007 Vols. The facts stand for themselves. It just depends on how you look at them.