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Tennessee Vols Clobber Western Kentucky in a game of firsts, 63-7

Knoxville, TN -  Western Kentucky played the Tennessee Volunteers to a 0-0 stalemate at the end of the first quarter, but the Vols would draw first blood in the second before scoring  touchdowns on nine of their next twelve possessions to roll the Hilltoppers, 63-7.  It was a game of many firsts as Western Kentucky played its first official Football Bowl Division (FBS) game to become the 120th to join the upper most level of collegiate football after playing two years as a transitional member of the Sunbelt Conference.  For Tennessee (1-0), it was the debut of new HC Lane Kiffin who replaced long-time Coach Phil Fulmer after his own short stint coaching the Oakland Raiders.  Many of his latest recruits playing as true freshmen for the Vols saw significant action, and several scored TDs in their first action for UT.  Collegefootballfan.com watched Western Kentucky (0-1) play for the first time to add the Hilltoppers as our 120th FBS team, and it was our first trip ever to see a game played at Tennessee's Neyland Stadium, our 41st of all FBS schools.

    WKU's defense competed with UT in the first quarter thwarting its first two drives with an interception and a fumble recovery, but the Hilltopper offense was anemic against the quick, hard-hitting Tennessee defense.  You got a good feeling that Tennessee would not be held down, and once they scored, the floodgates opened.  An 81-yard, ten-play drive resulted in a two-yard TD run by true freshman Bryce Brown ( 104 yards on 11 carries) to start the second period.  A WKU fumble on the next series put UT at the Topper's 17.  QB Jonathan Crompton (21 of 28, 236 yards, 5 TDs, 2 INTs) connected with TE Luke Stocker on a crossing pattern from there for a sudden 14-0 lead.  On the next two Tennessee possessions, WRs Quinton Hancock and Brandon Warren were recipients of Crompton TD passes from nine and four yards respectively for a 28-0 lead by halftime.

     In the third period, Kiffin challenged his own offense on their first possession on a fourth and four from its 46.  WKU took over on downs.  On the next possession, Thomas Majors intercepted for WKU, but that was the last time that the Hilltoppers would stop a UT touchdown drive.  Next time, Montario Hardesty ( 18 carries for 160 yards, 1 TD) scored on a one-play drive from the WKU 43 to extend the lead.  Removing MLB Nick Reveiz for a blow on the UT side of the fall, the visitors finally scored on a 66-yard drive capped by Bobby Rainey's 19-yard TD run to put Western on the board down, 35-7. 

    It was all Tennessee in the fourth though as Crompton connected again with Stocker from the six and then with freshman Marsalis Teague from the five.  David OKU, another frosh, ran it in from the two and from the one to finish the next two Tennessee drives and make the final score, 63-7.  We were Rocky-Topped out! 

    Tennessee out-gained WKU 657 to 83 yards and never punted.  We have to say that WKU's Jeremy Moore did an excellent job on his nine punts averaging 44.8 and allowing only 35 return yards.  Evidently, Tennessee was not tested by the newest addition to the FBS which featured the majority of the roster as sophomores or freshman, but a more viable test shows up in Knoxville next weekend when UCLA, a 27-24 winner over the Vols last season and a 33-14 winner over Brady Hoke's San Diego State Aztecs last week,  comes to play.  And if that isn't enough, UT travels to The Swamp the following Saturday to play the No. 1 Gators.  Western Kentucky has another tough one, but at home, against South Florida. 

Extra points:  We got a great seat 17 rows up from the 15-yard line on the WKU sideline and sat with a nice family.  The two grandparents were taking their 8-year old grandson, David, to his first Tennessee game.  David's grandfather asked my assessment of the Tennessee team compared to what I had witnessed on Thursday night. I think the Vols are quick and hard-hitting on defense, and that can be attributed to Kiffin's preseason comments that no team was going to out-work and out-prepare his team.  Having his experienced father coordinating the defense most likely helps, too.  South Carolina overwhelmed NC State on defense also, but Western Kentucky posed no challenge to UT's defense at all.  Tennessee definitely has some great, young players on offense and looked head and shoulders above South Carolina, but truth is we'll have to see how they stand up against more legitimate competition.  This game allowed the new players to gain some valuable game experience to whet their appetites for some bigger games coming up in the near future.  They look as if they can win nine or ten games this year when you look at their schedule.  They'll host South Carolina on Oct. 31.  We'll watch how these two progress heading into that one.  Because of their speed on offense and their stable of young, experienced players who are going to see a lot of playing time before then, we definitely give the early edge to UT.

Thirty years ago on the way back from Mardi Gras in New Orleans back to Juniata College in Pennsylvania, roommate Pate Daly and I stopped at a pizza place in Knoxville overlooking Neyland Stadium.  Our order request was responded to with "Whole wheat or white?" That was an unexpected response, and what we got is not the pizza we grew up loving in northern New Jersey.  On Friday night, I ventured reluctantly into Dazzo's Pizza on Gay Street in Knoxville.  The aroma was familiar.  I asked Jessica, the waitress, if the owners were from New York or New Jersey.  "Long Island", she responded.  I tried one slice and had two more after.  I topped it off with a a great cannoli for dessert.  Dazzo's has the best Italian food I've ever had south of the Mason-Dixon line.  Go there for real pizza when you're in Knoxville.

Went to Woodruff's Bar and Grill on Gay Street that night for a Happy Hour that lasts until 10 pm.  The Brown Nut Ale was my favorite.  I met up with local Vol fans Rick, Jose, Joe, an Associate Professor originally from Philly, and Steve, who retired from the Navy after 20 years of service.  I had a great time drinking and talking with the guys late into the evening.

"Rocky Top" makes me appreciate the fact now that at Penn State games, the Blue Band has a repertoire of at least ten different school songs.  One tune, especially, after nine touchdowns and then some, can get monotonous.  Enough with the "Whews!"  Even David's Grandmother leaned over to me and asked, "Are you sick of 'Rocky Top" yet?"  I told here I had been warned and that I was tuning it out, but during the course of nine TDs, they need to play a few change-ups.

The Vol Walk was packed.  I got a good view of the band on the Silverstein Building steps and they played tunes other than RT.  Within the sea of orange, it was impossible to move around as thousands waited for the team to come down the hill to Neyland.  After that, it was difficult to maneuver to hunt for a ticket.  I walked streets with names like Phil Fulmer Ave, Johnny Majors Way, and Peyton Manning Pass.

98,761 came to attend UT's opener with Lane Kiffin on board.  The scoreboard featured musical ads promoting SS Eric Berry for The Heisman.  A band played a jingle similar to the "Freecreditreport.com" commercials.  It was pretty comical with Berry busting up the lead guitarist instrument at the end.  So much for marketing for an individual award. Stop wasting money and do it on the field.   He did make the initial tackle of the game for Tennessee on the opening kickoff.  Peyton Manning was on hand and donated $1MM to the football program to build new offices.

The sightlines in Neyland seemed pretty good as the stadium is built up not far away from the sidelines. I'm told it gets much louder for the big SEC games.  I'm sure it does.  I just wonder if they play "Rocky Top" as much if they don't score 63 points.   The home side of the stadium has narrower and older hallways as the pressbox side where I sat had wider hallways and more concessions. 

The 56-point margin of victory tied the record for the third biggest we've attended.  It tied the mark held by another Tennessee team, Middle Tennessee's Blue Raiders, when they defeated Connecticut in Storrs, CT in 2000, 66-10.  The Head Coach for MTSU was Andy McCollum.  On Thursday night, we saw him head up the LBs for NC State.