Game week is finally here and the countdown to kickoff is down to 5 days. It seems like it's been forever since we were taking Iowa behind the shed down in Jacksonville. There's a lot of hype going into this season and with hype comes expectations. Sometimes with hype and expectations comes pressure. There's pressure to live up to all of the goodwill being thrown your way. Good teams learn how to deal with the hype and expectations, as do well coached teams. You can only play one game at a time. I believe our kids will handle everything that's been tossed their way this offseason. They're a tight knit bunch and I believe they'll be just fine. Coach Jones has been very good about taking on the task at hand and not looking beyond that, since taking the wheel in Knoxville. I think it also helps that we've brought in a crafty veteran like Mike DeBord. I really think having DeBord on our staff is a huge blessing. There's a real calming presence about him and he really has a vast knowledge of the game. I think he's the right guy at the right time for this Tennessee football team.


I know we've had some injuries this summer and you never want to lose starters, much less two starters from one unit, but if there's one area where this team is deepest, I'd have to say it's the secondary. McNeil and Gaulden are no doubt big losses, but I have no doubt, Todd Kelly Jr. and Malik Foreman will step up to the plate, as will others. TK Jr. has All-American potential and talent and I think he's poised to have a monster year. I'm really expecting big things from that young man.


I've talked at length this summer and throughout camp about our offensive line. I've said my peace about it and we can only hope the coaches get it right. This unit is going to have to get it together if we're going to have a big year. We must protect Josh Dobbs, because in my estimation, Josh is the biggest key to our success. Lose him to injury and this season will go up in smoke. This kid has the talent to be the SEC player of the year. He could really put up some gaudy numbers with all the firepower he has at his disposal. This could easily be the most talent we've had on offense since 2001. It all hinges on getting good play from the big boys up front and our coaches getting those big boys in the right positions to succeed. I'm crossing my fingers on the latter.


Now let's talk a little about Bowling Green and we'll close up shop until next time. The Falcons are coming off an 8 win season from a year ago and Coach Dino Babers guided them to their first bowl victory in a decade. They have a lot of skill returning on offense and plenty of experience to match it. They have two QB's who could both see action this coming Saturday in Nashville. QB Matt Johnson started every game two seasons ago. He had a season ending injury in the first game last season and his replacement James Knapke came on and led the Falcons to the MAC Eastern division title and a bowl game victory over South Alabama in the inaugural Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They return all 5 starters on the offensive line, as well as their top 4 WR's and stud running back Travis Greene. I'm not sure of this, but it just hit me that Bowling Green may be without the services of one of those WR's. Don't hold me to it, but I believe they may have lost one of those guys in camp to injury. Even if that's the case, they still have plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball.


Their defense is another story. They were about as bad as any defensive unit in the country last year. They gave up over 33 pts. per game and almost 500 yards of offense. They lost 7 starters off of that horrendous D and that may or may not be a good thing. They gave up 68 to Wisconsin, 59 to Western Kentucky, 42 to Indiana and UMass, 41 to Ball State and 51 to Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game, not to mention 35 to Buffalo. When you look at those poor defensive outgings, it really blows the mind to think that team somehow won 8 games, played in the conference championship game and got to a bowl. That just doesn't happen. That's really insane!


I think if our defense is on it's game in Nashville this Saturday, we could put up a big number and take these boys behind the shed. It looks like a little action may have came in on Bowling Green over this past weekend. The Volunteers were a 21.5 favorite over the Falcons last week and as of this morning it was down to Tennessee -20. I'm ready to get it on! It's Football Time in Tennessee!


It's going to be a fun week here at Tony's site and on The Tony Basilio Show. You can best believe Tony and Team Basilio are going to have you covered from pillar to post this week and don't forget as soon as the game goes final Saturday evening, tune into The 5th Quarter/Fan Reaction Show live on your free TB apps and streaming world wide online here at TB's site. It's 3 hours minimum of commercial free Volunteer fandom and fun.


You can also catch Your Vol Colonel every Friday Night at 10pm Eastern on Twitter as I bring you my SEC game predictions for the 4th straight year. This year after my predictions, I invite you to join me for a couple of hours on Twitter as we talk SEC football and the big games from around the country. You can find me on Twiiter @TheVolColonel and find my SEC Predictions at Hash Tag #GamedayPredictionsSEC. I hope you will join me. It's going to be a blast!

Have a Great Day and Go Big Orange!

Your Vol Colonel

'Tony,

Nice to chat with you yesterday, I really appreciate the help getting to word out. See the video below, narrated by Joe Buck, it gives me hope in the youth of America.

Talan Williams was a typical 11 year old kid, loves baseball and sports in general but was stricken with a horrible disease.

His mom Ashley worked for several years at the Original Corner Pub in Green Hills (Nashville) and the owners Jeremy & Krisi Palmer (UT grads) have organized a "Tailgate for Talan" for the upcoming Bowling Green game.


Our intent is to raise as much money as possible to help Ashley with bills and living since she isn't able to work any longer. She is an amazing women who has been dealt a tough hand in life, single mom, worked her ass off to raise Talan and this happened late last year.

I think you'll be totally blown away by how great this kid's attitude is, he always has a smile on his face and inspires others to be better people.


Take care and keep the great work.


Please take the time and visit the site and get involved for these great people.

Link



Peace

Tony, Nashville'

Tony,

It is finally game week here in Knoxville. The town should be at a fever pitch by the time they kick it off in Nashville Saturday afternoon.

1. The Vols cannot afford any more injuries on the offensive line or in the secondary. They are already thin at both spots before the games even begin.

2. On the other hand, it is refreshing to see depth in the defensive front seven. UT is much better suited to handle the grind of the long season than they have been in a long time.

3. Illinois should hire Jim Tressel. It makes so much sense that there is little chance they will do it.

4. I'm still puzzled by all the hype about a team that lost four of its final five games being treated as a national contender. Adding Wil Muschamp is not a panacea.

5. The NFL preseason has turned into a league wide Last Man Standing match. Preparation has become secondary to survival.

6. Choosing to go with Kirk Cousins over RGIII will define Jay Gruden as a head coach in Washington. If he's wrong, his tenure is doomed.

7. Manchester City is threatening to make a mockery of the EPL race. Someone one needs to pick them off to keep them from getting away from the field.

8. Swansea City is the most entertaining team in the Premiership. It's fun to see a club outside the usual suspects making serious noise.

9. Few things in sports are more satisfying to me than seeing Jose Mourinho suffering and humbled. Chelsea's demise is a thing of beauty.

Keith

REMEMBERING RANDY VOL WINS FROM MOST TO LEAST LIKELY
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE 8-27-15

WE’LL MISS RANDY MOORE: I came home Saturday -from what now seems like an even less important batting practice session than usual- to the sad news that Randy Moore had passed away at 63 years of age. My first thought was that is way too young for anyone let alone someone as widely respected as Randy. My second was of his earliest work with the Knoxville Journal in 1974 when I was a senior at Oak Ridge High School....

VOL WIN DIFFICULTY RATING: With a little over a week before we have to start “taking em one at a time” here is one man’s opinion on Tennessee’s chance of winning games in the 2015 season from most to least likely...[more]

COMMUNITY CHEST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Additional volunteers are needed at Community Chest of Knoxville Thrift Shop located at 1508 N. Central (corner of Central St & Woodland Ave, a block and a half from our FISH Northwest Pantry). Volunteers at the Community Chest help with receiving, sorting and displaying in the retail shop donations of clothing and household items. For more about the Community Chest go online and check out their website.   Proceeds from the Community Chest support the work and mission of FISH Hospitality Pantries.

For more information about volunteering at the Community Chest contact Jim Wright at (865) 207-8572 or send him an e-mail. Thank you.