Wednesday, December 10, 2008

If Volunteers fix QB problems, 2009 has potential

The University of Tennessee's lamentable 2008 football season now belongs to the ages, which means we can start looking to the 2009 season. Here is the schedule:

Sept. 5 – vs. Western Kentucky
Sept. 12 – vs. UCLA
Sept. 19 – at Florida
Sept. 26 – vs. Ohio
Oct. 3 – vs. Auburn
Oct. 10 – vs. Georgia
Oct. 24 – at Alabama
Oct. 31 – vs. South Carolina
Nov. 7 – vs. Memphis
Nov. 14 – at Mississippi
Nov. 21 – vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 28 – at Kentucky

The schedule looks manageable. I don't think anybody expects the program to return to prominence next year, but if the quarterback situation can be sorted out, the result should be a winning season.

The Volunteers play eight of their 12 games at home, including five of the first six. If new coach Lane Kiffin can pull the team together, he has a chance to get off to a quick start. There is no way we will beat Florida. However, despite last season's lousy performance, the Vols can never be counted out of any game at Neyland Stadium. Though we play some tough opponents at home, none are world beaters. Our toughest games are on the road next year.

Despite how bad our offense was in '08, we were only a few points from going to a bowl. If things fall together, Tennessee should at least qualify for a bowl in '09.

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