Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Random thoughts of a Tennessee fan on life, sports and more TV shows than any one person should be allowed to watch.
About me
Name: Michael
Location: Nashville, TN
E-mail me!

View My Complete Profile
100 Things About Me
My Facebook Profile
My Wish List
Syndicate Big Orange Michael


Also For Your Reading Pleasure For Your Listening Pleasure (Podcasts)
Slice of SciFi
PodCulture
Two Insane Fans: The Statler and Waldorf of Doctor Who commentaries

Archives
04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005
10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006
06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006
07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006
08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006
09/01/2006 - 10/01/2006
10/01/2006 - 11/01/2006
11/01/2006 - 12/01/2006
12/01/2006 - 01/01/2007
01/01/2007 - 02/01/2007
02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007
03/01/2007 - 04/01/2007
04/01/2007 - 05/01/2007
05/01/2007 - 06/01/2007
06/01/2007 - 07/01/2007
07/01/2007 - 08/01/2007
08/01/2007 - 09/01/2007
09/01/2007 - 10/01/2007
10/01/2007 - 11/01/2007
11/01/2007 - 12/01/2007
12/01/2007 - 01/01/2008
01/01/2008 - 02/01/2008
02/01/2008 - 03/01/2008
03/01/2008 - 04/01/2008
04/01/2008 - 05/01/2008
05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008
06/01/2008 - 07/01/2008
07/01/2008 - 08/01/2008
08/01/2008 - 09/01/2008
09/01/2008 - 10/01/2008
10/01/2008 - 11/01/2008
11/01/2008 - 12/01/2008
12/01/2008 - 01/01/2009
01/01/2009 - 02/01/2009
02/01/2009 - 03/01/2009
03/01/2009 - 04/01/2009
04/01/2009 - 05/01/2009
05/01/2009 - 06/01/2009
06/01/2009 - 07/01/2009
07/01/2009 - 08/01/2009
08/01/2009 - 09/01/2009
09/01/2009 - 10/01/2009
10/01/2009 - 11/01/2009
11/01/2009 - 12/01/2009
12/01/2009 - 01/01/2010
01/01/2010 - 02/01/2010
02/01/2010 - 03/01/2010
03/01/2010 - 04/01/2010
04/01/2010 - 05/01/2010
05/01/2010 - 06/01/2010
06/01/2010 - 07/01/2010
07/01/2010 - 08/01/2010
08/01/2010 - 09/01/2010
09/01/2010 - 10/01/2010
10/01/2010 - 11/01/2010
11/01/2010 - 12/01/2010
12/01/2010 - 01/01/2011
01/01/2011 - 02/01/2011
02/01/2011 - 03/01/2011
03/01/2011 - 04/01/2011
04/01/2011 - 05/01/2011
05/01/2011 - 06/01/2011
06/01/2011 - 07/01/2011
07/01/2011 - 08/01/2011
08/01/2011 - 09/01/2011
09/01/2011 - 10/01/2011
10/01/2011 - 11/01/2011
11/01/2011 - 12/01/2011
12/01/2011 - 01/01/2012
01/01/2012 - 02/01/2012
02/01/2012 - 03/01/2012
03/01/2012 - 04/01/2012
04/01/2012 - 05/01/2012
05/01/2012 - 06/01/2012
06/01/2012 - 07/01/2012
07/01/2012 - 08/01/2012
08/01/2012 - 09/01/2012
09/01/2012 - 10/01/2012
08/01/2013 - 09/01/2013
10/01/2017 - 11/01/2017
11/01/2017 - 12/01/2017
09/01/2022 - 10/01/2022
10/01/2022 - 11/01/2022
11/01/2022 - 12/01/2022


Thursday, September 30, 2010
Vols vs LSU Hiaku
Tigers fans rowdy
Hostile crowd in first away game
Vols face stiff road test

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/30/2010 09:48:00 AM | |
Monday, September 27, 2010
So Let Me See If I Have This Right...
So, let me see if I've got this straight.

Last week, a bunch of parental groups lost their minds because Katy Perry was dressed "too sexy" in her video with Elmo but the upcoming skit based on "True Blood" hasn't raised one single eyebrow or word of protest?



Surely there aren't many crossovers in the demographic audience between "True Blood" and "Sesame Street." I know the show tries to have things in there for the grown-ups who watch the show with their kids, but this may be pushing it a bit far.

As for the Perry thing, I wasn't outraged by the video. And my first thought was--if the outfit is such a big deal, why not bring her back and just reshoot the video?



Of course, then there wouldn't be a week or so of howls of protest and free publicity for the show and Ms. Perry.

posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/27/2010 12:22:00 PM | |
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Tennessee 32, UAB 29 (2OT)
First the positive--the Vols found a way to win the game yesterday. And that at least made the drive back to Nashville a lot more tolerable than it would have been had they completed the collapse and actually lost to UAB for the first time in four games.

Also, the Vols did give me my money's worth for attending the game yesterday. And no matter what, it was nice to be back in God's house with the Neyland Stadium faithful. I hadn't been to a home game since the last season Fulmer was here and there's nothing like being in Neyland on a Saturday afternoon. Of course, I was expecting a lot from the Vols than I got (esp. given how well the first half went), but hey, at least I was there...

Now, onto the less positive.
  • A couple of years ago, I was watching a Florida vs UT game and we'd get the Gators into third-and-a-mile. And every single time they'd convert, leading a fellow game watcher to say, "Well, they've got us right where they want us" every time third and more than three came up. Same thing yesterday. The Vols had UAB in long down and distances multiple times only to see UAB somehow come up with a huge play to get a critical first down.
  • Of course, part of that could be that the offense did nothing for two or so quarters. As good as Matt Simms looked on a few deep balls, he was pitiful at times either underthrowing or overthrowing receivers on short routes. That coupled with the fact that we couldn't run the ball worth a damn and that the right side of the offensive line was allowing UAB defenders a free shot on Simms just about every time he dropped back in the second half didn't help things.
  • The Vols were woeful on third down. Just plain woeful. As positive as finishing off the first drive with a touchdown was, it shouldn't be overlooked that we had to convert a fourth and one to get there. At the time it seemed like a smart move by Derek Dooley. Later as our failures on third down mounted up, I began to wonder how much more Dooley knew that we didn't.
  • Of course, it wouldn't be a complaining post without a little lack of love thrown to the officiating crew. Apparently they sent the crew most in need of eye exams to this game. Or else they had decided since it was on the SEC regional game and those have six hours of commercials anyway, that they wouldn't want to make the game go longer by doing silly things like calling blindingly obvious penalties on UAB.
  • I hate to say this, but the team just phoned it in in the second half. After the collapse against Oregon and then the rebound last week against Florida in terms of effort, it was shocking to see how uninterested the team was in the game in the second half. Did they team decide that we were up by enough at halftime and that they could just coast? Well, that almost came back to haunt us.
  • Driving home and listening to the call-in show, I was struck by how suddenly Phil Fulmer has become a genius and some fans want him back. I'm sure this was the same group that wanted him out two years ago.

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/26/2010 07:00:00 AM | |
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Vols vs UAB Hiaku
UAB visits
Blazers could be tough to beat
Win not guaranteed

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/23/2010 10:38:00 AM | |
Monday, September 20, 2010
Some Short Sports Thoughts
A couple of things not long enough for a full post, but too long for a Twitter update...
  • All weekend, I kept hearing about how tragic it was that Reggie Bush returned his Heisman and he was turning away all this heritage, rich tradition, etc. Yeah, not so much. See the Heisman lost all meaning as an award in 1997 when ESPN campaigned for Charles Woodson to get it over Peyton Manning. Since that time, the award has been a meaningless one....
  • Phil Fulmer goes on live TV and while he didn't open hand slap Tim Brando (who is the smarmiest sports reporter EVER), he did verbally slap Lane Kiffin. And I loved it. Can he be the next AD for the Vols, please?!?!
  • As proud as I am of the effort the Vols game Saturday against Florida, it still sucks to lose to the Gators for six straight years. My poor nephew doesn't recall a time when the Vols beat Florida. This needs to change starting next year.
  • If Vandy can beat Ole Miss, then so can the Vols. Houston Nutt, welcome to the hot seat.
  • Joining you will be Marc Richt of Georgia, who still has a loss to Florida looming and could lose to the Vols. I know, it seems unlikely, but Georgia tends to find ways to lose games they shouldn't and the UT vs Georgia game could qualify.
  • It was a terrible weekend for my favorite teams, football-wise. The Titans started a QB controversy when Vince Young was replaced by Kerry Collins. Thing was, neither was effective. Pittsburgh showed that if you shut down the run game and dare Young to beat you, you can rattle the Titans offense. If I were the defense, I'd be mad as hell as the offense. They gave us a lot of chances to win.
  • As for the Redskins, we still have kicker issues. How many times will this haunt us? Last year it was the Saints, this year the Texans. I will weep if the Texans make the playoffs and actually win a game.
  • On a good note, the Cowboys lost. I laughed a long time about that one.
  • Finally, ComCast gave us a free sample of NFL Red Zone and I've gotta say it was pretty awesome. Interestingly, the feed for CBS games was five seconds faster on NFL Red Zone than it was on my local CBS affiliate. I can see myself spending the five bucks a month to have this during the season.

Labels: , , ,



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/20/2010 11:59:00 AM | |
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Dooley Calls Out The Team
First year coach Derek Dooley isn't pulling any punches this week. In his Sunday conference call, he called out the Vols for their lack of effort in the second half and giving up once they got down by a huge margin.

“We get so caught up in being behind, we start thinking about losing the game,” Dooley said on the call. “And we don’t compete.”

Dooley directed his most pointed comments at the offense. Despite only scoring two field goals and a touchdown, the Vols had thrived into the third quarter, Dooley said. UT had not taken a sack or committed a turnover until Matt Simms’ interception with 6:27 left in the third quarter. Oregon took a 27-13 lead with the score, and Dooley noticed a change in his team.

“We absolutely shut it down after the pick-six on offense,” he said.

Dooley, whose Vols face No. 10 Florida on Saturday, explained his team’s problems with a short lecture on today’s college player. Citing sociologists, he deemed his players part of the “Entitlement Generation” and criticized their work ethic when circumstances grow negative.

“Children are groomed from the beginning about winning and losing, not competing,” he said. “It’s something that, they all want success, and they all want personal gratification, and they lose sight of what it takes to get that.”



On one level, it's good to hear Dooley not making excuses for his team. Watching the game Saturday, I felt like we ran out of gas with about two minutes to play in the game. Also, having the weather delay allowed Oregon to regroup a bit. I'm not saying we would have won if there were no delay, but it doesn't give them 70 minutes to counterpunch and maybe, just maybe, Dooley and the team come up with a few more touchdowns and then hang on for a win.

However, I still like hearing Dooley say this and not pull his punches.

But on another level, I think that the kind of culture change he wants starts with he and his coaching staff. He needs to instill the work ethic we wants onto these players and this team.

I loved what I saw in the first half with a team that was fired up, competitive and was doing a lot of things well.

That, coupled with these comments, continue to assure me that the Vols made the right choice at the head coaching position and that while we may have some growing pains this year and next, that the future for the Vols is bright.

It's certainly head and shoulders above where it was under the Jackass....

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/15/2010 01:02:00 PM | |

Vols vs Gators Hiakus
First SEC game
Gators look vulnerable
UT could upset

Neyland must rock
Rattle young Gator QB
Create our own luck

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/15/2010 12:18:00 PM | |

Save Betty White PSA


posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/15/2010 08:56:00 AM | |
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Vols vs Ducks
It was a wonderful quarter and a half tonight as the Vols dominated things early in this game against the Ducks.

And then the gas ran out and we into half-time tied with the Ducks...and from there, they never looked back.

Of course, I'm bitterly disappointed we couldn't pull an upset tonight and stop the Quack Attack. As I said elsewhere, I think our lack of depth reared its ugly head this evening--on both sides of the ball.

However, I'm still encouraged by what I saw for a quarter and a half. I saw a team that was giving their all, playing with passion and giving a full effort. I saw a pride in being the underdog and not wanting to take it. We gave it our best punch and Oregon countered. Of course, there will be a part of me that wonders what might have happened had there not been a long rain delay. Would we have run out of gas as quickly? I'm not saying we would have won, but could we have put up some more points or kept them on the ropes longer? Would the rain have slowed down their running attack a bit more?

Woulda, coulda, shoulda....doesn't matter. We still didn't get it done.

It stings now, but in the long term I see some glimmers of hope. And that's what I'll hold onto.

And hope that next week if we can get Florida on the ropes early that we'll keep them there and make some better luck for ourselves.

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/11/2010 10:11:00 PM | |
Thursday, September 09, 2010
UT vs Oregon Hiaku
Ducks fly to Neyland
Quack Attack on the horizon
Big test in week two

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/09/2010 12:09:00 PM | |
Saturday, September 04, 2010
The Dooley Era Kicks-Off
This time last year, we were kicking off the jack-ass Kiffin era at Tennessee.

Who knew that a year later we'd be kicking off another new era, this time with Derek Dooley as the Vols' head coach?

Short-term, I think we'll struggle because of the shenanigans of the past couple of years. Long-term, I think that Dooley will be the right answer to the all the questions.

As I've said before, I think 6-6 is a good goal for the Vols this year, though I still think 7-5 is attainable and that we will sneak up and beat someone we shouldn't.

As for today, what I'm looking for most is to see what the Dooley era will bring. I will especially be interested to see what happens late in the game, if we're up by a good number. Will Dooley be like the jack-ass Kiffin and run up the score some more or will he be like Fulmer and show a bit of sportsmanship to the other team. I'd like to see it somewhere in the middle where a team is put away when we have the chance but the Vols don't feel we have to run up the score on anyone (unless it's Florida, Georgia, or Alabama....then it's OK by me).

No matter what happens, it's the beginning of a new era for the Vols and one I hope is the start of a great run for UT. This year and next couple be the growing pains for what could be a return to the greatness of the 90s and early half of the last decade.

My game prediction: UT 37, UT Martin 10

GO BIG ORANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Labels:



posted by Michael Hickerson at 9/04/2010 06:18:00 AM | |


Follow me on Twitter!




    Follow me on Twitter!


    Recent Comments
    Awards


    Web Sites I Visit
    CrossWalk.com
    Daily News Journal
    Doctor Who News
    Go Vols
    Go Titans
    The Tennessean
    The Tennessean's Titans Coverage
    Trek Today
    TV Guide On-Line
    Washington Post Redskins Coverage
    USA Today


    Favorite Authors on the Web
    Orson Scott Card
    Peter David's Blog
    Keith R.A. DeCandido's Blog
    Neil Gaiman
    Elizabeth George
    Philip Gulley
    Stephen King
    Donald Miller
    Lisa Samson's Blog
    Robert Whitlow

    Musical Links
    Carolyn Arends
    Sherrie Austin
    Cherryholmes
    Lee Domann
    Fleming & John
    Sara Groves
    Jennifer Knapp
    Jars of Clay
    Carolyn Dawn Johnson
    Cindy Morgan
    The Monkees
    Nickel Creek
    Nothin' Fancy
    Rebecca St. JamesRay Stevens
    Steep Canyon Rangers
    Williams and Clark Expedition
    Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
    Jaci Velasquez

    Blogging Links

    Powered by Blogger Weblog Commenting and Trackback by HaloScan.com Listed on Blogwise
    << ? Blogaholics Anonymous # >>

    My Blog Chalk

    Michael/Male/31-35. Lives in United States/Tennessee/Smyrna, speaks English. Eye color is brown. I am in shape. I am also creative. My interests are Reading/Swimming laps.
    This is my blogchalk:
    United States, Tennessee, Smyrna, English, Michael, Male, 31-35, Reading, Swimming laps.



    You Are Visitor

    Free Web Counter


    Looking For Something Specific?
    Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind

    Site search Web search


    Blogskins
    Powered by Blogger