NCAA Football NEWS
The Big Orange Round Table
Published by MoonDog on July 8, 2008
Well, we can’t let our Bama brethren outdo us now, can we? Honestly, that’s not the reason for this round table. The reason is there are a whole lot of questions that need to be answered in the couple of months leading up to the season, and I would think that we Big Orange blogger experts would be just the ones to do it.
So, here’s the drill: Every week, a different Tennessee Vols blog will “host” the round table, coming up with five questions that he - and every other Vol blog participating - will answer. When they answer, we will link them here. That way, the hungry Vol fans can read multiple points of view on the questions he craves.
At the end of the week, the host blog which this week is The Third Saturday in Blogtober will do a roundup, featuring two answers for each question from the participants. The blogs participating are as follows: Fulmer’s Belly, Gate 21, Rocky Top Talk, Loser With Socks, Moondog Sports, The Power T, Your Mother Slept With Wilt Chamberlain and the UT Vols Football Blog.
KEEP CHECKING BACK FOR UPDATES. EVERY TIME A DIFFERENT BLOG ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS, WE WILL POST THE LINK HERE ON THIS BLOG.
Please visit this week’s host, The Third Saturday in Blogtober for their answers and links to the other participating Vol blogs.
1. How good/bad do you think Jonathan Crompton will be in his first year as a Tennessee starting quarterback and what makes you think that?
People tend to forget that Crompton saw a respectable amount of playing time in 2006 when Eric Ainge injured his ankle. While statistically he didn’t do anything mesmerizing, he didn’t do anything to embarrass himself or the team.
I honestly believe Crompton will have a successful season because he has a veteran offense surrounding him. The offensive line, the running backs and the wide receivers have plenty of experience and new Offensive Coordinator Dave Clawson appears wise enough to get the ball into those veteran playmaker’s hands. Moreover, Crompton is mobile and he’ll be capable of making plays that Ainge could never make.
2. This question was posed on our site a few weeks ago by the Bama boys, and it brought some good discussion, so given UT’s rich history of scheduling home-and-homes with top-shelf BCS programs, what school would you most like for the Vols to play in the future and why?
Tennessee has consistently scheduled tough non-conference games against BCS powers and the future is no different. The Vols have already secured contracts to play North Carolina, Oregon, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Ohio State over the next 11 years.
I’d personally like to see the Vols play Penn State in a home-and-home series. The programs are very similar as are the rabid fan bases. The respective stadiums, Beaver and Neyland, are comparable in capacity as well.
3. A lot has been made of our lack of depth at defensive tackle. With Demonte Bolden, Dan Williams and Walter Fisher pretty solid, what other player do you think makes a big move toward becoming dependable?
Chase Nelson saw some playing time last season and while he’s undersized for a defensive tackle, he plays hard and gives you a maximum effort. Nelson can utilize his quickness to get off the ball and into the offensive lineman, occupying him enough to give the linebackers an opportunity to make plays.
4. Neyland Stadium has undergone some wholesale external and internal renovations during the offseason, updating and improving the overall appearance. If you could change one thing about Neyland, what would it be?
More seats! I understand the renovations have modernized the venerable old stadium, but I hate to see the loss of seating to accomplish the task. When all of the renovations are completed in the years to come, Neyland will have the fourth largest capacity of all college football stadiums in the nation. I’d really like to see the capacity get back to the 109,000 range like it was several years ago when we set an attendance record against the Gators in 2004.
5. Different UT fans have different opinions on last season. Was it a success? Was it a failure? Why do you think so?
Last season was a failure - that’s the price you pay when your program has the expectations placed upon it like Tennessee does. Anytime you lose to Florida and Alabama, that’s bad enough. When you don’t win an SEC championship, that’s even worse.
Granted, last season was a transitional year for the Vols as many young players were being worked into the defense. But with a veteran quarterback, solid running backs, a good offensive line and an experienced Offensive Coordinator, Tennessee didn’t produce the results Volunteer fans demand.
I’ll admit to being a homer to some extent, but I always make an effort to remain objective. As I view last season objectively, it was a failure in my book.
Check out the answers at The UT Vols Football Blog
Check out the answers at The Power T
Check out the answers at Fulmer’s Belly
Check out the answers at YMSWWC
Check out the answers at Losers with Socks
Check out the answers at Gate 21
Check out the answers at Rocky Top Talk
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Big Orange Roundtable « Third Saturday in Blogtober on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 12:36
[...] Moondog’s answers [...]
Ghost of Neyland on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 12:50
Nice job with the answers, Moondog. Good points, all.
Sports Fan on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 13:03
Nicely done Moondog.
I enjoy reading your input about the Vols.
A+!
MoonDog on Tue, 8th Jul 2008 13:40
Ghost/Sports - Thank you kindly. This is a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to doing this each week.
Big Orange Round Table « Loser with Socks on Wed, 9th Jul 2008 11:01
[...] Moondog’s answers [...]
lawvol on Thu, 10th Jul 2008 10:52
I’m with you on the seats. Would love to see some more added…
MoonDog on Thu, 10th Jul 2008 18:17
Build a fourth deck - although we would need to have personal view screens attached to each one. You couldn’t see anything from up there.
I want to see Neyland with more seats than Michigan.
Big Orange Roundtable Roundup « Third Saturday in Blogtober on Fri, 11th Jul 2008 14:09
[...] — if not stellar — quarterback for the Vols this year for different reasons. Moondog believes that the experience surrounding Crompton will make him a better quarterback. The Power T [...]