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Tennessee
Was Seen As
No. 1, uh, rather No. 11
Preseason
Magazines Had The Vols Ranked From 7th-16th.
By
George Stahl
Now
that Tennessee is the undisputed No. 1 team in college football
and all of this season's questions have been answered, it's time
to look back and see which preview magazine provided the best
clues to this strange year.
Most
preview magazines envisioned Tennessee as borderline top ten team,
despite the loss of Peyton Manning. The Vols' average preseason
rank from the seven preview magazines
that AQB reviewed was 11th, although they were ranked as
high as seventh in Phil Steele's and as low as 16th in Preview Sports.
Here
are the seven preview magazines that ArmchairQB.com reviewed in
August, with their preseason rank and selected comments about Tennesee.
Also included is Tennessee's ranking and review from Sports
Illustrated and ESPN magazine.
Finally,
click here
to see how the preseason top 25 list from each of the seven preseason
magazines stack up against the final AP and ESPN/USA Today top 25
lists.
Remember,
hindsight is always 20/20.
Preview
magazines:
The
Sporting News
Prediction: 2nd SEC East. Preseason rank: No. 11
- "[Quarterback
Tee] Martin will do fine and scoring won't be a problem. But a
defense that probably won't be as good as last year and the loss
of leaders such as Peyton Manning and Leonard Little mean a repeat
SEC title isn't likely. Still this will be a good team."
- In the beginning
of the magazine, where Tennessee was ranked No. 11, TSN said:
"Coach Phillip Fulmer is looking for leadership. Are you
listening, LB Al Wilson." I think Fulmer go that leadership.
Lindy's
Prediction: 2nd SEC East; 3rd SEC. Preseason rank: No. 12
- "Life
after Peyton Manning won't be so bad. Tennessee will fall back
on a better-balanced attack behind a veteran offensive line, and
a fast defense that shouldn't miss a trick."
- "Yet,
Fulmer has been the target of criticism from various corners.
... If healthy, the Vols should have one of the SEC's best defensive
lines. But that's a big "if," considering the depth
is not what it has been."
- "Our
call: Even if Florida wins the SEC title and gets to the Fiesta
Bowl, the Vols could be well-positioned to wind up tasting Sugar."
Preview
Sports
Prediction: 3rd SEC East. Preseason rank: No. 16
- "Suffice
it to note: Tennessee will again put up a bushel of points. On
the other side of the ball, linebacker Al Wilson leads an otherwise
inexperienced group. National title contenders? Not likely. But
Tennessee could again be featured in a major bowl."
Bob
Griese's
Prediction: 2nd SEC East. Preseason rank: No. 10
- "Even
with the loss of its best-ever quarterback and half of the defense,
the Volunteers have annual talent which demands top ten ranking
consideration."
Phil
Steele's
Prediction: 2nd SEC East. Preseason rank: No. 7
- "They
have a top 15 defense and do get Florida at home. They have a
shot at returning to the SEC title game and should have another
solid year."
- "Despite
the loss of Manning and seven other NFL draft choices they are
still a Top Ten team. Since Florida must travel into Knoxville,
they have a shot at repeating as SEC East champs. This is another
powerful Vol contingent."
Street
& Smith's
Prediction: 2nd SEC East. Preseason rank: No. 12
- "This
could be the Vols' season again if the defense develops quickly
and Martin fits the offense like a Tee."
Athlon
Prediction: 2nd SEC East. Preseason rank: No. 11
- "Martin
will get the quarterback's share of publicity but he is only one
of several relatively unknown Vols who must assert themselves
if the Vols are to make any serious move toward repeating as SEC
champions."
Click
here to see ArmchairQB.com's review
of all seven college football magazines.
Weekly
magazines:
ESPN
(Preseason rank: No. 11):
- "Sure,
Tennessee lost Peyton Manning, the greatest passer in school history,
but, hey, look on the bright side - it gained a nutritionist.
Don't laugh. The Vols' body-fuel shortage was big news in Knoxville
after that 42-17 shellacking Nebraska handed out in the Orange
Bowl in January. ... Maybe carbohydrates will do what Manning
couldn't." Click
here to see a review of this magazine.
Sports
Illustrated (Preseason rank: No. 11):
- "Keep
in mind that it's the defense that causes [coach Phillip] Fulmer
to say, 'This team definitely has a long way to go.'
- "The
Bottom Line: The offense will score points, but the SEC East is
no place for a young secondary. Tennessee's had better grow up
quick." Click here to see
a review of this magazine.
Back
to top
Click here
to see a review of Keith Jackson's farewell in the Fiesta Bowl
Click here to go to the
college football bowl page.
Click here to go to the college football
page.
What
do you think? Let everyone know on the Speak
Out page.
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