I have now posted three stories on the Tennessee Volunteers facing the California Golden Bears tonight. Some of you have commented and I appreciate it. But where is Lisa? I mean, I am in her arena, supposedly at least. But she has yet to even comment on my Vols representing the SEC taking on her PAC 10 University of Southern California rival.
Oh Lisa, come out and play! Come out and play warrior! I know for the most part I cut and paste. I prefer to call it editing. But nevermind that, what are your thoughts on the game?
From utsports.com
After more than four weeks of grueling preseason practices, the Vols finally open the 2007 season Saturday in a primetime showdown with the California Golden Bears.
The heaviest weight placed on Tennessee’s back is that of the entire Southeastern Conference. There are three games featuring SEC teams against BCS opponents on opening weekend, but only Tennessee faces a ranked team.
In all, the SEC will play 13 regular season games against BCS opponents, and judging from preseason rankings, this weekend’s game sits behind only the LSU-Virginia Tech matchup when it comes to national title implications. Of course, anything can change by Nov. 24, when the final four of the 13 games are played.
“We are always thinking about representing the conference,” quarterback Erik Ainge said. “But once it is kicked off, that all goes away. We will go out there and represent Tennessee and the SEC, but our focus is on the game itself.”
The word ‘revenge’ has also been used over and over again. Cal has reportedly been seething for a full calendar year after its lopsided 2006 loss on Rocky Top.
On the field, Tennessee’s defense will have to contend with one of the Pac-10’s best quarterbacks in junior Nate Longshore, not to mention a group of veteran receivers including Heisman Trophy candidate DeSean Jackson. The Vols’ offense looks to establish the run against a Cal defense that lost three of its four starting defensive linemen from a year ago.
“We are going to approach this one like we would any other game,” junior linebacker Jerod Mayo said. “We know what kind of talent they have, and our coaches will have us prepared. Our focus is on what we can do, what we have prepared to do, not what they can do.”
Denny Hamlin seems to have this Car of Tomorrow thing figured out. On Thursday night at Phoenix International Raceway, Hamlin qualified third for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 (8 p.m. ET Saturday, FOX), his third top-10 start in as many COT races. He led 125 laps at Martinsville, second only to Dale Earnhardt Jr. He finished third, after starting from the pole. He led 177 laps in the COT's debut at Bristol, second only to teammate Tony Stewart. But a fuel-pump issue slowed his effort and resulted in a 14th-place finish.
"The guys in the JGR [Joe Gibbs Racing] shop spent a ton of time and effort in preparing these cars and it is pretty clear they hit on something because we have been really strong," Hamlin said. "Really, only some random problems kept us or the 20 [Stewart] from winning at Bristol. "Then we were both good at Martinsville the next weekend so I do feel like we are ahead of the curve at the moment but this sport can change in a hurry. We know we need to keep working hard on these cars, and hopefully win one here."
Hamlin will start in a favorable position for victory at Phoenix. Three races from PIR have been won from the third starting spot, tied with second for most at the track.
Hamlin earned his first career pole at Phoenix, in just his sixth Nextel Cup start, when he took the controls of the No. 11 Chevrolet for the final seven races in 2005. He finished 13th in that race -- a missed lug nut ruined a possible top-five finish -- but was third in his most recent attempt there this past fall.
"Really, no track that we visit reminds me more of racing when I was younger than PIR. I spent my early career running flat tracks in Late Models and this track feels like that to me," Hamlin said. "Put us out there under the lights and you can't get any closer to the Late Models days than here at Phoenix and that is one of the reasons it's my favorite place to race."
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