Southern Times, Girls and Sports

At this time last year, Tennessee and Vanderbilt were in their usual positions in football, the Vols contending for the SEC East and Vanderbilt waiting desperately for their first postseason berth in a quarter of a century.

Of course, the Vols went on to the Outback Bowl and beat Wisconsin for their first bowl win since 2005 when they beat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl and Vanderbilt, well, was sitting again at home wondering what could have been.

On Saturday night against Kentucky, the Commodores finally exercised the demons of their horrendous football past and became the first Vanderbilt squad to be bowl eligible since 1982 when they beat Kentucky 31-24 at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington.

And the other team?

After a bye week from their debacle against Wyoming on Homecoming, the Vols will meet up against the Commodores in Nashville as Vanderbilt looks to beat the Vols for the first time since 2005 when they ended a streak of futility in Neyland Stadium behind the arm of Jay Cutler.

And given how the ‘Dores need to go into their bowl game with positive momentum, this game will be the best chance for them to continue the magic carpet ride that has been their season.

After electing our first African-American president in Barack Obama and surviving an assasination attempt, I’m here once again to present to you the SEC Power Rankings for the week of November 2nd.

1. Alabama (Don’t expect these guys to fall off the top anytime soon. Of course, there’s a chance that LSU could beat the Tide in Baton Rouge as part of Nick Saban’s return to Death Valley)

2. Florida (Looks to be a clear road for the Gators in quest for the SEC East crown. But Vanderbilt always seems to play the Gators close and could, if the football gods allow it, beat the Gators for the first time since 1988.)

3. South Carolina (Let it be shown that the Gamecocks got Fulmer fired, whether you agree with the way it was done or disagree.)

4. Kentucky (Three straight bowl games, something that hasn’t happened in a long time, has the folks in Lexington beaming with glee.)

5. LSU (Your former coach is coming, men. How will you respond?)

6. Georgia (Blowout loss hurt Dawgs’ chances at SEC East crown)

7. Ole Miss (Nutt is doing a great job turning the fortunes of the Rebel football program around.)

8. Vanderbilt (Bye week was needed for ‘Dores.)

9. Auburn (Tigers can still reach .500 in the SEC West)

10. Arkansas (They deserved to be ranked higher than Tennessee.)

11. Tennessee (Remaining games are for pride, not for too much of anything else.)

12. Missississippi State (Basketball’s looking good these days in Starkville.)

My time’s up. You’ve been a great audience.

According to published reports, Mike Hamilton read my letter on why it was time for a change in Knoxville and after 18 years Phil Fulmer will step down as head football coach.

Obviously on the eve of an election as big as this, it was time for a change on Rocky Top.

The Tennessean’s story on the resignation

Rivalries are something to live for in sports.

Apparently, in my case, as a native Memphian, the Louisville-Memphis rivalry is one of great significance and somewhat a shadowing between the two cities.

Louisville has the Ohio River.

Memphis has the Mississippi.

They have Interstate 65.

We have Interstate 55.

They have Freedom Hall.

We have Mid-South Coliseum (oops, slated for the wrecking ball)

They have that freaky girl I met during the summer as well as the girl I’m talking to now.

We have the softball hottie.

They have John L. Smith.

We have Rip Scherer.

They have this as a model for beautiful girls:

We have this:

They have White Castle.

We have Krystal.

They have Condo of the The Nasty Boys’ Sports Blog.

We have yours truly.

By the end of the night one city is going down in flames and another will be thrilled with gleee.