Tennessee an Underrated team for 2011 campaign

Tennessee football has seen quite a large amount of turmoil with three coaches in three seasons.

But Derek Dooley seems here to stay, especially after four straight wins with Tyler Bray at QB to make the Vols bowl eligible.

Dooley's club has a pretty favorable schedule in 2011, with their only tough road games being at Florida and Alabama.

In addition to Bray's return and a corps of talented young receivers ready to mature, the defense returns their entire secondary, with a pair of all-SEC safeties intact.

A matter of stability could do wonders for slowly returning Tennessee to prosperity, especially in a weakened SEC East.


Who are the Others ?

Tennessee Vols Football: Tyler Bray's Future So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades

By Michael Ellis (Tennessee Featured Columnist) on January 8, 2011









Tennessee freshman quarterback Tyler Bray drops back to pass.

Rarely does one have the opportunity to witness the beginnings of a star being born, especially in the middle of a sunny Saturday afternoon in Columbia, SC, but that's precisely what Tennessee football fans did on October 30, 2010.

In the third quarter Head Coach Derek Dooley had grown weary of the offense, led by junior quarterback Matt Simms. Simms had battled his way through the brutal stretch of the Tennessee schedule, suffering 24 sacks through eight games, while throwing eight touchdowns and five interceptions. The offense was inconsistent, to say the least, and the inability to finish drives and get points on the board had relegated the unit to dead last in the SEC in orange-zone scoring.

With the Vols trailing the South Carolina Gamecocks, 17-10, Coach Dooley made the most important gridiron decision of his young Tennessee coaching career.

Here We Go ! Spring Ball right around the corner

A brand new year means a fresh new start. Spring signifies new life and new beginnings, a start of a new season. Hopefully, with New Coach Derek Dooley, this spring can get off to a good start and prove to be productive. Spring ball is set to start March 18 with the annual Orange and White game right around the corner on April 17.