Don't expect much from the Orange and White Game

It's only 3 1/2 months into the season before I managed to post my first blog of the year! I'm going to have to really step it up if I hope to improve on the amazing 12 posts I made here in 2007. What? Easy now, like you did any better. How many posts did you end up with on that gay gardening blog of yours? Yeah, that's what I thought.

On to football. If you consider yourself a Tennessee fan I'm sure you realize that the Orange and White game is later today. That's right, it's time for the annual scrimmage that puts an end to spring practice and begins the long summer countdown until fall practice. It gives us something to remember, something to chew on, and ideally some hope for the upcoming season.

Too bad the game is typically crap. It will probably go something like this. The game will start out with a series of scripted plays that lead the starting offense in a long drive down the field resulting in a touchdown. 'Crompton really is ready' we'll say. We will see Arian Foster have a couple of nice runs. 'He really is going to be the all time leading rusher at Tennessee.' A couple receivers make big catches, 'what a deep group of receivers we're going to have'. Just when we are getting comfortable in our seats and getting excited about Dave Clawson's new offense, out go the starters and in come the scrubs.

You say I'm exaggerating? Think back to last year's game. Do you remember the great performances? Roy Olasimbo ran for over 100 yards, Brett Barnes led the defense with 13 tackles, and Tyler Wolf made the play of the day when he returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown.

This is not a new phenomenon. I could go back several years and recap the great Orange and White game performance of [insert walk on name here], but I won't bore you.

I understand the logic here. Fulmer doesn't want to give away his hand and he surely doesn't want to risk an injury to a potential starter. It's best to take the conservative approach and play it safe. There is no need to take unnecessary chances and that's fine. Let's just not make this game out to be more than it is: a chance to watch the 3+ stringers get their day in the spotlight.

Look, I'm a big fan of the spring game. I believe it's a lot of fun for the kids. What kid wouldn't enjoy coming out three hours early to get autographs of Tennessee players he's never heard of. Or better yet, what kid wouldn't like to stand in line for an hour and a half to try to get up to the "superstar" table only to run out of time and have to leave empty handed along with the other 70% of fans who wasted their day standing in that line.

Lastly, don't forget to head over to UT Vols Football and send in a write-in vote for The Vol Critic. If I win, I promise to make at least 15 posts this year. Think about it.