That is the Tennessee team that the residents of Knoxville expected to see. The team that came out and passed, rushed and scored at will, and more importantly, the team that tackled, wrapped up, stayed in their gaps, and got off blocks. The defense was markedly better after a mere 15 minutes of tackling practice as mandated by Coach Fulmer. If Fulmer can do that in 15 minutes, the rest of the SEC had better watch out if he ever decides to spend any time on the offense.

Georgia came into Knoxville wielding a 3 game win streak on Rocky Top, but the Big Orange football team was able to keep their home record spotless in their 2007 campaign with a thorough roughing up of the Bulldogs from Athens, (gee ay). The Dogs (I refuse to spell it wrong on purpose) looked half a step behind on both sides of the ball, and that proved to be enough for one of the worst loss margins of Mark Richt’s tenure.

Is the mystique back?

Erik Ainge continued his Heisman Campaign with a workman-like 17 of 22 for 165 yards with 0 INTs and 0 TDs. He didn’t exactly have to throw any touchdowns as “The Hoss” Arian Foster ran for 98 yards and three touchdowns.

One has to wonder if this is the vision of this team for the rest of the season (at least defensively), or if the D from the Cal and Florida games will rear it’s ugly head again in the future. Let’s hope not, as the Vols prepare to face a much improved Mississippi State team next week. The defense came out with a purpose and a mission, and if they can keep up the intensity and ability to wrap up, Tennessee could go on to win quite a few more games, and turn around a seemingly lost season. One game at a time though.