we went on to lose the Notre Dame 17-13 after leading at the half. Rick C threw a pic six in the fourth quarter that killed the Vols. Tyrone Willingham was fired after they finished the season 6-6.
The Vols completed the season 10-3, losing twice to undefeated Auburn and the Irish. An 11-2 Vols would have finished the season in the top five and would not have suffered the qb controversy that led to the 5-7 season.
I also recall the infamous option keeper ran by Ainge against Carolina in 2006 where he was injured. The following week the 8th ranked Vols lost to LSU with nine seconds to go in the game when Janarcus Russell completed a td in the back of the endzone. LSU literally held the ball for the last 12 minutes of the game. Ainge started but was quickly relieved by Crompton who could not get it done. The next week, the Vols got smoked by Arkansas in Fayetteville.
It's also been said in 2007 that Ainge played with a broken finger in the season opening debacle against Cal.
At least two of those seasons, we finish in the top five to seven if Ainge had not been injured.
The Vols completed the season 10-3, losing twice to undefeated Auburn and the Irish. An 11-2 Vols would have finished the season in the top five and would not have suffered the qb controversy that led to the 5-7 season.
I also recall the infamous option keeper ran by Ainge against Carolina in 2006 where he was injured. The following week the 8th ranked Vols lost to LSU with nine seconds to go in the game when Janarcus Russell completed a td in the back of the endzone. LSU literally held the ball for the last 12 minutes of the game. Ainge started but was quickly relieved by Crompton who could not get it done. The next week, the Vols got smoked by Arkansas in Fayetteville.
It's also been said in 2007 that Ainge played with a broken finger in the season opening debacle against Cal.
At least two of those seasons, we finish in the top five to seven if Ainge had not been injured.
