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8/16/01 By Smokey's Trail
Smokey says: Winning the first three games and the Volunteers could go all the way to the top. The first game with Syracuse is not going to be a shoe in. Just because they're unranked doesn't mean that they won't fight to the bitter end.
Then you have Arkansas at Arkansas. The razorbacks are not going to forget that ambush the Volunteers put on them last year in Knoxville. Houston Nutt went buzzerk on the sidelines and thought we paid off the referees. The razorbacks will be ready for us with their new stadium and all.
Now you have the game you've been ready for, the Florida Gators. After the Gator's play their first two off the wall games with Marshall and Louisiana Monroe, they will still be ranked No. 1 when the Volunteers come to town in the swamp land. This is it, this is what you dreamed about, playing a No. 1 team.
The Volunteers for the last two years have out played the Gators but lost the games. It was bad play calling in the end that beat the Volunteers. The players played their hearts out and it showed on paper, but not on the scoreboard.
For the Volunteers this is the championship game. There's no holding back on this game with a national audience looking on. By winning this game the Volunteers will have an edge in the Eastern Division race and the momentum to get better. The Gators are full of talent and loaded for bear. It's going to take Smokey, Davy Crockett, fans and all the Volunteers to hang these Gators out to dry.
I think the Volunteers have a vision for the title and they know it's not going to be and easy road. Here's an insert from Smokey's Trail archives 1998 season:
national champions? 12/18/98
By Smokey's TrailA team that knows they're the best and believes in themselves because of the obstacles they overcame to get there. From the hard work, sweating and hurting together as a team and respecting each other as a whole. Giving credit where credit is due especially giving thanks to the one that gave them the ability to play football; the good Lord. It's much more than that, it starts from coaches to the water boy with much preparation, taking the talent with each individual player and molding them to the leaders of today.
Seniors playing their last season, showing the underclassmen the example of being winners in a hard fought game with pride and dignity. Never giving up or letting down, always playing like there is no tomorrow. Whenever they win or lose they have a sense of pride that they gave all they had and more to be winners in the game of champions.
Here's a man that understands the game and won championships. He knows the sacrifice that men have to make. Here's his quotes: "Football is a game of defense and field position. Minimize your mistakes, and magnify the mistakes of your opponent.
Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope."
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Leadership is one key factor and a team that has leadership, knows they are hard to stop. They've been there, have done that and knows what it takes to win.