Yes , I have been spoiled as a Volunteer fan. My first year following the VOLS was the 1997 season and we drove down to Georgia Dome and watched them win the SEC Championship game. It was a great atmosphere and a close game. The next season was highlighted by a dramatic victory over the Gators and I to joined several thousand happy fans and rushed on to field. Then a few months later we were at Tempe and watched them beat FSU to win the first BCS championship game. The seasons 1999-2001 were good seasons with a return trip to Tempe in 1999 and we did see a lot of Arizona before Nebraska beat us. 2001 was highlighted by a victory in the swamp and a return to the SEC Championship which we unfortunately lost to LSU (I was at that game to). But had a great time at the Citrus Bowl as they beatdown Michigan. That was especially sweet for me since I grew up a Spartan fan. My wife explained to me that in the SEC they all pulled for each other in Bowl games and didn't understand why they didn't in the Big Ten. I couldn't believe thet she rooted for Florida against my beloved Spartans during the 2000 Citrus Bowl. She bit her tongue that year when the Spartans beat Florida in the NCAA Baskeball Championship game. Let me tell you why I am a Volunteer fan. The passion of the fans is really something I had never experienced during football games. The pageantry of watching the band come down the hill and march into the stadium and the pregame is really the best in all of sports. Now the last 6 seasons haven't been all that great even though we managed to somehow get back to the SEC Championship game twice only to lose each time. I believed Coach Fulmer could get us back but somehow the team stumbled and it culminated in 2 losing seasons during the last 4 years and now our biggest rivals were not only beating us but embarrassing us at Neyland Stadium no less. Last season I witnessed something I never thought at Neyland Stadium I would see, fans booing the football team. The offense led the nation in 3 and outs and we were rated 117th in total offense. It was tough to see Coach Fulmer get fired but most fans were fed up with the sloppy play and frankly losing. Good luck Coach Kiffin hope you can lead us back where Coach Fulmer had us 10 years ago. Its been a drought without an SEC champion this past 11 seasons hope you can get the VOLS back.
