Oh boy, we're laughing hysterically and yet and the same time shaking our heads at the reactions of people in at least the eastern part of Tennessee as they prepare to greet their former head coach and current Alabama assistant Lane Kiffin.
The Tennessee Vols and the 4th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide square off Saturday in a game that the Tide likely will win...and win handily.
But the buildup to this SEC matchup has been nothing short of hilarious.
This isn't made up. A political action committee (Political Hit Squad) came up with this ad to attack State Representative Gloria Johnson.
And there is more...
This story by Knoxville TV station WBIR is about Knoxville barber Rusty Manis who was shorted $14 haircut by Coach Kiffykins who came in to get coiffed and said he forgot his wallet.
He never returned to pay the bill.
Check out the dramatic (funny) retelling of that story (well produced)---
If you ever wanted proof that Denver Broncos and former University of Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning is the king of the nerds, well...now you have it.
Look what happened Monday morning at Broncos camp when while the team was doing stretching drills, the Vols fight song (Rocky Top) broke out on the speakers.
This would be the funniest video we've seen all week if there weren't a fairly serious story attached to it.
Until this afternoon (Saturday) we hadn't read a fascinating tale of the "SEC Bag Man" or the alleged guy with the money to sign recruits and keep players flush with money.
We don't know how much of it is completely true, but is certainly explains some things. And considering how much we know about how things operate in the Dirty South, it did not surprise us to read any of it.
Read if for yourself from Steven Godfrey of SBNation.com RIGHT HERE
Now the story itself did not get a ton of national play, but somehow it found it's way to the "Taiwanese Animators" who gave the treatment only they could give it.
The video spares few, though there is a preponderance of Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee involved in it.
For those of you who have grown up around SEC football and have had the fortune to catch a game at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, you heard a particular voice...
Bobby Denton, the PA voice of the Vols and long-time talent for WIVK Radio, has passed away after a brief illness...
From the station:
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of the legendary Bobby Denton. He was part of the core group that built WIVK into the powerhouse radio station that it is today. Many knew him as the PA announcer for UT football games at Neyland Stadium for more than 4 decades. Bobby was instrumental in launching the career of Dolly Parton and was track announcer at the Talladega Superspeedway for several years. Though he retired from WIVK several years ago, Bobby remained a friend to many of us who are still here today. It can truly be said that "there will never be another one like him." Bobby Denton's death early Wednesday followed a brief illness. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
Head Coach Butch Jones Tweeted: “Without Bobby Denton there would be NO “It’s Football Time in Tennessee”! Your voice will be heard forever!”
Anybody still want to argue that the SEC is the best conference in college football?
Saturday's game action proved one thing--They're not.
Pretty much every "name" program in the conference lost. And not for the 1st time this season.
We start in Vanderbilt where the limping Georgia Bulldogs continue their tumble down the polls. And ironically, the Dawgs were up 13 going into the 4th quarter in Nashville.
But that's when the wheels fell off.
A fumbled punt, a botched punt snap and a solid performance by Vandy's backup QB Patton Robbinette was all it took for that lead to evaporate and Vanderbilt to get the their 1st win over a ranked team since the 2008 season, 31-27.
Your highlights from CBS Sports:
The craziness continued just 3 hours East in Knoxville when Tennessee knocked off media darling South Carolina when Michael Palardy drilled a 19-yard field goal at the buzzer giving the Vols a 23-21 win.
The Gamecocks didn't exactly help themselves with 3 turnovers and 9 penalties. This despite a big game by star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
But Tennessee stayed close, and a circus catch by freshman WR Marquez North was enough to put Palardy in position to give his team their 1st win over a ranked team since 2009.
Your highlights from our friends at ESPN:
And while that was happening, Missouri took full control of the SEC East by dominating an outmanned Florida team in Columbia, Missouri.
QB Maty Mauk stepped in for the injured James Franklin and threw for 295 yards and a TD, Henry Joseph ran for 136 and a score and the Tigers defense sacked beleaguered Gator QB Tyler Murphy 6 times and was in his face pretty much the entire game.
The 36-17 win will get Missouri a place in the Top 10 and a now 2 game lead over their closest competition in the SEC East.
Your Highlights again from our friends at ESPN:
And finally Auburn continues in run towards regaining relevance by taking down Johnny Football and Texas A&M in College Station early Saturday evening.
Auburn QB Nick Marshall threw for 236 and 2 TD's and ran for 100 yards and two more to lead the Tigers to a crazy 45-41 win.
The Tigers were winless in the SEC in 2012 and arguably one of college football's worst teams. The change this season under new coach Gus Mazlahn is nothing short of miraculous.
No, there wasn't a lot of defense played in this game, Manziel threw for 434 yards and 4 TD's and his WR Mike Evans caught 11 passes for 237 yards and a couple of scores. But when Manziel went down with a shoulder injury, the Aggies defense couldn't stop Auburn. Manziel would return, but had a hard time throwing.
The loss pretty much eliminated the Aggies from SEC West or any national title contention.
Your highlights from CBS Sports (There are a lot of them):
The game wasn't supposed to be close, one current SEC power vs. a former SEC power desperately trying to regain past glory.
And they very nearly did.
The Tennessee Vols gave the #6 ranked Georgia Bulldogs all the could handle and more in Knoxville. The Vols fought back from a 17-3 halftime deficit to take a late 4th quarter 31-24 lead.
But it wasn't enough.
Georgia senior QB Aaron Murray overcame the absence of his top 2 RB's, his top 3 WR's, all out with injuries, to lead the Bulldogs to a game tying touchdown pass with just 2 seconds left sending the game to overtime.
But Tennessee fought back.
In the 1st overtime, the Vols took the ball right down to the goal line and a semi-reverse by WR Alton Howard would have won it. But Howard dropped the ball trying to lunge into the end zone. The ball rolled out of bounds, giving Georgia an automatic touchback.
Dawgs kicker Marshall Morgan dropped in a 42-yard field goal on the next possession and Georgia moves to 5-0 on the season. Tennessee drops to 3-2 but most Vol fans are encouraged that coach Butch Jones may have them heading in the right direction after years of floundering.
