Should this count in the Fulmer Cup?

Universities must love when these morons wear their school shirts. How can we forget this winner, too:

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Rick Neuheisel hates me

You know, I go ahead and finally pick the favorite to win the Tennessee/UCLA game last night. Then what happens? UCLA pulls the massive upset. I even turned off the game at half time, figuring Kevin Craft wouldn't get it together in the second half. Well, Rick Neuheisel is an official genius. I'm not saying that he'll win the Pac-10 this year, or that Tennessee is a good team this year (at least, compared to what we thought). But you have to give Rick his due credit for rallying the troops and out-willing the Vols.

Later today: My Top 25; Paterno Presser Coverage.

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Labor Day: Not for College Football

Just because the rest of us had the day off, doesn't mean college football did the same. Rutgers did more to beat themselves than Fresno State, and Tennessee kicks off at UCLA in a few minutes. It's been a sloppy weekend so far, and the first game today did nothing to buck that trend. Can UCLA/Tennessee do anything to resemble a good game? I'm not so sure about that. I'll give UT the edge right now. Actually, it will be more than an edge. UT should run up four touchdowns, while UCLA will struggle to do much on offense. Hmmm... Tennessee 31, UCLA 14.

Coming tomorrow: My Top 25; Joe Paterno's press conference coverage.

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Now Tennessee thinks they're "Linebacker U"

I promise, I'll have ZN's draft coverage up later today. But until then, sink your teeth into this little piece by Drew Edwards of GoVolsXtra. He's trying to make the argument--as so many other schools have for themselves in recent years--that Tennessee is more deserving of the "Linebacker U" reputation than Penn State. Maybe the Vol Nation is still sour that the Nittany Lions absolutely embarrassed them in the Outback Bowl two years ago.

"Type the phrase "Linebacker U" into Google, and you'll find thousands of articles and Web sites extolling Penn State as the preeminent school for linebackers.

Type that same phrase into Wikipedia, and Penn State's football page immediately appears on your computer screen via the Internet's version of Encyclopedia Britannica.

Come this weekend, though, that entry might need a little editing.

When Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo becomes the first Vol taken in Saturday's NFL draft (ESPN, 3 p.m.), he'll be the 11th Tennessee linebacker selected since 1999."

I never bought into, nor will I ever buy into the argument that a school deserves "Linebacker U" because of how many NFL players it's produced at that position. But Edwards tries to use both angles for his story, throwing in this number about how many All-America selections UT linebackers have been awarded.

"That dream came from Chavis' two years playing under Lon Herzbrun, who coached four Tennessee linebackers to a total of five All-America honors 1969-76.

"You look at that wall in the complex and see the number of All-Americans he coached at Tennessee," Chavis says. "Back then, Tennessee was known as Linebacker U. When I had the opportunity to coach linebackers here at Tennessee, one of my goals was to put Tennessee back in a position where it was known as Linebacker U. I think we've made some progress."

You can't go "back" to something you never were in the first place. Sure, plenty of other schools have tried to award themselves "Linebacker U"--Ohio State, USC, Miami--but none have been successful. The main reason is that none of those schools, including Tennessee, have maintained the longevity or consistency of excellence at the position.

Since Joe Paterno was hired as an assistant in 1950, the list of All-America linebacker selections goes something like this:

Robert Mitinger (1961), Dennis Onkotz (1968, 1969), Jack Ham (1970), Charlie Zapiec (1971), Bruce Bannon (1972), John Skorupan (1972), Ed O'Neil (1973), Greg Buttle (1975), Kurt Allerman (1976), Shane Conlan (1985, 1986), Andre Collins (1989), LaVar Arrington (1998, 1999), Brandon Short (1999), Paul Pozluszny (2005, 2006), Dan Connor (2006, 2007).

In case you don't know this, those were just the First-Team Al-America selections. That list didn't include the many second and third-team selections. Plus, if you really want to get into it, Sean Lee was a sure-fire selection for 2008, after gaining third-team recognition in 2007. Oh yeah, and Penn State has won the last THREE Bednarik Awards (2005, 2006, 2007) and the 2005 Butkus Award.

There usually isn't such an impenetrable argument in sports as this, so I personally welcome and encourage anyone to take a shot at challenging that Penn State is "Linebacker U." Sorry, but you'll get blown out of the water.

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But can Kermit coach?

You've seen his face on the sidelines and during pre-game warm ups. But you weren't sure exactly as to what he did. Well, now we know what he will be doing. Following the unexpected departure of former Penn State safeties coach Brian Norwood to head up Baylor's defense, Kermit Buggs has been promoted from Coordinator of Player Personnel. Buggs will inherit arguably some of the best safeties in college football as that unit's coach, effective immediately.

But the question is raised, "sure, but can he coach?"

"Prior to coming to Penn State, Buggs was a successful high school coach, leading Surry County High School in Dendron, Va. to a 34-14 record from 1999-2002. His 1999 squad was 14-0 and won the Division I state championship and Buggs was named the state's Division I Coach of he Year." -- Penn State Sports Information press release.

That record could be deceiving though. Take away that perfect season, and his overall record is 20-14. But don't underestimate his abilities. Going undefeated with any team is an impressive acheivement, especially after a coaching change.

Buggs' abilities should be tested right away, leading his new unit against a Texas A&M offense that put up 38 points in a season finale win over the Longhorns. In the 2007 Outback Bowl win over 9-3 Tennessee, current safeties Anthony Scirrotto and Tony Davis made the two biggest plays of the game. Scirrotto's violent hit on Vol star wide receiver Jaycen Swain, set the tone for Penn State that the mythical "SEC speed" couldn't match the Lions' determination. Tied at 10, Davis broke the game open late when the Vols were moving in for a go-ahead touchdown. He recovered a fumble forced by Sean Lee, returning it 88 yards for the score. Penn State never looked back.

So, Buggs, what do you have up your sleeve for the Aggies?

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