It's a reward for having one of the largest and best traveling fan bases in the nation. The 1998 national championship makes the Vols an attractive television sell. It would be hard to top a Michigan-Tennessee Outback Bowl. Of course, after a first half of the season in which nearly everything has gone wrong, even the most loyal of fans will be hesitant to express such optimism. In fact, some have gone overboard with negativism, suggesting that UT won't even finish with a winning record.
History suggests otherwise.
Vols' coach Phillip Fulmer has been 2-3 only once before as a head coach, in 1994. Like this season, the Vols were unsettled at quarterback, until a freshman named Peyton Manning emerged. Once Fulmer found his trigger man, the Vols rolled. So history will repeat itself. Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders has done an excellent job polishing the skills of three young quarterbacks.