It didn't take long for the reviews to start coming in when the Vols showed up at Neyland Stadium in their black jerseys.

Just after the Vols kicked-off against South Carolina, my phone went-off with an email from a viewer:

 No, this is not real. But nothing fires up UT fans more than the Great Uniform Debate. 

With Halloween approaching, a UT fan sent me this fixed-up photo, wondering if the Vols should go with Orange and Black uniforms against South Carolina.

There's no indication UT officials are even remotely considering this.  But I'm wondering, should they?

Lane Kiffin wants to speak up. Really, he does. 

But for once, the coach won't.

Kiffin was threatened with suspension Monday after criticizing the officiating at the end of the Vols-Alabama game.  

The outspoken Tennessee head coach is mum.  And it's killing him.

The feelings and images of those final minutes watching another Tennessee-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa will never fade.  Ever.

The Vols were heading for a possible miracle ending, and while it was unfolding in front of me, I was frantically rewriting a story (in my head) that seemed finished after Tennessee was called for roughing the kicker with less than 5 minutes to play.  Alabama 12, Tennessee 3.  Edit, feed, done. 

Titans head coach Jeff Fisher shows up at a benefit function wearing a Peyton Manning jersey.  Big deal, right?

Wrong.

Fisher's team is 0-6. His job security has been called into question. And now he's joking about it. Apparently some misguided fans are offended. 

Tough nuts, says the head coach. Well, Fisher didn't say it exactly like that, but that's what he implied.

I love college football polls. 

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see a college football playoff system, but even in if that were to happen, the polls would still play a huge part in determining who makes the playoffs. 

I saw this sign outside Neyland Stadium two weeks ago. It's a good thing the Vols weren't looking ahead (like UT fans were) when they beat Georgia on Saturday.  I am out of the office for a few days, but already looking forward to the trip to Tuscaloosa.

The Vols will be huge underdogs to a team that many consider the best in the country.

A couple of quick notes before the game.  An hour to go, and skies over Neyland are still as dark as the Vols season has been. But all that's about to change. I really think Tennessee wins today.  

Why mess with greatness?

Because Lane Kiffin isn't worried about one guy. He's worried about the entire team

One of the best players in college football has had his role re-defined by the UT coaching staff.  Eric Berry is playing linebacker. Well, not officially. On Tuesday, Berry called it something like "a bafety". That's a combination of the words safety (Berry's usual position) and linebacker.

Monday's quick jettison of Brandon Warren from the UT football team makes it clear who's in charge.  That would be the head coach.  Not the players.  And frankly, that wasn't always the case with UT football in the past.

Lane Kiffin doesn't mess around.

Warren's dismissal might have been predicted. Despite his obvious talent, Warren had appeared to be in-and-out of Kiffin's doghouse since August practice started. The coach dropped hints of him not doing "all the right things."  Kiffin's comments were left for interpretation.