CLEVELAND, Tenn. - A few years ago, when Max Shulman was still a McCallie Blue Tornado and Ryan Montgomery a Central Purple Pounder, the two occasionally would spend the night at each other's homes after games.
If masterful comedian and writer Larry David had gotten his way prior to the 2018 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans might be facing the New York Jets at 8:15 Saturday night in the AFC divisional playoff round instead of the Baltimore Ravens.
It would be easy to blame the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs for Wednesday night's 73-66 loss to Furman at McKenzie Arena rather than praise the Paladins.
Rodney Dangerfield the Tennessee Titans aren't.
Exactly 30 days ago today, Alabama coach Nick Saban said of college football's changing priorities: "We have made everything about the playoffs in college football."
In almost any other year this century, if you had just knocked off the New England Patriots on their home field in the opening round of the AFC playoffs, you would probably become the favorite to win the Super Bowl.
Can the Vols clean up their mistakes in time to keep their fading NCAA tournament hopes alive?
The best team won the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday night.
It sounds impossible.
I want to believe.
