The Day After

Unorganized thoughts I have about the game:

1. I know words like "unfair" are inherently childish, but I can't help feeling it's unfair the offense's poor management gets to punish the defense. UT would not have had thirteen men on the field if LSU hadn't been scrambling around like the goobers they are, wasting a good twenty seconds before substituting. Even before the final fiasco, I thought to myself, 'There has to be some kind of rule against that,' and indeed there is. If an offense subsitutes no-huddle, they must give the defense ample time to substitute as well (but how in the world is anyone supposed to think that clearly in the final five seconds of the game?!). Some say we can't appeal because our defense was set (implying we had time to make substitutions), others say LSU substituted illegally. I'm inclined to say our players were set because some of them didn't realize there were substitutions being made because we didin't have enough time to substitute. When it first happened-- well, the background. I had a 5:30p call for work; it's flexible, so I said I'd give the game until 5:40p before I left. The clock hit goose eggs at 5:43p. I celebrated with my family for about a minute and half, got in the car, dialed my BFF, and drove half a block before he said, "It's not over." I didn't see the after-clock play, only heard my friend's reaction over the phone. At the time, I was disappointed, but picked myself up. We needed this win so badly, but I could deal with what happened. The more time goes on, the less well it sets with me. First, because Miles pulls crap like this all the time and it seems if there were any justice in the universe it would have bitten him this time. Second, it reeks of bad officiating. SEC refs are the worst in the league, and I don't trust them as far as I can throw them. Apparantly, the coaches had all ready shaken hands and were filing out. How can you throw a flag so far after the game has been won? Surely there's a statute of limitations on that.
2. To help assuage me, I remind myself there's a lot we could have done before then. We could have eaten up more clock (though we've been burned doing that as well), we could have stopped the fourth and long, we could have made our field goal. But that only makes it work. To have overcome those mistakes, to end regulation two points ahead, and to have it called back in such a ticky tacky way...it's like food poisoning that doesn't hit until two days later.
3. Congrats to all our boys for their work. We looked like contenders!
4. Congrats to our fan base. We had a great showing, especially considering the distance, the economy, and our record. Many times we were louder than the Tigers, who did not really impress me (I know, I know, it's a day game and they're incapable of being good fans unless they've had a solid twelve hours of drinking), our band was louder, and I love hearing Rocky Top sung so strongly even after our band has had to stop playing due to playclock regulations. Way to make us proud VolNation!
5. The message boards are not in a complete meltdown like I had expected, and people are being mostly positive, but the ones who are down on Dooley and so sure he'll be fired within five years should be banned from any sports-related activities until they see the light. Gah, they stick my craw. So I'll just remind myself, those of us who actually attend the games, and especially the ones who went down to Death Valley are putting in our hearts and souls.
5. It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!