It's pretty amazing, really, that Pat Summitt keeps winning national championships with Tennessee; this is now her eighth, and her second in a row.

We like how Rocky Top Talk characterizes a cute picture of a little boy.

Pat Summitt says that even though this kid is cute as a button, she would rip his freakin' head off if he ever challenged her to a game.

She's like Dean Smith and Coach K rolled into one, John Wooden if John Wooden had to deal with Bruce Pearl hanging around all the time. Pretty impossible not to salute.

Lady Vols Take Their Eighth NCAA Championship [Rocky Top Talk]

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

1. Give 'em the trophy already. Despite the selection committee's best efforts at getting rid of the Vols in the first weekend (seriously, what crack were they smoking putting the brackets together and matching up two Top 10 teams in the second round?), the Vols made it to a second straight Sweet 16. Even though the Vols are the lone SEC school remaining in this year's dance, they have played a whopping 1/3 of the remaining teams. The Vols No. 1 rated non-conference schedule included wins over Memphis, Western Kentucky, Xavier and West Virginia and a loss to Texas, none of which were played in Knoxville. It is easy to assume that this should give Tennessee an advantage the rest of the way, but the committee once again shows it hates orange because all of those teams are on the opposite side of the brackets.

2. There is no "I" in Pearl. Bruce Pearl is the greatest coach in college basketball today. (Ed Note: COUGH!) He single-handedly brought Tennessee to the national forefront in basketball. If you count his last coaching stint, he has coached in three out of the last four Sweet 16s. With all of this success, he has become the man the other teams love to hate. Whether it is breaking out the orange blazer for the Kentucky and Vanderbilt games, going Hulk-a-maniac on his shirt in the locker room after a big win, or painting his upper body orange for a Lady Vols game, the opposing fans love to hate by claiming that he is a grandstanding egomaniac. That is far from the truth. Bruce Pearl's antics did nothing but bring much needed attention to the forgotten program in Knoxville, the men's basketball team. The men's attendance is now finishing in the top five nationally, and for the first time in 25 years the men's team was ranked higher than the Lady Vols (who just got another 1 seed in the ladies tourney). Under Pearl's reign, the team has also just completed a second straight undefeated season at home, and in the three seasons since Pearl has arrived on campus they are 45-2 in Thompson-Boling Arena. His philosophy of "anybody, anytime, anywhere" combined with his mantra of "passion, poise, purpose" have Tennessee on the verge of making it past the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

3. Stephen Curry is no Chris Lofton. With three three-pointers against Butler, Chris Lofton broke his own school record for most threes in a season with 116 on the year. In fact, he has four of the top five single-season marks at Tennessee. Lofton also became the SEC's career leader in threes against Kentucky earlier in the season. Chris needs seven more threes to pass Keydren Clark for second on the NCAA's all-time three point leaders. An interesting side story here that I don't think has gotten nearly enough press (and by nearly enough I mean please stop talking about it) is that despite being named Mr. Basketball in 2004 in Kentucky, he was not recruited by either the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville. Tennessee fans cannot thank the state of Kentucky more for not giving him a chance. Lofton gave his thanks back in his Senior Day video when every highlight was a shot he hit against Kentucky and at the close of the video he thanked the Tennessee fans for believing in him. — Matthew Payne

LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

1. Character Issue. Sophomore Derrick Caracter is one of most talented players on the Cardinal steam, but the man is still plagued by "character issues." After already being suspended for the first 16 games of the season for personal reasons, Caracter figured that the appropriate time to announce that he was leaving school early for the NBA was the before the team played Tennessee in the Sweet 16. I guess nothing like an appearance in the Sweet 16 to bring the team together.

2. Padgett. A preseason top 10 squad, the Cardinals started the year off with four bad losses that caused nearly everyone to jump off bandwagon by Christmas. Part of problem was the absence of team leader David Padgett, who had to sit out until January thanks to a knee injury. With Padgett back to take control of the team, the Cardinals finally started living up to the preseason hype, winning 17 of their last 21 games.

3. Trail Blazer. It has become common in recent years to see fiery coaches on the sidelines decked out in solid-color blazers, including Bruce Pearl's Dreamsicle look, Bob Huggins' head-to-toe gold and Sidney Lowe's "Hey Koolaid" flaming red at N.C. State. But before any of these cats ever dreamed of blowing out your HD liquid crystal display, Louisville coach Denny Crum rocked the Cardinal blazer at Louisville. His distinctive style was only part of what made him a legend, however. He also led Louisville to six Final Fours, two of which turned into National Championships. — Storming The Floor

Washington State vs. North Carolina, 7:27 pm Thursday

#4 Washington State Cougars

Last Weekend: Defeated #13 Winthrop 71-40, defeated #5 Notre Dame 61-41.

How Washington State Got Here: Defense to make the gods weep. When Winthrop got uppity and scored 29 points in the first half of the teams' first round meeting, the Cougs slammed the door on them, allowing only 11 thereafter (two treys, one dunk, a jumper, and one free throw, if we're counting). Notre Dame got one more point, but did it with less efficiency, shooting 24 percent from the floor.

What the Sweet 16 Means to WSU: Happy days are here again. The Cougs played for a national championship in 1941, losing to Wisconsin. But back then, there were only eight teams in the dance, so they've technically never been to the Sweet 16. This achievement means that young Tony Bennett was the right hire, and if Wash State is wise, they'll come up with whatever it takes to keep him around.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Eesh. In any other region, probably excellent, based on that lockdown D alone. But Wazzou face their Bizzaro-selves in the Tar Heels, who have yet to score less than 100 points in any game they've played in this tournament. And if they get past the Heels, it's more of the same with Louisville or Tennessee.

#1 North Carolina Tar Heels

Last Weekend: Defeated #16 Mount St. Mary's 113-74, defeated #9 Arkansas 108-77.

How North Carolina Got Here: Absolute domination. Their two games - in particular the 108-77 destruction of Arkansas - were a complete team effort. Everyone played to their capabilities, and Arkansas, a good team, seemed shell-shocked from the get-go.

What the Sweet 16 Means to UNC: The real tournament begins. With their talent level and the expectations of Tar Heel fans everywhere, anything less than the Final Four would be considered a failure.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: If the Heels play like they did against Arkansas, their chances could be near absolute. If they play like they did during the regular season...their chances are substantially less than absolute. Every team they face is a Final Four, perhaps even Championship-caliber, from this point on. Carolina's had a tendency to get behind early in their ACC games. So far they've managed to escape with wins in all but one of those games (Maryland). If they do that in the Charlotte regional, over even let their opponent hang around too long, they could be watching the Final Four from home.

Louisville vs. Tennessee, 9:57 pm Thursday

#3 Louisville Cardinals

Last Weekend: Defeated #14 Boise State 79-61, defeated #6 Oklahoma 78-48.

How Louisville Got Here: In waves. At least, that's how they came at opponents. The Cards under Rick Pitino have the type of talent-laden bench that signals elite status, allowing the team to appear perpetually fresh and rested as they toy with lesser opponents. Eight players logged double-figure minutes vs. Boise State, and that number went up to nine in the savage, back-alley beating of the Oklahoma Sooners.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Cards: Another shot at history. The Cardinals are rarely mentioned with the all-time programs, but they are no strangers to the Final Four or the National Championship. Rick Pitino aims to remind us all that this ain't his first rodeo, either.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: It's going to be tough. The East is deadly this year, but there isn't much of a talent gap between the four remaining teams. In that respect, the Cards have as good a chance as anyone. They'd probably like to see a little more out of David Padgett to get them over the hump.

#2 Tennessee Volunteers

Last Weekend: Defeated #15 American 72-57, defeated #7 Butler 76-71 (OT)

How Tennessee Got Here: White-knuckled. The Vols had to crank up the defense over the last six minutes of their game against tourney virgins American in order to advance, and then Butler took them to the limit in the second round until fouls claimed two of the Bulldogs' best players. At least we know they can play tough now.

What the Sweet 16 Means to the Vols: Us against the world. It's an old coaching chestnut, but it's got to be working for Bruce Pearl. Tennessee felt like they deserved a #1 seed, but they got stuck in the toughest region instead. Now they play a loaded Louisville team just to get to the Elite Eight. Oy vey.

Chances to Reach San Antonio: Depends on whether that alarm clock finally went off or not. The Vols won't be able to run the Cards out of the gym or wear them down with depth and talent, so it's time to simply want it more. And if they pull it off, there's more of the same on the other side. Tough draw.

Bruce Pearl's troops just frittered around enough to give the East Region its one shot of intrigue; Louisville, Washington State and especially North Carolina have looked dominant so far. How awesome have the Heels looked? Roy Williams actually admitted after the win yesterday that "we looked doggone good today." For God's sake, someone put a leash on that guy! He's out of control! (All together now: At least he finally gives a shit about North Carolina right now.)

Meanwhile, Louisville is one of the few teams we've seen in person this year ... and they lost, to Seton Hall. (This had the added humiliation of having taken place in Newark.) So where did that come from?

More to the point, though: Anyone who picked North Carolina to win the whole thing has to feel rather positive right now. So, Heels fans can all relax and just enjoy The Truth About Duke right now.

#10 Davidson 82, #7 Gonzaga 76. Stephen Curry scored 40 on 8-11 three-point shooting in Raleigh, but it was the timely rebounding of Andrew Lovedale (13 boards to go with 12 points) that saved the Wildcats' bacon. Adam Morrison was in attendance, looking like the lead singer of a goth tribute band. No word yet on whether he cried. Oh, who are we kidding, of course he did. Davidson advances to face the Georgetown/UMBC winner.

#12 Western Kentucky 101, Drake 99 (OT). Western Kentucky had the ball in a tie game at the end of regulation, but Academic All-American Adam Emmenecker stepped in to draw a controversial charge that allowed the game to go to OT. Another questionable call in the extra frame didn't change the outcome, however, as the Hilltoppers' Ty Rogers hit the clutch three over two defenders to win the game. WKU will face the UConn/San Diego winner. Pretty freaking wild shot that everyone in America saw, except for the people who work and/or don't care about baskeball.

#2 Tennessee 72, #15 American 57. Let there be no doubt about this - American could have won this game. They showed no fear, and led several times in the game, but Tennessee put on a run in the second half and put them away behind a balanced scoring effort that featured three players in double figures (two Smiths and a Chism, if you're keeping score). Tennessee advances to face the Butler/South Alabama winner.

#7 Miami 78, #10 St. Mary's 64. Jack McClinton's 38 would be the story today, if Stephen Curry hadn't knocked down a couple of clutch free throws. St. Mary's led early in this one, but couldn't maintain in the second half, as the three-bid WCC is down to San Diego if they hope to advance to the second round. If Texas advances in the later game, Haith will be facing his former boss. Miami faces the Texas/Austin Peay winner.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

1. Mr. and Mrs. Smith. If the NCAA tourney was played 3-on-3 hoop-it-up style and each team could only field players that had the same name, Tennessee would be considered the greatest college team of all time. Despite some broadcast announcers this season repeatedly insisting that there is a fourth Smith named Jamar, there are in fact three players that share the surname of Smith that are in the starting lineup for the Vols. Ramar starts at point guard, and he is the one the Vols turn to when they need someone to get some dribble penetration in the lane. Tyler, who transferred from Iowa last season, gives Tennessee some much needed help in the post. He leads the team in rebounding and assists and is their third scoring threat. The final Smith is JaJuan. He is an above average defender, leading the team in steals, and when he is on, he can shoot the three ball as well as anyone in the country.

2. Somebody call up House, M.D. Every team has to overcome injuries throughout the year. Tennessee has been relatively injury-free this season, but they have had to deal with an unusual amount of illnesses. First is the case of J.P. Prince. Originally at Arizona, J.P. went to get his wisdom teeth out and ended up in an induced coma. This obviously affected him on the basketball court as well and led to his transfer to Tennessee. He is now back to full strength and is their best option coming off the bench. Next to succumb to the health crisis was Duke Crews. As if Tennessee wasn't already struggling in the post, Duke Crews was forced to sit out for two months due to a heart condition found in a routine physical exam. He was cleared medically at the beginning of conference play, and although it is obvious that he is not as conditioned as the rest of the team, he has been giving the Vols the extra post player they have been waiting for. Coinciding with Crews' return to the court, the team began passing around a nasty flu. That didn't stop JaJuan Smith from playing with a 100 degree temperature against LSU or the several other players who have had to fight through it in other games. Tennessee finally has the bugs worked out, and now Tennessee fans are hoping that they can make it the rest of the year disease free.

3. Want a D-I scholarship? Keep playing video games. The Vols also got some help in the post this season from freshman Brian Williams. Fresh off becoming one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world, Brian Williams has given Tennessee some clutch minutes off the bench. This is remarkable considering how he found his way to campus to play basketball. Three years ago, weighing in at 370+ pounds, his brother convinced him to get off the couch and start playing basketball. Before that time, he had never really played organized basketball other than the kind that requires a controller. In fact, he supposedly learned how to play the real life game of basketball from playing basketball video games. Today, he is more than 100 pounds lighter and is a scholarship player on a top 10 basketball team. And since I don't have it in me to write up these capsules without mentioning them ... Bruce Pearl and Chris Lofton. There, now I feel better. — Matthew Payne

AMERICAN EAGLES

1. Curse-Breakers. Have you ever played Mario Kart and, just when it looks like you're going to win, the computer defies physics and sends Wario out to give you some competition? And then, thanks to a freaking green shell, Wario ends up winning? That's pretty much the relationship between AU and Holy Cross the last few years, with Holy Cross coming into Washington and crushing any Eagle hopes of postseason glory. But not this year. Not the year we were in the top five three-point shooting teams in the country. Not the year All-Patriot Leaguer Garrison Carr set the league record for threes, mainly of the impossible variety. Not the year Brian Gilmore has risen to Eli Manning levels of clutchness. Not the year coach Jeff Jones devoured a human child, although he does that every year just to get himself pumped up.

2. A Proud Legacy. Sure, this may be AU's first time in the NCAA Tournament (eighty-one years, people. We're like the Jews in the desert times two, plus two, minus one). And the seats at Bender Arena are more likely to be half-empty then half-full. And no one in our backcourt is over six feet tall. And the girls at our D.C. school (most politically active in the nation, natch) are more likely to whore themselves out to David Vitter then any athlete (note to AU Women's Initiative: just kidding). (But not really.) But no matter. Our school had its place in basketball history secured long ago. We are the people who brought you Kermit Washington, also known as the guy who knocked the fuck out of Rudy Tomjonavich. You're welcome. We also gave you David Aldridge. We're sorry.

3. A School for You...Ladies. Remember those women I offended in my second point? Well there are plenty more where they come from, considering American has a Brian Wilson-esqe ratio of two girls for every boy. Of course, most AU ladies are busy getting ready to control the world via low-paying internships and positions as Legislative aides and body painting sessions (h/t to the Sports Bog). But that doesn't mean they're too busy to root for the Eagles. Don't stop believing. — David Grossman

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The East region gets the title of this year's "Region of Death." Not only does the East contain three teams that were considered for a #1 seed until early last week, but whoever plans on toppling top-seeded Carolina will need to do so in either Raleigh or Charlotte.
Yeah, not seeing Wazzou bringing enough fans to even out the Carolina crowd in Charlotte.

The region also boasts mid-major powerhouses in Butler, South Alabama, George Mason and Winthrop that can wreak havoc on the likes of Tennessee, Louisville and Billy Packer. Will Carolina cruise to San Antonio? Will Pitino change suits if the Cards are down at halftime to Boise State? Can George Mason be this year's "George Mason?" Who knows, but we'll gladly provide previews and pretend like we know what we're talking about.

1 North Carolina vs 16 Coppin State/Mount Saint Mary's (Raleigh)
Instead of the play-in game, shouldn't we just combine both Coppin State and Mount Saint Mary's and let them play with 10 guys against UNC's five? Wouldn't that be a blast? We'll support anything that keeps Fang Mitchell in the tournament.
The Pick: North Carolina

8 Indiana vs 9 Arkansas (Raleigh)
Man, the Dakich era is off to a rousing start, isn't it? Since taking over for Kelvin Sampson on February 3, the Hoosiers have lost to the likes of Minnesota and Penn State, slipping all the way to an #8 seed. Still, we like Eric Gordon to go off for at least one big tournament game before his IU career ends this weekend.
The Pick: Indiana

5 Notre Dame vs 12 George Mason (Denver)
This game looks like it has the potential to be the trendy upset pick of the year (along with Siena over Vandy). The Cinderella Patriots, playing in the traditional 12-5 upset game, get to play an Irish squad that can look very ordinary outside of South Bend. Mason also has an experienced big man in Will Thomas who can possibly shut down Gody. Yeah, we're going with the Irish too. We'll save the upset pick for Siena.
The pick: Notre Dame

4 Washington State vs 13 Winthrop (Denver)
Washington State got a very favorable #4 seed for a club that doesn't have an impressive win since beating USC on February 9. Don't get me wrong, we love the rec-team-looking Cougars as much as the next guy, but they got a huge break by the committee. This Winthrop team isn't as talented as the one that defeated ND last year, but they do have a victory over Miami (FL), which has to mean something. Look for this one to go down to the wire in a low-scoring affair.
The pick: Washington State close

6 Oklahoma vs 11 Saint Joseph's (Birmingham)
Ah yes, another upset that everyone will have penciled in. An experienced Hawk team gets a break by drawing an inexperienced and beat-up Sooner club. Hawks will pull this one out as long they remember that they play 40 minutes in college basketball, not 38.
The pick: Saint Joseph's

3 Louisville vs 14 Boise State (Birmingham)
The Cards dropped to a #3 seed after an early exit in the Big East tournament and now must face another wacky sports team from Boise State. Much like their trick-play loving football counterparts, the Broncos made the Dance by defeating New Mexico State 107-102 in triple overtime. Still, don't expect any Fiesta Bowl miracles here. The WAC was terrible this season, and Statue of Liberty plays will often result in a traveling violation in basketball.
The pick: Louisville

7 Butler vs 10 South Alabama (Birmingham)
The first of three mid-major contests features a Butler team that should feel slighted by a low seeding and a South Alabama squad that got very favorable seeding for a team that just lost at home to Middle Tennessee State. The Bulldogs may be lacking in the quality wins department, but the leadership of A.J. Graves, inside game of freshman Matt Howard and overall awesomeness of Philly product Mike Green should put Butler over Team USA.
The Pick: Butler

2 Tennessee vs 15 American (Birmingham)
I know that Tennessee probably has more athleticism between its team managers than AU, but I think that the Eagles can keep it close for a while at the very least. AU ranks sixth in nation in three point shooting and can stay in the game if they can control the tempo. Those are all very big ifs, but it would be enjoyable to see an enraged Bruce Pearl rip his shirt off.
The pick: Tennessee

Some East Region Superlatives...
Dark Horse for Final Four: Louisville
Dark Horse for Sweet 16: Butler
Best Opening Round Game: Butler-Team USA
Best Potential Game: Tennessee-Louisville
Round of 32: North Carolina over Indiana, Notre Dame over Washington State, Louisville over Saint Joseph's, Butler over Tennessee (had to pick at least one freakin' upset)
Sweet 16: North Carolina over Notre Dame, Louisville over Butler
Elite Eight: North Carolina over Louisville
Regional Champ: North Carolina

2. Somebody call up House, M.D. Every team has to overcome injuries throughout the year. Tennessee has been relatively injury-free this season, but they have had to deal with an unusual amount of illnesses. First is the case of J.P. Prince. Originally at Arizona, J.P. went to get his wisdom teeth out and ended up in an induced coma. This obviously affected him on the basketball court as well and led to his transfer to Tennessee. He is now back to full strength and is their best option coming off the bench. Next to succumb to the health crisis was Duke Crews. As if Tennessee wasn't already struggling in the post, Duke Crews was forced to sit out for two months due to a heart condition found in a routine physical exam. He was cleared medically at the beginning of conference play, and although it is obvious that he is not as conditioned as the rest of the team, he has been giving the Vols the extra post player they have been waiting for. Coinciding with Crews' return to the court, the team began passing around a nasty flu. That didn't stop JaJuan Smith from playing with a 100 degree temperature against LSU or the several other players who have had to fight through it in other games. Tennessee finally has the bugs worked out, and now Tennessee fans are hoping that they can make it the rest of the year disease free.

3. Want a D-I scholarship? Keep playing video games. The Vols also got some help in the post this season from freshman Brian Williams. Fresh off becoming one of Time,/eM>'s 100 most influential people in the world, Brian Williams has given Tennessee some clutch minutes off the bench. This is remarkable considering how he found his way to campus to play basketball. Three years ago, weighing in at 370+ pounds, his brother convinced him to get off the couch and start playing basketball. Before that time, he had never really played organized basketball other than the kind that requires a controller. In fact, he supposedly learned how to play the real life game of basketball from playing basketball video games. Today, he is more than 100 pounds lighter and is a scholarship player on a top 10 basketball team. And since I don't have it in me to write up these capsules without mentioning them ... Bruce Pearl and Chris Lofton. There, now I feel better. — Matthew Payne

• "They low down, they dirty, they some snitches ... I just hate Tennessee."

• "I'm not a dog person."

• "Their colors are throw-up orange. Like puke inside of a pumpkin orange, and I don't like pumpkins."

• "Their stadium is like a garbage truck drivers' convention."

I also like the last line by the reporter, who claims this as the best interview he's ever done. Look out, Erin Andrews!

Eloquence Has A Thousand Forms [EDSBS]

As a sobering reminder that no humans will be spared when the animal "Order 66" is given, Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt dislocated her shoulder while attempting to chase a raccoon off her back porch on Wednesday.

Summitt had taken her golden Labrador out for a walk when they came back to find the raccoon on the deck at her home.

"I momentarily lost it," Summitt told WBIR-TV. "The raccoon was about to attack. I just knocked it off the deck, and fortunately nothing happened but a dislocated shoulder, and it's back in place."

"When I realized what could have happened, it almost brought me to tears. It wasn't very smart on my part," Summitt said.

Uhhhhh-huh. A little more disclosure of the incident would have been nice, you know, to explain how such an episode leads to a dislocated shoulder. Did she try a flying elbow drop on the raccoon?

I would have said that perhaps she might have been better off letting that dog of hers try to shoo it off, but, as it's been made clear, that animals are clearly working in concert to bring our leaders down one embarrassing incident at a time.

Let's see Tyler Smith or Chris Lofton pull this off. We gotta tell ya, Jordan Howell is SHAFT.

Apparently having the No. 1 team in the nation comes with all kinds of perks. I shudder to think what will happen if Tennessee wins a national championship. Pearl has come a long way since he merely groped women while wearing the BC Eagle costume.

Bruce Pearl Feels Up Erin Andrews [YouTube]

Thing about it is John Adams could write circles around any of you internet All Stars. ... John Adams is your alls daddy and you all know it. So why hate?

That one was signed John Majors (and wouldn't it be something if it really was him?). Excerpts from other messages at LWS, and the Outer MonVolia message board:

• "John Adams is Larry Flynt and his atricles are my Hustler." — NoogaVol

• "Sorry to hear about your sister's passing, but like you said stupid is stupid ..." — Toothless Athenian

• "It is interesting to note that almost every comment critical of Adams for being critical of Flummo has either misspelled words or grammatical errors." — Riversetvol

We're adopting that first one, by the way, to replace "Sports News Without Access, Favor or Discretion."

He Is So Evil That The Mere Mention Of His Name Makes Satan Weep [Losers With Socks]

After a possible burglary at McNeil's apartment, campus police found ... three women in his bed.

UT center Josh McNeil was quizzed by police about a broken window at his apartment and the three intoxicated women in his bed. McNeil, a junior from Collins, Miss., was not charged by police investigating reports of a burglary at McNeil's apartment, but his three female visitors didn't fare as well. The three women were charged with underage consumption of an alcoholic beverage.

We are so tired of the police accosting perfectly innocent, hammered athletes when they're simply trying to have a foursome in their dorm rooms. What country are we supposed to be living in? This is America, goddammit!

UT Football Player Is Intercourse Hero [Every Day Should Be Saturday]

Of course, it can also be a hostile gesture, as Loser With Socks provides a guide for Tennessee fans to sleeping with Florida fans this weekend.

Remember Vawls, in order to pull Poon in the realm of the Gator, you must think as a Gator. Jorts are accepted there. I'm not saying wear them, nor am I condoning dawning them in a public setting. But if you can wrap your mind around the concept that shorts, formerly known as jeans, that are blue in colour, are as accepted as socks with sandals - then you're on your way to Pulling Gator Poon.

That might, frankly, be the only scoring the Vols do this weekend. Still: This feels wrong. Maybe we're just against inter-rivalry relationships. We hope that doesn't brand us a bigot.

Pulling Gator Poon [Losers With Socks]

Anyway, three Berkeley folks have been living in a tree for six months now, protesting University administrators' plans to build a new athletic complex. A Judge has put up a restraining order prohibiting any building on the site until the matter is settled. That's all fine and good, except that a bunch of crazy SEC football fans are streaming in this weekend, and there's no way to pen them in without a fence.

t's not clear if the barrier being put up today violates a temporary restraining order issued by an Alameda County Superior Court judge barring any construction on the site pending a hearing on a permanent ban scheduled to be heard in Superior Court in Hayward, beginning Sept. 19. The court will decide three lawsuits surrounding destruction of the trees and construction of the sports complex.

We love the idea of a bunch of amped up Tennessee boosters, screaming the lyrics to "Rocky Top," looking up in the tree and seeing three bearded, starving hippies. They'll have that tree ripped down before they're into their second bottle of SoCo.

Don't Fence Me In [Signal To Noise]

As you probably have heard by now, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt filed for divorce yesterday from her banker R.B. Summitt, her husband of 27 years. Again, divorce is a complicated thing, and we're not here to mock it. Instead, we point out what Sports By Brooks mentioned: Are they still going to keep the Vols stadium named "The Summitt?" They say they're not gonna change it, but we think that has less to do with tradition and more with Summitt's maiden name: Head.

If you're into such matters, you can read the full divorce papers right here.

Summitt Files For Divorce [The Daily Times]
No Word Yet On Stadium Name [Sports By Brooks]

"One of our walk-on players was arrested last night and is facing very serious accusations. By even being near this type of behavior, Justin has embarrassed himself and his team," Fulmer said in a statement. "We expect all our players — scholarship or walk-on — to be good citizens. I regret it whenever any university student makes bad choices of this nature. The legal and university process will be followed, but Justin is no longer a member of our team."

If he were a star quarterback rather than a walkon, we're not sure Fulmer would have made the same decision. That said, maybe he just hasn't tried any of Jackson's stash. Phil Fulmer on the crack rock; we'd enjoy that, we think.

Putting The Rock In Rocky Top [Every Day Should Be Saturday]

Feel like spitting on Fulmer? You'll be close enough to do it. Want to chunk a corn dog at those annoying LSU fans? Do it from your balcony. That's how close Houndstooth is to the action. Avoid the traffic and parking stress. Walk to the quad to capture those moments that make Tuscaloosa special.

We have to say, the prospect of being able to toss corn dogs at people from our balcony is an enticing one; throwing corn dogs is one of the best parts of being a sports fan!

It's So Close You Can Spit On Phil Fulmer [The M Zone]

Under the gaze of dozens of prison guards, Samson Sor Siriporn, a convicted drug dealer, battled through the unforgiving Thai heat to score a unanimous victory on points and kick-start parole proceedings for her early release. "I've been in jail for a long time now, I hope this will see me released early," said Siriporn, flanked by guards and surrounded by photographers. "When I'm free I'll carry on fighting. I want to fight all over the world."

Fighting in a makeshift ring in the grounds of the infamous Klong Prem prison with the Thai crowd chanting "fight, fight," Siriporn was on the attack from the start and repeatedly forced Miyano on to the ropes with a barrage of punches. Siriporn's sparring partners also watched the fight, while transvestites in high heels and skimpy outfits were allowed out of their cells to parade around the ring with placards at the beginning of each round.

Honestly, this was a logical direction boxing was going anyway. Whether you'd rather watch this or watch the women's NCAA title game might say something about you. Not good, not bad ... just something.

Thai Woman Boxer Wins Title Behind Bars [ESPN]
Women's Hoops Blog

OHIO STATE

Ohio State will win because of:

1. Brilliant Thug History. Though the football team may get most of the publicity involved with criminal antics — from such notable favorites Maurice Clarett, Louie Irizarry and old timer Art Schlichter — Buckeye basketball is nothing to sneeze at. In the 90s players brought the city of Columbus to its knees in the grip of fear. Residents were not safe to drive their cars down the streets without getting hit and run by the likes of Greg Simpson. The same Simpson who was so notorious that not only was he kicked out of Ohio State, but he was removed from the West Virginia basketball team as well. The same West Virginia that never kicked noted miscreants Pacman Jones and Chris Henry off of the football team. Gas station attendants cowered behind plexiglass after the mere mention of gas thief extraordinaire Charles "Killer" Macon. Even CC Sabathia learned not to carry $44k in cash and bling when Damon Stringer could be lurking in the elevators of any hotel. Though Greg Oden and company have not been around long enough to build their own reputation, they have the power of thuggish history behind them.

2. Equally Bright Future. Ohio State basketball does not end with the Thad Five and Oden's likely one and done. McDonald's All Americans Mike Conley and Daequan Cook will likely return next season. Even if they decide to bolt early, Matta has a recruiting class featuring three of the top 60 players with two of the top 10 centers coming in next year. Kosta Koufos is a top 5 center, and, at over seven feet tall, was the Division I player of the year in Ohio. John Diebler became the all-time high school scoring leader in the state of Ohio (beating such notables as Michael Redd, Jimmy Jackson and some guy named Lebron) and averaged over 40 points per game for the season. It does not end in 2007 either. Matta has already locked up an equally thrilling "Thad Five" for 2008 with 4 top 50 players and 5 in the top 100, including a top 3 center and top 3 point guard. Look out Buckeye rivals. It's only going to get worse from here on out.

3. The Fans and the Women. Looking out into the stands at a game can bring both the fear of God and the blinding light of beauty simultaneously to an opponent. Foes will fear the ruckus Buckeye crowd which is equally likely to start a riot and set fire to anything that moves whether they win or lose the game. Buckeye fans have earned such a wild reputation that a website was put up called OSUriots.com to showcase riot footage and pictures. Typically the site is not that great because its creators are no doubt burning a couch as I write this instead of updating the site. Foes will also fall under the spell of the many beauties that attend the school, perhaps even finding a copy of the Girls of OSU calendar in their locker room to distract them. Or maybe an issue of Playboy featuring one of the 13 Playmates since 1990 to be born in Ohio, who may have even attended OSU if they were not so incredibly beautiful that they could make a living simply standing there nude and smiling seductively. — Anton Golden

TENNESSEE

1. This Nearly Was Mine. Ohio State looked truly beatable in their second round slapfight with Xavier, escaping 78-71 in overtime. Apoplectic gamblers from coast to coast clutched their brackets to their chests in terror, but Tennessee faithful have suspected as much for months. The Buckeyes clinched a 68-66 win over the Vols in January by virtue of a three-point shot with 11 seconds on the clock. OSU pundits would remind you that their pretty pony Greg Oden is but a freshman and has grown as a player in the months leading up the rematch. I would remind them that the same could be said of three of our young'uns.

2. Our Mister Lofton. Junior Chris Lofton has been named the newest SEC Player of the Year. He's unarguably the key to the Tennessee wins column: When he was sidelined with an ankle sprain, the Vols lost three of four games. Upon his return they won seven of the next eight. He leads the Vols in three-point shooting (100 this season), and his average of 20.6 points a game is the highest in the conference. Yet despite being a Kentucky native and Mr. Basketball as a high school senior, he was passed over by coaches from Lexington and Louisville. Lofton took care to tactfully remind UK of their shortsightedness last month, when he laid 23 points on the Wildcats in an 89-85 Tennessee victory.

3. The Blinky Star Endowment for Utter Invincibility. Tennessee senior Dane Bradshaw is short for a forward, and his stats aren't the greatest, but give the guy his due: There is no power on earth capable of destroying him. NASA would do well to examine his construction. He tore a ligament in his shooting wrist last season and played right through it. That was also the year he led the SEC in assist/turnover ratio while wearing a cast. He suffers from tendonitis in both shoulders and wears at least one ankle brace during games, but his presence on the court is a tangible force, and his leadership skills will not go unrecognized: Vols coach Bruce Pearl is donating a hundred thousand dollars of his own money toward the endowment of The Dane Bradshaw Athletic Scholarship in honor of his senior captain. — Holly Anderson

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

1. The machines ... they're getting smarter. UT's freshman class has overcome being labeled "The Fab Five" by Knoxville media outlets to become a legitimate driving force on the court. Top-50 recruits Duke Crews, Wayne Chism and Ramar Smith have been particularly effective, finishing the regular season as three of the top five scorers for the Vols. Chism and Crews have split time at center this season, stepping in for dismissed senior Major Wingate, and lead the team in total rebounds. Crews is first in field goal percentage and blocked shots. And when they're on their game, there's not a whole lot you can do to contain them: The trio scored 15 of Tennessee's 22 overtime points in their victory over Texas in December. While the Vols will mourn the departure of beloved senior Dane Bradshaw at the close of tournament play, the continued development of Crews, Chism and Smith will make Tennessee a formidable opponent in the coming seasons.

2. A specter not felt. Coach Bruce Pearl drew national media attention for his shirtless, violently orange presence in the student section at a Lady Vols game in January. (Rumors that Pearl's skin was not, in fact, painted, but permanently dyed from sweating through his orange blazer have been dismissed as vicious conjecture.) Viewers across the country convulsed with laughter, horror or inexplicable arousal, unaware of just how recently they had escaped a similar terror: It seems that, prior to the Vols' first exhibition game on October 31, Pearl was taking suggestions from students for possible Halloween costumes. The most popular idea? Dressing him as Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt. Mercifully, Pearl declined to combine his superhuman strength with the destructive power of Summit's mind-lasers, preventing certain apocalypse in Tennessee ... for now.

3. That noise. That infernal noise. It's arguably the most hated song in all of college sports. It's revered or despised by the entire known universe. And, oddly, "Rocky Top" isn't even the official Tennessee fight song. (Contrary to widely held belief, nor was it first developed as a neurological weapon.) The Pride of the Southland Marching Band debuted it at a football game in 1972; antennae across the state twitched in primal recognition at the mention of moonshine, and the rest is history. Leave it to an SEC school to abandon the perfectly proper "Down the Field" and adopt an ode to murder and grain alcohol as its anthem. — Holly Anderson

LONG BEACH STATE 49ERS

1. Nixon's The One. NCAA opponents would be wise not to overlook the 49ers in general and senior forward Aaron "Mr. Big Shot" Nixon in particular. After a 74-49 loss to Temple on December 2, Long Beach State has won 22 straight, winning the Big West championship, where Nixon was named Tournament MVP. Nixon was the team's leading scorer in 11 games in the streak, including three games he won on last-second shots. Originally from Ohio, he attended Columbus State before transferring to another JC, San Bernardino Valley College, as a sophomore. "I wasn't sure I was going to graduate from junior college," Nixon said, acknowledging an aversion to studying.

2. Dream Weaver II. Long Beach State is the home of Jered Weaver, now of the Anaheim Angels, who is the younger brother of Jeff Weaver. Jered has the glory of gracing the cover of a sports video game (EA MVP '07). Another Long Beach State "Dirtbags" alum: Jason Giambi.

3. Ouwit, Outplay, Outlast. You may recognize some of these people who have coached at Long Beach State: Jerry Tarkanian and Lute Olson (basketball); George Allen (football); Jon Urbanchek and Don Gambril (swimming). Current pro volleyball player and former 49er volleyball standout John "J.P." Calderon is now a contestant on Survivor. Two other noted alumni: Steven Spielberg and Harold Reynolds. (And yes, Spielberg graduated, although not officially until 2002. So quit griping). — Rick Chandler

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2. A specter not felt. Coach Bruce Pearl drew national media attention for his shirtless, violently orange presence in the student section at a Lady Vols game in January. (Rumors that Pearl's skin was not, in fact, painted, but permanently dyed from sweating through his orange blazer have been dismissed as vicious conjecture.) Viewers across the country convulsed with laughter, horror or inexplicable arousal, unaware of just how recently they had escaped a similar terror: It seems that, prior to the Vols' first exhibition game on October 31, Pearl was taking suggestions from students for possible Halloween costumes. The most popular idea? Dressing him as Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt. Mercifully, Pearl declined to combine his superhuman strength with the destructive power of Summit's mind-lasers, preventing certain apocalypse in Tennessee ... for now.

3. That noise. That infernal noise. It's arguably the most hated song in all of college sports. It's revered or despised by the entire known universe. And, oddly, "Rocky Top" isn't even the official Tennessee fight song. (Contrary to widely held belief, nor was it first developed as a neurological weapon.) The Pride of the Southland Marching Band debuted it at a football game in 1972; antennae across the state twitched in primal recognition at the mention of moonshine, and the rest is history. Leave it to an SEC school to abandon the perfectly proper "Down the Field" and adopt an ode to murder and grain alcohol as its anthem. — Holly Anderson

The Tennessee women's coach came out in a dowdy cheerleader's outfit, sang a verse of "Rocky Top," and then climbed atop a wobbly three-person "pyramid" as the big finale. It was payback for men's coach Pearl leading cheers at a women's game the month before. All in all the bit showed the same bland determination that has earned Summitt 940 career victories and a seventh SEC Coach of the Year award earlier that day. The whole thing was kind of what you'd imagine Aunt Bee might have dreamed up in her capacity as chairman of the Mayberry Founder's Day entertainment committee.

By the way, did anyone notice that the Volunteers beat Florida, 86-76? Gators are kind of falling apart a bit.

Summitt Sings 'Rocky Top' As Cheerleader [NBCSports]
Falling Fast? Florida Loses To Tennessee [MSNBC]
Ready For Some Good, Old Fashioned College Basketball Nightmare Fuel? [Deadspin]

"I think (fans) are going to love it, and I think America is going to see a side of Pat Summitt that they haven't seen in a long time."

Pearl has been going on and on about this to the point where anything short of Summitt showing up in a Madonna cone brassiere, nailed to a cross and firing rockets from her nipples is going to be a letdown. Pearl went topless in his January stunt, which was frightening enough, and of course led to the university installing exit signs at Thompson-Boling Arena in a larger font. As for Summitt's mysterious plans, as long as underwear is included we should all be OK.

Summitt To Do Some Cheerleading? Maybe [MSNBC]

Our longtime enmity toward Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl was founded in adolescence and is probably going to stick with us til death, even if the guy ended up taking down a squadron of Al Qaeda operatives. Sometimes, you can't shake your past.

So instead of praising him for having a sense of humor about himself after he painted his chest for last night's Tennessee-Duke women's game — which is what we'd do with pretty much any other coach — we'd like to instead say, "Hee hee, look at his gut, what a tool." Forgive us.

Coach Goes Topless At Women's Game [The Sports Frog]
Bruce Pearl Coaches Crackheads. Yeah, Take THAT! [Deadspin]

Police were called to a spot called "Goodfellas" at about 3 a.m. when things got a little rowdy. Cops arrive to find some screaming, some shoving, and presumably, some taunts about the earlier 28-24 loss to LSU.

One of those arrested with starting running back Arian Foster. In the AP article, Foster is noted only as shoving someone. Two other Vols were arrested, Antonio Wardlow and David Holbert, and their roles in any fight are also unclear. They're all charged with disorderly conduct and underage consumption, and Wardlow with a bonus charge of public intox.

You can't spell "Citrus" without UT, nor can you spell "penal institution."

3 Tennessee football players arrested after loss [Yahoo]

Sure, you might, on the surface, think that the University of Tennessee calling a boisterous fan at home and asking her to shut the hell up is over the top, rude and all together unacceptable. But, then again, you haven't actually heard her.

If we had to sit next to this woman for three hours, we would never stop crying. You know that look Orel Hershiser had after having to broadcast a whole game sitting next to Berman? Multiply that times 40, and then square it.

Crazy Screeching Harpy Wonders Why UT Wants Her To Be Quiet [The Fanhouse]

The only solution: Stab your opponent while he's sleeping.

Yep. One 34-year-old man, after a particularly devastating loss during an Auburn-Tennessee game on NCAA Football 07, waited until his opponent went to bed with his wife and then stabbed him with a 12-inch butcher knife.

"At first, the victim didn't know he had been stabbed," the sheriff said. "He thought he had been hit. I wouldn't have bet a plugged nickel he would have lived. He went to the hospital with the knife still in his back. ... But I can only assume [the attacker] was on the losing end. The screen was still on when we got there with the score up. It showed Tennessee winning."

The victim is in serious but stable condition; the attacker was tracked down by dogs following the scent of Doritos, Miller Lite and demon weed.

Stabbing Apparently Over Football Video Game [Decatur Daily]

(UPDATE: Here's another great local story on the case.)

Anyway, Cooter, a walk-on senior backup for the Vols, was suspended by the team after being arrested in Knoxville on Saturday night. You're never going to believe what the charge was.

Although the school did not release details of the rules violation, police arrested Cooter Saturday at 3:25 a.m. and charged him with DUI after he failed a field sobriety test. Cooter had been observed near the UT campus driving the wrong way and for failure to stop at a stop sign before police pulled him over.

Also ticketed: An underage female companion, for underage drinking and having an open container. Not to worry, though: They're cousins, it's all fine.

We really shouldn't make too much fun of the boy, though: His real name, so you know, is James Robert Cooter. That they shorten to "Jim Bob" is merely a coincidence.

Cooter Goes Wild! [Every Day Should Be Saturday]

It's a little bit unfortunate for Tennessee. Their seed was much-maligned, and the fact that they needed a buzzer-beater to beat Winthrop and then lost to a Missouri Valley Conference team doesn't do a lot to hush their critics. But I really believe that Winthrop is about the best 15-seed you'll ever see, and Wichita State is about the best 7-seed you'll ever see. It sounded like an easy draw, but it was anything but.

All the 5:00 games have tipped, too. Montana is leading Boston College as the first half nears an end, Washington is pounding Illinois in the first half, and LSU is up big early on Texas A&M.

But Tennessee and Wichita State are cooking up a good one, though. The Vols lead by 3 with about 8 minutes to play. It's been a fantastic game. Win or lose, there is no question that Wichita State is one of the better teams in the country.

By the way, Keith at the Pitt Panther Hoops blog wrote in to tell me that when the Shockers came out for the 2nd half, their cheerleaders all held up the "shocker" hand symbol. That, um... seems slightly inappropriate. Surely the administrators at Wichita State are aware of this unfortunate naming coincidence by now.

Meanwhile, Illinois and Washington have already tipped and Washington has a very early 1-point lead.

Florida and UW-Milwaukee have already tipped. And at 3:40, it's the game that I'm probably most looking forward to today, Wichita State @ Tennessee. I could not have been more impressed with the Shockers (giggle) in the first round, but I expect Tennessee to step it up and play better, too.

Milwaukee (which is Algonquin for "the good land") trails 11-5 very early in their contest against Florida, which should also be a good one. Here we go.

TENNESSEE

1. Bruce Pearl = Hulk Hogan. After the Vols' huge win at Rupp Arena over Kentucky, Pearl instructed his players to act like they'd "been there before." And then ripped his shirt off, in what forward Dane Bradshaw described as "wrestler style," in the locker room. It's possible he's insane. He openly aspires to be the most hated coach in the league, and he was thrown out of his son's high school hoops game for heckling the ref. Not to mention sweating through an entire suit at Florida, which wasn't so much insane as revolting. Even if Deadspin sees Pearl as nWo-era Hogan-as-heel (which may be fitting, considering Hulk's nWo partner, Kevin Nash, was a Vol), we see anyone who, in his first season, coaches a team picked to finish fifth of six in the SEC East to the championship as a Andre the Giant-body-slamming Hulkster.

2. Vols Have Disco Fever. The glory days of Vols hoops were back in the go-go 70s, when coach Ray Mears wore blindingly orange jackets and Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld headlined the swaggering Bernie & Ernie Show. That's really the only time the Vols were ever any good at all (there's a reason the men play on a court bearing the Lady Vols coach's oversized signature). So how to get things back on track? Have the coach bring back the garish sportscoat (with the tasteful addition of orange suspenders) and have point guard C.J. Watson wear a Bernie throwback in an actual game. We weren't aware you could pretend you were someone else in NCAA-sanctioned play, but there you have it. The Vols lost that game, but that was because Allan Houston was in attendance for the first time since leaving the Vols, and Allan Houston is an expert at losing. He's retired and still helping the Knicks lose. Or maybe that's all Isiah's doing.

3. Vols Do The Damndest Things. It's well-publicized that two Vols were recently suspended for crack possession. Putting aside the unquestionable draconian-ism of drug laws criminalizing the smoking of large quantities of rock-form cocaine in an illegally parked car, it's clear the Vols have some characters. Like Jemere Hendrix. You may remember young Jemere for being thrown off the team after throwing a punch at a football player and then fleeing (with the football player in hot pursuit) on a golf cart driven by an assistant hoops coach. Or maybe for subsequently showing up at a game wearing a white Hanes tee on which, in black Sharpie, he'd written: "MY APoLogy. I'M Sorry Team. I'M Sorry Fans. I'M Sorry Coach Pearl. I'M Sorry Mike Hamilton. I am My Brother's KEEPER." And then all his teammates' numbers. Which is just awesome. — Houston Goddard

WINTHROP

1. Gregg Marshall Is The Best Coach You've Never Heard Of. Marshall has compiled a 165-77 record in eight seasons and made Winthrop a dominant force in the Big South. In his first three seasons, he led the Eagles to a threepeat in regular season conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. Success like this usually means a future coaching job in the SEC or Big East, right? Well, Marshall recently signed a contract extension that will keep him at Winthrop through 2015, giving you an idea of how much the university invests in the program and its coach. All six of Winthrop s appearances (including this year's) have happened under Marshall s tenure.

2. But ... Winthrop Has Never Won An NCAA Tournament Game. In fact, no Big South team has ever gotten higher than a 14 seed from the selection committee. This year the Eagles finished 23-7 and won both the Big South regular and tournament titles. They also start five veterans, all who helped to give Gonzaga a run for its money in the first round of last year s tournament. In other words, another lousy seed.

3. Winthrop University ... The Harvard Of The South! Well, if Harvard were a public school. The Princeton Review ranks Winthrop as one of the south s top public universities, offering a variety of degrees in the liberal arts. A quick scan through their music s Web page tells me they most likely kick Notre Dame s butt in music and many other fine arts areas, meaning my family could have saved $20,000 a year by sending me to Winthrop instead of Notre Dame and making me eight times the musician I am today. I'd probably have a better sex life, too. — Brandon Hollihan

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2. Vols Have Disco Fever. The glory days of Vols hoops were back in the go-go 70s, when coach Ray Mears wore blindingly orange jackets and Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld headlined the swaggering Bernie & Ernie Show. That's really the only time the Vols were ever any good at all (there's a reason the men play on a court bearing the Lady Vols coach's oversized signature). So how to get things back on track? Have the coach bring back the garish sportscoat (with the tasteful addition of orange suspenders) and have point guard C.J. Watson wear a Bernie throwback in an actual game. We weren't aware you could pretend you were someone else in NCAA-sanctioned play, but there you have it. The Vols lost that game, but that was because Allan Houston was in attendance for the first time since leaving the Vols, and Allan Houston is an expert at losing. He's retired and still helping the Knicks lose. Or maybe that's all Isiah's doing.

3. Vols Do The Damndest Things. It's well-publicized that two Vols were recently suspended for crack possession. Putting aside the unquestionable draconian-ism of drug laws criminalizing the smoking of large quantities of rock-form cocaine in an illegally parked car, it's clear the Vols have some characters. Like Jemere Hendrix. You may remember young Jemere for being thrown off the team after throwing a punch at a football player and then fleeing (with the football player in hot pursuit) on a golf cart driven by an assistant hoops coach. Or maybe for subsequently showing up at a game wearing a white Hanes tee on which, in black Sharpie, he'd written: "MY APoLogy. I'M Sorry Team. I'M Sorry Fans. I'M Sorry Coach Pearl. I'M Sorry Mike Hamilton. I am My Brother's KEEPER." And then all his teammates' numbers. Which is just awesome. — Houston Goddard

Anyway, Pearl's having all kinds of trouble with his Volunteer charges these days. Two of his players were arrested for possessing 15.2 grams of crack cocaine. That's a lot of crack, enough that police could charge them with intent to distribute.

Despite jokes that the crack cocaine could explain Pearl's sweating problem, this isn't inherently Pearl's fault, though it's hard to imagine, say, Dean Smith coaching guys busted for crack. But we're going to enjoy watching him squirm anyway. We won't lie to you: If we could choose an Official Deadspin Villain, it would be Bruce Pearl. And again: We know it's not fair, and we don't care. Hating Bruce Pearl was a notion we understood long before we understood "fairness."

Pearl s 'High Standards' Put Players Futures In Doubt [Nashville City Paper]
Putting The Rock Back In Rocky Top [Taylor Bunts]

Well, the poor bastard, obviously feels terrible; he showed up to Friday's Volunteers win over East Tennessee State wearing that T-shirt. Personally, we think it would have been cool if he had, like, had that thing airbrushed at the county fair, but other than that, we support the sentiment.

Somebody Hook This Guy Up With A Cafe Press Account [Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer]