Rising — Quarterback controversy?!?!?
Oh dear, here we go again. Tennessee football's annual Orange and White Game took place on Saturday, with the White squad earning a victory over the Orange 24-7. Shoddy weather made a bland game even more so, with very little offense to come by for either team on a day with 23-mph winds and overcast skies.
But the story likely blowing up message boards as of late is the apparent statistical edge exhibited by quarterback Matt Simms over starting signal-caller Tyler Bray. Simms, who was benched as UT's starter midway through last season in favor of Bray, completed 6-of-13 passes for one touchdown while rushing for another. Bray, on the other hand, shot blanks all afternoon with a 5-for-30 performance, tallying only 122 yards and one touchdown.
Though Bray outgained Simms in yards, it was the obvious discrepancy in accuracy that caught most fans' attentions, not to mention Simms' intensity. The rising senior was obviously hyped up for a game in which only a reported 29,000 fans showed up, the majority of whom left around halftime.
So naturally, this means coach Derek Dooley made the wrong call in switching quarterbacks last season, right? Simms deserves to take over the starting role after simply dominating his own defense, right? After all, Simms played against tougher opponents in the first half of last season than Bray did in the latter portion. A padded schedule must have worked out in Bray's favor.
As ESPN's Lee Corso likes to say, "Not so fast, my friend." Everyone take a deep breath and remember what coaches always preach in the media: It's just the spring game. Nothing more, nothing less. Does Simms' performance indicate an ability to pick apart SEC defenses on a weekly basis? Saturday probably didn't provide that answer.
Falling — Support for campus gun legislation
For those outside the loop, there will be new legislation placed in front of the State House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. The legislation would allow permit-carrying students, staff and faculty at UT to carry firearms on campus.
According to an e-mail from Faculty Senate President Joan Heminway, the majority of UT's campus appears strongly opposed to this new legislation, which would undermine the current university policy of prohibiting firearms on campus.
Two members of the UT Faculty Senate proposed a resolution that supports the current laws and opposes the legislation. SGA proposed a similar resolution, while Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, his cabinet and UT President Joe DiPietro have also expressed disapproval of the legislation.
Even UTPD has indicated opposition to such legislation.
Supporters of the bill point to tragic attacks like that at Virginia Tech in 2007 as a need for campus-goers to protect themselves. Arm campus, they say, and such attacks could be prevented.
Still, if campus administration opposes such a measure, something doesn't make sense. Based on all this information, it seems necessary to ask, why is the legislation being presented in the first place? If the majority of campus is voicing its "nay" opinion, how do lawmakers explain the necessity of the legislation?
Either way, the process is beginning fairly soon as the legislation makes its way into law. As current university policy states, only law enforcement officials may carry firearms. Only time will tell how much longer that policy will stay in place.