The Rocky Road at Rocky Top

After a frustrating and heartbreaking loss to the SEC's hazed freshman Missouri, it sealed the fate for a coach who could never catch a break.

I admit, I defended the man and encouraged patience because folks never realized what the last years of Fulmer and the one year of Lane Kiffin did to set the program back. However, when James Franklin can make Vanderbilt bowl eligible for consecutive seasons, Will Muschamp can put the Gators back in the Top 10, and Kevin Sumlin can get his signature win at Texas A&M in year one, it gets harder to defend a coach who can't pull it off in 3 years.

Despite all of the cynicism, there's one thing you can say Dooley did right. He weathered the program through its most treacherous storm. Just like Mike Shula at Alabama, Dooley has set the Vol program to be a success. The Vol offense hasn't really been the problem. But the defense was the obvious achilles heel. Where do the Vols go next? The cries for Jon Gruden will be louder than before, but i'll believe it when I actually see it.

Bama's Loss Doesn't Mean SEC streak is over....Not yet

Am I surprised Texas A&M upset Alabama? No. There's a reason Nick Saban hates the Hurry-Up spread offense and you saw it yesterday. I've told you people time and time again. Some idiots complained I kept repeating myself, that's because they just didn't get it.

Now with an Alabama loss it puts a whole new wrinkle into the BCS race. But is it over? Not so fast.

Kansas St still has a matchup with a Texas team that is newly inspired to honor a fallen legend in DKR. Not saying that Texas could pull the upset, but the Wildcats performance against depleted TCU was very underwhelming.

I think we're in agreement that having Oregon in the title game is the most exciting option at this point. Being shunned because of their early strength of schedule, the Ducks have a chance to make up ground but also facing the toughest road to Miami. Their remaining games are against Stanford and Oregon St., all ranked in the Top 15. Also include a potential Pac-12 Championship matchup with Southern Cal or a resurging ranked UCLA.

You can talk about how brutal Notre Dame games are to watch, and I would agree. However, they're getting the job done. With Wake Forest and Southern Cal left, stranger things can happen with Lane Kiffin. Unless Kiffin can find an opening in the Notre Dame defense, the Irish can lock up their 1st National Championship bid since the early 90's.

As for the SEC, Alabama is left with a tune up game with FCS doormat Western Carolina and then SEC doormat Auburn. Georgia is left with Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech. Most likely, these two teams will stay put unless another domino will fall.

If that happens, The winner of the SEC Title game will still have a case to make. If we use the logic of bad losses, Georgia may have to work the spin machine overtime.

In conclusion, it's not safe to say that the SEC streak of BCS dominance has come to an end. However, it could be on life support next week.