Readers who aren't Tennessee football fans weigh in on South Carolina loss. They didn't hold back | Adams

I owe Tennessee football a thank-you. Because of the team's high-profile season, I'm now receiving literary contributions from fans outside Tennessee.

Missouri and South Carolina fans weighed in this week. But most of my emails came from disgruntled Tennessee fans after a shocking 63-38 loss to the Gamecocks.

Mizzou Jeff writes: Since attending the Tennessee-Missouri game, I have found myself on occasion singing my version of "Rocky Top."

"Good ol' Rocky Top,

Rocky Top, not again!

Good ol' Rocky Top,

Rocky Top makes me sick."

My response: Glad your trip to Neyland Stadium inspired your creativity. But "again" and "sick" don't rhyme.

Tony writes: As a USC Gamecock class of 1964, originally from NJ, I hope QB Hooker wins the Heisman Trophy. He is from Greensboro, NC.

My response: Hooker wasn’t at his best in the loss to South Carolina. And his season ended in the fourth quarter when he incurred an ACL injury. But he still should be a Heisman finalist. He ranks ninth nationally in total offense and has thrown 27 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

Charlie writes: Poetic justice. On behalf of all the Missouri fans and other victory-formation advocates, I say, "Amen."

My response: The Vols scored 66 points against the wrong team. They could have beaten Missouri with the 38 they scored on South Carolina.

Then, they could have created an instant SEC classic by beating South Carolina 66-63.

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Gene writes: I guess the Gamecocks answered your question about whether Vols would run up the score. Couldn’t happen to a nicer coach (Heupel).

My response: As a proponent of scoring as many points as you can, I applaud South Carolina tacking on a final touchdown after the game had been decided.

Glenn writes: South Carolina scored the “quality points” the Vols were supposed to score to impress the CFP committee. Spencer Rattler had a career night against one of the worst defensive performances we’ve seen.

My response: Rattler has spent most of this season running for his life behind an incompetent offensive line. But the Gamecocks didn't have any problem blocking the Vols.

Mike writes: The Vols football team has been a big surprise with its outstanding play this year (before South Carolina). Clearly, the football team has performed even better than we expected. Sadly, our basketball teams have done just the opposite so far.

The Vols looked terrible in their loss to Colorado and the Lady Vols looked even worse in losses to Ohio State and Indiana. Hopefully the basketball teams can get their acts together and start playing at somewhere near the level everyone had expected.

My response: After Tennessee played well in a preseason game against Gonzaga, the loss to Colorado was surprising. As for the Lady Vols, they probably have as much depth as any UT team in the post-Pat Summitt era.

They played poorly in losses to Ohio State and Indiana. And they looked even worse in an 80-63 loss to UCLA on Sunday. But I credit coach Kellie Harper with playing a demanding nonconference schedule. That could pay off in March.

As I wrote last week, don't be too concerned about how a team performs in November, especially in this transfer era. Coaches are trying to work newcomers in with returning players, so teams - no matter how talented - don't always click right away.

Better to click in March.

Marco writes: May I please repeat my comments of last week that we need to fire out DC and his entire secondary defense coaches? I hate for anyone to lose their job….. but this is big boy football with big boy consequences for failure. Our football defense is a total wreck. It would not surprise me if we did not beat Vandy coming up. What a waste of a great season.

My response: Take heart. Vanderbilt's defense is even worse than Tennessee's.

The Commodores rank 125th in total defense. The Vols rank 100th.

George writes: Tennessee needs to fire the defensive backfield coach and recruit 15 new defensive backs who can cover and tackle. The ones we have stink.

My response: You will be pleased to know the Vols have six commitments from defensive backs in their 2023 recruiting class. Just nine more to go.

Chris writes: Tim Banks (UT's defensive coordinator) needs to go.

Why did he not call the South Carolina game like he did against LSU?

Seriously, fire him tomorrow. This is ridiculous.

My response: As of this writing, Tim Banks still has a job. But I'm not sure about Jeremy Banks, Tennessee's starting linebacker who didn't accompany the team to Columbia, South Carolina.

Mark writes: Just had to throw this in. Those orange helmets shore r purdy. Whoever came up with those should get a few extra fried pies for a bonus. Now, I am still totally committed to the Haint Blue Uniform idea I sent you a while back and am depending on you to plant that seed in the uniform guru's brain over there at the UTAD.

Jack and I had a long conversation about this idea with a Bigfoot a while back during a fishing trip up in North Park, (which is just to the north of Middle Park, for all those folks east of the Ghost River). The Bigfoot, his name was Earl, totally agreed that Haint Blue is an awesome color so I gave him my last Krispy Kreme Fried Pie and he wandered off to scare some campers from Cali. So, there you have it.

My response: Very creative. Makes me wonder if you’re consuming more than Jack Daniels.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Readers who aren't Tennessee Vols football fans on South Carolina loss