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Look on the bright side, fans

Writer's picture: Jamie AkinsJamie Akins

It has been 6 whole days since the Vols lost in Arkansas. Seems like a lifetime. The fiery fervor behind the team has fizzled and turned its nose. Drinking the Big Orange Kool-Aid will do that.


1980s

I grew up four miles from The University of Tennessee. From age 5 until this writing, I have remained within a 10-mile radius of Neyland Stadium. I have had the Kool-Aid, many times. I remember the first time I tasted of it's sweetness back in 1986 after the huge win over Miami.

Before you get your dander up, yes, it's the 1986 Sugar Bowl contrary to popular belief. The game was played on Jan 1, 1986, after the 1985 season, which is splitting hairs, but I knew there would be some fact checkers lurking about. Facts checked.


I went to school after Christmas break wearing my jersey and proclaiming UT the best in the land. We finished fourth that season in the AP poll. Do you recall what happened the following season? We finished eighth, which is very respectable right? Nope, that Big Orange Kool-Aid soured on my stomach.


1990s

Fast forward to 1990. Great season. SEC Championship (because Florida was ineligible), Sugar Bowl win, and ranked seventh at the end of season. But that Orange concoction worked its way into my mind and heart. Thoughts went like this. This is just like '85. Two ties?? And the National Champion tied us the first game of the season!! What a wasted season, blah, blah, blah. That's right. We had two tie games in 1985 and in 1990.


We are saved

The Kool-Aid got stronger in the mid-nineties. In comes this guy named Manning, and we are double fisting the orange serum while patting everyone on the back. Our Football Messiah is here! We are winning at least two national championships. Right...? WRONG

I stayed mad the entire tenure of Peyton's career here. Kool-Aid. I mean, Football Jesus is coming back for his senior year. We must win in 1997, there is no way around it. Oh yeah, there is that Florida team, and oh man, Nebraska.


No More Kool-Aid?

So, it is now 1998 and I'm not drinking the damn stuff. No way we are as good as the year prior. Yeah, I watched the games. Heck, I was a student there! But I do not put all my energy into it for fear of a letdown. Result? National Championship.



I learned then that the Big Orange Kool-Aid was poison. It was turning me from a hopeful fan into an armchair maniac. My whole week would be ruined after a loss. If that loss came before a BYE week, then I would be depressed for two weeks as a lot of people were. How silly was it to hang my whole outlook on life on something I had zero control over and was supposed to be relaxing and fun?


So, I am a bright sider now when it comes to Tennessee Athletics. I care just enough to enjoy the sports and the wins, but care so little about the losses that I can keep myself whole when we do lose. And we will lose. I remind myself these are games. Games I do not get to play. These are kids, the same age as I was when Peyton was losing to Florida. Cut them some slack.


The Brightest Side of All


As I was sitting around a bunch of family and friends discussing the Arkansas debacle a comforting thought hit me between bites of a Quesadilla. So, I told everyone at the table and now I will tell you.


"As bad as this hurts, we could be having this same dinner in Tuscaloosa, talking about how our #1 team just lost to Vanderbilt."


Life is about perspective. Go Vols.


Jamie


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