Published: October 29, 2009 04:32 pm      

ROCKY TOP BEAT: Tennessee faces South Carolina in big SEC match-up Saturday

Last week, columnist Jim Butler said that early retirement might be in his future if the Vols did the unthinkable in Tuscaloosa and beat the Crimson Tide.

Well, Jim, you can keep on working, but the effort by the Vols might have you considering at least a sabbatical! Vol fans can see light at the end of the tunnel while Jim’s Commodores’ view of the future is not so bright.

The one thing most Vol fans wanted with the coaching change was to see the Vols narrow the gap against the upper echelon teams in the SEC. Coach Kiffin and his staff have done that while making those rivalry games significant once again. Even the most skeptical Vol fans going into this season have begun to change their opinion about the new coaching staff.

The Vols must now look to the future and put the disappointing loss at Alabama behind them. Next up will be South Carolina, one more top 25 team for the Vols to play this season.

Apparently, the Vols have impressed the odds makers as they enter the game with a 3-4 record but are favored to win at home against the ranked Gamecocks.

Once again Monte Kiffin will be asked to come up with a defensive game plan to confuse South Carolina’s inconsistent offense that plays several true freshmen that were recruited by the Vols.

Running back Jarvis Giles is back in the rotation after finding himself suspended recently for violating team rules. The Vols, with the signings of David Oku and Bryce Brown, certainly got the best of that particular defection.

The one freshman that probably could have helped the Vols is Alshon Jeffery, a 6-4 receiver with speed that has been coming on strong for the Gamecocks.

The Vols have a chance to finish strong in their final five ball games.

A win against the Steve Spurrier-coached South Carolina team would be a great way to even this season’s record. Optimism is high surrounding the Vols despite their record and with three of the final five games at home; many of the Big Orange faithful are expecting a strong finish to the regular season.

The Vols tried to shore up the special teams this week and have taken a step in the right direction by moving defensive linemen Dan Williams and Montori Hughes onto the field goal team to add size to the left side of the line. Perhaps the Vols can have future place kicks make it past the line of scrimmage.

The Vols are 13-1 against South Carolina in games played in Knoxville and hold a 21-4-2 all time record against them.

Last year, the Vols “treated” the Gamecocks to a win with the help of two critical turnovers in the first half that led to touchdowns. The Vols have owned the fourth quarter this season but can’t afford early mistakes tomorrow night if they want to put this game in the win column.

With the visit of the coach that Vol fans love to hate, a team that has found its offensive stride with a hot quarterback, and 100,000 fans singing "Rocky Top," look for the Vols to continue to improve and “trick not treat”  the Gamecocks on Halloween night. GO VOLS !!!!

(Frank Gale is a Chronicle correspondent and his column appears weekly.)