rocky top

I was stunned this morning to get the news that blogger Winston Rand has passed away.

Winston…he was a “pretty good guy.” This is how he wanted everyone to remember him.

Winston was from northwest Tennessee and contacted me about a year ago. We had a few emails back and forth and I met him once at Mothership Barbecue. He was always lovely and so encouraging.

And the man could write circles around you.

This post is written by Roomie, who sits at Winston’s desk, fingers on his keyboard, right hand on his mouse, next to a half cup of coffee that he started to drink last Friday morning. The white cup has a picture of a bucking bronco on it, a cowboy waving his whip as he moves with the zest of life. A nasty film is beginning to form on the surface of the coffee.

KNOXILLE -- "Don't ever doubt the heart of a Volunteer." Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said he wasn't being defiant after his Volunteers handled Arkansas 34-13 on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. His mood definitely suggested otherwise. Who could blame him? Despite being in the driver's seat in the SEC East, critic after critic picked the red hot Razorbacks to walk out of Rocky Top with a victory...

Reeling after dropping two of their first three games of the season, Tennessee and their faithful appeared to be dead in the water. Speculation in and around Rocky Top feared that the program was on a downward spiral and coach Phillip Fulmer was on his way out...