The first coach forced out was Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer. Despite a ranking among the most winningest active coaches, numerous SEC titles, and a national championship on his resume, in an early November press conference, he announced he would not be returning for the 2009 season. Though the rest of the nation questioned the ousting of a veritable institution such as Fulmer, Vol Nation was irate over the increasing number of losses against ranked opponents, disappointing play in the post-season, and the possibility of a second losing season in just three years. Not all fans agreed removing the head coach was the answer, but everyone met the announcement of his replacement with a raised eyebrow.

Lane Kiffin had no college head coach experience and his most recent job was as head coach of the dismal Oakland Raiders. Though he had impressive results as offensive coordinator at Southern Cal, his instant stirring of the hornet’s nest eliminated any goodwill that could be gleaned from his past. However, he has been able to back up his talk with victories and close losses against the nation’s top teams. More importantly, he has brought the swagger back to Rocky Top and energized the fan base. The Vols agree athletic director Mike Hamilton brought an upgrade to the program.

Tommy Tuberville’s resignation was announced immediately after the 2008 season. He had led the Tigers to an SEC championship, a perfect season in which the Tigers should have competed for the national championship, and numerous bowl victories. However, he tried to fix what wasn’t broken by installing a new offensive scheme. The failure of players and staff to adjust quickly enough led Auburn to its first losing season since 1992. Not even his winning record against arch-rival Bama could save him.

His replacement raised as many questions as his firing. Few had heard of Gene Chizik, a former Auburn defensive coordinator who was currently on the hot seat at Iowa State. Tiger fans were outraged the administration would hire a coach who had just gone 2-10 at a minor Big 12 school. Chizik quickly silenced his critics with a 5-0 start and gave them room to talk with a three game losing streak. In his latest conference game, his team decisively beat Ole Miss, but the season ending Iron Bowl will reveal his ability to hold his own in the SEC. The jury will remain out until all the evidence is in.

Sylvester Croom voluntarily resigned from Mississippi State after the most lopsided against Ole Miss in history. Though everyone was sad to see him go, no one could say it wouldn’t be better to give someone else a chance. Croom had coached in some huge upsets, including two against the Florida Gators, and done well considering the difficult of recruiting in Starkville, but he still had a lone winning season. The Bulldogs hired Florida’s offensive coordinator, Dan Mullen. His style has given the team a spark, but they’re still sitting at 4-5 and in imminent danger of yet another losing season. This appears to be a lateral move.

It has been posited the shelf life of a college football coach is ten years; the statistics give credence to this theory. If this is indeed Mark Richt’s final season at Georgia, as many believe it is, Damon Evans will have to weigh the advantages and risks of a non-traditional hire.

Another UT tradition is losing to Steve Spurrier. Stretching back to his first job as a head coach at Duke, the Vols have a 5-13 record against him. Philip Fulmer had a particularly dismal 3-8 record against the Old Ball Coach.

Old Ball Coach, meet the New Ball Coach.

Vol fans got a slight scare when offensive production stalled after leaping ahead of the Gamecocks 21-0, but most of the night was pure treat. Last night’s victory was the largest point differential against a Spurrier coached team since Johnny Majors beat Duke team by twenty-six points in 1989. Furthermore, the formerly hapless Jonathan Crompton, who is rumored to be the least effective quarterback in school history, played his second game without throwing an interception. He now has double the touchdown passes Tim Tebow does. Berry and Hardesty continued to be stand-out players, Rico McCoy forced two fumbles,  and Chad Cunningham, replacing Daniel Lincoln, scored a field goal for the Vols- the first one in the past five attempts.

Legends claim that on Halloween the border between the living and the dead thins. Last night, Kiffin crossed the border between the Volunteer’s recent past of ugly wins and wearisome losses to a Volunteer future restoring the excitement and success of seasons past. The black jerseys nicely encapsulated the spirit of that bridging; unbeknownst to may in Vol Country, black was the color of choice before the adoption of orange in 1922.

Kiffin has pleaded ignorance regarding Tennessee traditions. But his final comment of the night proved to Rocky Top he’s determined to revive the most important one. Wearing his characteristic mask of latent frustration he promised, “We’re building a championship team.”

Some rivalries may be older, like the Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A&M. Some may be more prominent in the media, like the River Red Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas. Some may be more heated. After all, the state House of Representatives has never had to suspend the series because of constant violent outbursts as has happened to Alabama/Auburn.

But no rivalry can touch the Alabama/Tennessee series in terms of respect. Both programs are among the winningest in the nation with a history of employing exemplary coaches. For years, both teams were coached by men with ties to the program, who lived the importance of the game, and came back year after year for another chance at winning the most significant game of the season. Because of that, the hatred was tempered by respect for the tradition of the other program.

In recent years, to the chagrin of all involved, the rivalry has lost its luster. This is partly due to down years at Bama, followed by down years at Tennessee. More fault can be placed on the expansion of the SEC. Dividing the conference into East and West has placed more emphasis on the Alabama/Auburn and Tennessee/Florida games. But most of the blame lies on the off field controversy regarding Phillip Fulmer’s handling of Bama’s alleged recruiting practices.

That was a turning point in the series. A good old fashioned rivalry was dragged through the mud on its way to courtrooms. The resulting sanctions severely damaged Bama’s cache, and turned Fulmer into the most hated man in the state. They accused him of being a low life snitch, and Fulmer continued to accuse Alabama of being low life cheaters. The respect and civility that had defined the series devolved into outright, bitter hatred.

The recent coaching changes in both programs opened the opportunity to return the rivalry to its former glory, and Lane Kiffin embraced the chance. To the disappointment of the media, the “Mouth of the South” had nothing but courteous comments about Saban, going so far as to admit he was using the Tide as a model for rebuilding UT’s program. Both teams fought a clean, traditional, smashmouth battle on the field. Afterwards, the coaches civilly shook hands, and even the opposing quarterbacks shared a moment. Fans can mark this date as yet another turning point in the storied, century old series.

Saturday’s game might have been a loss for Tennessee, but it was a win for the rivalry.

A Honeybee exiting a Honeysuckle flower

Some of Tennessee’s smallest inhabitants are finally getting their due next week. That’s because Governor Phil Bredesen is recognizing the “important role” insects play in the lives of humans by proclaiming Oct. 11 through Oct. 17 as “Tennessee Entomology Week.”

This designation corresponds with the 36th Annual Meeting of the Tennessee Entomological Society (TES), which brings together the top scientists in the state who specialize in studying insects.

This year’s meeting will be held Oct. 15-16 at the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, and it will recognize excellence in the field of entomology by both professionals with years of experience and up-and-coming high school students.

Phillip Adams, a home-schooled senior from Burns, will receive the Harry E. Williams Award during the meeting. The award is given annually to a high school junior or senior 4-H entomology state winner to encourage youths in this field.

The Richard E. Caron Outstanding Entomologist Award will also be presented during this year’s meeting to Dr. Reid Gerhardt. Gerhardt is a retired professor of veterinary and medical entomology at the University of Tennessee. During a career spanning more than 30 years, he conducted important research and authored numerous papers on the control and distribution of arthropods that attack and annoy humans, livestock and wild animals.

Registration starts at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, and the meeting begins at 1:30 p.m. in the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Region 2 Conference Room. Dr. Keith S. Delaplane will deliver the keynote address, “Honey Bee Decline and Why it Matters.” It’s an unsettling and important topic, given that about one-third of human food supplies are dependent on bee pollination.

Delaplane is a professor and Walter B. Hill Fellow at the University of Georgia, Athens, where he is responsible for research, teaching and public service in honeybees and pollination.

He is national director of the $4.1 million Managed Pollinator Coordinated Agricultural Project, a consortium of researchers and extension specialists at 17 institutions, including the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The project is charged with addressing honeybee declines through research and extension.

TES will also host an Insect Fair for students from neighboring Crieve Hall Elementary School on Thursday morning. More than 50 students will gather in the Ed Jones Auditorium on the EAC campus, where they’ll be introduced to the field of entomology through this fair.

Anyone with an interest in entomology is encouraged to attend the meeting. For more information contact Dr. Steven Hamilton, 931-221-7783 or , or Dr. Don Sudbrink, 931-221-7266 or .

Nashville – Governor Phil Bredesen has proclaimed Oct. 11-17 as Earth Science Week in Tennessee, promoting the important role that geology and other earth sciences play in Tennessee’s safety, health, welfare and economy.

As part of Earth Science Week, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Geology, in partnership with the American Geological Institute, has a limited number of Earth Science Week toolkits to distribute to earth science teachers across the state. This year’s toolkits include posters, calendars, resources and reading materials, field notebooks, and CDs and DVDs, with an emphasis on understanding climate and climate change.

“Earth Science Week provides an opportunity for Tennesseans to seek a greater understanding of the value of research and an appreciation for the importance of finding and conserving mineral, energy and water resources important to the state’s continuing prosperity,” said Bredesen. “I’m pleased we can offer educational tools to earth science teachers to help continue their efforts to raise awareness in the classroom.”

In addition to distributing toolkits, Environment and Conservation’s Division of Geology will work one-on-one with East Tennessee middle and high school students at the 10th Annual Earth Science Week Fair, to be held at the University of Tennessee Department of Earth Planetary Sciences in Knoxville on Oct. 15. The event is free and typically attracts more than 600 students and teachers each year. The Knoxville Division of Geology’s exhibit covers the natural hazards and mineral resources of Tennessee. In addition to posters, rock samples and displays, the exhibit features hands-on activities involving the geology behind sinkhole development, landslide activity, and oil and gas exploration. The Division also will take part in an exhibit on gold panning.

“The earth sciences contribute to the Department of Environment and Conservation’s daily role,” said Commissioner Jim Fyke. “The department’s Division of Geology serves as a great example and works hard on issues critical to environmental health – from water quality to waste disposal.”

This year, approximately 20 governors across the United States will join Governor Bredesen in issuing proclamations that support Earth Science Week, reaching more than 20 million people across the country. As in years past, individuals and groups will celebrate Earth Science Week 2009 by participating in events in all 50 states and 18 countries around the world.

Educators interested in receiving an Earth Science Week toolkit may contact Ron Zurawski at Ronald. or (615) 532-1502. The toolkits are free of charge while supplies last.

For more information about Earth Science Week, please visit www.earthsciweek.org.

The national anthem will be performed by Kevin Riner. The coin toss will be done by Harry Galbreath, a retired NFL Star who’s football career started right here in Clarksville. Harry graduated from Clarksville High School, started every game for four years at the University of Tennessee, drafted and played 5 years with the Miami Dolphins before going three years with the Green Bay Packers and finishing his NFL career with one year at the New York Jets. Since he retired from the NFL, Harry has coached at different colleges with last year being the strength and conditioning coach for the UT Vols.

The Clarksville Fox facing the Tennessee Valley Tigers

Tickets at the gate are $10 for general admission and free for children 10 and under. In order to honor those serving our country, all active and retired military personnel and their dependents with a valid identification card will be admitted for $5 at each home game.  In addition students with valid identification will receive half off admission. Pre-sale tickets are available for $5. Visit www.theclarksvillefox.com for more information.

Upon entrance to the game, patrons will receive a raffle ticket to win gifts and prizes including autographed Nashville Predator memorabilia, Clarksville Fox T-shirts, and gifts from our sponsors.  Tickets can also be purchased for a 50/50 drawing for a cash prize to be awarded at the game.

The past several months have provided a wealth of images and topics to be covered. Local and regional interests have drawn my attention, eye and words to their descriptive influences.

I thought it a fitting action to showcase the ninety or more days of news coverage to give you, our readers, a glimpse at just how much effort goes into bringing you information and news of your world. Not every image presented here will have been previously included in a published news story. Some of these images are background material and some are just for visual impression. Often we see things which are inspirational, if not exactly newsworthy or pertinent to the immediate story. They have to wait for special coverage like this to have their day.

Starting with the volunteer parachute packer above, who gave his time and service to the Thank You Foundation’s courtesy parachute jumps at Outlaw Field as a way to honor wounded soldiers, many opportune moments of singular deference to others abound through out our community.

American Flag in the dark

While some show deference, there are those instances where an apparent indifference is on display. This writer has more than once commented about how businesses and governmental entities are dishonoring our nation’s flag by flaying it at night without proper illumination. City government functions share an unseemly portion of this shame. From city hall to the police department to fire stations, the nation’s flag flies 24 hours a day. At night it is not properly illuminated.

Fun times are to be had as a writer covering community events. One such example is the bedlam that is the APSU Mud Bowl. This year was my first occasion to witness this descent into seemingly mindless abandon.

Otherwise perfectly sane college students willingly climb into an arena of mud for a three-minute round of volley ball, with no other incentive than to be able to say, “We did it!” In the process, the mud bowl conquers all who dare enter. And the students gleefully rejoice in this. It beats goldfish, at least.

New to the city’s landscape this year is Strawberry Alley. This new downtown gathering area was christened by an equally new  city-sponsored bi-monthly event dubbed, “Jammin’ in the Alley!”

The inaugural opening honors was bestowed upon “The Beagles,” who gave a rollicking good show that saw dancing in the street and yes, that was Kevin Kennedy joining in to do ‘The Electric Slide!’

The Franklin Street merchants took full advantage of this crowd attraction to accent their businesses with Benne’s Steakhouse and Piano Bar, The Front Page Deli and Brunnie’s all setting out bistro tables for the more than willing patrons.

A favorite annual event is the Native Cultural Circle Inter-Tribal Powwow. Staged out at the campground in Port Royal adjacent to the Port Royal Historic State Park. The park has seen distinction added to its crown with the National Park Service designating it an official Trail of Tears historic park. This year, in recognition that the park encompasses that last unobstructed section of the original trail in Tennessee, a Commemoration Trail of Tears March Walk was conducted on that hallowed ground.

Following the Park System ceremony, the walk continued on to the Powwow grounds where Head Lady Loretta Howard and Head Man Michael Veal led the opening traditional dance. A new community group debuted at this year’s powwow. The Hawaiian Civic Group performed several native Pacific Islander dances. Fun dances included the ‘Children’s Candy Dance,’ and the ‘Ugly Man’ dance.

National politics had an impact here this year. The presidential election saw a marked increased in voter registration and turn-out. Voter rallies and forums were held all over the area. Candidates knocked on doors and held town hall meetings to introduce themselves to their constituencies. Articles on voter registration requirements and voting practices appeared in the local mainstream media. Negative campaigning saw new heights on both the local and national stages. Unprecedented election politics were played out and locally a write-in campaign by a major political player stirred up the public’s appetite for drama. Although the August primaries saw an abysmal voter turnout, the November General Elections saw a resounding repudiation of that voter apathy with a strong seventy-percent voter turn-out.

Also during this time, the APSU Woodward Library held another session of its Athenaeum presentation series. Kasey Hendricks gave an impressive and stirring talk on his study: “Defending Affirmative Action- E’race’ing Inequality.” The lecture/discussion was well attended and the following discussion proved quite enlightening as information about discrimination in a little known realm was revealed.

Autumn continues its advance in Middle Tennessee and Montgomery County shares in the seasonal changes in nature. Trees change color, shed leaves and all other signs of time’s passage are manifested. At Dunbar Cave Park, the advance of seasons is well on display. The waterfowl make their noises and the landscape yields to changes in light. One of the most colorful examples of this is the beautiful berry clusters found along the stairway from the park’s information center towards the cave itself. This colorful display belongs to the American Beauty Bush.

Dunbar Cave also shifts gears as it gears up for the annual October nighttime tour event known as, “The Haunted History Tour.” These guided tours take visitors inside the cavernous depths of the cave, the seventieth long in the entire U.S., and informs them of the cave’s development and history. Held over the course of two days, usually the weekend prior to Halloween, the tours are a family fun way to explore the cave. This year saw well over 500 visitors take the tour.

Now viewing the changing season is not restricted to Montgomery County. There was also the opportunity to travel to a business expo in Paris. No, not that one across the Atlantic. this one is much closer. We don’t have a budget that would allow the Trans-Atlantic expense and I don’t know anyone in France, although Strasborough is really nice. The backroads between Montgomery County and Henry County afford one the opportunity to see Mother Nature’s paint brush busily at work. The many scenic vistas of bodies of water marking landfall are nicely contrasted with the changing colors of the wooded foliage that dominates the abundant landscape of the area. And of course, when in Paris, how can you leave without visiting The Eifel Tower? Expect to see a posting about that expo soon on ‘Discover Paris!’

As autumn’s march continues, the window for early voting for the general election was closing. This year had seen a abysmal voter turnout for the August primary. Not even ten percent of the county’s voters felt compelled to cast their votes and decide how their government would take shape. However the general election was a horse of a different  color indeed. Montgomery County got energized and really stepped up to the ballot box in record numbers.

Early voting saw fully forty percent of registered voters had gone to the Election Commission in Veterans Plaza and cast their votes. Also during this time, Austin Peay State University held its annual homecoming activities. This year, the celebrations extended to the city’s newest gathering spot with the Homecoming ‘Street Dance in the Alley.’ The Mike Robinson Band was the music choice and gave a lively set for the evening’s participants.

The presidential debate scene came to Tennessee as Belmont University played host to the second 2008 Presidential Debate. While Clarksville was not a central player in this dramatic event, its proximity did draw elements of our community into its sphere of influence. The Montgomery County Democratic Party held a Debate Watch Party at its Madison Street headquarters. There was an alternative debate and other debate day activities that gave special emphasis to the event.

On our local political scene, after the nastiness of the August primary and the bad vibes that followed the special tri-county convention to select the Democratic Party candidate for District 22, voters turned out to resoundingly favor Attorney Tim Barnes as their state senator. Congrats to him for running a clean, above board campaign all the way thru. He’s got some really great people working with him- DJ, Adam and Adam, and a very supportive partner in wife Linda and their children. If you haven’t already done so, please do check out the exclusive interview Tim gave Clarksville Online. I think you’ll find it a good read.

The Youth Victory Garden celebrated its first harvest and held a community fair to mark the occasion. Various civic and social consciousness and service groups participated in celebrating the young people’s efforts and making the community aware of their presence. The Brandon Hill Community Heritage Youth Victory Garden was under the guardianship of The Mount Olive Historical Preservation Society. The youth came from the Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools System. They cleared the land and planted all the crops, tended to them during the growing season, even during school breaks and over the summer.

Additionally the APSU Music Department’s Percussion Ensemble held its annual Halloween Concert with all performers in some form of holiday costume. The musical selections were a lively mix that were well adapted to the occasion. The APSU University Choir lent their voices to marvelous effect in producing a musical presentation that left no one unimpressed. Barvo!

Also happening within this timeframe was the 24th Annual Ohio Valley History Conference, held this year at Austin Peay State University. The two-day event proved an exciting and informative affair. Presenters came from across the country and even Canada. The History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta, recognized new members. Dr. Richard Gildrie celebrated his retirement after a 38-year career in history academia. The APSU Graphic Arts Dept. showcased its Goldsmith Press and Rare Type Collection, printing conference posters and gift bags. John Seigenthaler Sr. was the keynote for the conference banquet dinner. In all, over one hundred-twenty papers were presented and discussed. I wish I could have cloned myself about fifteen times, and that still would not have been enough to cover the sessions that drew my interest.

Not even a full two weeks following the OVHC, the Arts and Heritage Development Council held it Lifetime Achievement Awards celebration at the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill. A warm and lively gathering of celebrants and well-wishers filled the center’s hallways and rooms. A wide cross-selection of the community was on hand to fete Dr. George Mabry, his equally talented wife, Dr. Sharon Mabry and Secretary of State Riley Darnell. Then there was last week’s surprising city council meeting, where the cost of the marina project shot from $20 million dollars to $32 million dollars. I think there’s more on that to come. Of course, most of you will be aware of the mayor’s signing a contract with Rediflex for installation and operation of red-light cameras in our community. Instead of the original six, we will now get twenty of these devices. The University of Tennessee released a study on the effectiveness of these types of so-called safety measures back in September that may provide you, our readers, with some somber thought-provoking information.

Gee, but it’s hard to believe all this happened within the sixty to seventy-five days. How did I ever cover it all. I must acknowledge my colleagues here at Clarksville Online. The team effort is all important and central to our operation and success. The holidays are fast coming upon and Clarksville Online will seek to provide ever relevant coverage of news and public interest events. Still to come are updates on TEPPCO’s processed fuels storage facility two miles from the city’s water-intake point on the Cumberland River and the unveiling of the city’s newest fountain on Strawberry Alley; the USDOJ/HUD Public Fact Gathering Meeting on the city’s Redevelopment Plan, and of course the corresponding lawsuit against the citizens group filed by a council member and a real estate developer connected to the plan; the swearing-in of new city council members and the closing of Fairgrounds Park to make way for the marina dredging and development.

“Support the troops!” has some meat behind it in Oak Ridge. “We’re here for the veterans!” is the rally cry of East Tennessee’s veterans business outreach programs. That is the consensus of three Clarksville citizens who, along with over 250 others, attended the all-day Oak Ridge Veterans Business Conference. Dr. James H. Cossingham, President, Gold Eagle Corp. and his associate, Turner McCullough Jr.- contributing writer for this publication, attended the conference at the invitation of Herstle Cross, CEO, Cornerstone Equipment, Supplies & Consulting. Cornerstone is an SBA-8A Native American company at the Oak Ridge National Nuclear Security Agency.

Ms Felicia Johnson, newly named director of the Clarksville Small Business Development Center at Austin Peay State University also attended. She was seeking to establish contacts with her counterparts in East Tennessee and especially Oak Ridge, which could enhance opportunities for her future clients in Clarksville and Montgomery County. The conference was held at the Y-12 National Nuclear Security Agency Complex’s New Hope Center, 602 Scarboro Road, the new visitors and conference center at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Complex.

The conference was hosted by the Y-12 National Security Complex and the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Co-sponsors and partners included Bechtel Jacobs Company, City of Knoxville, City of Oak Ridge, East Tennessee Military Affairs Council, Knox County Government, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, Knoxville Utilities Board, the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Additional participants included Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Roane State Community College, Small Business Administration, Tennessee Small Business Development Center, Tennessee Economic and Community Development and its Business Enterprise Resource Office, Tennessee Valley Authority, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Department of Energy, and Wackenhut Services Oak Ridge Team.

The purpose of the Veterans Business Conference is to increase business opportunities for service-disabled veteran and veteran-owned small businesses. Michael Scott Golden, CEO, Veterans Construction Inc. was the keynote speaker. Veterans Construction is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business of Knoxville, Tennessee with extensive experience with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Veterans Administration.

Attendees heard important information on the status of veteran small business programs throughout the federal government; a forum regarding business opportunities with DOE and NNSA prime contractors; information of doing business with federal, local and state governments and seminars about developing a business plan and financing small business ventures. Fort Campbell’s Contracting Office also gave a presentation and met with conference attendees on contracting opportunities and procedures. The Oak Ridge Y-12 Complex is aggressively pursuing technology transfer licensing opportunities and seeks service-disabled veteran and veteran owned businesses for its ventures.

The conference center’s corridor was filled with governmental and business entities offering information, contracting registration forms, free gifts and contact information. Registration was accomplished with a continental breakfast and a boxed lunch was available at the mid-day break.