Orange Striped Socks

In 2004, my employer purchased a manufacturing operation located thirty miles east of Knoxville. Being a part of the due diligence and implementation team, I spent a great deal of time in that area. On a weekly basis, I stayed in the Cedar Bluff area of Knoxville. During this tour of duty along the Tennessee River, I found a retail establishment I frequented. It was a big men’s shop that not only tailors their own clothing, but also carries a lot of name brand clothing as well.

Oftentimes, when I was perusing the items-for-sale table, I would encounter a tall and/or large young man who was in need of new threads because of a road trip he was taking with his team. Of course, that team would be the Volunteers, and the threads would be slacks, a jacket, a new tie or some other attire. We would speak briefly about their team, what he was majoring in, or some other general topic. One person I never actually saw there, but who also was a regular to the shop, was Head Football Coach Phillip Fulmer.

The haberdasher who typically assisted me was also Coach Fulmer’s. Because he knew I was an Auburn fan, the clothing vendeur would ask me about the team, the fans, Tuberville, etc. He would also tell me stories about Phil Fulmer, including some of his idiosyncrasies. One such was the type of orange striped socks he prefers, because of his feet. I’m not sure if that is because of the way the alumni step on his toes because of underperformance, or because the shoes of General Neyland are just too big to “Phil”.

What I do know is that this week, Fulmer will be dressed to the nines in full orange regalia, and will be bringing his league of Vol-In-Tears (their emotional state following the dismantling that occurred at the hands of Florida) to the Plains. He will have on his lucky socks, and will hope that his team has more juice than pulp. Together, they will be facing an Auburn team that took a battering of their own, however much less humiliating.

Auburn has a chance to bounce back this week, after the bitter loss to LSU. One thing they will have to be able to do is run the football. This is the only way Auburn can expect to win big games. They also need some playmakers. People who will step up and make the big throw….make the big catch….make the big interception….make the big hit. Hopefully, that is what Auburn will do this week. If they don’t, it could be a long afternoon. But if they do, they will leave Tennessee staring down at their orange striped socks.

War Eagle!
WJLaneSR