Titans superfan “Scoob,” Paul Oldenburg, with the Z-Train

The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! There are many wild things I can do with one hand but none of them are as impressive as this—as we enter August, with only one hand I can count down the number of Saturdays until Vols football officially kicks off, or the number of Sundays until Titans football will kick off!

Before we know it, the vibrant colors of fall will hit Tennessee and then we’ll be deep into December, wondering where all the time went. Football is a beautiful sport that I love with an insane passion. Life is good!

The Vols’ season begins Aug. 30 in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz-Stadium. The Vols will open their season against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game. Just a reminder, in 1998, the Vols began their National Championship season with a 34–33 victory over Syracuse with a last-second field goal.

The Vols’ home opener takes place the following Saturday in beautiful Knoxville against East Tennessee. The traditions will be in place as fans and players get their bearings in what should be a relaxed and enjoyable beatdown against ETSU.

The very next Saturday it gets real, as SEC play will officially kick off for the Vols in Knoxville when Georgia comes to town. Neyland will be checkered out for that game and tickets will be a hot commodity. That’s a hell of a test, one that is early and, thankfully, in Knoxville. The Bulldogs have been on a tear since Kirby took over. UT Coach Josh Heupel has a chance to make a big statement at home early in the 2025 season.

Looking at a few more of the games I am looking forward to watching, fast forward into October, when—just for starters—the Vols host Arkansas after last season’s loss on the road. I am excited about this revenge game.

The very next Saturday is a historic one, the Third Saturday in October! There is no doubt that Alabama has been spanking that ass over the years, but Tennessee has taken two of the last three, the game of the year in 2022 that ended with the post in the river and then again last season when the Vols spanked Jalen Milroe. This game is in Tuscaloosa and the last time the Vols won a game there it was a 5-OT thriller. That was the year I graduated high school; I turned 40 years old this past November.

Coach DeBoer is no Coach Saban. Under DeBoer last season, Bama lost four games for the first time since 2007. The party is over in Tuscaloosa.

UT will follow up that trip to Alabama with another road game in Lexington. Will Levis isn’t there anymore to throw three interceptions, but the Vols have historically never had a Kentucky problem.

Getting into November, we have a home game against Oklahoma. It feels strange thinking of them as an SEC team now, but here we are. Last season Coach Heupel got his satisfaction in Norman with a little spank-spank on his former team. Oklahoma is about to find out what SEC play in Knoxville is about in their first visit since joining the SEC.

The game I least look forward to is on Nov. 22, when the Vols head to Gainesville. The Vols have won the last two against Florida in Knoxville but unfortunately it’s time to travel again. Beating the Gators in Gainesville is a hurdle the Vols continue to fail at. The last time they beat them in the Swamp was ironically once again the year I graduated high school, 2003. This Swamp domination has got to stop, please!

The season’s finale will be against Vanderbilt. That little punk QB Diego Pavia—that Alabama victory last year got to his head. Pavia running his mouth isn’t surprising news to anyone, but him saying Vanderbilt is going to run Tennessee after this year, that Vandy will be the new staple of college football . . . well . . . Diego is a fun football player willing to put his body on the line for his team, but bro took one too many hits to the head! “Vols by fiddy!”

Alright, let’s wrap this Vols talk up, because I want to move on to talking Titans. But I will end by saying: no Nico, no problem!

Even if the Vols offense takes a step back, Coach Heupel earned plenty of goodwill with fans after he told Nico to kick rocks. He wasn’t going to let the program be held hostage, as we are less than a year away from Heupel welcoming in 5-star top QB Faizon Brandon. The future is bright, but the fact is Coach Heupel will have whoever ready, being Joey or Jake in a very QB-friendly offense.

Let’s talk Titans! So, I had the opportunity to show up at a recent practice, and all eyes have been on Cam Ward and his receivers. With all those eyes comes extra scrutiny. Cam had a bad practice that day, throwing three picks and looking rattled. Shortly after that practice the offense turned in another sluggish performance. That ultimately led to a rare profanity-laced tirade from Coach Callahan. It hasn’t all been bad in camp, that’s just generally what’s reported. The offense certainly has had some good days and it’s not always a bad sign seeing the defense dominate camp. Generally, that’s the way it is in camps across the league.

I will say this about very few football minds, but Greg Cosell is one of the most intelligent, informative football brains in the game. When he speaks, listen! Go Google “Greg Cosell, Cam Ward” and find wise words.

Cosell breaks down media and fans’ overreaction to a young playmaker like Ward, stressing the point of this camp for a player like Cam starts with failure and is followed up with learning, and stating that the Titans want to throw as much as possible at Cam and make it as tough as possible on him early in camp.

This kid is probably starting week 1 against one of the best defenses in the NFL on the road. The game is unforgiving and it’s coming fast towards Cam out the gate. There is no doubt this kid has the tools and the arm to be a franchise QB but it’s also reasonable to expect growing pains. Maybe he is being rushed? But players like C.J. Stroud and Jayden Daniels found quick success and many of these teams down on their QB luck are chasing that next signal caller. That’s just the reality of today’s NFL.

Cam’s mind is clearly set on football and football alone. You see it in his 5 a.m. routine and his interactions with the media, and his passion when talking about his bad practice days. With a mindset like that, everything will take care of itself.

I am excited to see how this new-look team plays out. I pray the offensive line has serious growth once it starts to matter. Honestly, it can’t get much worse than 2024.

The Titans are set at RB for the season with Pollard and Spears leading the way, but the excitement sits with the pass catchers. We can assume Calvin Ridley, Lockett and Van Jefferson are starters. Players like Elic Ayomanor and Bryce Oilver have been making good noise in camp! Then add to the mix Chim Dike, Xavier Restrepo and James Proche. I am excited to be seeing younger talent fight for those spots.

The tight-end group is exciting as well. Chig should lead the way but, after drafting Gunnar Helm, a player I am excited for, the Titans have massive size at TE behind Chig with a bunch of dudes over 6-feet-5.

I won’t get too deep into defense here, but I know this team desperately needs Sneed to get back on the field! I can’t wait to see year two of Big Jeff and T’Von getting at it. Those two are a problem for offensive lines and if anyone else around them steps up, we are talking line destructors!

Special teams are in good hands now with Coach Bones. I will certainly miss the reliable Nick Folk, but new kicker Joey Slye has experience and is looking great in camp. Just execute these damn punts properly, Titans, that’s all I ask after last season’s debacle that saw Colt Anderson fired.

I am looking forward to the preseason—that’s when we should start to truly be able to separate these players on the fringe. And then, before you know it, the season will be here. Hopefully the finished product is something that competes! I don’t need a run to the playoffs. I just want to see growth from Cam Ward and growth from the coaching staff. I want that tough-guy mentality back in the building, and for the Titans’ competitors, whether they win or lose, to know it is going to be a battle for four quarters.

These few past seasons have been embarrassing for the Titans. The culture change starts with Cam Ward and these coaches giving him the tools and knowledge to succeed!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the politically incorrect part! In the realm of sports, biology matters and trans women, believe it or not, are not biological women. Gender separation exists in many of these sports for a reason. Spare me the insane arguments. Thankfully this is a culture war where the vast majority agree with what I just said.

That’s all I have for you this issue. The Train is rolling into the station! My motto is simple, Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends, live life following the 5 F’s and it’s a rewarding ride!