I’m getting blitzed by the sports talk shows in Knoxville and they seem to be deeply concerned about how the Tennessee Vols will handle Saturday’s game against Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

The reasons:

1) The Vols’ 31-30 escape against Air Force Sept. 9.

2) The Vols’ 21-20 loss to Florida at home Sept. 16.

3) The sluggish early play against Marshall last weekend in Knoxville, before pulling away to win 33-7.

4) Tiger coach Tommy West assuming control of the defense after last week’s firing of coordinator Joe Lee Dunn.

And most of the talk show hosts realize how competitive Memphis makes this game. The Tigers nearly won in Knoxville last year despite DeAngelo Williams not playing a down because of an ankle injury. Memphis led entering the fourth quarter before eventually falling, 20-16, on two fourth-quarter field goals.

The Tigers own only the 1996 victory over the Vols in 20 career meetings, but the games in the series have been remarkably close recently outside of a 49-28 UT win in 2001.

UT won, 17-16, in 1999 in Knoxville on a touchdown in the final minute.

UT won, 19-17, in 2000 in Memphis when kicker Alex Walls connected on a 34-yard field goal with 13 seconds left.

It’s interesting to sense the reactions coming from Knoxville. It makes for the foundation of a good series, even if it’s one that can’t be called a rivalry.