KANSAS CITY – This story here really has nothing to do with Sunday's AFC Championship Game between the Titans and Chiefs, except for the timing of what happened.

Sometime during the first half of Sunday's 35-24 Titans loss, news broke that long-time Tennessean writer and columnist David Climer had died after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

2. Grading 50 years of UT athletic directors - Friday, December 8, 2017

Ultimately, Phillip Fulmer’s success or failure as Tennessee’s athletics director will be tied to his very first hire. If his pick wins enough football games, Fulmer has done his job.

Here is a look at the five men who preceded Fulmer at UT over the last half century and how they handled their responsibilities:

3. Game of thrones? UT’s cast not that smart - Friday, December 8, 2017

When he was president of the University of Tennessee in 1959-70, Andy Holt often referred to the Vols athletics program, and particularly its football program, as “the front porch of the university.”

4. - Friday, December 8, 2017

5. Interim success: Some temp coaches get results - Friday, November 17, 2017

As Tennessee’s interim head coach following the dismissal of Butch Jones, Brady Hoke is entrusted with the task of making the best of a bad situation.

With only two games remaining on the Vols’ schedule, Hoke doesn’t have time to put his own stamp on the program. Instead, he’ll try to hold things together while using the system Jones installed in games against LSU and Vanderbilt.

6. History will be kind to the Butch Jones era - Friday, November 17, 2017

After the fact, Butch Jones’ shortcomings are there for all to see. He could recruit talented players but he couldn’t develop them. His hiring of assistant coaches was haphazard. He choked in late-game situations. He blurted out half-baked comments at press conferences. His interpersonal relationships were strained. He talked tough but had a thin skin.

7. Jones’ blind spot: Even 5-stars need coaching - Friday, October 20, 2017

When he was hired as Tennessee’s football coach in December 2012, Butch Jones used the term “infallible” to describe the system he was bringing to Knoxville.

Even if we give Jones the benefit of the doubt on the system he has attempted to install at UT, it’s clear that the head coach is far from infallible. A 3-3 record in Year 5 – with all three losses to SEC East competition, no less – is reflective of a coach who isn’t getting the job done.

8. - Friday, October 20, 2017

9. A win vs. Indy? Finally? Depends on Mariota - Friday, October 13, 2017

If the Titans are serious about winning the AFC South division and securing the playoff berth that goes with it, it’s time to draw a line in the standings.

Their Monday Night Football game against Indianapolis looms as an opportunity to send a message to the rest of the division and perhaps to themselves. It’s time to put up or shut up. If not now, when?

10. - Friday, October 13, 2017

11. Hiring Scott as OC a big mistake for Jones - Friday, October 6, 2017

If/when Butch Jones is fired at Tennessee, a number of reasons will be cited. Among them:

-- A 41-0 no-show at home against Georgia

-- A combined 3-11 record against rivals Alabama, Florida and Georgia

12. - Friday, October 6, 2017

13. New Vols AD fixing Hart’s errors. Jones next? - Friday, September 29, 2017

What does John Currie’s decision to reinstitute the name “Lady Vols” for all women’s sports at the University of Tennessee have to do with Butch Jones? Bear with me:

What if Currie is intent on doing a Donald Trump? Explanation: One of the biggest criticisms (or points of approval, depending on your political leanings) of President Trump is that he seems hell-bent on undoing the accomplishments of the Obama Administration – repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, undercut environmental protections, etc.

14. - Friday, September 29, 2017

15. Vandy-Bama finds relevance under Mason - Friday, September 22, 2017

Who would’ve thought the center of the Southeastern Conference football universe would be Nashville in late September?

Sure, it’s always a big deal when Alabama comes to town – any town. The Crimson Tide is, as usual, ranked No. 1. Nick Saban has created yet another monster.

16. - Friday, September 22, 2017

17. Guarantano must prove his worth on the field - Friday, September 15, 2017

Two games into the season, Quinten Dormady has established himself as Tennessee’s quarterback. For now.

As we have learned in four previous seasons with Butch Jones as coach, everything is subject to change. Both at UT and in previous coaching stops at Central Michigan and Cincinnati, Jones has not been afraid to change quarterbacks when the mood strikes.

18. - Friday, September 15, 2017

19. More than NFL team on line in Titans sale - Friday, September 8, 2017

Anybody got an extra billion dollars lying around? If so, you can own one-third share of an NFL franchise plus a handful of other assorted business ventures.

That’s the situation involving the Tennessee Titans as they head into what could be a very eventful season. Susie Adams Smith, one of three children of the late franchise founder Bud Adams, is attempting to divest herself of one-third interest in KSA Industries, the business conglomerate built by her father.

20. - Friday, September 8, 2017

21. Vols at their best when expectations are low - Friday, September 1, 2017

Based on preseason predictions, the SEC East is pretty much a toss-up between Georgia and Florida. My question: Why not Tennessee?

Granted, the Vols must identify a quarterback. And establish a featured running back. And find more than one playmaker at wide receiver. And fix a defense that was embarrassingly porous late last season.

22. - Friday, September 1, 2017

23. Year 3: Time for Mariota to become a star - Friday, August 25, 2017

If Year 1 was a good start and Year 2 was another step in the right direction, what should we expect of Marcus Mariota in Year 3?

How about a playoff berth for the team he quarterbacks.

Granted, there are many other factors in play that will determine the success, failure or return to mediocrity of the Titans in 2017. Has the defensive backfield been successfully retooled? Can the offensive line remain one of the best in the NFL? Will the additions at wide receiver pay the expected dividends?

24. - Friday, August 25, 2017

25. Freshman impact: Vols’ all-time best rookie running backs - Friday, August 18, 2017

Butch Jones let us in on a little secret recently when he said his freshman running backs will play for Tennessee this season. That’s plural – running backs. Jones’ plan is to use all three freshman backs – Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and Trey Coleman – in some sort of rotation behind junior John Kelly. Given the nature of the game, putting the football in the hands of freshmen is risky business. But Jones is taking the plunge.

26. - Friday, August 18, 2017

27. Down on the corner: Titans fix old problem - Friday, August 11, 2017

The Titans have been searching for years for an answer at cornerback. They think they found two answers during the offseason.

Through free agency and the draft, second-year general manager Jon Robinson orchestrated a total makeover of the crucial position, adding veteran Logan Ryan and rookie Adoree’ Jackson to a defense that has been easy pickings for a well-thrown football.

28. - Friday, August 11, 2017

29. 2 quarterbacks seldom better than 1 - Friday, August 4, 2017

The old adage holds that if you have two quarterbacks you really have none.

Are you listening, Butch Jones?

Jones continues to send signals that Tennessee may proceed with a plan to use both junior Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano in the opener against Georgia Tech. If the two-quarterback system is successful, the Vols could continue to play both in subsequent games.

30. - Friday, August 4, 2017

31. Remember Memphis? Titans would rather not - Friday, July 28, 2017

Time flies, doesn’t it? A lot can happen in 20 years. Think about it: In 1997, Bill Clinton was sworn in for his second term as president. Princess Di was killed in a car crash. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 8,000 for the first time.

32. - Friday, July 28, 2017

33. SEC hot seat index: From Saban to Sumlin - Friday, July 21, 2017

When it comes to Southeastern Conference football coaches, there are three kinds of seats – hot, hotter and hottest.

There is, of course, one exception. You guessed it

Nick Saban. To quote the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, Saban’s seat is as cool as the other side of your pillow.

34. - Friday, July 21, 2017

35. Jones has definitely proven he can recruit - Friday, July 14, 2017

When in doubt, do what you do best – recruit. That seems to be the approach of Tennessee Vols coach Butch Jones.

While many UT fans, and some in the media, are portraying this as a make-or-break season, Jones is planning for his future by stockpiling commitments for 2018 and beyond.

36. - Friday, July 14, 2017

37. Titans will have best roster in more than a decade - Friday, July 7, 2017

The folks at Pro Football Focus recently ranked the Tennessee Titans’ roster No. 3.

Not third in the AFC South. Third in the entire NFL.

This means one of two things: Either Pro Football Focus has gotten hold of some bad videotape or the Titans finally have some really good players.

38. - Friday, July 7, 2017

39. Paying Fulmer $100K will pay dividends for UT athletics - Friday, June 30, 2017

What does Phillip Fulmer’s hiring as special advisor to University of Tennessee president Joe DiPietro have to do with Vols football coach Butch Jones?

Not much.

If Jones continues to win enough games while avoiding issues that reflect poorly on the school, he’ll continue to be UT’s coach. If not, he’ll be jettisoned. Either way, there’s nothing Fulmer can do about it.

40. - Friday, June 30, 2017

41. Cup run a top moment in state sports history - Friday, June 23, 2017

Time and again during the recent Stanley Cup Final, people asked the rhetorical question: Is this the greatest moment in Nashville sports history?

Let the debate continue. But let’s take it a step further: Was this the greatest moment in the state’s sports history?

42. - Friday, June 23, 2017

43. Vanderbilt’s toughest year comes up short - Friday, June 16, 2017

When the Vanderbilt baseball team finished its season one step short of its goal – the College World Series – there was a sense of profound disappointment for the Commodores. That’s to be expected. The last pitch of any season is cause for sadness if you’re a committed baseball program that doesn’t achieve the ultimate goal.

44. - Friday, June 16, 2017

45. East is west but the SEC knows what’s best - Friday, June 9, 2017

East is East and West is West – except where the Southeastern Conference is concerned.

The SEC politburo again has scoffed at the idea of adjusting its football divisions by true geographic standards, leaving Missouri, the third most westerly conference member in terms of longitude, in the Eastern Division.

46. - Friday, June 9, 2017

47. Titans poised to break free of weak AFC South - Friday, June 2, 2017

When Marcus Mariota participated on the first day of the Titans’ recent organized team activities – OTAs for you hard-core NFL fans – it sent two messages to the rest of the AFC South:

48. - Friday, June 2, 2017

49. Wide Receiver U? That’s so 20 years ago - Friday, May 26, 2017

At the 2015 SEC Media Days, Tennessee coach Butch Jones referred to his school as “the original Wide Receiver U.”

The reference goes back to the days when the Vols were loaded with fast, talented pass receivers on the perimeter. In a heady stretch from 1982-91, UT had six wide receivers selected in the first round of the NFL draft – Anthony Hancock, Willie Gault, Clyde Duncan, Tim McGee, Anthony Miller and Alvin Harper.

50. - Friday, May 26, 2017

51. If Saban’s the best, why aren’t his protégés? - Friday, May 19, 2017

In a recent article at CBSSports.com, Nick Saban was ranked the top coach in the so-called Power Five conferences.

No surprise there.

With all due respect to what Urban Meyer has accomplished at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and now Ohio State, he’s still playing catch-up to Saban. The same can be said for Dabo Swinney and his recent run at Clemson.

52. - Friday, May 19, 2017

53. Time to turn down the flame on Jones’ hot seat - Friday, May 12, 2017

When it comes to Butch Jones and the recent NFL draft, it’s a matter of perspective. Remember, no Tennessee Vols were drafted in the previous two years, which is a reflection on the recruiting by Jones’ predecessor, Derek Dooley. The fact that Tennessee had six players picked this time around – all in the first four rounds – speaks volumes, to wit:

54. - Friday, May 12, 2017

55. Robinson gives Mariota weapons for success - Friday, May 5, 2017

Just when we think we’ve figured out Titans G.M. Jon Robinson, he reinvents himself. On the first night of the recent NFL draft, we assumed Robinson would play it safe, trading the No. 5 overall pick to acquire more draft capital.

56. - Friday, May 5, 2017

57. Hits and misses in UT’s quest for junior college gold - Friday, April 28, 2017

Things were supposed to be so easy for Jonathan Kongbo. He arrived at the University of Tennessee last year as the No. 1-ranked junior college prospect in the nation. He had the combination of size and speed that everybody wants in a defensive lineman. The sky was the limit.

58. - Friday, April 28, 2017

59. ‘Good locker room’ doesn’t happen by accident - Friday, April 21, 2017

The first time I heard the term “good locker room” in relation to an NFL team, I figured it had something to do with TVs, air conditioning and nearby shower accommodations.

As usual, I was wrong.

60. - Friday, April 21, 2017

61. Look for Shoop to improve Vol defense - Friday, April 14, 2017

The most unexpected development during Tennessee’s 2016 football season wasn’t three straight losses in October or the disappearing act at Vanderbilt.

It was the utter collapse of the Vols’ defense.

62. - Friday, April 14, 2017

63. Titans have rarely found success drafting SEC players - Friday, April 7, 2017

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, which raises an interesting question: Is this the year the Titans finally shop locally and target Southeastern Conference talent?

If history is any indicator, the answer: No.

64. - Friday, April 7, 2017

65. Can top recruiting class, loyalty save Warlick’s job? - Friday, March 31, 2017

It looks like Butch Jones isn’t the only University of Tennessee coach on the hot seat.

The Lady Vols’ second-round exit from the NCAA Tournament increased the scrutiny and pressure on Holly Warlick. After five seasons and no trips to the Women’s Final Four, the clock is ticking.

66. - Friday, March 31, 2017

67. The winner isn’t always a winner in UT QB battles - Friday, March 24, 2017

The time has come to write a new chapter of Tennessee Vols football.

Which quarterback is going to write it?

With spring practice unfolding, it looks like a two-man race between junior Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano – not necessarily in that order.

68. - Friday, March 24, 2017

69. Football staff shakeups rarely save coaching jobs - Friday, March 17, 2017

Phillip Fulmer’s was notorious during his glory years as Tennessee’s football coach for maintaining staff stability.

Some of his assistant coaches were mediocre recruiters. So, what? Fulmer figured he could take up the slack. It was more important to him that the staff have year-to-year continuity.

70. - Friday, March 17, 2017

71. New AD is bad news for struggling Vol coaches - Friday, March 10, 2017

The hiring of John Currie as the University of Tennessee’s athletics director conveys a number of messages. One of them: Butch Jones is officially on the clock.

Based on Currie’s history at UT, as well as his eight-year track record as Kansas State’s athletics director, it’s safe to say he isn’t afraid to pull the trigger when it comes to coaches – for better or worse.

72. - Friday, March 10, 2017

73. Put blame on Webster for lousy Titan draft picks - Friday, March 3, 2017

When wide receiver Kendall Wright was a healthy scratch for the Titans’ final game of the season, it further underscored why this franchise is still struggling to gain altitude in the NFL.

In 2012, Wright was the team’s first-round draft pick. By the end of his fifth pro season, he couldn’t even get on the field.

74. - Friday, March 3, 2017

75. Dobbs approaches NFL bid with serious intent - Friday, February 24, 2017

Josh Dobbs has spent the last four years preparing for a future in aerospace engineering.

For now, though, that career is still on the runway. First, he’s hoping to take flight in the NFL.

76. - Friday, February 24, 2017

77. Free agent frenzy? That’s not Titans GM Robinson's style - Friday, February 17, 2017

Upon his arrival as the Tennessee Titans’ general manager in January 2016, Jon Robinson made an immediate impact with the trade for DeMarco Murray and his wheeling/dealing approach to the draft.

78. - Friday, February 17, 2017

79. Scott the recruiter must now be Scott the OC - Friday, February 10, 2017

When it comes to offense, Butch Jones thinks he knows what’s best for the Tennessee Vols. And he’s willing to bet his job on it.

By elevating Larry Scott from tight ends coach/special teams coordinator to offensive coordinator, Jones is staying the course. And it’s his own course.

80. - Friday, February 10, 2017

81. Hart’s tenure as AD has been mostly good for Vols - Friday, February 3, 2017

While we wait – and wait and wait and wait – for the University of Tennessee to hire its next athletics director, let’s ponder the man who soon will walk out the door.

Dave Hart is leaving the UT athletics department better than he found it. He got things back on solid financial footing. He brought a measure of stability.

82. - Friday, February 3, 2017

83. Slow pace of AD hire typical of how UT works - Friday, January 27, 2017

About the University of Tennessee’s athletics director search: What’s your hurry?

It only took a little over five months after Dave Hart’s retirement announcement to start the process of hiring a search firm and finalizing a committee that will oversee the selection process. The last thing you want to do is rush things, right?

84. - Friday, January 27, 2017

85. Is Saban's dominance bad for SEC? Of course not - Friday, January 20, 2017

I keep reading that Nick Saban is ruining SEC football because his Alabama program is so dominant. And I just don’t get it.

The misguided Saban-as-Satan logic goes this way:

Saban’s teams overwhelm the conference competition to the point that the other 13 programs quickly grow tired of not being able to match up and fans cry for change. That leads to a destabilization of the conference with a constant reshuffling of coaches.

86. - Friday, January 20, 2017

87. Robinson’s success warrants any title he wants - Friday, January 13, 2017

In the immediate aftermath of the Tennessee Titans’ turnaround season, Jon Robinson’s title was expanded to executive vice president and general manager.

Considering what Robinson has accomplished in less than 12 months on the job, I’d give him any title he wants. If he prefers “football czar,” so be it.

88. - Friday, January 13, 2017

89. Jones picks a bad time to lead UT football program - Friday, January 6, 2017

There was a time in University of Tennessee football history when a nine-win season and a victory over Nebraska in a bowl would guarantee a coach something just this side of a lifetime contract.

But not right now.

90. - Friday, January 6, 2017

91. Climer: Strunk has provided long-missing ownership stability - Friday, December 30, 2016

Since becoming controlling owner of the Titans in March 2015, it has become customary for Amy Adams Strunk to spend a half-hour or so on the sideline visiting with coaches and players prior to games.

92. Dobbs’ change of heart a great gift to Vol fans - Friday, December 23, 2016

In the spirit of the holiday season, Joshua Dobbs is the gift that keeps on giving.

Despite all the disappointments of 2016 for Tennessee football, it would be a mistake not to appreciate Dobbs for what he is: a scholar, an athlete, a leader, a role model and a winner.

93. - Friday, December 23, 2016

94. Time to expand college football playoffs to 8 teams - Friday, December 16, 2016

When it comes to college football, I tend to be a traditionalist. That doesn’t mean I yearn for the days of leather helmets and quick kicks.

I try to adjust to the times. But I must admit it’s hard to swallow a 76-61 final score, as was the case in the Pittsburgh-Syracuse game this season.

95. - Friday, December 16, 2016

96. I was wrong. Mularkey's the right coach for Titans - Friday, December 9, 2016

In light of the Tennessee Titans’ 6-6 record and continuing relevance in the NFL playoff picture, I offer those three little words that are so hard to say:

“I was wrong.”

And here’s three more:

97. - Friday, December 9, 2016

98. Something missing from Jones’ ‘infallible’ system - Friday, December 2, 2016

By now, Tennessee fans have taken enough deep breaths to come to grips with losing to Vanderbilt.

They don’t like it, mind you, but they’ve accepted it.

As for Butch Jones, what now?

99. - Friday, December 2, 2016

100. - Friday, November 25, 2016