Over on Rocky Top Talk, there is a really good story about Demonte Bolden getting a little too outspoken about his analysis of the Tennessee Volunteers performance against LSU in the SEC Championship Game. You can read it and hear an audio clip of Bolden’s comments here: Rocky Top Talk: “Demonte Bolden should stay in for the Outback”

Now, I am not going to slam Bolden for being fired-up and wanting to win. As both Rocky Top Talk’s Joel and Sunday Morning Quarterback point out, the players who take the field in the Orange and White are really nothing more than kids (albeit LARGE kids) and though they may be men when it comes to their physical prowess, strength, and abilities, sometimes the glare of the spotlight can be a bit blinding. I think Demonte Bolden might have gotten caught up in that blaze after the game this past weekend.

I don’t think there is a single fan of the Big Orange who would disagree that there were parts of the game which were terribly frustrating. I have to give credit to Erik Ainge for running at trouble and taking the heat for the loss. Some would say that he had to since he played an essential part in LSU’s victory — that might be fair, but it doesn’t make Ainge a goat. Without him, we don’t get to the Championship.

Bolden, just out of the fray of the battle decided to pop off about the performance of his teammates. While I am not going to condemn Bolden for making the statements he made, I will openly tell him that he needs to learn when to simply say “no comment” until he cools down a bit. Part of being a champion is learning to act like a champion. Bolden’s comments could be very destructive on a team that has struggled to find its identity this year. This is a team that has fought like hell to turn an average season into something special. Bolden’s comments don’t respect the work that his teammates and coaches have poured into the season and all that they have fought for this year.

I understand Bolden’s disappointment at losing the SEC Championship Game. I understand that he felt there were people who didn’t play well that night. I can’t fault him on this. What I will fault him on is publicly criticizing his teammates. Rookie mistake…no excuses.

Now, hopefully, the other Vols and the coaches will help Demonte to better understand how to avoid having a destructive effect on his team. Hopefully, he’ll learn how to better handle the media and keep from trying to elevate himself at the cost of his teammates. Hopefully, he’ll learn all of this and learn it fairly soon. If he does, then good for him. We all make mistakes — even Erik Ainge, even Demonte Bolden — and you live, you learn. If he doesn’t, then he has a very long road to travel towards learning what it means to be part of a team.

Erik Ainge took responsibility for the mistakes he made in the Championship Game — he did his best on the field, but it just didn’t go the way he had hoped. Bolden made an even bigger mistake off the field — I only hope that he is big enough and man enough to take responsibility for it as well.

Tongue lashing is over… look forward to see Demonte mixing it up at the Outback Bowl.

I am proud of all of the Vols for their performance Saturday night, even Demonte Bolden. I hope it is only a sign of great things to come.

— Go Figure … lawvol

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About the Author:  "Lawvol" -- I'm just a guy living in North Carolina who has an unnatural fascination with the color orange. Just because I'm a Tennessee alum and die-hard Volunteer fan doesn't mean that I can't poke a little fun at the Big Orange and anybody else for that matter. Feel free to complain all you want. >> Read more from this author

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