Joe Milton starting to win over readers and why I'm predicting Final Four for Tennessee | Adams

My literary contributors often are more critical of their favorite team than the media are. But they aren't forever married to their opinions.

Sometimes, you can change their minds. And based on recent entries in my in box - as well as comments from talk-show callers − Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton has done just that.

Milton played the best game of his UT career in last week's 33-27 victory over Kentucky. That prompted the following email:

James writes: Joe Milton is playing well − need to put the ball in his hands and let him win.

My response: His improvement is a big reason why the Vols could win three of their last four games and finish 9-3.

Mike writes: It appears that with the high ranking and probably the best talent (including Vescovi’s and 3Js 12th seasons, and ZZtop) in his UT career, it appears OAD (One and Done) Barnes is well equipped to rise to a new depth and continue building his record as the most underperforming overpaid basketball coach in the last thirty years.

My response: This will be Barnes’ best team, and his best postseason at Tennessee. I’m predicting a Final Four.

Shemp: I noticed (Shane) Beamer and Jumbo (Jimbo Fisher) having an extended discussion before today’s game.

Apparently, they were trading notes on how they would spend their buyouts if they were invoked after this season.

Discussed buying a small Caribbean Island, which talking head shows were most attractive, taking an extended vacation overseas with the wife, not kissing the @#$ of exuberant high school athletes among other things.

My response: If they lose their job and win millions of dollars in buyout money, they should call former LSU coach Ed Orgeron. The man knows how to celebrate a firing.

Christopher writes: Hey John, it appears to me (Kamal) Hadden got in a habit of using his shoulder as his primary technic for tackling. The play he got hurt on (against Alabama) he really put some force in that hit. Not surprising he sustained an injury looking at it on tape a few times.

The shoulder is not meant to take that kind of abuse. My question is as far as teaching? Has trying to wrap up a ball carrier became harder through the years with the tight jersey's, uniform advancements? Hadden learned a valuable lesson. I'm sure he will be more careful with his shoulder tackles in the future. Your thoughts?

My response: I admire your observational skills but have nothing to add. A shoulder is one of the few body parts I haven’t injured.

Daniel writes: UT fans are hard − sometimes, impossibly hard − to please. They also have short memories.

UT is actually relevant again for the first time in a long time. For the second year in a row. The reasons? Josh Heupel; the staff he has assembled; the players they have coached, recruited and brought in via the portal in the past three years.

Have UT fans really forgotten what a joke UT had become before Heupel arrived? Have they not noticed that the players play hard for him, support one another, stay academically eligible, and do all the right things that should make fans proud?

The 2023 UT football team is one to be proud of − one that likely will have a 9-3 or 8-4 record when the regular season ends and go to a nice bowl.

Being orange has never been easy. But it shouldn't be as hard as some of us are making it.

My response: You are right. Tennessee is relevant again, and Heupel is the biggest reason why.

But he’s not above criticism.

I don’t believe UT fans have forgotten what a joke the program was under previous coaches. But they aren’t satisfied with just winning more games. They want to win a championship.

ADAMS: Tennessee football needs this version of Joe Milton to compete with Missouri, Georgia

And why shouldn’t they? The program has everything you need to win a championship but hasn’t won so much as an SEC championship in 25 years.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Joe Milton starting to win over readers. I have Tennessee in Final Four.