Vols Need A Feel Good Game
The Tennessee Vols need a “feel good game” today when Chattanooga comes up I-75 to visit Neyland Stadium. The players need it as well as the fans.
It is has been a tough start for Tennessee. Honestly both Utah State and Arkansas State were teams that Tennessee had to prepare like it was an SEC contest. Vol Nation was nervous. After dispatching both of these teams easily, Vol fans really did not know where they stood.
Enter Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida. After these games the fans, players and coaching staff know exactly where we stand. One half of a step behind. Tennessee has closed the gap with talent on the elite programs, but is still a half of a step behind in the process of becoming a winning program.
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Many people hear the words “we need to learn how to win” and think this is a stupid comment. Believe me it is the truth. Winning is learned, and the young Vols are learning what it takes. It takes scoring when you are in the red zone by not throwing an interception on first down when trying to bury your rival late in a game. It takes time management skills by coaches. It takes making a touchdown catch that hits you in the hands in the end zone when facing a better opponent. It takes a defensive stand in the fourth quarter to not allow an elite, autographing running back an opportunity to go 5o yards after you have “contained” him for the most part.
These are things young teams learn. They have to be taught, and sometimes you must go through some tough situations to be “taught”. So Tennessee is where we thought they would be at this point. 2 Wins, 3 Losses. What we didn’t count on was that we could have won both of the SEC East games we have played.
So now here comes Chattanooga. They are an excellent lower division team. They have a very good quarterback, an NFL prospect at Defensive End, and special teams that will drive you crazy with their returns. But that is it. Tennessee will “out-athlete” man for man the Mocs. Tennessee must take advantage of this, and have fun with it.
Today will be the coming out party for Freshman running back Derrell Scott. Look for #24 on the field today. I will be disappointed if he does not have a big day. With Hurd banged up as well as Lane, I think it is imperative to get this young man in the game, and give Hurd a week of rest with a tough Ole Miss team awaiting next week. By the way, that is my upset game I am picking right now, if the Vols come away with feeling good about this one today.
The Vols will utilize their superiority in the receiving corp. Wide Receiver U should not be challenged by the Mocs defensive backfield. Von Pearson is back which will result in some “fun”. I doubt Josh Smith will play at all. It will be a necessity to have these two receivers down the stretch.
Look for big days from Malone and Croom. Worley should have a little more time to throw, and he should have some fun. He deserves some fun. This is supposed to be a fun game. I know Denzel Washington disagreed with this in Remember The Titans, but it should be fun for these student athletes…sometimes. The pressure from the fans does not allow this to be a fun game at times. Today should be that day.
I just hope Chattanooga players had enough “fun” last weekend where they buried and inferior opponent. They used up their fun that day. Their fun here will be had by going into and SEC locker room, running out onto a storied field at Neyland Stadium, and seeing their friends and family that did not have to travel a long distance in one of the most significant stadiums in major college football there to support them.
They will have fun in pre-game warm ups. They will have fun with the “what if we could pull this off” thinking that comes with 0-0 on the scoreboard. Then the kick off will ensue. Let’s hope Chattanooga’s fun ends at that point, and Tennessee’s begins. This team, and these fans deserve it.