Ground Control To Major Dobbs
The call came from the sidelines on a chilly night in Columbia, South Carolina….Ground Control To Major Dobbs!
Major Dobbs just happens to be Sophomore quarterback Josh Dobbs. Tennessee Coaches finally unleashed Dobbs last week against Alabama, and he played well in the loss. A redshirt was burned as they say. It is widely known that Dobbs not only is a fantastic quarterback, but may also be one of the smartest kids on campus. Dobbs is an Aerospace Engineering student, and is the recipient of the William H. Cannon Athletic Engineering Scholarship at Tennessee.
Major Dobbs engineered one for the history books last night. Dobbs became the University of Tennessee’s first quarterback to ever pass for 300 yards and run for over 100. His stats were actually 23/40 for 301 yards and rushed for 166 yards on 26 attempts. He oversaw 95 total plays last night. None were more important than the last 9 plays of regulation.
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With a little over 1:00 and no timeouts left, Josh was sent back on the field to do the improbable. He had to lead his team to a touchdown or see the team and the entire State of Tennessee resume living under a dark cloud for yet another week. Dobbs did the improbable, culminating with a roll out and a 9 yard throw to wideout Jason Croom standing in the end zone with 11 seconds left for a touchdown. The Vols went on to win in overtime thanks to Curt Maggitt and Derek Barnett with two individual efforts that resulted in sacks.
The Drive started at the Volunteer 15. Dobbs hit Pig Howard with a dart for 31 yards over the middle of the field. The Vols were at the Volunteer 46. After an incomplete pass, Dobbs hit Jalen Hurd, who was incredible and responsible for a very busy training room at South Carolina as defender after defender carried themselves to the sidelines after tackling him. Hurd got out of bounds at the South Carolina 45. Dobbs then broke off a 8 yard run as receivers were covered and got out of bounds at the Gamecock 37.
Dobbs hit Pig Howard again for 18 yards to the Gamecock 19 with the clock ticking. Vol fans all over the country started to believe. The Volunteer team had believed all game long. Dobbs missed Howard on the next pass play. He then hit running back Jalen Hurd for 10 more yards down to the 9 with 19 seconds left. After a South Carolina gift Timeout call by Spurrier, Dobbs again went to Pig Howard who was mugged, but well covered and the pass was incomplete. Time was running out.
The Vols decided to roll Dobbs out to the right side of the field. As Vol receivers ran to the corner and Gamecock defensive backs ran to defend, Jason Croom at 6’6″ somehow sat down on his route and became unnoticed by everyone on the field with exception of Josh Dobbs. Dobbs threw a strike across his body to the wideout and Croom clamped down on it for a touchdown. It was meant to be from there on.
This was a team effort. There is no doubt. But this team would not have won this game without Josh Dobbs. I want Butch to acknowledge this, but Jones coaches team first as he should. The players have bought in as well. After the game as Vols celebrated everywhere, the camera went to Dobbs for an on-field interview. The young lady who’s name escapes me said “You just single handedly won this game for Tennessee tonight”. I would say that Major Dobbs furled his eyebrows, but we know that didn’t happen. However, he quickly let her know it was a total team effort. What I like about Dobbs is that he absolutely believed it, and absolutely meant it. That is who and what Major Dobbs is.
The next few weeks are just as important to this program. Tennessee has to win 2 out of 3 to get to bowl eligible status. 4 years ago, as a Vol fan, I would say who cares about a lower tier bowl game if all you can win is 6 games. Now I am all in with the players and all of Vol Nation just trying to get qualified. Rest assured over the next three weeks the call will come in again….Ground Control To Major Dobbs. (I want to give credit to this phrase to a good friend of mine, Tim Woodward ,who is resting comfortably after a surgery that successfully removed Cancer. Believe me this win will help in his recovery)