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Vol Fans Deserve A Weekend Off

By Randy Sharber

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The Tennessee Vol fans deserve this weekend off as well as the team.

It has been a strange first half of the season for the Vols in 2015. The team has had several downs, and several ups. Most of the ups came last weekend in the win against Georgia. It is a win that could propel the Vols to finish strong although they have to face Alabama next weekend.

Tennessee does not match up well against Alabama, but after that game the Vols will probably be favored over every other team on the schedule. A possible 8 win season and a decent bowl game is there for the taking. They just have to take it, and keep the momentum going for this program.

The Vols needed this break. Tennessee has had a tough schedule. They are beaten up. Games against Oklahoma, Florida, and Arkansas have taken their toll on this young Tennessee team. The Vols lost another big piece of their defensive puzzle last week when Shy Tuttle was blatantly and illegally clipped by a Georgia offensive lineman. The clip resulted in a broken leg. He is out for the season.

The dings and injuries mounted so much that Tennessee had two freshmen playing in the offensive line against Georgia. That is usually not a good formula, but the Vols mounted a comeback for the ages after falling behind by twenty one. They scored touchdowns on three straight possessions during the last two series of the first half, and opening drive of the second half. It was a huge win for Tennessee.

It was also a huge win for Tennessee fans. They are tired and beat up as well. The Vol faithful have endured two late fourth quarter disappointments in losses to the Sooners and the Gators. Tennessee was the best team on the field in both of those games. It just did not work out.

The fall out from these losses are what hurts. For Tennessee fans it is hard to watch other games on Saturday, watch ESPN SportsCenter, the local news, or read the papers. Social media could be even tougher. You see, each one of these shows clips of what just happened to the Vols. They have to re-live the experience.

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Vol fans have to listen to how they can’t learn to close games. They have to listen to the talk of firing their coach and starting all over…..again. They have to listen to the fans of other SEC teams saying “Tennessee fans are always talking about next year”. They have to listen to Gator fans say that Florida residents now call Tennessee “Elevenessee” as they have now won 11 in a row.

But Tennessee fans simply tape up and come back for more. They are the most loyal fans in College football. I am convinced. I see it. I live it. They love their team, their state, and they love their Orange. They will back the Vols no matter what. There are not many programs that have this type of fan.

So this weekend they can relax. They can watch a game without having to watch the halftime highlights that might show a Baker Mayfield and a fourth quarter let down. They can watch SportsCenter to find out what is going on around the country without having to watch Will Grier throw a 20 plus yard in route on 4th and forever that actually turns into a game winning touchdown.

No they can watch it all in peace today. They can get outside and enjoy the beauty of a Tennessee October day. They can watch the games that will provide fan bases joy and agony all over the SEC today. They can watch and decide which fanbase they would like to make fun of on facebook and twitter. It could be a good day.

But knowing Vol fans they are probably gearing up for Alabama and the rest of the season. They have checked their hotel reservations for the rest of the games. They are planning where they will park. Who will they tailgate with each week?

They are checking the TV schedules to see what time Tennessee is slated to play the rest of the games so they can make sure they are prepared. They are out buying new Nike Orange Tennessee gear. They are repairing their car flags, cooler chests, grills, and corn hole boards.

Yes, Coach Butch Jones and his young football team needed this break. Vol fans did as well. But after the Georgia win, both are getting ready to go again. They both can’t wait.

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