Tennessee Vols: 2017 Is Feeling A Little Like 2004
By Zach Ragan
If the Tennessee Vols can repeat the magic of 2004, fans would be quite happy.
Fans have no idea what to expect from the Tennessee Vols in 2017.
There was a mass exodus of talent from Knoxville this off-season, with the Vols losing Josh Dobbs, Cam Sutton, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and several others to graduation. They also lost Derek Barnett, Josh Malone and Alvin Kamara as early entrants to the NFL draft.
Much like Tennessee’s 2004 team, the 2017 Vols will enter the season with an unknown at quarterback. As a result, the expectations won’t be very high — just like in 2004.
13 years ago, Phillip Fulmer had to replace Casey Clausen at quarterback and he chose to do it with two true freshmen in Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge.
Butch Jones won’t have to replace Josh Dobbs with a true freshman, but he does have two inexperienced, but talented, quarterbacks to choose from in junior Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano. Just like in 2004, fans and media analysts have no idea which quarterback will start. In fact, Jones has suggested (just as Fulmer did in 2004) that both could see significant playing time this season.
Also like in 2004, the Volunteers will be chasing the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC East — at least in the eyes of the media.
The media recently picked Georgia to win the SEC East in 2017, just as they did in 2004. The Vols are picked to finish third this season.
Youth, inexperienced signal callers and semi-low expectations are just a few of the similarities between the 2004 team and the 2017 team. But there’s no doubt that Vol fans are hoping the similarities will carry over into the regular season.
Tennessee’s 2004 team was one of the Vols’ more underrated teams. They beat Alabama, Florida and Georgia that year. Their only regular season blemishes were losses to Auburn and Notre Dame.
Auburn’s 2004 team was one of the best teams of the decade, despite not earning a chance to play for the national championship (the undefeated Tigers had to settle for Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl).
The loss to Notre Dame was squarely on the shoulders of offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, who chose to pointlessly throw the ball before half-time, instead of running out the clock. The play resulted in Notre Dame sacking Erik Ainge and injuring his shoulder. Tennessee would’ve certainly won the game if not for Ainge’s injury.
Tennessee still managed to win the SEC East and they nearly came back against Auburn in the SEC championship game. They finished the season with 10 wins after defeating Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.
Obviously no one knows what will happen with the Vols in 2017, but there is at least a precedent for a Tennessee team in a similar situation to out perform expectations.
Of course the 2004 Volunteers had a hall of fame coach in Phillip Fulmer leading the way.
2017, however, is Butch Jones’ chance to prove he belongs in the SEC.
If he can take a team with a new quarterback and out perform the media’s expectations, then I think fans will finally unite behind him.
Next: 3 Ways 2017 Could Play Out For The Vols
The Vols kick off the 2017 season on September 4 against Georgia Tech.