What Would A Win Over Oregon Mean For The Vols?
By Zach Ragan
Sep 7, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Brent Brewer (17) after intercepting a pass by Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Brandon Doughty (12) (not pictured) during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s face it, the Tennessee Volunteers aren’t going to win a national championship this season.
That alone makes their game against the Oregon Ducks far from a “must-win game”.
If Tennessee were to somehow beat Oregon, it would be huge, but what would it mean?
Well, first off it would be huge for recruiting.
Oregon has been one of the top teams in the nation the past five or six years. Because of their proximity to Nike they have the fancy uniforms, often-times different ones each week. No matter what us SEC traditionalists may think, those uniforms are quite popular among young recruits. All of that combined makes Oregon a recruiting monster. While Tennessee isn’t going to steal Oregon recruits (except for the occasional Erik Ainge — I believe I’m due a shout-out for that one Erik), a win over Oregon would be HUGE for recruiting.
Of course it’s not like Butch Jones needs a lot of help in the recruiting game right now, he’s doing an incredible job of relating to kids.
Not only has Jones had success recruiting, but he’s put together more than just a 2014 class, he’s made them a family.
I follow and keep up with quite a few recruits, due to the nature of this business, and rarely do I see the comradery among recruits that I see with those players that are committed to Tennessee. It really is incredible and it means more than you probably think. These kids are already developing a chemistry with each other and that’s you can’t teach.
But anyway, how would a win over Oregon be huge for recruiting? Well it would put the Vols in the national spotlight. A team that’s had the luck Tennessee has had the past few years, going on the road and beating the number two ranked team in the country, that’s the lead story on Sportscenter on Saturday night.
Recruits will take notice. Players that had Tennessee in their top five or 10, suddenly just elevated the Vols on their list, because they want to be a part of a program on the rise.
Why else would a win in Eugene be huge for the Vols?
Simply put — confidence.
If the Vols were to pull the upset over Oregon, in their mind there wouldn’t be anyone that they wouldn’t believe they could beat. That’s the way it should always be, but at some point you need that extra push to make you fully believe that.
If Tennessee came back to Knoxville with a win, they would be a team riding high. A trip to Gainesville to take on Florida, suddenly becomes nothing compared to playing in Autzen Stadium.
A win over Oregon would be arguably the biggest win for this program since Tennessee beat Florida in front of 109,061 fans in 2004.
A loss to Oregon is expected, a win would mean everything.
In short — the Vols have nothing to lose.
And there’s nothing more dangerous than a team with nothing to lose.