Today On Rocky Top: Vol Fans Hopeful

Sep 21, 2013; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach WIll Muschamp and Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones greet in the middle of the field after the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

From WBIR

"Vols fans who watched the Tennessee-Florida match-up at home had a lot to say about Saturday’s game, as well as the ones ahead.At Bearden Hill Fieldhouse, Vols Fan Anthony Noble was hopeful in the first quarter.“I don’t think it’s been going too bad. Not good but not bad,” Noble said.He went on to say, “I don’t think they should have benched our first string quarterback but little too early to decide.”By halftime, many fans were calling the game “sloppy.”"

From The Tennessean

"OK, I know what you’re thinking, Vols fans: If Butch Jones had stayed the course and stuck with Justin Worley as his starting quarterback, Tennessee could have beaten Florida.Sorry, I’m just not buying it. While Worley had his moments in the second half, there was nothing that really suggested he would have helped the Vols score enough points to overcome a Gators team that clearly is superior across the board.Such is a difference between these two programs right now. Florida is a Top-25 team. UT remains in serious rebuilding mode. The Gators’ 31-17 victory on Saturday was representative of the disparity."

From Rant Sports

"Last year, the Tennessee Volunteers struggled with scoring during crucial games early on in the season. A 37-36 loss to the Georgetown Hoyas and a 46 – 38 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers highlighted their offensive struggles. Once SEC play began, Junior Jordan McRae took control of the offense and exploded.In a crucial stretch at the end of February, McRae took Tennessee to the top of the NCAA tournament bubble conversation with eight straight games with at least 15 points – two of which were 34- and 35-point performances.As if his performance last season wasn’t enough to prove why he could be the most dangerous player in the entire country, let alone the SEC, he trained with LeBron James and Kevin Durant this offseason. McRae is building his all-around game in preparation for the NBA, and, on top of that, he’s not even the Volunteers’ most talked about threat."

From Bleacher Report

"Butch Jones made the controversial decision to replace starting quarterback Justin Worley with redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman against Florida.The gamble blew up in the face of UT’s first-year coach and cost the Vols a golden opportunity to beat the Gators.Making his first career start in “The Swamp,” Peterman endured arguably the worst, most mistake-riddled half of any UT quarterback in recent memory. His ineffectiveness dug the Vols a hole that turned into a 31-17 loss."