It’s Been A Long Time Since The Vols Beat Florida

Paul Finebaum recently said on his show that he believes the Tennessee Volunteers’ game on October 4 against the Florida Gators is “winnable”.

Finebaum’s claim isn’t very farfetched, as that game has become a trendy pick for a Vols’ upset win in 2014.

It would be huge for Butch Jones’ progress at Tennessee, but more importantly it would end a nine game losing streak to the Gators.

The Vols have not beat Florida since 2004, when true freshman quarterback Erik Ainge guided Tennessee to a victory that was delivered off the foot of James Wilhoit.

If Tennessee loses to the Gators again this season, it means they will have went an entire 10-year period without beating the team that had Peyton Manning’s number for four years (Tennessee has only beat Florida six times since 1990).

That 10-year period happens to coincide with my 20’s.

The last time the Vols beat Florida I was 19 years old.

Which means if Tennessee is unable to beat the Gators in 2014, I will have went through my entire 20’s without seeing Tennessee beat Florida.

I’m pretty sure I didn’t think there was a chance that would happen after James Wilhoit kicked a 50-yard field goal on September 18, 2004 to propel the Vols to a win over Florida.

A decade is a long time to go without beating a team that you play each year.

Check out what was going on in the world in 2004.

• George W. Bush was still in his first term as President of the United States
• Ronald Reagan, Ray Charles, Pat Tillman and Rick James passed away
• Boston Red Sox won their first world series since 1918
• Derek Dooley and Lane Kiffin were still relatively unknown assistants
• Martha Stewart went to jail
• Facebook was launched
• Friends ended
• Lindsay Lohan released an album (this actually happened apparently)
• American Idol was relevant
• “Wardrobe Malfunction” entered the daily lexicon
• This was the best selling cell-phone of 2004

Tennessee’s game against Florida this year is certainly winnable, but I think you can say that about any game before the seasons begins. Pre-season rankings don’t matter one bit and who knows how good anyone is before they’ve even played a game.

But we do at least have a decent idea of how good some teams could be and Florida could be a lot better than they were last season.

More from Vols Football

• How to Win a GUARANTEED $200 Bonus Betting Just $5 on the Vols vs. Florida!
• Tennessee Football at Florida: Five Keys to a Vols Victory
• Week 3 SEC Power Rankings: Did Tennessee Football’s Win Help At All?
• Week 3 AP Polls: Why Did Tennessee Football Drop in the Polls?
• Tennessee Football: Top Five Performers in 30-13 Win vs. Austin Peay

Could be.

Florida might come out and challenge for the SEC East, or they could be on their way to another losing season.

Regardless, there would be no better way for Butch Jones to further endear himself to Vol fans than to pull off the upset.

Doing so would not only mean the Vols are probably on their way to at least a six-win season, but it would give Vol fans their biggest reason to celebrate in a decade.