Today On Rocky Top: Vols Season A Disappointment If There’s No Bowl Game?

Nov 9, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Tre Mason (21) runs for a touchdown against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back LaDarrell McNeil (33) during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

From Bleacher Report

"No, it won’t be a disappointment because, while Tennessee didn’t make a bowl game, it still did something that no Derek Dooley-coached team did during his time on Rocky Top—notch a signature win. When all is said and done, it’s easy to look at the record and determine what’s a successful rebuilding year and what isn’t, but Vols fans should take the easy way out. Tennessee (4-6) has to beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky to get to .500, and while it wouldn’t be easy to swallow losses to either program, there are positives to take away from Butch Jones’ inaugural campaign."

From Bleacher Report

"The stakes will be high for Butch Jones’ Tennessee Volunteers on Saturday night when Vanderbilt comes to Neyland Stadium.Win, and the Vols’ ultimate hopes of reaching a bowl game for the first time since 2010 are alive another week. Lose, and they’ll be sitting at home for the holidays once again.It’s the first brush with ulcer-inducing pregame pressure UT has faced all season.The Vols weren’t favored to beat Oregon, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Missouri or Auburn. They weren’t expected to lose to Austin Peay, Western Kentucky or South Alabama, either."

From WBIR

"There’s a lot to look forward to in Tennessee’s final home game this weekend. The Vols are looking forward to getting back to dominating Vandy; we’ll say goodbye to 28 Tennessee seniors who’ve been through so much in their college careers; the smokey gray uniforms will be back!The Vanderbilt Commodores will head down I-40 from Nashville for the annual in-state rivalry game that’s traditionally been dominated by the team in orange. Tennessee has won 28 of the last 30 meetings between the two schools, except the last one. Vandy embarrassed Tennessee last year 41-18, in what was former coach Derek Dooley’s last game."

From Rant Sports

"The Tennessee Volunteers face two must-win games if they hope to reach their goal of making it to the postseason. It won’t be easy for the Vols, who have lost three straight games heading into Saturday’s contest against the Vanderbilt Commodores.First-year head coach Butch Jones knows how important these games are. He is trying to revive the Tennessee program, and making it to the postseason in his initial season in Knoxville could help build momentum, as well as give the Vols some extra time on the practice field.The recent schedule has been brutal for Tennessee, as the Vols have faced three straight Top 10 opponents. Tennessee lost 45-10 to the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, followed by a 31-3 loss to the Missouri Tigers and a 55-23 loss to the Auburn Tigers. Being outscored 131-36 in those three games does not appear to give much hope to the Vols winning their last two games."