Vol fans are not very happy right now.
And for very good reason.
It’s not the fact that Tennessee just lost to Florida for the tenth straight time. It’s the fact that virtually everyone (outside of Florida fans) expected the Vols to not only beat the Gators, but to beat them convincingly.
For once it wasn’t the Vols that had their backs against the wall going into their annual meeting with Florida. No this time it was Will Muschamp and his Gators that were feeling the heat.
But the Vols weren’t able to get the job done. Even though the defense played their best game of the season, Tennessee still couldn’t get the win.
This was a game that Tennessee should’ve won. This is a game that got away from the Vols.
To put it bluntly, it was a disappointment.
Yes I know, the young offensive line, the lack of talent etc etc etc.
When you lose by one point, to a team you were expected to beat, those excuses don’t fly. The Vols have the talent to beat Florida.
Take a look at where their recruiting classes stacked up the past couple of years.
2011: 14th
2012: 20th
2013: 24th
2014: 7th
Sure, those rankings aren’t eye-popping — and certainly the Vols’ best talent is also its most raw — but there’s still talent on the roster.
However, I will concede that the offensive is the most talent deprived position unit on the team. Tennessee went from having a five-star, three four-stars and a three-star on the offensive line to having four three-stars and one four-star guy (Marcus Jackson). On top of the drop in talent, they’re also starting two true freshmen.
But even with the lack of talent along the offensive line, the Vols still should’ve beat Florida. The offensive line, while it had a hand in the loss, isn’t what ultimately cost Tennessee the game.
A lack of efficiency in the red zone is what cost Tennessee the game.
The Vols missed opportunity after opportunity to put the Gators away. They squandered good field position. The wide receivers didn’t get open. The plays just didn’t develop.
I’ve seen a lot of blame thrown on the coaches, specifically Butch Jones and offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian. And I can’t understand why.
Tennessee lost because they didn’t execute on the field. I know it’s a bit redundant to hear this, but the coaches didn’t turn the ball over. The coaches didn’t fail to create separation.
The issues that lost Tennessee this game weren’t scheme oriented. The Vols are still very much limited in what they can run (though the playbook has opened up a bit this season).
I know fans don’t want to hear it, especially after Tennessee lost a game they should’ve won, but losses like this one are just the by-product of a young team.
Fans are frustrated and I understand. It’s a been a long time since Vol fans had a reason to cheer. And Saturday should’ve been their reason to cheer.
But the Vols’ didn’t deliver. Plain and simple. And guess what? That happens in college sports sometimes. No matter how good you are.
I truly believe that was the case on Saturday.
And everyone is searching for a quick answer. Everyone wants a quick turnaround.
Folks, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
I know you want it now. But Tennessee just isn’t there yet.
And the folks that are pointing to Mississippi State and their success — stop it.
Mississippi State has been on the upswing since 2010. They’ve went to four straight bowl games. They’ve been on the cusp of being really good for quite some time. This isn’t something that happened over night.
And, for the record, we still don’t know yet how good Mississippi State really is. They beat UAB by 13 points. They beat a declining LSU team and a Texas A&M team that we also don’t know how good they are.
Mississippi State still has to play Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas and Ole Miss. They could still easily end up with three losses in the conference.
I could go on and on, but basically it’s totally irrelevant what Mississippi State has done. It’s a different situation.
Look, I know it’s hard for Vol fans to wrap their had around another loss to Florida. I know the fans are growing weary. But everyone knew this season would be a trying one.
Like I mentioned earlier, the Vols have the talent to win these close games. But they also have the youth and inexperience to make the three or four mistakes that can cost them the game.
It won’t always be this way. You see the talent that Butch Jones brought in this past season. You can also see the talent (maybe even better) that will be coming in with the 2015 class.
There’s no doubt that fun times are ahead on Rocky Top. But it’s just not going to be this year.
Vol fans just have to accept that Tennessee simply isn’t good enough to win the close games — yet.
If the Vols get to 2015 and 2016 and you haven’t seen a major improvement, then you have a legitimate reason to be angry.
Until then, just enjoy watching these youngsters grow.