The Tennessee Vols could be on the verge of a special season if they’re able to knock off Alabama on October 24.
Before we go any further, let me be clear — I’m not predicting that Tennessee will beat Alabama when the two teams meet in Tuscaloosa on October 24.
Though I don’t think it’s nearly as improbable as a lot of folks are making it out to be.
Tennessee is 3-3 and barely holding on in the SEC East after a huge win against Georgia. But we all know the Vols could easily be 6-0 and flying high right now. The Volunteers were unable to hold on to big leads against Oklahoma, Florida and Arkansas.
But that doesn’t change the fact that Tennessee had big leads against those teams.
The Vols can play. They have talent.
And they’re getting better.
This isn’t the 2013 Volunteers that got blown out by Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This is a team that’s learning how to win.
The Georgia win was huge for Butch Jones and his team. But it’s not nearly enough.
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Jones and the Volunteers need more than one “signature win” a season. Eventually they need a program defining win.
I think that win will eventually come. It might not be this season, but then again, it might. You never know where and when lightning will strike.
Tennessee is capable of beating Alabama. It would, of course, take a near perfect performance from the Volunteers. But it can be done.
It isn’t likely. However, it wasn’t likely that Appalachian State would beat Michigan in 2007 either. Tennessee and Alabama are obviously much closer in talent than App State and Michigan.
The Vols are eventually going to win a game that changes the entire perception of Vol football.
And if that win comes on October 24, I don’t see the Vols losing another game this season.
After Alabama, Tennessee gets Kentucky. That’s a team that was off to a good start this season, nearly beating Florida.
But then Kentucky trotted out eight players to defend a punt against Auburn this past Thursday and I lost all faith in Kentucky’s ability to do anything positive on a football field.
The Vols play South Carolina after that. We all know what kind of dumpster fire is going on there. It’s bad enough that the Head Ball Coach had to throw deuces and get out of town.
North Texas looms not-so-large on November 14.
Then there’s Missouri. That’s a team that’s been an achilles heel for the Volunteers since joining the SEC. UT is winless against the Tigers in the past three seasons.
Missouri, however, is far from the team they were the past couple of seasons. They’ve been nothing short of terrible offensively. It’s a game that’s hard to mark down as a surefire win for the Vols, but nonetheless one they should win.
Tennessee finishes the season with Vanderbilt and we all know that if there’s ONE THING that Tennessee ALWAYS does it’s kick the…….well you know the rest.
At that point the Vols would have NINE WINS with a shot at ten in the bowl game (unless some craziness happens and Tennessee somehow gets to Atlanta….which I guess isn’t too crazy given the insanity happening in Gainesville right now).
Again, I really don’t think Tennessee will beat Alabama. But I didn’t think they’d beat Georgia either.
Things, inevitably, have to start going the Vols’ way.
Tennessee fans have suffered too long.
If you’re a Vol fan, it’s time to have some optimism. Go into the Alabama game with victory in mind. Go ahead and day-dream about a nine or ten win season. The Vols are trending up and it’s time to stop settling/hoping for six win seasons a bowl game appearance.
The season didn’t start like Tennessee fans were expecting. But it’s far from over.
It’s time to be positive. It’s time to change the mentality on Rocky Top.
Butch Jones told his players before the Georgia game “Don’t worry about making mistakes. I got you.”
Vol fans need to say the same thing to the football program: “Don’t worry about those three losses earlier this season. We got you.”