Tennessee basketball: Vols Gator Chomping to the Florida fans was a beautiful sight

The Tennessee basketball team went on the road in a hostile environment and pulled out a huge win. They even gave the Florida fans the Gator Chomp.

Anytime the Florida Gators lose in any sport it’s a great day for Volnation. It makes it even better when it’s a Tennessee team that is the one that comes out victorious.

Take the Tennessee basketball team and their outstanding win yesterday for example. Hats off to the Gators who fought hard all game. They hit nine three-point shots in the first half alone, and most Florida fans thought they had the upset in the bag.

But, this is a different Tennessee team. They don’t just give up when their opponents make a couple of lucky shots.

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The Vols clawed all the way back and led 69-67 with around a minute to go in the game when Grant Williams found Admiral Schofield for a three-point jumper. No surprises, but Schofield drained the shot to put Tennessee up five points.

Chris Lofton is one of the most clutch three-point shooters in Tennessee history, and while I don’t think Schofield has made it to that level yet, he deserves a lot of credit for his play this season. Big shot after big shot, he always comes up clutch.

After the game was over, ESPN caught all five Vols’ on the court doing the ‘Gator Chomp’ to the fans in attendance. Of course, all the social media justice warriors came to the defense of Gator Nation. Even some of the national media had to chime in with their displeasure.

NCAA.com correspondent, Andy Katz, who I have a lot of respect for said, “there was no need for that,” meaning the Tennessee players doing the Gator Chomp. What Katz failed to see or comment on was the hundreds of Florida fans flipping the players off. And, after the game, we found out Florida fans were saying inappropriate things to the players.

Look, I know those things are going to happen, and athletes have to keep their composure. However, is doing the ‘Gator Chomp’ that bad?

It’s certainly better than flipping the fans off, something Florida fans know all too well about in this rivalry. Not too mention more than have the crowd was flipping the Tennessee players off as they celebrated.

I couldn’t disagree with Katz more. The Vols doing the ‘Gator Chomp’ wasn’t disrespectful. It wasn’t classless or immature. It was pure emotions. For 40 minutes players laid it all on the line against a rival, and they celebrated the win.

There were a few former athletes that loved the move by the players. Jay Williams and Doug Gottlieb came to the defense of Tennessee deeming the celebration okay and how they loved the passion.

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Simply put, it was student athletes excited after going on the road in a hostile environment and getting their 10th win in a row. That gracious celebration is what makes sports great. And, it was a beautiful sight to all of Volnation.

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