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Tennessee football vs. Aggies: 10 keys to the game

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019.Utbyu0907
Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith (73) takes the field ahead of a game between Tennessee and BYU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2019.Utbyu0907 /
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OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Jimbo Fisher of the Texas A&M Aggies reacts during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

9. Jimbo Fisher-Jeremy Pruitt-Jay Graham familiarity

Saturday marks the first meeting for Jeremy Pruitt against Jimbo Fisher since 2017. That year, Pruitt was defensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide and Fisher was still head coach and offensive coordinator for the Florida State Seminoles. Pruitt got the best of Fisher in the 2017 opener for both teams, as Bama beat FSU 24-7.

However, Pruitt and Fisher have a major connection. Fisher gave Pruitt his first defensive coordinator job at this level. It just so happens that 2013 was that year, and Pruitt helped Fisher win what remains his only national title as a head coach. Jay Graham was on that staff.

Now, Pruitt is head coach of Tennessee football, and Graham, a UT alumni, left Fisher’s Texas A&M Aggies staff to join the Vols this past year. As a result, Pruitt is familiar working with Fisher as a coordinator, and Graham is familiar working with Fisher at Texas A&M.

Could any of this play a role in Saturday’s game? These two Nick Saban proteges come from opposite sides of the ball, and one clearly has accomplished a heck of a lot more to this point. Pruitt and Graham may know just enough about Fisher, though to make this interesting.

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