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Tennessee football: Fan outrage vs. Ole Miss was culmination of these events

By Caleb Calhoun

Oct 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Jacob Warren (87) is tackled by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Otis Reese (3) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers tight end Jacob Warren (87) is tackled by Mississippi Rebels defensive back Otis Reese (3) during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tennessee linebacker Tyler Baron (9) and Tennessee defensive lineman Kurott Garland (99) celebrate after a defensive stop during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green
Tennessee linebacker Tyler Baron (9) and Tennessee defensive lineman Kurott Garland (99) celebrate after a defensive stop during the NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Bowling Green Falcons in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, September 2, 2021.Ut Bowling Green /

3. Retroactive forward progress offsets Tyler Baron fumble return TD

No play generated more fan outrage than this one. After that stop on their opening drive, Tennessee football punted the ball. Ole Miss was moving but was faced with a 4th and 3 from the UT 45-yard line. Lane Kiffin called a play-action in which Matt Corral would stand still for a second to make people think he got rid of the ball.

In that one second, Matthew Butler and Tyler Baron got to him, as they didn’t bit on the fake. The play resulted in a strip-sack, which Baron returned for a touchdown, and the refs never blew it dead. That touchdown was clear as day to anybody who saw it.

Retroactively, with no reviews, the refs decided that Corral had given himself up because he stopped and gave him forward progress. That’s an insane rule. If the rule is a player gives himself up when he stops, then he shouldn’t be able to make a play afterward.

Rocky Top still got a fourth down stop, but they were robbed of a touchdown on the play. It was a horrendous, inexcusable missed call, one that should get all the scorn it could. This is the play people should look to when they question why Vol fans were so angry.

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