Sep 24, 2016; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the second half against the Florida Gators at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee won 38-28. Photo Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Irrelevant.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, its synonyms include … “immaterial, unimportant, insignificant.”
Indifferent.
That word is defined as, “uninterested, unenthusiastic, unimpressed.”
Irrelevant and indifferent. The worst two words that can be applied to any program or fan base in any sport, especially relating to college football, even more so when talking about the Southeastern Conference.
For longer than Vol fans could have ever imagined, that first word has been Tennessee football. How long has it been since the Volunteers have been a player in SEC championships, much less national title discussions?
The numbers speak for themselves.
Go back to 2003. In those 13 seasons, multiple Southeastern Conference teams have won national titles, played for national titles and/or had undefeated seasons.
During that span, Alabama won four national championships … 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015. Florida won two national titles … 2006, 2008. Auburn won one national crown (2010), played for another (2013) and had an undefeated season (2004). And, LSU won two titles (2003, 2007 and played for another in 2011.)
Notice that two of the traditional “big six” SEC teams aren’t on that list. Georgia (you see what that earned for their former longtime, highly-successful head coach) … and Tennessee. The Volunteers historically have been considered equal to if not above those other traditional SEC powers, but not in a while.
How bad has it been? Consider Tennessee’s recent history. Before Saturday’s game in Knoxville, Tennessee had lost 11 consecutive times to Florida, last winning in 2004. They have lost nine straight to Alabama, last winning in 2006; six straight to Auburn, last winning in 1999; and four straight to LSU, last winning in 2005. So against those four in the last 30 combined meetings, the Tennessee record was 0-30.
Tennessee last won an SEC Championship in 1998 … 18 seasons ago. They also won the national championship that season. Since then, league titles have been won by Alabama (5), LSU (4), Auburn (3), Florida (3) and Georgia (2). The Vols have had a few near-misses. They played in the SEC Championship Game in 2001, 2004 and 2007 – and lost them all.
Understandably, Tennessee fans have been restless for a long time. Frustrated. Disappointed. Angry. Disbelieving.
Last season, was another big tease. It would be the year that Tennessee finally broke through. They came close, probably closer than most fans realized. In games against Alabama (national championship), Oklahoma (College Football Playoff Final Four), Florida (SEC East Division champion) and Arkansas, the Volunteers had fourth-quarter leads … and lost them all.
But, this year was going to be different. Tennessee was the prohibitive favorite to win the SEC Eastern Division championship, and a darkhorse to win the SEC title and play in the College Football Playoff Final Four.
Why not? They had Josh Dobbs, the league’s second best quarterback. They had the all-star running back tandem, Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara. The receiving corps was solid. Defense was consistent. Recruiting rankings have risen. The Eastern Division was much easier than the Western Division and the schedule was favorable with Florida and Alabama coming to Neyland Stadium. Lindy’s ranked Tennessee as No. 6 in the preseason.
The Vols had three unimpressive wins heading into the showdown with the Gators on Saturday. And, 30 minutes into the game, many Tennessee fans were likely near the brink on that second word … indifferent.
Florida led 21-3 at halftime and had dominated the game. Fans around the country watching on television, and certainly fans inside the stadium, had to be asking the question (“If Tennessee can’t win this year, when will it ever happen?”).
How many seasons should once proud fans accept having the rug pulled out from under them?
But something happened during halftime. Different teams came out from the dressing rooms for the Vols and the Gators. Tennessee scored the first 35 points of the second half and outgained Florida in third quarter yards, 154-8, on the way to a 38-28 win. It was the Vols’ tenth consecutive win, good for the third longest streak in the country.
Dobbs played like the “real” Dobbs, finishing the game with 319 yards passing for four touchdowns, and rushing for 80 yards and another score. In the second half, he threw for 235 yards and all of his scores. Hurd ran for 95 yards, averaging almost four yards per carry and caught a 25-yard touchdown pass. And, all of this was against a Gator defense that had given up an average of just 4.7 points and 129.7 yards total offense this season.
The win, coupled with other SEC Eastern Division results, solidified Tennessee’s position. While no other division team looks as good as the Vols, Tennessee fans should wait a little longer before confirming those Atlanta hotel reservations for early December. The next three Saturdays will determine where Tennessee stands. Games at Georgia (Oct. 1), at Texas A&M (Oct. 8) and Alabama at home (Oct. 15) will show just how relevant the Vols have become and how excited Big Orange fans will be down the stretch of the season.
But for now, there can be a sigh of relief in Knoxville at least for another week. Tennessee is definitely relevant for the 2016 season and the fan base is still excited.
It’s been a long time since that has happened in east Tennessee and Big Orange fans hope it stays that way.
