Looking back, looking ahead …
Tennessee’s rapid-fire offense became a little less efficient, no running game, two turnovers, still a blazing rocket but more show than impact. As predicted, Georgia prevailed by three touchdowns and change.
There are time constraints on disappointment. Today’s westwords say enough already. There is work to be done. One more victory earns bowl eligibility. Two might get you to Florida for a warm holiday.
After recovery from the opening shock, the Bulldogs were better than the Volunteers, considerably better. Thank goodness they are gone. They are so good on defense, they made Hendon Hooker look almost ordinary as a quarterback.
He overthrew a receiver or three. He zipped a strike to the wrong-colored shirt. He was sacked four times and lost a fumble. Mistakes were stunning. He makes so few. He accumulated 244 passing yards but this was his worst game as a Vol.
Oh no, Hendon Hooker wasn’t the only problem. Key runner Tiyon Evans was missing. A top receiver, JaVonta Payton, got hurt one catch into the game.
Tennessee was left with a point of comparison between the two best teams in the country, the 52-24 loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa and 41-17 to Georgia in historic Neyland Stadium.
The Vols gained more ground and scored more points than any previous Georgia foe. There was no hint of surrender. In fact, there was a pleasant late surprise. Joe Milton replaced Hooker, led a drive and delivered a touchdown pass to Cedric Tillman (10th catch, 200 total yards).
There were other object lessons. The winners were almost methodical in how they did it.
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Looking back, looking ahead …
Tennessee jumped out of the starting gate and took an early lead. Visions of a giant upset danced before Vol eyes. In the second quarter, reality arrived. Tennessee ran 15 plays, three-and-out, interception, three-and-out, five-and-out and halftime. The Vols gained four yards rushing and 18 passing.
This was when Georgia won the game. It got even at 10-10. Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV cashed in the interception with a touchdown run. The Vols are infamous against running quarterbacks.
A late drive became a back-breaker. Paxton Brooks punted the Bulldogs back to their 10 at 3:42 before halftime. Georgia drove the length of the field. Georgia overcame a holding penalty. Georgia running back James Cook got matched up with Tennessee linebacker Solon Page III. Bennett threw a 23-yard TD pass.
There was a summation after that. Similar to what happened at Kentucky, Tennessee had an opportunity for drama – 37 seconds, two timeouts available. The Bulldogs sacked Hooker on first down. Time nonchalantly spilled off the clock.
Josh Heupel may choose to use the second quarter as a coaching point.
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No idea why the departed Dave Hart thought it a good idea for Tennessee to play South Alabama in mid-November and even less idea why the kickoff has been delayed until 7:30. You don’t think TV has anything to do with schedules, do you?
If this game is on your must-see list, tickets on the open market are $22. The sale price figures to go down.
There are three points of interest in this sudden rivalry. Tennessee nipped visiting Bowling Green on Sept. 2. Nine days later, the USA Jaguars won at Bowling Green.
Eight games later, South Alabama appears to have lost its migratory quarterback. Jake Bentley will supposedly miss the Volunteers. He has another knee injury.
Tennessee fans would remember Jake. In 2016, when he was supposed to be a high school senior, he enrolled at South Carolina when his father, Bobby, became an assistant coach. When two quarterbacks were injured, Jake was pressed into service. At age 18, he led a Gamecock victory over the Volunteers, one of the landmarks of the Butch Jones era.
After the senior Bentley was no longer a South Carolina coach, son Jake was no longer a Gamecock quarterback. He transferred to Utah. After that, he transferred to South Alabama and was doing well.
Jake got a second shot at Butch Jones. Last month, he threw four touchdown passes in the first half against Arkansas State.
Third relevant factor: South Alabama lost Saturday at Appalachian State, 31-7.
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Looking back, looking ahead …
If the Vols somehow succumb to the Jaguars, 27-point underdogs, this season will sink from good to acceptable. That would create for Vanderbilt the cherished role of spoiler in the finale.
Late last season, Tennessee demolished the Commodores. Since then, both teams have changed coaches and many former Vols are elsewhere. Expectations remain the same.
Here’s another expectation: Maybe, just maybe, we are finished with alternate uniforms for a little while. Feedback was not favorable. Players selecting black for homecoming undoubtedly meant they had never heard the story of the little patch of campus daisies that led to orange and white as school colors.
Could be they’ve never considered who they are in the relationship with a million or so fans and the thousands of old Vols who helped make the University of Tennessee what it is today.
Marvin West welcomes reader comments or questions. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com