Looking forward …
Kennesaw State, no doubt mesmerized by the forthcoming big game, managed to lose to Georgia State, at home, 31-17, on Saturday past.
Kennesaw State? Who, what, when, where and why?
A spokesman says it is an innovative research university with momentum – driven by world-class academics, athletic championships and economic impact – pushing progress forward at every level.
The website says it has a great location, just 20 or 25 minutes north of Atlanta, depending on traffic congestion. It says it has 51,000 students, some of whom play football.
This Kennesaw State is next in line for the also charging-ahead Tennessee Volunteers, Neyland Stadium, 7:45 or whenever the SEC Network says to start, on this coming Saturday.
Why, you ask?
Jerry Mack, coach of the Owls, and Josh Heupel are friends. As a favor, Mack was invited to bring his boys for this friendly event. Jerry was Josh’s running backs coach for the first three seasons in Knoxville.
Mack was a miracle worker last season. He transformed the remnants of a 1-10 inherited team into a 9-3 surprise and Conference USA champion. It earned the school’s first bowl bid, the Myrtle Beach Bowl, played in Conway instead of on the sand. Attendance was 9,139. Western Michigan won, 41-6.
Cheers, nevertheless, for Jerry Mack. See you Saturday.
***
Looking back …
I tried to tell you a week ago that Georgia Tech would play better against Tennessee than it did against Colorado. And it did – but that wasn’t nearly good enough to offset the Volunteers’ head-strong running attack and big-play defense.
Think what the winning numbers might have been without all those penalties. Yards erased were a record for the Heupel era. His teams have had 10 or more violations in 20 games. Some might see that as a shortage of discipline.
Think how much faster the game would have been without all those delays and the unfortunate injuries.
One fan provided insight: Our strengths are promising. Our weaknesses may get us killed.
***
In answer to another reader’s question, unsportsmanlike flags were against wide receiver Mike Matthews, safety Dejuan Lane and defensive tackle Ethan Utley. Such penalty decisions are usually based on how much yapping officials will tolerate.
I thought pass interference calls were correct and additional fouls were not flagged.
Final answer: Yes, the officials were from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
***
Bits ‘n pieces …
Jim Knowles’ defense is much better than was last year’s at this point.
For now, Faizon Brandon isn’t sure about all those road-game difficulties he’s heard about. Communications in Atlanta were OK. Tennessee fans made a difference.
“There was a lot of orange. I was very proud to see all that. It definitely made it easier. There wasn’t too much noise.”
The running attack is helping keep the heat off the young quarterback.
The still unsettled offensive line is cause for concern. It is not exactly knocking opponents off the scrimmage line. That big back named DeSean Bishop is making a lot of yards on his own.
If you are keeping count, you know there were five mistakes by special teams. Self-inflicted wounds are threats to long-team health and welfare.
***
Marvin West welcomes comments and questions from readers at marvinwest75@gmail.com Read more westwords. Follow KnoxTNToday on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. Get all KnoxTNToday articles in one place with our free newsletter.
I lived in Kennesaw for a year in 2005. It’s a really good school with an excellent Business College funded by the Great American Cookie guy.
If they ever figure a way to keep just some of the good players in Cobb, Fulton, DeKalb and Gwinnett counties homw they could be a sleeping giant.
I do wish Hype would demand ALL of his players to
STOP THE YAPPING !
Not only does it invite penalties, it is just a very BAD LOOK.
Marvin, thanks for another great column. Kennesaw was dreaming of doing their best Western Michigan impression, and then lost at home to Ga State. We remember Pruitt’s famous coaching job against the Panthers from Atlanta. Our App State black eye. Tennessee wins big but not by as much as the experts think. Mr. West is an amazing Man, that busy at that age. And who was it said 75 was old??
I will never forget when another big second- or third-tier Georgia school’s team skulked into a Neyland Stadium filled with Tennessee fans expecting a cakewalk to open the season. That Georgia State team strutted out of a stunned Neyland Stadium with a 38-30 win. Yes, 2026 is a far different world than 2019; yes, the Vols are a far different team, and most assuredly, Heupel is a far better coach than the hapless Jeremy Pruitt. But I can’t shake that little nagging memory in the back of my head. It’s just my nature.
Go Vols.
Thank you Mr. West for burning the midnight oil and providing us with two great columns! I guess until the team gets some of its kinks worked out, playing “practice teams” is a good thing.
Little UTK (41,000) taking on mighty Kennesaw State University (51,375) ? Who is David and who is Goliath? Rumor has it that the original Philistine warrier was visually impaired and slow a-foot. Let’s hope these Philistines from down Georgia way are so limited. The mighty SEC, with its zeal in becoming bigger and better, decreed that its members must play each other eight or nine times. So, to survive, each must play the Kennesaw States of this world. Lest we whine, however, remember that Neyland played the TPIs and the Washington & Lees of this world, too. So, let’s not blame Heupel and his friend for this Saturday’s scrimage.