Losing to the fifth ranked team in the nation, a legitimate national title contender, does not negatively affect Tennessee's trajectory for this season. Nor does it derail or even slow the team's positive momentum. In fact, one might argue that the toughness and resilience displayed against an obviously superior opponent bodes well in suggesting that the team is further along than some expected.
Unrealistically hopeful and impatient fans aside, most people projected Georgia (along with Florida, Alabama and South Carolina) in the loss column for the Vols. With these expected losses built in, the Vols were projected to reach between 7 & 9 wins. Tennessee has actually played much better than anticipated against both Florida & Georgia. They also pulled an unexpected upset against NC State in one of the three battleground games that they'll see this year. These games against the Wolfpack, Mississippi State & Missouri are really the only contests that can relatively alter the success or failure of the season for the Vols. Provided of course that the team plays to expectations against the rest of the schedule. A win against Alabama or a loss to Kentucky, for example, would have a positive or negative impact respectively while a loss to the Tide or a victory against the Wildcats has only a neutral affect.
The fact that Tennessee was never out of the Georgia game and was able to respond every time Georgia pulled ahead is an extremely positive sign. It is definitely a vast improvement over the team that folded at the first sign of adversity last year. Based on the team's performance last night Tennessee's chances in the battleground games absolutely improved. We may even move a little closer to an upset against a troubled team like South Carolina.
Tennessee is a team on the rise. We have climbed from the SEC cellar into the middle of the pack. If we stick to our strategy and remain on the current path we will reach the upper tier soon. Volunteer fans should be very happy with the program right now. We shouldn't be satisfied but we should feel good that we're moving in the right direction.
Unrealistically hopeful and impatient fans aside, most people projected Georgia (along with Florida, Alabama and South Carolina) in the loss column for the Vols. With these expected losses built in, the Vols were projected to reach between 7 & 9 wins. Tennessee has actually played much better than anticipated against both Florida & Georgia. They also pulled an unexpected upset against NC State in one of the three battleground games that they'll see this year. These games against the Wolfpack, Mississippi State & Missouri are really the only contests that can relatively alter the success or failure of the season for the Vols. Provided of course that the team plays to expectations against the rest of the schedule. A win against Alabama or a loss to Kentucky, for example, would have a positive or negative impact respectively while a loss to the Tide or a victory against the Wildcats has only a neutral affect.
The fact that Tennessee was never out of the Georgia game and was able to respond every time Georgia pulled ahead is an extremely positive sign. It is definitely a vast improvement over the team that folded at the first sign of adversity last year. Based on the team's performance last night Tennessee's chances in the battleground games absolutely improved. We may even move a little closer to an upset against a troubled team like South Carolina.
Tennessee is a team on the rise. We have climbed from the SEC cellar into the middle of the pack. If we stick to our strategy and remain on the current path we will reach the upper tier soon. Volunteer fans should be very happy with the program right now. We shouldn't be satisfied but we should feel good that we're moving in the right direction.
