My Thoughts on the Akron Game, After Sleeping on It

[NighthawkVol]

Not as much to say about this one. It truly was a glorified scrimmage.

Positive:
-Dylan Sampson is our best RB. I think it's time to get him into the rotation in meaningful games, assuming he's healthy.
-It was hard to tell on TV, but I think the CBs played pretty well. Irons is a good QB with a really good arm, but he had to make a lot of attempts to get his yards. He also has some talented WRs who came from big schools in the portal. But it seemed like the Corners held up pretty well and forced him to hold the ball awhile. I don't recall seeing Charles get beat. Hadden is simply a player. His play on the would-be INT was beautiful...he played the ball the whole way. I saw one completion on Turnage, but it wasn't bad coverage. Maybe, just maybe, we've solved the Burrell hole in our defense with some guys who can play.
-The pressure was good again. They got pressure without being exotic too. Baron looks like a much better player on the strong side. He'll need to play well against Florida and seal the edge to keep Richardson from escaping the pocket.
-Mitchell, Beasley, and Banks give us 3 good LBs. Nice to see.
-Herring looks like a beast. So do Josephs and Pearce. Those three freshmen are going to be studs.
-Squirrel should be our punt returner. He looks electric with the ball in his hands. I don't care if he's a freshman. Our senior hasn't exactly been steady back there.
-Joe Milton looks awesome. He's not missing open deep balls anymore. Or much of anything else. I think we have a stud QB waiting in the wings for 2023.

Negative:
-Injuries. I think/hope that Tillman, Small, and Sampson will be okay for Florida. But I'll be nervous until they're cleared.
-It's been discussed, but Akron is dirty.
-McGrath missed a FG. It wasn't important this game, but I was hopeful that we have a money kicker. We may still, but it can't become a habit.
-Still too many penalties. Some were bad calls. At least one roughing the passer and an offensive PI penalty were highly questionable. Regardless, hope we clean it up.
-Hooker throwing high is concerning to me. He just doesn't look as accurate as last year, in spite of his stats. He also missed an open deep ball. I hope the old Hooker shows up against Florida.
-Jimmy Calloway. What the hell.
-Last year, Tennessee started games quickly. Not so this year. Man, I'd love to see Tennessee jump Florida early and hold the throttle down.

We're gonna beat Florida. It probably won't be close. I'm getting to Knoxville early. We're going to College Gameday. We're going to scream at the top of our lungs the whole game. It's going to be the best environment in the history of college football.

 

[AustinVol]

Great post. Now I feel like I need to fly to Knoxville this weekend!

 

[madbamahater]

Akron is awful. That said, the Vols handled business. But, Akron is awful.

 

[Volfan39]

Akron is awful. That said, the Vols handled business. But, Akron is awful.

So we can’t talk and break down the games? Their qb wasn’t bad but he was a punk

Edit: said this before the edited comment. My bad

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Not as much to say about this one. It truly was a glorified scrimmage.

Positive:
-Dylan Sampson is our best RB. I think it's time to get him into the rotation in meaningful games, assuming he's healthy.
-It was hard to tell on TV, but I think the CBs played pretty well. Irons is a good QB with a really good arm, but he had to make a lot of attempts to get his yards. He also has some talented WRs who came from big schools in the portal. But it seemed like the Corners held up pretty well and forced him to hold the ball awhile. I don't recall seeing Charles get beat. Hadden is simply a player. His play on the would-be INT was beautiful...he played the ball the whole way. I saw one completion on Turnage, but it wasn't bad coverage. Maybe, just maybe, we've solved the Burrell hole in our defense with some guys who can play.
-The pressure was good again. They got pressure without being exotic too. Baron looks like a much better player on the strong side. He'll need to play well against Florida and seal the edge to keep Richardson from escaping the pocket.
-Mitchell, Beasley, and Banks give us 3 good LBs. Nice to see.
-Herring looks like a beast. So do Josephs and Pearce. Those three freshmen are going to be studs.
-Squirrel should be our punt returner. He looks electric with the ball in his hands. I don't care if he's a freshman. Our senior hasn't exactly been steady back there.
-Joe Milton looks awesome. He's not missing open deep balls anymore. Or much of anything else. I think we have a stud QB waiting in the wings for 2023.

Negative:
-Injuries. I think/hope that Tillman, Small, and Sampson will be okay for Florida. But I'll be nervous until they're cleared.
-It's been discussed, but Akron is dirty.
-McGrath missed a FG. It wasn't important this game, but I was hopeful that we have a money kicker. We may still, but it can't become a habit.
-Still too many penalties. Some were bad calls. At least one roughing the passer and an offensive PI penalty were highly questionable. Regardless, hope we clean it up.
-Hooker throwing high is concerning to me. He just doesn't look as accurate as last year, in spite of his stats. He also missed an open deep ball. I hope the old Hooker shows up against Florida.
-Jimmy Calloway. What the hell.
-Last year, Tennessee started games quickly. Not so this year. Man, I'd love to see Tennessee jump Florida early and hold the throttle down.

We're gonna beat Florida. It probably won't be close. I'm getting to Knoxville early. We're going to College Gameday. We're going to scream at the top of our lungs the whole game. It's going to be the best environment in the history of college football.

After seeing some of the shots Akron took at our guys, I'm not sure I care too much at all what Calloway did. May have been part of the reason for his outburst, who knows.

I just can't get overly excited about UF until I see 0:00 at the end of the 4th on the scoreboard and we have more points than they do. Just played this game too many times before and got roasted.

 

[SAPPER 5]

So we can’t talk and break down the games? Their qb wasn’t bad but he was a punk

Edit: said this before the edited comment. My bad

1. That's why @Freak built this place! 2. He wasn't, but he is. WWTFA! For OP, yeah, we are now a 2nd, 3d, and 4th quarter team!

 

[Old Spice]

Not as much to say about this one. It truly was a glorified scrimmage.

Positive:
-Dylan Sampson is our best RB. I think it's time to get him into the rotation in meaningful games, assuming he's healthy.
-It was hard to tell on TV, but I think the CBs played pretty well. Irons is a good QB with a really good arm, but he had to make a lot of attempts to get his yards. He also has some talented WRs who came from big schools in the portal. But it seemed like the Corners held up pretty well and forced him to hold the ball awhile. I don't recall seeing Charles get beat. Hadden is simply a player. His play on the would-be INT was beautiful...he played the ball the whole way. I saw one completion on Turnage, but it wasn't bad coverage. Maybe, just maybe, we've solved the Burrell hole in our defense with some guys who can play.
-The pressure was good again. They got pressure without being exotic too. Baron looks like a much better player on the strong side. He'll need to play well against Florida and seal the edge to keep Richardson from escaping the pocket.
-Mitchell, Beasley, and Banks give us 3 good LBs. Nice to see.
-Herring looks like a beast. So do Josephs and Pearce. Those three freshmen are going to be studs.
-Squirrel should be our punt returner. He looks electric with the ball in his hands. I don't care if he's a freshman. Our senior hasn't exactly been steady back there.
-Joe Milton looks awesome. He's not missing open deep balls anymore. Or much of anything else. I think we have a stud QB waiting in the wings for 2023.

Negative:
-Injuries. I think/hope that Tillman, Small, and Sampson will be okay for Florida. But I'll be nervous until they're cleared.
-It's been discussed, but Akron is dirty.
-McGrath missed a FG. It wasn't important this game, but I was hopeful that we have a money kicker. We may still, but it can't become a habit.
-Still too many penalties. Some were bad calls. At least one roughing the passer and an offensive PI penalty were highly questionable. Regardless, hope we clean it up.
-Hooker throwing high is concerning to me. He just doesn't look as accurate as last year, in spite of his stats. He also missed an open deep ball. I hope the old Hooker shows up against Florida.
-Jimmy Calloway. What the hell.
-Last year, Tennessee started games quickly. Not so this year. Man, I'd love to see Tennessee jump Florida early and hold the throttle down.

We're gonna beat Florida. It probably won't be close. I'm getting to Knoxville early. We're going to College Gameday. We're going to scream at the top of our lungs the whole game. It's going to be the best environment in the history of college football.

hoping this was that this game was perfect for this miss fg and he keeps working hard to get even better for SEC play

 

[NighthawkVol]

After seeing some of the shots Akron took at our guys, I'm not sure I care too much at all what Calloway did. May have been part of the reason for his outburst, who knows.

I just can't get overly excited about UF until I see 0:00 at the end of the 4th on the scoreboard and we have more points than they do. Just played this game too many times before and got roasted.

Name a year Tennessee went into the Florida game this much of a favorite, this much discernibly better, and lost.

A lot of folks act like Florida has been upsetting Tennessee over the last 2 decades and therefore we’re “snakebit.” In all of those years, Florida was either better, much better, or (in just a few) about the same.

Tennessee opened as a 10 point favorite. When has that ever happened against Florida?

 

[NighthawkVol]

1. That's why @Freak built this place! 2. He wasn't, but he is. WWTFA! For OP, yeah, we are now a 2nd, 3d, and 4th quarter team!

Let’s add 1st quarter to that and we’re all set.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

Name a year Tennessee went into the Florida game this much of a favorite, this much discernibly better, and lost.

A lot of folks act like Florida has been upsetting Tennessee over the last 2 decades and therefore we’re “snakebit.” In all of those years, Florida was either better, much better, or (in just a few) about the same.

Tennessee opened as a 10 point favorite. When has that ever happened against Florida?

I agree that this is the first time we've been a double digit favorite over them in a long time. But let's not act like UF has been some world beater consistently for the last 15 years like Bama has been. There have been plenty of times where there hasn't been a ton of difference between us and them talent wise (regardless of who was favored or what the spread was) and we lost all but one of them. Butch blew 2 of them by himself, and if it weren't were Dobbs taking the game over in the second half of '16 he would have been 0 for against them. And I never said nor acted like we have been the better team most years than not either, but there hasn't always been this huge gap between our programs talent wise. UF has had some good teams over the last few years but nothing anywhere comparable to what Bama and UGA have been the last few or what they had in the Tebow years. And I wont even go back to the 90s and add in the Peyton years.

But yes, regardless of what you say, we are "snakebit" when it comes to beating UF. Almost as much as UK is against us. We will see if we can break the trend Saturday.

 

[savannahfan]

Not as much to say about this one. It truly was a glorified scrimmage.

Positive:
-Dylan Sampson is our best RB. I think it's time to get him into the rotation in meaningful games, assuming he's healthy.
-It was hard to tell on TV, but I think the CBs played pretty well. Irons is a good QB with a really good arm, but he had to make a lot of attempts to get his yards. He also has some talented WRs who came from big schools in the portal. But it seemed like the Corners held up pretty well and forced him to hold the ball awhile. I don't recall seeing Charles get beat. Hadden is simply a player. His play on the would-be INT was beautiful...he played the ball the whole way. I saw one completion on Turnage, but it wasn't bad coverage. Maybe, just maybe, we've solved the Burrell hole in our defense with some guys who can play.
-The pressure was good again. They got pressure without being exotic too. Baron looks like a much better player on the strong side. He'll need to play well against Florida and seal the edge to keep Richardson from escaping the pocket.
-Mitchell, Beasley, and Banks give us 3 good LBs. Nice to see.
-Herring looks like a beast. So do Josephs and Pearce. Those three freshmen are going to be studs.
-Squirrel should be our punt returner. He looks electric with the ball in his hands. I don't care if he's a freshman. Our senior hasn't exactly been steady back there.
-Joe Milton looks awesome. He's not missing open deep balls anymore. Or much of anything else. I think we have a stud QB waiting in the wings for 2023.

Negative:
-Injuries. I think/hope that Tillman, Small, and Sampson will be okay for Florida. But I'll be nervous until they're cleared.
-It's been discussed, but Akron is dirty.
-McGrath missed a FG. It wasn't important this game, but I was hopeful that we have a money kicker. We may still, but it can't become a habit.
-Still too many penalties. Some were bad calls. At least one roughing the passer and an offensive PI penalty were highly questionable. Regardless, hope we clean it up.
-Hooker throwing high is concerning to me. He just doesn't look as accurate as last year, in spite of his stats. He also missed an open deep ball. I hope the old Hooker shows up against Florida.
-Jimmy Calloway. What the hell.
-Last year, Tennessee started games quickly. Not so this year. Man, I'd love to see Tennessee jump Florida early and hold the throttle down.

We're gonna beat Florida. It probably won't be close. I'm getting to Knoxville early. We're going to College Gameday. We're going to scream at the top of our lungs the whole game. It's going to be the best environment in the history of college football.

All you say is right on. But for me as I have seen so far as being the most right on is this Hooker statement.

 

[CAVPUT]

Not as much to say about this one. It truly was a glorified scrimmage.

Positive:
-Dylan Sampson is our best RB. I think it's time to get him into the rotation in meaningful games, assuming he's healthy.
-It was hard to tell on TV, but I think the CBs played pretty well. Irons is a good QB with a really good arm, but he had to make a lot of attempts to get his yards. He also has some talented WRs who came from big schools in the portal. But it seemed like the Corners held up pretty well and forced him to hold the ball awhile. I don't recall seeing Charles get beat. Hadden is simply a player. His play on the would-be INT was beautiful...he played the ball the whole way. I saw one completion on Turnage, but it wasn't bad coverage. Maybe, just maybe, we've solved the Burrell hole in our defense with some guys who can play.
-The pressure was good again. They got pressure without being exotic too. Baron looks like a much better player on the strong side. He'll need to play well against Florida and seal the edge to keep Richardson from escaping the pocket.
-Mitchell, Beasley, and Banks give us 3 good LBs. Nice to see.
-Herring looks like a beast. So do Josephs and Pearce. Those three freshmen are going to be studs.
-Squirrel should be our punt returner. He looks electric with the ball in his hands. I don't care if he's a freshman. Our senior hasn't exactly been steady back there.
-Joe Milton looks awesome. He's not missing open deep balls anymore. Or much of anything else. I think we have a stud QB waiting in the wings for 2023.

Negative:
-Injuries. I think/hope that Tillman, Small, and Sampson will be okay for Florida. But I'll be nervous until they're cleared.
-It's been discussed, but Akron is dirty.
-McGrath missed a FG. It wasn't important this game, but I was hopeful that we have a money kicker. We may still, but it can't become a habit.
-Still too many penalties. Some were bad calls. At least one roughing the passer and an offensive PI penalty were highly questionable. Regardless, hope we clean it up.
-Hooker throwing high is concerning to me. He just doesn't look as accurate as last year, in spite of his stats. He also missed an open deep ball. I hope the old Hooker shows up against Florida.
-Jimmy Calloway. What the hell.
-Last year, Tennessee started games quickly. Not so this year. Man, I'd love to see Tennessee jump Florida early and hold the throttle down.

We're gonna beat Florida. It probably won't be close. I'm getting to Knoxville early. We're going to College Gameday. We're going to scream at the top of our lungs the whole game. It's going to be the best environment in the history of college football.

You forgot a big one. They'd better get this punt team issue fixed. Guarantee you Florida will block at least 1 if they stand pat. Akron came close....really close. It's been a problem all year to date and everyone sees it. Surprised that Heupel hasn't gotten to the bottom of it by now.

 

[bpalmer28]

I like the idea of Squirrel returning punts but for all we know the punt Flowers muffed is the only one he’s dropped in 2 years, including practice. Just have to trust the coaches, as boring as that is

 

[NighthawkVol]

I agree that this is the first time we've been a double digit favorite over them in a long time. But let's not act like UF has been some world beater consistently for the last 15 years like Bama has been. There have been plenty of times where there hasn't been a ton of difference between us and them talent wise (regardless of who was favored or what the spread was) and we lost all but one of them. Butch blew 2 of them by himself, and if it weren't were Dobbs taking the game over in the second half of '16 he would have been 0 for against them. And I never said nor acted like we have been the better team most years than not either, but there hasn't always been this huge gap between our programs talent wise. UF has had some good teams over the last few years but nothing anywhere comparable to what Bama and UGA have been the last few or what they had in the Tebow years. And I wont even go back to the 90s and add in the Peyton years.

But yes, regardless of what you say, we are "snakebit" when it comes to beating UF. Almost as much as UK is against us. We will see if we can break the trend Saturday.

World-beaters? Nah. But Florida has been better than Tennessee...most years by a wide margin...for the last decade. That doesn't take being a world-beater because UT has sucked. In the last decade, Florida has won the Eastern Division 4 times. Tennessee has won it 0 times. In the last decade Florida has 4 10+ win season, a 9-win season, and an 8-win season (which was against the shorted 2020 Covid schedule...that would have been another 10-win season against a regular schedule). Tennessee has 0 10-win seasons and 2 9-win seasons. Florida has 3 top 10 finishes and 5 top 15 finishes. Tennessee has 0 top 15 finishes.

Think about that....for HALF of the last 10 years, Florida has had a top 15 team in the country with 10+-win teams. Why should a pitiful Tennessee program have beaten those Florida teams? They were simply better.

The only year in the last decade in which Tennessee has been better was 2016. And Tennessee won that game. I know some will argue last year, but at that point in the season, Florida was better. They'd nearly upset Alabama and UT was still finding its footing with Heupel and Hooker.

The notion that Tennessee is "snakebit" against Florida, at least fore the last decade, ignores facts...that Florida has just been better.

I'll give you the 90's...Florida had Tennessee's number, largely because they had a coach who instilled a confident big-game mentality while Fulmer exuded tightness. But in the last decade, Tennessee just hasn't been good enough. This year, Tennessee is better and should win.

 

[NighthawkVol]

You forgot a big one. They'd better get this punt team issue fixed. Guarantee you Florida will block at least 1 if they stand pat. Akron came close....really close. It's been a problem all year to date and everyone sees it. Surprised that Heupel hasn't gotten to the bottom of it by now.

True. I should have mentioned that. Ekeler is a good STs coordinator, so like you, I'm surprised it's still happening. Better fix it soon.

 

[bigorangepoppa]

I think part of the problem on punts is that it seems Brooks is taking too long to get the punt away. It's sort of like he is taking a 1 or 2 count before kicking the ball. I don't know if he is taking more time to let the coverage get farther downfield, but if he is, he needs to stop that junk, yesterday.
In the Pitt game, I kept thinking, get the punt away, as they got close on a couple of punts. On the punt that was blocked, I didn't get the number of the player on the right side of the formation, but when the ball was snapped, he went to the left to block someone, leaving the guy that blocked the punt unobstructed to Brooks. As soon as I saw that, I had no doubt it was going to be blocked.
In the Akron game, just before the snap, two Akron players moved the the right of the long snapper, Tennessee didn't react to the shift, and that's where the near block came from. Maybe the punt team isn't recognizing what the other team is doing. Don't have any idea, just know it needs to get corrected before we get into the heart of the schedule.

 

[Arrested Devolopment]

Observation about avoiding punt blocks: the cool-headed Akron punter (Gettman) who pulled the ball back to avoid a block revealed a loophole more punters could use. Defenders can't touch the punter, and will sail through the air at a 45 degree angle at the point where the ball leaves the foot to get the ball and avoid a penalty. However, if a punter sees one or more rushers getting through, and pulls back the ball when the defenders commit to the block, he can wait 1 second to get off a clean punt. The Gettman Maneuver is a risky move if the defender doesn't commit, or if there is another defender holding back waiting for a fake, but it might be better than going through with the punt if it's obviously going to get blocked.

Another option to avoiding punt blocks: never punt.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

The only year in the last decade in which Tennessee has been better was 2016. And Tennessee won that game. I know some will argue last year, but at that point in the season, Florida was better. They'd nearly upset Alabama and UT was still finding its footing with Heupel and Hooker.

This simply is not true. We were also hands down better in '15 and can argue that we were better in '14 but at worse we were even. Butch completely botched both of those games.

As far as UF being "hands down" better than us and it being a foregone conclusion that we shouldnt have won any or been in any of those games (15 out the last 16) for the majoroty of the last decade + is also silly. In 2011, UF went 7-6, 2013 they went 4-8, 2017 they went 4-7, 2021 they were 6-7. Again, to repeat, in 2014 and 2015 Butch choked those 2 away and we finally broke through and beat them in 16.

I might give you the Urban Meyer stretch...or at least his last 3 years or so. Even then I think we had the more talented team in 05. In 06 a blown call on a Marvin Mitchell roughing the passer and we win that one. 2007 we were in SEC Championship game that year but we lost to UF in the season.

So just stop.

 

[NighthawkVol]

This simply is not true. We were also hands down better in '15 and can argue that we were better in '14 but at worse we were even. Butch completely botched both of those games.

As far as UF being "hands down" better than us and it being a foregone conclusion that we shouldnt have won any or been in any of those games (15 out the last 16) for the majoroty of the last decade + is also silly. In 2011, UF went 7-6, 2013 they went 4-8, 2017 they went 4-7, 2021 they were 6-7. Again, to repeat, in 2014 and 2015 Butch choked those 2 away and we finally broke through and beat them in 16.

I might give you the Urban Meyer stretch...or at least his last 3 years or so. Even then I think we had the more talented team in 05. In 06 a blown call on a Marvin Mitchell roughing the passer and we win that one. 2007 we were in SEC Championship game that year but we lost to UF in the season.

So just stop.

In 2015, Florida won 10 games and was the SEC East Champion. They were 7-1 in the SEC, losing only to LSU in Tiger Stadium. Tennessee won 9 games and was 5-3 in the SEC, losing to Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas at home. So even if Tennessee had beaten Florida, they'd have the same SEC record. No, Tennessee was not "hands down" better than Florida that year and it takes orange colored glasses to think so....we weren't better at all. But hands down? Give me a break. Further, the game was in the Swamp. Yet you act like Tennessee should have won, if not for some curse, not that they were playing a better team on its home field.

Florida hasn't been great for the last decade. But they've been better than Tennessee. They've had some excellent teams, as well. Tennessee has not. My post above laying out the numbers and comparing the two pretty much nails it. They didn't need a curse to win those games. They will need something like that to win Saturday.

So just stop.

 

[DaddyChad]

I would add another negative. We had a punt blocked vs Pitt, Akron almost got one as well. We have to punt faster or protect better. Florida will block a punt unless we’ve fixed this.

 

[BigOrangeFanatic]

In 2015, Florida won 10 games and was the SEC East Champion. They were 7-1 in the SEC, losing only to LSU in Tiger Stadium. Tennessee won 9 games and was 5-3 in the SEC, losing to Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas at home. So even if Tennessee had beaten Florida, they'd have the same SEC record. No, Tennessee was not "hands down" better than Florida that year and it takes orange colored glasses to think so....we weren't better at all. But hands down? Give me a break. Further, the game was in the Swamp. Yet you act like Tennessee should have won, if not for some curse, not that they were playing a better team on its home field.

Florida hasn't been great for the last decade. But they've been better than Tennessee. They've had some excellent teams, as well. Tennessee has not. My post above laying out the numbers and comparing the two pretty much nails it. They didn't need a curse to win those games. They will need something like that to win Saturday.

So just stop.

You obviously don't remember the end of the 2015 game very well. Yes, it was indeed in the swamp. We were winning 27-14 in the 4th quarter. Then this happened.



Tennessee absolutely, without a doubt should have won that game. The year before in 14' we completely dominated them at home for 3 and half quarters and lost 10-9. We absolutely, positively should have won that game. In 2017, In the Swamp, we lose on a last second hail Mary in the end zone. This one may not have been quite the lock as the other 2 but it was a game that went down to the wire. There were absolutely other games and instances where we were close behind or evenly matched with UF that they blew us off the field because we did what we normally do against them and had tons of turnovers or decided to not show up.

Stop acting like UF has been light years ahead of us in this 15 out 16 year stretch where we've lost to them. It simply isn't true. We have sucked a good portion of it. They haven't been much better. Neither you or anyone else will convince me that UF should absolutely be 15-1 against us these last 16 years. I'm not arguing we should have a winning record but certainly the rivalry should not be as lopsided. And lot of it does have to do with coaching...but we've also been snake bitten. It is what it is. Surely hope we can start to reverse it this weekend.

 

[NighthawkVol]

You obviously don't remember the end of the 2015 game very well. Yes, it was indeed in the swamp. We were winning 27-14 in the 4th quarter. Then this happened.



Tennessee absolutely, without a doubt should have won that game. The year before in 14' we completely dominated them at home for 3 and half quarters and lost 10-9. We absolutely, positively should have won that game. In 2017, In the Swamp, we lose on a last second hail Mary in the end zone. This one may not have been quite the lock as the other 2 but it was a game that went down to the wire. There were absolutely other games and instances where we were close behind or evenly matched with UF that they blew us off the field because we did what we normally do against them and had tons of turnovers or decided to not show up.

Stop acting like UF has been light years ahead of us in this 15 out 16 year stretch where we've lost to them. It simply isn't true. We have sucked a good portion of it. They haven't been much better. Neither you or anyone else will convince me that UF should absolutely be 15-1 against us these last 16 years. I'm not arguing we should have a winning record but certainly the rivalry should not be as lopsided. And lot of it does have to do with coaching...but we've also been snake bitten. It is what it is. Surely hope we can start to reverse it this weekend.

Yes, I remember how it ended.

A) The way the game ended has nothing to do with which team was better. Florida had the better team and season. Period. End of story. You seem to think that because Tennessee had a lead and lost, Tennessee was better and lost because of a curse. They lost because the better team came back and won.

B) I've repeatedly mentioned the last decade, not further back. I think Spurrier's teams had some mental magic over Fulmer. Maybe Urban's teams too. But the last decade has just been about Tennessee being worse than Florida.

C) The teams were about even in 2014. Florida won on a FG. That's not a curse. Tennessee didn't get it done.

Also, I never said Florida has been "light years ahead of us." But their record says they should have won the overwhelming majority of those games. You don't seem to be accepting how bad Tennessee has been. 2015 and 2016 are the only years Tennessee was what we might call "good," and we split those games with Florida, home and home.

 

[McDad]

B) I've repeatedly mentioned the last decade, not further back. I think Spurrier's teams had some mental magic over Fulmer.

Back then, Glorida hired a proven coach from a smaller program. They hired a former QB who was considered an offensive innovator. The innovator didn't have a ton of complexity to his system. But he could put up points...a lot of points...and do it quickly.

I feel like that historical shoe is on UT's foot now.

 

[BanditVol]

After seeing some of the shots Akron took at our guys, I'm not sure I care too much at all what Calloway did. May have been part of the reason for his outburst, who knows.

I just can't get overly excited about UF until I see 0:00 at the end of the 4th on the scoreboard and we have more points than they do. Just played this game too many times before and got roasted.

You "played the game"? .lol

 

[NighthawkVol]

Back then, Glorida hired a proven coach from a smaller program. They hired a former QB who was considered an offensive innovator. The innovator didn't have a ton of complexity to his system. But he could put up points...a lot of points...and do it quickly.

I feel like that historical shoe is on UT's foot now.

Man, I've had that exact same thought.

The "mental edge" came from the fact that Florida attacked and Tennessee played safe. That attacking mindset is what Heupel has brought to Tennessee. When you play in attack mode, you play looser and more confident. You are playing to make plays, not to avoid mistakes. That's when athletes perform best. I think Spurrier's experience as a Heisman-winning QB taught him that. Heupel was a Heisman runner-up QB who led his team to a National Title. Lots of similarities there.