99gator
Congressman
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- Jun 16, 2009
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First of all, because I can tell what some of you may be thinking.
For some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the East or beat their rivals.
For some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the SEC.
For some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the national championship
And for some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the Super Bowl.
I get all of that.
So, I will tell you how I define relevant. Relevant is you go and play the game and the opponent doesn't assume an automatic "W" before the game begins and has genuine shock and surprise at a loss. Opposing fans take you seriously, opposing teams take you seriously, opposing coaches take you seriously, etc.
I think Tennessee is at that point. And for me, one of the ways you know that is not like a South Carolina game from 2019. That was a team hitting on all cylinders and playing a great game. Of course, that's awesome. But, yesterday was more indicative. I don't think anyone would say Tennessee played "outstanding". I don't think anyone would say Tennessee "played over their head". It was a ho-hum, workmanlike, win where at no point in time was there ever a feeling that Tennessee might lose. Tennessee casually went out there and handled business. They weren't sky high. The opponent wasn't flat. The opponent did not gift wrap the game. Tennessee was just better across the board. It was like a card game where a player knew they had a winning hand and just laid the cards on the table.
So, now the question is.....how good are they? We'll see. I think Georgia and Alabama are the only two teams where it's hard for me to envision a Tennessee win. At least not against the Georgia team that showed up yesterday. Everyone else, they "could" beat or "should beat"
I will tell you (and it's another way to know Tennessee is relevant again), the staff is doing a good job of hiding JG. They've been able to do it because the rest of the team is now good enough to do it. The defense is getting stops and Tennessee is effectively running the football. So, they are limiting what they are asking JG to do and JG is delivering. No picks and hitting the occasional deep ball when getting 1:1 coverage down the sideline.
This is the best football team Tennessee has had in over a decade. Dobbs made his teams better than they were. This team is better across the board than Dobbs' teams were.
For some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the East or beat their rivals.
For some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the SEC.
For some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the national championship
And for some, Tennessee isn't "back" until they win the Super Bowl.
I get all of that.
So, I will tell you how I define relevant. Relevant is you go and play the game and the opponent doesn't assume an automatic "W" before the game begins and has genuine shock and surprise at a loss. Opposing fans take you seriously, opposing teams take you seriously, opposing coaches take you seriously, etc.
I think Tennessee is at that point. And for me, one of the ways you know that is not like a South Carolina game from 2019. That was a team hitting on all cylinders and playing a great game. Of course, that's awesome. But, yesterday was more indicative. I don't think anyone would say Tennessee played "outstanding". I don't think anyone would say Tennessee "played over their head". It was a ho-hum, workmanlike, win where at no point in time was there ever a feeling that Tennessee might lose. Tennessee casually went out there and handled business. They weren't sky high. The opponent wasn't flat. The opponent did not gift wrap the game. Tennessee was just better across the board. It was like a card game where a player knew they had a winning hand and just laid the cards on the table.
So, now the question is.....how good are they? We'll see. I think Georgia and Alabama are the only two teams where it's hard for me to envision a Tennessee win. At least not against the Georgia team that showed up yesterday. Everyone else, they "could" beat or "should beat"
I will tell you (and it's another way to know Tennessee is relevant again), the staff is doing a good job of hiding JG. They've been able to do it because the rest of the team is now good enough to do it. The defense is getting stops and Tennessee is effectively running the football. So, they are limiting what they are asking JG to do and JG is delivering. No picks and hitting the occasional deep ball when getting 1:1 coverage down the sideline.
This is the best football team Tennessee has had in over a decade. Dobbs made his teams better than they were. This team is better across the board than Dobbs' teams were.