While every Power 5 athletic director is blocking all incoming calls from North Dakota State about scheduling a future game, let's peek ahead to next weekend.
Some things we'll be obsessing about all week
1. Is this finally the year for Rocky Top?
If you're reading this and haven't celebrated your 12th birthday yet, congrats. You have won as many games against Florida as Tennessee has: zero.
For each of the past 11 years, Tennessee has walked off the field against Florida saying "wait until next year." Next year is here once again, but will it be any different? Sunday, Sept. 18, is the 12th anniversary of Rocky Top's last victory against Florida. Phil Fulmer's Vols edged Ron Zook's Gators 30-28. Current coaches Butch Jones and Jim McElwain were in Michigan back then: McElwain was the wide receivers/special teams coach at Michigan State, while Jones was at Central Michigan coaching the running backs.
Jones can't run from the streak. A trendy preseason pick to win the SEC East, Tennessee's first three games have been a roller coaster: down, up and down again on Saturday in a 28-19 squeaker over Ohio. Before the season, Jones was asked about the Florida drought and claimed "I haven't even thought about it." Well, if so, he was the only one in Knoxville waiting until this week to start obsessing about stopping the streak.
Neither team will be at full strength: All-SEC cornerback Cameron Sutton, who injured his ankle on Saturday, is out for an "extended period of time," Jones said. Also, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin's (shoulder injury) status is unknown. Florida quarterback Luke Del Riosuffered a knee injury on Saturday against North Texas, and McElwain said he "will probably be missing" the game.
While Jones has avoided the Florida build-up, Gator linebacker Jarrad Davis hasn't. Before the season he told ESPN: "It's one of the funnest games every year." Why, I asked? "Because we win," he said. "You can go ahead and say it."
Jones may not say it, but this is his biggest game since he has been at Tennessee. Rocky Top or Rocky Flop? We'll find out Saturday.
Some things we'll be obsessing about all week
1. Is this finally the year for Rocky Top?
If you're reading this and haven't celebrated your 12th birthday yet, congrats. You have won as many games against Florida as Tennessee has: zero.
For each of the past 11 years, Tennessee has walked off the field against Florida saying "wait until next year." Next year is here once again, but will it be any different? Sunday, Sept. 18, is the 12th anniversary of Rocky Top's last victory against Florida. Phil Fulmer's Vols edged Ron Zook's Gators 30-28. Current coaches Butch Jones and Jim McElwain were in Michigan back then: McElwain was the wide receivers/special teams coach at Michigan State, while Jones was at Central Michigan coaching the running backs.
Jones can't run from the streak. A trendy preseason pick to win the SEC East, Tennessee's first three games have been a roller coaster: down, up and down again on Saturday in a 28-19 squeaker over Ohio. Before the season, Jones was asked about the Florida drought and claimed "I haven't even thought about it." Well, if so, he was the only one in Knoxville waiting until this week to start obsessing about stopping the streak.
Neither team will be at full strength: All-SEC cornerback Cameron Sutton, who injured his ankle on Saturday, is out for an "extended period of time," Jones said. Also, linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin's (shoulder injury) status is unknown. Florida quarterback Luke Del Riosuffered a knee injury on Saturday against North Texas, and McElwain said he "will probably be missing" the game.
While Jones has avoided the Florida build-up, Gator linebacker Jarrad Davis hasn't. Before the season he told ESPN: "It's one of the funnest games every year." Why, I asked? "Because we win," he said. "You can go ahead and say it."
Jones may not say it, but this is his biggest game since he has been at Tennessee. Rocky Top or Rocky Flop? We'll find out Saturday.
