There has been a lot of speculation about the causes of the massive amount of injuries that the team has experienced. While there are probably multiple factors, in stepping back and looking at the problem, I believe that the schedule had a lot to do with several of these injuries. Injuries generally are held to be more prevalent when players are fatigued.
We came into the year basically injury free, aside from a Chance Hall setback. Going into the second half of the florida game, we were still the more physical and conditioned team. It was florida players who were dropping like flies during the second half- even though they had played a cupcake schedule coming into that game. I don't think we had a S&C problem at that point.
But then we go straight to georgia and they play their best and most motivated and most physical game of the year.
Then we go to straight to A&M and play a grueling, hard-hitting 5 hour marathon and the injuries began to mount. I thought that the team did not look as fresh during parts of that game-especially the OT. Then we play a very physical alabama team and by then, our players just were not at the same intensity and injuries continue to mount.
This doesn't explain the 3 Ohio game injuries, but playing physical programs without a break is just asking for this kind of scenario. I don't know which AD put this schedule together, but we have never been very strategic in our scheduling and we have to start getting smarter about how and who we schedule and we have to get someone who looks out for Tennessee's best interests in our administrative positions. You can't ask the coach or players to overcome everything.
We came into the year basically injury free, aside from a Chance Hall setback. Going into the second half of the florida game, we were still the more physical and conditioned team. It was florida players who were dropping like flies during the second half- even though they had played a cupcake schedule coming into that game. I don't think we had a S&C problem at that point.
But then we go straight to georgia and they play their best and most motivated and most physical game of the year.
Then we go to straight to A&M and play a grueling, hard-hitting 5 hour marathon and the injuries began to mount. I thought that the team did not look as fresh during parts of that game-especially the OT. Then we play a very physical alabama team and by then, our players just were not at the same intensity and injuries continue to mount.
This doesn't explain the 3 Ohio game injuries, but playing physical programs without a break is just asking for this kind of scenario. I don't know which AD put this schedule together, but we have never been very strategic in our scheduling and we have to start getting smarter about how and who we schedule and we have to get someone who looks out for Tennessee's best interests in our administrative positions. You can't ask the coach or players to overcome everything.
