KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Mind-set.

That’s the key word that describes the Tennessee Volunteers in 2016.

The mind-set of overcoming obstacles that stand in their way of advancing the program that Butch Jones is resurrecting since the end of the Phillip Fulmer era, the Lane Kiffin debacle and the Derek Dooley mistake.

Solid recruiting and a two-win increase every season under Jones has expectations high once again in Knoxville.

The first obstacle to overcome for a championship run in 2016 comes against Florida. No surprise there – especially after how the past two Florida defeats occurred.

The nightmares of Treon Harris replacing the struggling Jeff Driskel, and Florida erasing a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat Tennessee on Austin Hardin’s late field goal in 2014. On top of Florida erasing a 13-point deficit in the fourth-quarter a year ago in The Swamp.

Oct 4, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Florida Gators place kicker Austin Hardin (16) kicks a field goal during the fourth quarter for the winning score against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. The Gators won 10-9 Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Two one-point defeats that Tennessee had their hands on victory slipped away.

It has now been 11 long years, frustrating as of late, in losing to Florida every year since 2004.

When James Wilhoit connected on a 50-yarder with 6 seconds left, sending the Volunteers past Ron Zook’s No. 11-ranked Florida Gators on Sept. 18, 2004, nobody would have believed that Tennessee would still be waiting to beat its SEC East rival again.

Is 2016 the year? That Sept. 24 showdown is not only on the fans’ minds, but former players, too.

Vols legend Travis Stephens twice tasted victory over his arch-rival during his tenure on Rocky Top. He ran for a career-high 226 in the Vols’ 34-32 win in 2001.

Stephens also knows that it’s time for the streak to end. “I believe the streak will end this year,” Stephens told Saturday Down South. “Tennessee wins the East.”

The former All-American (2001 Football Writers, CNNSI.com, Associated Press) elevated his game his senior season (2001) by rushing for a school-record 1,464 yards – a record Jalen Hurd will try to break in 2016.

The single-season rushing leader not only knows a few things about winning the SEC East, but also taking down the Gators and what it means to the fans.

“For me beating Florida was huge, mainly because the Tennessee fans hate Florida more than any team on our schedule every year,” Stephens said. “It seems that if Florida is the only team that we beat, they (fans) will be happy!”

Tennessee fans have only experienced the happiness of beating Florida six times since Steve Spurrier arrived in Gainesville as the Head Ball Coach in 1990.

The time is now, and the stage is set for Tennessee to avenge the last two gut-wrenching losses that came in the fourth quarter, but more important, to continue the progress of Jones’ program.