Our weekly SEC football recap article where we celebrate the highlights and have some fun with the lowlights…

Butch Jones is rebuilding the University of Tennessee’s music program brick by brick. He has introduced a progressive new plan where a new age type music known as “hip-hop” or “rap” will be a part of the effort to pump up the school’s football team. It is an interesting tactic, where the fans interact with the band. For third down plays, they take a popular rap song “Turn Down for What” and change the lyrics slightly to “Third Down for What”? It’s really quite clever and it seems to really get both music lovers and football fans engaged in the game. He isn’t so bold to get rid of the old-time favorite “Rocky Top” for fear of at least 50,000 of the 100,000+ fans rushing the band section and picking up instruments themselves, playing the tune every other play.

Tennessee’s football team has been dubbed as a merry band of misfits. The youngins and transfers are  led by a man-beast named Pig and the elder statesman of the group, 23-year-old Von Pearson. After jumping out to an early lead, the Vols seemed to slow a little bit, until Utah State coach Matt Wells inexplicably declined a holding call, giving Tennessee a 36-yard FG attempt, which of course they made because that decision should never work out in a coaches favor.

Derek Dooley is no doubt sitting somewhere (Dallas probably) thinking, “well shoot, I’d probably be locked in a 10-7 battle with these guys, what does this Butch guy have that I don’t?” Apparently the ability to coach. Tennessee looks like they actually know how to play football successfully, so that is definitely an improvement over years past.  It’s seemingly been a little while since they’ve been on the positive end of a near-shutout, so the fans on Rocky Top will no doubt be singing one of those two popular  music selections for the rest of the night.

I’m not saying Tennessee is ready to compete for the SEC East, but is Tennessee ready to compete in the SEC East? They showed that they are much improved in every facet of the game, completely dominating a nationally respected Utah State team. If Butch Jones can keep up his masonry work and continue to build this program up, Tennessee might surprise some teams. At the end of an interesting opening weekend, the East is wide open and after watching Von Pearson (3 rec., 27 yards, TD) and Jalen Hurd (11 rush, 29 yards; 2 rec., 16 yards, TD) Vols fans have to be excited about the opportunity to at least enter the discussion.

Key Plays:

Tennessee’s Defense looked pretty solid all night. Here, LaDarrell McNeal lays a brick of his own: 

Von Pearson’s TD catch is a nice start to his career at Tennessee:

3rd down musical stylings selected by Butch Jones:

What they meant to say:

“I literally had no idea this was possible.” -Derek Dooley, position coach

“Yeah, I’m 23. Remember that guy Chris Weinke? He was like 40 when he played.” – Von Pearson, retired fry cook

“If we keep playing like that, I’m going to record some tracks to play on every down, offense and defense.” Butch Jones, music aficionado

Wondering what else happened to you this weekend?  Here are the Thursday and Saturday editions.