Tennessee players remain steadfast that officials made wrong call on would-be fumble

In the minds of Tennessee players after the loss to South Carolina, a controversial fumble turned non-review was not even a questionable play at all. It was a fumble because they saw it and did it themselves.

Shy Tuttle and Darrin Kirkland told reporters clearly and without question that Tennessee caused a fumble of Ty’Son Williams, and could have returned it for a 99-yard touchdown. Instead, the Gamecocks were credited with the touchdown with five seconds left in the third quarter.

It tied the game at 24, as South Carolina went on to win 27-24 as the Gamecocks outscored the Vols 18-10 in the second half.

It’s unclear if coach Jeremy Pruitt would ask the SEC office to review the call, but one thing’s clear: Tennessee fans won’t soon forget this sequence, especially the officiating crew.

Shy Tuttle: It was a fumble. I was right there.

Darrin Kirkland: I punched it out.

Both players: Pruitt knew it, too.

Why wasn’t the play reviewed?

“Officials said they ruled it dead.”

— Jesse Simonton (@JesseReSimonton) October 28, 2018

#Vols’ Shy Tuttle on no-call that turned a 99-yard fumble return TD into a 1-yard TD: I don’t think it was a fumble. I know it was a fumble. He wasn’t down. We didn’t ask sideline to challenge because we thought the refs were looking at it. So did Coach Pruitt.

— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) October 28, 2018

#Vols LB Darrin Kirkland on the same play: It was a fumble. Definitely a fumble. He wasn’t down, and I punched it out.

— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) October 28, 2018