Fans, media react after latest SEC schedule changes leave Tennessee without a game on Saturday
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
The COVID-19 pandemic has yet again caused a reshuffling to the SEC schedule, this time with positive coronavirus tests and contact tracing meaning that Arkansas’ game against Missouri is postponed. Instead, Mizzou’s originally scheduled game against Vanderbilt from Oct. 17 will be made up on Saturday in Columbia, meaning, in turn, the Commodores’ game against Tennessee will obviously be rescheduled.
At the end of the day, the spiraling Volunteers—losers of 5 straight games by double digits for the first time in program history—are left without a game altogether. And the news of the most recent schedule changes in the SEC were met with plenty of reaction on Twitter, from fans and media alike:
https://twitter.com/Power_T_Tape/status/1331022112023261186
Seems odd to me that the SEC would prioritize Missouri vs. Vanderbilt over Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt.
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 23, 2020
Playing winless Vandy was probably the closest thing to a guaranteed win the #Vols could have left on their schedule.
But then again, a loss to Vanderbilt is incredibly embarrassing and have you seen this team play the last month or so?
Torn. pic.twitter.com/D59hpjPBJc
— Daren Stoltzfus WESH (@DarenStoltzfus) November 23, 2020
Recap of today's news on UT Athletics games this week:
*UT Basketball's 1st two games cancelled (covid incl. R. Barnes)
*Lady Vols had season opening opponent opt-out of season
*Tennessee/Vanderbilt Sat football game ppd
Insane. At least everyone was already in great spirits. https://t.co/R2sk5BmixZ
— Vince Ferrara (@VinceSports) November 23, 2020
Just your standard, garden-variety day on the Tennessee beat.
You think weirdness is your ally. But you were merely adopted by the weirdness. We were born in it, molded by it.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 23, 2020
Tennessee canceled to avoid losing to Vanderbilt. Sad.
— NCISfanatic21 (@NCISfanatic_21) November 23, 2020
Can’t lose to Vanderbilt if you don’t play Vanderbilt!
— Swagger of Tennessee (@SwaggerofUT) November 23, 2020
Knoxville media personality Eric Cain had a clever tweet in response to BYU’s “any team, any time, any place” proclamation just days after the Cougars reportedly declined to play Washington after the Huskies’ annual Apple Cap rivalry game was canceled:
Hey #Vols pic.twitter.com/eFmD3IXHsF
— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) November 23, 2020
In the end, it’s just another odd week in the SEC.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
