Rapid Reaction: Shocker! Tennessee toppled by lowly Georgia State
A monumental loss in Neyland Stadium was all that the Vols’ faithful feared. Tennessee is much closer to an FCS opponent than it is an SEC power.
Here are five quick takeaways from the Vols’ shocking 38-30 loss to Georgia State, a Sun Belt Conference team which went 2-10 last season:
Tennessee fans don’t believe
I know it was hot and it was just Georgia State but the crowd on hand for a season opener was embarrassing. Empty stands have become all too common at Neyland Stadium but this was an opportunity for UT fans to show up and support a coach, Jeremy Pruitt, heading into his second season against a team that the Vols should be handily beat. Georgia State had another idea. Tennessee fans seemed to know that another disappointing outing was on the schedule.
UT’s offense has no identity
It seemed as if the Vols had no idea where to funnel the ball throughout the game. Throw it? Maybe, but to whom? Run it? Perhaps, but who is the best option? A new offensive coordinator, Jim Chaney, did anything but resurrect the Vols. Instead, it looks like UT’s offense will take a much-lamented step back as it adapts to a new approach offensively.
The Vols are soft up front
Again and again, Georgia State was able to pound away at UT’s defense. The game wasn’t a case of out-scheming UT. It seemed to be a case of the Panthers being more physical. That’s hard to imagine given the stature of the two programs.
Tackling and conditioning was also embarrassing
The Vols couldn’t tackle and, at times, couldn’t seem to be on the field. Was tackling a point of emphasis during preseason camp? How about being in shape to play in the August heat? Georgia State looked ready. The Vols did not.
Tennessee’s secondary is not elite
The Vols were surprisingly sloppy on the back end of their defense. That was supposed to be a strength. However, Georgia State, though it had just 139 yards passing, threw the ball effectively at key moments and the Vols made multiple mistakes in the secondary. It seemed as if anyone, including Georgia State’s mascot “Pounce the Panther,” could get open against the Vols on Saturday.
So much for Chaney being the difference.
Now that I’ve said what I want to say I’m going to get some popcorn and wait for the comments section to turn into a war zone.
Sure he was a difference. We got worse.
It was the Tennessee fans singing his praises when Pruitt overpaid for him. You guys don’t have the quality of talent that Georgia does to cover up his mediocrity as a oc.
Georgia is the #3 team in the country. Why is everyone making such a big deal about losing to them?
Man you have really just showed your football intelligence with your comment. I sometimes go after you because you’re nothing more than a Big Blue Hommer who can’t see the truth but comments like this really show your football IQ. It’s Georgia STATE not the UNIVERSITY of Georgia.
SevenT knows the difference. He’s just trolling.
I don’t think so… I honestly don’t think so.
Bill Curry put Georgia State on the map!
This made me laugh quite a bit
Good ole bottom top whoooo
Rocky suck Tennessee
Be classy, man. You saw our game against Miami, right?
Talking season is over
Tennessee’s season is over.
Fans were claiming 8 wins in the off season, which is why I said what I said.
And I agree, they’ll be lucky to win 4 games
It ain’t over till it’s over. Just two short years ago Kentucky lost a home opener to the University of Southern Mississippi, then got plastered by Florida 47 to single digit something, and played a horrid half against New Mexico State then – turned things around and finished that year 7-5.
These are the times that try men’s souls – and now we’ll get to see what the Vols are made of.
You seem to be confused, talking season is off season, that’s what I am talking about.
Right now we’re in the reg season which is proving season.
Also, did you seem to not read the article? They lost to GSU and lost to them bad. We already know what UT is made of.
UK won their opening game to a much superior opponent.
Yes, Sublem – but apparently you didn’t read my post. Again, 3 years ago we opened the season with a loss to Southern Miss and everyone was ready to give up on the season. I myself got caught up in the doom and gloom and predicted an 2-8 finish for the year. We finished 7-5.
It’s too early to say if UT will grow stronger from this horrible loss or turn the corner. After living in Knoxville for 14 years I have a soft spot for them as long as they aren’t playing Kentucky, so I’m hoping they get their act together.
S.Miss is a MUCH MUCH better football program than GSU, it is Doom and gloom when UT has been consistently embarrassing this decade. Nothing has changed.
You lost to Wyoming.
That Steve Spurrier head-shake gif comes to mind.
I didn’t think UT could have a worse season than 2017, but they may get it done this year.
Wow. Still a couple years away from .500.
They’re a couple of years away from being a couple of years away.
From your previous comments I think you’re a Vol fan…if so, it’s a long season so don’t give up on the Vols.
Not a Vol fan at all. I am a fan of their coaching searches though.
A lot of folks who gave the Gators a hard time for looking bad in a Win, wish their tms had the same story line after week 1. The Gators have a lot to work on but it’s easier after a win. The Vols could be in for a long year.
And in fairness, the Gators played a much better opponent. Losing to GaState at home is a terrible loss. Terrible.
Losing to a 2-9 UNC team is also pretty bad
It sure it. We have a pretty good idea who will be at the bottom of the East.
And who will be at the top I think right now its UGA #1 with Mizzou or UF at #2-3 and UK #4 after that idk
Right now Mizzou is tied with Wyoming. Bryant fumbled when he was sacked, and Wyoming ran it in for a TD. Later, he near threw a pick in the end zone, but it was ruled incomplete, so Mizzou salvaged a field goal to tie the score.
Pathetic.
ya sorry I spoke to soon its UGA UF UK Vandy everyone else
Winning comment.
Omg I’m dying right now this is so hilarious!! Georgia State!!!
If Mizzou doesn’t straighten up in Laramie, you will really be dying.
its a good thing Mizzou is looking so good
Be careful what you say
Don’t worry, they’ll build it back up brick by brick.
I remember State losing to Maine in 2004. I was present for that one.
Yeesh, that must have stung. The Outback Bowl was rough enough for me.
That’s rough…been a long time since the 90’s, and even the early 2000’s they were still pretty good. They don’t have the guys up front on both sides, been that way for quite some time. The only thing they can do is try to get better each week.
This is what we call a forum silencer. For the rest of the year, no matter the outcome of the rest of the season, no argument feasibly be won. Welcome to Arkansas’s level….
For the rest of the season, Arkansas fans will say “hey, at least we’re not Tennessee.”
That’s an insult to the Mighty Arkansas Razorbacks.
I would never have believed that this team could be this bad. They had an inexcusable loss at Vandy last year. And Pruitt followed that up with a loss that’s even worse.
And we PAID them.
Paid them A LOT
I honestly do feel bad for the team and the fans. This loss could very well either fire up the team or bring them down further. We’ll see what happens but this is harder to come back from unless someone starts making some speeches…
And to think this was supposed to be the SEC’s ‘most improved team’. What a pathetic performance.
In the SEC, as in all of America. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.
So far, the showings of the 2nd and 3rd tier SEC teams is embarrassing. I hope Mizzou can avoid embarrassment today.
Anybody rooting for Mizzou vs. Wyoming?
nope
I’m heartbroken. May all your QB’s be Feleipe’s.
May you guys always be a mid level Sec team
Mizzou looking good right now
“May all your QBs be Felipes.”
Lol’ed at that one!
I’d be nervous if I were you. Apparently the conference is cursed today.
I’m always nervous.
Sure, why not?
You’re what they call “a good Joe”.
Yes, despite the “my crap doesn’t stink” attitude from a few Mizzou fans on here.
I’m a Mizzou grad and a Mizzou fan, but I know very well the stink of some of Missouri’s games. I can still smell it.
Others, however, are downright aromatic!
Thank you for your support! :-)
Yes, I’m definitely for Missouri.
As I am for LSU, who are having their way today, as expected.
Do the same to Texas, please.
We are definitely NOT avoiding embarrassment! We’ve given up TD runs of 61 yards and 75 yards, and Bryant’s fumble was returned for a TD. Now Rountree has fumbled away the ball on a third-and-goal.
GAWWWWWD!
PATHETIC!
VINDICATION!!!
I’ve said for THREE YEARS how much Jim Chaney sucks.
I told all you dumb Vawls here for nine months.
VINDICATION!!!
Now, where’s the cocka-doodle-didn’t story?
They hid it on the SC page.
No matter what happens with any other team this season vol fans don’t get to talk sh1t to anyone about anything. If the Dawgs happen to slip up along the way and a vol fan wants to say something just remember week 1.
Bwahaha, Tennessee second best in SEC east?
Georgia state V Alabama national to title game, book it….
To those UTjr fans talking trash about franks and UF. I think its best you worry about your own team and the fact that you lost to Georgia state and the worst defense in college football last year
And to think the Vols “stole” Chaney from UGA……THANK YOU! smdh
Stole him! UGA fans will regret not keeping Chaney. Sour grapes about losing him, just watch!!
Now we gonna have to hear the haters talk about how overrated the SEC is because of this. Thanks Tennessee.
I don’t see any shortage of intra-SEC haters around here.
True. I guess I can’t really say too much because most SEC teams including MSU stated off slow today but South Carolina, Tennessee, and even Ole Miss had no business losing.
Nah, I fully expected the Ole Miss loss. Memphis is the better team.
I wish I could say that Missouri always wins games that they have no business losing. But I can’t.
Welcome to the club.
Somewhere Greg Schiano is laughing really really loud!!
At this point in time I am incredulous. I have watched football for 40 years , and more times than not it’s about matchups. My guy against your guy. The next variable is coaching. Can my coaches out coach ur coaches. Tennessee has 30+ 4 or 5 star players. They currently have more combined coaching national championships of any staff in SEC. yet somehow we lose to a team full of 1 and 2 stars and coaches that obviously aren’t currently desired by top notch problems. So what’s the answer. Don’t know. Let’s not kid ourselves is Nick Saban winning with Wake Forrest talent? No. But is Alabama winning without elite coaching? Probably not. Yet no matter how many good players and coaches and players Tennessee brings in we lose. There are three 5 star offensive lineman and several 4 star densive lineman on Tennessee . Yet somehow they got pushed around by a bunch of kids that are on a team that didn’t even exist a few years ago. Can’t explain it, other than cursed.
Watching the game, especially UT, the word that kept coming to mind is “soft”.
I’m trying to be objective….they did get shoved around by GaState and that was shocking.
“We stole Chaney from UGA”!!!
TruVol/TruDawg tothewhite courtesy phone…
I believe we are now battling for last place in the SEC. I’m convinced we are now worse than Vandy. Will be a comical game when we play y’all.
You will never beat us for last place! We’ve had more than a decade of practice for this moment.
That’s what I like to see — a competitive mind-set!
At least you two have a sense of humor through it all. Kudos! When Mizzou craps their pants like that, I’m in no mood for humor.
Missouri has just fallen behind Wyoming 17-14. Save a seat for me at the bar and order me a pitcher of beer.
No more beating UF predictions outta you huh Bcreek?
I think LSUMC said it best. Teams should not worry about talking crap till they played their first game and now USCjr and UTjr fans look really stupid.
and Mizzou fans are looking stupid now too
I’m not so stupid as to think there’s not more to life. I’m off to Chiang Mai, Thailand, tomorrow.
Pip-pip.
Lol have fun
We’re lucky if we can keep up with Charleston Southern next week.
Rocky, indeed.
Great opening win Georgia State!
I said it all last year when he was hired…Potato Head Pruitt is an absolute joke. So is Fulmer for hiring him. Pruitt was the least experience coach in the coaching search. Mike Leach was ready to sign a contract, but no, Fulmer had to hire the Potato Head.
What cracked me up was the TN LB flexing over the GAST rb because of a tackle for loss. Now remember, at this point TN is down 12 with 2:45 left lol.
Is it basketball season yet?
That could also be rough this year
That’s funny. Line of the day.
The reaction to NC-SCarolina is not exactly rapid.
Congrats to Shawn Elliot.
Funny Maine has a lot of material for week 1.
I think we know who #14 will be in this week’s power rankings will be.
Well there’s not much for a TN fan to say about that game. Totally outplayed and outcoached. The D is what surprised me most. I was worried after losing gooden and Thompson but never thought it would matter against lowly Ga. state. I honestly have no idea what happens to this team after a loss like that.
Complete emberrassment. I know that shocking upsets happen, but if this truly is our team, it’s gonna be a long season. Gonna be 0-12 if this is the product being put out on the field.
Upsets happen, but that was more, TN was completely outplayed. I get not wanting to have knee jerk reactions, but clean house. I wish we’d of done it in 13 when we lost to Georgia Southern. Instead we wasted another year.
Remember when you called me a “troll” for saying Potato Head Pruitt wasn’t going to win a Conference Championship let alone a N.C. Today puts all that into perspective doesn’t it.
Worst nightmare I could have for this year just happened.
Man what a ruff day for the conference. It’s about 10:30pm eastern and Missouri is trailing Wyoming by 17 early in the 4th and Auburn trails Oregon by 8 late in the 3rd. Maybe we can get a winner out of the UGA and Vandy game!
#1 I never liked Chaney. He sucked it up the 1st time he was here. Then Arkansas felt his wrath after us. Jawja has too many athletes to cover his his ineptness. But he’ll, we are giving coach after coach a great retirement pay so why not?
#2 I thought it was weak during practices to have refrigerated trailers to cool the players off. It’s always been hot and that’s how you get conditioned to the heat. I shook my head when I seen the video showing them off.
#3 Defense looked terrible. Soloman got pushed around like SevenTs mom at a prison rodeo. All this big talk about the Michigan transfer and he got treated like a b*tch by a bunch of 1 stars o-line who probably never got a SEC offer. The whole defense gave up. You could see it. It was worse than watching the end of Dooley’s team. They ran and passed at will. Pitiful.
The whole team and coaching staff was unprepared and didn’t want it. If Tennessee wind 1 game I will be shocked.
Hi Chippy thanks for thinking of me.
You will feel better after meeting up with your boyfriends at Club XYZ.
Say hello to your mom
Vandy/UK will be 3/4 in the east.
I’m guessing it will finish
UGA
UF
UK/Vandy
SC
Mizzou
UT
Regretfully, this appears very accurate.
That was AWFUL! I really feel terrible for all the Tennessee fans.
All the promise and hope of a new season smashed on the rocks of reality.
Tennessee just got outplayed, outcoached and out hustled. That’s the bottom line.
This coaching staff seemed like they couldn’t have possibly cared any less than they did.
From an outsiders view, (and maybe I’m way off base here) it’s looked as if Pruitt viewed the final score as “oh well, you win some, you lose some. No big deal. What’s all the fuss about? Golly!”
I hate it for the Tennessee fans (of which I am not one). You deserve so much better than this.
Apathy at its finest.
Don’t worry UT fans, it will get better. I just don’t know when…
I remember an opening game against South alabama, no longer the biggest official upset in the conference. Thanks for that big orange.
You know I watched the game– everybody is talking about how bad Georgia State is as a team. If they really as bad as people say Tennessee is in trouble because I was thinking they look good not knowing what to expect. In any case I hope Tennessee gets better..