Tennessee football hasn’t been all bad this season. Of course, that sort of depends on your perspective.

While some fans live and die with the result of every game, there are reasons to see a few silver linings in UT’s 1-3 start.

As the Vols hit reset coming out of the bye week, here are a few good, comical or entertaining things about the Vols’ 2019 season:

There has been plenty to talk about

The Vols have found 3 unique ways to lose this season. There was the upset loss to Georgia State, a blown lead against BYU and a blowout loss to Florida. Thanks to those 3 outcomes, UT fans have had something new to discuss around the water cooler. Simply being blown out each week wouldn’t have been any fun.

The Vols have also managed to produce a quarterback controversy. Fans can take their side between Jarrett Guarantano and Brian Maurer. Perhaps that will take the focus off of UT’s record.

Nautical misadventures

Nobody was hurt, fortunately, but Tenneessee’s season started with a boat fire on the Tennessee River. The boat sank.

Not long after, Jeremy Pruitt mentioned the most famous boat to ever sink — the Titanic — when describing the Vols’ 0-2 start.

“I think ‘Titanic’ came out maybe when I was in college,” Pruitt said to the Knoxville Quarterback Club, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel. “When the boat starts going down, remember all those mice running to the top, right? We have had a few that’s left our program, but you will figure out who wants to be a Tennessee Vol and who don’t.

“I can tell you this: I want to. I know the standards and expectations that we have and the men on our staff and the character that we have. You will see the best of the players at Tennessee throughout the year.”

The homemade T-shirt, scholarship for bullied 4th-grader

Football is only a game. Real life matters. And the University of Tennessee deserves all kinds of credit for coming to the defense of a student in Florida who was bullied after wearing a homemade Vols shirt to school.

The story went viral. UT’s bookstore started selling its version of the T-shirt. Proceeds benefitted the Stomp Out Bullying charity. That’s not all. Tennessee then offered the 4th-grader a 4-year scholarship.

It’s been the feel-good story of the year.

Jauan Jennings has emerged as an emotional leader

Credit UT’s most talented receiver with the ability to resurrect his image. Once a social-media-coach-cursing machine, Jennings has now said all the right things to the media. Hey, that’s something, right?

It seems like eons ago that Jennings was a malcontent who was kicked off the team before being allowed to return. Jennings has 19 catches for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns. Unfortunately, his confidence and leadership haven’t been maximized, but he’s clearly been the offense’s bright spot.

Trey Smith

There were no guarantees that Smith would be cleared medically to play this season. There was only hope.

It has been great to watch the fan favorite and super talented junior line up each week.

Tennessee’s offensive line has progressed

This isn’t the greatest compliment in the world considering how bad the Vols were to start the season up front. However, UT appears to have a plan in place moving forward. That’s saying something after playing almost every offensive lineman on the roster in the season opener against Georgia State.

Brent Cimaglia

Tennessee’s kicker has made all 9 of his field goal opportunities this season, which includes a 51-yarder. If the Vols ever have a game that comes down to a kick, Cimaglia is a player to count on. Too bad Cimaglia can’t play quarterback.

The Vols aren’t the worst team in the SEC

Arkansas is a strong contender for that distinction. Granted, Arkansas looked pretty good Saturday against Texas A&M, but the Razorbacks also lost to San Jose State. Vanderbilt also is in the running for the worst team in the SEC. The Commodores started 0-3 before beating Northern Illinois on Saturday. Take that Vandy!

Beer!!!

Fortunately for UT fans who have actually shown up to the Vols’ home games this season, Tennessee is selling beer for the first time in Neyland Stadium. Given the way UT has played this season, beer sales should hit the spot. Moonshine anyone?

This quote

When looking back on the first month of the season, Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said this: “Our football team is 100 times better than it was at this time last year.”

You can’t make this stuff up.