Magic ride ends, but Vol Nation, keep your eyes on the big prize
As we wrote about following the streak-ending win over Florida, the enemies of the SEC are numerous and unforgiving. But the hardest foes to vanquish are the ones that reside in your own huddle. Tennessee had somehow eluded those foes for the first five weeks of the SEC season, rolling up the streak-ended over Florida and the Dobbsnail Boot epic over Georgia.
And against Texas A&M, the Vols made tons of plays. They just needed to make one more.
Josh Dobbs passed for a career-high 398 yards, but his final pass resulted in Tennessee’s seventh turnover. And it sealed their 45-38 loss to Texas A&M in double overtime.
Almost every statistic pointed in Tennessee’s favor, except the one that determines games. The Vols outgained the Aggies 684-590. They gained more first downs. They held the ball longer.
They just didn’t take care of it.
In the end, it wasn’t Trevor Knight or Trayveon Williams or Josh Reynolds who downed the Vols, and ended the historic run. It was Tennessee itself — turning the ball over repeatedly, five times by fumble, two interceptions from Dobbs — that finally ended the Vols’ run at a miracle season. When A&M pulled ahead 28-7 early in the third quarter, Tennessee had finally dug a hole from which they could not emerge.
Although they did.
Somehow, they fought back to force overtime, going 80 yards in six plays, scoring the game-tying touchdown with 41 seconds left.
When Texas A&M drove into field goal position but badly missed what would have been a game-winner with 8 seconds left, who didn’t think Tennessee would escape, again, and win in overtime?
Of course it would.
It didn’t, though. After Trevor Knight scored to put the Aggies up 7 in the second overtime, the Aggies’ intercepted Dobbs on Tennessee’s ensuing play.
Just like that, game over. But there are still goals to go.
The loss to A&M isn’t the end of the miracle season– it’s just the end of the first act.
Alabama will visit Tennessee next Saturday and with one upset win, Tennessee moves to the top of not only the East, but perhaps the entire SEC.
It’s a tall task — there’s a reason UT has lost the past nine meetings in the series. But be honest, Vol Nation, the perfect season of your dreams wouldn’t have been capped by an upset in College Station.
It was always capped by knocking off the Tide. And next Saturday, Tennessee has a great chance to do just that, and rewrite the miracle ever so slightly.
So take a deep breath, let it go, and realize that you’ve put Florida and Georgia’s fan bases both in this same position. And start hoping that you can do the same to Alabama’s fan base next Saturday night. The whole SEC will be watching.
Tennessee has been sloppy with ball security all season. I don’t know if you can all iof the sudden correct that against Bama. If they do, we should have ourselves quite a game.
Nah, **** every other fanbase and their players.
Rocky Flop
I don’t know if Tennessee can hang with Bama…I think they’ll have to score a lot of points to do it. They’re defense is so decimated with injuries its into 3rd and 4th stringers, and with our defensive back play being horrible Lane Kiffin will try to exploit that no doubt. Our depth just isn’t quite near Alabama’s right now, I’m not sure if it ever will be with signing number 1 recruiting classes every year.
It is what it is, and we are where we are. Forget the haters because the vols will step up. If they get their ass kicked, they’ll go down swinging. Go vols. Keep that pride
They get Kirkland back next week, but the secondary will continue to be a concern. Ball security better be their focus this week. A loss against Alabama isn’t necessarily a dream buster, unless Florida continues to puss out about playing LSU. Face it, no one expected Tennessee to go undefeated this season.
Florida is not to blame here it’s your fine SEC commissioner. Take it to the bank “IF” it matters The LSU and UF game will be played
The SEC Commisioner isn’t to blame either. You can’t control or precisely predict Mother Nature.
You can blame Florida for declining a Sunday game and declining a neutral site game. Offering lsu nov 19 as the only date knowing they would likely decline due to its rediculous ramificiations for them is ludicrous. But 🐸☕️
I love Barnett’s tackle in 2OT… throws the QB into the end zone hahah.
Let go of it. You lost.
Josh Dobbs 4 Hesiman
That dream died with this game.
If it can really be called a rivalry, I guess UT has to win at least once every 12 years.
So did you lucky top. Your luck ran out, Telling a gator to let go of something when the VOLS obsess over Florida daily.
We did enjoy your 1st loss and will thoroughly enjoy your second.
Best of Luck to BAMA nad hope they finish what TAMU started.
Cue the Voluntears….
38-28 ha ha ha ha….And who did Florida play today??
LMAo
You sore ass losing UT fans better just focus on winning what you think will be push over games after bama. You do realize it took App state not having a kicker and OT to win, about let Ohio Bobcats beat you and you think your going to run over these sec teams lol you idiots are exactly why everyone hates UT It’s the fans!
I love a Gator fan talking about the team everyone supposedly hates. Uh, look in the mirror?
everyone hates your fans it’s talked about all over the country how you guys act. Just like TN and FL game I was there and before the game even stared your sorry ass excuse for fans are walking around chanting F you Florida and flipping everyone off Real Class good job
People are idiots.
Wow FLgators, hyperbole much?
Hahaha, FL is 4-4 over their last 8 w/the wins being UMass, N. Texas, KY and Vandy lol, joke is on you clowns, and you know it, you’re just tryin to get a few more shots in while you can, absolutely pathetic.
We didn’t you know what we did do? Watch you go down! That made our weekend.
AL taking your Garnish Orange down! What will you obsess over then? Seniors will be gone and you can rest assured we will all be waiting for you. 1 win in 12 years now that’s a fact. Book your rooms in Orlando now the citrus bowl misses you.
4 turnovers on the road against UGA last week and wins with a last play hail Mary! 7 turnovers on road and Vols lose in overtime! The Vols are a good team but they cannot continue to turnover the ball, and be in position to win these games! That luck was bound to run out eventually!
Agreed too many self-inflicted wounds, still proud of my Vols though.
Both teams sloppy with ball control. I can’t decide if Aggies had a smidge more luck or if Vols were lucky to keep it close. I’ll take the W and sleep well.
Entertaining yes. Flawless execution, not so much. I agree with your indecision. It will be interesting to get a read on the OT interception. Awful throw or awful play call or something else. The UT receiver had at least three A&M defenders around him.
And sadly if you look, dobbs had a wide open running lane for a first down, if not a touchdown on the last play. They need to let dobbs be dobbs and play his game.
Sloppy play, I’m worry but a lot less about playing TAM now !!!
A&M will destroy Ole Miss that’s for sure…Ags have a better pass rush than FSU & bama.
7 turnovers and still took it to the final play of double overtime, don’t know if the Gators could take it that far or many other teams for that matter. Tennessee owned total yardage almost 100 more, time of possession 5 minutes more and first downs 8 more, they outplayed A&M but not their own mistakes. A&M played a great game but Tennessee gave it to them. They don’t quit though!
Well, the deal with the devil apparently expired. Frankly, I don’t think Tennessee even makes it to Atlanta. This year is Tennessee’s last chance for years to come with graduating players and the young talent at Georgia and Florida becoming more experienced.
Don’t make the Vols listen to facts, they are busy obsessing over the Gators and dawgs. Let them enjoy the one good year they have had in a decade. They are trying so hard to be noticed.
He’s talking about someone making a deal with the devil and you call that a “fact”? lol .. Sit down, kid
Some Ohio State fans think Indiana ‘ was a tough game, better than a cup cake ‘, Harbaugh up at Michigan thinks he has a Heisman winner, how would any of us know, looking at their cup cake schedule ( 78-0 , come on )……And Tennessee runs out of miracles…….2016 goes on…..
Turn the ball over 7 times against A&M… Seeing the best defense in the country at scoring points on turnovers next week… looks like a recipe for disaster