Football & Grits pod
Side note - David Ubben's mother passed away
David: the Tennessee Alabama game is one of the greatest regular season games, certainly the best game that I have ever been at, and the best environment that I have ever been at. After the field storming I came up with the idea to follow the guys carrying the goal post.
David: the town was crazy. Before you can get into what this game means, you just have to appreciate it as a spectacle. I could not stop smiling, like in the press box. It was just incredible football being played. Some people don't like the 100+ point shootouts. Let me tell you, this was not a bunch of busted coverages. This was good offenses making really good plays. Two QBs refusing the lose. Young in a losing effort was a magician, and still got outclassed by Hendon Hooker in that game. Hooker pulled some Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes stuff at the end to set up the game winning field goal. This is why we love college football. This is the sport at its best. Witnessing the game as a fan was a privelage, witnessing it in person was even bigger. That scene, the fans. I'm still buzzing from it. It was unbelievable. Watching that game from the press box, and then down on the field for the last 8 minutes. I could not stop smiling. I am still in awe of that game. I am sure that all the fans that were there will never forget it. I will never forget it. I followed those goal posts like 2 or 3 miles. It was just a great, great night. From what I've seen, the TV broadcast reflected that.
Brody: I am in that group of people that doesn't want a 100 point shootout every time. But this was a perfect football game. Everything was like watching a chess match football game. The offense was excellence. Everything Bama did, they had to make plays. If anything, Tennessee was - not necessarily cakewalking, but getting open guys. Everything with the Tennessee-Florida game was wow neyland stadium is gonna be unreal, and this took it to another level. I can't really think of another comp where a fan base is having this ridiculous cathartic experience. We've seen bad teams finally have good years before and that's fun, but to have this game, and this hate your life experience that the fans have had. That is a different release when you get something like this.
David: part of it was that this was kind of out of nowhere. Even optimistic Vols fans were like ok let's improve on last year. Let's win some games, we've got some pieces but we still have holes, all this stuff, the offense will be good. Then you talk about the reception of the Heupel hire. It was not super well received. Most people kind of shrugged. It has become such a perfect fit because offense has the scheme, defense has the havoc, but big picture, Josh Heupel is an astoundingly normal person. There aren't many normal people that are head coaches. Some are quiet geniuses, but Heupel is this normal dude. That resonates with people. Especially when you've had Dooley and Jones and Pruitt. None of those guys really quite resonated with the fans the same way. The fans appreciate it, the players respond to it. The fans are in a dream state. They didn't have a lot of pressure going into the season, Tennessee is playing with so much house money right now. Every fan is like I can't believe this is happening. But on the field it's not like you're wondering how they're doing this. They're good! They have the best offense in the country. We are talking Tennessee in the playoffs which is just insane. It's not even that they're in the hunt, it's that it's going to be really hard to keep them out now. They would have to do something unthinkable to not make the playoff. That's crazy! As long as you don't get blown off the field by UGA. Tennessee will be in that game, it's gonna be close. There is no one dominant team in CFB this year. Is Tennessee the best team in the country? By resume they are. Vote them #1.
Brody: I can make the case. They have the scariest feature in the country. Their offense is scarier than UGA's defense. Hooker is the most in command of all of college football. They are in the drivers seat. I thought the defense would be an issue. They do not play bad defense. They cause pressure, all the time. Bama made great plays, but that's not against tennessees defense. I don't see them slipping up.
David: the secondary is not very good. But they have a bunch of guys in their front 7. Alabama used to bully Tennessee but Tennessee was physical. They are good on the OL and front 7. Tennessee matches up against UGA well.
Brody: that Pitt game was huge. They have Kentucky coming up, they'll be 10+ points favorite. That's the potential for a clunker.
David: but it's in Neyland. And don't have a disaster against SCar. Everyone is roasting Beamer by the way. If you beat UGA, you're in. That's that. If you lose, as long as it's close, you might be in. The committee loves resume. You're sitting at 11-1 and you have to love your chances.
[playoff scenarios and current standings]
Brody: this is real for Tennessee.
David: if you ask me now I will say Tennessee makes the playoff. The UGA game comes down to what it took for Tennessee to beat Alabama. Tennessee is mentally tough. Clutch moments. It looked like Alabama might run Bama off the field, they come back, Tennessee keeps playing. The scoop n score, the fans wearing the cup are like oh of course. But no Tennessee marches down the field. Rally from that. Defense holds. Offense makes great plays and you win the game. They said alright we got it. And it's lead by Hooker. His life was in the balance at one point. They are playing with house money, he's playing with house money. This team really does remind me of 2000 Oklahoma. The team that Heupel was a part of. Year 1 7-5, year two they kept winning games. There was no great team out there, they survived and won a title (
@Enki_Amenra ). They aren't getting lucky, they're just winning games. Aside from UGA you've got a bunch of teams you should win. They don't have to impress, just don't be terrible.
Brody: playing Bama with a lead is like playing prime Tiger with a lead. They roar back. Tennessee won it. They've checked every box. They've won every game and passed every challenge. Pitt, Florida, LSU, Bama. The last challenge is UGA. This is great for college football.
David: the sleeping giant is back. This is great for CFB. They're great.
this is perfect
