The Official #8 Tennessee @ Vanderbilt Game Thread, 12:00 PM ET, ABC

[OneManGang]

To quote the great Joe Thompson, "At the end of the day, they're still vanderbilt. And we're still TENNESSEE!"

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

There's not a team in the playoff field that we can't beat.

When our offense EXECUTES, we're scary good. Being able to run the ball is huge. Always has been, always will be

 

[vol94]

We haven’t had to actually defend many kickoffs this season. Wonder how much that contributed to the TD return

I still rather we kick the ball in the end zone. Maybe the kicker tried but didn’t have the leg since it was colder.

 

[KeyVol14]

When our offense EXECUTES, we're scary good. Being able to run the ball is huge. Always has been, always will be

Agreed...opens up the play action pass big time for us.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Yeah. There were a whole lotta people jawing early about Heupel sucked, and his offense was a gimmick that teams had figured out, and how Nico sucked ass, and how Vandy was going to win or even blow Tennessee out. For some reason the really negative ones have obsessed about how Nico was a "worse Jarrett Guarantano." Those sure aged well.

Just makes you wonder what goes on in the mind, to drive people to pop off like that before the first quarter's even finished.

I think it's when your favorite team comes out cold looking like they don't remember how to play football. That's what goes through my mind. How an inferior team can make your team forget who they are and how they got there. But, ymmv.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

How can a team look so bad in the first quarter, then play so well the rest of the game? You see it all the time. Certainly not just with this team. Amazing how quickly something can change the flow of a game.

But, what amazes me, is how Nico transformed from sketchy to in-charge.

 

[OffTackleVol]

We look like a slow, out of shape team that knows they suck but wanna at least put forth enough sloppy effort to try to give the blind faithful something the cling to that’s positive and blame the refs

And btw, this offense is an embarrassment not just to UT, but the whole of college football in general

May be the idiotic post of the day.......and that's saying something.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Conservative is ok as long as you get the W

What about H.W.?

 

[vol94]

I was a little dramatic first quarter. Really couldn’t believe how bad we started with so much on the line. Glad I kept watching and rooting and glad I was proven wrong. We came ready. Just had a fluke start.

This. Plus we struggled to stop Vandy in the 1.5 quarters. It’s life as a fan, not knowing if any adjustments are coming. Plus, there is a bit of BVS since we’ve choked over the yrs when we had opportunities (97, 99, 2001, 2016, 2022).

Idk what adjustments Banks made but our D stepped up. And Nico got it going and looked good. He had the one bad int but the passes to Thornton got us going.

Go Vols!

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Agreed...opens up the play action pass big time for us.

Nico executed today too! Made some great, timely throws

 

[Dirtyhairies]

It's pathetic....bunch of clowns fretting with TEN MINUTES left in the first quarter.... It's not embarrassing the way we started play it's embarrassing our fans gave up on our team with 10 minutes left in the first day quarter.

Pathetic.

They act like children at the first sign of adversity and then say our players cant handle pressure lol.

Id hate to be their children when it comes time for life maturity lessons.

 

[Buddy’s Bandit]

What needs to happen to give us a shot to host a playoff game?

 

[volfan102455]

What needs to happen to give us a shot to host a playoff game?

Continued chaos!

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I still rather we kick the ball in the end zone. Maybe the kicker tried but didn’t have the leg since it was colder.

Yeah, can't be as easy as it looks to do it EVERY time.

 

[TC 83]

At the NegaVols ok?

Man…combing through comments early in this game is rough. The legion of the miserable had the game over after 10 minutes.

 

[rocketskates]

They should bring back the cage

 

[vol94]

We look like a slow, out of shape team that knows they suck but wanna at least put forth enough sloppy effort to try to give the blind faithful something the cling to that’s positive and blame the refs

And btw, this offense is an embarrassment not just to UT, but the whole of college football in general

Not sure if you’re trolling but far form the truth. Our D was flying around the ball and dominated Vandy offense with exception of the lonely score when TN went prevent.

Our receivers must run crisp routes and get off the line if and when DB “jams” at line of scrimmage. Do that and they should get open.

Heup called a better passing game in 2nd half, exposing Vandy and middle of field.

Williams came in and played well in 2nd half. Nico used his legs and his jersey was kept clean by the o-line.

We rushed the ball for over 200 yards from 40 plus carries while Nico had around 250 in the air (I’m guessing).

Areas of concern:
• D Samp fumbled 4 times in last 6 games.
• penalties
• short yardage play calling-execution
• Defense- getting gashed 1st quarter (up middle)
• slow start - can’t give up special teams plays in playoffs. No turnovers!!

Go Vols!

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

I guess TN had to spot Vandy 14 points before they rolled over them, pretty sure Pavia is going to keep his mouth shut going forward....

 

[rocketskates]

Man…combing through comments early in this game is rough. The legion of the miserable had the game over after 10 minutes.

To be fair, that was an absolutely awful start and we were very uninspired. Luckily we got it together and Nico ended up having a great game.

 

[hound dog hillbil]

Will the real Tennessee please stand up,please stand up

 

[C-south]

Man…combing through comments early in this game is rough. The legion of the miserable had the game over after 10 minutes.

Luckily you showed up after the game was over.

 

[TC 83]

To be fair, that was an absolutely awful start and we were very uninspired. Luckily we got it together and Nico ended up having a great game.

Oh I agree…worst possible start you could ever come up with. KO return, then fumble. I just knew those were fluke plays and we had a lot of time to right the ship. VN was wound up tight… I get it.

 

[TC 83]

Luckily you showed up after the game was over.

I know—I like to see the results before I open my mouth.

 

[rocketskates]

Oh I agree…worst possible start you could ever come up with. KO return, then fumble. I just knew those were fluke plays and we had a lot of time to right the ship. VN was wound up tight… I get it.

Definitely, and I was no exception. We’ve been on the brink of something special only to blow it against a lesser opponent more than a few times; so I think that we were all a little testy.

 

[C-south]

I know—I like to see the results before I open my mouth.

Whatever the lottery numbers are tonight will be the numbers I thought about playing but didn’t.