The Official Tennessee vs. Indiana Tax Slayer Gator Bowl Game Thread, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN

[JohnWardForever]

This, this is silly. I love my vols win or lose. I also expect a lot from them. We can’t beat just anyone. If we played LSU or Clemson tomorrow we would be killed. Anyone with sense going in would know it. I’d be right here crying in my beer watching it....but I’d know what to expect.

You right. Lsu or Clem would roll UT. 30 or more.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

You right. Lsu or Clem would roll UT. 30 or more.

...and about another 130 teams. Who cares ?

 

[BowlBrother85]

He also made plays when we had to have them down the stretch for the win, he's gonna be fine. Fans should definitely lay off, especially if they are Vol fans.

He made some plays down the stretch but jeez, that pick 6 in the 3rd quarter was a horrible read. Guarantano has been a starter for two full seasons now, and he has had Chaney working with him for one. That was a horrifically bad decision. He has to be better than that by this stage in his career.

 

[JohnWardForever]

He has some flaws which need to be fixed but I agree he is the most talented back we have.

Gray has Speed, Talent; makes good cuts, He Needs to put on 15 pounds of muscle and run heavier. BOWL People over.

 

[OldandStillaVol]

To all the Vol fans that left early...you missed a great ending.

I admit I was one of them. Got so aggravated with our offense, I decided to leave early in the 4th. Listened to the end of game on radio. Told my girls I was jinxing the team and once I left, the Vols relaxed and played better.

 

[JohnWardForever]

...and about another 130 teams. Who cares ?

Just commenting on ANOTHER Comment. Don't get your Panties in a wad.

 

[tbones0711]

Bye, no interest in folks who call folks they don't know ignorant.[/QUOTE
Go ahead and talk him up al off-season. You need to re-watch this game. Can't feel the rush and take a sack......goes panic mode and throws up a freebie. The 2nd INT was on CJC for going to JJ so early. If any one player IU was dedicated to stopping it was JJ AND your boy telegraphed it all the way. If we have any semblence of a coaching staff HB will take the 1st snap in Norman next year. Take that to the bank.

 

[Vol737]

I think JG played awful, but it really gets annoying to see him trashed every other post. He's a nice kid. And as much we all wanted a win tonight, I can promise he wanted it more.

Don’t disagree with any of this, and not trashing him personally. He’s a great kid. His play is just not upper SEC caliber play. Anyone that’s been around football at all sees it and knows it. But hey, we won. And that’s all that matters.

 

[Vol_fan_in_Tampa]

23-22 Vols win. Book it!!!!

Booked!

 

[Tennesseefan2019]

 

[vik]

Pretty simple. A decisive win would’ve shown progression. We didn’t do that tonight.

EXACTLY! Remember how those three decisive bowl wins in a row, after the 2014, 2015, and 2016 seasons led to the historically memorable record-setting 2017 season?

 

[JohnWardForever]

Shouldn't have been a game for a desperation heave to win.

There's that. But, when you can only win by completing a Hail Mary and then running 15yds with Defenders right there---

 

[EastTNVol6240]

...and about another 130 teams. Who cares ?

Why are you angry with anyone being realistic? Tennessee played terrible. I will say I put most of it on JG. He cost us lots of points early. We could’ve crushed their spirits in the 1st quarter. We’re all glad we won. Defense played pretty well. Coaching made some stupid calls early, but in the end made some to win the game. BUT everything about the W was ugly. It never should’ve been close. If you win an ugly game against a tough SEC opponent you run home with a smile. This was not that. We regressed from the end of season. We have a long way to go if we’re gonna compete where we want to be, which is starting in the East with UG and FL. I just want progression. Put your moms knife back in the kitchen drawer please.

 

[CA_Vol]

Glad he got to see the win CA. And hope you guys had good holidays together. I hope he’s here to watch UT with you next year.

Thank you. We had a great Christmas and God has a plan. This win is a very happy moment for us as a family.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

You mean under the terrible CBJ? Yes I remember. Great point. Which is exactly the problem. We had a development/ progression problem under that regime. Something was off tonight. I’m hoping just a bad game and not the same as those years. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[JMSqb11]

These are the type games that we have to win in the SEC.

Definitely type of games Tennessee has been prone to lose the last 8-10 years.

 

[82_VOL_83]

I don't subscribe to the we should have won by more theory, I've always been a who cares how we won type. I also could care less if he dug us a hole as long as we find ourselves getting out of it. I look at it as a positive that we are getting back to the point where we can kind of will our way to a win late in 4th quarters vs teams that have a pulse.

I'd rather see good football. Tonight was not good football. But hey, you thu talent dude. You know errythang.

 

[PulaskiVolFan]

Don’t disagree with any of this, and not trashing him personally. He’s a great kid. His play is just not upper SEC caliber play. Anyone that’s been around football at all sees it and knows it. But hey, we won. And that’s all that matters.

It's certainly not bottom level. Upper level in the SEC is elite and they are far and few between. Nobody has ever said JG is elite and fans expecting us to always have elite QB play is an overreach I feel. There are very few elite QBs throughout the country, lots of Vol fans think HB will be the next time we get that type player.

 

[johnboyhunter]

Like I said Pruitt is a D coach and he personally coaches that D and he put it in their hands to win at the end. Not hard to understand in this game.
As to your broader point what we’re witnessing is a total rebuild from the bottom up. Our bigger problem is on O and beyond that with the dysfunctional team chemistry Pruitt inherited thru mismatched recruit classes spent chasing stars not functional cohesiveness.
I’m beyond impressed with what Pruitt & Co have done with the complete cluster they inherited. I don’t think Saban & Co in their prime could have done any better really. Just find a real game manager QB who can also break a game open and we’ll start seeing those wins you need to make you a believer. It’s a 3-5 year rebuild.

Saban wouldn’t lose to GA State or BYU.

 

[KB5252]

JG struggles with timing, if anything is off it magnifies this flaw in his game. When the defense is on their heels and he can react within his timing comfort zone he's very good. Anything off balance can turn sketchy for him. If you allow this to build they begin to consume him and he gets stuck in this forcing the ball too late rut.

The offensive line was sketchy tonight, the Indiana defense did a very good job of being disruptive and our o line struggled for much of this game. Indiana D coordinator did an amazing job and honestly had Chaney chasing plays for most of the game.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Please, we need the defense that played Kentucky to show up
JJ wildcat, and let crouch murder people

THIS is exactly what should have happened a Bunch tonight. Indy wouldn't have had 2 shots at the end. Crouch and Jennings . Plow behind Trey! Somebody tell Chaney about this concept!!

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

you drank a whole case of Coors?

why would anyone do that?

 

[99Vol]

I don’t even care. We have nothing to be happy about even if we win. Just a sorry display of football.

Maybe you need to put your big boy pants on before watching a football game next time. Typically there are lots of ups and downs. Not happy with a win immediately after a game, something's off with you then....

 

[Ty4Vols]

Bye, no interest in folks who call folks they don't know ignorant.

But idiot is ok? You're the biggest JG fan boy we have. Also, the biggest hypocrite on the site and very few if any are close.

 

[ptcarter]

This rain is trying to knock out my DirecTV

Mine out whole 3rd quarter