This Missouri Game is one of the most important we’ve ever had…

[WhenUrVolUrVFL]

Why?

This Tennessee football team is good. Actually, this team has been excellent.

I genuinely believe the team that played in Athens was not the team that played every other game this season.

Yes, Georgia’s defense looked good and they executed the plan.

I think more than Georgia being good—was that we choked. Hooker is the leader of this team and he choked. He’s human. He’s the best player in the country and the reason we smoked LSU, beat Alabama, and Florida, and Kentucky, and Pitt etc—but he had a back to earth moment against UGA.

I think we were legit going to have a slug fest until that punt changed the game. They pinned us, and that was like putting blood in the water. And they just kept punching us and punching us and we were stunned with the crowd and the spotlight. If we don’t get pinned there, I think we have a decent drive and pop them in the nose after getting a stop and the entire trajectory of the game changes.

How is that relevant to the Missouri game?

Well, we got rattled. Sports is mental as much as it’s physical. Right now this team can go in two different directions and that’s going to be 100% on the mental toughness of the men on this team and the coaches to get them out of the downward spiral.

Missouri is a good team that actually had Georgia on the ropes. It’s the perfect barometer for where we’re going to go this season.

Hooker needs to lead this team with effective drives and extreme efficiency here on out. That young man is a leader. And I know he’s not happy with what happened against UGA, and I know he’s going to want another crack at them.

Therefore the season starts over this Saturday. We are 100% still in the hunt. The team that beat us on Saturday had the SAME EXACT THING HAPPEN TO THEM—in the SEC championship. They got absolutely dominated by Bama and everyone said—1980 lol Georgia is always going to be a second tier school lol underperforming Georgia lol always doing less with more Georgia—and then what happened in the playoff??? They absolutely cracked Michigan in the jaw. And then punked Alabama in the national championship.

I think we have the talent and the players to do the same thing. Rocky lost in Rocky I. In Rocky II, he came back by not quitting and he ended up being the champ.

How we respond the rest of the season defines us as potential champions and our entire program. Let’s get hype on the comeback. Hey Syri—play Eye of the Tiger.

Go Vols.

 

[ursaminotaur]

It's an important game, no doubt. Missouri is a solid team but they aren't world-beaters. 2-4 in the conference. Our team will have to be focused but Heupel and the boys will be ready. We'll take care of business. GBO

 

[Jax_Vol]

I am all for beating Missouri!

 

[DougVol]

I am all for beating Missouri!

That’s a relief. You’re normally on the fence with this match up.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

This Missouri Game is one of the most important we’ve ever had…

Man, thread titles are hitting a rough patch this morning.

I do appreciate your sentiment. Every game is important, especially when it is the next game. Agreed.

But "one of the most important we've ever had"? "Ever"? Really?

This isn't even one of the five most important games of this season. Much less "ever."

What makes this game important is that it is this game. This week. Next game up.

Beyond that, it is just another SEC match. And, sadly, an SEC match that comes after we are virtually eliminated from Atlanta. So...even it being SEC isn't all that key at this point.

We do still have big goals ahead of us. Good chance to get into the playoffs and take another shot at the Dawgs. To get there, we have to win out in the regular season. Absolutely true.

But that's it.

Go Vols!

 

[RDU VOL#14]

The most important thing our guys need to do is not let UGA beat us again this week.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

I am all for beating Missouri!

Agreed.

 

[WhenUrVolUrVFL]

Man, thread titles are hitting a rough patch this morning.

I do appreciate your sentiment. Every game is important, especially when it is the next game. Agreed.

But "one of the most important we've ever had"? "Ever"? Really?

This isn't even the one of the five most important games of this season. Much less "ever."

What makes this game important is that it is this game. This week. Next game up.

Beyond that, it is just another SEC match. And, sadly, an SEC match that comes after we are virtually eliminated from Atlanta. So...even it being SEC isn't all that key at this point.

We do still have big goals ahead of us. Good chance to get into the playoffs and take another shot at the Dawgs. To get there, we have to win out in the regular season. Absolutely true.

But that's it.

Go Vols!

This game is so important because it’s the first time back on the field since we got rattled. It’s how we respond that makes this game important.

If we play a dog fight down to Missouri’s level, I think that’s how we’ll end up finishing the season. If however, we come out like the Tennessee Volunteers from the rest of this season—with an electric pass offense—a stout run defense. I think if we can make a statement win—like a 44-13 type of win. We’re right back on track.

We need Hooker to put up the stats. We need Small back. We need the running backs to be used in flare outs, screens. We need to practice picking up the blitz. Getting Hooker on the roll out and attacking the perimeter—we do those things—and we’re going to be ready for the playoff.

 

[Jax_Vol]

That’s a relief. You’re normally on the fence with this match up.

Yeah, Mizzou owns a soft place in my heart.

However, in this specific year, I do believe the Vols could be a team of destiny.

This upcoming Saturday begins a 32 team football playoff bracket for us.

In the first round, we must handle the Tigers. They will put up a fight. As mentioned, we need to refind our swag.

Pass that test, and we'll play a meaningful game in a hostile environment in Columbia, SC.

Round three provides a home road game in Nashville.

The semi-finals will match us against the Big 10 undefeated Champ - Ohio State or Michigan.

And then, in the finale, we will need to catch some breaks and bounces to take down UGA on a neutral field at SoFi Stadium.

The journey is the reward!

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Yeah, Mizzou owns a soft place in my heart.

However, in this specific year, I do believe the Vols could be a team of destiny.

This upcoming Saturday begins a 32 team football playoff bracket for us.

In the first round, we must handle the Tigers. They will put up a fight. As mentioned, we need to refind our swag.

Pass that test, and we'll play a meaningful game in a hostile environment in Columbia, SC.

Round three provides a home road game in Nashville.

The semi-finals will match us against the Big 10 undefeated Champ - Ohio State or Michigan.

And then, in the finale, we will need to catch some breaks and bounces to take down UGA on a neutral field at SoFi Stadium.

The journey is the reward!

Solid post. Home game in Nashville won me over especially.

 

[kcvols1]

Solid post. Home game in Nashville won me over especially.

I REALLY hope we checker their place.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I REALLY hope we checker their place.

That would be a lot easier than trying to carry their goalposts all the way to the Tennessee River.

[for those who will try hard to misunderstand: I do not advocate tearing down Vandy's goalposts. Was just kidding. You know, about how they'd have to go 100 miles to get to the Tennessee River from Nashville. In any case, Vandy are never worth going onto the field after the game. Ever. In fact, now that we've gotten storming the field out of our system, I think we're good for not doing it again against anybody or anything short of a championship for, say, another generation.]

 

[Orange_Vol1321]

Why?

This Tennessee football team is good. Actually, this team has been excellent.

I genuinely believe the team that played in Athens was not the team that played every other game this season.

Yes, Georgia’s defense looked good and they executed the plan.

I think more than Georgia being good—was that we choked. Hooker is the leader of this team and he choked. He’s human. He’s the best player in the country and the reason we smoked LSU, beat Alabama, and Florida, and Kentucky, and Pitt etc—but he had a back to earth moment against UGA.

I think we were legit going to have a slug fest until that punt changed the game. They pinned us, and that was like putting blood in the water. And they just kept punching us and punching us and we were stunned with the crowd and the spotlight. If we don’t get pinned there, I think we have a decent drive and pop them in the nose after getting a stop and the entire trajectory of the game changes.

How is that relevant to the Missouri game?

Well, we got rattled. Sports is mental as much as it’s physical. Right now this team can go in two different directions and that’s going to be 100% on the mental toughness of the men on this team and the coaches to get them out of the downward spiral.

Missouri is a good team that actually had Georgia on the ropes. It’s the perfect barometer for where we’re going to go this season.

Hooker needs to lead this team with effective drives and extreme efficiency here on out. That young man is a leader. And I know he’s not happy with what happened against UGA, and I know he’s going to want another crack at them.

Therefore the season starts over this Saturday. We are 100% still in the hunt. The team that beat us on Saturday had the SAME EXACT THING HAPPEN TO THEM—in the SEC championship. They got absolutely dominated by Bama and everyone said—1980 lol Georgia is always going to be a second tier school lol underperforming Georgia lol always doing less with more Georgia—and then what happened in the playoff??? They absolutely cracked Michigan in the jaw. And then punked Alabama in the national championship.

I think we have the talent and the players to do the same thing. Rocky lost in Rocky I. In Rocky II, he came back by not quitting and he ended up being the champ.

How we respond the rest of the season defines us as potential champions and our entire program. Let’s get hype on the comeback. Hey Syri—play Eye of the Tiger.

Go Vols.

Heupel choked. I was waiting on offensive adjustments to counter the man to man coverage and loaded box. There's not a QB in the nation that could've done any better in that situation. Worst game for Heupel and our OL got manhandled.

 

[UTK]

It’s important. It’s nice to know it’s basically a cake walk. Missouri is nowhere near a “good team”.

 

[Jax_Vol]

That would be a lot easier than trying to carry their goalposts all the way to the Tennessee River.

[for those who will try hard to misunderstand: I do not advocate tearing down Vandy's goalposts. Was just kidding. You know about how they'd have to go 100 miles to get to the Tennessee River from Nashville. In any case, Vandy are never worth going onto the field after the game. Ever. In fact, now that we've gotten storming the field out of our system, I think we're good for not doing it again against anybody or anything short of a championship for, say, another generation.]

Nice disclaimer.

Q: How do you keep Vanderbilt out of your yard?

A: Put up some goalposts.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

Heupel choked. I was waiting on offensive adjustments to counter the man to man coverage and loaded box. There's not a QB in the nation that could've done any better in that situation. Worst game for Heupel and our OL got manhandled.

If you're going to try to simplify something as mult-faceted and complex as 60 minutes of football, with something like 150 plays total, offense and defense, into one Easy Button of Blame, you are WAY under-performing.

Whole lotta things didn't go as well as we'd have liked them to. Offense, defense, and special teams. Particularly offense, but all three phases. And on just about every single play, one or two people messed up. Coaches, players, a combination...there were one or two errors in many of our plays.

And on top of that, the UGa defenders being as good as they are, that made all the margins of error much, much tighter. Throwing windows were tighter. Running lanes were skinnier and closed faster. Opportunities to turn upfield on the perimeter were more fleeting.

Josh Heupel didn't false start 8 times. Josh Heupel didn't over-throw one open receiver by 3 yards and another by a yard and a half. Josh Heupel didn't look left when looking right could have turned a one-yard loss into an eight-yard gain.

I'm not faulting any lad in particular. Nor any coach. Football is a team sport, and that's how we lost. As a team. Having each other's backs.

Sometimes, even very good teams lose. So let's dust it off and get back to chasing our goals, right, some of which remain completely within our grasp.

Go Vols!

 

[AllVols]

I'm betting we come out with a hangover, but by games end we are going away.

 

[rocketskates]

We are 3 score favorites for a reason. We are going to beat them so bad they’ll be feeling it in Columbia.

 

[walkenvol]

Home game sell out - perfect place to get your mojo back after a disappointing loss. Mizzou’s O is hot garbage so if our D shows up it should be a decisive win

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

Missouri and SC are trap games, UT cannot let off the gas.

 

[ArmchairQB]

The Missouri game is a pretty important barometer. They've lost four conference games by 3, 4, 7 and 4, and are 13th in the nation in total defense, allowing just over 300 yard a game. This isn't a bad team that just plans on coming in to lay down and die. They've slowed down everyone they've played. Georgia is the only conference opponent they've played where they failed to knock around 100 yard or more off their opponent's average offensive output.

Should we win? Absolutely. But if their record is any indicator, we'll have to work. Exactly as it should be on a Saturday in the SEC. Glad to be at home again, but not loving the noon kick. Would much rather have had a raucous evening crowd for a rebound game.

 

[agent|orange]

That would be a lot easier than trying to carry their goalposts all the way to the Tennessee River.

[for those who will try hard to misunderstand: I do not advocate tearing down Vandy's goalposts. Was just kidding. You know, about how they'd have to go 100 miles to get to the Tennessee River from Nashville. In any case, Vandy are never worth going onto the field after the game. Ever. In fact, now that we've gotten storming the field out of our system, I think we're good for not doing it again against anybody or anything short of a championship for, say, another generation.]

That Florida game was huge this year and we didn't storm the field. I doubt we do it again, honestly, even if we beat UGA in Knoxville next year.

 

[rusty11]

Man, thread titles are hitting a rough patch this morning.

I do appreciate your sentiment. Every game is important, especially when it is the next game. Agreed.

But "one of the most important we've ever had"? "Ever"? Really?

This isn't even one of the five most important games of this season. Much less "ever."

What makes this game important is that it is this game. This week. Next game up.

Beyond that, it is just another SEC match. And, sadly, an SEC match that comes after we are virtually eliminated from Atlanta. So...even it being SEC isn't all that key at this point.

We do still have big goals ahead of us. Good chance to get into the playoffs and take another shot at the Dawgs. To get there, we have to win out in the regular season. Absolutely true.

But that's it.

Go Vols!

Yeah, but we do need to avoid what happened to Arkansas in 1998. Both teams 8-0, they had us beat and then Sterner stumbled and fumbled. Their dream season was over. They finished 9-3.

 

[rusty11]

Missouri and SC are trap games, UT cannot let off the gas.

Not anymore. They were trap games if we had beaten UGA....

 

[VolunteerCeltic]

Not anymore. They were trap games if we had beaten UGA....

Depends on how the team responds to that buttwhipping they got at Georgia. Missouri has a pesky defense, they are ranked 13th in the country.