Tennessee Vols: Jeremy Pruitt's onside kick decision fooled everyone, even one of his own players
When Quavaris Crouch barreled into the end zone to bring the Tennessee Vols to within six points of the Indiana Hoosiers in the Gator Bowl, most folks, including myself, probably thought UT would send the ensuing kickoff into the end zone and let their defense go to work. After all, there were still over four […]
When Quavaris Crouch barreled into the end zone to bring the Tennessee Vols to within six points of the Indiana Hoosiers in the Gator Bowl, most folks, including myself, probably thought UT would send the ensuing kickoff into the end zone and let their defense go to work.
After all, there were still over four minutes left in the game. And Tennessee had all their timeouts.
But Jeremy Pruitt decided the time was right for an onside kick that UT had repped nearly 600 times in practice.
And it worked. Eric Gray recovered the onside kick and eventually scored the go ahead touchdown on a 16 yard run.
The reason it worked is because it caught nearly everyone in the stadium by surprise, including at least one of Tennessee's own players.
Linebacker Henry To'o To'o told reporters after the game that the onside kick surprised him, saying "I had no idea it was coming. I was ready to go out on the field. I was already down there by the 20 ready to come onto the field."
It was the perfect call at the perfect time. It wasn't an obvious onside kick situation and Tennessee did a tremendous job of disguising their kickoff formation so they wouldn't tip off Indiana that the onside kick was coming.
As a result, Indiana was lined up for a traditional kickoff, which meant their hands team wasn't on the field.
Bowl games can often be forgettable — especially non-marquee bowl games. But I have a feeling that Vol fans will remember this Gator Bowl win for a long time.
Featured image via Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
