‘That’s over’ — Paul Finebaum mentions ‘subplot’ that would disappear with a Tennessee win over Georgia
A win over Bulldogs would mean a number of things for the Vols.
The Tennessee Volunteers have an enormous opportunity against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. Or at least it feels like it. For the first time in a long time in this physical rivalry, it feels like the Vols have a real shot to not just hang with Georgia (something they’ve rarely done against Kirby Smart) but also finally win the game.
Naturally, the questions among some in the media have arisen about what a win like that would mean for Tennessee moving forward. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum answered that question from Greg McElroy on Wednesday morning, and in doing so, he made reference to something that Tennessee fans could finally stop worrying about.
Finebaum mentions the late-night scoreboard watching of Nico Iamaleava and the UCLA Bruins could cease
While the win would indeed “be that final checkmark” for Josh Heupel, as Finebaum mentions, he also referenced the scoreboard watching of UCLA – who’s started 0-2 – that some Vol fans do, even if they won’t admit it.
“I think the reaction for Tennessee would be pretty remarkable,” Finebaum said if the Vols were to win against the Bulldogs. “I think they’re already feeling great. They’re measuring their record right now on what it is, which is 2-0, and what UCLA’s is, which is 0-2. They feel great. I mean, it doesn’t matter anymore. Nico no longer becomes the sub-plot. That’s over. But Joey Aguilar feels good about where he is, and I think for Josh Heupel, who’s done just about everything you have to do, beating Georgia would be that final checkmark.”
There’s no doubt that the final cloud hanging over Heupel’s head at this point is indeed that inability to beat Georgia to date. He’s accomplished just about everything Tennessee fans could realistically hoped for at this point. He’s made Neyland Stadium a house of horrors again for visitors instead of a bed and breakfast (thousands of happy visitors served). The Florida and Alabama games have become true back and forth rivalries again. And Tennessee is winning double digit games again and is becoming a regular playoff contender.
But beating Georgia would indeed be that final checkmark for Heupel. That last hurdle he can finally clear and put behind him moving forward.
And Vol fans themselves can also stop looking backwards at the man who left them behind in April, something many still haven’t forgiven him for. Because if the Vols win, it will be in no small part thanks to Aguilar. And while it should have already happened, Tennessee fans on Saturday can hopefully finally embrace what they have while also letting sleeping dogs lie out on the West Coast.
Tennessee Volunteers News
Kirby Smart makes a comment ahead of Georgia vs. Tennessee that supports belief that there’s a misconception surrounding Josh Heupel’s offense
The Bulldogs’ head coach addresses the Vols’ offense to start the week.
