There was an early hero in Tennessee Vols' win against Kentucky that deserves more credit than he's getting
Early in the first quarter of the Tennessee Vols' 28-18 win against the Kentucky Wildcats, an important defensive play was made that was somewhat forgotten as the game progressed. On the first drive of the game, Kentucky had a chance to score after they drove the ball deep into Tennessee territory. The Wildcats went for […]
Early in the first quarter of the Tennessee Vols' 28-18 win against the Kentucky Wildcats, an important defensive play was made that was somewhat forgotten as the game progressed.
On the first drive of the game, Kentucky had a chance to score after they drove the ball deep into Tennessee territory.
The Wildcats went for it on fourth down from the Vols' three yard line. Kentucky dialed up what former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers (who was calling the game for the SEC Network) called "a perfect play call".
Tennessee sophomore cornerback Rickey Gibson, however, made a great play on the ball and knocked away a potential touchdown, keeping seven points off the board early in the game.
"It's actually the perfect play call," said Rodgers during the broadcast. "You got a mesh concept against man coverage and (Kentucky QB) Brock Vandagriff is going to the right spot….it's just a better play by Rickey Gibson."
Those are the defensive plays that help win games. Sometimes the opponent is going to be in an advantageous play call, but defensive players just have to find a way to make a play. And that's what Gibson did, setting the tone early for Tennessee's defense.
There were plenty of great defensive plays from the Vols in their win against Kentucky, but that play from Gibson impacted how the rest of the game was played. If the Wildcats score on that first drive, maybe the entire game plays out differently. Fortunately for the Vols, Gibson made sure that wasn't the case.
It’s time for one complaint from fans and media about the Tennessee Vols to stop
Long past time for it to end
