Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby’s comments after loss to the Vols aren’t fair to Tennessee’s players
The Tennessee Vols and the Mississippi State Bulldogs played a wild game in Starkville on Saturday evening. Both teams played sloppily at times — turnovers, penalties, and missed assignments hurt both teams. The Vols, however, were able to prevail in overtime, thanks to a goal-line stand from Tennessee’s defense that preserved the 41-34 win for […]
The Tennessee Vols and the Mississippi State Bulldogs played a wild game in Starkville on Saturday evening.
Both teams played sloppily at times — turnovers, penalties, and missed assignments hurt both teams.
The Vols, however, were able to prevail in overtime, thanks to a goal-line stand from Tennessee’s defense that preserved the 41-34 win for UT.
Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby’s comments after loss to the Vols aren’t fair to Tennessee’s players
After the game, Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby made some comments that I didn’t think were fair to Tennessee’s players.
Lebby pointed out two defensive touchdowns from the Vols as plays that Mississippi State “gave” Tennessee.
“We gave them 14 points,” said Lebby. “The game is completely different. We’re first-and-10, right at midfield after the fake punt, probably 13 and a half minutes left, something like that. And we have an issue up front — we’re going to be first-and-10 at the plus-38-yard line and we’re up 24-20 and (Lebby snapped his fingers) it’s 27-24. That’s the difference in the ball game.”
Tennessee scored defensive touchdowns on a pick-six from cornerback Colton Hood and a scoop-and-score from defensive lineman Joshua Josephs. The fumble was forced via a sack from defensive lineman Tyre West.
Lebby is right that those were big plays in the game. But those plays weren’t “given” to Tennessee.
On the scoop and score, for example, West and Josephs won their individual matchups, and they made a play. It wasn’t a gift; it was the Tennessee defense making a big-time play.
On the pick six, Tennessee generated pressure and forced an off-target throw.
Tennessee could say the same thing about “giving” Mississippi State points. The Bulldogs benefited from a couple of short fields when Vols tight end Miles Kitselman failed to catch two different passes that bounced off his hands, resulting in an interception.
But college football fans, of course, know that Mississippi State’s players still had to make a play to come down with the turnovers.
Tennessee wasn’t gifted those 14 points — the Vols earned those points. It may have been the difference in the game, but it was the difference because Tennessee’s players made it happen.
Lebby’s a good coach; he’s done a great job this season at Mississippi State. But he’s gotta give credit where it’s due.
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