One thing that Tennessee Vols fans must do before showdown against Georgia
This weekend's showdown between the Tennessee Vols and the Georgia Bulldogs is one of the biggest regular-season college football games of all time. It's not often that we get a regular-season matchup of this magnitude. Entering the final season of the month, the Vols are ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings and […]
This weekend's showdown between the Tennessee Vols and the Georgia Bulldogs is one of the biggest regular-season college football games of all time.
It's not often that we get a regular-season matchup of this magnitude.
Entering the final season of the month, the Vols are ranked No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 2 in the AP Top 25 poll. Georgia, meanwhile, is ranked No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings and No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll.
The winner of this game will almost certainly win the SEC East. And they'll likely lock down a spot in the playoff.
Massive implications.
If you're a fan of either team, you're likely feeling some anxiety.
Especially if you're a Tennessee fan. After all, this is the biggest game the Vols have played since a December matchup against Florida in 2001 (UT lost to LSU the following weekend in the SEC Championship game, blowing their chance at a national championship, but that win against the Gators was still huge for the Vols).
I understand the anxiety. You never know when a dream season will happen. Even teams that are elite annually have a tough time breaking through and winning a championship.
That's why I think Tennessee fans need to take some time before the Vols take the field in Athens this weekend to reflect on what a magical ride this season has been so far.
I don't know what will happen from here when it comes to Tennessee football. No one has a crystal ball.
That's why Vols fans need to appreciate what's happening this season. It doesn't matter if Tennessee loses to Georgia on Saturday. Sure, it'll be disappointing, but it won't take anything away from what the Vols have accomplished this season.
I mean this team beat Florida. They went to Baton Rouge and demolished LSU. And then they beat Alabama to end a 15-game losing streak to the Tide before embarrassing Kentucky in Neyland Stadium.
And they've done all of this with swagger.
All season, we've heard the thinly veiled shots that other teams have taken at Tennessee.
There was Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi complaining about an SEC bias. There was a Florida defensive back saying he didn't view the Vols' passing attack as a challenge.
Then there was LSU head coach Brian Kelly saying Tennessee's offense can't give defenses different looks because of their tempo. There was former Vols linebacker Henry To'o To'o, now at Alabama, talking about "making a few more plays in Neyland" with a "new band of brothers" and telling his former teammates "it's not personal, it's just business".
And most recently, it was Kentucky's offensive coordinator suggesting that Tennessee's offense won't prepare quarterbacks for the NFL. Wildcats quarterback Will Levis continued that theme by referring to Kentucky's offense as "real football".
In all of those situations, Tennessee kept their heads down, kept working, and let their play on the field do the talking.
And then afterward, they had some fun with the trash talk.
Reflect on the season. Enjoy all of it. Relive it. Cherish it. This team is special. These players are special. And regardless of what happens with Tennessee football in the coming years — maybe this team is in the playoff hunt yearly from here — we will never see this version of this team again. This is it for guys like Hendon Hooker, Cedric Tillman, Darnell Wright, Trevon Flowers, (likely) Jalin Hyatt, etc.
Embrace it. It will be spring before we know it and we'll be talking about the 2023 Vols and who will start at quarterback.
But that's still a few months away. For now, just live in this moment. This is what Tennessee fans have been craving for nearly two decades. It's here. The Vols are on the biggest stage possible.
We're going to be talking about this season for years to come, so make sure you drink it all in.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
