Tennessee Vols legend Al Wilson left no doubt about how he feels about the state of the UT football program after a 44-41 overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Volunteers nearly pulled off the upset against Georgia, but Tennessee kicker Max Gilbert missed a potential game-winning 43-yard field goal at the end of regulation, which sent the game to overtime.

Georgia won the game after holding Tennessee to a field goal, then scoring a touchdown.

Al Wilson thinks the Tennessee Vols can compete with anyone in college football

Wilson appeared on The Sports Source on Sunday to discuss the Vols’ tough loss to the Bulldogs.

The former Tennessee linebacker noted that he feels encouraged by what he saw from the Vols in the loss.

Wilson also pointed out that he feels like Tennessee can “compete with anyone”.

“I feel better,” said Wilson. “I’m encouraged by what I saw. At the end of the day, a few plays here and there, and we’re having a different conversation — we win that ballgame. So I definitely feel great.

“These young men should know they have a good football team. They can play with anybody in the country. And with the quarterback play and the receivers starting to step up — obviously, we need to get healthy on defense. We need those corners (Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson) to get back. We need more depth, maybe, up front. But for the most part, we’re a good football team. We can compete with anyone.”

Wilson also shared some thoughts on Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s decision to play things conservatively on the drive when Tennessee kicked a field goal to go up 38-30. The Vols ran the ball three straight times after a Georgia turnover.

“To be honest with you, defensively, I’m thinking they’re going to take a shot,” said Wilson. “So maybe Josh was thinking, hey, they’re thinking the way a defender would be thinking — because I’m already looking for them to go to the end zone. So maybe if I catch them off guard and run three straight plays, maybe we can get a first down and keep the ball moving and keep this drive going.

“You really don’t know exactly what Josh was thinking. But at the same time, I can see why we did run the ball three times. Because defensively, I’m absolutely thinking — and telling my corners — hey, the deep ball is coming. So be alert.”

Heupel, who noted after the game that Georgia was in a two-high safety look on that drive (which lines up with Wilson’s take), has been heavily criticized for not being more aggressive in that situation.

No coach, however, bats 1.000 when it comes to in-game decisions.

In retrospect, Heupel should’ve been a little more creative with his play-calling in that spot. But at the time, Heupel thought he was putting his team in the best position to win the game. It just didn’t work out. That’s how it goes in sports sometimes.

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The truth that Vols fans need to hear about Josh Heupel and Tennessee after tough overtime loss to Georgia

Losses don’t get much more heartbreaking than the Tennessee Vols’ 44-41 overtime loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. It looked like Tennessee was about to end its lengthy losing streak to Georgia when Max Gilbert lined up for a game-winning 43-yard field goal. Unfortunately for Gilbert and the Vols, the field goal went wide right, and […]

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