Tennessee wasn't a contender this season. They lost six including the bowl, but those losses were all within reason "close" except for the two teams that played in the NCG.
The losses to Pitt (the ACC champs), Florida, and perhaps Ole Miss have a major connection, which is "overthrow Joe. The flat footed mile slinger". He was a 5th year senior, right? Does he have some sort of covid exemption to play again? If so, I hope it's not for UT. He's a good kid by all accounts and is a physical freak show of abilities- but those physical abilities doesn't translate to presence and certainly not wins.
The surprise wins, at the time anyway, were mizzou, south Carolina, and Kentucky. In the Kentucky game UT secured two wins- one against the cats and the other against the zebras. It was that bad.
The Purdue game was so damn exciting by the end of regulation I didn't care who won - I was just happy to have witnessed it. The bad call at the end was just what happened. By my reckoning if a CFB game goes to OT they were equal on that day and the "win" found afterward is just a technicality.
Confession: I knew the coaching at UT was bad for the last several years (okay, many years), bit didn't realize how bad. I believe it was chemistry. When you lavish gifts to some and not all, promote an environment of privilege and entitlement, you build resentment. This year we see what good chemistry looks like. We see how teams that gel play in contrast to a lockerroom full of primadonnas and the loathed.
Coach JH knows what he's doing and has earned my highest regard as our coach. He obviously didn't have allegiance to overthrow Joe as he sat him after injury and didn't bring him back when recovered. If that were JG? We'd still be 3rd and 20+ somewhere in mizzou.
Next season looks promising. The portal as well as the JUCO recruiting is solid. With Hooker hopefully healthy and happy next season and a younger but capable one in the wings, the future is bright. We need a bruiser RB and the knowledge of how to piss off the others we have to maximize on filed performance. We need depth on the lines of at least capable linemen.
I could see us giving UGA a run next season. I could see us giving Bama fits. This season we got the surprise wins against the three mentioned... none really a big surprise, but surprise enough... next year? Huep is on the button for a signature win. I hope it to be one of the three most despise on the schedule every year.
