'Saturday's win against the Georgia Bulldogs was just what the doctor ordered for this program. Our players needed it, Coach Butch Jones and his staff needed it, our fans needed it and deserved it, and you can bet your rear end, this old Volunteer needed it in the worst way. This season was making me pull my hair out. My frustration level had just gone off the charts up until this Georgia game.

When Georgia jumped up 24-3, I thought here we go again. It was looking like we were going to get our head kicked in, and then it happened. I still can't believe it happened, but it did indeed happen. When we went for it on 4th and 4 on our side of the field in the closing minutes of the 1st half, I looked at my oldest son and said, if this doesn't work out, not only is this game over, this entire season is over. I almost couldn't watch that play, though I'm certainly glad I did. It was a game changer and that's putting it mildly. The next thing you know we score a TD and before you could bat an eye, Georgia turns the ball over and we strike again. Two touchdowns in 28 seconds. I've never seen anything like that.

Hats off to Coach Jones for having steel (you know what) and going for it on that first 4th down play. I would have punted there, 3 TD's you can come back from. Had we not converted and picked up that 4th down, in all likelihood the Dawgs would have added a FG or worse yet, a TD and we would have got a beatdown of epic proportions at the hands of Mark Richt and his Georgia Bulldogs. Jones played riverboat gambler and went all-in and came away a huge winner. Whether it was out of desperation or him believing it was the absolute right thing to do, it doesn't matter. The only thing that does matter, is that it worked out and it energized that football team. I think it may have showed those kids that their coach believed in them.

I've been very vocal in my criticism of Coach Jones. However, I'm man enough to give credit when credit is deserved. It looked like for the first time all season, our coach had a feel for the game and was very decisive in his decision making. I still have the same concerns I've had all along about this coach and his ability to win at the highest level here, but Saturday's win does make me realize that I jumped the gun in calling for his ouster at season's end. I clearly let my frustrations get to me and I called for his head prematurely.

I've had some people tell me that I can't back track from that statement now, and to those folks, i say, grow up. This isn't 3rd grade and we're not on the playground. I still get mad when I think about what could have been if Coach Jones had made some sound decisions in the Oklahoma and Florida games. This could have been a very special season if Coach Jones hadn't been wound so tight and had just let our kids go out there and play football.

I hope our coach learned from Saturday's game. He has a real chance here to finish this season strong if we play loose and let it all hang out. You can't bottle up Josh Dobbs. Saturday's game with Georgia shows us, if you let Josh play his game, that kid is going to make plays. Josh was nothing short of amazing, Saturday. He had 5 TD's and 430 yards of total offense by himself. We now have a legitimate shot at going down to Tuscaloosa and coming out with a victory. This isn't the tall task that it once was. This Bama team can be had. I think if we go into that game loose and let it all hang out, we'll have a real shot at pulling the upset. You also have to like our spot going into that game with an extra week to prepare, while Bama will be coming off a game with a good Texas A&M team out in College Station. Hopefully, our team and our Coach turned the corner, Saturday.


It's been a few weeks since we went around the conference, so without further ado, let's look back at the week that was in the SEC.


SEC WEST

LSU - Les Miles Tigers got an extra home game bestowed on them due to the catastrophic flooding in South Carolina. Leonard Fournette had his lowest output on the season as he only rushed for 158 yards on 20 carries. Not too shabby for an off day. The Bayou Bengals showed Fournette isn't the only horse in their RB stable as Freshman Derrius Guice ran for 161 yards. LSU ran up 624 yds of offense in the 45-24 W over S.C. Next Up for LSU, a home date with Florida, Sat.

OLE MISS - A week after laying an egg at Florida, Ole Miss got back to their high flying ways as the routed New Mexico St. 52-3 on homecoming in Oxford. QB Chad Kelly had another big day going 24-33 for 384 yds and 3 TD's. WR Laquon Treadwell had 8 catches for 136 yds and 2 TD's including a circus like one handed grab in the endzone for a score. Next up for the Rebels, a dangerous game with Memphis in the Liberty Bowl, Sat.

ALABAMA - Bama looked sluggish for most of the game with Arkansas but still managed to come away with a double-digit victory, 27-14 in Tuscaloosa. Jake Coker threw for 262 yards with 2 TD's and 2 INT's. WR Calvin Ridley had a career day catching 9 balls for 140 yds and a TD. Next up for Bama, they travel to Texas A&M this Saturday.

MISSISSIPPI STATE. - The Bulldogs beat up Troy 45-17 in Starkville as redshirt freshman Nick Fitzgerald got the bulk of work at QB as Dak Prescott had a stomach virus. Fitzgerald threw for 141 yds and 2 TD's and ran for another score on the ground. State has an open date this weekend.

ARKANSAS - The Hogs lost to Bama 27-14 on the road in Tuscaloosa. Just a week after putting up big numbers rushing against Tennessee, the Hogs could only muster 44 yards on the ground against the Tide. QB Brandon Allen was 15-32 for 176 yds and 2 TD's in the loss. Arkansas is Idle this week.

AUBURN - Open Date. Next Up, @ Kentucky, Sat.
TEXAS A&M - Open Date. Next Up @ Home vs Alabama, Sat.


SEC EAST

FLORIDA - The Gators continued their winning ways under 1st year coach Jim McElwain as they went on the road to Missouri and won 21-3. The defense led the way with 3 sacks on the day and Mizzou could never get on track. Kelvin Taylor rushed for 99 yrds and 2 TD's and QB Will Grier hit 8 receivers, going 20-33 for 208 yds. Next Up: a date with LSU in Baton Rouge Saturday night without Grier at QB as he was suspended Monday afternoon for PED's.

TENNESSEE - The Vols got a big signature win over Georgia 38-31 before a packed house in Neyland Stadium. QB Josh Dobbs was outstanding, accounting for 5 TD's on the day, 2 on the ground and 3 through the air. Josh passed for 312 yds going 25-42 and had 18 rushes for 118 yds. It's amazing what that kid can do when given the opportunity. 6 guys caught balls for Tennessee with each having a catch for 23 yards or more. Next Up: an open date before heading to Alabama on October 24th.

GEORGIA - The Dawgs jumped out to a 24-3 lead over Tennessee in the 1st half before the wheels came off and Tennessee smacked them around 38-31. Greyson Lambert was 15-32 for 279 yds and 2 TD's and Sony Michel rushed for 145 yards but it wasn't enough as the Vols wouldn't be denied. Next up for the Dawgs, a home date with Missouri this Saturday.

MISSOURI - There's nothing to talk about here as Missouri was whipped in front of the home folks 21-3 by Florida. Drew Lock was 16-39 for 151 yds and 2 INT's. Next up, a date with Georgia in Athens.

SOUTH CAROLINA - It just keeps getting worse for the Head Ball Coach. Flooding sent the Gamecocks on the road to LSU for a SC home game in Baton Rouge. It really wouldn't have mattered if this game were played on Mars as South Carolina was out if it's league against the Tigers. Perry Orth got the start at QB going 14-28 for 200 yds with 2 TD's and 1 INT. Next up for S.C, Vanderbilt comes into Columbia this Thursday night.

KENTUCKY- Open Date. Next Up: Auburn @ Home Sat.
VANDERBILT- Open Date. Next Up: @ S.C Thurs.


A win over a ranked opponent sure feels good. It feels even better because it came over one of our rivals. Hats off to our players and coaches for getting it done.

Have a Great Day and Go Big Orange!

Your Vol Colonel'

'The sun is shining a little brighter in Big Orange Country this week. Amazing how a win turns fortune

1. Josh Dobbs was fantastic. He's never going to be Tom Brady throwing the ball, but that's alright.

2. The patchwork offensive line was excellent. Let's hope they can be that good in two weeks.

3. Mark Richt has to be feeling the heat. Never getting over the hump eventually costs coaches their jobs.

4. Bob Stoops is done. The rest of his tenure at OU is just a pigskin version of a death spiral.

5. I legitimately hope Steve Sarkisian gets the help he obviously needs. I also hope Pat Haden's ham handed handling of that situation costs that pompous gasbag his job and any goodwill he had at USC.

6. Alabama looks vulnerable. It appears to be LSU's division to lose.

7. Jalen Johnson is a fantastic add for Tennessee basketball. It alleviates the pain of not getting Di'Riante Jenkins.


8. The Bengals are teasing their fans once again. I do not believe in Andy Dalton.

9. It's been an interesting baseball postseason. We are seeing yet again that baseball has arguably the smallest home advantage in all of sports.


Go Vols Go!!!

Keith'

'Tony,

I'm not wearing orange-colored glasses, but OT is definitely a "glass half-empty" guy. So many of his comments are made in hindsight.

I'm sure that he knew in advance that giving the ball to Hurd inside the one would lead to a blitzing linebacker-induced fumble that would be returned for a touchdown, and not a Vol touchdown. Also, where have his drum-beating comments been prior to Georgia decrying the fact that not starting Jones and Hall on the offensive line is sheer lunacy.

While I don't think "Throaty's" remarks rise to the ridiculous level of Clay Travis' tweet at the 24-3 level on Saturday, I do think he leans to that side.

In considering the state of the Tennessee football program, I'll take the opinion of Coach Doug Mathews 100% over Orange Throat.

Dr B'

COMMUNITY CHEST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Additional volunteers are needed at Community Chest of Knoxville Thrift Shop located at 1508 N. Central (corner of Central St & Woodland Ave, a block and a half from our FISH Northwest Pantry). Volunteers at the Community Chest help with receiving, sorting and displaying in the retail shop donations of clothing and household items. For more about the Community Chest go online and check out their website.   Proceeds from the Community Chest support the work and mission of FISH Hospitality Pantries.

For more information about volunteering at the Community Chest contact Jim Wright at (865) 207-8572 or send him an e-mail. Thank you.

'Hi Tony,

It's Marc from GA, I usually exchange texts with you but wanted to email and share a few thoughts.

First I went into this game with a different attitude. One of just enjoying the moment and It was wonderful. After we left the Arkansas game you and I exchanged texts and I said I'm not coming back for a while. By Wednesday I decided this just isn't in me. So 12 of us met back for another game on Saturday.

This game I took the different approach, I didn't once even worry about the outcome of the game. I simply focused on my family and what a blessing it was to enjoy another day together on the Hill.

Before the game I lived streamed the Vol Walk from Periscope so the world could see such a wonderful sight. Once in the stadium, I took in the sights and sounds instead of only looking at the x and o's of the game. I watched my youngest son scream at the top of his lungs when the team came out of the T and hug a stranger after we won. I watched my oldest son enjoy his first full football season since coming back from serving in Afghanistan. I watched my father in law who graduated from Tennessee over 50 years ago and had a dorm room under the stadium stand and sing his Alma mater. I watched my wife say a prayer when Nick Chubb left the stadium in the cart because living in GA we know what type of person the young man is off the field. I watched at the beginning of the fourth quarter a beautiful orange sunset glowing around Neyland Stadium. I imagined how much fun my middle son was having at this very moment in the student section and I really just enjoyed the game in such a different way. Watching my family and fans making so many memories was unreal, the win was icing on the cake.

And as tradition continues, we listened to the fifth quarter from the time we arrived back to the car until 1:15 am when I pulled back into our driveway in Georgia.

Thank you for being there Tony, you are a Tennessee tradition we cherish also.

Go Vols

P.S We tried finding you at circle park but didn't see you. We will catch up some day and will be great to meet you.

Marc'