Swampwise? Vols hope so
KNOXVILLE — This week, Butch Jones was asked to recall his first Southeastern Conference road game as Tennessee’s football coach.
A 31-17 defeat at Florida in 2013 was the Volunteers’ ninth consecutive SEC road loss — the previous eight came under Derek Dooley — and dropped them to 8-13 over a 21-game span.
The memories from that day in Gainesville have not faded.
“I remember standing in the locker room after the game and talking about how many people actually believed we could win the football game coming in here,” Jones said. “Once that game ended, it was like, ‘We could have won this football game.’ I think that’s part of changing the mindset and the culture and a football program.”
The Vols believed they could win two years later in Gainesville after that but faltered late. They finally snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Gators last season in Knoxville.
This afternoon, the No. 23 Vols (2-0) play at No. 25 Florida (0-1) for the third time under Jones without the demons they carried into their past two games at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. They have won SEC road games. They have beaten Florida.
Today, they will try to be the first Tennessee team since 2003 to do both on the same day.
“I think we still feel like we have a lot to prove going back down there,” senior offensive tackle Brett Kendrick said. “Obviously, it would be huge for our senior class to get that win down there.”
Kendrick said the 28-27 loss at Florida in 2015 “still has a bad taste in my mouth and (for) all the other guys that were here.”
That game came down to a last-second 55-yard field-goal
attempt, which Aaron Medley narrowly missed.
“You have to learn from those,” Jones said. “But I think the big thing is belief in going on the road and winning football games.”
Jones said the Vols again have belief heading into the Swamp this year, thanks in part to their 17-4 record over the past 21 games.
“But it’s what you do throughout the course of the week to prepare to win,” he said.
Tennessee could have an advantage in that regard.
The SEC opener for both teams is continuing as scheduled after Hurricane Irma threatened to require changes to the game’s time and location. The storm did force the cancellation of Florida’s game against Northern Colorado last week and threw the Gators off a normal practice schedule in preparation for Tennessee.
“Cramming it in is probably a good way to put it,” Florida coach Jim McElwain said of his team’s preparation.
“Our deal was with the safety of our players,” McElwain added later. “And I think sometimes we get really caught up in what we do and realize ultimately, sometimes third-down-and-7 is not the most important thing in life.”
The Gators’ home-field advantage figures to be as prominent a factor as ever. It’s their home opener, and playing the game on the heels of a natural disaster in the state could provide a rallying point.
“I know they’re looking forward to coming out of that tunnel and hearing those Gator fans,” McElwain said of his players. “I know that’s going to do a lot.”
The atmosphere will provide a test for Tennessee junior quarterback Quinten Dormady, who will make his first true road start — the opener against Georgia Tech was in Atlanta but at a neutral site — as well as for first-year offensive coordinator Larry Scott.
Both are looking forward to the challenge.
“Florida, in the Swamp, it’s going to be a hostile environment,” Dormady said. “It’s going to be hot, humid. You definitely want to go down there and dominate. But in reality, to dominate a team that’s equally matched up with us, it just comes down to executing.”
Scott was asked earlier this week what he could share about his game plan. He did not tip his hand.
“All I can say is, really in a nutshell, these are the reasons and games you come to Tennessee,” Scott said. “This is why you want to be a Tennessee Volunteer. The season has begun, and it just so happens the (SEC) opener is in Gainesville against the Florida Gators.
“It’s why you do it; it’s why you come here; it’s why you play here; it’s why you coach here. The whole deal.”