Vols looking for signature win
UT confident about ending losing streak to Florida
The week began with talk of major injuries, moved into discussion about the lengthy losing streak and somehow ventured into a reference to a duck.
But the last word in the Tennessee-Florida rivalry will be determined on the field.
“Come 3:30 on Saturday, it’s about that action. That’s it,” Tennessee sophomore defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie said.
No. 12 Tennessee (No. 14 Associated Press) opens SEC play against No. 16 Florida (No. 19 AP) on Saturday (WREG Channel 3, 2:30 p.m.) at Neyland Stadium.
Streaks will be colliding for Tennessee (3-0) with the Vols having won nine straight games overall but having lost 11 straight to Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC).
Tennessee is still searching for a signature win under coach Butch Jones to help validate the program’s growth and act as a confidence boost to kick off a four-game SEC stretch that also includes No. 11 Georgia, No. 13 Texas A&M and top-ranked Alabama.
Since Jones took over in 2013, Tennessee is 3-13 against ranked opponents.
“Our team has a tremendous amount of confidence. They expect to win; they expect to win every time they go out on the football field,” Jones said. “That is why you compete, and I think the way you work in practice and the way you prepare gives you confidence going into game day. Now you have to be able to take the practice field to the game field. You don’t win nine straight by not having confidence.”
Both teams will take the field short-handed.
Tennessee will be without senior cornerback/kick returner Cam Sutton (fractured ankle) and junior middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. (high ankle sprain).
Florida lost starting quarterback Luke Del Rio to a knee injury last week. Fifth-year senior Austin Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, will start in Del Rio’s place. Appleby was 2-9 as a starter at Purdue with 19 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions.
Tennessee’s defensive line — led by Derek Barnett, Corey Vereen and Danny O’Brien — will try to make Appleby’s introduction to the SEC miserable.
“I put it on those guys this week. If we are going to win this game, those guys are going to have step up,” Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said. “They talk about the SEC being a line-ofscrimmage league and those guys are really going to have to play well against a good offensive line.”
Tennessee faces a Florida team that ranks No. 1 in the nation in total defense (129.7 yards), scoring defense (4.7 points) and sacks (16) after having shut down UMass (12), Kentucky (1-2) and North Texas (1-2).
Tennessee outrushed Florida 254-109 last season in a 28-27 loss with quarterback Joshua Dobbs and Jalen Hurd both eclipsing 100 yards. Dobbs ran for a game-high 136, completed 10 of 17 passes for 83 yards and caught a 58-yard touchdown pass.
“Playing Dobbs, this guy is as good as there is. He hurt us a year ago. Let’s face it, they ran it down our throat a year ago. I’m sure they feel pretty good about that, and they should,” Florida coach Jim McElwain said. “We’re going to have to maintain our rush lanes when they do throw it and get him hopefully a little uncomfortable and not be able to get his feet set exactly like he wants to and not let him take over the game with his feet like he did against us last year.”
While Florida hasn’t shied away from trash-talking — including cornerback Quincy Wilson saying, “Have you ever seen a duck pull a truck? Ducks don’t pull trucks. Nobody has ever seen a duck pull a truck. Florida Gators are going to win, simple as that” — the Vols have taken a much quieter approach.
“We just don’t pay attention,” Vereen said. “We focus on playing winning football.”