Year of destiny? Things falling Tennessee’s way
Tennessee is in position to win its first Southeastern Conference East championship since 2007. And after all that has gone wrong between then and now for the Volunteers, that alone would account for a successful season.
But too much has gone right for the Vols in the past two weeks for their fans not to think beyond a division title.
Tennessee (5-0) has beaten Florida and Georgia on successive Saturdays, overcoming a 21-point deficit against the Gators and toppling the Bulldogs on a lastsecond Hail Mary pass.
Victories as compelling as those, coupled with two other comebacks from double-digit deficits, make you believe the Vols can do so much more than win their division. Despite how poorly they have played to start games, the dramatic comebacks and finishes should put them in the College Football Playoff conversation.
Such results also should put senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
You don’t win the Heisman solely on prolific stats. If you did, Michigan defensive back Charles Woodson wouldn’t have beaten Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning for the award in 1997.
Sometimes you need clutch plays on the biggest stage. And sometimes you need to win when all seems lost.
Dobbs did that Saturday with a 43-yard Hail Mary to wide receiver Jauan Jennings. He did it the week before when he ran and passed Tennessee to 38 unanswered points in a 38-28 comeback victory against the Gators.
Dobbs and his team are soar- ing. Yet for all they have accomplished, the hardest work is yet to come.
In most cases, back-to-back victories against Florida and Georgia — both achieved in dramatic fashion — would have highlighted a Tennessee season. This isn’t most seasons.
Beating Florida and Georgia back-to-back isn’t what it used to be. And it’s nothing like winning back-to-back games against the SEC West, which has Alabama and Texas A&M (both 5-0) at the top.
The disparity between the divisions was apparent before the season began. The past five weeks have confirmed the obvious. The West has won all five matchups against the East by double-digit margins.
If Tennessee hopes to remain unbeaten, it will have to change that trend Saturday at Texas A&M. And if it beats the Aggies, it will have to beat No. 1 Alabama the next Saturday to stay unbeaten.
But first, let’s consider the immediate challenge.
Texas A&M is more of a complete team than any of UT’s previ- ous opponents. And it’s a more complete team than anyone could have imagined in preseason.
You can credit newcomers for the transformation. Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight has provided running, passing and leadership at quarterback. And freshman Trayveon Williams has emerged as one of the SEC’s most dynamic running backs. Combine them with a much-improved defense under second-year coordinator John Chavis and a talented corps of receivers, and you realize Tennessee might have to play its best game of the season to extend its 11-game winning streak.
So far, Tennessee’s season has been all about overcoming challenges. The Vols overcame double-figure deficits to beat both Appalachian State and Virginia Tech. They overcame a slew of injuries and a 21-0 Florida lead in ending the Gators’ 11-game series winning streak. They overcame Georgia on the last play of the game.
Now they have to overcome the SEC West.
Adams writes for the Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel.