Vols coach Pruitt doubts Georgia fans can checker Neyland
Beginning in 2014, Tennessee has selected a home game each year to “Checker Neyland." Fans wear orange or white based on their seating section in a coordinated effort to checker the stadium in the Vols' colors.
Some Georgia fans last week took to the internet to discuss plans to checker Neyland Stadium in red and black.
“I have a hard time believing that … would happen,” Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt said.
Perhaps not, but Georgia fans already showed this season they can take over a stadium. Vanderbilt Stadium looked like a Georgia home game in the Bulldogs' 30-6 win over the Commodores in the season opener. Of course, it's not uncommon for an opponent's fans to take over Vanderbilt Stadium.
Tennessee had its last sellout when the Vols last hosted Georgia on Sept. 30, 2017. Most of the Vols fans in the announced crowd of 102,455 had left by the time Georgia completed a 41-0 victory that was UT'S most lopsided loss in the history of Neyland Stadium.
That result also cranked up the criticism of then-coach Butch Jones, who was fired later that season.
Effusive praise for Georgia
Pruitt reflected Monday on Tennessee's 38-12 loss to Georgia last season, calling it the first time his team competed the way he wanted. The Vols trailed 24-12 in the fourth quarter before the Bulldogs pulled away with two touchdowns in the final four minutes.
Pruitt expects Tennessee's challenge to be greater this season.
“This is probably the best Georgia team that I can ever remember at this point in time in the season," Pruitt said.
Pruitt was particularly complimentary of Georgia's third-year starting quarterback, Jake Fromm. Fromm has completed 75.6% of his passes this season for 788 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
"It starts with Jake Fromm," Pruitt said. "To me, he does as good of job as anybody in the country – and maybe as anybody as I've ever coached against – as far as keeping their offense in positive situations. He takes care of the football. He gets the ball out of his hand, controls the protection, keeps them in positive run plays."