Tipping the Scales: Tennessee
By Paul Jordan
It’s now been enough time for your sweatpants contained gut to settle, and that also means the game of the season is here. Everybody has celebrated in Nashville by now, but nobody has celebrated in Knoxville, or Lexington this weekend, since 1984. I have agents in the field down there right now, and the oldest of whom was one the last time we toppled the Big Orange. It seems by Lord-of-the-Ring type destiny that the teams meet like this; the empire to the Southland is crumbling as a leader emerges to take down the stronghold. We have the weapons to succeed, but the Vol army has looked strong coming into this showdown(averaging 42 points per game in the last three. 12 weeks later all that army stuff sunk in. Well played, Joker) and have the extra incentive to keep a decades long bowl streak; the opportunity to deny Tennessee such a win at this point in the season is rare, and the proposition sounds wonderful to me. Knoxville would be on fire that night if it happened, and the first to go would be all the couches in the yards, but the privilege of saying you saw (or started) it would be a grandpa ’round the fireplace story.
Derrick “Last Stand” Locke v. UT’s Run Defense-A healthy Derrick Locke means a healthier offense and it would be nice to see a senior go out like he should. Tennessee gave up almost 200 yards rushing two weeks ago in Starksville and are averaging 155 on the season; it’s safe to say that Locke will have fun between the tackles, who find their ranks depleted coming in to the match up. Punching it up the middle will open a lot of things up for other people (ahem) on the offense and make moving the ball much easier. Derrick’s senior season hasn’t exactly gone as planned, but a huge performance here and at the bowl game can really pump his draft stock going into the combine.
Randall Cobb/History/God-status v. UT’s Defense– A healthier offense means a more productive Randall Cobb, who is 236 all purpose yards from breaking the SEC single season all-purpose yardage record. Set by Darren McFadden in 2007, if a record like this can be brought to Kentucky then Operation: Recruit (or whatever the official code name is) would get a huge shot of adrenaline and maybe land a top-10 class by signing day.The Vols are giving up 225 ypg through the air (good for 71st in the nation) but have been getting stronger special teams play the last few games. With regards to all this talk about Randall leaving or something, I’m not freaking out but I will say that his stock couldn’t get much higher, and a win with a dominating performance in which he breaks an SEC record might be the highest note to essentially leave on. But if you are at the game and we win, keep an eye on Cobb because he will achieve the rank of an-god and join his brothers among the stars as a constellation.
My Sanity v. History– There is a good chance I might cry, along with several billion people, if we win this game. Much like the Boston World Series streak, there is a generation of diehard fans staring a few years away from 30 who haven’t seen this happen. I am among those, and it hurts my soul to think that this, the longest current streak in college, is still hanging above my head. Tennessee is vulnerable, and every person who has seen this team knows we are capable of playing out of our minds. I might not stop smiling until our bowl game if we take those filthy felons downa nd deny them a postseason trip at the same time. If we lose…I don’t think my liver will appreciate the gravity of the situation it will be in for
I will keep this short and simple. We need to win this game. For me. For everyone that has ever felt nauseous accidentally walking near a section of merchandise(did that today in Nashville). For everyone that grits their teeth through Rocky Top and hears it in their nightmares. Just by sheer force of will alone, I’m calling this one in favor of my own personal safety and I’m calling it for the Cats. UK 38 UT 31
A quick final note. I am heading into the final stretch of my fantasy football season and after week 3 I was 1-2 and changed my name to Cobb, Locke & Drop It and now contend for the league championship. One more reason to want this,
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