By Jimmy Hyams
Tennessee coach Butch Jones has often said you can’t let one loss turn into two.
That will be the Vols’ biggest challenge this weekend when UT hosts winless UMass (0-4) at noon Saturday.
A heart-breaking 26-20 loss at Florida on a last-play 63-yard touchdown pass could easily break a team’s spirit, especially a team that might be a bit fragile anyway.
“The biggest thing is we can’t do is let it affect the rest of our season,’’ said UT senior tight end Ethan Wolf, who caught a 28-yard touchdown pass and passed Jason Witten for most receiving yards by a Vols tight end.
“With help of our seniors, we’re definitely going to lead our younger guys and get through this adversity.’’
Defensive tackle Kendal Vickers had a similar message.
“We’ve got a whole season to play for so we’ve just got to keep grinding,’’ Vickers said. “This one game doesn’t define us.’’
It might not define Tennessee, but it could prove to be a defining moment.
The defeat puts UT behind the 8-ball already for the SEC East Division title.
With upcoming games against Georgia, Alabama and LSU, not to mention South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the Vols have no margin for error.
And if Tennessee doesn’t beat Georgia, it can practically kiss the East good-bye.
But the disheartening defeat in The Swamp can not have a lingering affect or else the Vols might find themselves in an uncomfortable closer-than-it-should-be fight against the Minutemen.
If you don’t think that’s possible, ask Texas A&M. After blowing a 44-10 lead at UCLA, the Aggies struggled against Nichols State for the entire game and in the first half against Louisiana Lafayette.
One reason to think UT might not wallow in self-pity is the way this team fights. It fought back from a two-touchdown deficit to beat Georgia Tech in double overtime. It fought back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit at Florida to tie the game with 50 seconds left.
“We fought hard,’’ said senior defensive tackle Kendal Vickers. “We played til the end of the whistle. We’ve got a whole season to play for so we’ve just got to keep grinding.’’
Tennessee overcame three turnovers, three penalties in the red zone, three missed field goals, some curious play calls in the red zone and a botched defensive scheme at the end to fall short in Gainesville for the seventh time in a row.
Interestingly, UT did quite a few good things on defense. Florida gained almost 135 of its 380 on two plays. meaning the Gators gained 245 yards on the other 50 snaps.
The offensive play calling was particularly puzzling, considering offensive coordinator Larry Scott said he wanted the offensive line to be tougher and more aggressive than a year ago.
Yet, on first-and-goal at the Florida 1 in the third quarter, Tennessee didn’t have its best back, John Kelly, in the game, and Scott called for a fade route against arguably Florida’s best defensive back, Duke Dawson.
Why wasn’t Kelly in the game? Why didn’t UT run right at Florida?
A penalty on Florida moved the ball to the 1-foot line. But on the pass, quarterback Quinten Dormady was hit on the leg and hurt. He left for one play.
Run the ball with Kelly on first down and Dormady doesn’t get injured.
With Dormady out for a play, backup quarterback Jarrett Guarantano entered and the result was an illegal procedure. UT then threw three passes from the 5, the last being intercepted at the 1-yard line.
In total, Tennessee had four first downs in the red zone, had 12 snaps and ran the ball just two times. Two times!
That’s not playing tough or aggressive. That’s questioning the ability of your offensive line.
Although Kelly had two bad moments – taunting after a touchdown and a drop on a would-be touchdown pass — he had a terrific game. He rushed for 141 yards and one touchdown and had 96 yards on six catches.
“He’s the heart and soul of our football team and that was evidenced today,’’ Jones said of Kelly. “His energy carries over to the entire football team.’’
Offensive tackle Brett Kendrick says he loves blocking for Kelly.
“Having John Kelly back there is like an offensive lineman’s dream,’’ Kendrick said. “It feels like he never goes down with the first (hit). Sometimes when we don’t get our blocks, he ends up breaking tackles.’’
Asked about his swash-buckling style, Kelly said: “I just try to run as hard as I can every opportunity because, honestly, you don’t know how many opportunities you’re going to have.’’
You’re only guaranteed 12 opportunities to play in a given season. Tennessee can’t afford to overlook anyone on game day. And it can’t let one loss turn into two by focusing on the loss at Florida.
“We have to keep chipping away, pounding the rock,’’ Kendrick said, “and eventually the rock will break away.’’
Or, as Kelly said: “It’s a snap-and-clear mentality.’’
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