Do what? That defense would have killed Weinke. It was Outzens ability to escape the rush that allowed that game to be close.
-A victory over the then #3 team in the country, not to mentioned our most hated historical rival? Check. -An unbelievable record setting 5 TD performance by one of our star wide receivers? Check. -A ridiculous QB duel where both opposing players put up Heisman numbers. Check. -A game winning knuckleball kick that barely cleared the crossbar that led to fans storming the field and tearing down the goal posts while Dixieland Delight was trolling Alabama over the PA system? Triple check. It's always been hard for any game to top '98 Florida in my brain, but this one did. I'm happy (and a bit envious) of those who got to experience it in person. Lifelong memories were made at that stadium Saturday night. Hell, I wasn't even at the game, but I'll always remember where I was and the experience of getting to watch everything unfold in realtime with my family. Someone on Tony B's show the other night described this game as a "cleansing", and considering where this program has been the last 10-15 years that's about as perfect of a description that I've heard.
I, too, guard my Florida '98 experience religiously. It does seem like Saturday finally topped that one.
In the span of 15 seconds, faith in Tennessee football got restored on Saturday. Goalposts were promptly baptized. There's not a bigger win than that.
The world certainly is different without a bullshit pass interference call. Or a fumbled exchange scoop and score. Or if Bru pulls down that pass at the half that was in his hands.
It looked like he kind of did a volleyball set instead of trying to catch it? Or maybe like a basketball tip-off? I think he wasn't in the endzone, but maybe by design?
Had Tennessee taken Alabama to the Wall for 59 minutes and 45 seconds and then lost on a FG, the world would not be that different. UGA is the bigger game in terms of this season and the message would have been mostly intact. We thought we were going 8-4 if things went well.
Most of the country wouldn’t be cheering along with the W and the scene at the end of the game and after wouldn’t have been talked about for days by basically everyone. And we wouldn’t be in the title conversation as much, nor would Hooker have jumped in the Heisman race. And I wouldn’t have spent hours watching celebrations from the dude who tore his acl to Al Wilson taking it in with quite a buzz. And the 2024 class may not have bonded as much without rushing the field and top players committing to each other to commit to UT
