Right now, somebody somewhere on Rocky Top is writing an obituary or, if they’re feeling especially kind, a eulogy for the 2017 Tennessee Volunteer football season. It seems appropriate, as the Vols have just concluded their first eight-loss season in the history of the program by losing to Vanderbilt, 42-24. Tennessee is winless in the SEC this season, and they’ve now lost to the Commodores four out of the last six years.
Yes, employing a death metaphor to describe the end of the season is quite tempting. But I’m going to go with something a little less drastic and final. I’m putting them to bed.
The 2017 season has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, and this last chapter today was just more of the same.
Although the Tennessee offense looked good early, scoring two touchdowns on its first two drives, things fell apart from there. Vanderbilt was the worst rushing defense the Vols had seen all year, and Tennessee managed only 55 rushing yards against them. They were also the worst rushing offense the Vols had seen all year, and the Commodores rolled up 246 on them.
And Tennessee posted a mere 24 points against the worst scoring defense they’d faced all year.
It’s no wonder. About half the Vols’ roster was missing. They’d already fired their coach. They were down to their last five scholarship offensive linemen, and Jarrett Guarantano paid the price all night.
It was an awful nightcap to an awful season, and I absolutely hate it for the players who gave their all this year and got next to nothing in return.
So, I’m not putting any of those guys in the grave, even metaphorically.
But it is time to call it a day and hit the sack. Time to close our blinds and shut our eyes and turn off our minds so that we can tackle a new tomorrow with a new leader and a renewed mind. It is still beautiful here, even at sunset of a rotten day.
And may we all dream of a better, brighter tomorrow.
Go Vols.