Latest loss leaves Vols exasperated but promise 'a magical 35 days'
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For much of his postgame press conference, Butch Jones had a lump in his throat.
With cigar smoke filling the outside air, Tennessee’s embattled coach was deep in the bowels of Bryant-Denny Stadium struggling to find the words to describe the latest loss to Alabama — a dispiriting 45-7 defeat that was somehow even worse than the score indicated.
“I hurt for our players,” Jones said, despondently. “I hurt for our players because we expect to win. That’s why you play the game.”
But for the 11th-straight time in the series, the Vols didn’t win the game, and the latest defeat — moving UT to 0-4 in SEC play this year — has raised the alert on Jones’ job security to Defcon 1.
The Vols were outgained by 496 yards. They went 1-of-12 on 3rd down and didn’t score an offensive touchdown for the third straight game. They’ve now dropped 8 of 10 conference games dating back to last season’s loss to the Tide.
Tennessee players were mostly exasperated afterward, using words like “Demoralizing. Frustrated. Sad. Angry. Hurt.”
The Vols have depth and consistency issues defensively, offensive line problems, a lack of playmakers and youth at quarterback. Alabama emptied out the bench early in the third quarter and its 2s still easily outclassed Tennessee.
“Where are we not struggling right now?” senior Brett Kendrick said.
“It’s frustrating man. Being a senior. With the success we’ve had in the past, this has hit us this year. It’s been frustrating but it’s something hopefully we can overcome and won’t lose another game.”
Kendrick’s final words were a popular theme Saturday night, as multiple players, including a tough redshirt freshman quarterback, promised that Tennessee would avoid a freefall.
Can the Vols turnaround their season?
Tennessee travels to Kentucky next Saturday for a showdown with the Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. — two teams coming off 38-point losses. Then Tennessee hosts Southern Miss before finishing the year with SEC games against Mizzou, LSU and Vandy.
They might be favored in one or two games the rest of the season.
“Guys want to win so bad. We don’t got quitters in this locker room,” defensive tackle Kendal Vickers said.
“I don’t plan on losing these next five games. I’m just going to say that. I don’t plan on losing and that’s my message to the team. They all got to feel the same way. I’m going out there to give my all. My goal is to win every single game from here on out.”
Kendrick offered a similar proclamation saying, “We’ve got a lot of work to do, but I see this team being 8-4. If there’s anything I can do about it, we’re going to come out here and won’t lose another game.”
And Jarrett Guarantano, who took a beating in his first-career start on the road, offered the most hopeful outlook, saying, “We’ve got 35 days left (in our season), and we’re going to give our all for Tennessee. 100 percent. They’re going to be a magical 35 days in this program.”