The memory still haunts Tennessee fans.
As Alton “Pig” Howard stretched for the end zone, it looked like the Volunteers were inching towards their first victory over a ranked opponent in four years.
Then Howard fumbled into the end zone, and just like that, the Vols lost to their SEC East rival: Georgia.
Make no mistake about it, though; UT isn’t looking to settle unfinished business when they travel to Athens to face off against the No. 12 Bulldogs.
“It’s just another SEC game,” redshirt junior safety Brian Randolph said. “It’s our first SEC game, and that’s all we are trying to focus on. We’re trying not to make it bigger than what it is.”
The Vols’ philosophy makes sense – UT’s roster is strikingly different than the one that walked into Neyland Stadium on Oct. 5, 2013.
Through three games, the Vols have played 34 newcomers, including a list of 22 true freshmen.
Of the 70 players who will make the trip to play “Between the Hedges,” only 13 have ever played inside Sanford Stadium.
Georgia, however, won’t run out the same team, either. Their main change is at quarterback, where the Bulldogs are now manned by senior Hutson Mason, not SEC career passing yards leader Aaron Murray.
“It’s a new season,” head coach Butch Jones said. “We have a new football team. Half of our football team didn’t even participate in that football game. Probably a third of the newcomers were actually at that game on a recruiting visit, but again, they didn’t perform in it.
“I think it adds confidence for everyone, but just like Georgia, they’re a new football team.”
The Vols will enjoy the benefit of facing the Bulldogs after a bye week, allowing time for a Tennessee team with numerous injuries to recover.
Currently, tight ends Ethan Wolf and Daniel Helm, defensive lineman Trevarris Saulsberry and running back Derrell Scott are all scheduled to return from injuries. Wide receivers Josh Smith and Von Pearson, however, are not expected to be back in time for Saturday.
The bye week also gives Jones and his coaching staff time to prepare for the Bulldogs, who currently rank fourth in the nation in points per game (48.7) and 28th in points against at 19.7 points per game.
In his eight-year career as a head coach, Jones owns a 9-2 record following a bye week, including a victory over then-No. 11 South Carolina last year, which came two weeks after the infamous Georgia debacle.
“In a bye week, every team is different,” Jones said. “You try to make your bye week schedule relative to the team that you have and what that particular team needs at that particular moment of time. For us, it’s getting back some health issues, getting healthy and, also, just overall fundamental improvement. We really focus on the small details.
“You can go back and revisit and really work on yourself, work on the fine details of winning football. I think it’s a combination of that. Our coaches have done a great job of really going back to the fundamentals.”
The contest between the Vols and Bulldogs kicks off at noon EST and will be televised nationwide on ESPN.
