By: John Dunn Founder, Managing Editor, Producer, Host The All Vol Call in Show Last season, the tale of the Tennessee Volunteers was centered around its potent offense. Heisman candidate Hendon Hooker was the most efficient quarterback in the nation, Jalin Hyatt was the best receiver in the nation, the running game was stout, the team was scoring more points faster than anyone else -- but this season has had a different tone; almost the opposite. So far through five games this season, the tale of the Tennessee football team has been its defense, and on that defense lies a three-headed monster. Week one against Virginia was a good indicator of what the Tennessee faithful would be witnessing this season. Although the Cavaliers aren't a very good team, the defensive success was a precursor to what was sure to come. James Pearce Jr. and Tyler Baron erupted for two sacks each during the game. Not to be outdone, the following week against Austin-Peay, Tennessee defensive standout Aaron Beasley showed that he wasn't going to settle for the defensive scraps left over by Baron and Pearce, totaling two sacks of his own against the Govs. Pearce and Baron still managed one sack each on the Austin-Peay quarterback as well, showing continued tenacity from week one. Over the course of the next few weeks against the likes of Florida, UTSA, and South Carolina, the trio found itself working its way up the national rankings in some important defensive categories. Now, through five games, James Pearce Jr. ranks fifth in the nation in sacks, and is tied for 19th in the nation in tackles for loss. Teammate Tyler Baron is ranked 21st nationally in sacks. Aaron Beasley is ranked ninth in the nation in tackles for loss as well. It is also work mentioning that Joshua Josephs is also tied for 29th in the nation in sacks. The stats say that Tennessee has one of the best trios, or even quartets, of defenders in the entire nation. The Vols are the only team in the nation with three individual players ranked inside the top-50 in sacks. (Utah, Alabama, USC, ASU, UCLA, Wake, Kansas [2]). Tennessee leads the nation in sacks with 22, and is third overall in tackles for loss. It's safe to say that the Tennessee defense has found its footing. The leadership and example set by Baron, Beasley, and Pearce will help elevate this Tennessee team past some tough match ups in the coming weeks, beginning with evenly-matched Texas A&M on Saturday.

By: John Dunn Founder, Managing Editor, Producer, Host The All Vol Call in Show Revenge tastes sweet. The Tennessee Volunteers got their revenge against South Carolina Saturday night following a detrimental loss in 2022. Gamecock quarterback Spencer Rattler spent the night running for his life from the Volunteers' defense. Tennessee even managed a pick-six. All-in-all it was a well-rounded performance. However, there were some blemishes. Quarterback Joe Milton threw two interceptions, but otherwise ran the offense well. That being said, that's pretty easy to do when you have Jabari Small, Jaylen Wright, and Dylan Sampson in the backfield. The Tennessee runningbacks put on a clinic, bullying South Carolina all night. Wide receiver Bru McCoy was carted off the field during the game with what looked like a very bad leg injury. Continued thoughts and prayers radiate for McCoy from VolNation. McCoy's injury appeared to be the only serious injury for the Vols. Tennessee has a much needed BYE week next week, prior to a match up with SEC West foe Texas A&M. Below you will find team stats and individual stats for each team, courtesy of NCAA LiveStats. Tennessee: South Carolina:

By: The All Vol Call in Show 20230929 Tennessee plays host to South Carolina this Saturday in Neyland Stadium. The team will wear its "dark mode" uniforms, and the environment is set to be electric. Given the result of last year's contest, there will be plenty of emotions from each team as tensions boils over prior to kickoff. Can the Vols get revenge from last season and begin to reach their max potential, or do the Gamecocks make it two in a row? the answers to these questions and more lie in the hallowed grounds of Neyland Stadium. John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Producer, Host Earlier this week, I did an article detailing the statistical comparisons between Tennessee and South Carolina. find it here: A few things stuck out to me when breaking it down. first of all, I've seen the same things that everyone else has seen. Tennessee has yet to pass "the eye test." They just haven't played like they're capable. However, looking over the statistical data, this may be the chance to do that. South Carolina is baaaaad on defense. They're awful in pass defense (126th), which skews their rushing defense numbers as well. If a team can throw the ball anywhere they want to, and at-will, then why would they need to run as much? The Gamecocks' rush defense looks better on paper (48th) than what it actually is, due to being abhorrent in the secondary. Offensively, South Carolina holds a single advantage against Tennessee: passing offense. Spencer Rattler has done a fairly good job under pressure this season, which has been a lot of the time, due to a porous offensive line. If Tennessee executes this game, they'll win in a landslide. Something to resemble the 2021 match up between the two. However, that is a big if. If the Vols fail to execute, this thing could be ugly. However, with the game being in Neyland Stadium, a night game, the Gamecocks not being very good, and the emotional factor from last season -- I'll take Tennessee by a decent bit. Prediction: Tennessee - 42 | South Carolina - 24 Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host There was not much Joe Milton and the team could’ve done to positively change my stance on the team against UTSA. They can certainly change my mind against the Gamecocks, however. Both of these teams have defenses that aren’t necessarily great. The only difference is I don’t currently have faith in Tennessee to exploit South Carolina’s weaknesses. Please, prove me wrong. Prediction: South Carolina - 39 | Tennessee - 30 Jake Hubbard Senior Staff Writer, Co-Host, Content Manager I am still completely up in the air on this Tennessee team. The offense and defense both looked like top 15 units in the first half last week against UTSA. Joe Milton looked very good, the receivers did their job, the offensive line held up nicely. The second half was a completely different story, and I honestly have no clue why. I do worry about Rattler picking apart this secondary (again). Wells is out, South Carolina has a pieced together offensive line, and I still have a lot of faith in Tennessee’s front seven. South Carolina doesn’t have a very good defense, and Neyland will be the rowdiest atmosphere in college football on Saturday. Again, this prediction lives or dies by play calling and Joe Milton’s ability to get the job done. Prediction: Tennessee - 42 | South Carolina - 31 Trevor Shelby Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host Last year, the Vols left Columbia with a sour taste in their mouths, among other things. The 63-24 drubbing ended a dream season for Hendon Hooker, crushed Tennessee’s chances of winning the SEC East, and gave everyone reason to buy stock in South Carolina. Safe to say Tennessee has bad intentions for the Gamecocks tomorrow. If Tim Banks sits back in coverage, Spencer Rattler will pick this defense apart and Banks will have a pink slip on his desk Sunday morning. I expect that he learned his lesson and will turn up the pressure on this shaky SC offensive line. Neutralizing Xavier Legette will be a huge key to victory for UT. Historically speaking, South Carolina doesn’t perform well on “O” at Neyland. Let’s hope that Rattler and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains haven’t studied from their forefathers this week. Offensively, I haven’t been given reason to believe Tennessee can score 40 yet. Joe Milton and the receivers need to build on their first-half performance against UTSA. Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson must be force-fed, with Jabari Small picking up the tough yards on short distance. And the big boys up front need to find their footing, otherwise it’ll be a long day in Knoxville. That said, improvements have been made and this team will play with a chip on their shoulder. Give me the Big Orange in a close one. Prediction: Tennessee - 35 | South Carolina - 31 Jordan Moore Junior Staff Writer I’ve not had a good feeling for this game all week. On paper, Tennessee is the better football team, and even with last year’s debacle in Columbia, I still think Josh Heupel is the better coach in this match up. It will be a crazy environment in Neyland Saturday night. Revenge is on the minds of Vol fans, the black jerseys are being worn, and it is a night game. I think the noise does play a factor for Tennessee. To win this game the Vols will need to be able to run the football consistently. 150+ is a good mark. Convert manageable third down opportunities and score touchdowns, not field goals, in the red zone. Defensively, Tim Banks needs to draw up a game plan to not allow Spencer Rattler & Xaiver Legette to have a big night. South Carolina generates their points off explosive plays in the passing game. Keep everything in front of you in the secondary, make them drive the field. The front four on the DL need to have a big night, keep Rattler in the pocket and don’t allow him to extend plays. I think all of that happens for the Vols, which leads them to the win and being 4-1 heading into the bye week. Prediction: Tennessee - 33 | South Carolina - 21 Zac Strickland Junior Staff Writer There are so many layers to this game that I almost don’t even know where to start. It’s a critical game for so many reasons, especially for Tennessee. There’s a lot to gain and a lot to lose. To this point, the Gamecocks have been carried by QB and receiver play, and have seemingly been lacking in other areas. While the Vols are still weak in the back end, they can avoid a repeat disaster of last year by winning the line of scrimmage defensively, as UNC did. On offense I think it actually behooves the Vols to slow it down this week. Teams have been leaning on the Gamecock defense all year with great success. Pound the rock, take the check downs, and don’t try to beat Rattler at his own game. Avoiding drive-killing drops and penalties will be paramount. My (apparently now unpopular) opinion is that the Vols not only win, but do so convincingly. I think if they can get up early, they will ride the tidal wave of momentum to a double digit win. If they don’t, it will probably be a nail-biter and could go either way. However, this game has been circled for a long time in all of Knoxville, and I see the team responding with what may end up being their best performance of the season. Prediction: Tennessee - 45 | South Carolina - 26 (PS: I was going to say 45-27, but then I figured Shane Beamer would probably attempt and fail a gimmicky two point conversion for no reason at all, so I changed it to 45-26) Joe Davis Junior Staff Writer The Vols need to win Saturday. This isn't about anything other than just needing this moment. There's bigger games left on the schedule, but losing this game would sting; a lot. Everyone knows about last year. The Vols are trying to separate themselves from mid-tier SEC teams, and giving up 63 points is not the way to go about it. Tennessee is a double-digit favorite at home. Go take care of business. The running game needs to be dominant. Milton needs to hit open receivers. The line needs to play as a cohesive unit and the secondary needs to shut down Xavier Legette. Do those things, and the Vols win and move on. Prediction: Tennessee - 41 | South Carolina - 28

By: John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Producer, Host The All Vol Call in Show 20230927 The Tennessee Volunteers play host to the South Carolina Gamecocks this Saturday with one thing in mind: revenge. Last season, South Carolina dashed Tennessee's playoff hopes in a game that would be Hendon Hooker's last game at the helm after tearing his ACL. With Tennessee yet to reach its maximum potential this season and the Gamecocks looking more than serviceable in some of their games, there's a lot on the line in this one. OFFENSIVE NUMBERS: Scoring offense: Tennessee - 37th | South Carolina - 70th Passing Offense: Tennessee - 73rd | South Carolina - 8th Rushing Offense: Tennessee - 8th | South Carolina - 126th First Down Off: Tennessee - 64th | South Carolina - 75th 3rd Down Conv: Tennessee - 73rd | South Carolina - 63rd Red Zone Off: Tennessee - 37th | South Carolina - 53rd Total Offense: Tennessee - 24th | South Carolina - 53rd SUMMARY: The Gamecocks hold one advantage thus far through the season: passing offense. They are slightly better than the Vols on the third down conversion percentage, but aside from that, Tennessee holds the edge on offense; especially on the ground. That tells me a few things: Tennessee should be able to control the T.O.P, and the pace of the game. If the Vols fail to succeed with speed, they can also slow the game down and run the ball against the Gamecocks seemingly at will. This will be one of Tennessee's keys to victory. DEFENSIVE NUMBERS: Scoring Defense: Tennessee - 29th | South Carolina - 81st Pass Defense: Tennessee - 36th | South Carolina - 126th Rush Defense: Tennessee - 42nd | South Carolina - 48th 1st Down Def: Tennessee - 64th | South Carolina - 75th 3rd Down Def: Tennessee - 48th | South Carolina - 94th Red Zone Def: Tennessee - 36th | South Carolina - 70th Total Defense: Tennessee - 27th | South Carolina - 121st SUMMARY: South Carolina's defense is absolutely awful. Think of Tennessee's pass defense last season; that's what the Gamecocks look like this season. They're in the bottom four programs in the nation against the pass. They're substantially better against the run, but still hover around the middle of the nation, along with the Vols. However, with Tennessee's potent rushing attack, that could be the main point of emphasis for South Carolina. The Gamecocks rank fairly low in first down defense, third down defense, and red zone defense. This is an opportunity for Tennessee to find rhythm, build confidence, and build momentum for the season against a conference rival after falling in the Swamp earlier this season to a less-than-elite Florida team. WRAP UP: By the numbers, Tennessee is the much better team. However, many would contend that was the case last season. One could have also made the same argument for Tennessee v. Florida. The game between Tennessee and South Carolina has been extremely competitive over the last 15 years, often decided by less than a touchdown. This was not the case last year as South Carolina put an absolute drubbing on Tennessee. The same could be said about the 2021 season in which the Vols dismantled the Gamecocks. A focal point for Tennessee will be running the ball. With Jaylen Wright a little dinged-up, Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson will likely split the work load. With a secondary that has played the way South Carolina's has so far this season, this is also a good opportunity for Josh Heupel to dial up some long bombs for Joe Milton. If Tennessee is able to find rhythm against South Carolina early, this game could easily get out of hand; especially given the emotional factors that play into this match up that have spilled over from last season. The fact that the game is in Neyland Stadium is also a huge bonus for Tennessee. The Vols are faced with a huge opportunity to make a statement win against a divisional conference rival ahead of a much needed BYE week and a match up with Texas A&M. The only thing they have to do: execute.

By: The All Vol Call in Show Staff 20230922 Let's not beat around the bush; last week was awful. Everything went about as bad as it could have. Murphy's Law was in full effect. The defense looked bad, the offense looked bad, and the result looked bad. In what felt like Tennessee's best chance to win in the Swamp in 20 years, the team fell on its face. However, it's only one game of the season, and if you somehow manage to take care of business from this point on, all will likely be forgiven and this game will be nothing more than a bad memory of what could have been. It's on to the UTSA Roadrunners, and back home to the great cathedral: Neyland Stadium. John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Producer, Host I will be dealing with the Florida loss for the remainder of the season; that's just how much that game means to me personally. However, that doesn't mean that I've given up hope, or that I think they're going to have a bad season, it just means that I can identify and acknowledge that there are still a lot of things that Tennessee is going to have to clean up before they get to the big boys. This match up with UTSA is one of two "gimme" games left on the schedule (UConn), and with some of the performances from the Vols this season, even those don't feel like "gimme" games anymore. There is clearly something wrong on both sides of the ball, but that's why the university pays Josh Heupel a lot of money; to figure those problems out. Can he? I think he can and does. This week will be the first week we see Tennessee firing on all cylinders. Why? Because they have to. They have no choice but to clean up the problems in this game, because it doesn't get any easier from here. Heupel isn't tone deaf, and understands that Tennessee is a "win now" school. He is by NO MEANS on the "hot seat," but if progress isn't made soon, there will soon be questions about his ability to surround himself with the proper staff. It's time to get back to what Tennessee does best under Heupel; speed and efficiency. Tennessee rolls big, because they have to. Prediction: Tennessee - 52 | UTSA - 17 Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host Last week, I had faith in Josh Heupel's coaching and said I would give him the benefit of the doubt. After Saturday, I can no longer do that. While this isn't personal, it's clear that Joe Milton may not have what it takes for Tennessee to reach its potential, and it's time to consider Nico Iamaleava. I still believe in Coach Heupel, but the concerns are mounting. The team's performance last Saturday showed signs of poor coaching, as evident in the need to burn two timeouts right after halftime. At this juncture, I do not have confidence in the offense to blow out UTSA as it should. It is not too late to turn things around, but the coaching staff and the players need to act fast as that window could promptly close. Prediction: Tennessee - 17 | UTSA - 9 Trevor Shelby Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host I think I have picked Tennessee to score at least 40 every week so far. If you fooled me, can’t get fooled again. This team has sleepwalked itself through two wins and an embarrassing loss last week in The Swamp. Even I am losing some faith in this team’s ceiling. Frank Harris is doubtful to play in this game, so hopefully the defense gets a hold of Eddie Lee Marburger and the Roadrunner offense sooner than later. If the do-it-all signal caller does start, look for the Vols to be a bit more aggressive. Tim Banks was too passive in his approach and it cost him dearly. The secondary needs to make some plays this week or it could be Austin Peay all over again. Offensively, Joe Milton III and the whole unit need to get in gear. We have not seen the tempo or vertical choice routes for which Josh Heupel is known and it is hurting this team’s chances of winning important games down the line. With Nico Iamaleava waiting in the wings, Milton needs to show the world why he is head and shoulders above the five-star freshman. Jabari Small and Dylan Sampson need to pull their own weight toting the rock. Last (and hopefully not least this week), the offensive line needs to do their job. Improvement is necessary, but possible. 30+ should be reasonable. Prediction: Tennessee - 38 | UTSA - 24 Jake Hubbard Senior Staff Writer, Content Manager, Co-Host Last week was terrible. Play calling was abysmal, the defense was nonexistent in the first half, and the offensive line was bad. Joe Milton was less-than-stellar, but did what was asked of him. I have so many questions heading into week four. I’ll know more after Saturday. Tennessee wins this one. Prediction: Tennessee - 31 | UTSA - 10 Jordan Moore Junior Staff Writer, Statistician, Co-Host Last week was bad. At first, I thought the majority of the offensive blame came from the offensive line, but the more I dove into it, the more it seemed like Joe Milton may have been the majority of the issue. Hopefully this week, against a lower tier team, Milton can clean up some of the things he's been lacking in, and the offense as a whole can do the same. They're running out of opportunities. Prediction: Tennessee - 35 | UTSA - 14 Zac Strickland Junior Staff Writer, Co-Host This is a bit of a weird spot for Tennessee. The meat of the SEC slate still hasn’t arrived, yet the Vols already find themselves needing a get-right game after a slow start to the season. I have a lot of respect for the UTSA program, which has cemented itself as one of the nation’s best G5 programs after posting back-to-back 11 win seasons. The Roadrunners have a situation at QB where the talented Frank Harris appears to be a game-time decision as he battles a turf toe injury. I believe the main edge he could provide against this defense is his running ability. The Vols have often struggled to contain running QB’s, and Harris has nearly 2,000 rushing yards in his career. The Vol offense needs to re-establish trust and confidence after a few rough outings. The O-line has glaring weaknesses, and Joe Milton hasn’t showed strengths (pocket awareness, elusiveness, ability to throw on the run, etc.) that could mask those weaknesses. Thankfully, the running game has been effective against less talented competition so far. I think this could be a game where the Vols play well, yet it doesn’t show up in a big way on the scoreboard. UTSA is a legitimately good program, and if Frank Harris plays (and I think he will) they may have a chance to stick around in this game for awhile. I think the Vols will do enough to put the game out of reach by the end but the score won’t indicate a total blowout. There is a universe though where it is a three-point game in the fourth quarter, and if that happens, it might be a good week to stay off social media. Prediction: Tennessee - 38 | UTSA - 20 Joe Davis Junior Staff Writer (and new dad!) Get your Acme rocket roller skates ready. Saturday Tennessee plays the UTSA Roadrunners. Tennessee will win this game because they're bigger and faster than UTSA. Let's get that out of the way. But, what's important is Tennessee needs to right the ship. The Vols haven't looked fantastic at any point of the season. They have to figure out who they are and what they can do well and do it fast. Already 0-1 in conference play, the Vols have this moment to try to get the blocking schemes working, clean up the pre-snap problems that were back breaking at Florida, and truly develop a downfield attack that is down twelve percent in usage from 2022. Taking the top off the defense will open up some running lanes and help the line by backing the 2nd and 3rd levels of the defense off a little bit. Joe Milton hasn't been great but he needs time to do more than throw screens or hand the ball off. UTSA QB Frank Harris has been nursing a turf toe and is listed as a game time decision. If he doesn't play, this game is over before it starts. If he does play he can cause some problems for a much maligned Tennessee secondary. Not enough to cause a Ga State moment but enough to keep Milton on the field deep in the game. The Vols win Saturday but this game is not about Saturday. It's about figuring out the rest of the season. With games against South Carolina, Texas A&M, and Alabama lined up in the next 4 weeks, if the Vols continue to play like they did at Florida, this could be the last Tennessee victory for a few weeks. Prediction: Tennessee - 49 | UTSA - 17

By: The All Vol Call in Show Staff 20230914 Well, we're here. We've made it to conference play, and there are still a lot of question marks surrounding a lot of teams out there. Tennessee didn't look great against Austin-Peay. Was some of this by design, or were the Vols just having an off-day? Does the sluggishness carry over into the next game against Florida, or have we yet to see what either of these teams truly look like? The answer to all of these questions, and more, lies in The Swamp. John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Producer, Host A good portion of the fan base has certainly changed their tune since Tennessee took on Austin-Peay last Saturday. It's hard to blame folks. Tennessee did not look the part of a top-10 team. There were miscues galore, especially in the passing game. However, there are still some positives to take away from the game. They won the game, avoided major injuries, didn't show much of the playbook (if any), played very well (again) on defense, looked serviceable on special teams, and carried the ball well. The Vols didn't look superb but neither has Florida. In a week one match up with Utah, the Gators looked absolutely dreadful. Against McNeese State, Graham Mertz looked better with his accuracy, but still only managed less than 200 yards and a single touchdown. This is indicative of how I expect Florida to play offensively. I expect the Gators to try to beat the Vols on the ground, and control the time of possession, limiting the amount of offensive possessions Tennessee will have. I also expect Florida's defense to focus more on the rushing attack of Tennessee, and force Joe Milton to beat them over-the-top with his arm. Can he do it? Yes, he can. This one will be a lot closer than what people want it to be, but the Vols get it done. Prediction: Tennessee - 35 | Florida - 31 Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host The vibes going into this game aren’t as high as expected, largely due to the struggles against Austin-Peay. However, this Florida team isn’t the same Gators that college football fans are accustomed to. To be blunt, they’re poorly coached. Nevertheless, they are still better than Virginia and Austin-Peay. Winning in The Swamp won’t be a walk in the park. Joe Milton needs to be accurate and take care of the football. It would also be great for Dont’e Thornton to have his breakout performance, showcasing why those who watched him in practice this off-season raved about him. Josh Heupel has earned the benefit of the doubt. The Vols will win a closely contested match. Prediction: Tennessee - 28 | Florida – 20 Jake Hubbard Senior Staff Writer, Content Manager, Co-host There are a lot of questions surrounding Tennessee’s offense heading into this match up with Florida. I have had time to sit and think about this past weekend, and I trust in Josh Heupel until he gives me a reason not to. This will be a make-or-break game for Joe Milton, in my opinion. I am still team Milton, but the leash is short. I think Tennessee throws the ball downfield a little more this game but at the end of the day I think that Tennessee will. dominate the run game. I’m cautiously optimistic, but the streak is going to end on Saturday. Prediction: Tennessee - 34 | Florida – 21 Trevor Shelby Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host Last week was disappointing to say the least. That said, the mediocre showing against Austin-Peay gave these Vols a chance to get in the film room, talk about the mistakes they made, and work out some kinks on the practice field. A players-only meeting was held to discuss the standards and expectations going forward. I expect a much different-looking team in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday. Joe Milton and the receivers have probably spent most nights after practice working on routes. Willie Martinez has drilled it into the defensive backs’ heads that they need to turn their heads around. With Graham Mertz as his starting QB and not a soul that he could call an impact player on defense, Billy Napier has his work cut out for him down in the Swamp this year. Tennessee needs an impressive showing to get that terrible taste out of their mouths. I’m not sure how hot Napier’s seat is, but I expect Josh Heupel and the Big Orange to put another nail in his coffin. Prediction: Tennessee - 35 | Florida - 21 Jordan Moore Junior Staff Writer If you would have asked me last week to predict this game, I would have taken Tennessee by at least 10 points, but I can’t get last Saturdays game against Austin-Peay out of my head. Every concern I had about this team going into the 2023 season showed up. We all know the history of this rivalry, especially in Gainesville. Tennessee has had the better team at least a handful of times since 1990 & found a way to lose. In this year’s game Tennessee has the better coach, the better roster, & they are favored. They should win this game, but I don’t trust Joe Milton has “it” to win a game like this. This offense has been nowhere close to clicking like it has under the first two years of Josh Heupel. This is a career defining game for Bazooka Joe. If he plays well and leads the Vols to a big win: he instills a ton of confidence with the team, the coaching staff, and fan base. If he plays bad: the offense struggles to score and the Vols ultimately lose. If so, it could very likely be the last start Joe Milton makes in his football career. At the end of the day, I have to see it to believe it when it comes to Tennessee winning in the Swamp. Prediction: Florida - 27 | Tennessee - 23 Zac Strickland Junior Staff Writer The Gators program has been on wobbly footing for several years now but has still been tough for Tennessee to beat even in their weakened state. If the Vols are to exorcise their Gainesville demons, they need to keep the Florida offense in obvious passing downs. This will allow the pass rush to work its magic against a suspect Florida O-line, as Utah did in week 1. Gators QB Graham Mertz is liable to make the occasional bad decision as well, and the Vols must make him pay double if he does. Offensively, questions linger about the passing game after last week’s lackluster performance. The chemistry and timing between Joe Milton, the receivers, and O-line seem to still be a work in progress. I don’t think Joe needs to match Hendon Hooker’s 349 passing yards from last year to win. However, if UT can only complete passes at or behind the line of scrimmage, this game will be tough to win even if the run game continues to be good. Ultimately, I trust the Josh Heupel offense to get things figured out at least enough to outscore Florida. Much of what the Gators did last year to hurt Tennessee was predicated on the abnormal athleticism of Anthony Richardson, which Mertz simply cannot replicate. Barring a defensive letdown from the Vols, one touchdown per quarter (28 points) from the offense will likely be enough to win this game. It may be too close for comfort, but I think the Big Orange will have enough juice to squeeze by in the Sunshine state. Prediction: Tennessee - 34 | Florida - 23 Joe Davis Junior Staff Writer The Gators rebounded last Saturday against "Lake Charles Junior College", better known as: McNeese St. While McNeese is academically top 100 in America, they're not top 100 in football, so it's difficult to glean anything from this win. But the Gators didn't sleep walk though it (looking at you Vols) so that can be said positively. Tennessee, meanwhile, is 2-0 having walked over Virginia and slept walk past a high energy Austin-Peay team with a "gimmicky" up-tempo offense. Watching the Vols closely, I have questions in the passing game. Can Milton regain the accuracy downfield that was shown at the end of last season? Why hasn't he had the opportunity to really show whether he can or not? How conservative has the Vols offense been through two games? If it was a skirt they would approve of it at BYU. Regardless, if Tennessee opens the playbook, it still remains that receivers need to make plays and Bazooka Joe needs to give them a reasonable opportunity to do so. The Vols have been questionable on the road the last couple seasons and going into the first road game of the year is not the way to answer the questions of being a road team and whatever is going on with the offense. The Gainesville hex lives on as the Vols lose a close one. Prediction: Florida - 30 | Tennessee - 24 Darrell Winstead Junior Staff Writer It’s been 20 years since the Tennessee Vols have gone on the road and beat the Florida Gators in the Swamp! Florida leads the all-time series 31-21 and has won 16 of the last 18 match ups. The Vols won last year's game 38-33 and are looking to start a streak of their own. Tennessee rolls into Gainesville ranked 11th in the country with a 2-0 record, while Florida (1-1) plays the part of host. Not only has this game historically been one of college football’s biggest games each season, but it’s also had its fair share of stars. From Doug Dickey, Steve Spurrier, and Phillip Fulmer to Danny Weurfel, Peyton Manning, and Tim Tebow, this series has been full of star power. Fast forward to this Saturday and while the names may be different, the importance of this game for both teams is as big as ever. This time it’s the Vols who are the nationally ranked contender and the Gators who are rebuilding, but this game has had some weird results over the years. Such as games played in monsoons to last-second game-winning scores. This series truly has had just about everything happen. Tennessee comes in averaging 39.5 points per game on offense, and their defense, which leads the nation in both TFLs (25) and sacks (11), only allows a stingy 13.0 points per game. Florida enters the match up averaging 30.0 points per game on offense and allows just 15.5 points per game. No matter what the stats show or the star power on the field, all bets are off when it comes to this series. Tennessee will lean on their run game led by Jaylen Wright, who has 233 rushing yards (2nd in the SEC), and Jabari Small (162 yards), while Joe Milton III is under center. Florida has their own duo of RBs in Montrell Johnson (125 yards) and Trevor Etienne (109 yards) with a new QB in Graham Mertz who transferred in from Wisconsin. The x-factor for me will be how well the Vols' talented but young defense can handle the atmosphere on the road and the expectations that everyone has for this team. I believe they handle it just fine. Prediction: Tennessee - 36 | Florida - 25

By: The All Vol Call in Show Staff 20230906 I can't believe it's already September. It won't be long before the crisp Autumn breeze carries that perfect blended smell of fall foliage and football straight to our noses. Tennessee looked the part of a top-10 team last week as it dismantled the ailing Cavaliers of Virginia. Arguably the most surprising aspect of the Vols' win was how ferocious the defense looked. While many were hoping to see the secondary tested, they weren't. That's partly due to the fact that the Cavs didn't really have time to drop back for many passes, due to the Tennessee defense being there to greet the quarterback and backfield as soon as the ball was snapped on seemingly every play. Yes, it was Virginia. No, they're not a very good team. However, any time you can record 11 tackles for loss and four quarterback sacks, it doesn't really matter what level of competition it is; that's impressive. The Vols' front seven looked very very good. On the same hand, Tennessee's offense looked to have some slight miscues, primarily on deep downfield passes. However, while many want to place the "blame" on Joe Milton, he wasn't the reason. We are one inch out of bounds, and one dropped pass away from talking about a vastly different game. Bru McCoy was just out of bounds on his touchdown catch. Ramel Keyton was going to walk right into the end zone himself if he would have hauled in the pass in question. That would have given Milton roughly 300 yards, four passing TD, two rushing TD, and no turnovers; insane numbers. The tale of the offense last week ended up being Jaylen Wright and Dylan Sampson, who showed that Tennessee may not just have the best RB room in the SEC, but one of the premier RB rooms in the whole country. With Austin-Peay coming to town for the home opener, Tennessee has one more opportunity to fine-tune some of the slight offensive miscues that plagued the team in the passing game last week ahead of SEC play and a trip to The Swamp next Saturday. John Dunn Founder, Managing Editor, Producer, Host This is one of the easier predictions to make on the season. Tennessee will win the game, but there are some things I'd like to see ahead of the Florida match up. I would like to see the timing between Milton and the receivers lined out. Staying healthy is the most important thing in this game. I would like to see the secondary tested a little bit, but honestly don't see the Govs having enough time to deliver many downfield strikes. Honestly, it could be as many as four weeks before we see the Tennessee secondary tested. Aside from that, just take care of business, take care of the ball, and STAY HEALTHY. Nico will throw his first touchdown as a Tennessee Volunteer on Saturday in Neyland Stadium. Prediction: Tennessee - 59 | Austin-Peay - 0 Jake Hubbard Senior Staff Writer, Content Manager, Co-Host Tennessee’s defense was explosive this week; more explosive than the offense that scored 49 points. Virginia isn’t good, we know that. However, Tennessee still man-handled a Power 5 team with little resistance. Tennessee ran the ball all over Virginia and I expect something similar this coming week against A-P. I don’t think Tennessee opens up the playbook this week (clearly), but I do think they sling the ball around a little more in order to prepare for week three in The Swamp. Tennessee: big, again. Prediction: Tennessee - 66 | Austin-Peay - 6 Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host No disrespect to Austin Peay, but Tennessee’s defensive line absolutely feasted on Virginia’s offense, and the Cavaliers are a power-five team. That spells disaster for the Governors. I expect this one to be over by halftime, and for freshman Nico Iamaleava to get plenty of snaps and hopefully the first passing touchdown of his young, promising career. Prediction: Tennessee - 55 | Austin Peay - 9 Trevor Shelby Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Co-Host This game should not be close after the first quarter. I like Scotty Walden’s philosophy on offense and I’m sure the Govs will be just fine going forward. But this is a team that lost its opener to FCS Southern Illinois, 49-23. On the other hand, Tennessee is looking to work out some kinks before their trip to Gainesville. The Volunteers made quick work of Virginia using just the bare bones of their offense. With all the miscues and mental errors made, they still scored 49 points. Expect to see plenty of Nico Iamaleava and the rest of the young guys get some burn in the second half. 70 points is not too far-fetched. On the defensive side of the ball, Tim Banks just needs a bit more from the secondary. I’d like to see Rickey Gibson and Jordan Matthews get in before it’s all said and done. Forcing a couple turnovers would do wonders for his confidence heading into the Florida game. James Pearce is here to stay, along with Tyler Baron and the rest of the defensive line, and I expect him, along with Aaron Beasley, to feast. If there’s anything that needs a close look, it’s the preparedness of Josh Heupel and his squad for the Florida Gators. Prediction: Tennessee - 70 | Austin-Peay - 7 Joe Davis Junior Staff Writer It's been a long time coming but the Vols return to Neyland Saturday. Tennessee takes on Austin-Peay in what should amount to little more than a glorified practice, and while they looked good in week one Tennessee has lots to work on. Joe Milton gets his first start in Neyland in two years and it looks to be an exciting but friendly environment Saturday. The offense will face little resistance and continue to pad some early season stats. Special teams will be able to work out some kinks from week one, although the punt team may not get to see much action. Also getting work in will be lots and lots of back ups. Expect to see Nico Iamaleava early in the 3rd quarter as this game will probably be wrapped up by the end of the first. Bring the kids, enjoy the tailgate and have a nice little Saturday. Prediction: Tennessee - 66 | Austin-Peay - 7 Jordan Moore Junior Staff Writer Not only will this be our first look at the 2023 football Vols in Neyland, but we get our first look at the new Smokey Grays that the team will be donning in honor of Condredge Holloway. There really isn’t much to go over here against Austin-Peay; it’s an FCS opponent that lost to Southern Illinois last week 49-23. The Vols will easily handle their business here. I just want to see the offense get into a rhythm, the OL continue to gel & play well, the defense to continue to wreak havoc like they did against UVA, & most important of all -- STAY HEALTHY. Prediction: Tennessee - 62 | Austin Peay - 10 Darrell Winstead Junior Staff Writer With the win last week, the Vols moved up three spots and now reside in the top ten at no. 9. This week they play Austin-Peay, who shouldn't be anything more than a warm-up game before they head to the Swamp next week. The Governors started the season with a 49-23 loss to Southern Illinois and their visit to Knoxville won't be a pleasurable one. Coach Heupel, who is seeking his 20th win at the helm of the Volunteers, will be looking to find tune and clean up any mistakes that are lingering. Austin-Peay just wants to get in and out of Knoxville unscathed and with a paycheck for their services. This is the last dress rehearsal before the Vols enter conference play, so they need to make sure their I's are dotted and T's are crossed. Offensively the Vols had a solid game last week led by QB Joe Milton's four total TDs (2 passing & 2 rushing) and RB Dylan Sampson's four scores (3 rushing & 1 receiving). Defensively Tennessee got some valuable experience for their young guys and EDGEs Tyler Baron and James Pearce Jr. shined with two sacks each. the Vols will look to utilize all their weapons once again this week. Tennessee leads the series 1-0 all time with that lone game coming in 2013, which the Vols dominated with a convincing 45-0 win. Here we are ten years later for a rematch and I expect the result to be very similar. Get your starters their reps and then get the youngsters some experience. The Vols roll in this one. Prediction: Tennessee - 59 | Austin-Peay - 3 Zac Strickland Junior Staff Writer Austin-Peay head coach Scotty Walden has built a respectable FCS program in Clarksville, with a 17-11 record heading into his 3rd season. Regardless, the talent level is different in the SEC, and this game is unlikely to remain competitive for long. I am curious to see if UT dials up a few more intermediate-to-deep passes for both their QB’s this week, or if they continue to roll with a vanilla, run-heavy approach similar to last week. I’d also like to see the defense log some takeaways, as they were unable to do so last week despite an otherwise strong performance. This should be an enjoyable, stress-free night under the Neyland lights. Prediction: Tennessee - 62 | Austin Peay - 7 LAST WEEK'S PREDICTIONS: (Result) Dunn: 49-10 (+3) Hubbard: 52-13 (+3) Moore: 48-16 (+4) Shelby: 45-14 (+5) Davis: 45-17 (+8) Strickland: 45-17 (+8) Winstead: 43-16 (+9) Bowlin: 38-13 (+11)

By: John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Host The All Vol Call in Show The Tennessee Volunteers are off to a good start following a season opening drubbing of the Virginia Cavaliers, 49-13. The Vols got off to a slow start offensively with a few miscues, but quickly found their footing and began to pour on the points from the second quarter on. The Tennessee defense put on an absolute clinic with nine tackles for loss in the first half alone, including four sacks. Tennessee scored first on a nine yard passing touchdown from Milton to Sampson to get things started. It wouldn't be the last time Sampson's named was called during the game. The Vols' second touchdown came, again, from Sampson, who this time scampered into the end zone from three yards out to extend Tennessee's lead to 14-0 following a successful PAT from Charles Campbell. Virginia was able to finally get on the board with a 30-yard field goal with just under three minutes remaining in the half, which was plenty of time for the quick-strike offense of Tennessee to get back to work, and that's exactly what they did. Milton capped off the drive with a one yard rushing touchdown to extend Tennessee's lead to 21-3 just before the halftime horn. The Vols came out swinging on both sides of the ball in the third quarter, limiting the Cavaliers to nothing on their first two drives of the quarter, while finding success on offense. Milton scored his second rushing touchdown from one yard out to extend Tennessee's lead to 28-3 before Sampson added his third touchdown of the day on the next drive to increase the lead to 35-3. Virginia got its first touchdown of the day late in the third quarter to cut the lead to 35-10. Early in the fourth quarter, Tennessee yet again found the end zone. Milton connected with Jacob Warren for an 11-yard passing touchdown to increase the lead to 42-10 in the final frame. Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava was interjected into the game in the fourth quarter to chants of "Nico! Nico! Nico!" and led the Vols down the field for a touchdown, handing off to Sampson for his fourth touchdown of the game, extending Tennessee's lead to 49-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Virginia added one more field goal to bring the game to its final score of 49-13. The Volunteers showed a lot of great things defensively and offensively. There are still a few things to clean up, but Tennessee takes a substantial win to open the year, showing a lot of promise for the upcoming season.

By: The All Vol Call in Show Staff 20230830 Take a deep breath. In through the nose -- and out through the mouth. Do you smell that? Football is in the air, and we're about to hear those five words that get all of our hearts beating faster: "it's football time in Tennessee." The #Vols open the season against the Virginia Cavaliers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN, with kickoff slated for noon eastern time. Virginia is coming off of an abysmal season, marred by tragedy, in which it tied for last in the ACC Coastal with Virginia Tech. The #Cavs had two games canceled last season, and were only able to play 10 games, amassing a 3-7 record and losing their last three games in succession. Tennessee is coming off of its best season in nearly two decades, finishing the season with an 11-2 record and an Orange Bowl victory over the Clemson Tigers. Yet again, the expectations on Rocky Top are in the ionosphere. The #Vols are looking to prove that 2022 was more than just "catching lightning in a bottle" and they're here to stay. John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Producer, Host This is likely the most excited I have personally been about Tennessee football in a very long time. Following last year's success, it certainly feels like things are headed upward, and quickly. Josh Heupel has proven his ability to create an incredible offense, seemingly out of thin air. However, the defense remains the looming question; particularly the secondary. Can the #Vols improve enough on the defensive side of the ball to compliment their potent offense? To that question, I have two words: depth and experience. I expect Tennessee's defense to be much improved this coming season. However, with the lack of talent on the Virginia roster, I don't expect the #Vols to have to show much defensively to get the win; although a few takeaways wouldn't hurt. I believe that Tennessee is the much more talented team, and can more/less win big on talent alone. This one goes heavily to Tennessee to kick off 2023. Prediction: Tennessee - 49 | Virginia - 10 Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Content Manager, Junior Editor, Co-Host First and foremost, I'd like to remember the three Cavaliers who died in a tragic accident last year: Lavel Davis Jr., Devin Chandler, and D'Sean Perry; May they rest in peace. Now, onto the game. Last season, Virginia's pass defense was quite good, allowing only 204 yards per game. They might be able to keep this one close for a half, but I don't see the Cavaliers scoring enough to keep up with Tennessee’s offense. Prediction: Tennessee - 38 | Virginia - 13 Trevor Shelby Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Co-Host Let me start by commending Tony Elliott and Virginia for taking on this challenge to start their season. This program and the greater Charlottesville community suffered an unspeakable tragedy to end their season last year, and are still picking up the pieces from it all. It would’ve made sense to back out of the game and maybe take a bye week or schedule an easier opponent. Instead, they’re choosing to play a program looking to reestablish themselves as a top dog in college football in what will be an extra home game for their counterparts. Joe Milton III is looking to prove himself and his worth as Tennessee’s starting quarterback after losing his job two seasons ago. Jaylen McCollough and the Volunteer defense want to improve on a good, but not great showing last year. Virginia will be light years ahead of where they were last year, but I don’t see them hanging with the Big Orange during a Week one game in Nashville. Prediction: Tennessee - 45 | Virginia - 14 Jake Hubbard Senior Staff Writer, Content Manager, Co-Host I expect Tennessee to come out swinging in this one. Joe Milton III has so much to prove, and I believe he starts week one. I expect Tennessee to run the ball a lot, but allow Milton to show off a little bit as well. Virginia is one of the worst power 5 teams in the country heading into this season, and Tennessee is a top 15 ranked team. We saw what happened when the best of the ACC met Tennessee last season and now, we get to witness the worst of the ACC against Tennessee. Tennessee big in this one, folks. Side bet, I expect 2 runs of 50 plus yards and a Dee Williams TD return. Prediction: Tennessee - 52 | Virginia - 13 Zac Strickland Senior Staff Writer Hopes are high on Rocky Top as the Vols kick off the 2023 season with a consensus top-15 program. Virginia is a young, fledgling ACC team who is trying to achieve respectability under second-year coach Tony Elliott. He has named Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett as the starting QB, who is not likely to receive a warm welcome to the FBS ranks. Tennessee has an opportunity to make a good first impression with an ABC audience and further solidify their improved national perception. If UT handles business, they may get some late reps in for young players, including QB Nico Iamaleava. Prediction: Tennessee - 45 | Virginia - 17 Jordan Moore Junior Staff Writer It is finally football time in Tennessee. It feels like an eternity since I could say that, but the 2023 college football season has finally arrived. On Saturday we get to see the Big Orange take the field in Nashville to play against the Cavaliers from Virginia. This is one of the most anticipated seasons on Rocky Top in a while. With one of the most experienced teams in the SEC returning for Heupel, expectations are high. Looking at this game on Saturday, I expect the Volunteers to take care of business. The offense has a lot of continuity to it. There are explosive play makers at the skill positions with a quarterback that is poised to break out under the tutelage of Josh Heupel. Question marks remain on the offensive line, but I expect them to be able to hold up in this game. Defensively, this team is ready to take a step forward. The talent is there and finally the depth is there. Virginia struggled offensively last season, and now they come into this year losing their starting quarterback and offensive coordinator. This should be a good warm up for the defense and an opportunity to see some of the highly touted young guys. Josh Heupel in opening games as a head coach is 5-0, with his offenses averaging 52.8 points per game, and his defenses only surrendering 10.8. I think the Vols cover and win big in the mid-state. Prediction: Tennessee - 48 | Virginia - 16 Darrell Winstead Junior Staff Writer Coach Heupel is entering year three and there are huge expectations for this season. The Cavaliers are led by head coach Tony Elliott, and he's looking to flip the script for Virginia, who is coming off a horrible 3-7 season. This is an important game for both teams to get their seasons started off right for different reasons. Tennessee wants to build off the success of last season as they look to return to being among the nation's elite and Virginia wants to put a horrible event (school shooting) behind them, that left their team scrambling to stay focused on the game of football. The all-time series is led by the Tennessee Vols three victories to Virginia’s one. While geographically close, they haven’t played each other since the 1990 season when they faced off in the 91’ Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, which Tennessee won 23-22. The history of this series won’t come into play this Saturday but neither team will want to be on the losing end. Both teams will be starting new QBs and will be looking to sure up some of their weak spots and the team that can do that the most efficiently has the best chance to win. On paper, Tennessee has a way more talented team but they do have some question marks, with the offensive line and the secondary being concerns. The Vols need to avoid a sloppy start that could allow the Cavaliers to hang around and make this a game. Virginia is looking to start over and put the past behind them, which is no small task. They will also need to avoid any big mistakes or turnovers that will allow the Vols to pounce like a pack of wolves. At the end of the day, I can see this being a close game early until the jitters get out of the way. When they do, Tennessee should flex their muscle and showcase their talent in a big way. I have the Vols winning big. Prediction: Tennessee - 43 | Virginia - 16 Joe Davis Junior Staff Writer, Content Manager After eight long months, we are back. College football goes full bore on Saturday, and the Vols look to be in the thick of everything. Joe Milton picked up where Hendon Hooker left off last year by decimating Vanderbilt before picking apart Clemson in the Orange Bowl. What's the pulse for Tennessee this season? Well, as my friend Kathleen so eloquently said to a car full of UGA and South Carolina fans: "15-0 BABY!!! WE'RE COMING FOR ALL YOUR HEADS!!!!" Will she be proved right? Hard to say, but she won't be proved wrong on Saturday. Tennessee rolls the Cavs and starts the season off with a comfortable win. Prediction: Tennessee - 45 | Virginia - 17

By: Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host The All Vol Call in Show 20230818 Neutral-site games have been a huge part of college athletics, including college football, for almost as long as sports have existed. They go back to 1876 when Princeton and Yale faced off fifty miles from the Tigers campus. The allure of a neutral-site game is to get as close to a split crowd as possible, which brings in revenue for each school instead of just the home team. Outside of financial purposes, the divided fans create a much more lively atmosphere for fan banter. It also allows schools to recruit in areas they most likely would not have had the opportunity to do otherwise. The University of Tennessee football program is no stranger to neutral-site games; in fact, Tennessee will travel a short distance to Nashville to face off with the Virginia Cavaliers to kick off the 2023 season. If you enjoy reading history as I do and are curious about Tennessee's record in these games and how they have fared, you've come to the right place. Tennessee’s first neutral-site game took place on November 10th, 1890. The Vols took on the Auburn Tigers in Birmingham, Alabama. Tennessee would lose this battle 23-0. A newspaper article subheading from the next day states “Auburn Men Stood Like a Stone Wall” Yarborough scored three touchdown for the Tigers en route to Auburn’s victory. The Volunteers would win their first neutral-site game in 1902 when they defeated the University of Mississippi in Memphis at Red Elm Park by a score of 11-10. The Park's total attendance was announced at 1,600, a far cry from your typical crowds today. I struggled to find actual statistics from that game. In 1942 the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes were a force. They led the nation in scoring at 39.5 points per game and passing offense at 233.9 yards per game. Tulsa's quarterback Glenn Dobbs was fourth national in total offense with 1,427 yards and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame following his career. The Golden Hurricanes were 10-0 until they faced off with the Big Orange in the Sugar Bowl. Tennessee would win by a score of 14-7, and as Bob Wilson of the News-Sentinel in New Orleans stated in his headline, "Tennessee Ought to Have Won by a Much Larger Score." Tulsa had no answer for the Tennessee defense, losing 39 yards on the ground. You have to talk about the 1998 National Championship game if you're talking about some of Tennessee's biggest neutral-site games; the Vols wrapped up their 13-0 undefeated season by defeating the Florida State Seminoles by a score of 23-16. Tennessee limited Florida State's star receiver Peter Warrick to only one reception for seven yards. Peerless Price had 199 receiving yards on four catches and caught the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. This season came after a year where it looked like Tennessee was poised to break out and win big time with a potential Heisman quarterback. However, they fell short. The backup from that season (Tee Martin) would win the starting job in 1998 and achieve the prior season's goals. Sound familiar? Just saying. The 2016 Battle at Bristol is the record holder for the largest single-game attendance ever at 156,990. The 2016 season may not have ended as most Volunteer fans had hoped it would, but the atmosphere for that game was so electric that you could feel it through television sets. Tennessee would defeat Virginia Tech 45-24 in part thanks to 106 yards on the ground from quarterback Josh Dobbs. Most recently, Tennessee defeated Clemson 31 -14 in the Orange Bowl, which was Josh Heupel and the Volunteers announcing to the college football world: The Vols are back. Quarterback Joe Milton threw for 251 yards and three touchdowns while running back Jaylen Wright carried the ball 11 times for 91 yards. All-time Tennessee has 147 wins- 88 losses, and eight ties in neutral-site games—the Vol faithful hopes to be 148-88-8 after its season opener in 2023.

By: John Dunn Founder, Managing Director, Senior Editor, Host The All Vol Call in Show 20230815 General Robert Neyland is widely regarded as one of the greatest football coaches of all time. You can't mention the likes of Nick Saban and Bear Bryant without mentioning The General. Bryant was even famously quoted saying, "people think I'm the greatest damn coach in the world, but Neyland taught me everything I know." Those are big words from a man widely regarded as the "greatest to ever do it." In 2023, there is a new name at the top of that list. Many consider Nick Saban to be the greatest college football coach in history, and it's honestly hard to argue that, given the sustained success he has had at Alabama. However, in the discussion of the "greatest of all time," I feel like General Neyland doesn't get the respect he is due, especially considering how incredible his defenses were. He is also one of only two college football coaches to have won national titles in two non-consecutive tenures at the same school. "Neyland is often referred to as one of the best, if not the best, defensive football coaches ever. Sports Illustrated named Neyland as the defensive coordinator of its all-century college football team in its "Best of the 20th Century" edition. 112 of his victories came via shutout. In 1938 and 1939, Neyland's Vols set NCAA records when they shut out 17 straight regular season opponents for 71 consecutive shutout quarters. His 1939 squad is the last NCAA team in history to hold every regular season opponent scoreless." "Neyland was named head coach and athletic director at the university by school president Nathan W. Dougherty in 1926. He coached the team for nine years before being called to active duty by the Army for one year in Panama. During that first nine-year stint with the Vols, Neyland had five undefeated seasons, all within a six-year period (1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, and 1932). The Vols reeled off undefeated streaks of 33 and 28 straight games." A feat that has never been matched. "Neyland's 1938 team went undefeated and was proclaimed national champion by several minor outlets. His 1939 squad is notable for being the last college football team to go an entire regular season unscored upon, shutting out every opponent; his team was then shut out by USC in the Rose Bowl. From November 5, 1938, to December 9, 1939, the Vols ran off 17 straight shutouts and 71 consecutive shutout quarters—records that have never been seriously threatened. Neyland completed another undefeated regular season in 1940." Then, WWII came. He was recalled to military service again in 1941. "In World War II, Neyland served in the China-Burma-India Theater, supervising the transportation of material through monsoons and across the Himalayas to the troops commanded by General "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell. During his military career he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit and made a member of the Order of the British Empire. He retired from military service a second time, in 1946, with the rank of brigadier general, and again returned to the Vols as coach through 1952." "His 1950 team was crowned national champion by several minor outlets, while his 1951 team won the school's first undisputed national championship, the first year the Volunteers ended a season ranked first in either the AP or UPI poll. He remained as athletic director at the university until his death in New Orleans on March 28, 1962" Neyland finished his career as Tennessee's head coach with an incredible record of 173-31-12 (83% winning percentage). While many contend that he has no argument in the "greatest of all time" discussion due to coaching so long ago, my rebuttal is this: "then why hasn't it been replicated?" If the game has changed that much and it's "not that impressive that he did it against plumbers and farmers," why hasn't it been done again? Not just his entire body of work, but nothing that Neyland did during his time as a head coach, especially defensively, has ever, nor will ever, be replicated again. Is The General the greatest defensive coach of all time? Yes -- yes he is; and quite frankly it isn't even close.

By: Dallas Bowlin Senior Staff Writer, Junior Editor, Content Manager, Co-Host The All Vol Call in Show 20230815 We all do game day differently, whether it's tailgating at the G-10 parking garage, floating down the Tennessee River, or grilling out on the porch. But there is one thing we all have in common: music. And if your game day playlist could use some new blood, then you’ve clicked on the right article. Judah & The Lion: Sweet Tennessee Released by the alternative folk band “Judah & The Lion” out of Nashville in 2013, this one is just easy on the ears. That classic Appalachian folk sound fits the lyrics perfectly. One line in the song will resonate with fans pretty well as they sing: “Sweet Tennessee, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ I’ll never sing. Ronnie Milsap: Smoky Mountain Rain Milsap released “Smoky Mountain Rain” in the year 1980. The song is about a man searching for a lost love, but mentions Tennessee multiple times, including the opening line:” I thumbed my way from LA back to Knoxville.” This is one that every time it comes on, you'll want to turn it up. Dolly Parton: My Tennessee Mountain Home You can’t make a list of songs about Tennessee without including Queen Dolly. Released in 1973 “My Tennessee Mountain Home” is one that if you close your eyes while listening, you can just envision a cabin in the hills of Tennessee. Parton sings: “In my Tennessee mountain home, life is as peaceful as a baby’s sigh.” If that doesn’t put you in a good mood, seek a medical professional. Kenny Chesney: Touchdown Tennessee I know the public opinion of Chesney is pretty split down the middle, but there is no denying the powerful nostalgia this song would bring to a young man growing up listening to John Ward on the radio. Released in 1998 Chesney sings: “ We heard 20,15,10, and five your voice was our eyes and we could see touchdown Tennessee.” Mel Street: Smoky Mountain Memories Released in 1975, this is one I always find myself coming back to. “Yesterday keeps calling me, calling me home. Mountains rising in my soul higher than the dreams I've known…” As someone currently living in Kentucky, this verse always makes me dream of being able to pack up and move south to Rocky Top. Thomas Edwards: Running Through The T The most recent song on this list, released on July 19th, 2023, by former Tennessee football player Thomas Edwards, is sure to tug at the heartstrings of any young boy who grew up wishing he too could one day run through the T. This one, as well as the other ones, is definitely perfect for your gameday playlist.