Final in Knoxville: UT 31 AF 30

[Born-n-RaisedVol]

This one didn't turn out to be the game people were expecting. Minus a few unnecessary penalties and an interception, our offense showed up to play. Our defense, however, did not. I'm gonna let this bad defensive performance slide on the basis that 1) Our defense only had a week to prepare for an option-attack offense that is all but obsolete in today's world of college football and 2) we held a heisman candidate running back to 65 yards last week. We may also be able to credit this one to a little bit of overlooking of Air Force while trying to get some early work in for Florida next saturday. You can be assured of an entertaining night in Knoxville next Saturday night.

[GatorNation]

This one didn't turn out to be the game people were expecting. Minus a few unnecessary penalties and an interception, our offense showed up to play. Our defense, however, did not. I'm gonna let this bad defensive performance slide on the basis that 1) Our defense only had a week to prepare for an option-attack offense that is all but obsolete in today's world of college football and 2) we held a heisman candidate running back to 65 yards last week. We may also be able to credit this one to a little bit of overlooking of Air Force while trying to get some early work in for Florida next saturday. You can be assured of an entertaining night in Knoxville next Saturday night.
Sorry....not gonna let you get off that easily:

:D

(1) This was not Nebraska's 90s option....or even WVU's option. Even with only one week to prepare, UT should have enough speed to shut down Air Force. They're an academy for God's sake. UT just wasn't playing assignment football....it's easier to wing it, assuming one's superior talent will get the job done.

(2) Last week was a great game....but wasn't this week supposed to tell us whether Cal was really overrated or UT was for real? If anything, it's a wash: as great as UT played last week, they played about as poorly this week, especially considering their opponent. And even if AF has an all-world running game, which they don't, they certainly don't have a great defense. The score was pretty tight; it was a low-scoring game through most of the contest. Add to which, AF handed you the game....why in the hell did they go for the 2PC? It should've gone to OT, at the very least. You were lucky to win it in regulation, and with the offensive momentum they had at the end of the game, OT might have well meant a loss.

(3) After last season's debacle, no one believes that UT was looking ahead to Florida. No way Fulmer would have allowed even a hint of that this season. That dog just won't hunt.

Anyway, congrats on the win. See you next week....

You know we'll be ready.

[Foxman]

Sorry....not gonna let you get off that easily:

:D

(1) This was not Nebraska's 90s option....or even WVU's option. Even with only one week to prepare, UT should have enough speed to shut down Air Force. They're an academy for God's sake. UT just wasn't playing assignment football....it's easier to wing it, assuming one's superior talent will get the job done.

(2) Last week was a great game....but wasn't this week supposed to tell us whether Cal was really overrated or UT was for real? If anything, it's a wash: as great as UT played last week, they played about as poorly this week, especially considering their opponent. And even if AF has an all-world running game, which they don't, they certainly don't have a great defense. The score was pretty tight; it was a low-scoring game through most of the contest. Add to which, AF handed you the game....why in the hell did they go for the 2PC? It should've gone to OT, at the very least. You were lucky to win it in regulation, and with the offensive momentum they had at the end of the game, OT might have well meant a loss.

(3) After last season's debacle, no one believes that UT was looking ahead to Florida. No way Fulmer would have allowed even a hint of that this season. That dog just won't hunt.

Anyway, congrats on the win. See you next week....

You know we'll be ready.

Yeah, just got back from the game. Trust me, it was alot closer than anyone in orange would have liked, but oh well. A wins a win. The bottom line is: Air Force came to play. Tennessee (Well, for the most part) didn't.

And about the not kicking the field goal? I disagree. A. Momentum was all over their side. They scored, the kicked and recieved an on-sides kick, they scored again, It's all over them. B. We were VERY close to blocking a few kicks, the kicker would have been under A TON of pressure, and Neyland would have been VERY loud. C. Are their chances really all that good in OT? Our O is on fire, its at Neyland Stadium, Its late.

It was the correct call, its just Tennessee played it well.

Anyway. Great game Air Force. They should do good this year.

See you Gators next week.

[WarEagler]

I was really shocked at the final score of this game. Same with the Troy vs FSU game.

[GeauxTo]

I was really shocked at the final score of this game. Same with the Troy vs FSU game.
So was I. After the Vols whipped Cal so soundly, I had them as the beast of the east, but this tells me it ain't so. That honor resides with either UGA or Florida, and I guess with next weeks Vol/Gator matchup, we'll really see if the Vols can cut the mustard.

[blockallhaters]

This one didn't turn out to be the game people were expecting. Minus a few unnecessary penalties and an interception, our offense showed up to play. Our defense, however, did not. I'm gonna let this bad defensive performance slide on the basis that 1) Our defense only had a week to prepare for an option-attack offense that is all but obsolete in today's world of college football and 2) we held a heisman candidate running back to 65 yards last week. We may also be able to credit this one to a little bit of overlooking of Air Force while trying to get some early work in for Florida next saturday. You can be assured of an entertaining night in Knoxville next Saturday night.
I can't wait the system all the SEC rivials claim will not work in the SEC seems to bite them in the butt.Guys now we know put Tebow in and then you can say you thought Leak was going to play.Anything can happen in any game but I love the Gators up side.We as Gators can see the over joy over the big win but now this coming weekend its put up or shut up time.

[lacene]

Yeah, just got back from the game. Trust me, it was alot closer than anyone in orange would have liked, but oh well. A wins a win. The bottom line is: Air Force came to play. Tennessee (Well, for the most part) didn't.

And about the not kicking the field goal? I disagree. A. Momentum was all over their side. They scored, the kicked and recieved an on-sides kick, they scored again, It's all over them. B. We were VERY close to blocking a few kicks, the kicker would have been under A TON of pressure, and Neyland would have been VERY loud. C. Are their chances really all that good in OT? Our O is on fire, its at Neyland Stadium, Its late.

It was the correct call, its just Tennessee played it well.

Anyway. Great game Air Force. They should do good this year.

See you Gators next week.


well, I don't feel that it was the correct call. It wasn't that Tennessee was responding to the Air Force's scoring, it was the other way around. Air Force had to make a run to get to 30-31, and if they kicked the PAT and tied the game, it would've made much more sense that they'd have momentum going into OT, not the Vols. Tennessee had much more to lose - and to think about losing, while in the extra period - than the AFA had.

I think that the choice to go for the 2 points was a bone-head call by the coaching staff. This isn't the 1980's anymore....who plays for 2 point conv. - for the win, and not to tie - in lieu of the overtime, anymore, anyways??

[GAMECOCK_FAN]

well, I don't feel that it was the correct call.
I have to agree. For me, it's hard to think of any time where going for the two-point conversion is a good call with very little time left, versus kicking the PAT for the tie. Kick the extra point and go into OT. Scoring from the 3-yard line is a low-percentage play in my book (i.e., much less than 50%). If I were a coach, I'd much rather take my chances in OT.

[BamaDude06]

I read somewhere that in 2005 in D-1A 2 pt. conversions we almost 50/50 good/fail. Air Force would not of survived OT. Their best bet was the 2pts.

[blues_cap]

a huge underdog...on the road...getting your ass whipped for 3 and a half quarters...depth issues....i go for the win myself.

[GatorNation]

I have to agree. For me, it's hard to think of any time where going for the two-point conversion is a good call with very little time left, versus kicking the PAT for the tie. Kick the extra point and go into OT. Scoring from the 3-yard line is a low-percentage play in my book (i.e., much less than 50%). If I were a coach, I'd much rather take my chances in OT.
I agree. Kick the PAT and take your chances with the momentum you've generated. To each his own, though.....

BUT....if you're going to go for the PAT, why would you call a sweep??!!! I mean, wtf?! UT, even if they're playing poorly, has a ton-o-speed....they're going to run down a sweep. Either throw the thing in the back of the endzone to your tallest receiver or run your bread-n-butter option off the edge.

It may have been a questionable call to go for two, but the 2PC playcall WAS a horrible call, imo.

[Gamecocks4Ever]

I think that the choice to go for the 2 points was a bone-head call by the coaching staff. This isn't the 1980's anymore....who plays for 2 point conv. - for the win, and not to tie - in lieu of the overtime, anymore, anyways??

Well, it was a 2pt conv. vs. a PAT, but it was about the same. Akron went for the win on the very last play...........and they won.

[Gamecocks4Ever]

It wasn't a 2pt conv. vs. a PAT that is

[VOLjlt]

The deal with the 2-pt conversion....Air Force had run that play against us all night according to their QB. They had success with it all night long and we failed to stop it...so, the logical thing is to run it again. The one time we needed to stop it, we did. The defense widened out on the play and Mitchell was there to stuff the TB. If I was running a play against a team all night and it never failed, I'd try it again, too. I mean, what are the odds when you play for 58 minutes and no one stops you? So, I can understand the reasoning behind the play calling. Do you take your chances in OT? Sure, why not? But Coach Deberry wanted to play the hero and call the one thing we couldn't stop. After about the 80th time, we finally adjusted to it. Thus, 31-30 squeaker. Now we return to defending an offense we are used to seeing in UF. With the two defenders out, it will be tough to defend as well as we can due to some depth issues. I do think it will be a great classic game as always though. Looking forward to it.

[Wizard of Orange]

Look, I was there. Unless you watched this game you have no clue what the dynamics were. First of all, UT's offense was Fabulous. Did not punt all night. Threw an interception on a first down deep in AF territory with a 2 TD lead for the only non-scoring drive of the night.

Now, on the other side. IN TN's Defenses defense, they were getting some of the best tackles and gang-tackles I have ever witnessed and it was occurring on every play - unfortunately, the guys they were tackling didn't have the ball!

Honestly, AFs QB, Carney, was the best at faking and hiding the ball that I've seen in person. Tenn 's D has been taught to attack the ball, gang - tackle...and they could not help themselves. Very little discipline... OUR SPEED killed us.

I do not believe that the D's performance against AF tells us anything about how they'll do vs. FLA. However, the loss of Harrell and Inky will be BIG!

As far as going for 2 pts., I did not want them to. Therefore, it must have been the right decision. Just the wrong call - it should have been the option again. We could not stop it other than by guessing. By running a straight sweep, they allowed our speed to work for us instead of against us.

In overtime, UT scores everytime. Eventually, TN's D would have guessed right a couple of plays in a row and game over.

[azamugg]

well, I don't feel that it was the correct call. It wasn't that Tennessee was responding to the Air Force's scoring, it was the other way around. Air Force had to make a run to get to 30-31, and if they kicked the PAT and tied the game, it would've made much more sense that they'd have momentum going into OT, not the Vols. Tennessee had much more to lose - and to think about losing, while in the extra period - than the AFA had.

I think that the choice to go for the 2 points was a bone-head call by the coaching staff. This isn't the 1980's anymore....who plays for 2 point conv. - for the win, and not to tie - in lieu of the overtime, anymore, anyways??

it wasnt a bone head call...........you're in enemy territory, w/over 100,000 people and teams that can throw the ball tend to win in overtime.....hell you're on the 2.5 yard line!

it wasnt the wrong call, but it was definitily the wrong play!

[BubbaVol]

What's all this talk about OT? Why is it a forgone conclusion that the Vols couldn't get down the field in a short amount of time? Like Air Force had been playing lights out defense all game and the Vols wwere struggling to make yardage. Like Wilhoit can't kick a game winning 50 yard kick. You Gator fans should know better than that.

[blockallhaters]

yeah we remember the extra yards given to you by the refs and the extra time to kick a field goal.

[GatorHunter]

yeah we remember the extra yards given to you by the refs and the extra time to kick a field goal.

They know the refs gave them that game....heck, even the SEC commissioner apologized...you know if that happens, someone's screwed the pooch...but it led to Zooker gettin' fired...so it wasn't all bad!!!!

[VOLjlt]

They know the refs gave them that game....heck, even the SEC commissioner apologized...you know if that happens, someone's screwed the pooch...but it led to Zooker gettin' fired...so it wasn't all bad!!!!

We'll take that game as much as you have the 2000 game for the dropped ball that was ruled a touchdown to give you the victory in the last minute. 106000 people know that was not a touchdown and the refs screwed us over then...turn about is fair play.

[blockallhaters]

Man I still think that was a catch I played it over and over sorry can't see your point.

[VOLjlt]

Man I still think that was a catch I played it over and over sorry can't see your point.

Of course you do, you won the game with it. I've seen that same "catch" by dozens of other players in our conference and others and they were ruled incompletions. I am also keeping in mind that the same ref crew we had for that game also botched a game a week earlier between Vandy and I think Ole Miss.

[Wizard of Orange]

Blockallhaters, Have you got that tape? If so, go to the TWO " incompletions" earlier in the game defended exactly the same way that TN jumped on when the ball hit the ground - that the same FREAKIN' ref said was incomplete!

At least be consistent! If its a complete pass in the endzone, its a complete pass at mid field and guess what? ITS BIG ORANGE BALL!

And the game is a blowout as a result!

I don't mind the ump calling a tight strike zone as long as he calls it the same for both pitchers and the same in the 9th inning as the first!


WHEWW!!! Sorry, I had to get that out...

[Jrama]

So was I. After the Vols whipped Cal so soundly, I had them as the beast of the east, but this tells me it ain't so. That honor resides with either UGA or Florida, and I guess with next weeks Vol/Gator matchup, we'll really see if the Vols can cut the mustard.

Did any of yall even watch the game? I doubt it. AF was a lot better then anyone ever thought. They were fast and half the time you couldnt even tell who had tha ball. Just b/c they havent been so great in the past and just b/c we beat cal so bad dont mean the AF game was a fluke. They played VERY GOOD. Our D could have done a batter job, but still their O looked really good. Super fast. Epect to see a lot more wins from them this yr.

Even with the advantage of us loosing 2 Defensive startes I think were still gonna pull out the W. Should be a good game, we'll be ready. Ainge keeps getting better. Even though Foster hasent proven to be what we thought Hardesty has. No1 still hasnt seen much of Coker either haha.. Expect all 3 to wear down UFs D saturday. And expect a Ainge to play just as well against yall as everyone else these past 2 weeks.

GO VOLS