THE FIVE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF 2007: #1 -- LOSING TO FLORIDA

by Joel Hollingsworth on Jan 11, 2008 7:33 AM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Football

We weren't really expecting to beat Florida in the Swamp again, but we sure weren't expecting to get completely and utterly embarrassed, either. The game started with Brandon James returning our very first punt for a touchdown and ended with rumors of one of our guys inexcusably vocalizing surrender to his opponent.

In between, we squandered opportunity after opportunity, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns and failing to stoke any spark of momentum created by the rare big play. Case in point: shortly after Eric Berry returned a Tim Tebow interception 96 yards for a touchdown early in the second half, Erik Ainge and Arian Foster botched a handoff due to Ainge attempting the exchange with his off hand because of his injured pinky, and a Gator defender scooped up the fumble and ran it in for a touchdown.

At that point, the rout was on. Tennessee's final five possessions consisted of seven yards and a punt, 28 yards and an over-on-downs, five yards and a punt, nine yards and an interception, and eight yards and a merciful expiration of time. Meanwhile Florida went 99 yards for a TD, 53 yards for a TD, 66 yards for a field goal, and 29 yards for a TD. As I said after the game, "Final score 59 to 20. Final emotion: Disgrace. Humiliation. Embarrassment. I live in a place called Dishumiliarrassment."

Well, on to the more positive. Expect the five biggest surprised of 2007 beginning on Monday.

See also:

By the way . . . honorable mention for the biggest disappointments of 2007: losing to Alabama and LaMarcus Coker's last straw. What do y'all have?

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Looking back now

the loss to Alabama--just doesn't make any sense.

Worse than the Florida loss.

How did we lose to that team??

How??

Go Vols!

by gramsey712 on Jan 11, 2008 9:01 AM EST reply actions

I agree

I also think the Alabama loss was worse. That team just wasn't that good.

Visit the Georgia Podcast Network to find Georgia's best podcasts in one place.

by rustytanton on Jan 11, 2008 10:05 AM EST up reply actions

Honorable Mentions

Punt Coverage Team for the 1st half of the season. I think we were ranked dead last (if not, very near the bottom) in Net Yards Punting for a few weeks in a row.
Vols' 2nd half collapse vs. South Carolina. Up 21-0 at the half and edged out a 27-24 OT win.

by Aerobab on Jan 11, 2008 10:17 AM EST reply actions

'Nother

Jeff Cottam's broken _____ during _____. (Wrist? Summer training camp?)

by Aerobab on Jan 11, 2008 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

I agree ...

...that losing to 'Bama was the lowest point of the season.

Losing to Fla was more understandable, ie beginning of season, inexperienced secondary, playing in Gainesville, etc...

But there was no good excuse for getting schellacked by a far inferior 'Bama team even if it was at 'Bama. No good reason at all.

Plus, I had to hear about how Florida State was better than us because they beat 'Bama. That was not fun.

Can somebody please get Fulmer to promote Jim Bob?

by XRayVol on Jan 11, 2008 3:21 PM EST reply actions

BAMA WORSE WHUPPING!!!!

Take it from an Old Hound Dawg Bama was the lowest point of the season. If I gotta take a Whupping I Don't want it to be from ALABAMA. I Hate Bama! If ya lose to Bama ya never here the last of it, that is why they are ELEPHANTS they never forget.

Once a VOL fan and a BAMA fan had a race threw a tunnel, guess which one came out first? The Vol Fan, cause the BAMA fan had to stop and write ROLL TIDE on the WALL. I HATE BAMA!!

OLD SMOKEY

by old smokey on Jan 11, 2008 4:52 PM EST reply actions