Tennessee 52 Kentucky 50 - The Vols Go to Atlanta
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It has been about 45 minutes since the Vols sacked Andre Woodson on Kentucky's two-point conversion attempt and my heart has finally slowed to the point that I can think and write coherently.
Cruising along at 31-14, it looked like Tennessee was going to celebrate its way through the 2nd half as it clinched the SEC East title. At that point, the Vols took their foot off the gas and the Wildcats put theirs on it as the Kentucky nearly won the game in regulation. Let's recap the wildness that was this afternoon in Lexington:
- The Vols came out with beautiful play to open the game, hitting running back Arian Foster for a 65-yard touchdown. It was all Vols from there as they dominated the first half and went into the locker room up 24-7.
- Tennessee has multiple chances to finish off Kentucky, but simply cannot catch the football. Lucas Taylor on 4th down. Arian Foster on 3rd down. Austin Rogers on 3rd down. Eric Berry and Brent Vinson for interceptions. The Vols catch it, they win easily.
- Kentucky continued to try to run the ball despite the Vols inability to stop the pass. Tennessee's defense has suffered from two problems all year long - no pass rush and a young secondary that gives up big plays. Kentucky's strategy with one of the best quarterbacks in the country? Run. Once the Wildcats let Woodson loose in the 2nd half, the ball game swung to the boys in blue.
- Gotta love playing at home - after watching two seconds run off the clock to end the Ole Miss/Mississippi State game in Starkville, the Kentucky clock operator was quick on the trigger after Woodson nearly allowed the clock to run out on his last chance to win the game in regulation. With one second left, Kentucky tied the game with a field goal.
- It was clear that Tennessee's defense was exhausted as it let Kentucky score on two plays to start the overtime. I thought Fulmer might thumb his nose at strategy and put his offense on the field first just to give his defense a rest. He didn't and the defense had nothing in the tank. It looked like UK's kicker might have missed the extra point - was I the only one who thought so?
- Freshman Gerald Jones, with a perfectly clean jersey from so little game action, made a terrific catch (then another great play in a later OT period) for the saving touchdown, sending this baby into OT #2.
- Erik Ainge made an awful decision, forcing a pass into good coverage and getting picked off to set up Kentucky with a golden chance to win the game. Fortunately for the Vols, the Wildcats returned to their ground game to set up a 35-yarder that was BLOCKED!
- Weird moment here - The Vols Eric Berry was returning the blocked kick for a score that would have won the game when he was tackled by his face mask. The call? Nothing. Apparently there are no penalties when this happens. The flags were thrown, but the call was disregarded because of the change of possession in overtime. Weird.
- Overtime # 3 - Kentucky scores, but fails to convert its mandatory two-point conversion. Tennessee answers, but also fails to convert (with the least imaginative call possible - a lame run to the near-side that never had a chance).
- Overtime #4 - Are you kidding me? The Vols start from the 40 after a lame unsportsmanlike conduct call after Foster tossed the ball in frustration after failing to convert the previous two-point conversion (the referees were shaky throughout this one...), but hit a big play to Quinton Hancock (who has, up until today, earned a scholarship this year by dropping passes) for a touchdown. The Vols converted their two-point try to take an eight point lead.
- Kentucky, of course, answers - this time with a freshman sprinter at tailback who looked like Bo Jackson's Tecmo Bowl runner compared to the exhausted Vols D. Where was this guy all game? The two-point conversion, however, FAILED after Woodson was indecisive with the ball and got sacked from behind to end the game.
What does it all mean now? The Vols are heading to Atlanta to meet the suddenly deflated LSU Tigers. Tennessee will have revenge on its mind from last year's tough loss at home to the Bayou Bengals and from the 2001 SEC Championship Game when LSU spoiled Tennessee's chance to play for the National Championship in the Rose Bowl.
It also means the vultures can leave Knoxville as Phil Fulmer's job is safe and sound. Next week could also solidify the career of Erik Ainge who has frustrated Vols fans for four years with unrealized promise. For a team that started 1-2, it could even mean a BCS bowl. Crazy.
With the way things have gone this year, it wouldn't shock me if the Vols somehow ended up playing for the National Championship before it is all said and done. For now, however, it is enough just to enjoy another victory over Kentucky and another SEC East championship.
