The UGA game was interesting. Tennessee had played well enough to be undefeated and on an inside track to the CFB playoff. But late in the 2nd quarter of that game, it looked like Butch had lost his team. They were flat, they appeared disinterested, the execution was terrible. I made the statement that Butch Jones' days at UT were numbered. It was like someone flipped a switch, and for the rest of the season everything was different...even to the point that Tennessee almost picked up an improbable win at Alabama. I don't know if it was something the coaches said, or if it was a lucky break that the team capitalized on -- but the entire season and, very likely, Butch's career, hinged on a single moment in that game.
Butch still has to win in 2016 if he's going to be long for this job. If this team loses to UF and doesn't do something to redeem itself -- like beating Bama -- it's hard to imagine that Jones will be here long-term. He still hasn't proven he can win the big games with consistency and meet expectations. But at least he has given us all hope that he can. It's amazing how much one game in a 13-game season can make a difference, but that UGA game did. Half the CFB world seems to have Tennessee penciled into the playoff hunt this year. Excitement is higher amongst his fan base than it has been in many years (I hesitate to put an exact number on it, but I can't recall a preseason with this much anticipation since 1999). The Florida ticket is probably going to be the most expensive ticket in Neyland Stadium history...and if everything goes right, the Alabama ticket will be even more expensive. How much different would things be if Tennessee doesn't convert that 4th down? Or recover the fumbled kickoff? Or kill a punt a foot away from the pylon in the 4th quarter?
I will finally agree that Florida is make or break this year. Absolutely no excuse to lose to them, and yes, it would take a win over bammer to redeem Butch. 10-2 is no good if UF is one of the "2".
And yes, it is interesting how close the uga game turned on so many plays. Its almost as if seasons of bad luck turned the other way in one game. Maybe Butch finally got a "signature win" with that game. If not signature, then certainly a big win.
Maybe we can reserve "signature" for a certain game in October this year.