Gators troll Vols ahead of rivalry game

The pesky Gators have defeated the Vols 10 consecutive years, including in 2014 when Tennessee blew a late lead and eventually lost 10-9. The Vols now are third in the SEC (246 ypg) in rushing. Historically they’ve had a good defense. John Kelly Jr had 13 runs for 59 yards.

Photo by Dan Henry /Times Free Press.

When asked if he brings up the 10-year losing streak to the Florida Gators with his players, Tennessee Volunteers football coach Butch Jones said he doesn’t mention it. “We’ll be ready for anything”, said Tennessee junior linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin. “Every season’s a new season”. Every week is a new week. “What matters is our preparation and becoming a better football team”. Florida won the game 14-9.

Gatorvision gives Gators fans plenty of answers from coach McElwain about the big game Saturday in front of a full house at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field.

Florida hasn’t given Tennessee fans any reason to celebrate since.

In the second half, Butch Jones’ squad coasted the rest of the way.

The list goes on and on, a decade of futility against the Vols’ SEC East rivals.

“I’m pretty sure it can’t get any louder than it does in our own stadium”, safety Todd Kelly Jr. said.

“We’re just going with the mindset that it’s the next game coming up. Each practice we’re going in with the mindset that we’re going to win the ballgame”.

That’s the message Jones is sending his team. 19 Gators.

“We had numerous opportunities, and we didn’t cash in”, Jones recalled.

“To me, it’s what makes college football so much fun – rivalries, streaks, whatever they are”, McElwain said.

Tennessee and Florida face off in a huge SEC East game this Saturday, and it looks like the Gators have gotten the first bit of trash talk in.

“No, I don’t”, Sutton said. “It was another learning experience for me”. Before that, the Vols hadn’t kept a game closer than 10 points since a 21-20 loss in Knoxville in 2006. The win appears to be there for Tennessee’s taking.

“Being on the road in a great environment like that and the great environment that they have down there”, cornerback Cameron Sutton said, “it really tests the mentality of your team, the focus of your team”.

The Vols’ season-opening win over Bowling Green at Nissan Stadium in Nashville didn’t constitute a true road game, according to Jones.

Florida is the first of six straight SEC games for the Vols. They follow the trip to Gainesville with games against Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and South Carolina. O’Brien will play against Florida after a two game suspension for a violation of team rules.