KNOXVILLE – When Bob Shoop was tabbed as Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator this past January, the hire was lauded universally by many college football pundits.
The praise became a distant memory 10 months later as Shoop’s defense suffered a startling November collapse.
The Volunteers allowed nearly 2,000 yards in their final three games and ended the regular season by surrendering 45 points to Vanderbilt, the most the Commodores had scored in a Southeastern Conference game in more than 40 years.
“Somehow, some way we found a way to go 3-1 in the month of November,” Shoop said after Wednesday’s practice. “If the season would have ended at the end of the Tennessee Tech game, you would have said this defense had some injuries and held its own. Those last three games were tough, and I own them.
“Those were on me. We found a way to win two of those last three games, which I’m really very, very proud. You have a sour taste in your mouth after a game like that last game.”