Coach Derek Dooley, right, congratulates Justin Hunter (11) after his 33-yard touchdown.KNOXVILLE – The second test was harder than the first, but now the challenge for the University of Tennessee football team becomes even more difficult.
After dispatching Montana and Cincinnati, the Volunteers open up Southeastern Conference play on Saturday with a trip to Gainesville to play 18th-ranked Florida (2-0).
“We hadn’t won against these guys in a while,” said Dooley, noting UT’s six-game losing streak in the series with the Gators. “They probably have the most talented defensive line in the country. Two big playmakers on offense. I would say probably the best special teams in the league as far as generating plays for them. They’ve been doing it for a long time.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for our team. We’ll find out more about who we are this week. Let’s go play.”
UT hasn’t beaten Florida since James Wilhoit’s 50-yard game-winning field goal in the final seconds gave the Vols a win in 2004 at Knoxville. Former Florida coach Urban Meyer went 6-0 against UT, and Will Muschamp, who coached will Dooley under Nick Saban at LSU and with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, is the Gators’ new coach.