KNOXVILLE – Tennessee offensive left tackle Brett Kendrick isn’t averse to checking out at least a few of those social media posts that focus on the Volunteers. Especially after Saturday’s Hail Mary between the hedges delivered a 34-31 win over Georgia.
“One of my favorites was someone who had angels lifting Jauan (Jennings) up (on his game-winning catch),” Kendrick said. “Fans can be creative.”
Angels. Remember the “Hand of God” fumble regarding Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner during the Vols’ run to the 1998 national championship? Or all that laundry dropped throughout the Carrier Dome by an SEC officiating crew in Tennessee’s narrow win at Syracuse early in that same season? Or all those empty yards the Florida Gators piled up inside Neyland Stadium, largely because Vols linebacker Al Wilson emptied the football more than once from Gator ball carriers?
Point is, this Tennessee football season – assuming the Big Orange can avoid losing both this Saturday at Texas A&M and on Oct. 15 at home against Alabama – is beginning to feel a whole lot like that 1998 championship season, when everything that needed to fall into place perfectly did, right down to Florida State playing the lightly used Marcus Outzen at quarterback in the national championship game.
Some believe all that could change this weekend at big, bad Texas A&M. After all, it’s the Aggies who now have John Chavis for defensive coordinator, just as Tennesseedid in 1998.