KNOXVILLE – The visions of a comforting blowout win on homecoming faded on Tennessee’s first series, courtesy of a mediocre Conference USA defense.
A game that should have been a reprieve from a season of brutal hits for Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano turned into another painful slugfest for the redshirt sophomore and his team.
Tennessee’s struggling offensive line let Guarantano hit the field three times on the Vols’ first possession alone.
Only a punt return could spark a lifeless Tennessee attack in a 14-3 win over Charlotte on Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 86,753 at Neyland Stadium.
The crowd seemed about half that number by the fourth quarter, when Charlotte surged into Tennessee territory and threatened to make it a one-possession game.