Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Tennessee defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus (88) sacks BYU quarterback Zach Wilson (1) during an NCAA football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in Knoxville, Tenn.KNOXVILLE – As the frustration over Tennessee’s four-game football losing streak starts to boil outside of the program, those within the program are asking for just a little more patience.
The frustration is warranted: The Volunteers’ skid has come against Missouri, Vanderbilt, Georgia State and Brigham Young. While each has been to at least one bowl game since the Vols’ last appearance in 2016, none of those teams reach the level of the upper-echelon programs in the Southeastern Conference.
If there is a silver lining, it’s that with the youth on the roster that continues to improve, the Vols’ final 10 games of 2019 could be much better than the result of their first two.
The players believe it, too: Running back Ty Chandler told fans Saturday night that “we need you all, and I want you to keep coming out. This team is going to get better.”
Said defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus, a converted tight end who had two sacks against BYU’s Cougars: “Just bear with us. We are going to get better. Just keep coming out and supporting us.”