FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As far as on-the-job training goes for college quarterbacks, having to make your first career start on the road against a Southeastern Conference opponent is not typically an ideal path to success.
Even when that SEC foe has lost 13 straight league games and much of the stoic home crowd is seemingly awaiting the next disastrous play to put a damper on calling their beloved Hogs.
But while George MacIntyre remains very much a work in progress moving forward as the man in charge of operating the University of Tennessee offense, there was noticeable in-game progress against Arkansas. And that is likely what ultimately led to the Volunteers exiting their personal house of horrors with a much-needed win Saturday instead of yet another disastrous ending at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
“I was super excited for my first start,” MacIntyre said after helping the 15th-ranked Vols rally for a 24-17 win by completing 18 of 29 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown.
He was also intercepted twice and lost a fumble on a play in which he was trying to stop his throwing motion. That turnover not only cost Tennessee a chance to send its field-goal kicking unit out to try to extend its lead to two scores just before halftime, the ball was scooped and nearly returned for a game-tying touchdown.