JACKSONVILLE, FL - JANUARY 02: Head coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers watches his team warmup before the TaxSlayer Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at EverBank Field on January 2, 2015 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
History has a habit of repeating itself. For the second time this year, Tennessee went from jubilation to devastation in one half. Florida was able to roar back Saturday afternoon and defeat the Vols by a score of 28-27.
It truly was a tough pill for head coach Butch Jones to swallow. Tennessee thoroughly dominated much of the game, as it did against the season-opening loss versus Oklahoma earlier in the year. Much like that tilt against the Sooners, Jones' squad had a complete collapse in the second half.
This particular game is even more damaging from a psychological standpoint, considering Florida has now extended its winning streak over Tennessee to 11 games. The Volunteers also wasted an amazing effort by quarterback Josh Dobbs. Dobbs led the Volunteers in passing yards, rushing yards and receiving yards. He was the first UT quarterback to haul in a touchdown reception since Peyton Manning accomplished the same feat in 1997.
Many will question Jones and his play-calling towards the end of games. Is it too conservative? Or, are the Volunteers not quite ready for prime-time action?
As for Florida, this is the signature win new head coach Jim McElwain desperately needed. People are actually excited about football in "The Swamp" again. This victory will surely impact things from a recruiting standpoint. It also demonstrates the tough-minded, physical, unabated approach this young team has.
Tennessee will have to wait another year until it can exorcise the demons versus its SEC East rival.
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