I never thought I would be forced to type this in 2020, but the Vols are coming off their most embarrassing loss to Kentucky since 1935.
19 FREAKING 35
The Wildcats marched right through Rocky Top and took no prisoners.
If you think things are bad now, well, you better buckle up because we’re in for one hell of a bumpy ride.
Not too many things went well for Tennessee on Saturday, which is only a sign of more to come. Through four games, the Vols are sitting at 2-2 and are lucky to have those two wins. Alabama is next on the schedule. The Tide opens up as a 17 point favorite, so I feel safe marking that one down as a loss. Heading into the bye week with a losing record isn’t promising, and it doesn’t get any easier, either.
Objectively looking at the remaining schedule, it seems most likely the Vols only win two of them. Arkansas is extremely improved, and right now, I don’t see the Vols beating Texas A&M or Florida. So, Tennessee is staring a 4-6 season in the face after a 2-0 start.
Really, a 4-6 season?
This isn’t even the worst part, though.
As we have already seen, coaching changes within the staff are bound to happen. If I had to guess, Pruitt is safe no matter what this season, but it could only be prolonging the inevitable. He’s beginning to lose the fanbase, and that is never a good sign. Now we await the dreaded vote of confidence to come from Fulmer. The next domino to fall? Recruiting.
Losing sucks, and elite high school talent don’t like to lose. Positional staff changes and a poor season will likely result in a few players de-committing. Nothing has happened yet, but we still have a lot of season left. With Tennessee’s luck, you can never consider our recruits a lock, either.
It is possible Pruitt can turn this team around, and they play Alabama close and maybe win four of their last five games, but that’s a long shot at this point. It’s hard to predict anything in 2020, but it isn’t hard to see where things are headed. My only advice: Hope for the best, but go ahead and start preparing for the worst.
Godspeed.
