This week’s poll question: What Tennessee game in any sport has you the most upset?
Glenn writes: I guess the second half of the Alabama game last season. The Tide held on for the touchdown pass that started the second half. Wasn’t ‘Bama only penalized for five yards the entire game? Ridiculous.
The second half of the game in Gainesville last season. The people at the SEC responsible for evaluating and supervising these teams are very busy.
My answer: SEC officials did not have a great season. But I don’t think there was anything conspiracy about their calls.
Any UT fan who watched the Alabama game will probably disagree with my assessment, especially if they watched the second half. It always seemed like the Tide had too many players on the field in that half.
Shemp writes: The collapse of South Carolina in 2022. There are losses and there is being wiped out, and look what it cost us.
My answer: Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler is probably still dreaming about that 63-38 victory. That might be as good as it gets for coach Shane Beamer.
Bill writes: The 2021 UT vs. football game Ole Miss. The fourth down was correct, but never in my wildest dreams could I imagine how the referees continually allowed Kiffin to slow down the Vols’ offensive pace with “injuries.”
My answer: Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was apparently taking notes. Nobody fakes injuries better than the Vols on extra point attempts.
David writes: None of them have made me angry. Disappointed, yes. Last season’s loss to ‘Bama: I should have been able to win the game.
My answer: Your moderation is noticeable. If I need someone to lead an anger management seminar for my literary collaborators, you’re my person.
Vols Mark writes: The 2010 Music City Bowl with Derrick Dooley. After winning the game, my wife went to the concession stands and bought the t-shirt that said we were Tennessee Music City Bowl champions. As she walked away, the stadium announced that the game was not over.
The concession stand workers ran after my wife and tried to get the shirts back. She called me from the concourse while she was in the stands and told me what was happening. I told her she had completed the transaction, “just leave.” I have those shirts to this day.
My answer: I admire what your wife did. I do wonder, though, what it’s like to be a fugitive and never know when overzealous concessions workers might show up at your door.
You should probably keep your travel bags packed and be ready to flee your home at a moment’s notice.
James writes: No VOL team has ever made me angry. Every TN team at one time or another has left me disappointed, disappointed, deflated, exasperated, dismayed, saddened, confused, disheartened, discouraged, despondent and betrayed.
You know a big disappointment is coming, so you can’t get angry.
My answer: Maybe I was projecting my own feelings onto that question. I got angry during the 2001 SEC championship game between LSU and Tennessee.
He had a Christmas vacation planned in Las Vegas, followed by a trip to Los Angeles to attend the national championship game. All the Vols had to do was hold a halftime lead against LSU, which had lost its starting quarterback and top running back to injury in the first half.
ADAM:Readers weigh in on how Tennessee’s NIL money should be distributed among teams
But LSU rallied in the second half with the simplest of plays. He repeatedly ran quarterback draws, and UT’s defense repeatedly looked unnerved. That forced me to cancel my plans.
I also felt let down, let down, deflated, exasperated, shocked, saddened, confused, disheartened, discouraged, despondent, and betrayed.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He can be reached at 865-342-2648 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow @Keynote USA Local on Twitter.