Sitting here by my gate@BNA, waiting to head to Maui for the bday trip my wonderful wife planned back in the summer, but definitely bummed we can’t make the game, as it should be a raucous, electric atmosphere for both teams (but hopefully 60+% Black & Gold).
What a difference two weeks makes. The truly amazing thing about sports is the power of the team over the individual, and Lea & co. have really buttoned it up and executed over the last two weeks. I attribute some of that to the galvanizing effect of Mike Wright, a captain, savoring another starting opportunity after losing his job to someone with years of eligibility on him, but the growth of the D has been something to savor as well.
Trending in the other direction, and on course to pass like ships in the night, are our favorite UThug jumpsuit bearers. While watching the game in Franklin on Saturday, some Brentwood Karen sitting next to me bragged (haughtily) that she was a UTrash fan, as she smugly watched the TCU-Baylor game, just counting the minutes until TCU lost so she could celebrate a UcheaT CFP playoff berth. On a different TV was the Michigan game, where they were losing. As far as any UThugs were concerned, they just needed 1 of 2 to hold so they could start really thumping their chests and celebrating.
…Then the favorites win both on last-second field goals.
(some Orange-clad moron as I was leaving): “Hey, what does Vandy have, almost 5 wins? That’s almost a bowl season.”
Me: “Oh no, it’s fine, we’ll clinch bowl eligibility when we beat Tennessee this week. It’ll be fine.”
Moron: “Stop…”
Then they met Spencer Rattler, and now their playoff hopes are down the drain. The tears I drank from falling asleep listening to the Twitter postgame UTrash podcast was exquisitely delectable.
Anyways, the actual game:
This game will come down to whether Vandy can put real pressure on Milton. It’s clear he’s a very talented player, and he surely learned a ton sitting on the bench and watching Hooker the last two years. He could very well torch Vandy, especially when he has 3 future NFL receivers to throw to.
But I suspect if Howell can apply pressure like he’s been able to do with some measure of success for the last two games, we can have some success here, either through sacks, throwaways, and INT’s. If Vandy wants to win, they’re going to have to win the Turnover Margin.
Really love some of the corner blitzes I’ve seen with Ja’Dais Richard and others. Hit ‘‘em with that.
I also think this is a game (not that we necessarily have much choice, but think this would be a smart game to turn the freshmen loose: Richard, Ugo, Agu, Diakite—this is their chance to show the world who has the best young talent in the state. Free them up for opportunities to flash and make plays, as you can clearly see the energy for it is there.
Anyways, win or lose, it’s going to be a sports-rich week for the ages: USMNT make their Gregg Berhalter debut in the first-ever November World Cup(?), and Vandy has a chance to not only clinch bowl eligibility, but also swap the momentum and trajectory of both programs. Pumped!
vanderbilt.rivals.com
