We’re thinking Kevin Sumlin may be regretting this statement after the 45-38 double overtime victory.
Kevin Sumlin called Tennessee lucky to reach 5-0, then was lucky to beat them
Butch Jones’ bunch nearly pulled the comeback off.
Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images
Before heading into the locker room at halftime, he had a message for Tennessee:
You could bet the Aggies were going to go for the throat in the second half with Texas A&M up 28-7 at the break. The team has undoubtedly been drilled on how Tennessee has pulled off two second-half comebacks in two consecutive games. Sumlin, we imagine, did his best to not let the game come down to this:
But it’s more than just the most recent heroics that should be fresh on Sumlin’s mind. Tennessee has won five games this season and they’ve trailed by double digits in four of them. That includes the season opener against Appalachian State and obviously today against Texas A&M.
Despite his comments at halftime, Sumlin doesn’t simply think the Vols have gotten to this point purely on luck alone. He acknowledged this week that Tennessee is indeed for real:
This is a team that, on paper, if you don’t watch it, you’ll say they’ve gotten lucky. They haven’t gotten lucky. They have a veteran quarterback that is No. 1 in this league in points responsible for, whether he’s throwing it, whether he’s running it, whatever he’s doing. He’s the No. 1 guy creating those points in this league.
But it is hard to ignore the incredibly fortunate nature of the rate of fumble recoveries the Vols have been able to secure.
Sumlin can say what he wants. Tennessee has been lucky as hell. The Vols have fumbled more than any team in the country but have a plus-1 turnover margin. That’s luck.
And that’s fine. The Vols have showed enough offensive growth over the last couple of weeks that they might be able to survive when the luck dries up.
It appeared to have run dry in the early going in College Station.
But Tennessee made Sumlin eat his words. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time for the Vols, and at this rate it won’t be the last:
Texas A&M pulled it out thanks to an interception, but they needed all seven turnovers in order to win this game. Who’s lucky now?
See More:
