Tennessee entered its home game against South Carolina coming off what embattled head coach Butch Jones called one of his best bye weeks ever. It apparently wasn’t all that great, as South Carolina held on to win, 15-9. It came down to a failed Tennessee red zone drive, which was part of quite a trend.
Butch Jones’ Tennessee loses ugly heartbreaker to South Carolina
The Vols really, really, really needed this one.
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
The Vols have had plenty of chances to put up more points than that, but turned three red zone possessions into field goals, something that’s plagued the Vols all season long. Tennessee entered at No. 112 in red zone scoring percentage, so ... at least they got those threes? After the first half, the one-dimensional Vols (38 rushes for 122 yards, 19 throws for 133 yards) got basically nothing going.
South Carolina hadn’t gotten much going until the second half, but knotted it up with a 20-yard run by A.J. Turner. The Gamecocks then flubbed the extra point, because this is the SEC East, baby.
In the fourth, the Cocks then turned a 16-play drive into a field goal. Tennessee’s defense looked completely gassed, as you’d expect at this point.
A loss to South Carolina should come really, really close to ending the Jones era in Knoxville, you’d have to figure. Tennessee fans spent the previous game brawling in the stands and leading us to poll the public on whom UT should call next (you voted for Chip Kelly).
Anyway, let’s recount Butch Jones’ last eight games:
8. After starting as the SEC East favorite, the Vols headed to Vanderbilt at 8-3. Jones accidentally created the Life Championship meme, then lost to the in-state rival.
7. Beat Nebraska as Vols brawled in the stands! Nebraska’s coach might be fired soon.
6. Beat Georgia Tech in a game that had UT fans screaming FIRE BUTCH JONES the entire time, even after the W.
5. Beat FCS Indiana State!
4. Lost to Florida after absolutely baffling play on offense in the red zone and on a blown defensive coverage to end the game.
2. Getting annihilated by Georgia as Vol fans again brawled in the stands.
1. This one!
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