Monday Musings: There’s hope heading to Athens

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT’SSSSSSSSSSS MONDAY!!!!!!

And, once again, it’s a victory Monday for the Big Orange after a 33-14 win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs – although one that came at a cost.

Anyways, let’s strip into that cockpit, count down, and blast off into the orange sky of Tennessee Vols-related thoughts inside my mind.

1) As I mentioned, the win came at a cost, and it was one that will have Vol fans chewing their fingernails all week.

Or at least until the initial availability report is released on Wednesday, which will give an insight into the current status of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The prognosis has been cloudy, described as just an upper body injury. However, ESPN’s Chris Low reported that Nico was being evaluated for concussion-like symptoms during the game. That’s obviously significant because that’s not the kind of thing that a player can potentially fight through like any other kind of injury. That’s the kind of condition that is ready when it’s ready.

2) But yes, Wednesday’s practice report will give some inkling as to whether there’s any truth to that report from Low.

Questionable, and the worry will set in. Probable, and Heupel’s statement from Monday about Nico looking in “great shape for Saturday” could be accurate. After the Cooper Mays ongoing injury saga last year and Heupel’s comments expecting his availability (when he subsequently wasn’t) I take whatever Heupel says about injuries with a little grain of salt nowadays.

3) That concern having been stated, I’m going to be naive and take Heupel for his word (mostly because I’m being hopeful), and that would match up well with the positive trend of the other two significant injuries the Vols saw on Saturday night.

Collective breaths were held when Dylan Sampson left the game with what looked to be a shin or ankle injury at first, but fortunately he was able to return and looked just fine on a 33-yard touchdown run. Dont’e Thornton, Jr. also left the game, but Heupel noted on Monday that he believes he’ll also be back for Saturday. Thornton has been the Vols’ best receiver this season, and the team is going to need him on Saturday night to try to stretch that Georgia defense.

4) Another reason for hope is the Vols’ team strength will be going up against an area for Georgia that appears to be a struggle for them right now: their offensive line.

The Bulldogs’ offensive line was flat-out overwhelmed by the Ole Miss pass rush during the Rebels’ 28-10 win on Saturday. It’s a unit that wasn’t great the week before either, with the Gators getting some pressure on Carson Beck, so they’re trending the wrong way heading into Saturday. The Vols’ defensive front has been the most consistent unit on the team bar none this year, and that group is going to have to make an impact again on Saturday night for Tennessee to have a shot. I think they do.

5) Game time for Senior Day against UTEP has been announced, and it’s going to be a rare event for Tennessee football this season: a day game.

7 of the Vols’ first 9 games this season have been 7:00 pm or later kicks. That’s absolutely insane. Only the opener against Chattanooga (12:45 pm ET) and Alabama (3:30 pm ET) were daytime kickoffs. Thornton made a comment earlier this year about how he prefers earlier games because of having more energy and being ready to play early in the day and not having to wait, so looks like he (and any other players sharing that position) will be getting their wish.

And for those hoping to watch the game, it will be available only on ESPN+ or SEC Network+. Bleh.

6) We’ll find out tomorrow just where the Vols slot in for the second CFP rankings.

I’ve seen some interesting projections, but Bud Elliott’s might be the worst.

When asked about why Notre Dame was above Tennessee despite Tennessee having a better win, Elliott’s response was objectively wrong.

(FYI, Notre Dame’s best win isn’t on the chart; you know who Tennessee’s best win is.)

Anyways, let the nonsensical CFP arguments continue. Go Vols!