THE MUSIC MAN'S COMMENTARY ON TENNESSEE'S HISTORIC COME FROM BEHIND WIN VS SOUTH CAROLINA- Subtitled, "The Ol' Ball ' 'Cock' " ain't crowing this morning!! 

By Jerre R Haskew

November 2, 2014

What UT QB Joshua Dobbs did last night may be unprecedented in UT history. Think about this- 301 yds passing & 166 yds rushing and bringing the team from two TD's behind with drives of 75 & 85 yds in the final 5 minutes in his first start of the season on the road!! 3 TD's rushing & 2 passing!! 645 yds total offense- 344 rushing & 301 passing!! And to top it all off, the kid IS a "rocket scientist"- aeronautical engineering major with a 4.0 GPA!! Insightful and articulate post game interviews by him on ESPN TV and on the Vol Network post game.

What's your perspective about his performance in Vol history, great Vol Historian (Tom Mattingly)? And the game's 1,270 yds of total offense and the Vols THIRTY-FIVE 1st downs!! There may have been a few UT records broken. Dobbs was obviously dead tired late in the 4th qtr and overtime yet he led and willed the team to the win with two long drives. The kids obviously love him. This reminds me so much of the Tee Martin succeeding Peyton times.

Butch Jones has to be counting his lucky stars today- hopefully bowing and repeating, "God bless you, Joshua!!" His bullheadedness about not playing Dobbs over Justin Worley from the get go has likely cost his Vols one or two wins, and I hope he knows, accepts and learns from that. This offense of his REQUIRES a dual threat QB!! I know this is not a popular stance but it's the way I feel. Don't get me wrong I'm a Butch Jones fan overall- just hope he learns from this and gets rid of the dictatorial sideline arrogance which is painfully obvious. I rest my case on his look of shock and dazed relief at the end of that incredible game. He knew he was luckier than a dog with three "unowut" to win. Jones also lost his composure on the sidelines several times during the game- e.g., cussing out his defensive coaches over and over in a red faced rage- just an awful sight- when it looked like the game was getting away from him. Some of his coaching decisions were just bizarre- e.g., two 40+ yd FG attempts on 4th & short against a strong head/crosswind were just stupid IMO. Also Coach "Jake's" "east/west" run calls in the OT, when "north/south" runs with Dobbs amazing ball handling/faking skills had been shredding the 'Cocks' defense all game long.

And I sure wish we had Pharaoh Cooper!! He and his "cousin" Amari torched us for 450+ receiving yds between them the past two weeks and "Ramses the Great" threw a TD pass as well as running wild from the wildcat for another TD!! But all that being said….the 'Cock ain't crowing this morning and the Old Ball Coach didn't sleep at all last night. He was dazed and confused in his post game interview. They've lost THREE games- 2 at home- this season after leading by two TD's midway through the 4th qtr!! UT's 11 OT wins now tie us for the most in NCAA history- 11-5 overall and 3-0 vs the 'Cocks.

UT vs Mizzou now shapes up as a huge game for both of us. Mizzou will likely be playing for the SEC East title and we'll be trying to become bowl eligible (assuming we can tame the 'Mildcats the week before). Our daughter Bonnie (UT grad) and her husband Mike & grandson Matt (Mizzou law school grad & senior student) will be there as will Barbara and me (UT grads). I just hope the Vols don't wear those s*%&&# gray unis………. Lastly being the front runner that I am…..

GOOOO VOLS!!

Jerre