59-20

That score has been rattling around in my head for the past year and four days. After bad Tennessee losses in the past, I’ve been mad, angry, frustrated, and those type emotions. As I was walking back to my car from Ben-Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville last September 15th, I felt totally embarrassed – and I left early, after Tim Tebow scored to make it 49-20 early in the 4th quarter.

Easily that weekend was the worst road trip I’ve probably ever taken. Here’s why:

• It rained all Friday morning really, really hard. The first thing I did when I got back to class? Threw the clothes I was wearing in the dryer so I could wear them on the drive.
• My friend and I got down to my car in the parking garage ready to leave, and it didn’t start (my 4Runner has a long history of battery issues…). We should have gone back upstairs at that point…
• The drive took at least 2 and a half hours longer than we expected – over 10 hours down I-75. It rained no less than 7 of those hours, and it took us 2 and a half hours to go through about 50 miles on either side of Atlanta. The south Georgia construction – we’re talking 40 mile stretches here – was so annoying.
• For those of you that went to UAB, you know how hot that was? Gainesville was at least 5 degrees hotter. Very few times were there clouds to help out, too. I hardly got any shade the whole afternoon. And the Swamp in the seats is as tight if not tighter. Sitting on the end, I was halfway in the aisle most of the afternoon.
• 59-20
• Brandon Spikes is right – Tennessee quit and you can’t tell me they didn’t. I know we should use the other things he said for motivation/bulletin board material, but that part about us quitting is true.

I should point out this trip did have a good part, and that was actually before the game. The two hours before we went into the stadium, the whole walking around Florida’s campus was pretty enjoyable, despite the heat. Despite what is often the thought, the campus is actually rather nice. It’s similar to our campus – it’s just much, much bigger, with no hills, and it’s always really hot. Not only that, but the I-75 exit we took was 387 – the same one that takes you to 17th Street/Cumberland Ave. (The Strip) off I-40 in Knoxville. We saw their version of The Strip (ours is better) and their University Center.

The Gator fans, you ask? Not as bad as I feared. Unlike my Athens trip in 2006, I did not get cussed out or almost get into any fights. Yes, they talked trash, did their little Gator Chomp at us, and yelled Gator Bait at us. Other than that, it wasn’t that bad. It was worse from the students – who take up half the stadium – as I was leaving.

I remember the last two Florida games - last year especially - like they were yesterday. Will tomorrow be more of the same? I BELIEVE it will not be.

What’s the point of me hashing all this out again? First, this post has been planned for awhile, going back to my days at my own site. Second, the pain and embarrassment from that weekend becomes much more relevant this particular week, this particular game. (NOTE: the SEC Title would have erased it all…)

This is my last home game against the Gators as a student and I don’t wanna go 0-fer against those punks. I still vividly remember the tough loss in 2006. I still vividly remember my experiences at the last two Florida – and it sucks. Point is, if the players and coaches are anywhere near as motivated and as personally ready to beat the living crap out of Florida tomorrow afternoon, then Florida better not be coming in as overconfident as their fans – and even most Vol fans – seem to have been this week.

Are Vol fans foolish for being down about this game? Not at all. Florida has more talent. Coach Fulmer has never been able to beat the Gators. They have Tim Tebow. They have Percy Harvin. Urban Meyer is 3-0 against Tennessee. Florida is in our heads. We lost to a team a Mountain West school beat 59-0. We scored just 35 on the worst defense in the country. Our longest running play against the Gators in those two games? Six yards. On paper, the odds are simply not in our favor.

Throw that paper out of the window – it doesn’t matter. Despite the somewhat somber mood surrounding this game this week, when that stadium gets filled it’s going to be loud. Really loud. It would be a total crime if it’s not. Tennessee has a better chance than we all think or want to admit. The mere fact this game is being played in Neyland Stadium makes me think it’s going to be close.

Honestly, I have no idea how we’re going to stop Florida’s speed. It’s been said a million times this week, Tennessee has to run the ball effectively to win this game. Can we do that against a stacked line?

To me, this is much like the Georgia game last year. It’s just setting up that way. Whether it ends up the same way, we’ll know about 30 hours from now. This game will easily determine where our season goes. Florida is easily one of the three teams that I can say I truly hate, along with Alabama and Georgia. Let me reiterate: I HATE FLORIDA, especially their tool of a coach. And I’ve been waiting a really long time now to get rid of those two images of losses to Florida these past two years…

I don’t know how we’re going to beat Florida and I don’t think we will, but with every bit of me I BELIEVE we can win tomorrow.

GO VOLS!!

About the Author:  I'm from Memphis but I'm now entering my third year at the University of Tennessee here in Knoxville. I am majoring in Journalism/Electronic Media and hope to go into sports broadcasting/writing/something like that. I'm a huge Vol fan and have been going to games for as long as I can remember. I started my on blog called "The View From The Hill" but moved here to Gate 21 for bigger and better things. In addition to my passion for Tennessee football and basketball, I enjoy watching the NFL and the NBA as well. Basically, sports are a big part of my life. >> Read more from this author

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