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For UT, it’s not how you start

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In each of the last two weeks, Tennessee has gotten off the canvas to vanquish two Southeastern Conference opponents, Florida and, last Saturday night in Knoxville, Alabama.

Let’s be honest, in each of the past four weeks, Tennessee has limped to the halftime locker room. Its offense has been posted on the back of milk cartons because it has been missing. Somehow, except for Arkansas, Tennessee located its offense in the dark recesses of Neyland Stadium and emerged to spark the team to victory.

For the Big Orange program, that’s a good thing. It also is a good thing for the pharmacists of Tennessee fans, distributing blood pressure medications.

In the process, Tennessee improved to 6-1 and has put itself in prime contention for one of 12 playoff spots this December.

Alabama has likely bid adieu to such aspirations, especially with the loss to Vanderbilt hanging like a skunk’s spritz. It’s a long season and given this new format, anything can happen. It sort of did during the BCS era when Louisiana State claimed a national championship with two losses back in 2007.

Tennessee red shirt freshman quarterback Nico Lamaleava has been the subject of derision and scrutiny from fans and pundits. I’ll admit, I’ve been critical of the Vol signal caller. But we have to remind ourselves no matter how talented he is, he’s still being baptized in fire. So far, he’s come through with a 6-1 record.

Give Nico a chance. He’s going to improve. Each game he survives will make him a better player.

People were touting the Tennessee wide receiver corps this pre-season as one of the best in the country. It still may be, but the opportunities haven’t been there for them thus far. Instead, the running game has saved the day for the offense. Dylan Sampson’s second-half demonstration the past two weeks have been inspiring. That’s opened things up for the vertical game.

But the real hero for Tennessee is its defense. Even when the offense sputters, the defense will keep the game manageable when the offense decides to kick in. We’ve seen that against Florida and Alabama. The Vol secondary has been better than expected, which has been a help, especially when you consider the two timely interceptions (one early in the game, one late).

Let’s be honest, Alabama was often more tooth fairy than opponent, as 15 penalties for 115 yards would suggest, especially the personal-foul call on a fourth-and-7 situation that made the down and distance fourth-and-22. To be honest, the penalties could have offset, but that’s not how it was called.

General Neyland’s first maxim decrees “The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.:

Even 72 years after Neyland’s death, his words ring true.

Tennessee enjoys another open date before it takes on Kentucky and Mississippi State at home. Then the Vols travel to Georgia, who put it on then-No. 1 Texas Saturday night. Georgia is a mystery, beating Texas, losing to Alabama and struggling with Kentucky. Rest assured; the Bulldogs will have their A-game on full display when the Vols come to town. There’s a lot still at stake for many teams in the SEC moving forward.

As for Tennessee, its performances haven’t been a thing of beauty, nothing you’d hang in The Louvre.

But it’s not how you start that counts…it’s how you finish.