Tennessee started off their much anticipated 2016 season by muffing their first punt return of the year against Appalachian State
For the first time in quite a while, the Tennessee Volunteers have legitimately high hopes. Many people have them pegged as the favorites in the SEC East. With Joshua Dobbs and a stout defense returning, there’s no denying their prospects. However, the Vols have long ben a team mired by disappointment. And they didn’t exactly do a wonderful job of inspiring confidence in their fans to start their season-opener against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on Thursday night.
After the Tennessee defense showed off their prowess on defense, Appalachian State got set to punt it away. The Vols didn’t need any fireworks against a Mountaineers team that can be dangerous. Simply, they needed to get things rolling positively early on. They failed to do even that, though. The punt was a nice boot, but was muffed on the catch and the pigskin went rolling on the turf. With no Tennessee players in the general area and with App State charging, the Mountaineers recovered the loose ball. I can’t be sure, but that’s probably not the way Tennessee saw 2016 starting for their team:
Honestly, that wasn’t even close. The returner’s arms really only served as a runway for the ball to the ground more than they served as a breadbasket to make the catch.
must read: Top 25 Breakout Players of 2016
If that wasn’t bad enough for the Vols, Tennessee’s defense looked tired on the ensuing Appalachian State possession. Subsequently, the Mountaineers were able to ride running back Marcus Cox down the short field and find the end zone to go up 7-0. Not only is this poor form from Tennessee to start the game, but this is the wrong team to let that happen against. After all, Thursday marks the nine-year anniversary of App State knocking off Michigan in the Big House. Could something similar be brewing in Tennessee?