Fansided

Virginia Tech vs Tennessee recap: 3 things we learned

By Michael Whitlow

Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies line up against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 10, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies line up against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Tennessee took care of Virginia Tech with relative ease on Saturday night inside Bristol Motor Speedway

After a hot start from the Hokies on Saturday night, the Virginia Tech vs. Tennessee showdown turned into a big-time blowout.

Josh Dobbs accounted for five touchdowns and the Vols looked like the SEC title contenders many expected them to look like last week in their home opener after a 45-24 domination of the Hokies.

Here are the three biggest takeaways from the Vols win over the Hokies.

1. You can fit a ton of people inside a race track for a college football game

Good lord, the scene of people in the house for Virginia Tech and Tennessee on Saturday night. The idea of having a giant scoreboard hover 96 feet over the players is probably insane, but this was amazing.

It’s not an ideal setup, but it’s about as American as you can get. 156,990 people watched this football game on Saturday night. That’s madness.

2. The Vols bounced back the way they needed to

It took a little while on Saturday night, but Tennessee looked like the team many expected them to look like last week.

Josh Dobbs had time to throw the football, skill guys like Josh Malone and Alvin Kamara made plays and Tennessee left Bristol feeling much, much better about their chances in the country’s best conference this season.

Not only did the offense produce, but the Volunteer defense absolutely shut down Jerod Evans and the Virginia Tech offense for the final three quarters. It was 14-0 Hokies after the opening frame.

Tennessee closed the game out on a 45-10 run.

That’s about as impressive as you can be in primetime in front of almost 157,000 people.

3. Welcome to primetime college football, Justin Fuente

Justin Fuente got his first taste of the bright lights in college football after his remarkable turnaround at Memphis.

It didn’t go well in Bristol.

Those kinds of losses — like the one he was handed by Butch Jones and Tennessee on Saturday night — comes with the territory of being at a bigger program like Virginia Tech. The Hokies haven’t been the Hokies of old in recent years, but it was a good learning experience for Fuente and the Hokies.

must read: Top 25 Breakout Players of 2016

On a related note, we also learned that Virginia Tech’s fumbling problem is just that; a major problem. 10 fumbles in the first two games of the season is … not good.

Home/College Football