Tennesse - Georgia Football : THIS Is More Than one Game

The Georgia football team travels once again to Neyland Stadium on the banks of the Tennessee River to Face once a again a desperate Tennessee football team.

Related: Defending Mark Richt

In case you forgot, Georgia plays Tennessee in Knoxville Saturday. People do forget, like Ole Miss forgot they had to play the Gators last week.

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However, you can bet no one in Knoxville has forgotten. Tennessee football, General Neyland’s grand legacy, is again teetering on the brink.

Like a Greek drama, the Tennessee story reveals a human flaw. The resulting tragic action results in catastrophic results.

The Fall of the Volunteer Kingdom

Sep 26, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs against Southern University Jaguars defensive back Jamal Jenkins (35) during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Southern 48-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

After welcoming General Neyland’s most decorated player, Johnny Majors , back to Knoxville, the Volunteers sacked the Tennessee legend for Phil Fulmer. A national championship was won, but the price was heavy. Fulmer’s kingdom collapsed, Lane Kiffin teased the Volunteers, Derek Dooley was hired, and fate teased the Vol Nation further with innumerable near misses. Dooley was dispatched, but sacrificing a southern football coaching legend’s son failed to appease the college football gods.

Despite bowing to the memory of General Neyland and his legendary maxims, only a remarkable two-year run beginning Saturday will allow Tennessee head Coach Butch Jones to see the 2017 season, if he sees the 2016 season.

For Tennessee Georgia is a “have to” game.

There is nothing Tennessee would like more than to drag the reason for their tragic fall, the Georgia Bulldogs, down into the pit and resurrect the Volunteer’s season Saturday.

The University of Tennessee, surrounded by the most barren of recruiting lands east of the Mississippi, rode to triumph in the 20^th century on horses bred and raised in Georgia – Willie Gault, Cosey Coleman , Bobby Scott, Dale Carter, Deon Grant, Jamal Lewis are a few of the greats. Since the passing of the millennium, Georgia – along with its neighbors in Auburn, Clemson and Tallahassee – have dammed up the stream carrying talent out of Georgia into Knoxville. The dam cannot be broken without beating Georgia, and Tennessee has not done so with enough regularity during the last 15 years.

For Tennessee, Georgia is not a “want to” game. For Tennessee Georgia is a “have to” game.

Beating Georgia regularly, if not often, is an existential necessity for the Volunteers.

The Game

Saturday, expect Georgia to be more insistent running the ball than against Alabama and more from the I formation. Regarding the way Georgia attacked Alabama on the ground, “I think our best shot would have been to go downhill most of the time,” Georgia coach Mark Richt told Chip Towers of Dawgnation.com.

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Georgia catches Tennessee at a good time to re-assert its running game. All-star Tennessee defensive end Curt Maggitt is lost to a hip injury and starting tackle Danny O’Brien was dismissed for a violation of team rules.

But Tennessee will pack the box and challenge Georgia to counter with a power set or go to the air. The Dawgs show all signs of confidence in Greyson Lambert, but expect Georgia to test Tennessee on the ground time and time again.

Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle… for this is the WINNING EDGE.-Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #5

Tennessee will test the Georgia pass defense, but Tennessee depends on running the ball even more than Georgia. Expect Tennessee to use the legs of quarterback Joshua Dobbs to secure another early game lead. But if the Dawgs can force UT to the air, and the Dawgs have learned their lessons from last week, Georgia should make some breaks for itself playing pass defense.

Play for and make the breaks and when one comes your way – SCORE.-Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #2

Georgia struggled to throw against Alabama, and that lesson more than any the Tide provided for the rest of the SEC may be the most important. And no doubt, after watching Alabama seemingly block a punt with little effort, the Dawgs have invited Tennessee to explore weaknesses in Georgia kicking game.

Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made-Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #6

If Tennessee does jump out front, expect all eyes to be on the fourth quarter, where the Volunteers have given up leads of 13 or more points in all three losses this season.

Protect our kickers, our QB, our lead and our ball game.-Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #4

The recipe for Georgia is simple – do what no one has done, get ahead of the volunteers. But if the Dawgs do fall behind, be ready for an exciting fourth quarter.

If at first the game – or the breaks – go against you, don’t let up… put on more steam. Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #3

Tennessee – Georgia football games are invariably tight, the games turning on a very few big plays. Keep an eye early on turnovers to pick a winner before halftime.

The team that makes the fewest mistakes will win.–Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #1

Tennessee will be ready for the Dawgs. They will fight as if for their lives – which, figuratively speaking, they are. If the Georgia football team, like its fans, chooses to wallow in self-pity, Georgia will lose Saturday and, unlike the Alabama loss, it will indeed be more than “just one game.” Especially for Tennessee.

Carry the fight to our opponent and keep it there for 60 minutes.-Gen. Neyland’s Maxim #7

Next: Cheap Seats Review of Georgia -Alabama

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Tennesse – Georgia Football : THIS Is More Than one Game

By Richard Gnann | Oct 7, 2015

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