Some good things happened at Oklahoma.
Tennessee won. The defense was sensational for three quarters.
Nico made two unforgettable plays, the throw with the NFL touch to Dont’e Thornton and the special delivery of the game ball to Josh Heupel.
The coach handled the emotional return with a touch of class. He said the big game wasn’t about him but in many ways it was. It would have been OK if OU had dedicated more than 12 seconds to the welcome-back ceremony for the award-winning quarterback and former assistant coach.
Heupel’s father and other family members were at the game. His mother, Cindy, died in May at age 69.
Josh said: “I know Mom’s watching up top.”
Heupel proved the Vols can run the football against a stacked deck. His play selection was very conservative or just plain stubborn. Dylan Sampson (92 yards and one score) and DeSean Bishop (65 yards) worked very hard for what they gained.
The coach tried to explain.
“Running the football is our baseline, our bread and butter. It’s how we get started. Defense controlled the line of scrimmage, played relentless. Changed the way the game was played. You can tell in the second half, offensively, our plan changed as far as possessions, time – probably different than it’s ever been in my career.”
The coach said the game kind of formed its own identity mid-second quarter, certainly in the third quarter. He believed 19-3 at halftime was enough to win. It was 22-3 after three and he did not choose to take unnecessary risks.
Maybe.
Among the good things, Nico successfully managed a big game. Bru McCoy turned four pass receptions into 92 yards. Jackson Ross averaged 48.4 on eight punts. The one that stopped at the Oklahoma 4 set up a safety. Jayson Jenkins made the tackle.
Max Gilbert kicked three field goals. Tyre West and Jaxson Moi had sacks. Joshua Josephs caused some traffic jams. Jermod McCoy is a real, live cornerback. For a couple of magic moments, Vol linebackers brought back memories of Steve Kiner and Jack Reynolds. Oh no, Keenan Pili and Aaron Carter aren’t that good but …
Some other things happened. Heupel didn’t deploy his standard up-tempo. The pace was deliberate. Tennessee led decisively in time of possession. Never had I seen dual exchanges of turnovers.
Nico got mugged because of a missed block. He suffered a strip-search fumble at the UT 5. On the very next play, Josephs returned the favor. He took the ball from Sooner QB Jackson Arnold.
An Oklahoma blitz caused Iamaleava’s second fumble. Incredibly, Arnold threw what was meant to be a lateral pass. It was a few inches backwards. It was ruled a fumble. Jakobe Thomas got it.
Oklahoma coach Brent Venables seemed to say Oklahoma lost the game, not that Tennessee won it.
“We had some really sloppy, ugly football at times … disappointed, obviously, in how we played on the offensive side, not taking care of the football.
“Really a poor half. … gave up 12 points off turnovers … made a quarterback change.”
Oklahoma’s two touchdowns won the fourth quarter. The game was not really over until Tennessee recovered the onside kick. The Sooners ended up with more first downs. Tennessee converted only six of 19 third-down opportunities.
Oklahoma will fit in the Southeastern Conference. The patched-up Volunteer offensive line got a taste of its toughness. The Vols won however many snaps it took to accumulate 151 rushing yards to Oklahoma’s 36.
The line protected Nico enough for 13 of 21 pass completions, 194 yards and a touchdown. The line did not win many snaps in the second half.
Tennessee kicked the closing field goal because Heupel wasn’t sure it could convert fourth and one. Moral victories are worthless but the home folk got that one.
Something else happened. Tennessee was penalized eight times for 82 yards. Some were really painful. It is not good to lead the league in violations, even if some are soft or make-believe.
Tennessee’s hard-earned 25-15 victory, on the road, loud night crowd, validates the Vols’ national standing, up to No. 5 in the AP poll. This team is 4-0 with an open date as a blessing. The outlook is onward and upward. Indeed, it can make the playoffs. It is permissible to dream big dreams. There is no ceiling.
What I think I now see: Excellent D-line makes the secondary look better. A potential superstar QB and an assortment of other weapons will make defensive coordinators nervous.
Potential? Be advised that great things sometimes happen to those who really believe, keep working and learning.
Heupel said: “We’ve got a good football team. Got high expectations. They continue to compete extremely hard every day to grow to be better. This was our first road test in the league. I really am proud of how they performed.”
Heupel honestly tried to downplay Heupel but players are not oblivious. They knew what winning would mean.
“We’ve been wanting this for Coach Heup,” Iamaleava said. The coach thanked players for “having a little extra for me.”
Coach Venables praised Heupel.
“Josh is a great coach. We know that. He’s been successful wherever he’s been. I don’t think that’s ever been in question. Proud of all the success that he’s had. Disappointed in our team.
“They got a really good team … They’re going to win a lot of games.”
Heupel responded succinctly when asked about his favorite part of the return to Oklahoma.
“Walking off that field with the win felt pretty good.”
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com
