Episode 138: Pruitt era gaining momentum

GoVols247's Wes Rucker, Patrick Brown and Ryan Callahan went into Fort Rucker Studio to break down a big win for the rebuilding Tennessee football program and the opportunity now in front of the Vols as a result. Tennessee's 24-7 upset win over then-11th-ranked Kentucky wasn't just the Vols' second win over a ranked opponent this season. It was a win that gave Tennessee a much greater chance of securing bowl-eligibility — something many didn't expect from first-year head coach Jeremy Pruitt. One win in the next two weeks — either this Saturday against Missouri, or the following Saturday at Vanderbilt — would give Tennessee's seniors a chance to extend their college careers and give the team's many young players 15 extra practices to help their development moving forward. Nothing is guaranteed, though. And the first of those two games — the one against Missouri — is a potentially problematic matchup for Tennessee. The Tigers have hardly been consistent this season despite having a potential first-round NFL Draft pick quarterback in senior Drew Lock. At times, though, they've been really impressive, and Tennessee obviously needs to expect it will get Mizzou's best shot. The Tigers are a seven-point favorite at Neyland Stadium for a reason. When they're not getting in their own way — something they certainly do from time to time — they're a pretty good football team. Of course, one could argue that Tennessee on its day also is a tough team. The Vols' performance against Kentucky was incomplete but impressive, and they have every reason to feel optimistic about their chances to build on this momentum and finish the season the right way. There's plenty to discuss — including the return of former Tennessee head coach and hair model Derek Dooley — at the moment, and this episode covers quite a bit of ground. The Kentucky win, the matchups against Mizzou, a recruiting roundup, Dooley stories and several things emerge in this wide-ranging discussion of all things Vols.