Hendon Hooker; photo by Andrew Ferguson / UT Athletics
The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard!
Fall is in the air, and it doesn’t get more beautiful than a state like Tennessee! I have family and friends who recently traveled to this great state, and they all say the same thing—Tennessee is the most beautiful state they have ever had the pleasure to lay eyes upon. I am very thankful to call this state home—my roots are set, and I never plan on leaving. It’s not even up for debate, Tennessee is the best state in America!
Let’s jump right into the topic, football time in Tennessee! The Vols and the Titans are rocking. The Volunteers have created madness in Knoxville. Let’s be honest, they have created madness nationally. I have said it before and I will say it again, the haters hate Tennessee because they know the fanbase is elite. It doesn’t matter if the team sucks! Twenty-plus years of heartbreak and the fanbase has never wavered. The loyalty and passion for the brand is unmatched and fact is Tennessee being on top is good for college football.
It truly is impressive how insane the fandom is and has always been for Vol Nation. For 38 years I’ve been in this beautiful state, and I feel like I have seen every emotion possible as a lifelong Volunteer fan.
Hendon Hooker is that dude! I was thrilled to see the so-called NFL-ready QB in Will Levis have a horrible game after all that nonsense the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator spewed. It’s like he was purposely trying to create this narrative that Hooker won’t make it in the NFL, but his dude Will has “all the traits.” I won’t even quote what he said, it was just nonsense about Will being taught all the correct things while insinuating Hendon Hooker isn’t ready.
Just remember, Rich Scangarello was an absolute disaster as offensive coordinator for the Broncos for that single season before being fired and just called one of the worst offensive games I’ve witnessed for Kentucky in the ass-beating Tennessee handed them. Hendon Hooker is generating Heisman buzz for good reason while Will Levis is creating more questions than answers. Hooker is a smart QB throwing very accurate footballs on quick reads. Hooker has a strong arm and has led this Vols team to something it hasn’t seen in decades.
I know one thing, if I were leading an NFL team I would without question trust Hooker to run my offense over Will Levis. Call me biased? You would probably be correct, but I doubt it’s just Tennessee fans that feel that way these days!
The old head way of thinking that these elite college QBs must be trained a certain way to make it in the pros just isn’t the case anymore. Hendon Hooker is getting first-round buzz for good reason. Put respect on my homie’s name!
Jalin Hyatt: Who knew? UT receiver Cedric Tillman goes down with an injury and Lawd have mercy, you blew up, Jalin—they even have T-shirts with your face on them going around these days! The speedy receiver is one of my favorite stories of the season and he damn near seems impossible to guard.
Coach Josh Heupel; photo by Kate Luffman / UT Athletics
Let me shout out one more name—the most important one, Vols head coach Josh Heupel. Nobody believed in him when he took the job. Heupel built this team from a ragtag group of believers. Coach Heupel’s offensive concepts have turned this program around and this so-called gimmick offense is one of the most feared in the country. Heading into the huge match with Georgia, the Vols lead the country in scoring (49.4 points per game) and passing (353.4 yards per game). Some amazing moments have come so far this season on the road at Pitt followed up by victories over Florida, LSU, Alabama and Kentucky. Tennessee is in a tough yet glorious spot on the road the first weekend of November where it all comes down to No. 1-ranked Georgia. The winner more than likely represents the East in the SEC Championship and the loser more than likely will be left out with one loss.
Tennessee will be atop the football world if that offense pulls into Athens and comes out victorious. It’s the biggest game of the entire college football season. Regardless of what happens next weekend this season has already been a success, but anyone with eyes realizes this Vols team has the potential to potentially win it all.
All right, enough Vol talk—let’s talk about my homies in the pros. The 5–2 Tennessee Titans come off a strange victory where King Henry just blasted the Texans for a fourth consecutive 200-plus rushing yard game against the team and is now your franchise leader in TDs, surpassing first Earl Campbell and now Eddie George with 75 total TDs for King Henry. Hall of Fame-type stuff, bro!
Derrick Henry; photo by Cameron Faulkner / Tennessee Titans
I’ll be honest about the Titans—under Coach Vrabel, the Titans, in the regular season, just win. It sometimes isn’t pretty, but I saw a stat that showed since Tannehill took over in 2019 only four teams have won more games than the Titans; in order it’s the Chiefs, Packers, Bills and Ravens. The Titans led the NFL in injuries last year, followed by a team right now that, unfortunately, is in the same situation. Yet, like last year, they continue to win.
The Titans appear to have bought into what Coach Vrabel is selling, and I commend last season’s Coach of the Year for it. This team hasn’t had a losing season since freaking 2015. I know what many of you are thinking. I too wish all that success translated into playoff wins! You won’t get an argument from me, but I also enjoy the regular-season success.
What is this 2022 Titans team? This team is tough, runs the ball well and has a defense led by Big Jeff and numerous stars that have been playing great football and continue to get better. The team is great up front even if the Titans have some issues in the secondary. However, this team has nobody who lines up at receiver that any defense fears, and that’s a big problem later down the road, I believe. It kills me seeing A.J. Brown light the scoreboard up!
Can we make just one move before the trade deadline, please? The prospect of a receiver would be spectacular. Yet with that said, the receivers at hand have been doing a great job buying into this tough-guy football squad and helping block for this run game led by King. I just don’t think it’s enough when you play teams like the Bills, obviously, or the Chiefs, Eagles, and some of the more explosive teams in the league.
Ryan Tannehill hasn’t been lighting it up, but his leadership and poise are huge reasons why this team is 5–2 and, after seeing Malik Willis against the Texans, I don’t think anyone is ready to hand him the keys. It’s imperative this Titans team creates some danger through the air and creates deep ball opportunities, and the play action has to be gold. That was the recipe in 2019 when the Titans made it to the AFC Championship with a strong running game and a bend-don’t-break defense. I’m worried we don’t have the pieces on offense. Time will tell.
What I do know is this team is in good hands with Coach Vrabel on the sidelines and King Henry in the backfield. With those two men at their best, this team will always have a fighter’s chance to win.
Alright, Vol Nation, Titan Nation, I love you all and I ride with you no matter the day! Yee-yee, Tennessee for life. The Train is rolling into the station. Choo-choo!
