Jeremy Pruitt left Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in October 2017 while his defenseman Crimson Tide ruled Tennessee.
He won 45-7, reveled in Alabama’s dominance in a one-sided rivalry and probably participated in a celebratory cigar.
Since then, Pruitt no longer wants to buy a cigar, but The Flights coach believes he is approaching that day, insisting that the hole between Alabama and Tennessee is rarely as big as when he hired it in December 2017.
“It may not appear on the scoreboard today, but the hole is narrowing,” Pruitt said. “I can guarantee it.
Tennessee (2-3) beat Alabama No. 2 (5-0) in a 48-17 loss Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Pruitt is 0-3 against Crimson Tide. The three losses were at least 22 points. Alabama outperded Tennessee 141-51 in Pruitt’s tenure.
Tennessee 14 in a row in rivalry.
“Alabama has a culture, a culture,” Flights defensive lineman Matthew Butler said. “We have a story. “
Butler and his seniors were in elementary school the last time Tennessee beat Alabama: a 16-13 victory in 2006. Nick Saban was hired in Alabama three months later.
Tennessee had five head coaches, his streak lost; the last four did not record a victory opposed to Crimson Tide.
“When I took the homework, I knew exactly where I was, precisely, ” said Pruitt. “That’s why I looked for homework. I looked for this task because I looked to get her where she was supposed to be. challenge, okay?
The challenge is no easier. Alabama is the elite of school football. Tennessee also failed to perform well in its rivalry matches with Florida and Georgia, having lost all five games with the Gators and Bulldogs by at least 23 points.
Georgia reminded Tennessee that it was not in a position to compete with the SEC Titans on October 10. Alabama then did so on Saturday, giving Pruitt his twelfth loss of at least 21 tracks in 30 games in Tennessee.
But there is optimism in Pruitt’s post-game chorus when he explained why he believes Tennessee has closed the gap with Alabama under his supervision.
“I know the other people who are on that sideline and I know the other people on our side lines,” Pruitt said. “I think I have a pretty smart concept and I’ve been to some very smart football groups to locate when I see one and when we get close.
Tennessee’s skill point is higher than it was when Pruitt arrived. Flights have signed the top 15 recruiting selections in Pruitt’s two full cycles, according to the 247Sports Composite. La elegance of 2021 heads to a similar ranking.
He inherited a list of Butch Jones who had a player selected in the 2019 NFL Draft or invited to the NFL Combined. UT had two draft picks recruited through Jones in 2020 and five visitors to combine.
Alabama had nine players decided in the 2020 draft after
“I think an indication of the point of talent, when you look at your team, is to look and see who’s recruited,” Pruitt said. “Now we have a lot of young people on our team, and we have the elders on our team, which continues to improve.
The effects have also been there, sometimes. Tennessee had a six-game winning streak in the 2020 and 2-0 season, but major enemies, and Kentucky, have plagued flights in three consecutive weeks.
Butler emphasized the desire for execution and a winning culture for Flights to close the gap. Pruitt also targeted the execution, noting his frustration that Tennessee has yet to combine a full game in all three phases.
“That’s what elite groups do at our convention, that’s what they do,” Pruitt said. “They don’t have many bad games. They don’t make too many mistakes. They make the other team win them. There it is. ” There are times when we did it this year, but we didn’t do it for a total game. Even in the games we won, we didn’t do it. “
Tennessee actually didn’t do that on Saturday, Pruitt was satisfied with the offensive move after costing the Flights his last two losses.
But the result is the same anyway: Tennessee swept alabama into what has become its October tradition.
“I’m glad I took the job, ” said Pruitt. ” I’m very happy to be here. I’m not discouraged. The other people in our program are not discouraged. I know where our show is going, you’re going to make it. “
Mike Wilson covers athletics at the University of Tennessee. Send an email to michael. wilson@knoxnews. com and stay with him on Twitter . If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, a virtual subscription will give you access to all of this.