Josh Dobbs’ first action came against Alabama in 2013; it ignited UT’s most positive era in recent history.
Current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and former UT signal-caller Joshua Dobbs’ first collegiate action came as a true freshman against the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2013. It was controversial because he was forced to burn his redshirt. That’s not the case this season, however, in which eligibility is not affected due to COVID-19.
Dobbs certainly didn’t play perfectly, but he learned a great deal about what it takes to compete at the SEC level, and the appearance provided a few moments of hope. Though it didn’t pay dividends immediately, he provided a spark that ignited the entire team in the years that followed. (Peep the video below for his first snaps as a Vol in that game against the Tide.)
Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert here, and I certainly don’t think I could do any better than the current UT coaching staff. In fact, I think the staff on Rocky Top is as good as it’s been since Lane Kiffin’s lone, wild year, way back in 2009.
I feel for all involved with the Big Orange this season’ and here’s why:
Again, I’m no expert, but I coached youth football for nine years, and as a result, I have a little bit of firsthand experience witnessing how quarterback play can affect everyone on the sideline – not just the offense. Hope is an important thing in football. Belief that months’ worth of effort for only a dozen or so contests that actually count is the catalyst for every inkling of success on the gridiron. If the offensive line is bad, it’s going to be a rough year. But if you don’t have a quarterback, it can border on misery for everyone involved.
Some have mentioned that playing freshman Harrison Bailey in 2020 against Bama could ruin his confidence. But that isn’t a certainty. He could do some things well. Who knows? And if Bailey is going to be “ruined” longterm due to playing badly against what likely is the best team in the country in his first multiple-series action, he’s not the guy for the future anyway. It’s expected that a true frosh wouldn’t perform well against anyone in the SEC, much less a powerhouse like Alabama. Peyton Manning made a lot of big mistakes his first year, but he ended up doing pretty well.
Jarrett Guarantano has been an upstanding member of the team, as well as a strong figure within the community. His time here at Tennessee has been and is appreciated. And he has flat-out balled out on several occasions. It’s in there, it just goes away far too often. It’s a shame because his teammates love him, and he’s a very tough, likable young man. Unfortunately, the inconsistencies in his game have dominated the narrative of his time in Knoxville.
If Guarantano is relegated to being a backup, I believe he would be a great mentor to Bailey and perhaps even the incoming Kaidon Satler next year. (Don’t forget: Guarantano could come back again next year due to the aforementioned eligibility rules; this year doesn’t count.) And hopefully he gets to relieve whoever the starter is next year with the game in hand and maybe throw a TD or two and ride off into the sunset. He’s been an excellent contributor to the University of Tennessee, and I wish him nothing but the best.
They have to play the game, of course, but the odds suggest that it’s unlikely that Tennessee will defeat Alabama next week, no matter who is under center. So the question becomes: Is it better to lose with a true freshman taking the snaps than a fifth or sixth-year senior in a year during which eligibility is unaffected?
