Sanning: Guarantano's fumble indicative of Tennessee football's fortunes over last decade
I couldn't help but shake my head and laugh. You all probably did, too.
Down 28-13 with just over seven minutes to play in regulation, it seemed as if Tennessee was about to put all of the pressure on top-ranked Alabama as it attempted to close out the 102nd edition of the "Third Saturday in October" at home.
The Vols were at the one-yard line facing 4th-and goal with Jarrett Guarantano, who replaced the injured Brian Maurer in the first half, under center. It seemed as if the writing was on the wall, then in one heartfelt swoop it wasn't.
Seconds later, Alabama's Trevon Diggs had the ball in his hands and was strolling into the opposite end zone. What happened, you may ask?
Instead of running the play that was likely called by Jim Chaney up in the booth, Guarantano decided to take it himself and play what basketball enthusiasts like myself like to call "hero ball."
Why not? It had worked against Mississippi State last week, when the Lodi, New Jersey native went 6-of-7 for 106 yards and tossed the game-sealing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Only this time, the opposing coach was Nick Saban, not Joe Moorhead.
Does that mean Moorhead can't coach? Absolutely not. But when it comes to discipline and late-game execution, there's not many better in the history of college football than Saint Nick.
Why would I laugh at a collegiate athlete's misfortunes, you may ask? Well, quite frankly, I wasn't. In no way, shape or form did I find any joy in watching Guarantano get ripped to shreds by Jeremy Pruitt on the sideline.
And no, I'm not here to discuss the tug of the face mask. I've seen much worse, particularly in my days as a high school player. Hell, even in middle school.
What I was chuckling at was the growing list of misfortunes for this Tennessee football program - misfortunes that have become alarmingly consistent since Phillip Fulmer stepped down in 2008.
No matter the coach - Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones and now Pruitt - these disastrous self-inflicted wounds continue to cut deep.
While I was unable to make the trip down to Tuscaloosa, I stayed up for hours following the game's conclusion, reviewing the film. Time after time, I focused in on this sequence.
Was it a designed quarterback sneak? Nope. Quite the opposite, and Tennessee coaches and players will tell you no different.
Trey Smith pulled back as if he was preparing to open a hole for running back Tim Jordan because that's what he was supposed to do. Linemen don't do that when their coach calls a quarterback-keeper.
And Smith of all people would be the one Guarantano should rely on most to get a push up front. The only problem is, only no. 2 was aware of what was going to transpire next.
He wanted to be the hero again. He wanted to leave his mark. You have to admire Guarantano's guts in that situation, just not his execution.
Oct 19, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) scrambles away from Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) during the first half of an NCAA football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
Would Tom Brady have successfully snuck that ball in? Probably, but the Vols don't have arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play under center, obviously.
If you'e a seasoned-quarterback in the SEC like Guarantano, however, you have to be smarter in that situation. Tennessee had a real chance - the best chance its had since Kiffin's lone season in Knoxville - to upset the Crimson Tide.
Guarantano's error will be what fans remember the most, but let's not act like Tennessee didn't have the ball inside the 10-yard line twice and failed to score touchdowns due to mental errors.
Quite frankly, I'm surprised Pruitt didn't pop a blood vessel or two on the sideline. Having won five national championships as an assistant, execution in the red zone is something he's accustomed to seeing.
Since he's taken over the reins at Tennessee, that just hasn't been the case. Nor was it for Kiffin, Dooley or Jones, although Jones' ineptitude was probably the most frustrating.
No matter the situation or circumstances, the Vols just find themselves becoming more and more allergic to prosperity. This was supposed to be a year in which the program took a step forward. Seven, maybe eight wins seemed well within the realm of possibility. A bowl game appearance seemed like a foregone conclusion.
Not anymore.
It's hard to "point the finger" at any individual at this point because no matter the personnel, Tennessee just can't find a way to get it done in the biggest moments.
Am I saying that the Vols aren't better than they were weeks ago? Nope. In fact, they're miles beyond what they were when the season started. Last week's win was no aberration.
Tennessee's defense did its job to the best of its ability. For the most part, the offense was able to move the ball down the field into scoring range even with Maurer once again out with a concussion.
The officiating was bad, but in a game where you can absolutely not afford to leave points on the board, UT did just that.
