Fireworks from Neyland Stadium. Image by Tom Mabry

Neyland Stadium at night in the first home game of the season - a new coach, a new quarterback, a rapid fire offense, and a fired up defense presented a stark contrast to the dismal Vols of Covid ridden 2020. To say the least, the scene was Orange and White Electric.

So how did it go for the Tennessee Vols of 2021?

Well, the reviews will be mixed, but following last season’s disheartening 3-7 record, a win is a win, especially for the new coaching staff led by Josh Heupel. Season openers haven’t always been kind recently: Georgia State remains ever present in the negative mental database of Vols fans.

After a strong start by Tennessee, the 129th best team in the country made it a game by halftime before the Vols pulled away in the second half. The final tally: Tennessee 38, Bowling Green 6.

Image by Tom Mabry

Tennessee’s new “Don’t Blink or You’ll miss a Play” offense roared down the field for two consecutive touchdowns in the first quarter, giving the fans a thrill after the inconsistent offense lapses under the Jeremy Pruitt regime. One would have to search a distant memory bank to recall two touchdowns by the Vols offense so quickly to begin a game.

The stars of the early show were starting quarterback Joe Milton, the Michigan transfer and Pahokee, Florida, native who scored the first touchdown and ran the early offense with precision. Also starring were the running back duo of Jabari Small and Tiyon Evans, who needed just a crack in the defensive front to move the ball forward in the trenches.

The 14-0 first quarter turned into a 14-6 halftime lead. Bowling Green owned the second quarter, possessing the ball for over twelve minutes and turning the Vols’ offense on their heels with dreaded three and outs. Center Cooper Mays went out of the game with an ankle injury, and the running and passing games were suddenly out of sync.

Neyland Stadium at night in the first home game of the season. Image by Tom Mabry

Fortunately the defense was able to prevent touchdowns, highlighted by the efforts of Tyler Baron, who sacked BGSU quarterback Matt McDonald after the Falcons had rolled to the Vols’ 17 yard line. Nate Needham’s 50 yard field goal ended the scoring in the second quarter.

The biggest buzz at halftime was from the earlier north end zone presentation of Vols for Life Black Trailblazers Lester McClain, Jackie Walker, Condredge Holloway and Tee Martin. Many in the stands reveled in the glory days, hoping for a return to championship contenders but brought back to reality by the dismal second quarter.

Not to fear, the Vols roared back after halftime. Fueled by the running of Small and Evans, and buoyed by a pass interference call on a pass from Milton to Cedric Tillman, Tennessee opened up a 28-6 lead by the end of the third.

Would the final fifteen minutes be a repeat of the second fifteen minutes? Not in this game. Kicker Chase McGrath nailed a 43 yard field goal. The Falcons made efforts to score, but were consistently thwarted by the a stout Tennessee defense led by Baron, linebacker Jeremy Banks and corner Alontae Taylor. The Vols forced Bowling Green to turn the ball over on downs after Milton suffered his first turnover with a fumble. He later atoned for this mistake by flipping a 40 yard touchdown pass to Tillman, who made a terrific catch in traffic in the end zone with 5:11 remaining. For Milton, the 40 yards was a flick of the wrist for a man who can “throw a football like most throw a tennis ball” and has been known to throw it 50 yards from his knees, evoking memories of the strong armed Heath Shuler.

Despite the weak opponent, the procession of fireworks celebrating the five touchdowns was welcome to a crowd that’s suffered from the pedestrian offenses of years past.

Oh, yeah, and now Josh Heupel is 1-0 at Tennessee. He was thrilled with the win but acknowledged that there was much improvement necessary before Pittsburgh comes calling in ten days. Can we have a football team in 2021 to match the great tradition of Tennessee football? This game gives a Thumbs Up to that Hope!