Could the long awaited return of Tennessee football be now?

When Tennessee lost to LSU in the 2007 SEC Championship, 21-14, it put an end to Tennessee’s bid for an upset over the eventual national champion Tigers, and for their first SEC title since 1998.

What Vol fans didn’t know, was that it was the beginning of a six year stretch that would see Tennessee football fall further than it ever had.

The ensuing offseason would prove to devastating to Tennessee, as offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe left to take the head coaching position at Duke, causing then head coach Phillip Fulmer to hire Dave Clawson to take over the coordinator role.

Clawson’s new-look “Clawfense” didn’t work out, which led to a 5-7 record and Fulmer, one of the most successful coaches in school history, being fired.

In the six seasons since then, Tennessee went through the Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley eras, and moved on to their current coach, Butch Jones.

Those six seasons plus Fulmer’s last season would provide a record of 40-47 (.460), undisputedly the worst stretch in Tennessee football history.

But the long awaited return of one of college football’s most storied programs could be now.

This Saturday, the 19th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, another college football powerhouse will travel to Knoxville for the first time in program history to take on the No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers (6, ESPN).

This game has been circled on Tennessee fan’s calendars ever since it was scheduled back in 2005, and though it was scheduled a decade ago, it couldn’t have been played at a more perfect time for the Vols.

The hype train for Tennessee was flying off the rails all offseason, and after a season opening win over Bowling Green, the Vols have the perfect opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the national spotlight.

Things certainly seem to be lining up for Tennessee to make its return against the Sooners.

For starters, Checker Neyland will be back for a second straight season, which is only part of what will make the atmosphere in Neyland Stadium the best in several years.

In addition to Checker Neyland, a record number of 13,000 student tickets were requested. Other non-student tickets are reselling for well above their face value.

The product on the field is certainly something to be optimistic about as well.

Tennessee’s offense especially was extremely productive last week, rushing for 399 yards and putting up 604 total yards.

Tennessee’s offensive pace is also finally getting to where Jones and his staff want it to be. The Vols’ offense ran 87 plays against Bowling Green, a number which only two teams in the country last season averaged more than (Baylor and Washington State).

All of this begs the question, will Tennessee football make its return against Oklahoma?

On Saturday night, we will find out.

#oklahoma #tennessee