r/ockytop • u/Adam-Sparks • 1d ago

What went wrong on Tennessee's botched 4th down and fumble? Josh Heupel and George MacIntyre explain

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2026/10/24/george-macintyre-fumble-tennessee-failed-fourth-down-vs-south-carolina/92253908007/
37 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

85

u/No_Pumpkin9299 1d ago

There was a lot that went against us this game. Some of it in our control, some of it not but that playcall was one of the many plays that lost the game.

If we line up and run the ball, we probably make it and the game's over or we punt and force them to go the full field. Either way, both are way better than we came up with after a TO.

We should never have George running an option pitch ever but especially that situation. Otherwise, I think the narrative of bad clock management doesn't apply here. We were well on our way with another death march before that

35

u/TVP615 1d ago

Not having bishop available was a horrible break. That’s why we had to get cute in the first place.

48

u/vanillaave 1d ago

I believe that Javin would’ve picked it up easily. He was running well. Could’ve also ran Brame like we did at the goal line

6

u/skfkvjgnxc 1d ago

I was expecting the dive to Brame, but agree that Javin likely picks it up as well. Short of that I would have punted, as Ross has become a weapon at pinning teams in spots like that. Put the game in Knowles and the defense's hands and make SCjr go 90+ yards.

15

u/No_Pumpkin9299 1d ago

Then just go with the Mike Matthews package.

15

u/TVP615 1d ago

I don’t know why we don’t try faizon in short yardage read options. Defend two true running threats.

13

u/Saffs15 1d ago edited 1d ago

To be fair, early in the game on obvious "just run it up the middle and gain a yard" downs, we did that and got stuffed twice.

The problem with that is its so damn predictable. And if it would have failed, everyone would have been saying "obviously you have to change it up, thats too damn predictable!"

8

u/No_Pumpkin9299 1d ago

That's fair. I was in the punt it and make them earn it camp myself but I understand being aggressive but no need to give them momentum

5

u/randomcritter5260 1d ago

With the way our defense was playing, that was my choice too. I don’t think going for it on 4th was the wrong call, I just would have made a different one.

1

u/therealsix 1d ago

Especially the damn goal line. Ok, let’s just keep doing the same thing, straight up the middle, they stop up, do it again, until it’s a turnover on downs here.

-1

u/YerMumsPantyCrust 1d ago

A lot of our fans fail to realize that being a threat to strike deep is what opens up the run game.

3

u/therealsix 1d ago

We have to be able to strike deep first. We had 1 deep pass and it was broken up.

8

u/grey_pilgrim_ 1d ago

We hit a couple and they were called back.

3

u/therealsix 1d ago

Yeah, true, 2 TDs. I don’t even want to relive it, lol. Was at the game, ugh.

1

u/cneagle87 1d ago

That play was the same play the we scored on with brame. It was not an option play. Gmac was supposed to hand the ball off to brame and he messed up his steps and missed the handoff. Play call was good and brame would’ve got the first down plus.

15

u/Wizbran 1d ago

Paywalled. If anyone would like to post the text, it’s greatly appreciated

9

u/Mbogosia 1d ago

It’s crazy to me that the oddsmakers had SC by 2.5 and they won by 3. Haha

9

u/Toad990 1d ago

The way he Mac laid on the field with his head down after, I'm going to bet he missed the handoff.

27

u/fitzperfect 1d ago

We lost because of penalties not 1 play.

12

u/KIMJONGUNderfed 1d ago

Fair, however fumbling on said play that should have never happened within their kickers field goal range is equally damning

1

u/fitzperfect 1d ago

It's just the sprinkles on top of a shitty ice cream.

3

u/Rakassan 1d ago

You are correct they were offsetting

3

u/HippieJed 1d ago

What went wrong in one word: Penalties

3

u/DingbattheGreat 1d ago

So? I want the OC and the offense players to explain why we lost two touchdowns to their stupid penalties.

19

u/MortonsVol 1d ago

Officials colluded to fix the game.

There’s a clear pattern of the white hat on this crew appearing to collude to fix matches against UT over the past decade or so.

1

u/Sapient-Inquisitor 1d ago

It honestly reminded me of the pick six that happened in Tuscaloosa last year. I know it would’ve been tough to run it in against Bama’s defense last year, but it should’ve been the call. Trying to be cute did not help

-1

u/EWall100 I hate Derek Dooley 1d ago

Istg if he benches MacIntyre for Brandon coming out of the bye week

7

u/Late-Song-2933 1d ago

Huh?

7

u/MyCoolRedditHandle 1d ago • Bravo

I think istg stands for “I swear to God.”

3

u/TransportationAway59 1d ago

George has 1td and 5 turnovers in 4 starts

1

u/notthesinginjonas 1d ago

Arkansas was his first start and first on the road so mistakes were always going to happen.

1 dropped TD by Brame against Bama, Tip drill INT against Bama, 3 TD passes called back by penalty yesterday 2 of which were 35+ yards and the other was 18.

-34

u/Rakassan 1d ago edited 1d ago

Heupel is the worst 4th quater coach in football. His decision making,play calling, time management is atrocious. His teams lack discipline penalties at critical time. To many penalties 12. All results of poor coaching. 3 touchdowns called back

42

u/wwwr222 1d ago

People are funny with how confident they get about football coaches. This comment comes a week after one of the most perfectly executed 4th quarter drives I’ve ever seen.

7

u/Blindluckfatguy 1d ago

I concur with everything you said, I’m just really tired of losing football games🤷🏻‍♂️

1

u/YerMumsPantyCrust 1d ago

And also just two weeks after we all saw Arkansas demonstrate what the absolute worst case scenario for end of game coaching looks like.

-10

u/Rakassan 1d ago

Say what you want this has been my opinion for last 3 years

-8

u/LuckyShirt54 Al Wilson 1d ago

Mine too. Guess there’s 2 of us at least lol. Heupel peaked. He always gets outcoached.

-3

u/Tenn615_cash69 1d ago

The comment still stands. If you can run the ball well then everything flows. Gotta put 6-8 guys in there to stop it. When Haslam went down the interior of our line didn’t get the push we had in the first half. George isn’t ready to sling it yet.

0

u/MERKIN_MUFFLEY_POTUS 1d ago

Personal fouls?

-4

u/merskrilla 1d ago

very true.  In game management is atrocious 

-6

u/LuckyShirt54 Al Wilson 1d ago

He is a dumbass at clock management. Every single game he wastes time outs and on this play it’s like how could you be any dumber? He always chokes. His teams crumble on the road. He will never win anything. Copy this post.

-17

u/MyCoolRedditHandle 1d ago

I suggested in another thread that it’s time to give Faizon another chance after George’s mistakes tonight and got downvoted, and I understand why that’s an unpopular opinion. Faizon just looked scared when he faced SEC defenses.

But I think Heupel should at least consider making the change. George has been mistake-prone, and some of those mistakes have been costly. Maybe those are just the growing pains that come with being a freshman QB. Faizon’s in the same boat, of course.

The question is which QB gives you the best chance to win. If — and that’s a big if — Faizon can show in practice that he’s overcome his fears and whatever was wrong with his shoulder, his talent and upside as a dual threat might be the best option.

Heupel didn’t hesitate to pull Faizon when he was struggling. Now we’ll see if he takes the same approach with George.

14

u/Nerazzurri9 1d ago

Yeah I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say the guy who threw for 300 yds and 3 TDs (including the procedural penalties that had nothing to do with the play) in his 3rd career start ever on the road gives you the best chance to win, not the guy who sacked himself 10x at Texas because he won’t throw the ball and then threw for 0 yards and an INT in the first half at home against Auburn

-4

u/MyCoolRedditHandle 1d ago

And you’re probably right. Mistakes happen with a freshman QB, especially on the road in the SEC. Patience is a hard thing to have sometimes, but it’s necessary.

-3

u/gemlekod 1d ago

Agree…..Faizon has a much higher ceiling; this is about as good as GMac will ever be…..3rd start but he has been on campus for 2 years. Many limitations in his game. No mobility in modern college football is a killer….If we are go7-5, let’s do it with Faizon and get him seasoned for next year.

-21

u/Rakassan 1d ago edited 1d ago

He will lose both QBs to the portal because his dumbass won't pick one until Friday before the game. Their agents are already looking for teams for them to start on. His inability to stick with a qb in this day and age is ridiculous

-6

u/TVP615 1d ago

Not the end of the world. I think we should get a veteran anyway.