🏈 Tennessee vs Florida has a new narrative

Hello. This is the Josh and Swain Newsletter, a quick roundup of the week’s top stories and topics involving Tennessee and the sports world.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• How the conversation has changed for Tennessee vs Florida

• BIG changes could be coming to the area surrounding Neyland Stadium

• Why you shouldn’t count out Tennessee’s chance to reach the College World Series

• A new intriguing prospect joining Tennessee’s football team

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR VOLS AT FLORIDA

The Florida game has been a touchy subject in Tennessee for the last 15-20 years.

Too many losses to the Gators left Tennessee fans uninterested in the conversation.

Too many coulda-woulda-shoulda moments in the series.

But then last season happened.

Tennessee entered the 2022 Florida game with a lot of pressure.

The Vols were big favorites at home. They were supposed to beat Florida.

And then something funny happened: Tennessee did just that, beating Florida 38-33.

That win didn’t just change the series record between Tennessee and Florida.

It changed the conversation.

Tennessee has become the top challenger to Georgia in the SEC East, not Florida.

The Vols are once again favored to beat Florida this upcoming season when Tennessee travels to Gainesville for the Sept. 16 game.

How wide is the gap between Tennessee and Florida right now?

Check out these SEC power rankings from Jesse Simonton of On3.

Florida is No. 12?!

The funny thing to add: according to Simonton, some Florida fans told him that ranking was too high.

“I think there’s kind of a growing apathy around the (Florida) program,” Simonton said on Josh and Swain. “And that is dangerous.”

This presents an opportunity for Tennessee.

If Tennessee wins at Florida this fall, the Vols can prove last year’s win wasn’t just a fortunate result against a first-year coach in Billy Napier.

Tennessee has a chance to strengthen its position ahead of Florida (and create more unrest in Gator Nation).

Let’s also be clear: winning at Florida isn’t a guarantee.

Tennessee hasn’t won in Gainesville since 2003 and the Vols haven’t beaten Florida in consecutive seasons since 2003-04.

The Vols are favored to win this year, but only by a touchdown.

The Florida game always represents the first SEC test for Tennessee. That will be the case again this season.

But this Florida game offers a new opportunity for Tennessee football.

That will be worth talking about.

Check out our full conversation with Jesse Simonton as he explains why he’s high on Tennessee and describes the problems Florida is facing. ⬇️⬇️

NEW LOOK AT NEYLAND

Tennessee grabbed the nation’s attention on Wednesday when ESPN’s Pete Thamel tweeted about some changes that are planned for UT’s campus.

A few minutes later, Tennessee athletic director Danny White shared this link online for everyone to see an update on the plans.

Part of this conversation involves football.

Neyland Stadium and the interest in Tennessee football is the connecting point for all these plans.

But the idea extends beyond football.

The Vols play seven, sometimes eight home games a season.

That leaves another 44 Saturdays without football at Neyland Stadium during the year.

The Neyland Entertainment District will connect people to the area 12 months out of the year.

Tennessee basketball and other sports (#EverythingSchool) will continue to draw fans to campus.

This new plan will add to that.

UT is growing and business is booming.

Why not add entertainment and revenue to that idea?

From Danny White in UT’s release:

This is very early.

We don’t have a timetable or dollar figure on the cost. So no one needs to look up prices for the new hotel ahead of this year’s South Carolina weekend.

But this plan offers a sense of the vision and ideas being discussed by Tennessee’s leadership.

The Battery in Atlanta and LA Live in Los Angeles have already provided the inspiration.

College football is a big business. And it will continue to grow in Knoxville.

SPORTS NUGGETS

🏈 College football has a tampering problem. This article from The Athletic details the challenges it creates for Group of 5 programs.

🏈 Trying to keep up with the latest on college football realignment? Check out this story from Ross Dellenger at SI.

🏈 What are the most dangerous games on Tennessee’s 2023 schedule? Here’s a countdown from 12 to 1.

🏈 The Pac-12 will add enhanced access to its broadcasts this fall.

🥎 Tennessee softball will begin the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Here’s info on the Lady Vols’ Regional with their first game against Northern Kentucky.

⛳ Is Bryson DeChambeau back? Here’s the updated leaderboard at the PGA Championship. Thursday was rough for a bunch of golfers.

⚾ Watch Freddie Freeman hit his 300th career home run. He’s enjoying another big season, his second with the Dodgers.

⚾ Which SEC team has the best chance to win the national title? Todd Walker’s opinion might surprise you.

STICK TO SPORTS!

Or don’t, in this case.

Bookmark the video below from the Tennessee Titans any time you need a quick laugh.

Kudos to the Titans’ social media team on a well-executed idea.

And Go Red Stallions!

TENNESSEE’S MOST INTRIGUING PROSPECT

Tennessee added a big piece to its football team on Wednesday.

Athlete Emmanuel Okoye announced his commitment to Tennessee along with his plan to join the team this summer.

Tennessee announced the news shortly after Okoye, making it official.

Okoye is an intriguing prospect.

Listed at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds, his athleticism is silly.

Here are some numbers from the NFL Academy Combine:

◼️ Vertical jump: 45’5”
◼️ Broad jump: 11’3”

“He’s a freak athlete,” Austin Price of Volquest said this week on the show.

Okoye’s future position is to be determined. But with his measurables, Tennessee will figure something out.

Okoye could play tight end and provide Heupel’s offense with another weapon or add to the Vols’ depth at defensive end.

He’s a work in progress; no one expects an immediate impact.

But Okoye has a ton of upside and will bring a great story to Knoxville. Learn more about his journey in this video from the NFL.

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Thank you for reading.