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A disastrous night for the Vols.

It’s already given UT fans their convenient excuse for why they lost to South Carolina and why they won’t make the CFP.

“If Hendon hadnt gotten injured we would have come back and won that game and we’d be in the CFP.” I’ve seen this on Twitter a bunch of times.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Regardless of what delusional Vols fan may believe, that was a gut-wrenching injury. I feel very badly for Hooker. He's an excellent football player and a fellow human being who was injured in a most unfortunate way. Here's hoping for a full recovery and that he has a chance to play in the NFL.

Joe Milton, UT's backup QB, is probably even more physically talented than Hooker and has a stronger arm. Hooker, however, has retained the job based on his instinctive feel for the offense and ability to get the ball to the right spot. But Milton, a Michigan transfer if I recall, is more than capable of running that explosive offense.

To lose a shot at the playoffs and a possible Heisman on the same night is undoubtedly hard to take. But to lose the following week to Vanderbilt would mean that a season of the highest hopes would end (for them) in unspeakable horror.

Like that’s a bad thing …

Fayette, you ready for this fom me? - forget UT. The only team that matters is Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt goes to a bowl with a win so do the things we know we can do like in the last 2 games and let's go bowling. (Sorry the UT QB is injured - also sorry our QB is injured.)

It's not often they have players over there I like but the Hooker kid was a straight up baller who did it the right way. No trash talk, no smack, no taunting, etc. Got the job done, lowered his helmet and trotted to the sidelines. Was actually gut wrenching to see the young man go down like that. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

For every great Milton deep ball, he throws one that will land on the pavement on West End.

Hooker has also declared for the draft after this season.