Prefatory note: I’m currently gutted as I write this after the senseless assassination of Charlie Kirk. Apologies for moving back to the well of college football two weeks in a row but I need to take my mind off this shit. Hopefully this helps you too.—CLS

It’s time to see what the Vols can really do this season.

Beating Syracuse in week one at Atlanta was a great start. Week two’s record scoring win over East Tennessee State at Neyland Stadium was a nice preview of what the Volunteers can do when all cylinders are mostly clicking.

Now comes the big test as Georgia makes a season-early trip to Knoxville.

It’s been fun watching Tennessee slay dragons that ran rampant since I was a young man. As a kid I knew there were certain losses you were going to have to take on the chin: Florida, Alabama and Georgia.

Under the guidance of Josh Heupel the first to fall was Florida. Then came the night Alabama fell at Neyland Stadium and the goalposts ended up in the river. There’s just one dragon that’s evaded Coach Heupel. Georgia.

Georgia fans are insufferable and rightly so. Their football program is one of the dominant SEC powerhouses and Kirby Smart is a hell of a battlefield tactician. And for eight years now Tennessee’s had to take a Georgia loss on the chin.

Saturday, things are going to change.

It’s clear now Tennessee won the quarterback exchange with Joey Aguilar. This young man’s got our offense running as smoothly as the days Hendon Hooker was behind center. And our defense is bodying people left and right even with two of our most talented cornerbacks out with injury.

But even as Vol fans breathe in hope and optimism we’re still thinking one thing in the back of our heads.

“It’s Georgia.”

And yes, when you’re dealing with a school that’s former back to back national champions there’s reason to be concerned. This time? I think something’s different. Because last week Georgia struggled with Austin Peay.

A theater kid’s university gave big, bad Georgia problems.

Meanwhile Tennessee’s 2-0 and full of kids who have something to prove.

So let’s see what happens Saturday, shall we? I think it’s going to be a fun day for everyone. College Gameday will be live in Knoxville and we’ll get to see if Tennessee slays the last big bad dragon of the SEC.

And when we win, won’t it be something?

Maybe, just maybe I’ll go down to Cumberland Avenue and start barking at everyone wearing red and black just to pay them back for eight years of them doing it to me.

Anyway, happy Friday everyone! See y’all next week!