Conventional wisdom says that if you have more time to prepare for an offense like the triple-option, which Tennessee football will deal with its first game, you’re better off. If that’s the case, Vols fans should feel relief.
But unless Bob Shoop is that much better than John Chavis was at Tennessee, history tells a completely different story.
The last time the Vols faced a true triple-option team, that was an excuse. It was against the Air Force Falcons in 2006, and that game was sandwiched between two Top 10 opponents. So the Vols were caught off-guard and had to hold on to win, 31-30.
However, There was a three-year period in the late 1990s and early 2000s that told a completely different story.
In 1997, 1998 and 2000, Tennessee football faced a triple-option team in its bowl game. And with a month to prepare, the Vols still suffered blowout losses all three times.
Let’s start with 1997. They faced the Nebraska Cornhuskers, going for their third national championship in four years. And it was Tom Osborne’s final game.
Flexbone Association 
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