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JennyVolfan said...

I think this is the biggest mental hurdle for our team -- Getting them over the hurdle once, in a big game...... Think about Phil Mickelson. He seemed to have a mental block over winning majors, coming close but never getting it done. however, once he got over that hurdle, he has now won seven. It's just the mental leap. Personally, I think the players stopped focusing on each play, and realized they were winning this game. Then I think nerves kicked in.

However, I can think of some very good, Peyton Manning-led Vol teams that couldn't get over the Florida hurdle.....

That being said, I really think the team can learn from this, and learn that they can't pay attention to the scoreboard, but just go out there and execute 1 play at a time. Bray can grow up from this, and realize that, no matter who is messing up around him,he needs to stay composed and push on through. They can do this.

I also think that amazing hype, the national ranking that wasn't yet deserved, Game Day, etc.... All that put tremendous pressure on these kids. yes, I know that, to be a good team, you have to experience that and be able to handle that, but it was still new for all of these guys. On the flip side, Florida was incredibly disrespected by most of the media, so they certainly had nothing to lose and everything to gain by this game.

All it takes it getting through one big game with a victory, and that mental hurdle will be gone.