1. Jones has the Vols in a better place, but not where many were hoping
Tennessee’s win gave the Vols their third straight bowl win for the first time since the mid-90s. It’s the second-straight nine-win season since 2006-07. That’s tangible progress that shows that the team is in a much better spot than when Jones came to Knoxville in late 2012. But the backdrop of Nashville was a reminder of some of the shortcomings of this team in 2016. There were clear championship aspirations across the board, and the Vols had to settle for a mid-tier bowl victory. The progress is nice. But Jones will feel the heat to win legitimate championships soon. Nashville, while enjoyable, wasn’t the postseason destination most were looking for.
