Vols still have resolve and resilience, especially with quarterback Quinten Dormady

One bad afternoon doesn’t mean your football program is at death’s door. Tennessee fans should keep that in mind as the Vols prepare to play UMass on Saturday.

I’m not suggesting you should cherish the memory of UT’s last-second loss to Florida last week. And if you feel it’s in the best interest of your mental health to block out the entire day, block away.

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But all the bricks coach Butch Jones has laid carefully and strategically over the past four years didn’t come tumbling down. They were just shaken a bit.

Here are a few reasons why UT fans still should be encouraged:

Resolve and resilience

Jones uses those words a lot. And his team backs him up.

The Vols came back from a double-digit deficit to beat Georgia Tech in the season opener. They almost came back from a double-digit deficit to beat Florida.

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In fact, I’m so convinced of this team’s resolve and resilience that I was working feverishly on a Vols-win-in-overtime column, right up until the second that Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks threw a 63-yard touchdown pass.

The Vols lost a game, not their resolve and resilience.

Quinten Dormady

Never mind the three interceptions he threw against Florida. He’s hardly the first Tennessee quarterback to flop in The Swamp.

In his first game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Dormady completed 21 of 39 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown. In former Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning’s last game in The Swamp, he completed 29 of 51 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns. But he also threw two crucial interceptions.

Dormady's best attribute is his ability to play well under duress.

More:Tennessee AD Currie weighs in on Jones after Vols' tough loss to Florida

After the Gators took a 13-3 lead early in the fourth quarter, Dormady completed five of nine passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. He would have had another touchdown if John Kelly hadn't dropped a pass on the edge of the Florida goal line.

After the Vols fell behind Georgia Tech 28-14 in the fourth quarter, Dormady completed seven of 12 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown in their comeback victory.

Something else about Dormady: He has been victimized by 10 dropped passes, including at least two that would have been touchdowns, and he's a pro-style quarterback in an offense that still relies on the zone-read option.

State pride

If you polled media-types throughout the state, Tennessee probably would be ranked third behind No. 1 Vanderbilt and No. 2 Memphis. UT fans shouldn’t be disheartened by that.

Tennessee doesn’t play Memphis, and it will have the home-field advantage against Vanderbilt.

Bottom line: The Vols still could win the mythical state championship.

John Kelly

Don’t let one poorly timed Gator chomp detract from his overall efforts.

This was supposed to be the year of the runner in the SEC. Kelly has been more productive than any other running back in the league.

He leads the SEC with 349 yards rushing and ranks 10th with 191 receiving yards.

Reach John Adams at john.adams@knoxnews.com or 865-342-6284 and on Twitter @johnadamskns.