The past week has been nonstop talk about UT football. We lost the third straight game after our by-week passed, and now we've lost one of our best players: Jalen Hurd. When Hurd came to Tennessee, he was all anyone could talk about. He had talent, love for the game, and a lot of love for Tennessee. The Hendersonville native came in guns blazing this season, and thus far has led the team with 451 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns, and also ranks as one of Tennessee football program's all time leading rushers with 2,638 yards since his freshman year. He's an all around great athlete and great contribution to the program. Obviously with Hurd being in his third year, he is looking beyond college football and more into the pros, which is fine by all means, but he also feels that instead of playing in his normal field position as running back, he could further his career as wide receiver, so he's ditching us.
I cried Monday morning when I saw the news of Hurd transferring. I was angry and upset and couldn't wrap my mind around why in the world he would leave, but then I took a second and thought, "He may be a big football star, but he's the same as me and everyone else."
Jalen Hurd, if you happen to stumble upon this, if you're unhappy at Tennessee and unhappy playing for Butch Jones then by all means do what makes you happy. You will go places by the grace of God, and if God is leading you elsewhere than the greatest place in the SEC, then so be it. True fans will follow you. (We definitely won't stop loving Tennessee, but I mean you get the gist.) Just, ya know, don't go to Bama because ew.
We've all been in a place in our lives where we aren't happy with the situation we're in or where we see ourselves going when we look at our future of that desk job, factory work, school, etc. And what do we do? We get ourselves out. We leave, we quit, we find other places to go where we can be happy. So why are we all hating on this poor boy when he changes his mind about something? Yes, it looks bad when we've lost 3 games in a row, two of which we should have won, but I mean this kid was probably unhappy before then. I mean if I was having to listen to Mike DeBord I'd be unhappy too but that's another story. (Butch if you stumble across this a new OC would be awesome.)
It really does look awful on Hurd's end considering the timing of it all after 3 straight losses etc. but we don't know what has gone on behind the bright lights and time outs. We don't know what happens at practice or in the locker room. So what right do we have to completely hate someone that just wants something more? Let me answer that, we don't
Our team is down with injuries left and right and this couldn't be a worse time for Hurd to leave, but he's human just like us. He's a human that can run 23-25 mph, but human all the same. We will find other RBs that can get the job done, but we shouldn't hate Jalen Hurd for his choice to make himself happy. God has other plans for him and this year's team at UT.
So Jalen, you go ahead and make your dreams come true elsewhere, and I hope you get the happiness playing the game you love back.
And everyone else, get off his back, we've got games to win.
