Tennessee fans should love what a pair of Vols wide receivers said about losing to Alabama in 2023

The Tennessee Vols' toughest loss of the 2023 season undoubtedly came against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Tennessee held a 20-7 lead against Alabama at halftime last season in Tuscaloosa, but the Crimson Tide outscored the Vols 27-0 in the second half en route to a 34-20 win.

That loss has lingered with Vols wide receivers Dont'e Thornton and Kaleb Webb.

"The Bama game, we should've won that, I'm not going to lie," said Webb during a recent appearance on TPL Tennessee .

"I was sick," added Thornton.

"Every time I think about that game, I think about that pass I dropped," continued Thornton. "It's one thing that could've kept them from closing out like they did."

"They threw me a fade, it was in the red zone, I'll be thinking about that -- if I make that play, that's a completely different game," said Webb.

It's clear Webb and Thornton both care a lot about winning, which is why Webb noted that even though he has some generic individual goals in 2024, reaching those goals won't mean anything if Tennessee isn't playing in important games down the stretch.

"I want 10-plus touchdowns, [and to be a] 1,000 yard receiver, I feel like that's kind of a goal for everybody," said Webb. "Ultimately, I just really want to win a natty. I think that's the team goal. Make a run to playoffs. A 1,000 yard season doesn't mean anything if we're not in a meaningful bowl game or the natty."

"Winning a championship, going to the natty, that's my biggest goal," added Thornton.

There's a definitely a championship mentality present on Rocky Top. Individual goals have been replaced a common team goal -- winning the natty. That doesn't mean it's going to happen for the Vols this season -- a lot will have to go right -- but championships are born from players believing in the summer that it's possible. And Tennessee's players have that going for them as the start of the season nears.

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