I remember my buddy and I saying that Butch's decision not to go for two after their last score was going to come back and bite them...and sure enough it did. I also remember we were sitting in the next section over from the Tennessee fans. Seeing their faces as the 4th quarter went on was glorious!
I've heard that argument several times from ut fans as well. The signature flaw in it however, is that at a minimum, they miss the FG at the end(assuming they even tried to score in regulation) and we go to OT. Now obviously nothing's certain, but when one team has scored 14 straight, has every ounce of momentum and is at home, I'll take them all day over the road team trying to hang on for dear life in Swamp ad limping to the finish. They lost the moment Brandon Powell converted the second 4th down on our next to last possession. The next play he either scored, or set up the score. Once we did that, they went into their shell and were toast.
Ironically, it's the exact opposite of 2017 where McElwain inexplicably seemed content to kill things in regulation despite the vols being the ones that had stormed back. It happens at times, but typically the team trending late, especially if facing an opponent that's equally fading(see ut's next to last possession in '15), is going to win in OT. If not for Franks and Cleveland improvising, we likely drop two straight to ut for the first time since 2003-04. Fortunately we got the win, stopped them getting traction in the series, and still managed to fire JM. Plus the popcorn sales. Just a fantastic outcome all around.