KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee football head coach Jeremy Pruitt was proud of the way his team fought at Georgia on Saturday after the Vols made it a game early in the fourth quarter, cutting their deficit to 12 on a Ty Chandler touchdown.
The visiting Vols made the No. 2 team in the nation sweat and Pruitt had to briefly compose himself as he thought about how far the team had come since last season.
“I learned we’ve got fight in us,” Pruitt said. “…that we’re not going to quit. It kind of gets me excited. I’m proud of them and the way they fought.
“Our guys kept fighting which means we’re headed in the right direction and that excites me. That’s why I’m getting a little bit emotional.”
Throughout his career, Pruitt has proven to be a coach who can maximize a player’s potential. Former players during his stints at Alabama, Florida State and Georgia swear by him, including NFL All-Pro Jalen Ramsey, Washington Redskins defensive lineman Jonathan Allen and Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry.
Several Georgia players, whom Pruitt coached as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015, lingered on the field at Sanford Stadium following the game to shake hands and hug their old coach.
As Tennessee embarks on its open week with practice at Haslam Field on Tuesday afternoon, it is clear the Vols are buying into the message from their first-year head coach.
“He can see us getting better and that makes us want to play even harder for him,” junior defensive back Nigel Warrior said.
The Vols will put the focus inward during the bye week, looking at their own execution and how they can improve.
“I think it’s great we’re going into the bye week,” redshirt sophomore center Ryan Johnson said. “We can focus on us, we can work on us, and I think that’s all we need to do this week – and that’s what we’re planning to do.”
The defense showed some flashes against the Bulldogs with redshirt junior outside linebacker Darrell Taylor totaling three sacks and forcing two fumbles. Junior linebacker Daniel Bituli had a game-high eight tackles, while the Vols started a pair of true freshmen cornerbacks – Alontae Taylor and Bryce Thompson – versus the national championship runner-up.
“I feel like we’re getting better,” Warrior said. “We’re starting to trust each other, we’re starting to actually become one.”
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Tennessee Player Quotes
Junior DB Nigel Warrior
On why there was some extra emotion within the team after the Georgia game:
“I would say that I feel like we played and we fought that game and we got better. I feel like that’s why he got a little bit emotional, because he can see us getting better and with that being said, that makes us want to play even hard for him.”
On what the first five games have taught them about where the program is and what still needs to be done to get to where they want it to be:
“It just shows us that we need to become one, get tighter and start to trust each other on and off the field. Coaches, players, just trust each other and do our job and execute.”
On the defenses progress through the first five games:
“I feel like we’re getting better. We’re starting to trust each other, we’re starting to actually become one, like I Just said, we’re starting to become one and we’re starting to trust each other in every play, every game, we’re starting to just get a feel for each other.”
On if it’s been frustrating being so close to creating turnovers:
“It’s been kind of frustrating, but it just shows that I need to go a little bit harder than what I am doing and keep working. I missed that ball and that’s something that I got to live with, but in order to beat that outcome, I just have to work harder.”
Redshirt Sophomore OL Ryan Johnson
On improvements from last week and the plan for the bye week:
“There was good things and there was bad things that we did. I think we executed a lot better this week. There are still things we need to put together and there are still things that we need to improve on, and I think it’s great we’re going into the bye week. We can focus on us, we can work on us, and I think that’s all we need to do this week – and that’s what we’re planning to do.”
On football’s mental aspect and working on the fundamentals in the bye week:
“It’s always a mental challenge. There’s a physical aspect to it. You always have to go in the weight room, and coach (Craig Fitzgerald) has been doing a good job at helping us with the physical part. We’ve got strong guys on our team. We really do, but football is more of a mental game than what people give it credit for. It’s a big chess game. It’s almost like doing calculus. If you mess up the first step, it doesn’t matter because you’re not going to get the last step right. Your problem isn’t going to be right. If you mess up the simple algebra in the beginning, it doesn’t matter how well you know how to integrate – you’re going to screw up. I think that’s what we have to focus on, going back to the simple details, and I think that’s what we’re going to do this week. We’re going to focus on the small stuff. Focus on us. We’re going to focus on our technique. The six-inch steps, the double teams, just making sure we’re working well together and working with each other so that we know the plays that need to be made and we know the techniques – we know everything perfectly.”
On improvements the team has made since the beginning of the season:
“We’ve improved drastically. I think coach Pruitt is doing a great job at helping us improve and get better as a team and get better as players, individually, and as a group. We’ve got a long way to go, but I think we’ve made some great improvements and some great strides. We just need to keep doing that and keep pushing. Keep our head down and take it one day at a time. That’s all you can do.”
Sophomore PK Brent Cimaglia
On how the team is doing so far this season:
“The first five weeks have been good. Each game is a stepping stone. It is important to come back from it, and we will as a team, with these great coaches. As a player, it is hard to lose because it is football. But we have great leaders on the team and coaching staff, so we will come back from it pretty strong.”
On being halfway through the season:
“It is kind of halfway of the season, which is nice. As a team, we have these goals and objectives and we will accomplish them. Basically, we just need to stay on it and keep grinding.”
On having the bye week:
“We have very good teams coming up, so this break will help us out a lot emotionally, mentally and physically. It is going to help calm things down and kind of just get back to where we started.”
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