KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Heading into a five-week gauntlet of SEC play, the third-ranked Tennessee Volunteers wrap up their three-game homestand Saturday night when the No. 19/17 Kentucky Wildcats visit Neyland Stadium for the 118th all-time meeting in the series (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Two days out from the SEC East divisional clash, head coach Josh Heupel met with members of the media Thursday morning to wrap up media proceedings for the week and preview the border battle. With his Vols off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 1998, Heupel praised his team’s ability to ‘refocus, regroup and be consistent’ in their approach to practice every single week.
“The only (game) that matters as a competitor is the next one, right?” Heupel remarked. “Everyone is talking about the last one, but you’re only as good as your next performance. Being able to refocus, regroup and be consistent. What’s been great about this team and the reason that one week at a time up until this point we’ve found a way to be the best team on the field is their preparation and the way they practice. At the end of the day, you have to go cut it loose on gameday and play harder for longer than your opponent.”
In a matchup to pits the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense against a top-10 scoring defense, the Vols will aim to make a statement early on. This season, Tennessee is outscoring its opponents 96-24 in the first quarter, but Heupel made sure to emphasize the importance of playing sharp for the full 60 minutes.
“It’s important that you play well for 60 minutes,” Heupel said. “Would we love to get off to a fast start? Yes, absolutely, but you guys have seen games unfold differently, and you just have to keep playing. Would love to start fast, but we will go play ball and play for 60 minutes.”
Thursday’s press conference transcript can be viewed below.
Tennessee Football Press Conference | Oct. 27, 2022
Head Coach Josh Heupel
On Mark Stoops’ coaching success at Kentucky…
“He has done a good job of building up the program from the ground up. They play hard, they play smart and they are a physical football team. You put those three things together, you have a chance to continue as a program, and they have done that.”
On how valuable Ramel Keyton has been in Cedric Tillman’s absence…
“It has been huge. From the first game that he stepped in, (the moment) has not been too big for him. He has operated and functioned at a really high level. He has made a bunch of plays. You can see the trust that Hendon has with him. It is important offensively that you have guys that you trust in all of those positions, otherwise they have the ability to key in, double, or roll coverage to somebody. Ramel’s play has been huge for us.”
On examples of leadership within this team…
“There are so many moments of that taking place. I think one of the biggest things is when you are on the practice field. I just go back to our spring practice this year, we were intentional in trying to give them opportunities, but at each position, a leader having a minute or two in the middle of practice to re-group, re-focus and re-energize their position group. You saw guys at every position do that consistently on a daily basis. It might be (Byron Young) with the d-line, might be Jacob Warren with the tight ends, obviously, Hendon (Hooker) has done a phenomenal job. The ownership the guys at the DB (defensive back) position have had with the entire unit. You feel their energy, their focus, their purpose every day. If something has not been right, it has not always been a coach or me that has had to call the group up and get it right. They are taking ownership, and you see it on the practice field in the way that they coach each other. That was so remarkably different this spring versus a year ago. Those are some moments, dating all the way back to spring ball. But then, during the course of play, if it does not go right, the energy and look from those leaders and being able to re-group their guys on the sidelines has been massive. I am really proud of the guys that are on our leadership council and the guys that take ownership of our locker room.”
On Saturday’s game being labeled a ‘trap game’…
“It doesn’t matter how you phrase it. The only one that matters as a competitor is the next one right. Everyone is talking about the last one, but you’re only as good as your next performance. Being able to refocus, regroup and be consistent. What’s been great about this team and the reason that one week at a time up until this point we’ve found a way to be the best team on the field is their preparation and the way they practice. At the end of the day, you have to go cut it loose on gameday and play harder for longer than your opponent.”
On any comparisons between quarterbacks Tennessee has played this year and Kentucky QB Will Levis…
“It would be unfair of me to go back through all the teams that we’ve played. He is the major part of what they do on the offensive side of the ball. He does a great job of controlling it. You see them redirect protections, he’s a big part of them. Obviously play action pass, boots, movements and at times in the run game.”
On Cedric Tillman’s availability…
“We will see where he’s at when we get through tomorrow and on game day. Again, Cedric is going to be a part of that decision, and our medical staff is doing what is best for him in the long term and short term.”
On how important it is to have a fast start against Kentucky’s defense…
“It’s important that you play well for 60 minutes. Would we love to get off to a fast start? Yes, absolutely, but you guys have seen games unfold differently, and you just have to keep playing. Would love to start fast, but we will go play ball and play for 60 minutes.”
On his evaluation of the special teams unit…
“I think they continue to get better. You guys have seen that we have a lot of young guys on there that have continued to grow throughout the course of the season. Coverage units have been really solid. Our return units continue to get better. Getting Dee [Williams] back on the punt return side of it has been big. We have created some field position with that unit. Expect us to continue to get better on all those units with as many young guys as we are playing.”
