KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee players Micah Abernathy, Colton Jumper, Brandon Johnson and Aaron Medley met with the media for one of the final times this season on Tuesday afternoon in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.
Vols Extremely Motivated to Finish Strong
A common theme among them was wanting to close out the 2017 season on a high note by defeating in-state rival Vanderbilt after the Commodores spoiled the Vols’ regular-season finale last year in Nashville.
“We took a tough loss last year,” Johnson said. “Like our coaches have said, we shouldn’t need any more motivation than it already is. It’s Vanderbilt. We already know what it is. They don’t like us, so we just have to go in there and handle our business.”
“It’s a big game for us,” Jumper added. “It’s our last game, and it is a rivalry game. It is always in the back of our mind that they had our number last year.”
Another motivating factor for Team 121 this Saturday afternoon will be sending the team’s 22 seniors out as winners.
“It’s a lot of things, but it’s mainly about Kendal Vickers, Emmanuel Moseley, Elliot Berry, guys like that that are seniors,” Abernathy said in regards to the team’s motivation to get a win this weekend. “We’re really playing for them. Those are some of my best friends, so I’m trying to send them off right.”
One Last Time for the Seniors
For the 22 seniors on Team 121, Saturday will mark their final game at Neyland Stadium, and the last game of their football careers for some. Jumper and Medley were asked during today’s media availability if that fact had started to sink in yet.
“I think as we get going in practice throughout the week and going through everything one last time it will hit closer to time,” Medley said.
Jumper said he is trying not to think about that and instead wants to focus on enjoying this final week with his teammates.
“It could be the last time I play football, so I am really trying to enjoy this last week, and especially this last game.”
Senior Day Festivities
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early to watch Tennessee’s senior run through the T one last time. The on field Senior Day recognition will begin at 3:45 p.m. Saturday’s Vol Walk will begin at 1:45 p.m.
2017 Senior Class
Scholarship Seniors
#41 LB Elliott Berry
#29 RS/DB Evan Berry
#93 P Trevor Daniel
#19 WR Jeff George
#44 TE Jakob Johnson
#66 OL Jack Jones
#53 LB Colton Jumper
#63 OL Brett Kendrick
#8 DB Justin Martin
#20 LB Cortez McDowell
#25 PK Aaron Medley
#12 EB Emmanuel Moseley
#75 OL Jashon Robertson
#25 WR Josh Smith
#55 OL Coleman Thomas
#39 DT Kendal Vickers
#6 DB Shaq Wiggins
#82 TE Ethan Wolf
Walk-Ons
#87 WR Logan Fetzner
#37 PK Holden Foster
#31 H Parker Henry
#85 WR Thomas Orradre
QUOTES
Junior Safety Micah Abernathy
On getting motivated to play Vanderbilt:
“It’s not hard at all to get motivated. It’s an in-state rivalry and we know what we have to do. We’ll go out there and give it our all, it’s the last game of the season.”
On where the motivation comes from for the Vanderbilt game:
“It’s a lot of things, but it’s mainly about Kendal Vickers, Emmanuel Moseley, Elliot Berry, guys like that that are seniors. We’re really playing for them. Those are some of my best friends, so I’m trying to send them off right.”
On Charlton Warren’s coaching this season:
“He’s a really good coach obviously. At his last program the numbers were there too. We buy into what he says, and he knows what he’s doing.”
Sophomore Wide Receiver Brandon Johnson
On the adversity of the season making him better:
“I definitely think it has made me a better player and a better person. In life there’s always adversity, and our coaches tell us that all the time. This whole season has been a great example of adversity. I feel like next year will just be motivation for us and we’ll come back better and stronger.”
On finding motivation for the Vanderbilt game:
“We took a tough loss last year. Like our coaches have said, we shouldn’t need any more motivation than it already is. It’s Vanderbilt. We already know what it is. They don’t like us, so we just have to go in there and handle our business.”
On learning of the importance of the Vanderbilt game last season:
“Most definitely. I didn’t know too much about the magnitude of it coming into it just because I’m from Florida, I’m not a Tennessee guy, but I see it now. We’re not supposed to lose to Vanderbilt.”
Senior Kicker Aaron Medley
On last game sinking in:
“I think as we get going in practice throughout the week and going through everything one last time it will hit closer to time.”
On kicking through bad weather (LSU Game):
“It was hard, but I think the main thing is to hit a good ball. That second field goal I tried to drive it a little bit. That was a mistake, but I learned from it and we are moving on.”
On first thought of running out after halftime into rain (LSU Game):
“It was fun. It reminded me of when you are a kid and you’re out in the back yard and the rain is coming down. It was good old-fashioned football. It was a fun challenge.”
On favorite kick during time at Tennessee:
“Either freshman year at South Carolina in overtime or Kentucky 2015. It was a 44 (yard kick). I was coming off that stretch where I was struggling a little bit and that was the first kick I had and that kind of got the train going to finish the rest of the season. I think that was a huge kick for me.”
Senior Linebacker Colton Jumper
On last game sinking in:
“I’m really trying to have fun with this week. It could be the last time I play football so I am really trying to enjoy this last week, and especially this last game.”
On college career expectations:
“I didn’t really know what to expect. It has been great, I have really enjoyed being at UT. I think everything has worked out really well for me. This has been my home for the last four years, and Tennessee is my home. It has been a fun ride.”
On Vanderbilt motivation:
“It’s a big game for us. It’s our last game, and it is a rivalry game. It is always in the back of our mind that they had our number last year.”
On emotions for Saturday:
“It will be excitement. Excited to get on with a new part of my life and close this chapter out, and excited to see how the next year goes for everybody, and excited to play that last game with my teammates.”
On Bob Shoop being president of Colton Jumper fan club:
“He’s meant a lot, any time anybody believes in you like that it means a lot. Just having him there, always in my corner, that says a lot about him. Any time anybody has confidence in you like that, it’s going to boost your confidence.”
-UT Athletics
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