Tennessee baseball is in the midst of a busy fall practice, but head coach Tony Vitello has been dialed in to the Vols’ 2023 football season.
The seventh-year Tennessee baseball coach was caught celebrating Squirrel White’s insane catch against South Carolina with this picture.
He’s a baseball coach and a college football fan! How about the reaction by Coach Vitello on Squirrel’s big catch! @wvlt @Vol_Baseball @Vol_Football @Squirrel_Vol pic.twitter.com/IwmPBWu2a5
— Rick Russo (@wvltrick) October 1, 2023
Vitello joined John Wilkerson and Vince Ferrara on Sports Talk 99.1 Thursday morning and discussed plenty of Tennessee football in addition to fall ball.
“Squirrel (White) is hard not to like,” Vitello said. “Obviously, that was pretty cool how that worked out with that catch.”
The Tennessee baseball coach is also a big fan of Joe Milton III. Plenty have made baseball comparisons for the strong armed quarterback but it’s Milton’s journey and maturity that have most impressed Vitello.
“I’ve really enjoyed and chuckled at the Joe Milton baseball references,” Vitello said. “He’s kind of breezed by some of our practices that have been in the indoor (facility) and jokes about it as well. I really enjoy when a kid matures and goes through the process of just becoming older, wiser— you could say better man and also better player. I really think it compares to a pitcher who learns how to pitch and he’s throwing the ball better. He’s leading this team and it’s something I’ve enjoyed watching.”
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Veterans stepping up late in their college careers and being successful has been a theme in Tony Vitello’s Tennessee tenure, especially in his opening years. Pitchers Richard Jackson and Will Heflin as well as designated hitter Pete Derkay had breakout senior seasons in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Last season, Christian Scott emerged as the Vols’ starting right fielder after sitting behind Drew Gilbert for most of his career.
Vitello also spoke highly of Josh Heupel and his staff, referencing a closeness between the baseball and football programs. Heupel has frequently taken recruits to baseball games in recent years and Vitello is almost always present at home football games.
“I think the coaching staff more than anything. Those guys and us blend so well,” Vitello said. “They’re incredibly hard working and very very creative. That’s a dangerous combo with time.”
Tennessee’s baseball coach also discussed Heupel’s success coming off an open date in his career with regards to the coaching staff’s creativity. That’s a major storyline entering Tennessee football’s Saturday showdown with Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium.
The Aggies run defense has been stout all season and Tennessee needs more passing production against the Aggies than they’ve had to this point. But Vitello is confident in Milton, Heupel and the offensive coaching staff entering the cross-divisional matchup.
“Even if someone really disliked Tennessee because they’re another SEC fan or coach— no one is going to disagree with the fact that Coach Heupel, and of course he leans on his staff too, is pretty dang good at getting guys open and being creative in general,” Vitello said. “The more time, the better.”
Tennessee football kicks off against Texas A&M at 3:30 p.m. ET from Neyland Stadium on Saturday. Tennessee baseball keeps working through fall practice before facing Virginia Tech in a scrimmage on Oct. 22 at Tusculum College in Greenville.
