Tennessee football bounced back from a slow start to defeat UTEP 56-0 in lopsided fashion at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was Senior Day in Knoxville and a number of Tennessee seniors had strong games, most notably receiver Bru McCoy who caught two touchdowns after having zero touchdowns in the first 10 games of the season.
Following the game, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel discussed the Vols’ senior class, what went wrong in the first quarter and much more. Here’s everything Heupel said.
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Opening statement
“Great day to honor our men and women that serve in our military. Awesome to recognize them. Had a couple of them walk with me, but so many of them on the field today. I thank them for everything they do. Awesome to recognize our our senior class. They mean so much to this program. When I first got here, kind of resetting this program, building this program, what it looks like to be a Vol and what it means to be in the building and (the players have) done an unbelievable job of helping us grow. And couldn’t have done it without them. Great leaders, great players, most of all great men. And it’s just a great group.
On what worked for Tennessee in the second quarter
“I really didn’t say anything about the ball game. Probably should’ve started that way. Defensively, just gave up a few plays, some yardage. But played really well from the jump. Offensively, just a little bit off in some ordinary simple things. And that’s quarterback, it was offensive line in a couple of our targets. And a couple of those drives were starting inside the 10-yard line too. And so it’s a little bit different than being in a normal field. But once they just settled in and did ordinary things, which you guys hear me say all the time, but once we started doing the everyday things consistently, all 11, had a really good day. Created explosive plays, were efficient in the run game, creating some explosive plays there too. And we were efficient in the red zone, so proud of that. Just settling into the ball game after not our best start.”
On Ole Miss and Indiana losing on Saturday, helping Tennessee’s College Football Playoff chances
“I said it, there’s a lot of football left to be played. We’ve seen it. We’ve lived it, both sides of it. It’s about controlling yourself and preparing and going and playing good on Saturdays. And I’m proud of the way we handled this week. And heal up this afternoon and tomorrow. Invest and prepare in a great way, practice in a great way, then we need to go play great football next Saturday as we take the field in Nashville.”
On Boo Carter providing a spark at punt returner, Tennessee’s special teams production in recent weeks
“He has made some big, explosive plays. The guys up at the line of scrimmage have done a great job of getting him started. But he’s the right combination of control and command. And I’m going to say playing on edge, reckless abandon a little bit. You know what I mean? On the right side of that that arrow. And just done a really good job back there. Want to catch the one clean today, but it was a huge part of of the game. Field position matters so much. It changes calls.
It changes scenarios so much. And and the return game was big. The one kick return we had, thought the the guys up front did a really good job. Peyton (Lewis) did, Obviously, Boo, explosive plays, and then our cover units in particular, punt, did an elite job of of pinning them. And Turbo just banging it out of the back the end zone, something you don’t take take for granted.”
On the Vanderbilt game possibly being a win-and-in game for Tennessee in the College Football Playoff, how he handles high-stakes games
“The better you play, the more you win, the bigger the games get. Doesn’t matter. So for us, this is the next step in our journey. Laser focused (in) how we prepare, how we practice, get ready to go play. I mean, you’re going to have to play well and you need to play well in all three phases in this one.”
On Bru McCoy having to touchdowns after not scoring the first 10 games
“We’ve just been a little bit off on some opportunities, quarterback and him. It was great to see him get those opportunities, take advantage of it, but, man, special to see him finish it out that way today on senior day. He’s meant so much to us and this program and to me.”
On how McCoy has handled a disappointing season statistically
“Bru, one of the greatest team guys I’ve ever been around. Will do anything for anyone. Will play without the ball in his hands as hard as anybody I’ve been around. Takes great pride in that. There’s been some opportunities and we just hadn’t connected on it. And you watch him after one of those plays, he resets to the next play as well as anybody. Today was cool just to see him connect and and go finish on a couple of big plays. Really excited for him and his family.”
On what he saw from young running backs Peyton Lewis and Cam Seldon
“Thought both played extremely hard, ran physical. For the most part, did a great job of hitting holes. I know there’s a couple of them that, he had an opportunity to press or to bend back on, but they ran physical and pad level, strain. Thought both of them played extremely well.”
On why this senior class means so much to him
“I mean these guys, when I got here, the outside noise around this program was way different than it was when I started. And that doesn’t happen because of me. It doesn’t happen simply because of assistant coaches. They’re a huge part of it too. But it’s gotta be from within the locker room. And when a lot of guys left, they chose to stay. They believe in this program. They wanted to be a part of this program. Believed in me. Trusted enough in me to help build this thing. And it takes a special person to do that, and these guys are special. You look at the success that they’ve had on the field. This is second year in three years that I think we’ve been undefeated at home, and they’re a part of, and we’re not there, right? This is a historic program, and they put it back on solid footing.”
On the importance of getting walk-ons and young players action
“I mean, we’re at like 120 guys inside of our team room. They all work and compete the same way every single day. They all have to live up to the same expectations, meetings, practice, weight room. You know? Some guys receive more public attention because of their play on the field, but, man, everybody’s invested in the same way. The opportunity to get young guys in the game, some experience, walk ons, whatever, whoever. It’s important when you get those opportunities to do that. I mean, you want those opportunities because they’ve earned it, and they’ve sacrificed as much as anybody.”
