Josh Heupel finally admits what most Tennessee Vols fans knew all along
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel did all he could this past week to downplay the idea that Saturday night's matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks was a "revenge game". Leading up to the game, Heupel was asked numerous times about Tennessee's 25 point loss to South Carolina last season. Heupel told reporters that he […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel did all he could this past week to downplay the idea that Saturday night's matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks was a "revenge game".
Leading up to the game, Heupel was asked numerous times about Tennessee's 25 point loss to South Carolina last season.
Heupel told reporters that he wanted Vols fans to use last year's loss as motivation to be loud on Saturday night. But for the team, Heupel made it clear that the focus was on preparation.
"For our fan base, if they want to use last year as motivation, I got no problems with that," said Heupel last week. "That's the great thing about being a fan. I expect our stadium to be rocking like it always is. It's going to be an electric atmosphere. So if they (fans) want to use it, that's awesome. For us, it's about our preparation and how we practice. And making sure that we're in a great competitive spirit mindset as we take the field on Saturday night."
Late Saturday night, after Tennessee's 41-20 win against South Carolina, Heupel admitted that the game was personal for everyone in the program.
"I think everybody took it personally, as an entire program," said Heupel after the game when asked if the Vols' defensive backs took the game personally. "Our fans did, too. Certainly on the defensive side of the ball, too."
Most fans probably knew that Tennessee was going to make this game personal. But Heupel was wise to keep that inside of the locker room — there was no need to give South Carolina any bulletin board material.
The strategy clearly paid off as the Vols' played with relentless effort in a game they badly needed to win.
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