‘I don’t know why Josh Heupel answered the question the way he did’ – Vols fans are confused thanks to Tennessee’s head coach
Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel is playing coy this week…yet again.
For the second week in a row, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is refusing to name starting quarterback for the Vols’ next game.
Tennessee is set to take on South Carolina this weekend, and Heupel wouldn’t tell reporters on Monday whether sophomore George MacIntyre or true freshman Faizon Brandon will start against the Gamecocks.
That’s despite the fact that MacIntyre has started the last two games for the Vols, including a win against Alabama this past weekend.
VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs joined WNML’s SportsTalk on Tuesday and he was asked by a caller why Heupel won’t name MacIntyre as the starter for the South Carolina game.
“I think it’s George’s game,” said Hubbs. “I think George is the starter. I don’t know why Josh Heupel answered the question the way he did. Maybe it’s gamesmanship, or maybe it’s superstition. Or maybe he just doesn’t want anybody to know.
“But in my mind, there’s no doubt that George MacIntyre will be the starting quarterback on Saturday when Tennessee rolls into Columbia, South Carolina, and plays the Gamecocks. And I think he’s earned it. I think he’s played well. I think he’s continuing to get better. And listen, the job is to win football games. Who gives you the best chance to win football games? Based on what I’ve seen the last three weeks, the guy that gives you the best chance to win football games is George MacIntyre. That’s not a knock on Faizon Brandon. I’m not saying he can’t play. I’m not saying he’s not talented. But in the moment right now, George MacIntyre is playing the best football and deserves to start. And I fully expect him to start on Saturday.”
Brandon is getting healthier, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the game at some point — especially if MacIntyre struggles against the Gamecocks — but it seems pretty clear at this point that it’s MacIntyre’s job until it’s not.
