Tennessee senior makes strong statement about the Vols' goals for the rest of the season
The Tennessee Vols' goal of winning the SEC East took a serious hit on Saturday night in Gainesville. Tennessee's 29-16 loss to the Gators means the Vols will need a lot of help to end the season with a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. But just because the season is off to […]
The Tennessee Vols' goal of winning the SEC East took a serious hit on Saturday night in Gainesville.
Tennessee's 29-16 loss to the Gators means the Vols will need a lot of help to end the season with a trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game.
But just because the season is off to a tough start, doesn't mean that the Vols will be throwing in the towel.
Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel made it clear after the game on Saturday night that he believes in his team and he believes they have the leadership to turn things around this season.
"They are capable of it, absolutely," said Heupel when asked if Tennessee can play better. "But we gotta be better.”
Vols linebacker Aaron Beasley echoed Heupel's sentiment, suggesting that UT's team leadership is strong.
"I feel like we have the team do that," said Beasley when asked if the Vols have the leadership to battle through early season adversity.
"We're not defined by it," added Beasley while discussing the loss. "It's early in the year. What we want to accomplish at the end of the season is still on the table. That was the main thing (said in the locker room). And telling the guys, it's about how we respond. It's not just this moment in general, it's how we respond to it."
Beasley is right. The Vols can still have a special season with the only stain being the loss to Florida.
Alabama looks beatable. And so does Georgia after their 10-point win in Athens against South Carolina (though Tennessee will once again have their hands full with SC this season). But Tennessee has to get better ASAP.
The good news, though, is that the Vols can get better in a hurry — there were times when the offense operated as expected against Florida, but one or two players weren't doing their job and the play call failed as a result. If the Vols can fix those issues, they can turn the season around.
But for that to happen, it will take everyone on the roster getting on the same page — something that's clearly been an issue so far this season.
Josh Heupel explains bizarre sequence at the end of Tennessee’s loss to Florida
Things got a bit out of hand!
Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
