Tennessee Vols fans must respond to Josh Heupel's call
Josh Heupel has lost nine games as the Tennessee Vols' head coach. Three of those losses came in large part because Tennessee wasn't able to handle a raucous road environment full of screaming SEC fans — the losses to Georgia and South Carolina last season and the loss to Florida earlier this season. After each […]
Josh Heupel has lost nine games as the Tennessee Vols' head coach.
Three of those losses came in large part because Tennessee wasn't able to handle a raucous road environment full of screaming SEC fans — the losses to Georgia and South Carolina last season and the loss to Florida earlier this season.
After each of those losses, Heupel made it clear that his team (himself, players, and coaches) didn't handle those environments the correct way. And as a result, the Vols were often behind the chains in those games because of pre-snap penalties and communication issues.
On Saturday night, when the South Carolina Gamecocks visit Neyland Stadium to take on Tennessee, Vols fans can help flip the script by heeding Heupel's call to action this week.
Heupel told reporters on Monday that Tennessee will need the fans to create a rowdy atmosphere that gives the Vols a clear advantage.
"Home field advantage matters," said Heupel. "We need energy and momentum. We need to make it extremely difficult for them to communicate. For us, our fans need to be a huge part of this football game. They have been every Saturday that I have been here. I can't wait. I expect there to be a lot more boats tied up on the river this week, and I expect the Vol Walk to be electric. I cannot wait for the noise and the energy inside of the stadium."
Heupel also pointed out that Tennessee will be honoring the 1998 championship team on Saturday, which provides another reason for fans to come out to the game while bringing plenty of energy.
"We need a great environment on Saturday night," noted Heupel. "It's special that we get an opportunity to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our 1998 National Championship team. Coach (Phillip) Fulmer and the entire crew, we're welcoming those guys back. Excited that they get a chance to be there for this one as well."
Tennessee fans can have a massive impact on Saturday night's game against South Carolina. They can affect the way South Carolina's offense operates and communicates. And they can be the fan base that leaves another program frustrated and looking for answers after a tough SEC road game.
If the Vols are going to be at their best on Saturday night, then the fans will have to be at their best, too.
The Tennessee fan base needs to learn an important lesson from a team the Vols destroyed last season
It’s an important lesson for Volunteers fans
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
