Vols TE Jacob Warren has perfect reaction to fans being less-than-thrilled with a 17-point win against Austin Peay
Tennessee Vols redshirt senior tight end Jacob Warren know that fans weren't over the moon about UT's 30-13 win against Austin Peay. The Vols were expected to have most of their starters out of the game by the third quarter. But instead, Tennessee's starters (everyone who sees significant playing time on a weekly basis) played […]
Tennessee Vols redshirt senior tight end Jacob Warren know that fans weren't over the moon about UT's 30-13 win against Austin Peay.
The Vols were expected to have most of their starters out of the game by the third quarter. But instead, Tennessee's starters (everyone who sees significant playing time on a weekly basis) played essentially the entire game.
Warren joined Off the Hook Sports on Sunday for his weekly appearance and he spoke about the mixed reaction to Tennessee's win against Austin Peay.
"I think it's a good thing," said Warren. "The fact that you win by two or three scores, score 30 points, that's not good enough? That's good. We're on the right track. That's where we want to be. At the end of the day, I'm just as upset as I'm sure some guy on Twitter is. I'm upset that we didn't operate the way we want. Because it feels — like, it's not just the game — it feels like a week of practice and of life and of football that was, not wasted….in a way when you don't go out there and perform the way you want, it's just disappointing. Because you work so hard for it throughout the week."
"If things don't necessarily go as good as you want them to, it's obviously really upsetting," added Warren. "And that's the part that you have to be able to just clear it and just move on to the next one and attack this week with the same amount of intensity, same amount of effort and focus. And just understand that it will always be the same — whoever shows up on that Saturday and wants to play the hardest, wants to play the fastest, strongest, smartest, that's the team that's going to win."
Complacency doesn't appear to be an issue in Tennessee's locker room. UT's players aren't okay with whatever happened against Austin Peay. And they're making it a point to not let it happen against Florida (which is why they reportedly held a players only meeting on Sunday).
The ugly win against Austin Peay might be the best thing that could've happened to Tennessee before playing Florida. Sometimes a little "wake up call" is needed for elite teams. It's early in the 2023 season so everyone is still jockeying for "elite" status. The Vols, however, can take a step in that direction with a big win against Florida in the Swamp on Saturday night.
Billy Napier sends message to Florida fans ahead of matchup against Tennessee
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Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
