Josh Heupel sends message to Vols fans about using last year's loss to South Carolina as motivation on Saturday
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has made it clear this week that his team isn't focused on last year's 63-38 loss to South Carolina. Heupel doesn't want his team worried about an outcome from last season that can't be changed. Instead, he wants their entire focus this week to be on what they need […]
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel has made it clear this week that his team isn't focused on last year's 63-38 loss to South Carolina.
Heupel doesn't want his team worried about an outcome from last season that can't be changed. Instead, he wants their entire focus this week to be on what they need to do to beat the Gamecocks in 2023.
But if Tennessee fans want to use last year's loss to South Carolina as motivation for Saturday night's showdown in Neyland Stadium, well Heupel is on board with that.
"It has nothing to do with what's going to happen in this one — good or bad," said Heupel on Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference when asked about last year's loss to South Carolina. "To me, the team that wins this game is the team that plays the smartest. Which means you gotta be in control of your emotions."
"For our fan base, if they want to use last year as motivation, I got no problems with that," continued Heupel. "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."
If the Vols are going to leave Neyland with a win on Saturday night, they'll need the fans to be as loud as they were against Alabama last season and against Ole Miss in 2021. Otherwise, South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler will be able to get comfortable and that's when he can do significant damage in a hurry.
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