Tennessee’s Josh Heupel catching heat over first half decision against Mississippi State and fans may have a point
Tennessee Vols fans questioned a strange decision that UT head coach Josh Heupel made in the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Vols went into halftime tied at 17 with Mississippi State, thanks in large part to the Bulldogs taking advantage of a muffed punt by Tennessee’s Braylon Staley in the first quarter. […]
Tennessee Vols fans questioned a strange decision that UT head coach Josh Heupel made in the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The Vols went into halftime tied at 17 with Mississippi State, thanks in large part to the Bulldogs taking advantage of a muffed punt by Tennessee’s Braylon Staley in the first quarter.
Tennessee fans question why Boo Carter wasn’t in the game as the punt returner
Tennessee has one of the best punt returners in the nation in defensive back Boo Carter. But for some reason, Carter wasn’t in the game on Tennessee’s first couple of punt return opportunities.
Instead, it was Staley, who muffed his first opportunity, and then didn’t field the ball on his next opportunity (Mississippi State downed the ball at the one-yard line).
Carter eventually came into the game as a returner, but it still doesn’t explain why he wasn’t in as the returner to start the game. The decision, after all, resulted in an easy seven points for the Bulldogs.
It was a move that certainly had fans perplexed, as Staley had just one career punt return coming into the game.