Volunteers head football coach Josh Heupel twice had to ask a reporter in the press room to silence a phone blaring the Georgia Battle Hymn after Tennessee’s Week 12 loss to the Bulldogs in Athens.
“If it wasn’t a bad enough night for Josh Heupel and his Tennessee football team, two different times in his postgame news conference a phone went off blaring the Georgia Battle Hymn. It was so loud at one point an agitated Heupel had to ask the reporter to repeat the question,” ESPN’s Chris Low reported on November 16.
Heupel was gracious in defeat, all told. The Vols head coach gave credit where credit was due to the Dawgs.
“Give credit to Georgia. They did what they had to do in the second half. … Just didn’t do enough, coaches and players together, to get on the right side of the scoreboard,” Heupel said postgame.
Heupel also gave credit to his team, which gained 319 total yards on a balanced effort from the offense; albeit also an underwhelming effort from QB Nico Iamaleava.
“All in all, we weren’t playing well. That’s assignment sound and technique, too. That’s a good football team. We’re a good football team,” Heupel said.
Volunteers head football coach Josh Heupel has a prove-it game against Vanderbilt in Week 14 for Tennessee
Heupel cannot lose the in-state rivalry game with Vanderbilt this season. Such a loss would undoubtedly knock Tennessee out of the College Football Playoff picture.
The SEC Championship is more than likely not happening for the Vols, but there’s still hope for a first 21st-century title in Knoxville.
Not if the Commodores catch Tennessee in Nashville on November 30, though.
