What Josh Heupel said Wednesday on the SEC Coaches Teleconference
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel made his weekly appearance on the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday, discussing the injury news for middle linebacker Keenan Pili, the Vols’ new alternate uniforms for this weekend and more.
After opening the season with a 49-13 win over Virginia at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee (1-0) hosts Austin Peay (0-1) on Saturday (5 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+/SEC Network+) in the home opener at Neyland Stadium.
Here’s what Heupel said Wednesday’s teleconference:
Opening Statement
“Excited to get back home and get an opportunity to kick off inside of Neyland Stadium. This week is the first time a lot of our players have an opportunity to experience the Vol Walk — 40,000 fans there to meet us as we pull up to the stadium — Vol Navy and obviously game day. It will be something that those guys remember forever. It’s also unique. We’re celebrating Condredge Holloway and what he represented here at the University of Tennessee and what he meant in this league and across America. First-class starting quarterback in the SEC. Someone who represents himself, his family and stands for everything that’s good in college football. He’s always been that way and for us to wear the Smokey Greys in a pattern that he wore is really special. And to have him around our program this week is special too.”
If Keenan Pili is out with an injury after the season-opening win over Virginia
“We weren’t sure earlier in the week the severity of the injury. Will not be available this week. He’ll miss a couple weeks here.”
If it’s a short-term injury or a longterm issue for Keenan Pili
“I don’t believe it is season-ending. We’ll see how he continues to heal up here in the coming days and weeks.”
If Tennessee players have been shown any Condredge Holloway film before wearing the Artful Dodger version of the Smokey Grey uniforms
“We have not shown the team yet, but the Artful Dodger has been in our team room over the first couple years we’ve been here. He’s been around our program. A couple years ago we got a chance to honor him with a lot of the individuals that meant so much to Tennessee and to this league with their statue unveiling outside of our stadium. He’ll be around our program here at the end of the week, he and his family. So (we’re) really excited about that.”
If he’s given any thought to the SEC losing divisions in future years
“That’s a long ways off my thought process right now. (I’m) so entrenched in this year. I think the continued growth and strength of this league is a positive as we continue to grow and expand. With that, I think it’s hard. The divisional games that you have played every year are certainly fun for fanbases and players and coaches. At the same time, you want to have an opportunity for your players and staff and fans to experience all the different places inside of this league, too, which the balance of those things becomes really tough. But in (2024, 2025), excited to get to that schedule when we get to it.”
The energy in practice this week as Tennessee prepares for Austin Peay
“Our kids have been really good. Really good focus. Just finished our Wednesday practice on the field. Guys competed, strained. They’ve been really consistent in their habits and that was true last spring, but in particular, this training camp. Guys have come out with the same demeanor and competitiveness every day, so I like what we’ve done so far this week.”
If what he has seen on the practice field from this Tennessee team is what he saw last week against Virginia
“Yeah, I thought there were a ton of positives. There’s a lot of phases that you go back and watch the film, that we’ve got to improve upon, too, but welcome to football. This isn’t a game of being perfect, so it’s about constant growth and constant competition. And pushing yourself individually to be your best. And then collectively becoming your best, too. It’s a long journey during the course of a season. Good teams continue to get better over the course of every single week.”
