Head coach Jeff Traylor on UTSA's game at Tennessee: 'We're going over there to get better'
Jeff Traylor took his UTSA football team to Texas last September and was tied with the Longhorns at 17-all at halftime, in front of an announced crowd of 102,520. Texas eventually pulled away for a 41-20 win.
He took his first UTSA team to BYU in October 2020 and lost 27-20. The Roadrunners won at Illinois to start the 2021 season and lost in triple overtime at home against Houston in the 2022 season opener.
That why UTSA (1-2) playing at No. 23 Tennessee (2-1) at Neyland Stadium Saturday afternoon (4 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network) won’t require wholesale changes for Traylor’s team. They’ve been in these situations before and have performed under the brighter spotlight against bigger programs.
‘We’re not gonna go over there and do a bunch of gadgets’
“We really just pride ourselves (on playing our game),” Traylor said this week. “We’re not gonna go over there and do a bunch of gadgets. We’re gonna do what we do.
“We’re going over there to get better. We’re trying to do the same things we’re gonna do versus Temple and UAB and South Florida. We really try to guard against (playing a different game).
“I know that’s not what y’all want to hear,” Traylor answered. “It’s a very boring answer.”
Traylor is anything but boring. After losing at home to Army last Friday night, 37-29 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, he put the loss in perspective.
“Frustrating man,” Traylor said after the loss. “There’s got to be an easier way to make a living than this stuff.”
Top 10
- 1Hot
Quinn Ewers
Texas QB not sitting out the rest of season despite erroneous Instagram report
- 2Trending
Heisman Trophy talk
Ashton Jeanty responds to Travis Hunter
- 3
Not alright, alright
McConaughey admonishes Texas fans
- 4
CBB All-Americans
The AP reveals preseason All-America team ahead of 2024-25 season
- 5
Oklahoma fires OC
Seth Littrell out as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, per Sooner Scoop
UTSA started the season with a 17-14 loss at Houston three weeks ago. The next week was a win over Texas State in UTSA’s home opener, a week after Texas State upset Baylor in Waco. Army beat UTSA without redshirt senior quarterback Frank Harris, who missed the game due to a turf toe injury, making way for Eddie Lee Marburger to throw three touchdown passes in his first start.
No. 23 Tennessee vs. UTSA, 4 p.m. ET, Saturday, SEC Network
Traylor’s plans at quarterback, and the status of Harris against the Vols, will be a game-time decision Saturday afternoon. What was decided well in advance was how UTSA would approach another game under the brighter lights that comes with playing a Power 5 opponent.
“Our very first year we went to BYU and they were whatever they were ranked and we went over there with our plan,” Traylor said. “We ran our stuff the next year, Illinois and the next year, Texas and now this year, Tennessee.”
Still, Traylor said the Vols look different than other teams UTSA has played the last three season.
“They’ve got as much NFL talent we’ve ever played since we’ve been here together,” Traylor said. “So we know (what) we’re going against. I’m just trying to let you know, we’re not going over there to run a bunch of gadgets and stuff. We’re going over there to play football.”
