Everything Josh Heupel said ahead of Orange Bowl week

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla – Tennessee coach Josh Heupel and his Volunteer squad arrived onsite in Fort Lauderdale Sunday evening to begin final preparations for the Orange Bowl, set to be played Friday night against Clemson at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The Vols will practice for the first time in the Sunshine State tomorrow morning where media will be permitted to a couple of viewing periods. Tennessee will practice again Tuesday and Wednesday with separate offensive and defensive press conference settings prior to the workout. Heupel and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney will take part in a joint press conference on Thursday and there will be several other team events held throughout the week.  

Heupel spent a few moments Sunday answering questions from on-site media about the week ahead and the challenges Clemson will present.

Josh Heupel quotes – Sunday evening

Josh Heupel opening remarks….

“We are so excited to be here. We are extremely proud to be in this bowl game. Historic, iconic bowl game. It’s great to be in the city of Miami and we are looking forward to a great week of festivities with our players. We obviously have a great opportunity to play a great opponent at the end of the week.”

What does it mean for the Tennessee program to be back in the Orange Bowl?

“This is a huge step for out program. We have an opportunity to play in this game. We haven’t been here in almost 25 years. There’s a lot of proud VFLs, former players, who are looking forward to getting down to South Florida and being at this game. This is an important step for our fan base and I’m really proud of what our players and coaches have accomplished this season.”

Besides the game, what are you looking forward to most being down here?

“We’ll get to enjoy a little bit of sun later in the week – I think [laughs]. We’ll be able to eat some good food and there will be a lot for activities here for our players. I look forward to being on the beach with them for a little it and having a lot of fun.”

How do you prepare for Clemson’s defense?

‘There’s great players all over the field when two great teams like this get together. At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what you do. You’ve got to have some wrinkles to put your kids in a position to be successful. It’s a bowl game – long layoff – you’ve got to go out and execute. Our preparation back home and certainly this week when we are in meetings and on the practice field, we will have to do all of that at a really high level.”

What’s the mentality for Joe Milton in this football game?

“It’s a Homecoming for him. He’s a guy from South Florida and he will have a lot of friends and family here. This game means a lot to him. He’s someone inside out program who has had a voice and been a leader all year long. He’s prepared consistency. As much growth as he has had from year one to year two in what we have don is just how he has handled every day inside out building. I’m proud of him for that, but that’s also led into him being consistent with his preparation as we’ve landed here in South Florida.”

What do you tell your players about the history they are about to be a part of?

“I’ve told them since the moment we found out that we were going to be in this game – this is an iconic game and one that you’re going to remember forever. The entire country will be watching this game on the 30^th. You want to be ready and to go and play your best football. It will mean a lot to you once you get there. Embrace the journey, enjoy it. You’re going to have a week full of fun and at the same time, this is college football ass good as it gets what you run out of that tunnel.”

What do you want to tell the fans who are traveling down here?

“Looking forward to Vol Nation showing up in droves here in South Florida. I appreciate you guys being on this journey – really the past two years but certainly this past fall. I can’t wait to see you on game night.”

Tennessee takes on Clemson Friday night in the Orange Bowl. kickoff is slated for 8pm eastern time and the game will be televised on ESPN.