Josh Heupel isn’t letting Tennessee walk into Columbia blind.
On Monday morning, the Vols’ coach brought up the 2022 loss at South Carolina in a team meeting, making sure his players understood exactly what kind of night awaits them this Saturday. Heupel even used a visual aid of Gamecock fans storming the field, a reminder of how ugly that trip turned for Tennessee.
“Understand the type of environment you’re getting into,” Heupel said. “Understand the approach of your opponent.
You’re stepping into a ring, you better understand your opponent. Be prepared to be your physical, mental and emotional at your peak.”
That 2022 game still stands out as the most painful loss of the Heupel era for Tennessee fans. The Vols entered the matchup at 9-1, ranked No. 5 in the country and positioned for a run at the four-team College Football Playoffs. Instead, South Carolina shredded Tennessee in a 63-38 loss, with the Vols’ defense unable to slow the Gamecocks and the offense unable to match the pace.
The ending only made it worse. Hendon Hooker, Tennessee’s star quarterback and Heisman hopeful, tore his ACL in the second half, closing the book on his brief but memorable UT career.
This time around, Tennessee heads back to Columbia for the first meeting between the teams there since that night, and the roster looks very different. Only four current Vols were on that 2022 team: reserve running back Hunter Barnes, starting long snapper Bennett Brady, starting kickoff specialist and backup kicker Josh Turbyville and starting punter Jackson Ross.
Even that group barely saw the field that season. Barnes played on a special teams unit against Akron, and Turbyville handled a kickoff against UT Martin. Brady and Ross did not play at all in 2022.
The lesson, though, appears to have landed. The message inside the program is that every week comes with its own test, and showing up anything short of sharp can turn into another rough Saturday in a hurry.
In Other News...
Peyton Manning Is Suddenly Part Of A Colts Twist Tennessee Fans Noticed
The Colts decision to move on from Chris Ballard after a loss to the Tennessee Titans already gave this AFC South corner of the schedule a little extra juice, and it quickly pulled a familiar name back into the conversation. According to Dan Patrick, Indianapolis reached out to Peyton Manning to see whether he had any interest in the general manager opening, a jolt of news that immediately caught the attention of Tennessee fans who know exactly what Manning has meant to the sport in this region.
For the moment, assistant GM Ed Dodds is running the personnel department for the rest of the season, but the bigger question is whether Indianapolis is simply checking every box or genuinely trying to chart a new direction. For Volunteers fans, Mannings name surfacing in a Colts front-office search adds another unexpected layer to a rivalry that never seems to stay quiet for long. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Still Has One Big QB Decision Before South Carolina
George MacIntyre has given Tennessee a timely jolt at quarterback, stepping in to start the past two games and helping the Vols to consecutive wins, including the upset of No. 6 Alabama. With the offense finding some traction under the sophomore, the position suddenly looks less unsettled than it did a couple of weeks ago, even as the Vols prepare for another SEC test.
Still, Josh Heupel has not committed to a definitive starter for South Carolina, leaving one of the most important decisions on the roster unresolved. Faizon Brandon, who opened the season as the starter for the first five games, has been dealing with a shoulder injury and has not played recently, so Tennessees quarterback picture remains fluid heading into the next game. [Read more 🡒]
Dalton Knecht Just Got A Fresh Chance Vols Fans Should Watch
Dalton Knechts NBA path just took another turn, and for Tennessee fans it is a reminder of how quickly a former Volunteer can move from promising rookie to roster uncertainty. The Los Angeles Lakers have decided to release the forward after two seasons, ending a stint that had already featured a failed trade attempt to the Charlotte Hornets before he ever got settled into a new role.
Knechts playing time and production dipped in his second year, leaving him with a fresh chance to reset somewhere else. For Vols fans, the next stop will be worth watching closely, because it will show whether a change of scenery can help him regain the momentum he showed earlier in his pro career. [Read more 🡒]