KNOXVILLE — It’s homecoming week on Rocky Top and questions surrounding Butch Jones’ job stature at Tennessee kick off the week.

Two days after a loss to Kentucky, only Tennessee’s second defeat against the Wildcats since 1984, questions surrounded the fifth-year head coach — specifically, how much longer he will remain as the Volunteers’ caretaker?

With first-year athletics director John Currie staying publicly silent on Jones, the Tennessee head coach was asked Monday about his status with his boss.

“All we do is talk about day by day and week by week,” Jones said without elaborating. “That’s been the constant theme since he came here. Again, our conversations are from anything to everything.”

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup against Southern Miss, Jones took to the podium for his weekly Monday press conference and answered questions regarding his job status.

The UT head coach said he understands “the expectations of Tennessee football” and “so do our players.”

“It’s been one of those years,” he said of a Vols team which is 3-5 and winless (0-5) in the SEC. “I think we’ve had four (games) come down to the final play of the game, and it’s (a matter of) being able to close games out.

“But just like anything, things don’t always go according to plan. We always say football is life — it’s just sped up a lot faster — and that’s truly what it is.”

Tennessee has led or been tied in the fourth quarter in three of its SEC losses -- but the two losses against Top-10 teams (41-0 to Georgia and 45-7 at Alabama) were ugly.

Tennessee has won on its final possession only once, in the opening game against Georgia Tech in double overtime. Since then the Vols have lost games to Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky in the final seconds.

Jones said ahead of the Southern Miss game: “You have to continue to just go about your business and work to be better for it and learn from it.”

He said everyone in the program still needs “that internal drive to win and do everything necessary that it takes to win football games, but also do things in the right manner.”

With a winless record in conference play and the first eight-loss season in program history possible, Jones understands the disappointment from people invested into the program.

Jones acknowledged fans have a right to be disappointed with Tennessee’s results this season, saying he would “be upset too.” His family has shared this experience through tough times and Jones said that “there’s been a ton of people that have been supportive.”

Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Jones might be embattled, but he said his love for the university and community is unwavering in good or bad times.

The Vols have had just six seven-loss seasons, but five have come since 2008.

“This is a great community,” he said. “We have a lot of great friends here. There’s been a lot of people that have been extremely supportive, and I understand everybody being upset.”

Jones says he “bleeds” with the fans and realizes that he needs “to win some football games.” He added that he is “going to do everything in my power for our players, for our university, for our program to get that done.”

His Vols have four games remaining in the regular season; winning out would result in seven wins and a chance at an eighth in a bowl appearance.

But Jones will have to finish 2017 strong to make any case for his tenure to extend to 2018.