Josh Heupel explains how Tennessee combats rust ahead of Music City Bowl vs. Purdue
By Keith Farner
Published:
Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols will meet in Nashville on Christmas Day as they get set to play Purdue in the Music City Bowl.
It will be more than a month since the Vols last played a game, as they knocked off Vanderbilt 45-21 on Nov. 27. Heupel met with the media on Wednesday and discussed the issue of rust, and how the Vols find their rhythm, especially on offense, in Nashville.
“You watch bowl games, turnovers, penalties rear their head in those games,” Heupel said. “Rust is a part of that. I think that’s why you’ve got to do a good amount of good on good work while you’re here at home to make sure they understand the speed, tempo of the football game. Bowl games are unique in that you’ve got to have fun and enjoy being around each other. But when you’re in the building at football time you’ve got to be able to lock in. These guys have had really good practices here at home. When you get to the bowl site, you’ve got to be able to manage that in the same way.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
