Josh Heupel praises defense against Pitt, says Tennessee has the best pregame experience
By Keith Farner
Published:
Tennessee is still enjoying its win over Pitt last week, and Josh Heupel believes the defense especially stood out for its ability to get ready for the next play.
Although Pitt was 3-for-5 on fourth down conversions, the Vols continued to be ready for the next play.
“The ability to reset and play the next play independent,” Heupel said Wednesday on the SEC coaches media teleconference. “We gave up a couple of fourth-down plays, but their demeanor didn’t change in any way. … I thought the energy, effort, technique we played with showed through the game. … Those pressures started hitting and we were able to get to the quarterback. … The line of scrimmage, our guys did a good job.”
Tennessee this week takes on Akron on the 50th anniversary of the first night game at Neyland Stadium, and Heupel believes the atmosphere translates to the players.
“You feel it when you get off the bus, first,” he said. “Vol Walk, in my opinion, is the best pregame experience I’ve had everywhere I’ve been. It’s even more heightened at night. … It’s special man. 100,000-plus fans … our players can certainly feel it.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
