Josh Heupel reacts to Tennessee being No. 1, speaks to the challenge of the Georgia defense
By Keith Farner
Published:
Josh Heupel said the Vols understand the test at Georgia on Saturday, and it’s time to lay it all out on the line.
On the SEC coaches media teleconference, Heupel reacted to Tennessee being ranked No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings.
“Didn’t know where we would be ranked,” he said. “I talked to the kids on Monday that those things are great for your fans to be excited about and pay attention to. … At the end of the day, as competitors, it’s all about the next one. You’re only as good as your next performance. … We understand the test that we have. Looking forward to the next game, the next part of this journey here together.”
The Vols will get one of their toughest tests of the season in the Georgia defense, and Heupel spoke to challenge at hand.
“First of all, just being great athletes allows you to get there and not be out of position,” Heupel said. “… They do a great job with their eyes, wrapping up. They’re physical. They’ve got great speed at all 3 levels of the defense. It’s usually not just 1 guy coming to the party either, man. There are usually a lot of guys closing in.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
