Tennessee is going for its third-straight bowl victory versus a Big Ten opponent — as the Vols will square off versus Nebraska in Nashville on Dec. 30.
With this being a virtual home game for Butch Jones’s squad, the Vols will have to ward off anything in the way of distraction. Nebraska will also be missing two of its most vital offensive players (Tommy Armstrong Jr., Jordan Westerkamp) — thus adding to the potential narrative.
Jones spoke to the media on Monday about the importance of keeping focus and envisioning the challenge at hand.
In year’s past under Jones, Tennessee fielded young rosters. It often led to inconsistency, and an unknown when playing in big ballgames. According to Jones, this should no longer be a problem:
“Leadership. Our players understand the expectations. Obviously we’re gonna enjoy Nashville, but also the bottom line is you’re coming here to compete and win a football game, so I think it’s a balancing act. You have to rely on your veteran players.
A few years ago we didn’t have anyone that had ever been to a bowl game, and so now they’ve been to a bowl game, they’ve been through that, of how do you take care of your bodies and still get the needed rest, and then intensity that you need to have to play winning football.”
