Jim Mora Jr. had a rough experience at Neyland Stadium in November, and it began in the preparation.

First of all, Mora dismissed the Tennessee fans, and focused on the action on the field.

“The crowd never matters to us, we know it’s going to be loud,” Mora said. “To be a good football player, to be a good performer in anything you do, you have to cut out all the distractions. All that matters is what happens between those lines on that green field.”

Then Mora’s UConn players warmed up on the Tennessee side of the field, before there was a brief discussion from the likes of coach Josh Heupel.

Ultimately, Tennessee won 59-3 and something didn’t sit well with Mora, who gave Heupel an icy handshake, and made an interesting remark in the post-game press conference.

“The only thing I can say is it was a tough game,” Mora said. “I am proud of our guys for the class that they showed on that football field before, during and after the game.”

However, Mora’s latest move was to leave Tennessee off of his top 25 ballot in the final Coaches Poll, as he had Iowa at No. 18, after the Vols dumptrucked the Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl, 35-0. Mora wasn’t the only one. ESPN’s Rece Davis also ranked the Hawkeyes No. 18, and left the Vols out. Davis was in a group of 7 AP Top 25 voters who did not rank the Vols.