What Josh Heupel said after Tennessee's shocking upset loss to South Carolina
Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers were embarrassed 63-38 by unranked South Carolina Saturday night. Just call it what it is — the Gamecocks aren’t a good football team, and Spencer Rattler looked like the best player in the nation against Tennessee’s defense.
Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker finished 25-of-42 for 247 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, the signal caller left the game with a non-contact knee injury in the fourth quarter. Heupel had no update on Hooker’s injury after the game but added that he’ll be re-evaluated upon the return to Knoxville.
South Carolina’s offense racked up a ridiculous 606 yards and 63 points against the No. 5 team in the nation, and the Vols had absolutely no answer. The Gamecocks did whatever they wanted Saturday night.
Following the loss to South Carolina, Heupel met with the media. Below is a summary of what he said.
Heupel: “Obviously, extremely disappointed with the performance and outcome of the football game.”
— Ryan Schumpert (@rschump00) November 20, 2022
Heupel: Extremely disappointed in the outcome of the football game. It’s everybody involved. Myself, the assistant coaches and the players.
— VolReport.com | Tennessee Volunteers on Rivals (@TennesseeRivals) November 20, 2022
Heupel: “We played man, we played zone. Tim (Banks) tried to find an answer to it.”
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) November 20, 2022
Heupel: “At the end of the day we didn’t defend anything in the way that you need to.”
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) November 20, 2022
Heupel says the team will evaluate Hooker when they return to Knoxville. He has no further updates.
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) November 20, 2022
#Vols coach Josh Heupel: Obviously disappointed in the performance and the result tonight. We didn’t coach or play well enough tonight. We didn’t do anything well enough. We have to evaluate everything.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 20, 2022
Heupel: “For us to grow as a program, you have to look at this opportunity and understand what happened. Let it hurt and remember that as you move forward.”
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) November 20, 2022
Josh Heupel has no update on the status of Brandon Turnage.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) November 20, 2022
Heupel says Jeremy Banks “just wasn’t available” for this game. He’s hopeful Banks will be back next week.
— Ryan Callahan (@RyanCallahan247) November 20, 2022
#Vols coach Josh Heupel said he didn’t question his team’s toughness or desire tonight until the game’s final few minutes, when there was clearly no reversing the score.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 20, 2022
