Josh Heupel speaks on 'playing the next play,' not worrying about recent history vs. Florida

In just over 2 seasons at Tennessee, Josh Heupel has done a good job of ending negative streaks for the Vols.

Last season, he snapped a 15-game losing streak to Alabama and led the Vols to their first 11-win season since 2001.

While those were big wins for Tennessee, Heupel now has the chance to end another losing streak as the Vols go down to Florida to play in the Swamp, where Tennessee has not won since 2003.

That losing streak in the Swamp is surely on the minds of both Tennessee players and fans, but Heupel is making sure his team is focused on the present rather than the past.

“In our program a lot we talk about being able to reset and just play the next play,” Heupel said during the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday. “What happened last year let alone a decade ago, or what happens during the course of the game, the previous play has nothing to do with what’s happening next. Our guys have kind of taken on that mindset a little bit, certainly they’re aware of that streak. But for us it’s really about our preparation and practice and finishing the week out the right way to go down there and play our best football.”

Tennessee was shaky in Week 2 against Austin Peay, only defeating the Governors 30-13, but as Heupel said, the Vols are focused on the task at hand rather than what came the week before.

The game between the Vols and the Gators kicks off at 7 p.m. ET Saturday night.