Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers suffered a tough 31-17 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday in Athens, but the sting got even worse when someone’s “Glory, Glory” ringtone started playing during his press conference.

That just so happens to be Georgia’s fight song, which Heupel had probably had enough of at that point. He had equally had enough of Georgia’s passing game, which ignited as quarterback Carson Beck found his rhythm, completing 25 of his 40 passing attempts for 347 yards with 2 touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown, his first of the season.

“Yeah, they had a big night, created explosive plays down the football field,” Heupel said. “Some of them, you know, guys are open down the middle, playing really well early and then give up a hard-count where they got a free shot down the middle of the football field, make an explosive. You know,they rubbed us a couple of times and got guys free too. So all in all, just weren’t playing well enough. That’s assignment sound and then some of the technique too.”

A Georgia fan’s cellphone rang twice outside Josh Heupel’s press conference.

The ringtone was “Glory, Glory,” Georgia’s fight song. pic.twitter.com/Xnrk4L8QTh

— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) November 17, 2024

Just FWIW: Georgia’s fight song ringtone during Heupel’s postgame presser didn’t come from the media.

It was a very sweet elderly lady from the catering crew, and she had no idea how to silence her phone. https://t.co/PkH2Qnyzop

— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 17, 2024

Tennessee will continue its schedule with a get-right game against UTEP at 1 p.m. ET in Knoxville on Saturday, Nov. 23. The Vols will round out the season with an in-state matchup against a rising Vanderbilt Commodores team.

The Vols face a much tougher postseason path after the loss to Georgia in what is something of a fall from grace, but it will be interesting to watch how things develop with the regular season coming to a close.

Crissy Froyd

Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.