Tennessee is heading home to Knoxville with a bowl win as a thrilling fourth quarter made up for three quarters of frustration on both sides of the ball.

Jeremy Pruitt was linked to the “hot seat” when the Volunteers were 1-4. Thursday night in Jacksonville, he was a coach celebrating an 8-5 season, with plenty of momentum heading into the 2020 season.

Part of the reason Pruitt and the Vols are celebrating is that UT managed to recover a late onside kick and push for a late 23-22 lead, which would be the game’s final score.

After the game, Pruitt discussed the big onside kick call and more with reporters. Here are some of the highlights of what he had to say to reporters on hand in Jacksonville:

  • On Tennessee fans’ strong showing in Jacksonville: All the Orange was there when the clock struck zero. Can’t say enough about our fan base.
  • Pruitt and Eric Gray said Vols have repped the onside kick ‘500 times’ over the past five months. Both credited the kick by Paxton Brooks for the recovery.
  • On switching between Jarrett Guarantano and Brian Maurer: Both played poorly at times. We put Guarantano back in the game and he started playing better.
  • More on Guarantano: “When the game was on the line, that’s who we wanted in the game. And he came through.”
  • On taking risks: “I’m kind of a go-for-it guy. If it looks like it’s there, might as well take it…Better get them before they get us.”
  • On first meeting with Jauan Jennings: “By the time he left the office he was trying to negotiate what position he was going to play…I said, ‘Dude, you ain’t even on the team, yet.”