Just listened to Heupels post game press conference.

[GrayWaterCanine]

Like the one that went to Oxford in 1998?

Exactly!

 

[Frozevol]

45 minutes delay
Didn’t run through the T
Florida next week
A team that we know we will beat easily
They played lights out

Don’t read too much into last night’s practice.

You left out jersey color.

 

[Orangeslice13]

You left out jersey color.

Fair point. They were hideous

 

[OrangeTsar]

They blew out Akron the game before Florida last year.

AP reminded me a LOT of Akron with the dirty play. Might be one reason Heup dialed it back a bit. No sense in losing a Tilman in a game we were going to win anyway.
Say what you want about Heupel; but even when the game was ugly and way below our standard; Heup never lost control of the momentum and the outcome was never serious in doubt. As experience has shown; that was not the case with our previous Three Stooges of coaching.
A leader who can keep control when things are going poorly is rare indeed.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Fair point. They were hideous

I personally agree. But i will let that one pass. The players loved them and they honored one of History’s absolute greatest VFLs. Hats off to you Condredge! You continue to make Vol Nation proud!

 

[Volgirl939712]

The 3rd was brutal in the stadium. I’m shocked nobody threw anything on the field

Me, too! I was waiting for it.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Agreed but he lacks that instinct that it requires to excel at it.

And he hesitates; that half a second can make the difference between a 20 yard scamper and two yards and a cloud of dust.
Even that fun play last week when he stiff armed the defender into the turf; he shuffled indecisively from foot to foot for almost a full second. SEC defensive speed will not allow that.

 

[VAVol85]

I thought offensive line play was far more concerning than QB play. They got whipped in the second half especially pass blocking but the rushing yards were a little harder to come by too.

The OLine gave up one sack when the 3rd string center whiffed on his block. The running backs averaged 7 yards per carry! We had 3-4 penalties on the OLine that need to get fixed, but otherwise, I thought they looked good.

 

[Volfan39]

I truly think this was needed before Florida. Shows the players that aren’t as good as they think they are. Have all week of hard ass practices because of that disgrace of a performance and come out against Florida really pissed off and ready to go. Rather this then than them thinking they are just better and sleep walk through this week like USCE

 

[volfeeva]

Some of these FCS teams are better than people give them credit for too. My daughter and son in law are grads of Southern Illinois (he played football there) the team that drilled AP last week. Southern beat Northern Illinois yesterday (FBS). First win by a FCS team over an FBS this season. Northern is no powerhouse but still…. We were at the game yesterday and Southern has some darn good players.

I agree that across the board all teams have gotten better to the point of almost having parity in college football. I noticed a lot of games yesterday where the " cream-puff" team that was underdog by 30+ points made a close game out of it. On any given Saturday, you better bring your A game or get shocked

 

[Volswin98]

I think the rain delay hurt us more than anything. You get all that adrenaline pumping and get hyped up for the game and then it all comes crashing down. It’s hard to recover from that. It’s like being hungover in a way.

Why didn’t affect AP?

 

[JRich]

Some credit does need to go to APSU. They had a fantastic game plan that UT’s staff didn’t see coming and their players played above their level. Couple that with inaccurate passes, dropped passes, and questionable officiating and it was a closer game than expected.

Still won by 17, and personally I felt that game was never in jeopardy.

 

[CNCVol88]

Why didn’t affect AP?

They were the heavy underdog with nothing to lose?

 

[Big Al Orange]

Excellent take, I agree completely.

Not having Coop in there is a bigger deal than some realize.

 

[JohnWardForever]

In a way, I agree. The fans were the same. Very little energy until the second half. I think everyone (including the team) knew we could roll anyone out there and win. Then game time approached, we all got worked up, the Strip was bumping, the weather looked perfect, the band was on the field, ready for pre-game and the T. . . .

And then it wasn't. Back to the locker room, out to the concourses, stand for 30 minutes. . . .

We were literally losing to AP, and nobody (other than my son and I) in our section was up or yelling on 3rd down.

My son and me. Miss Bratcher would be all over you for that, DOC! lol "It's Always ME at the end of the phrase!" So long ago, RIP Miss Bratcher.

 

[Block Party]

I believe in Heupel, but I don't believe in a 6th year QB who can't hit the broad side of a barn. If it hasn't been fixed by now it not gonna get fixed.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Not having Coop in there is a bigger deal than some realize.

It's a big deal. Just hope we can get him back for bama. (Healthy & In Football shape) But we sure are missing his leadership... Spraggins too.

 

[VOLALUM7SOUTH]

Since when do refs on the field decide to go look at a replay instead of it be called for from upstairs?

Isn't that new this year? (as one of efforts to speed up game? )

 

[VOLALUM7SOUTH]

A fight of that magnitude and no flags and nobody kicked out?

The no targeting was typical- (ya never know bc there's never been consistency) but the blantancy & clearness of that “fight” was a shocker. So much for officials intensive “ training” in off season.

 

[perico]

Austin Peay played like they had nothing to lose and their head coach will use Austin Peay as a stepping stone into a better job.

He pulled every rabbit in his hat and then some. I tend to agree with the above poster that it was kind of a fluke game. Delayed start. No running through the T. Players were distracted. And APSU was running the Butch Jones offense on steroids. It threw us off our game. Kudos to them for the effort and on to the next one.

 

[C-south]

The no targeting was typical- (ya never know bc there's never been consistency) but the blantancy & clearness of that “fight” was a shocker. So much for officials intensive “ training” in off season.

The way they assaulted our guy on the punt without throwing a flag was criminal. Tons of blatant holds on AP that didn’t get called as well. Then you have the PI against white in the end zone. If people didn’t know better you would think it was deliberate.

 

[JoeMiltonsAgent]

Please tell me your not trying to compare Huepel to pruitt....

Thats exactly what him and some others have been doing.

 

[volbound1700]

Several things I could tell:

1. He is feeling every bit of what we are and then some. He knows these guys are capable of more and disappointed he didn't see it tonight.

2. He was frustrated with the officiating. At one point he said "yeah...just trying to not say something I shouldn't."

3. He truly believes in this team and believes they're going to come back strong.

I believe in Heupel as a leader. I think this will ultimately help our team refocus and realize how every single week is important. UTSA is another game coming up that could be a trap game too. Hopefully we handle it better than this week.

But we all know Florida is coming and I truly think we will right the ship and come out sharp in the Swamp. Its been 20 years since we have won there, and that streak needs to be broken.

To be honest, these type of games could be a great wakeup call. We won it pretty handily (not at the point people wanted and Austin Peay kept ups playing until 4th) but it was very ugly with tons of mistakes to point out.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Why didn’t affect AP?

Because we were basically their Bowl Game. Players were chomping at the bit. Meanwhile,Tennessee, although I am sure was being warned constantly by the coaches, saw this as a punch the clock effort while looking towards Florida.
That’s always a dangerous mixture

 

[joevol33]

What if the real brains of the organization resides in Tampa now?