Multiple times this week, Josh Heupel referred to last year’s matchup with the Florida Gators as a turning point for Tennessee football. The Vols lost that game 38-14.
However, UT was in just its fourth game under Heupel and his new staff, learning different schemes on both sides of the ball. Florida was in its fourth year under Dan Mullen and his system.
On Saturday, though, when the two get set to face off, Tennessee football will be the one with the continuity advantage. Only one staff member left from last year. Heupel touted the culture of the program.
“The environment and the culture are a huge part of being able to retain people,” Heupel said at Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “Obviously we were able to do that for the most part.”
This year marks the first time since 2015 that the Vols didn’t lose more than one staff member. It marks the first time since 2014 that at least two on-field roles didn’t have turnover.
The only change was Kodi Burns, who was hired as receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints. Kelsey Pope was promoted from an off-field role to replace him as UT’s receivers coach.
“Obviously Kodi had a chance to fulfill a dream and goal of being an NFL coach,” Heupel said. “Kelsey was a no-brainer for us, or for me as becoming a full-time member of our staff – just who he is, how he communicates, his relationships with players, his ability to be a great teacher, his ability to recruit and develop relationships.”
That level of continuity will be key for Tennessee football Saturday. Regardless of where the two teams stand, the Vols always have to manage anxiety when facing Florida.
Heupel has been trying to keep everything the same for the players. How they respond to that remains up in the air, but Heupel noted it hasn’t been much different.
“There’s a little bit more media that our players probably had to do on Monday or Tuesday, a couple of things for me, but really the beginning of the week is kind of status quo,” he said. “I think that routine is important. I think it’s important that your team feels our coaching staff are prepared in going through that same type of routine, and that’s been a big part of the improvement inside of our program from when we first kicked off at the beginning of last season.”
That increased media is the result of it not just being Tennessee-Florida but also ESPN College GameDay coming to town, two ranked teams facing off and the Vols being undefeated. They sold out last week’s game against Akron.
How Tennessee football handles that as the energy increases closer to the game remains to be seen. Heupel said it’s important that they finish their preparation right.
“I think it’s important that our players enjoy the competitive environment that’s going to be there on game day,” he said. “They’re helping create that. In saying that, it’s all about our preparation.”
Despite trying to prepare as if it’s just another game, though, Heupel couldn’t ignore what games with larger magnitude bring. He has his own experiences with College GameDay.
There were multiple times in Heupel’s playing career in which GameDay came to town. He said players don’t realize throughout the week, but it can hit once the weekend arrives.
“You kind of felt it on a Friday,” he said. “The energy was just a little bit heightened around campus as you were driving in and coming into the building and the amount of people that were in town, and certainly on game day you could feel the focus and energy and excitement from your fan base.”
