It may have been a bye week for the Tennessee Volunteers, but they didn’t exactly take the week off.
Even though they didn’t step on the field on Saturday, events have still transpired. There’s the elation and critiques of the big win over Alabama. There’s also been the controversy as some past and present in the Alabama organization have accused the Vols of piping in artificial noise. The off week has given the players and coaches an opportunity to reflect on the win over the Tide, tune up and prepare for the next opponent, Kentucky this Saturday.
First things first, what has Tennessee been doing to get ready for next week?
“I would say just attention to detail, being really focused on whatever we’re doing,” center Cooper Mays told the media this week. “Whatever the task at hand is just making sure we’re fully invested on each rep and making sure we’re doing what we can to do it right the way.”
A sixth-year senior, Mays knows offense. The Vols may have went into halftime without scoring any points, but they rallied to play a stellar second half against Alabama.
“(There’s) always stuff you want to improve and clean up on,” Mays said about the offensive line. “Not every game is going to be perfect. But you know, there’s always a perspective where you see growth and more things to try to replicate and then some things that you got to get better at. But definitely something that’s hopeful for us.”
But being hopeful isn’t enough. Mays recalled some wise words that Coach Josh Heupel told the team early on in his tenure. Mays not only hoped, but believed, way back in 2021, which was Heupel’s first season at Tennessee.
“I think we always believed we were going to win and everything, but I think Coach specifically has preached it.,” Mays said. “You know, I think early in his career here, he started out by saying that the average teams hope and you’ve got to be a team that expects it if you want to win in this league.”
The Vols’ defense has been a huge factor in their success, especially against Alabama. The defense was able to hold the Tide to only 89 rushing yards. Alabama’s quarterback, Jalen Milroe, was picked off twice.
“I think that was kind of the best thing that came out of our fall camp in the last few years is how strong our D-line is and how just good they are from top to bottom, depth wise,” Mays said. “So, they make you better. And, you know, I played a lot of good defenses and they’re right up there with the best of them.”
What about the rumblings that Tennessee pipes in crowd noise to throw off their opponents (which has been confirmed as untrue)?
“I think that the suggestion that it’s artificial is just a huge compliment to the crowd, the fans, the environment in general,” said Mays. “I mean, there’s no better compliment for it, but, crazy loud. I mean, you can’t even really explain it. I think it’s the best environment in all of college football, truly.
May need to bring your earplugs if you attend the Kentucky game. Tennessee’s fanbase is going to make sure the Wildcats know that Neyland’s crowd noise is 100-percent real.
