After suffering a blow last Saturday night in Athens and with their playoff hopes up in the air, Tennessee looks to bounce back this week. With time to reflect and review what went wrong in their 31-17 loss to Georgia , the 8-2 Vols face 2-8 UTEP at home this weekend.
While Saturday afternoon’s game against the Miners should be an easy victory for the Vols, they need to do more than just secure the win to earn the favor of the College Football Playoff committee. And it appears the Vols have gotten the bad taste of the Georgia defeat out of their mouth and are focused on their next opponent.
“I’ve already flushed the (Georgia) loss,” tight end Miles Kitselman said to the media this week. “I’m really ready to stop talking about it. I’m ready to move on. We got UTEP this week. Learn from our mistakes from last week and keep moving together as a team and really come together. You never know what’s going to happen. And, we’re going to be ready the next opportunity that we get.”
Kitselman was one of the shining stars in the loss to the Bulldogs, scoring a rushing touchdown in the first half. It was a first in his collegiate career, Kitselman admitting he hadn’t rushed for a TD since high school.
“You have very little time to think about, like, we should check out of this,” Kitselman reflected on the play. “Okay, we’re not checking out of this. It’s time to go. You got to think fast. But, when they called that play, I was definitely ready to go. Those are the kind of moments that you dream of as a kid. Third and one on the goal line versus Georgia. And run it in there. And I’m just really grateful that I got the opportunity to do that.”
Saturday’s game against UTEP has a special meaning to some of the Volunteers as they will celebrate Senior Day. Kitselman, a transfer from Alabama, is one of those players preparing to say farewell to Knoxville.
“Everyone keeps asking me if I’m excited or ready for it,” Kitselman said about Senior Day. “I don’t really know how to feel about it. I’m definitely sad. I don’t think the emotions have quite hit me yet. I wish I had a lot more time here in Knoxville… I’ve enjoyed my time here a lot. But, I’m just really excited to go out there and play in Neyland. Hopefully not for the last time, but I’m just really excited.”
Kitselman may have only spent one year as a Vol, but he’s made the most of his tenure and already has collected many memories with the team.
“Locker room time with the boys,” Kitselman said on what he will miss about his time at Tennessee. “Film room time with the boys. Those are always the best times.
“But, man, just being out there Saturday night, with Neyland and the crowd out there with my brothers… those are some Saturday nights that I’ll never forget. I’ve had a great time here. And those are relationships that (will) last me a lifetime.”
