University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Report: Seniors Looking to Cap Careers on High Note
November 14, 2017 | Football
Tuesday Practice Photo Gallery | Tuesday Player Interviews
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A handful of Tennessee players met with the media on Tuesday afternoon in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio to discuss this week's game against LSU, their outlook on the rest of the season and new interim head coach Brady Hoke.
Vols Focused on Sending Seniors Out on High Note
With two regular-season games left to play, both at Neyland Stadium, the Vols primary focus is sending the seniors out on a high note.
"Coach Hoke has told the team we're playing for the seniors for these last two games, trying to get to three," senior kicker Aaron Medley said. "I think the underclassmen are really taking that to heart and playing for us."
In order to reach a bowl game for the fourth straight year, the Vols know they must move on from some of the past disappointments this season and lock in on their preparation for the final two games.
"We're just kind of keeping the same focus," redshirt senior punter and Ray Guy Award candidate Trevor Daniel said. "We have two games promised right now, so we're just trying to win those out and hope for a third one."
"It would definitely mean a lot," Medley said. "Every year we want to get to a bowl game.
"But I think personally for me, that would just be another game to be with my teammates. To go somewhere and be able to kind of hang out and relax and then have on last ride off into the sunset."
Tennessee Prepping for Tough Challenge against No. 21 LSU
Winning the final two games and reaching a bowl game will be no easy task as UT prepares to face a very good LSU team on Saturday night under the lights at Neyland Stadium.
The Tigers enter Saturday's contest ranked No. 21 in both the AP and Amway Coaches' Poll, and have won four of their past five games, with the lone loss coming on the road to top-ranked Alabama.
LSU ranks 16th nationally in total defense, holding opponents to 317.1 yards per game and 11th in the country in sacks, averaging 3.1 per game. The Tigers' offense leans heavily on talented running backs Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams. Guice ranks second in the SEC in rushing yards per game (103.2) while Williams is averaging over five yards per carry and has six rushing touchdowns.
"LSU creates a bunch of problems," senior defensive tackle Kendal Vickers said. "They have a great o-line. They have two running backs that do a lot. They have one of the best running backs in the nation. He creates a bunch of problems. We got to have a good preparation this week and we will be ready for the game."
UT Players Behind Interim Head Coach Brady Hoke
While the transition has not been easy, Tennessee's players are behind interim head coach Brady Hoke as the team makes a run at reaching a fourth consecutive bowl game.
"He is going to push you," Vickers said. "He will let you know when you are doing good and when you are messing up. That is a great quality he has and he is a great motivator. I know he is going to get everybody's 100 percent game winning (effort) when the time comes."
Coach Hoke's personality has also meshed well with the players and helped him relate to guys on both sides of the ball despite spending the majority of his time with the defensive line this season.
"A lot of guys on the offensive side of the ball know him," senior tight end Ethan Wolf said. "He is a real personal guy. He's old fashioned, not into technology so he talks to you face to face a lot.
"Every time you walk by him he's not going to let you walk by without saying something. He is really personable. He's been a head coach in the past and he knows what he's doing, and we're going to do things his way."
VFL Flyovers This Saturday
A pair of VFLs will lead military flyovers prior to this Saturday's game versus LSU.
4:45 p.m. – Air Force Captain Leigh Smith will pilot one of five F-15 jets for a flyover during the Vol Walk. Smith was a three-time All-American and a 2008 Olympian in the javelin.
6:55 p.m. – Navy Captain Stan Jones will pilot one of three F-18 jets for a flyover at the end of the national anthem. Jones competed on the football team from 1985 to 1987.
Jones will be available at TAC Air for a public Q & A and for photos with the F-18s from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Also on Saturday:
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A handful of Tennessee players met with the media on Tuesday afternoon in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio to discuss this week's game against LSU, their outlook on the rest of the season and new interim head coach Brady Hoke.
Vols Focused on Sending Seniors Out on High Note
With two regular-season games left to play, both at Neyland Stadium, the Vols primary focus is sending the seniors out on a high note.
"Coach Hoke has told the team we're playing for the seniors for these last two games, trying to get to three," senior kicker Aaron Medley said. "I think the underclassmen are really taking that to heart and playing for us."
In order to reach a bowl game for the fourth straight year, the Vols know they must move on from some of the past disappointments this season and lock in on their preparation for the final two games.
"We're just kind of keeping the same focus," redshirt senior punter and Ray Guy Award candidate Trevor Daniel said. "We have two games promised right now, so we're just trying to win those out and hope for a third one."
"It would definitely mean a lot," Medley said. "Every year we want to get to a bowl game.
"But I think personally for me, that would just be another game to be with my teammates. To go somewhere and be able to kind of hang out and relax and then have on last ride off into the sunset."
Tennessee Prepping for Tough Challenge against No. 21 LSU
Winning the final two games and reaching a bowl game will be no easy task as UT prepares to face a very good LSU team on Saturday night under the lights at Neyland Stadium.
The Tigers enter Saturday's contest ranked No. 21 in both the AP and Amway Coaches' Poll, and have won four of their past five games, with the lone loss coming on the road to top-ranked Alabama.
LSU ranks 16th nationally in total defense, holding opponents to 317.1 yards per game and 11th in the country in sacks, averaging 3.1 per game. The Tigers' offense leans heavily on talented running backs Derrius Guice and Darrel Williams. Guice ranks second in the SEC in rushing yards per game (103.2) while Williams is averaging over five yards per carry and has six rushing touchdowns.
"LSU creates a bunch of problems," senior defensive tackle Kendal Vickers said. "They have a great o-line. They have two running backs that do a lot. They have one of the best running backs in the nation. He creates a bunch of problems. We got to have a good preparation this week and we will be ready for the game."
UT Players Behind Interim Head Coach Brady Hoke
While the transition has not been easy, Tennessee's players are behind interim head coach Brady Hoke as the team makes a run at reaching a fourth consecutive bowl game.
"He is going to push you," Vickers said. "He will let you know when you are doing good and when you are messing up. That is a great quality he has and he is a great motivator. I know he is going to get everybody's 100 percent game winning (effort) when the time comes."
Coach Hoke's personality has also meshed well with the players and helped him relate to guys on both sides of the ball despite spending the majority of his time with the defensive line this season.
"A lot of guys on the offensive side of the ball know him," senior tight end Ethan Wolf said. "He is a real personal guy. He's old fashioned, not into technology so he talks to you face to face a lot.
"Every time you walk by him he's not going to let you walk by without saying something. He is really personable. He's been a head coach in the past and he knows what he's doing, and we're going to do things his way."
VFL Flyovers This Saturday
A pair of VFLs will lead military flyovers prior to this Saturday's game versus LSU.
4:45 p.m. – Air Force Captain Leigh Smith will pilot one of five F-15 jets for a flyover during the Vol Walk. Smith was a three-time All-American and a 2008 Olympian in the javelin.
6:55 p.m. – Navy Captain Stan Jones will pilot one of three F-18 jets for a flyover at the end of the national anthem. Jones competed on the football team from 1985 to 1987.
Jones will be available at TAC Air for a public Q & A and for photos with the F-18s from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday.
Also on Saturday:
- 1997 SEC Championship Team Reunion – Led by Phillip Fulmer, members of the 1997 SEC Championship team will be recognized during the first quarter.
- 3.0 Student-Athlete recognition – Over 200 student-athletes will be honored for having a 3.0 GPA.
- Chris Blue and the Pride of the Southland Band will perform at halftime.
Players Mentioned
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