University of Tennessee Athletics
Homecoming For Win #6
November 25, 2014 | Football
Nov. 25, 2014
By Brian Rice KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
For the Nashville-area players, it will be another chance to represent the home-state school, this time in their hometown. Though their families and friends routinely make the short drive to Knoxville for home games, Saturday will be the first chance for mid-state freshman like Derek Barnett, Jalen Hurd and Jashon Robertson to play back in the area that helped raise them.
"I know they're looking forward to it," head coach Butch Jones said. "Staying at home, they play in front of their fans at Tennessee and 102,455 every home game. To be able to go back home to Nashville will be something very special for them."
The challenge it to maintain the even-keel that Jones wants from his team, to be passionate, but not emotional.
"It will be fun," Barnett said of the Nashville crowd. "All of my family and friends and high school coaches will be there, but it's just another game because we have to win the game."
The excitement for the homecoming has provided some incentive for every player, not just the Nashville natives. But all that is on the line has provided all the fuel that the team has needed.
"This is another SEC opponent, another game where our dreams, goals, and aspirations are on the line and we need to take advantage of the opportunity," quarterback Joshua Dobbs said. "They're excited, obviously, to go home and play, being closer to Nashville, they're excited and the whole team is excited."
That sixth win is on the front of every player's mind, even ahead of the opportunity to play at home.
"It's going to be amazing playing in front of that home crowd and working towards that W," Hurd said. "It's everything. Six is everything for us right now."
And they return home wearing the Power T on their helmets, representing the whole state everywhere they wear the uniform. Nashville is a huge priority in all aspects of the program, from recruiting to engaging the growing fan base in the mid-state.
Tennessee put up a billboard in downtown Nashville that features all of the area natives in one photo. The Volunteers will also open the 2015 season at LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans, giving the Nashville players back-to-back regular season games to represent their home state in their hometown.
"It's a pretty special thing growing up here to represent Tennessee the best way that I can," Robertson said. "To have that national brand, wearing the Power T is a great experience."
Robertson wants the sixth win more than anything, to keep his football family together for one more game.
"It means to me as much as it does for the seniors, guys like Jacob Gilliam," Robertson said. "I'm just scratching and clawing to get to six so I can spend a few more weeks with them. I really look up to them and enjoy being able to play beside them and want to keep that alive a few weeks longer."
