University of Tennessee Athletics
Butch Jones Transcript (12/6/14)
December 06, 2014 | Football
Head Coach Butch Jones
(Opening Statement)
"It is good to see everyone, it was great to get back to work today and you can see already the benefits of post season. We have had some lifting sessions this week and then to get back on the football field and play football was great to see. I thought our players had a great approach, every good energy, very good mental intensity as well. This first practice is really just getting back to the basics of fundamental football, what it takes to play winning football but then also getting into some team segments and then youth development as well and continuing to improve our skill set on special teams. So I will answer any questions that you may have."
(On linebacker Curt Maggitt not practicing today)
"Yeah, Curt we held out today just for precautionary measures. His body is a little banged up. We had Mack Crowder back, so that was great."
(On if both Curt Maggitt and Mack Crowder will be ready for the bowl game)
"They will be ready. You have to pick your spots in bowl prep, so we just have to get them back healthy."
(On practice schedules)
"A lot of the bowl games are very close in terms of timing and days of the week there are only a few days off. So we have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C in place but we will know a little bit more obviously tomorrow, the picture becomes crystal clear. But we do have a number of schedules in place."
(On preference on bowl selection)
"No, I am just excited to be playing in postseason and I think our fans feel the same way."
(On communication with Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart regarding the bowl game selection process)
"Dave [Hart] has been great. We have been in constant contact and dialogue regarding that and that process. You put your one, two and three list together but at the end of the day it comes down to the SEC and where they place us. Again, we are just very fortunate and blessed and honored to be representing the University of Tennessee."
(On the possibility of a contract extension)
"Work in progress. Our athletic administration, everyone here has been extremely supportive of everything in terms of resources, support and I would anticipate something coming here very shortly."
(On coaching rumors)
"I am not going to get into any speculation or anything like that. I am just excited about what is going on here and we are working to get things done here."
(On having wide receiver Devrin Young back from injury)
"It was great to see Devrin [Young] back in practice. We fully anticipate him being available for the bowl game. So to get him back and get him into practice and taking some live reps in team situations and individual drills, it was great to see. He is coming along, progressing well, if we can get him back for the bowl game, that just brings another element to our offense."
(On wide receiver Jason Croom health)
"Oh yeah, we anticipate him, Jason [Croom] went through practice today. So again, they have had a number of days off to be able to get in the training room and as bowl preparation continues to progress, they will be a balancing act with the training room and practice. But we anticipate them and everyone being able to play."
(On opportunity to continue season)
"I tell you what, it was great today. I thought our players came with a great focus starting in the team meeting, the individual meetings, then have the opportunity to come out here and play football. The energy is at an all-time high. They understand that it's one thing to be a participant in a bowl game, but it's another to go win the bowl game. Everything is the same. It's all about your preparation and your focus, but I can sense an excitement and energy about them, and, now, we need to put that back again tomorrow with back-to-back practice days. I really liked their energy and their focus today."
(On how team will discover their bowl destination)
"We have practice, then we'll go down to Smokey's [Sports Grill] and watch the selection show. Then, I'm on the road recruiting. But, I know our players are looking forward to seeing where they are going to play. But again, right now it's just improving. They are looking forward to finding out who the opponent [is] and our destination."
(On focus of practice before a bowl game)
"The first couple of practices are about personal growth and development, becoming a better football team individually and collectively. The first couple of practices are about us and practicing against each other. As we continue to progress throughout bowl preparation, then we start to work more on the opponent. Right now, it's just about us--really, a lot of individual periods. You can already see the benefits. Right now, if we weren't in a postseason bowl game, our players would be off. Already, the different lifts, groups we've had and the ability to lift, then to come out here and practice, it is absolutely invaluable."
(On players asking about the bowl experience)
"I've had a lot of questions about bowl activities, the bowl game, what's it about. But, again, we have to focus on the task at hand. There are a lot of unknowns there just because they haven't experienced it. I know Matt Darr experienced a bowl game, but there have been a lot of questions. Very naive, very youthful, but excited about it. We'll do some different events here throughout the course of the weeks leading up once school concludes with exams. We may go to Gatlinburg for a day, experience that. We'll have, maybe, a team bowling night where we'll compete. We'll also do a team movie night. We'll do different functions throughout the course of the weeks of bowl preparation."
(On bowl location's impact on recruiting)
"Yeah, it does. It does make an impact in terms of recruiting, just the overall visibility from a regional standpoint, but also the visibility that a bowl game brings from a national standpoint, too. As we all know, Tennessee is a national brand. For [the media] to be talking about our game for a number of weeks is extremely beneficial in recruiting. Where we go also helps, obviously."
(On having no Memphis, Tenn., natives on 88-man roster)
"We recruit every area, and we have a profile that fits us and the type of individual we are looking to attract here. Memphis has great high school football, great high school coaching. it's just things have a way--they work themselves out that way."
