University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Talk: Top Quotes from #SECMD17
July 10, 2017 | Football
Top Quotes
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"It's truly an honor and a privilege to be up here today and representing the University of Tennessee at my fifth SEC Media Day, and I'm very proud of the progress that we've made in our football program in four years." – Head Coach Butch Jones
"Competitive depth is everywhere in our program. We have a team of competition and that's healthy and so valuable." – Jashon Robertson
"You have to be confident. Don't be cocky because football is a humbling sport, but don't take your foot off the gas." – Emmanuel Moseley
"He (Butch Jones) always stays positive and tries to feed positivity into our brains. He's a great leader and we all love to listen to him." – Kendal Vickers
"We've been very fortunate to have three straight bowl victories, first time in 20 years in our great program's history and tradition, but there's so much more out there. There's so much more out there to be accomplished, and we've only started. And that's what I like about this year's football team, is they're very driven and very motivated." – Head Coach Butch Jones
"As long as Tennessee football controls what Tennessee football can control, we're going to win games." – Jashon Robertson
"I just love to be out there on the field grinding with my teammates." – Emmanuel Moseley
"Any time you get extended time with a coach it makes things easier. I'm excited to work with Coach Shoop again this year." – Kendal Vickers
"It's been a very, very productive offseason for us, probably the most competitive offseason that we've had. And a lot of that goes – is attributed to our players, to our leadership, but also to the addition of Rock Gullickson in the strength and conditioning area." – Head Coach Butch Jones
"Having 102,455 people standing up and single Rocky Top every Saturday is amazing." – Jashon Robertson
"The SEC is defense and toughness. If you don't play defense and aren't tough you won't win in this conference." – Kendal Vickers
More from head coach Butch Jones
(On Josh Dobbs)
"You're replacing an individual who really leaves a legacy at the University of Tennessee in Joshua Dobbs and everything that he brought to the quarterback position. When he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was the highest drafted quarterback since Peyton Manning in our program's history, so he's brought a lot.
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(On last season)
"I think it was a great illustration, to some of our younger players at the time, that you are one snap away and no matter who's out there the names never change, but expectations change, and being ready for the opportunity when the opportunity presents itself.
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"I think one of the great illustrations is John Kelly. John Kelly is an individual who waited his opportunity in our program, and when his opportunity came, obviously he made the most of it."
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(On the defensive line)Â
"Again, I see those individuals really stepping up. The chemistry and that continuity that we have in the defensive line room is one of the stronger positions that we have in terms of accountability. I love sitting in their meetings and hearing them hold each other accountable and the standard and expectations that it takes to play defensive line. So, I think that's been one of our stronger units from a leadership standpoint."
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(On having three assistant coaches with Division I head coaching experience)
"First of all, you're going to surround yourself with great people, great people of character, great teachers, great mentors. The great thing is I've known these individuals for a long period of time. And we always talk about being a better version of you every day. And I want individuals that have sat in that chair that understand, A, the dynamics of what I'm going through, but also, hey, if there's a better way, a better way to look at things, you have a better way of doing things, I'm open. We're all in it together. We all want to be the best of everything we do. We also provided a great sounding board to really bounce ideas off: Hey, what do you think? How would you handle this situation? Would you do it any differently?
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"But all three of these individuals, I think they respect the position, so they understand everything that goes into it. I'll give an example. It's 4th of July and my phone is going off, and it's Brady Hoke. And he's talking about the dynamics of our staff and how great our staff is and how this is going to be a great year and how he loves working with the kids and everything that we're doing.
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"For me, that's very comfortable. That's the type of resources that these individuals bring to the table. They've coached at the highest level. They understand the day-to-day operations, and I have a great respect for them and I know that they respect everything we've done in our program. So they've been great additions."
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(On Phillip Fulmer's role with the program)
"All of the time. That's a friendship that I value. He's been a mentor to me. He's been a sounding board to me. This has been over time. This started from year one. I reached out to him, had him come by. Welcome him back in the program, had him speak to our team.
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"You know, you have a great resource right here. Here's a College Football Hall of Famer. He understands the dynamics of Tennessee. He understands everything associated with our institution. And I consider him a great friend, a great mentor, and it's great to have him back. And like I told him, Coach, I want you at practice. Come to practice. I want you to sit in meetings. Anything that you feel, it's your program. You helped build this football program.
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"And that's, you know, the expectation that we have with all of our former head coaches and all of our former players. They are the ones that built this program through their hard work, sweat equity. Any time you can have a resource like Coach Fulmer, I want him around as much as possible."
More From Emmanuel Moseley, Senior, Defensive Back
(On his relationship with Coach Charlton Warren)
"I am very comfortable with him. He had us all over and cooked for us recently. It's been great. Outside of football, he is a very humble guy."
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(On what the group looks like)
"We are definitely helping each other out. We are trying to put the best players on the field. We are trying to get several leaders and see what we can do."
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More From Jashon Robertson, Senior, Offensive Line
(On competition on the offensive line)
"We didn't have everyone during the spring, but now that people are healthy, we are deep. The competition in the room has been healthy for all of us. You have guys pushing you every day. It brings a great challenge and mentality."
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(On what Coach Walt Wells brings to the group)
"He brings a different dynamic to the room and another perspective. We love working with him. He is very enthusiastic. We like what he brings to the table."
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(On the offensive line being the strength of the offense)
"Everybody on the team has a role, and our role is to protect our guys. We plan on embracing that role. We have some younger guys, but there is a lot of experience in our room. The expectation in our room is to take care of our guys and block our tails off every snap."Â Â
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More From Kendal Vickers, Senior, Defensive Tackle
(On competition on the offensive line)
"I've had the mentality that I am going to come out and try to win every game that I can. I was 5-7 in my first season and didn't go to a bowl game. I never wanted to feel that way again. We have worked hard. We have the right players, and we are a family. We want to go out and win every game."
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(On assuming the leadership role)
"I have developed into a guy that speaks up when someone needs to. The freshmen and whole defensive line needed me to be a leader. I've had to step out of my comfort zone a little bit, but I like it. I think I am a leader and the team will respond to me as one."
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(On the depth along the defensive line)
"We have been working hard, and I feel good about it. The guys who were injured last season have been trying to get back into football shape. With Shy Tuttle and Kahlil McKenzie coming back, we are better than ever. Those guys will help out a lot this year. Our depth at defensive tackle is very good right now. We just have to stay healthy."
