COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Tennessee coach Josh Heupel praised his team’s defensive performance, resilience, and ability to overcome adversity following the No. 8 Volunteers’ 22-7 win over Texas A&M on Saturday at Kyle Field.
The Vols overcame significant travel delays and injuries to quarterback George MacIntyre and wide receiver Mike Matthews while leaning on a dominant defensive effort and five field goals from Cooper Ranvier.
Heupel discussed the performances of Faizon Brandon and Javin Gordon, Tennessee’s defensive identity and the challenges his team faced leading up to kickoff.
Here’s everything Heupel said following the victory, with responses lightly edited for clarity.
Opening statement
“Extremely, extremely proud of our football team. A lot of things that this group was dealing with, injuries, the travel, getting in late, and ultimately deciding to prepare the right way, not let anything get in our way and go compete really hard for four quarters.
“Elite defensive performance. Shutout in the second half. I think that’s the second straight week. But really, from start to finish, other than a couple of plays, just absolutely lights out. Front, linebackers were active, and secondary with some big-time plays.
“And offensively, we got to get touchdowns instead of field goals. But Cooper, elite performance by him. Special teams were solid all day long. Proud of our offensive football team continuing to strain, and quarterbacks, both of them playing really good football.”
On Javin Gordon’s recent contributions to the rushing attack
“His vision on a couple of the runs were critical, and the vision, along with his understanding of pace, using the blockers in front of him, has allowed him to escape to some grass on critical plays. The option play on third-and-medium was a big part of the game and how it finished out playing in the fourth quarter. Just got a lot of trust in him and proud of him.”
On George MacIntyre’s injury and Faizon Brandon entering the game
“George got twisted up on the one pass play and comes back in and was battling through it, but had to go back. Just with where the game was and what we felt like we needed, didn’t feel like it was the right place for George, just dealing with that injury. So that’s why Faizon was in there at that time. Both of them played extremely well. Proud of both of those guys. Big smiles on their faces, excited about the win. They care about the team and straining and competing. So, proud of them both.”
On the most difficult part of Tennessee’s travel delays
“There were a lot of things that we were dealing with. I think yesterday’s travel, amount of time in the plane, at the airport, back at the facility, not knowing if we’re leaving. The later it got, it got harder on the guys and staff too. Finally, we get the clearance to go, and it’s a long flight. It’s a late arrival. It’s a long day for our players. From when they first got in the building, they were there the entire day. They didn’t leave the facility. So, I think the travel was tough.”
On Tennessee’s confidence in winning with its defense and running game
“I think this football team has a competitive composure of continuing to play the next play. They’re OK playing in tight games. Their demeanor does not change. Offensively, boy, there’s some things we can take advantage of and be more efficient and change the way the game’s played earlier. But the first drive of the football game, pivotal into the wind, drained a bunch of the clock and was a good start. We got to get seven out of that, and just a couple small details that we miss on.”
On Tennessee refusing to use travel complications as an excuse
“Proud that no matter the circumstances, things that we don’t control, that they control their controllables, their preparation, their mindset. This morning, the look in their eye, the buildup through pregame meal to kickoff, competitive makeup of this group. To an outside world, that sounds easy. It’s hard when there’s a lot of things that are unknowns at this point in the week. I’m talking about Friday, getting ready to try to go play a football game. Really proud of the maturity of this group.”
On Daevin Hobbs’ toughness and ability to play through injuries
“We’re going to keep needing that from him. Tough, smart, has played a good amount of football. Has been limited certain weeks in some of his preparation on the practice field. But strain, compete, the look in his eye as a competitor when you get to game day. Really proud of what he’s been doing all year long and what he did today.”
On Tennessee’s defense embracing its standards and delivering critical stops
“Something they live by. There’s no just mantras in that room. They’re living by those codes, and you see it in their performance. Physical play from all 11, not just from the guys up front and your second-level players, your corners, your safeties. Some of the key tackles on perimeter screens or true screen plays that force them to snap it again. Just competing as a group. They’re having fun competing together and really confident in each other too.”
On an unspecified situation involving the team Thursday night and Friday morning
“You hate having to deal with that. Got to make good decisions, and you affect a lot of other people that have put a lot of work into it. At this point, we’re close to 300 days of work since January, I think, 20th, when we first started. Takes everybody staying consistent, being focused and taking care of each other.”
On DeJuan Lane and TJ Metcalf’s fourth-quarter interceptions
“Both of the picks at the end of the football game, I don’t have a great read on. They broke on the football. A little bit of an overthrow. TJ undercuts that pass on a vertical seam. Both big-time plays by those guys. Understanding patterns, quarterback’s eyes, shoulders, breaking on a football and then finishing the play. Prepared for their opportunity, going and catching the football. That’s why we were able to close the game out the way we did.”
On Mike Matthews’ injury status
“I don’t have an update on Mike. Mike’s played really well throughout the year. He’s playing really well today, too. Hate it, but we’ll find out when we get back.”
On adjusting Tennessee’s pregame schedule following the travel delays
“There’s so many things going on. The pilots who are communicating with the airlines, administration communication with conference. Not a lot of answers until about 8:45 last night.
“Even then, the schedule, I told the players we’ll figure it out when we land based on what time we land. We kind of turned it, even though it was a 2 o’clock kickoff here, turned it into like an early kickoff back home, just getting here so late. Let the guys sleep in a little bit longer and did our normal clap session getting ready for game time. Really proud of our guys, the way they handled it.”
On Tennessee’s evolving identity as a defensive and run-first team
“Man, we didn’t run the ball when I played. Come on, man. I’m kidding. I’m kidding. The game consistently changes. There’s been some rule changes that play a major part of the flow of the game. The experience of your quarterbacks, your personnel, all those things go into it. At the end of the day, our job is to put our players in the best position to play winning football. You form an identity throughout the course of the year, and then you start playing to that identity a little bit too.
“There’s a lot of things that we got to continue to grow in here down the stretch here the next couple of weeks. But this football team’s physical. They play hard, they play for one another, and it’s a lot of fun competing with them every Saturday.”
