Kelsey Pope didn’t try to hide his emotions from Tennessee’s wide receivers when they returned to work Sunday.
The Vols’ pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach had gone through plenty of them himself following Tennessee’s 20-17 loss to Texas.
“A lot of times as coaches, you try to act like Superman and you try to eliminate vulnerabilities,” Pope said. “But, man, I told them I went through a bunch of emotions after that game. Probably more than I’ve ever had in my career.”
It wasn’t simply the magnitude of the loss that affected Pope.
He has watched Tennessee’s receivers develop, mature, and fight throughout the early portion of the season. That made falling short in an opportunity like Saturday’s sting even more.
“You see these guys fight, strain, you see them grow up, you see them mature, and you just want it so bad for them,” Pope said.
Now, Pope wants that disappointment to serve a purpose.
His message to the group this week has been that opportunities to overcome games like Saturday’s don’t come often. When they do, Tennessee has to be prepared to take advantage of them.
That starts long before game day.
Pope wants the feeling from the Texas loss to show up during one-on-one periods, individual routes, and the smallest details of practice.
“I can’t forget about that thought,” Pope said. “It’s got to be a lasting impression on you. And I think it changes your behavior.”
Pope believes he has already seen a response.
He noticed a different urgency from his receivers as Tennessee returned to practice, particularly in their effort to get open and their attention to technique.
There were also positives to reinforce from the Texas tape.
Despite Tennessee’s offensive struggles, Pope said receivers were getting open throughout the game. He was encouraged by the group’s technique and its willingness to compete in both the passing and running games.
That included continued growth from Radarious Jackson, who received an increased opportunity as Tennessee leaned more heavily on three-receiver sets.
The challenge now is turning those encouraging moments into consistent production.
That same urgency could also help Tennessee’s young quarterback respond.
Pope described Faizon Brandon as a “warrior” and said several Tennessee players can relate to experiencing adversity after arriving in college following dominant high school careers.
Brandon and the rest of Tennessee’s offense gave Pope reason for optimism when they returned to the field this week.
“Those guys had a great look in their eye today,” Pope said. “We had a great practice today.”
Now, he wants Tennessee’s receivers to remember how it felt and allow that feeling to change how they prepare for the next opportunity.
“I think you saw a different type of urgency from the guys to get open, to focus on detail and technique,” Pope said, “and to really use that feeling to transform them into being the players they want to be.”
