Joe Milton III turned in a career day. However, the most excitement at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon was extracurricular as a kerfuffle broke out between the Vols and Commodores in the second quarter.
We already laid out some of the details along with the video of the skirmish here, but here’s a brief recap.
Vanderbilt had a false start and a delay of game on consecutive snaps. Both times, a Tennessee defensive lineman hit Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann because they, assumably, didn’t hear the whistle. Commodores coach Clark Lea, however, earned an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following the second play.
Both teams were jawing after the second hit but the true chaos began following the ensuing play as a number of fights broke out on the field and the Vanderbilt sideline cleared onto the field.
Tennessee’s Tyler Baron and Dominic Bailey as well as Vanderbilt’s Delfin Xavier Castillo received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties but no one was ejected.
Here’s what Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about the sequence postgame.
“I addressed it (at halftime),” Heupel said. “Tried to address it on the sidelines, too. And we talked as a coaching staff as well. And it did get pretty chippy there for a little bit. Talked about it at halftime, playing smart football. We didn’t necessarily do that. We had more penalties than we wanted.”
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea also answered multiple questions about the brouhaha postgame. Here’s part of his answer discussing how close he believed things were to truly getting out of hand.
More From RTI: Everything Josh Heupel Said After Tennessee Defeated Vanderbilt
“I think on both sides, the coaches and staff were in position to help keep things temped down,” Lea said. “I think it was just an emotional moment in an emotional game at the end of an emotional season. I trust our team. I’ve got a lot of respect for our guys. They know the lines not to cross.
I thought on the whole, for the moment, both sides did a good job of getting things leveled out. Like I said, I was proud of the way we came out in the second half and didn’t have any of those issues show back up on our side.”
While Vanderbilt didn’t have penalty issues in the second half, Tennessee did.
The Vols committed 10 penalties for 108 yards over the course of the game including seven penalties for 73 yards in the second half. Of those seven second half penalties, four of them were unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing the passer of face mask penalties. Another face mask penalty was offset by offensive holding.
Penalties have been an issue for Tennessee all season though offensive holding is the penalty that’s truly plagued the Vols and been extremely costly this season.
Heupel and Tennessee look to cut down on the penalties in its upcoming bowl game and into the 2024 football season.
5 Responses
Still thinking nico should have played more than he did. Thinking ahead for next year team.
With respect to penalties: This team has been undisciplined throughout the year. What is the season tally for penalties, yards lost, most frequently called? Is it a record? The coaching staff is NOT correcting it, because it has been this way ALL YEAR!! Biggest issue I have with this team and this staff!!
Expected 8-4 after the Cinderella season under Hooker last year. Did not expect this kind of conduct and lack of discipline and execution from a Heupel team. Disappointed in this more than anything. Winning with class is underrated. I know I sound like an old crotch when I say this, but just my perspective.
Clark Lea is full of s**t. Did he not see his player Blas Baron from the back? Of course he did. Punk coach for a punk team. Take your A whippin and go back to west end a loser.
That was supposed to be “blast Baron ” NOT Blast Baron. Can’t edit comments on here. 😂