Tennessee football could not overcome a horrific end of first half sequence and fell at Alabama 37-20 on Saturday night in Tuscaloosa. Self inflicted mistakes consistently cost Tennessee as they dropped their second straight game of the season.
Following the game, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel discussed those self inflicted mistake, the end of game sequence and much more. Here’s everything Heupel said.
More From RTI: Tennessee HC Josh Heupel Explains End Of First Half Disaster Sequence At Alabama
Opening statement
“Disappointing result. Ultimately, offensively, just self-inflicted wounds in the first half killed a bunch of our drives. The positive is the way they came out and competed early in the second half. Defense, good stop, offense goes and scores, turnover— we don’t take advantage of it. Self-inflicted wounds on that possession again. But again, you’re playing a good team.
The details are going to matter. We lost in the details tonight. Ultimately, that’s my responsibility, our responsibility, players and coaches together.”
On responding to the end of the first half, what he saw on that play
“I said it was going to be a 12-round fight in this one. They’re a good football team, so no matter how it starts, we got to continue to fight and the guys did that. Again, ultimately not on the right side of it in the details. End of the first half, nine seconds, no timeouts. You’re left with a decision. Do you want two opportunities or one? So we got a little play action. He leaves the ball inside a bit and it goes back for six. Big play in the football game for sure.”
On if the play call was too predictable
“I mean, they understand the situation as well. Got a one-two read and ultimately you have to be on the right side of it. It’s there or it’s not. We have to be accurate with the ball or if not throw it away, you got one more play. That’s not me putting it on Joey either. Ultimately, it’s all of us.”
On not kicking a field goal while trailing 37-20 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter
“Yeah, you’re just in a position where you’re close to the end zone. Ultimately, got to come up with that one.”
On if Tennessee throwing on the final play of the first half was too predictable, with no timeouts and nine seconds left on the clock
“Yeah, they understand the situation as well. You got a one-two read. Ultimately you got to be on the right side of it. If it’s there, it’s not. If it’s not, throw it away. That’s not me putting it on Joey, either. Ultimately, that’s all of us.”
On if Tennessee had that play called before Alabama took its timeout after seeing the formation
“We made that choice after the (Alabama) timeout.”
On why Tennessee’s defense is struggling in the middle of the field
“Ultimately, they made plays in the middle of the field. We didn’t match things out or whatever it might be. So I’ll be able to see more when I watch the tape.”
On what officials told him about the offensive pass interference called against Tennessee in the first half
“It was a yard past the line. That’s what they said.”
On Tennessee’s run game not getting started until the second half
“Ultimately some of it was RPO (run-pass option) game where Joey was throwing it out there on some of the runs. But yeah, two more runs. Thought for our guys did a good job. Bishop did a great job making some plays, making some guys miss.”
