RTI)
If there’s one area Tennessee football has fallen short under head coach Josh Heupel, it’s on the road. Since he took over the program, he’s led the Vols to an 8-10 record in away SEC matchups. That included a 37-20 loss to Alabama this past Saturday.
Ahead of UT’s trip to play Kentucky in Lexington in an attempt to bounce back from the defeat in Tuscaloosa, Heupel was asked about a possible lack of focus in games away from Neyland Stadium. His response was to point at some shortcomings the team has had at home this year, as well.
“Well, I don’t think we’ve played perfect at home either,” Heupel said. “I’ll take you in there and watch the tape. There’s so many controllables that we control that can change the way a game’s played. And you also understand this game is never going to be perfect either.”
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For Heupel to buck this negative trend and stay perfect against Kentucky in his UT career (and what would be 3-0 in Lexington), he pointed to the ‘ordinary things’. It’s not jumping for false starts on offense, communicating well, playing each play indepentendly and responding to adversity that will be the difference.
“I think it starts with the everyday ordinary things, communication,” Heupel said. “I mean, not having the pre-snap penalties, I think that’s where it starts on the offensive side of the football. The nature of the game, it’s 11-on-11 between the white lines, but all of your players being able to be in the present and just go play the next play and the momentum swings that naturally occur, being able to be settled in mentally, physically and emotionally and go play the next play.”
Kickoff at Kentucky is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET and will air on the SEC Network. The Wildcats are 2-4 (0-4 SEC) this season, but are coming off one of their better performances of the year despite a loss. UK dropped an overtime clash at home to Texas, 16-13.
This year, Tennessee is 1-1 on the road. The Vols beat Mississippi State in an overtime contest, but fell flat this past Saturday.
