University of Tennessee Athletics
Vol Report: Locked in on South Carolina
October 10, 2017 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee senior linebacker Colton Jumper, redshirt senior wide receiver Josh Smith, junior defensive back Micah Abernathy and sophomore offensive lineman Marcus Tatum met with the media on Tuesday afternoon in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio to talk about the team's preparations for this Saturday's game against South Carolina.
The Vols' showdown with the Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium will be broadcast at noon ET on ESPN.
Â
UT players and coaches have made it clear this week that the Georgia loss is in the rearview mirror and that the team's focus is solely on the Gamecocks.
"Georgia is in the past and it's South Carolina now," Smith said. "That's our main focus right now and it has to be that. We can't end our season versus Georgia. We have seven games left. It's a long season and we can still finish with a great record."
Â
However, South Carolina earned a signature win over the 18th-ranked Vols last season in Columbia with a 24-21 victory in head coach Will Muschamp's first season with the program.
"It's a big rivalry game and we've been emphasizing that this week," Jumper said. "Over the past few years, these games have come right down to the end. It's always close each year."
Â
Tatum talked about how he has adjusted to being moved into a starting role and what the offensive line is looking to improve on overall.
"The biggest change is being more focused on the details and things like that," Tatum said. "Also, not letting the hype get to you and still practicing like you're competing for a position. Even though I feel like I still am all the time, you still have to give your all in practice no matter what. So never getting too comfortable in a spot is important.
"As a unit, we really just need to be more consistent. We need championship consistency, and that's what Coach [Walt] Wells stresses a lot. We need to keep getting that, and then we'll be good."
Â
The Class of 2017 will be celebrated this weekend with events and activities surrounding the Vols' game against South Carolina. The Hall of Fame activities will include a private induction ceremony on the evening of Friday, Oct. 13. The inductees also will be recognized on the field at Neyland Stadium at the end of the first quarter.
The Vols' showdown with the Gamecocks at Neyland Stadium will be broadcast at noon ET on ESPN.
Â
Sights Set on South Carolina
The Vols made valuable use of their bye last week by getting some much-needed rest and recovery while also setting their sights on a talented South Carolina team that is riding high after a dominant 48-22 victory over Arkansas last weekend.UT players and coaches have made it clear this week that the Georgia loss is in the rearview mirror and that the team's focus is solely on the Gamecocks.
"Georgia is in the past and it's South Carolina now," Smith said. "That's our main focus right now and it has to be that. We can't end our season versus Georgia. We have seven games left. It's a long season and we can still finish with a great record."
Â
Vols Gearing Up for Another Competitive Matchup with Gamecocks
It's no secret that the Tennessee-South Carolina game has been extremely competitive over the past five years with every matchup in that span being settled by three points or less. The Big Orange have come away victorious in three of those contests, including a pair of triumphs at Neyland Stadium in 2013 and 2015.However, South Carolina earned a signature win over the 18th-ranked Vols last season in Columbia with a 24-21 victory in head coach Will Muschamp's first season with the program.
"It's a big rivalry game and we've been emphasizing that this week," Jumper said. "Over the past few years, these games have come right down to the end. It's always close each year."
Â
Tatum Talks About New Starting Role
One of Tennessee's main priorities during the bye week was to find a cohesive unit up front and give them time to gel. The Vols seem to have found that in the starting five of Drew Richmond, Brett Kendrick, Jashon Robertson, Trey Smith and Tatum, who is in line to make his second straight start at right tackle this Saturday afternoon against the Gamecocks.Tatum talked about how he has adjusted to being moved into a starting role and what the offensive line is looking to improve on overall.
"The biggest change is being more focused on the details and things like that," Tatum said. "Also, not letting the hype get to you and still practicing like you're competing for a position. Even though I feel like I still am all the time, you still have to give your all in practice no matter what. So never getting too comfortable in a spot is important.
"As a unit, we really just need to be more consistent. We need championship consistency, and that's what Coach [Walt] Wells stresses a lot. We need to keep getting that, and then we'll be good."
Â
Eight Former Vols Set to Be Inducted into Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame
Tennessee Athletics announced its eight-person 2017 induction class for the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame back in August. The star-studded class includes Monica Abbott (softball), the late Ray Bussard (coach; men's swimming), Phillip Fulmer (coach; football), Justin Gatlin (men's track), Todd Helton (baseball), Jeremy Linn (men's swimming), the late Gen. Robert Neyland (coach; football) and Delisa Walton Myricks (women's track).The Class of 2017 will be celebrated this weekend with events and activities surrounding the Vols' game against South Carolina. The Hall of Fame activities will include a private induction ceremony on the evening of Friday, Oct. 13. The inductees also will be recognized on the field at Neyland Stadium at the end of the first quarter.
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ FootballFB | Edwin Spillman Orange & White Press Conference (4.11.26)
Saturday, April 11
FB | Faizon Brandon, George MacIntyre, Braylon Staley & Ryan Staub Orange & White Press Conference (4.11.26)
Saturday, April 11
FB | Jeremiah Telander Orange & White Press Conference (4.11.26)
Saturday, April 11
FB | Josh Heupel Orange & White Press Conference (4.11.26)
Saturday, April 11
