Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC) has its open date in Week 9.
The Vols lost, 52-24, at Alabama in Week 8 and will return to action Nov. 6 at Kentucky.
First-year head coach Josh Heupel met with media Wednesday and discussed Tennessee’s team during its open date. Below is a transcript of Heupel’s media availability provided by the University of Tennessee.
Opening Statement
“Good day of practice with our guys today. It is the first day that we have been on the field. Monday was a brief lift for them, and yesterday we got an opportunity to kind of push forward on this week. You guys know, I said it after the ball game (at Alabama) too, important that we get a bunch of guys healthy here this week. That will be really important for us, and then, opportunity for us to continue to sharpen our skills and get better too. A little bit more good-on-good work and then a little bit of Kentucky (preparation) too. For our staff, huge week. The beginning of the week, a little bit of recruiting, but the back end of it is loaded with recruiting. Our entire staff will be out Thursday and Friday, really important for us. First and foremost, inside the state, and then continue throughout the areas we continue to go recruit. Finish this class and also push forward a little bit.”
On how much work non-starters get during a bye week
“Some of the guys that you’re trying to get healthy have limited reps, or maybe very few reps during the course of this week. Those guys start taking the bulk of some of those reps. Some of your young guys get a little bit more of an opportunity to go out there and learn and compete too. You’re balancing all those factors at every position and make sure that your young guys in particular get some growth this week.”
NEXT: Josh Heupel’s open date media availability continued