Butch Jones Wants Vols To “Lock In”
By Zach Ragan
Over the past couple of days the young Vols that make up team 118 have been able to enjoy the sun, sand and everything else that Florida provides this time of year.
But now, with Tennessee’s bowl game just two days away, it’s time for those Vols to make sure they’re focused on the task at hand — winning a bowl game.
Butch Jones, speaking to the media on Wednesday, made it clear that it’s one thing to participate in a bowl game and another thing to actually win a bowl game.
JONES: I told our team, it’s one thing to be a participant, it’s another to win the bowl. It’s time to lock in.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 31, 2014
Sophomore starting quarterback Josh Dobbs echoed his coach’s sentiments.
DOBBS: It’s been different. When you’re at football, you need to lock in. Away from football, you need to relax. We had to flip the switch.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 31, 2014
I’ll stop short of saying that Friday’s game against Iowa is a must-win for the Vols. It’s not a must-win. But it’s as close to a must-win as you can possibly get.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a huge accomplishment that Tennessee is still practicing and preparing for a bowl game. And it’s not going to set the program back if they lose to Iowa.
However, if the Vols do win and Jones is able to deliver Tennessee’s first winning season since 2009, then the whole perception of the program will change.
It might just be one game, but going through the off-season knowing you’re coming off a winning season, provides an entirely different mindset.
A win in the TaxSlayer bowl would give the Vols a crazy amount of momentum heading into the off-season.
The Vols already have a lot of momentum with a solid 2015 recruiting class on the horizon.
Finishing 7-6, however, would make the bitter winter taste a lot sweeter.