Five Things We Learned from the Tennessee Vols at SEC Media Days

Jul 15, 2014; Hoover, AL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones talks to the media during the SEC Football Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

5. Tennessee is not running from expectations

Throughout the offseason, a strong finish to last year combined with lots of returning starters and another great recruiting class have Vols fans cautiously optimistic about a return to prominence this year. Whether or not that happens is still up for debate.

But what is clear is that the Vols are not running from those expectations.

Butch Jones showed that simply by firing back at Steve Spurrier’s shots, but he also made clear in every interview and every round in Alabama Tuesday that he is embracing the expectations.

As he said, this is why you want to be a part of Tennessee, and this is what he was hoping to build from the start, so he cannot run from those expectations.

On top of that, all of the players were embracing the expectations in a cautious way, making it clear that this is what they wanted but also that they are working to tune it out during practice.

After Tuesday, the leaders of the program have given us even more of an indication that they are ready to thrive this year, so expect the expectations to come on stronger now.

Next: #4: The Defense is Confident