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Tennessee Vols morning report: Josh Heupel updates media 10 days ahead of opener

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 09: Tennessee Volunteers fans cheer during the first half of the game against the Indiana State Sycamores at Neyland Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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We’re down to the final week of August. College football starts this weekend, and the Tennessee Vols football opener is now less than 10 days away. It’s hard for fans to get more excited about things than right now, especially given what happened last year.

Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with another press conference surrounding the football program. UT opens the season up on Thursday, Sept. 2 against the Bowling Green Falcons, and more coverage surrounding the state of the roster is warranted.

Speaking of rosters, men’s basketball made news as well with new jersey numbers, which we’ll get to. Recognition of a women’s soccer player one week in and the passing of an administrator also made news. Let’s start with the football coverage.

Josh Heupel meets with media – Austin Price, VolQuest

On Monday, Tennessee Vols football head coach Josh Heupel spoke with reporters about the state of the program ahead of the opener. Heupel said no decision has been made when it comes to the quarterback race, and he said the team is progressing when it comes to the vaccination rates. Here’s his assessment of where things are right now.

"“During the course of training camp, throughout the summer, throughout spring ball, we’ve gotten better. I think about the first day of full pads in spring ball and where we are today, we’ve continued to grow. We are unfinished, and you’re always continuing to push forward, but I like this group of guys. They care about themselves and their teammates. They care about representing the state of Tennessee the right way.”"

Basketball jersey numbers revealed – Grant Ramey, GoVols247

With seven new players, the Tennessee Vols men’s basketball team has a lot of new uniforms to give out. Jonas Aidoo will wear No. 0, Kennedy Chandler will wear No. 1, Brandon Huntley-Hatfield will wear No. 2, Quentin Diboundje will wear No. 3, Jahmai Mashack will wear No. 15, Justin Powell will wear No. 24 and Handje Tamba will wear No. 32. There was one number switch as well.

"Josiah-Jordan James will have a new look for his junior season. The Tennessee wing is switching from No. 5, the jersey number he wore during his first two seasons with the Vols, and now will wear No. 30."

Soccer freshman earns weekly league award – SECSports

It didn’t take long for Jordan Fusco to earn recognition with the Tennessee Lady Vols soccer team. After her first two games of official action, helping UT beat the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 6-0 and Miami RedHawks 2-0, she earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors.

"Tennessee midfielder Jordan Fusco, a freshman from Olmsted Township, Ohio, scored a pair of goals in her first weekend of collegiate action. She opened the season with a goal against Florida Gulf Coast and then added another against Miami (Ohio)."

UT administrator passes away – UTSports

Gary Wyant, who spent five years as an assistant with the Tennessee Vols football program and another 14 as an administrator with the athletic program, passed away Sunday. When he retired, he was an executive associate AD.

"A native of Wichita, Kansas, who played college football at Wichita State from 1958-61, Wyant first came to the University of Tennessee as a defensive backs coach on Bill Battle’s staff in 1971. After five seasons with the Vols, he joined the coaching staff at Texas Tech in 1976.After retiring from coaching, Wyant developed a strong business acumen during close to 15 years in the banking industry. That administrative insight served him well when he returned to Knoxville in 1994 as an assistant AD and director of football operations for head coach Phillip Fulmer."

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