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Tennessee Vols morning report: Josh Heupel’s final presser before Florida

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee fans cheer during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.Kns Tennessee Ole Miss Football
Tennessee fans cheer during an SEC football game between Tennessee and Ole Miss at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.Kns Tennessee Ole Miss Football /
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Friday’s here, and it’s like another Christmas Eve for the Tennessee Vols football community. It hasn’t felt that way for UT in a long time, but this used to be the standard back in the day when they would get set to face the Florida Gators.

Our morning update on Rocky Top leads with more coverage of Saturday’s huge matchup. It’s not just the return of Florida, but it’s also UT’s SEC opener, as is usually the case. We’ve got one more press conference to bring you related to the game.

Beyond football, there was a soccer match that took place Thursday night, and we’ll cover that. Meanwhile, one sport added a new assistant, and another sport is set to kick off its fall season. We’ll touch on all of that, but let’s start with football.

Josh Heupel gives last press conference before Florida – Grant Ramey, GoVols247

On Thursday, Tennessee Vols football head coach Josh Heupel spoke one final time ahead of his team’s matchup with the Gators. Heupel was mum on the injuries to Cedric Tillman and Jabari Small, and he spoke one more time about all the hype surrounding this game. Here’s a bit of what he said.

"The outside noise, the opportunity that is here, you work to have these opportunities. Early in the week, I told our players to enjoy the fact that we have this opportunity. But that has nothing to do with how we play."

Soccer falls to Alabama, will next face Kentucky Sunday – Eric Woods, UT Daily Beacon

A five-game winning streak for the Tennessee Lady Vols soccer team came to an end Thursday, as UT lost its SEC home opener. At 5-3-1 and 1-1 in SEC play, their next match is Sunday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. ET on the road against the Kentucky Wildcats.

"Tennessee women’s soccer fell to No. 6 Alabama on Thursday, 4-2. Lindsay Romig did her best to keep the Lady Vols in the game, tying her career in saves with nine.However, a shaky defensive performance from the Lady Vols led to the Bama attack overwhelming her."

Swimming and diving adds assistant – Matthew De George, Swimming World Magazine

Maddy Banic, who won a national championship as a Lady Vol swimmer in 2019, is returning to the Tennessee Vols swimming and diving program as an assistant coach. Banic was with UT from 2015 to 2019 and was part of the NCAA Champion 200 medley relay in 2019.

"Banic won 16 medals at SEC Championships, including gold medals. She ranks second in program history in the 50 free (21.54, from an SEC championship performance in 2017), fourth in the 100 fly (51.19) and was part of 12 top-10 relay foursomes."

Women’s tennis begins Wolfpack Invitational – UTSports

The Tennessee Lady Vols tennis team begins its fall schedule this weekend by taking part in the Wolfpack Invitational, which is in Cary, N.C., and hosted by the N.C. State Wolfpack. Play began Thursday afternoon and is set to last through Sunday.

"The loaded draw features competitors from Arizona State, Auburn, Duke, ETSU, Kansas, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, North Carolina, NC State, Oklahoma, Ohio State, USC, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Virginia. 12 of the 16 programs playing in the event are represented by an individual in the singles top-25."

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