Latest / The Mike Keith Show / The Mike Keith Show | JOSH HEUPEL, EVE RACKHAM WATT, DEJUAN LANE, DONOVAN HASLAM (10.22.26)

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The Mike Keith Show | JOSH HEUPEL, EVE RACKHAM WATT, DEJUAN LANE, DONOVAN HASLAM (10.22.26) · The Mike Keith Show

• 0:26
  SPEAKER_15: Inside act death, I think.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_15: From Rocky Top, direct from the coaches.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_15: It's night from the players.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_15: It's time track.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_15: Mike Keith starts now.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_13: So glad you're with us.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_13: Getting ready for Tennessee, South Carolina on the Mike Keith Show.
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_13: Of course, it's the head football coach of the University of Tennessee, Josh Heipel, presented by our great friends at Calhoun's.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_05: How's the week gone?
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_05: It's been uh been a good week, and uh uh we understand uh what we're getting into on the road in this league, be a great environment, and it's gonna take our best.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_13: Let's talk about South Carolina quarterback Lenora Sellers.
• 1:07
  SPEAKER_13: He's 6'3, 238.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_13: He's played a ton of football.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_13: In in terms of the evaluation of him as a quarterback and the challenge he's gonna put to your defense, what sticks out the most?
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_05: He's got the ability to make plays in the passing game.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, he's got a ton of experience, he's seen a lot of different looks.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_05: Um, he's got dynamic playmakers out on the outside.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_05: Um, but then again, his feet are uh a major concern.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_05: Um you don't want to let him sit back there in the pocket.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_05: Um, but when you apply pressure to him, you better have integrity in your rush lanes.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_05: And then when you get to him, you got to get him down.
• 1:44
  SPEAKER_05: Uh he is big, he is strong, and uh when he gets out as a runner, he is uh he's dynamic.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_05: Interesting.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_13: The last three quarterbacks you faced, it almost seems that Sellers has some of the traits of all of them, and yet to a certain extent he puts that package all together.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, it's why he's uh uh thought of so highly uh at the next level as as well.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_05: And um, you know, it's a football team that's playing extremely good, uh their best football uh here the last week.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_05: And uh, you know, a big part of this test is they got two weeks of preparation.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_05: Physically, they're gonna be at their best with the bye week and uh an extra week of preparation.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, you know, the challenge for our guys has been surpassing uh that preparation that they've had uh to go play our best football.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_13: South Carolina's defensive coordinator is the the longtime guy who's been in charge of it, Clayton White.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_13: What are the characteristics of a Clayton White defense at South Carolina and what challenges did they specifically pose to your offense?
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, um, you know, uh play a lot of match coverage uh on the the second and third levels.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_05: Um, you know, they've done a really good job against the run game uh this year.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_05: Uh a part of that is their safety is being near and close to the box, fitting it up and tackling uh extremely well.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_05: Um when you get into passing situations, they have personnel, not just scheme, because they have scheme too, but they have personnel uh that is dynamic and can change the way the game's played.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_13: Dylan Stewart off the edge, speaking of highly thought of at the next level, he's one of those outside rush guys that, if healthy and available, he is very dangerous.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_13: You have to know where he is every play.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_05: Uh yes, you do.
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_05: Um, in particular on third down.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_05: Um he's as good of an edge rusher as there is in this league.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_05: Okay.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_13: From your football team, you keep talking about improvement.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_13: The team talks about improvement.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_13: Where do you need to see specific areas improvement this week if you're gonna go to South Carolina on Saturday and come back with the victory?
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, holistically, uh, but in particular, special teams and offensively, we have to play smarter.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_05: Some of that's uh before the ball is even uh snapped.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_05: Uh some of it's in our communication uh offensively.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_05: Um, and uh that's where it really starts.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_05: Um but fundamentals technique, growth within your scheme, all those things should be continuing to improve.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_05: Uh I thought last week uh we tackled as well as we have uh as a football team and uh that paid major dividends uh in the football game.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_05: Um need to see continued growth in that as well.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_13: As players discuss leadership on this team, one of the names that comes up on offense is Braylon Staley.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_13: Braylon Staley willing to do whatever he needs to do, willing to show the young guys what to do, willing to help Mike Matthews make plays.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_13: What's the what are the most special qualities of Braylon Staley, not just as a receiver, but as a leader on this team and what he beats to the Tennessee Pro.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I go back to even uh before last year, his growth and and maturation during his f true freshman year, um, and uh his mindset, how he approached every day uh going into his second year when we came back that winter.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_05: Uh that's why he took a massive jump from year one to year two.
• 5:01
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, but this year he's done a great job of not just doing that for himself, showing, demonstrating, leading uh the guys in that room.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_05: Um he's a true competitor.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_05: He practices extremely well every single day.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_05: It matters to him.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_05: And uh um he's extremely selfless.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_05: Um, he's willing to play without the ball in his hands.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, when the ball comes his way, he's gonna go make a play for you.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_05: And uh, you know, this is a special one for him, too, going back to his home state.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_13: Uh, we've got a very special interview coming up, and actually Andy Brock of the Ball Radio Network is with us to interview Donovan Haslum and also Dejahn Lane in our next segment.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_13: Uh, two transfers.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_13: Yeah.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_13: Talk to me about Donovan Haslam and Dejahan Lane as players and people and what they've done so far this year.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, uh Donovan, uh dramatic change in his body during the course of our offseason, had as much growth in the winter and the summer, uh, just adding muscle mass, decreasing body fat.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, it's parlayed himself into continuing to grow as a player.
• 6:05
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, he's done a really good job, in particular uh the last couple of weeks.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, he's gotten more comfortable uh just in what we're doing, scheme and uh communication up front.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_05: Uh Dejahn, uh dynamic playmaker.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_05: Uh everybody has seen the plays that he's made.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, but another guy that took great advantage of our offseason with Dio, um, you know, he's big, strong, fast, um, and uh has turned himself into a dynamic playmaker uh a year ago, got some play uh, you know, before he uh came here at Penn State, but really on the back half of last year and in the bowl game, started to play his best football and uh just continued growth as a person, and that's parlayed into the player.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_13: Looking forward to seeing you Saturday in Columbia.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_13: Let's go play.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_13: Josh Heipel, the head coach of your Tennessee Volunteers, brought to you on the Mike Keith Show every week by Calhoons.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_13: Again, up next, the aforementioned Andy Brock with the aforementioned Donovan Haslam and Dajon Lane, talking Tennessee football on the Mike Keith Show right after this.
• 7:07
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• 7:09
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• 7:12
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• 7:17
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• 7:30
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• 7:36
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• 8:14
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• 8:17
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• 8:23
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• 8:30
  SPEAKER_23: It was probably the most serious heart attack that you could have.
• 8:34
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• 8:40
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• 8:44
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• 8:47
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• 9:08
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• 9:11
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• 9:13
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• 9:16
  SPEAKER_14: Out of gear.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_08: Whether it's protecting the quarterback or protecting what matters at home.
• 10:04
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• 10:08
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• 10:14
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• 10:18
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• 10:40
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• 10:47
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• 10:49
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• 11:01
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• 11:09
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• 11:11
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• 11:17
  SPEAKER_13: Transfers Donovan Haslam and Dijon Lane were expected to play for Tennessee this season, but neither was expected to start.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_13: Now, Haslam is a vital part of the offensive line at right guard, while Lane is a playmaking star of safety.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_13: After his stellar performance against Alabama, Dijon Lane was named as one of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles' stars of the week.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_13: The Vol Network's Andy Brock digs deeper into Lane's internal recognition.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_09: Explain to those who don't know what Jim Knowles' defender of the day is.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_17: So basically, um basically, not I wouldn't say the stars, but maybe the top performers of that specific game usually get defender of the day.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_17: And uh with a such a dominant defensive um win on Bama, there happen to be be more than one guy.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_17: So yeah, that's that's basically what defender of the day is.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_09: Is that a fun incentive for you and the guys like you want to be featured on that slide, obviously?
• 12:22
  SPEAKER_09: That does that sit in your head, like you make a play, you get to be honored like that?
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_17: Well, it doesn't really click during the game, but you know, after the game, when you go back and look at the film, you're like, hold on, I got a chance to, you know, be the one of the top guys on the day.
• 12:33
  SPEAKER_17: So, you know, it's pretty, it's definitely rewarding and it's it's a fun thing that we have with the defense.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_09: And you had that advantage coming in, being one of Jim Knowles' guys in the past.
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_09: What is it from your perspective, having worked with him for a number of years now, and to see the defense this year?
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_09: How fun is it working with Jim Knowles here at Tennessee?
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_17: Yeah, um, year two in the system, so I kind of know what he wants, how he wants things to look, you know.
• 12:57
  SPEAKER_17: So I understand him, he understands me, and uh, you know, it just helps me play faster, helps me help my teammates play faster.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_17: You know, we're we're looking, you know, as good as we ever did.
• 13:06
  SPEAKER_17: And it's amazing.
• 13:07
  SPEAKER_09: How fun is it in a game like that against Alabama when the defense is flying around, things are clicking, the crowd is loud, and and you're all playing successful as a unit.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_09: How fun is that?
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_17: I mean, it's you know, it's extremely energetic.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_17: I don't think the fans understand how much they actually help us, but you know, I want you guys to know that we do hear you guys and you and we feed off you guys, um, and it's amazing.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_17: It's just it's just so much fun to compete on at such a high level with with with the guys you came in with.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_17: It's amazing.
• 13:36
  SPEAKER_09: So walk us through the interception against Alabama, throw over the middle a little high, you're able to lean back and make the play.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_09: Walk us through that moment for you.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_17: Yeah, so you know, I was in the vert middle, third and pretty, I think it was third and ten, third and eleven, something like that.
• 13:49
  SPEAKER_17: You know, I was expecting dagger.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_17: So when I saw the the inside release and another one receiver, I got my eyes back to the queue, and he was actually looking at the guy that I was on.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_17: So, you know, he threw the ball and I was able to, you know, jump up and go get it, and it was a huge takeaway for us.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_09: You've got three interceptions now.
• 14:05
  SPEAKER_09: You've been able to get the quarterback as well.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_09: You're able to make plays in the secondary, but also you're able to rush the quarterback.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_09: What do you think you do the best when when your game is at its top level like it is right now?
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_17: I think that, you know, I do a a phenomenal job of you know just hawking the ball, whatever the ball is at, whether it's in the air or on the ground, I do a good job of, you know, just being around the football and finding the football.
• 14:27
  SPEAKER_17: Um, and as defenders know, you know, you'll be around the football enough, good things are happening for you.
• 14:31
  SPEAKER_09: Is that something you look at stats?
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_09: Because right now you're tied for second and interceptions in the SEC.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_09: You're top three in passes defended in the SEC.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_09: Is that something you look at?
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_17: Well, I don't, you know, typically look at my own stats.
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_17: Um I more so just, you know, get the win and move on to the next week, because you know, I I just want to win.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_17: I just want to win every single game.
• 14:51
  SPEAKER_17: You know, I don't care if I had no stats.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_17: As long as we win, you know, if I'm and I'm helping my team win, helping my team in a positive way, changing the game in a positive way, I'm happy.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_09: It feels like that's one of the more, you know, fun aspects of this defense is you all celebrate with one another, make a play, kind of run to the end zone.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_09: Do you feel that connectedness when one guy makes a play?
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_09: It feels like you all make a play.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_17: Yeah, I mean, there's not one selfish guy on the team, you know, we're all dolls, we're all hungry.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_17: Everyone wants to make the big play, but you know, nobody's mad if they don't make the good plays.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_17: As long as somebody makes the play, everyone's happy.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_17: And, you know, we kind of, you know, we show you guys that, you know, every time we get a takeaway, really.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_09: Okay, so that post-game Alabama fans coming onto the field, had you ever experienced a moment like that?
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_17: I mean, that was I have never experienced anything like that in my, you know, in my football career.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_17: That was amazing.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_17: That's the night I remember for the rest of my life.
• 15:40
  SPEAKER_09: Well, walk us through kind of those post-game moments because you were one of the first to run to the student section, kind of get in the crowd.
• 15:46
  SPEAKER_09: How how was that moment interacting with them?
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_09: And then how were you able to make it back to the it was it was surreal.
• 15:51
  SPEAKER_17: Um, I actually didn't know that they were gonna rush the field, but you know, I knew I I wanted to celebrate with my teammates.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_17: I wanted to celebrate with the fans.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_17: You know, they show off for us, they show out.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_17: We feed off those guys.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_17: I don't know where as a football team, I don't know where as a defense we would be without those guys.
• 16:06
  SPEAKER_17: So I definitely wanted to show them some love.
• 16:08
  SPEAKER_17: And uh, and as I'm celebrating with those fans, I kind of noticed that the field is filled up already.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_17: I didn't notice that at the time, but when I got down from, you know, celebrating with the fans, the whole field was just f filled up, and I had a tough time maneuvering back to my parents, but you know, it was great.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_17: It was great.
• 16:24
  SPEAKER_09: So your parents were there?
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_17: Yes.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_09: You got to celebrate with them on the field?
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_09: Yes.
• 16:28
  SPEAKER_09: How was that moment with them?
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_17: As I mentioned before, it was for real.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_09: Um I would do anything to get that feeling back.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_09: That's awesome.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_09: You know, I mean, it's a big win, but you very quickly move on to the next, right?
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_09: What what was kind of that moment where you knew, okay, that was fun, flushing it on to the next.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_17: Um, I would probably say, you know, coming in on on a Monday, uh prepping for South Carolina uh as a defense, we're happy, but we're not satisfied.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_17: Um it was a great win.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_17: Uh we we showed diamonds over Alabama, and um, but we still have a lot more to prove.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_17: We're not done yet, and you guys are gonna, you know, see that in the upcoming weeks.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_09: It's one thing that Dean Lane wants to prove in these next few games as we go to November.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_16: I'm one of the best.
• 17:11
  SPEAKER_16: I'm one of the best.
• 17:12
  SPEAKER_09: Donovan Haslum's in the house here on the Mike Keith show.
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_09: Donovan, welcome.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_09: I love the sweatshirt, Smoky Gray.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_09: Thank you.
• 17:21
  SPEAKER_09: Was that one of the more unique jerseys you won in your career?
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_20: It is.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_20: I really love being in our uniforms.
• 17:26
  SPEAKER_09: Yeah.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_09: What what about being in like that uniform, being in a Tennessee uniform in general?
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_09: What has stood out to you about being able to represent the power team?
• 17:36
  SPEAKER_20: I feel like it's more of like being like representing the the city, the town.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_20: It just like bringing everybody together.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_20: It just it means a lot.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER_20: It represents like what it means to be of all.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_09: And obviously Saturday was was one of those moments where everybody comes together and that experience with beating Alabama, being on the field.
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_09: What what was that experience like for you?
• 17:59
  SPEAKER_20: Uh that's probably my well, I ain't gonna probably it's my biggest game that I've been a part of.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_20: It was the most loud.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_20: It's like the environment was crazy.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_20: So for me, it was just basically me going out there trying to help my team win and just doing my 111 so we can win at the end of the day.
• 18:15
  SPEAKER_09: So Dejaon talked about his experience rushing to the student section, finding his family, then still somehow making it back to the locker.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_09: What was your what was your moment being on that road?
• 18:24
  SPEAKER_20: Well, of course, like the end of game, I was still on the field.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_20: Yeah.
• 18:27
  SPEAKER_20: So after the clock hit zero or we took a knee, I just looked, I looked up in the sky, and I just see everybody start rushing the field.
• 18:34
  SPEAKER_20: Like I never been a part of uh no other fans rushing the field.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_20: So after when I see everybody rush the field, I just try to start finding my way to the locker room.
• 18:43
  SPEAKER_09: So you played at Nealon or you were a part of the Austin P team that came to Nealon in 2023, correct?
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_09: Yes, sir.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_09: So what was that experience like?
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_09: And then just how different is it being on this side of that experience?
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_20: Well, like well, Austin P when I came here, it wasn't like it wasn't like the the experience was good, but it wasn't as many people as it was for the Alabama gaming.
• 19:05
  SPEAKER_20: So like it was more, it wasn't as loud, I feel like.
• 19:08
  SPEAKER_20: So but also I ain't played that much either, so I wasn't on the field.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_20: So it was different though.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_09: So what do you feel like you have have grown in your career, your playing abilities, maybe you as a person, since you think back to that 2023 person who was on the field at Nealing with Austin B.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_09: Where are you growing?
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_20: I feel like I just I better prepare myself now.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_20: I I better prepare myself, like trying to practice harder and practice so I can go play faster in the game.
• 19:36
  SPEAKER_20: I also feel like I then became more violent as a person.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_20: Like when I get on the field, I just try to dominate the man in front of me.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_20: Make sure he don't get hit the quarterback or the running back, make sure he don't make any plays on me.
• 19:48
  SPEAKER_20: Overall, I just feel like I better prepare myself in the meeting in the meeting rooms and in film because I didn't do as much when I first started.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_09: So your coaches have have called you a violent player before, and you just said that yourself.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_09: What what makes you violent on the field?
• 20:03
  SPEAKER_20: Uh honestly, what makes me violent is like the stuff I've been through.
• 20:08
  SPEAKER_20: Like, just uh like before I get on the field, I just I just reminisce about like all the things that I've been through in life and and how I just want to inflict pain on the person across with me.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_09: So you've been able to start the last three games now.
• 20:21
  SPEAKER_09: What what has that opportunity been like getting the chance to be on that front line, get the starting nod, and and and to make a significant impact this year?
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_20: It's been a great opportunity for me.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_20: Uh it really I really it really is a blessing, you know, being able to start at Power Five at SEC, at the SC SEC level.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_20: For me, it just like it just goes to show like the work that you put in, it always comes to light, even though like even though everybody doesn't see what you do.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_20: Like when it's time for the moment, like you have to just be ready.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_09: What's the thing that you feel like you've learned the most, maybe in these last three games?
• 20:58
  SPEAKER_09: Since since Auburn getting that start to through Alabama, what do you what do you feel like you've learned the most?
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_20: Honestly, the uh I feel like my communication has got a lot better.
• 21:08
  SPEAKER_20: Like you have to be able to talk to your teammates while on the field, passing off twists and stuff like that.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_20: And I also feel like us being physical as a unit, like it just makes the game a lot easier.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_20: Like if we dominate from the start of the first play to whenever the game ends, like it just made the game easier because they're not going to be done in every play.
• 21:28
  SPEAKER_09: And offensively, you you've been a part of some really long drives.
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_09: Do you like that style of play where we're gonna pound the rock up the middle, we're going to take the clock down, we're gonna slowly wear down the defense.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_09: Do you like that?
• 21:40
  SPEAKER_20: Uh honestly to me, uh, it really don't phases me.
• 21:43
  SPEAKER_20: It really don't phase me, but I do like more run because of course, like I like I like putting people in the dirt.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_20: But honestly, I like I like quick plays when we throw, you know, throw the ball up the brain and just quick touchdowns because it's it's fun and I get out the field quicker, ain't gonna lie.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_09: So all On the other side of you is Nick Moore, who has also grown into a pretty strong role on this offensive line group.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_09: What have you seen out of him throughout the year?
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_20: Nick Moore, he just I feel like every week he just get better.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_20: And the more, the more he plays in the game, the more he get experience in a guard position, I feel like he just keep he continues to get better.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_20: As long as he just keep like just keep working hard every day, I fly the sky's the limit for him.
• 22:25
  SPEAKER_20: As long as he just keeps continues to work.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_09: We're past the midpoint way of the season.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_09: What what is something that the offensive line group wants to accomplish the rest of this year?
• 22:36
  SPEAKER_20: Uh Coach Ellaby like spoke on how last year, like how to at a certain point of the season, like they went like they had started going downhill a little bit.
• 22:45
  SPEAKER_20: So like we in the alignment room, we just want to continue, like, like I said, we just continue to work hard every day, make sure we just bring in like we bringing our best every day in the meeting room on the field.
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_20: So we just try to basically endurance, like we just gotta be able to play, play how we want to play every day, every game, because like every game is a new season, like we gotta continue to get better so we can make it toward the end.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_13: Donovan Hassle.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_13: When the Mike Keith show delivered by Uber Eats continues, we get a heavy lift from the Vol Network's Jason Swain.
• 23:21
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• 23:25
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• 23:27
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• 23:33
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• 23:38
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• 23:42
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• 23:44
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• 23:46
  SPEAKER_13: All right, Thursday.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_13: Moving along.
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_13: Tennessee gotta get back to business.
• 23:52
  SPEAKER_13: What has this week been like for a player after an Alabama victory?
• 23:57
  SPEAKER_19: I think assurance.
• 23:58
  SPEAKER_19: Assurance that all your hard work, the first couple of weeks is paying off.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, we saw this offense make a small jump in the Arkansas game and then make a huge jump against a better team in Alabama.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_19: And I mean, those two drives in the second half, I think proved to this offense that they could they could be good.
• 24:15
  SPEAKER_19: Uh they could be good enough for this team to be special.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_19: So I think Saturday's game against Alabama was about assurance for this offense and then defensively just more confidence, man.
• 24:25
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, taking a talented Alabama team, a team that uh scores so many points, so explosive, and then just holding the holding them though those guys until 10 points and really shutting you know their oxygen off really gave these guys that much more confidence.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_13: Alabama didn't even have 200 yards of total offense until the last drive.
• 24:43
  SPEAKER_13: That's still hard to believe with what they had done so far this year.
• 24:48
  SPEAKER_19: It's hard to believe in today's day of football, where offense gets so many perks and um things are favored uh in their direction so many times, uh, but the defense was was dominant and it started up front, like it always does.
• 25:04
  SPEAKER_19: And so uh it was just cool to see our guys flying around, second level was great, third level uh minimized explosive plays, it was just an awesome team effort.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_19: Uh but the defense kind of set the tone and the offense came along there in the second half.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_13: From the standpoint of South Carolina, if you're looking at Tennessee's defense and you're evaluating what they're going against this Saturday, what is it about Tennessee's defense that you think they think is their biggest challenge?
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_19: Lenore Sellers not only is mobile, but he's experienced.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_19: And I think that matters.
• 25:40
  SPEAKER_19: He he went on the road and had a great show on against against Florida, and that showed that maturity.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_19: It's hard to do that.
• 25:47
  SPEAKER_19: Uh Russell was not able to do that, and he'll be a good player.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_19: You know, his time is coming, but I think his immaturity showed a little bit um here this past Saturday.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_19: But Lenore Sellers is playing at home.
• 25:58
  SPEAKER_19: Um, he's experienced and he's mobile, and he has some really good receivers on the outside that can help him make some big plays.
• 26:05
  SPEAKER_19: So you gotta be really disciplined in your rush lanes, no different than you were the last week.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_19: But this is a grown man you're playing up against in Lenore Sellers.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_19: Not only is he experienced, but I mean he's he's physically uh more developed than Russell is too as a runner.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_13: Most hostile environment Tennessee will have played in this year, upcoming.
• 26:23
  SPEAKER_13: Brent Hubbs pointed out this week on VaultQuest.com that a lot of bizarre things have happened to Tennessee at Williams Bryce Stadium.
• 26:30
  SPEAKER_13: A lot of bizarre things have happened in Tennessee South Carolina games.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_13: What makes it tough to play there?
• 26:36
  SPEAKER_19: Loud, Mike.
• 26:37
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, that that rooster or chicken or a crow or I mean it's it gets it gets a crow and it's loud.
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_19: And uh those fans do a great job of making that place hard to play in.
• 26:48
  SPEAKER_19: And uh I think Tennessee is fortunate that this game is not at night because it'll be it will be even louder.
• 26:54
  SPEAKER_19: But I think Williams Bryce is one of the most underrated places to play, not only in an SEC, but in the country.
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_19: So um they're kind of waiting and seeing if their team is gonna show up.
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_19: Which team is gonna show up?
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_19: Is it gonna be the Florida team or is it going to be the team that has had some letdown this season?
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_19: And so it's gonna be really important for Tennessee to start fast.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_19: What made the Alabama game also really good for this offense is that they were able to drive the ball down the field, first possession, didn't score a touchdown, but you got points.
• 27:23
  SPEAKER_19: And so unable to really do a lot of that this season, but I thought the Alabama first drive could lead to Tennessee being more successful in those first drives.
• 27:32
  SPEAKER_19: What's going on with Mike Matthews right now?
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_19: What are we seeing?
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_19: The the switch has flipped for him.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, he understands the type of effort and intensity you gotta play at.
• 27:43
  SPEAKER_19: He understands that he's one of the most important players on his team.
• 27:45
  SPEAKER_19: He's he has to play well for this team to play well.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_19: Uh he's taking their ownership, and uh, you can just see it.
• 27:51
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, the game is slowing down to him.
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_19: He's a madman out there.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_19: I I love it.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_19: I love watching him play.
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_13: One of the bigger pleasant surprises of last week's game, TK Keys with a couple of important catches.
• 28:05
  SPEAKER_13: Uh what's happening with him right now?
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_19: Well, he's growing up.
• 28:08
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, he's understanding what it takes to be uh a player at this level.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, it's not high school anymore.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_19: I mean, you're not a five-star anymore.
• 28:15
  SPEAKER_19: You you are a guy that has to get better each and every day.
• 28:18
  SPEAKER_19: Uh, he had some injuries early in his career, so he overcame that.
• 28:22
  SPEAKER_19: And now it's just about stacking those days and improving each and every day.
• 28:25
  SPEAKER_19: And we're we're seeing that from him.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_19: And so uh one screen pass, he didn't spend a lot of time dancing.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_19: He got north and south, picked up a strong nine yards, which uh allowed us to be ahead of the change.
• 28:36
  SPEAKER_19: And then on the third down, um had a quick slant where really good technique getting inside, uh walling off the defender with his body and then making the catch in a tough game.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_19: That's that's what this game is all about, uh, Tennessee, Alabama.
• 28:48
  SPEAKER_19: So just two really good plays by the freshman.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_19: And this is the time of the season where you're not really a freshman anymore.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_19: Like he's kind of more of a sophomore.
• 28:57
  SPEAKER_19: And to make those plays in the Alabama game, man, he's he's graduated.
• 29:00
  SPEAKER_19: Now it's time to go to the next grade.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_13: Yeah, because you played seven games, but more importantly, you've been here nine months.
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_13: That's right.
• 29:06
  SPEAKER_13: So it's not like the old days where you just got here in August and started or he got here in June.
• 29:12
  SPEAKER_13: I mean, he's he's been here since uh, I guess like January 17th or 18th.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_13: All right.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_13: Um you played on three Tennessee teams that beat Alabama.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_13: What would you say to the Tennessee team about not letting down?
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_13: How not to let down, how it's most important to not let that victory be that one shot that you followed it up, get a win on the road, and go seven and one into the bye.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_19: Yeah, prove to yourself, prove to people that like the team that they saw against Alabama is the Tennessee team.
• 29:45
  SPEAKER_19: That's not just a one-week deal where you know you you played your best for for one week, but that's not really who you are.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_19: Like, fight claw scratch to prove that that's that's who you are.
• 29:56
  SPEAKER_19: This is who you are now.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_19: We've always been really good defensively throughout the season, but off offensively, you know, we've we've grown and we've had to take the criticism.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_19: Show that, hey, we're not taking a step backwards.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_19: We're going forward.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_19: And I think you can do that on the road against South Carolina, which will, in a way, be a tougher test because it's on the road and it's coming off an emotional, physical football game.
• 30:18
  SPEAKER_19: One day you dominated, but it still was physical.
• 30:22
  SPEAKER_19: Don't be like Alabama coming off the Georgia game, or don't be Georgia coming off the Alabama game where they won and then they slipped uh against Auburn the next week.
• 30:31
  SPEAKER_19: So do that.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_19: And I think um, man, you put yourself in a really good spot with the bye week, getting rested up, and then having a chance against uh some really good teams down the stretch.
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_13: Jason Swain, the Swain event, 99.1, the sports animal, and also with the Ball Radio Network.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_13: He, Brent Hubbs, and Bill Mayo will have your pregame coverage with Larry Stone beginning at 1 Easter noon Central, Tennessee at South Carolina this Saturday on your Vall Radio Network.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_13: Got more of the show coming up right after this.
• 31:03
  SPEAKER_09: It's time now for the block of the week presented by Cracker Barrel McIntyre.
• 31:45
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• 31:53
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• 31:57
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• 32:09
  SPEAKER_09: Welcome home.
• 32:10
  SPEAKER_22: You're one-on-one with Mike Key, sponsored by Food City, the official supermarket of the Tennessee Volunteers.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_22: By Farm Bureau Insurance, the official insurance of the vault, Tennessee Insurance for Tennessee Life.
• 32:24
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• 32:29
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• 32:32
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• 32:33
  SPEAKER_22: By Ratley Roofing, let us get your lead, the proud official roofer of the big orange, and by UT Medical, the official healthcare provider of the vault.
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_13: And let the capability of the Ford F 150 bring the rest.
• 33:15
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• 33:19
  SPEAKER_13: We're actually not a two-man team.
• 33:21
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• 33:23
  SPEAKER_00: TV and two teams are not built by one person.
• 33:26
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• 33:28
  SPEAKER_05: Like the Vols, coaches and players need to learn to handle the pressure, including the pressure of success.
• 33:35
  SPEAKER_13: We invest in the next generation.
• 33:37
  SPEAKER_18: We invest in our community.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_13: And most importantly, we invest in our employees.
• 33:41
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• 33:43
  SPEAKER_01: Change it.
• 33:43
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• 33:53
  SPEAKER_11: Sun is shut and it's a beautiful day.
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_24: Wake up, sleepy head, get up and play.
• 34:03
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• 34:09
  SPEAKER_24: Come on now, let's get away.
• 34:11
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• 34:15
  SPEAKER_06: In Big Orange Country, we live for big moments, but we know there are surprises along the way.
• 34:22
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• 34:41
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• 34:43
  SPEAKER_13: Not funny, guys.
• 34:46
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• 34:49
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• 34:52
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• 35:16
  SPEAKER_05: Brought to you by Foods Tity, it's the Ask Coach Hipel Show! Hello, and welcome to Ask Coach Hyper.
• 35:22
  SPEAKER_05: I'm your host, Josh Heifel.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_05: Brent Wright.
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_05: Coach, know many good dad jokes.
• 35:31
  SPEAKER_06: Hey Brent, thanks for asking.
• 35:34
  SPEAKER_06: Why is grilling so great in Knoxville?
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_06: Because the vaults always bring the heat.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_06: This has been Ask Coach Hyper, brought to you by Food City, the official tailgaming headquarters of the Vol.
• 35:46
  SPEAKER_13: Saturdays are all about the big art.
• 35:48
  SPEAKER_13: From the roar of Nealand Stadium to the energy of the tailgate, one thing belongs on every game day menu.
• 35:55
  SPEAKER_13: Calhoun.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_13: Whether you're dining in one of Calhoun's nine-area restaurant locations, taking the feast to your tailgate, or grabbing a bike from one of Calhoun's locations inside Nealand Stadium, Calhoun's makes it easy so you can focus on cheering the balls to victory.
• 36:12
  SPEAKER_13: Calhoun, a taste of dynasty.
• 36:18
  SPEAKER_13: Brent Hubbs is here for the Built Ford Tough Report.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_13: Brent Hubbs is certainly Built Ford Tough.
• 36:25
  SPEAKER_13: Brent Hubbs has been to Columbia, South Carolina, has been to Williams Bryce Stadium so many times with the Vol Radio Network.
• 36:32
  SPEAKER_13: You're in double digits now, Art.
• 36:34
  SPEAKER_25: I've been there a bunch, that's for sure.
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_25: I've been there when it snowed, I've been there when it's 112, I've been there when they've broken NCAA records, and I've been there when Tennessee uh has left just in complete and utter misery because they didn't get it done over there.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_13: And they are the bookend to Arkansas.
• 36:50
  SPEAKER_13: They come into the league in 1992 with Sparky Woods as the head coach, and they beat Tennessee with Steve Tannehill and send the next two weeks into two of the craziest in Tennessee history, a game that South Carolina shouldn't have won.
• 37:07
  SPEAKER_13: And since that time in the SEC East, certainly, and otherwise, uh Brent, it's it's been craziness.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_25: Yeah, it's been hard.
• 37:16
  SPEAKER_25: I mean, you know, there's just been a lot of weird things and unusual things that have happened in that game over there.
• 37:23
  SPEAKER_25: Um, more so over there than over here.
• 37:25
  SPEAKER_25: There's just been some weird things that have happened.
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_25: Tennessee has lost some games that were very pivotal and critical games in terms of how they affected them in the Eastern Division.
• 37:35
  SPEAKER_25: Uh, even when the Butch Jones era in 2016, certainly, they rallied from 14 down to win an overtime game over there, which really didn't make a whole lot of sense.
• 37:45
  SPEAKER_25: I mentioned the 98 game where T Martin sets a record.
• 37:48
  SPEAKER_25: Just some weird, kind of quirky things have happened along the way.
• 37:52
  SPEAKER_25: The 22 game obviously stands out, and and everything that's come out with that in terms of what did they know.
• 37:59
  SPEAKER_25: You know, they had there was an advanced scout and all this other stuff that they were doing.
• 38:03
  SPEAKER_25: They've denied any, they didn't do anything, but it was through the Michigan uh stuff with Connor Stallions and all that.
• 38:08
  SPEAKER_25: So there's just been a quirkiness and a kind of a kookiness to this series.
• 38:12
  SPEAKER_25: South Carolina's three and three.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_13: It started two and oh, they lost three in a row, and then they went at Florida.
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_25: Who is South Carolina in 2026?
• 38:23
  SPEAKER_25: Well, that's a great question.
• 38:24
  SPEAKER_25: I think they're still trying to figure it out.
• 38:26
  SPEAKER_25: When they put it all together on offense, and and Lenora Sellers plays well throwing the football, uh, they they were explosive.
• 38:32
  SPEAKER_25: They were big play.
• 38:33
  SPEAKER_25: They did a lot of things that Florida did not handle.
• 38:36
  SPEAKER_25: You go back and look at that game, South Carolina had a bunch of people running wide open, and Sellers had a big day.
• 38:41
  SPEAKER_25: Sellers is a guy that is their second leading rusher, he carries it a lot.
• 38:46
  SPEAKER_25: But man, when he gets when he gets going with the arm and they and they get going, he can really he can really spin it and really throw it.
• 38:52
  SPEAKER_25: That's why he's been so enticing to so many people about what his future is, how does he fit at the next level?
• 38:59
  SPEAKER_25: You go back to a couple years ago where he was when they finished on that heater, and everybody thought Heisman candidate and going on.
• 39:05
  SPEAKER_25: He's played for a bunch of different coordinators who's tried to use him in a bunch of different ways.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_25: Did they find themselves at Florida?
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_25: Or is that just part of the zaniness that is the Southeastern Conference right now?
• 39:16
  SPEAKER_25: We're gonna find out.
• 39:17
  SPEAKER_25: They got a week off.
• 39:18
  SPEAKER_25: They're obviously feeling very good about themselves.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_25: Tennessee feels good about where they are defensively.
• 39:23
  SPEAKER_25: Can they take away the run game and put it on Sellers' shoulders to throw it?
• 39:27
  SPEAKER_25: Is that how you go?
• 39:28
  SPEAKER_25: I think the best news for Tennessee is you're on about week four straight of a guy who's got wheels at the quarterback position.
• 39:35
  SPEAKER_25: So you so you completely understand rush lanes and you understand keeping the guy in the pocket and all the things that they've had to do the last few weeks with mobile quarterbacks.
• 39:44
  SPEAKER_13: But the problem with Sellers is he does not take sacks.
• 39:47
  SPEAKER_13: He does not.
• 39:48
  SPEAKER_13: Like the other ones.
• 39:49
  SPEAKER_13: Brown did.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_13: You saw Jackson do that uh this past weekend.
• 39:53
  SPEAKER_13: Russell is a guy who's taken, I think, 20 sacks on the year.
• 39:57
  SPEAKER_13: This guy does not take sacks.
• 39:58
  SPEAKER_25: No, he understands getting the ball out of his hand.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_25: You know, he understands, you know, getting plus one, getting back to the line of scrimmage if you take off or throw it away.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_25: He's got a lot of experience, okay?
• 40:08
  SPEAKER_25: And I think that's the part that's different between we sit here last week and we were talking about all these great things that Keelan Russell was doing, but probably didn't take into account that Keelan Russell's really young.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_25: And this was his first go-around against a really exotic defense, and it was on the road.
• 40:22
  SPEAKER_25: Ledore Sellers has seen a lot of stuff.
• 40:25
  SPEAKER_25: And so, what does Jim Knowles have cooked up for him this week?
• 40:29
  SPEAKER_25: Tennessee wants to make sure to take away the run game, too, because it will not shock me at all if South Carolina is not more committed to trying to run the football early in the game than Alabama was.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_13: And South Carolina coming off of a week off.
• 40:42
  SPEAKER_13: You wonder on the Vol side, even though they have to get ready for an opponent, do they spend a lot of time or have they spent a lot of time during the course of this week self-scouting to make sure because South Carolina has had that extra time to break them down?
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_25: Well, I think Jim Knowles is always self-scouting and always looking at what are we doing well, what do we need to tweak.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_25: I mean, I think Jim Knowles' game plan from week to week is is quite a bit different.
• 41:09
  SPEAKER_25: I don't think it's I don't think it's just this kind of the same thing with a small wrinkle here and there.
• 41:14
  SPEAKER_25: I mean, he does, I mean, they played dime on Saturday.
• 41:17
  SPEAKER_25: I I have had we seen dime before Saturday in six defensive backs.
• 41:21
  SPEAKER_25: I mean, he's in a six-man front, he's in a five, I mean, he was a lot of different things.
• 41:25
  SPEAKER_25: So I think he's always self-scouting.
• 41:27
  SPEAKER_25: I think conversely, on the other side for Tennessee, it's how do you continue offensively to grow?
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_25: What can you add to?
• 41:36
  SPEAKER_25: What are your concerns?
• 41:37
  SPEAKER_25: Dylan Stewart's a really good pass rusher.
• 41:39
  SPEAKER_25: They got some edge guys that can really, really get after you.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_25: Can you do more in the middle of the football field, which is kind of where George is making, George McIntyre is making some hay right now?
• 41:48
  SPEAKER_25: So I think offensively it's about not just self-scouting, but how much can you grow?
• 41:53
  SPEAKER_25: What do you feel like you can do offensively with George McIntyre now that maybe you didn't feel comfortable with two and a weeks ago or three weeks ago?
• 42:01
  SPEAKER_25: Uh, I think you're always looking at new things and wrinkles and self-scouting because it truly is a week-to-week league.
• 42:08
  SPEAKER_13: Don't you think it's because of how the setup is with the NIL, the money, the transfer portal.
• 42:16
  SPEAKER_13: And so you're having teams that match up better with other teams, which has always been the case, but it's even a little more dramatic now because if your roster is set a certain way, you make more sense against Florida than you do against Georgia, so to speak.
• 42:32
  SPEAKER_13: Well, and the and the other part, too, is there are going to be teams now who are going to peak at mid-year and then run.
• 42:41
  SPEAKER_13: You wonder, is South Carolina that team prepared to make a huge run?
• 42:46
  SPEAKER_25: Well, and they've done that in the past.
• 42:47
  SPEAKER_25: A couple of years ago, they got hot and made a run, nearly made the playoffs.
• 42:51
  SPEAKER_25: Um, it's a South Carolina team that led at home against Kentucky uh handily.
• 42:55
  SPEAKER_25: They were in control that game early on.
• 42:57
  SPEAKER_25: It's a team that led early on against Mississippi State.
• 43:00
  SPEAKER_25: They couldn't hold either lead in that game.
• 43:02
  SPEAKER_25: So it's not like they haven't gotten off to good starts and they haven't played well.
• 43:07
  SPEAKER_25: They haven't finished the way they need to finish.
• 43:10
  SPEAKER_25: At Florida, they finished.
• 43:11
  SPEAKER_25: That was the difference in that game.
• 43:13
  SPEAKER_25: But they've gotten off to a good start, really, against everybody they played, with the exception of the trip to Alabama.
• 43:18
  SPEAKER_25: Here's the interesting thing in the SEC right now, to me, that there were seven SEC games last week that were just SEC opponents.
• 43:25
  SPEAKER_25: So take out the the payday games or whatever.
• 43:28
  SPEAKER_25: Three of the winners scored over 30 points.
• 43:30
  SPEAKER_25: Everybody else was under 30 points.
• 43:32
  SPEAKER_25: It's more of a defensive league than it has been.
• 43:35
  SPEAKER_25: So the question is why?
• 43:36
  SPEAKER_25: Is that because a quarterback play?
• 43:38
  SPEAKER_25: My theory, one of my things, is I think you can take your portal players on defense and insert them easier into your defensive scheme and let them go play.
• 43:50
  SPEAKER_25: Whereas it takes a little longer for new players on offense maybe to get adapted into the system that you play.
• 43:57
  SPEAKER_25: If it's an offensive lineman, more takes more time.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_25: To have continuity, a receiver, more time to understand everything in the passing game you want to do.
• 44:05
  SPEAKER_25: I think your impact on the portal on the defensive side of the ball can come quicker.
• 44:10
  SPEAKER_25: And I think it's easier to build a defense through the portal than it is through the an offense through the portal.
• 44:15
  SPEAKER_25: And right now we're seeing scoring down in this league from previous years.
• 44:19
  SPEAKER_13: Brett Hubbs, great stuff.
• 44:20
  SPEAKER_13: Thank you.
• 44:20
  SPEAKER_13: Thank you, sir.
• 44:21
  SPEAKER_13: Great point to end, especially Brett Hubbs with the Built Ford Tough report on the Mike Keith Show.
• 44:27
  SPEAKER_13: We've got more coming up right after this.
• 44:29
  SPEAKER_09: It's time for this week in Big Orange Country, presented by Visit Knoxville.
• 44:34
  SPEAKER_09: Plan your trip today at VisitKnoxville.com.
• 44:38
  SPEAKER_03: It's time now for this week in Big Orange Country, presented by Visit Knoxville.
• 44:43
  SPEAKER_03: While Tennessee football is on the road, you can still catch some SEC action right here on Rocky Top.
• 44:49
  SPEAKER_03: Tennessee volleyball returns to the Food City Center Sunday afternoon to take on in-state rival Vanderbilt.
• 44:56
  SPEAKER_03: First serve is set for 1 p.m.
• 44:58
  SPEAKER_03: Eastern with the match airing on the SEC network.
• 45:01
  SPEAKER_03: Earlier this week, the Ladyballs also host number four Kentucky Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
• 45:06
  SPEAKER_03: Eastern, giving Ladyball Nation two opportunities to catch some top-tier SEC volleyball action.
• 45:12
  SPEAKER_03: Meanwhile, Tennessee football travels to Columbia, South Carolina Saturday to take on the Gamecocks.
• 45:18
  SPEAKER_03: Kickoff is set for 3 30 Eastern on ESPN.
• 45:22
  SPEAKER_03: That was the look at this week in Big Orange Country presented by Visit Knoxville.
• 45:26
  SPEAKER_03: Plan your trip at VisitKnoxville.com.
• 45:30
  SPEAKER_15: Getting you ready for the game.
• 45:31
  SPEAKER_15: The Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
• 45:35
  SPEAKER_15: This is your ball network.
• 45:40
  SPEAKER_13: Welcome back to the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
• 45:43
  SPEAKER_13: This is Eve Rackham Watt, who is the Lady Ball volleyball head coach, ninth in the country.
• 45:50
  SPEAKER_13: First victory over a top five school in 21 years.
• 45:55
  SPEAKER_13: As it's the reverse sweep, volleyball team comes back from two games down to win three games to two over Kentucky, the number four team in the land.
• 46:06
  SPEAKER_13: Congratulations.
• 46:07
  SPEAKER_13: Thank you so much.
• 46:08
  SPEAKER_13: Tell me about the mindset of what you're telling a team when you've lost two.
• 46:14
  SPEAKER_13: So Kentucky only has to win one more.
• 46:16
  SPEAKER_13: They're Kentucky, they're number four, they're really good.
• 46:18
  SPEAKER_13: You haven't beaten them at home in 10 years.
• 46:20
  SPEAKER_13: How do you talk to them?
• 46:22
  SPEAKER_12: I don't think we said anything really different.
• 46:25
  SPEAKER_12: Uh we made a, you know, a couple of lineup changes.
• 46:27
  SPEAKER_12: Um, and I think that's just been one of the strengths of this group has been their mentality and their competitiveness.
• 46:33
  SPEAKER_12: And I really wasn't surprised we didn't lay down.
• 46:36
  SPEAKER_12: We were at home and we weren't playing very well.
• 46:38
  SPEAKER_12: And I think our team knew we weren't playing very well.
• 46:41
  SPEAKER_12: And so I think it was on every individual to kind of pick up their game.
• 46:44
  SPEAKER_12: Um, and then collectively the team was gonna perform at a higher level.
• 46:47
  SPEAKER_12: But the first two sets, we were just uncharacteristically bad in pretty much every facet of the game.
• 46:52
  SPEAKER_12: And Kentucky's good, so you know, they're gonna expose a lot of things, but I just feel like that there wasn't some magical talk in in between sets two and three.
• 46:59
  SPEAKER_12: It was really just, you know, we we changed our lineup a little bit, we rotated, and um, I think our kids just made a decision to start playing better.
• 47:05
  SPEAKER_13: You uh have got a bunch of people who really shine for you on this team, and it's a it's a mix.
• 47:11
  SPEAKER_13: I mean, Camille Perry's a freshman all the way to Caroline Kerr, who's the veteran player.
• 47:18
  SPEAKER_13: Was that by design that you wanted this club to have young and older and everything in between?
• 47:25
  SPEAKER_13: I wish I could say yes.
• 47:26
  SPEAKER_12: Um, I don't know that it was by design, um, but I think you know, we're lucky.
• 47:31
  SPEAKER_12: We have a really great mix of tremendous senior leadership, um, obviously with Caroline Kerr, but you know, we've got a couple of other seniors who shined last night as well, you know, and then we've got some really hungry freshmen who have come in and from day one, we all knew they were really talented and they've continued to invest and get better and and train and and work hard.
• 47:50
  SPEAKER_12: And Camille was ready for her opportunity last night when it came and she seized it and was was a big, big part of why we turned things around.
• 47:57
  SPEAKER_13: Tell me about Caroline Kerr and what she's meant to Lady Volve volleyball.
• 48:01
  SPEAKER_12: There's just so much I can say about Caroline.
• 48:03
  SPEAKER_12: Um, you know, she she's obviously our leader, but I I think what people don't understand about her is the character and the integrity that she has as a person, just the human being, the the the young adult I should say now that she is.
• 48:15
  SPEAKER_12: Um, she's as good as any kid I've ever coached in that realm.
• 48:19
  SPEAKER_12: But that's what made has made her such a great player.
• 48:21
  SPEAKER_12: She is self-made.
• 48:22
  SPEAKER_12: I mean, she has been the hardest worker since the day she got to this program.
• 48:26
  SPEAKER_12: She's obviously extremely talented, but that was that's because she she puts in more work than than anybody.
• 48:31
  SPEAKER_12: You know, she's still the first kid in the gym and the last kid to leave.
• 48:34
  SPEAKER_12: She has just gotten better every single year.
• 48:37
  SPEAKER_12: She's been so coachable.
• 48:39
  SPEAKER_12: I mean, she can take tough coaching, and I say that to people, you know, I think that makes her unique, uh, especially in today that you know, I've coached her hard, um, you know, and she's she's always listened, she's always responded.
• 48:52
  SPEAKER_12: She's as good a person as she is a player, um, and that says a lot.
• 48:56
  SPEAKER_13: Six in a row.
• 48:57
  SPEAKER_13: Now, six and two in the conference overall, a game out of first, and not much left in the regular season, just about three plus weeks.
• 49:05
  SPEAKER_13: You get Georgia at Georgia on November 13th, they're a game ahead of you.
• 49:09
  SPEAKER_13: Feels like if you take care of your business, you're knocking on the door of a conference championship.
• 49:14
  SPEAKER_12: Yeah, I mean, that's you know, that's when we started this season.
• 49:17
  SPEAKER_12: That was what we talked about with this group is you know, we I think we've got the talent, we've got the mindset, that's where we want to be at the end of the year.
• 49:23
  SPEAKER_12: Obviously, we now have the SEC tournament, so we've got the regular season and the and the conference championship tournament.
• 49:28
  SPEAKER_12: And I think this team has continued to get better.
• 49:31
  SPEAKER_12: And, you know, even last night we said, you know, it's a great win, but we want to keep it in perspective uh in terms of where we want to be at the end of the year.
• 49:37
  SPEAKER_12: It's just a it's just one match along the way.
• 49:38
  SPEAKER_13: Kennedy Rogers transfer from SMU.
• 49:41
  SPEAKER_13: And has she sort of um in a way helped this thing gel together the way you wanted to see?
• 49:47
  SPEAKER_12: Yeah, I mean, she's she's just a great player, and so she's come in and and provided us with this offensive spark.
• 49:54
  SPEAKER_12: You know, I think one of the things about Kennedy is she she plays with a high level of self-confidence, you know, and she knows her game is really good.
• 50:01
  SPEAKER_12: And and she's developed since she got to us in January.
• 50:04
  SPEAKER_12: But I think, you know, she's a kid that wants the ball.
• 50:06
  SPEAKER_12: She wants it in big moments.
• 50:08
  SPEAKER_12: You know, she wants to take a swing, she's she's not afraid of the moment, you know, and you gotta have kids like that, I think, to win at a high level.
• 50:15
  SPEAKER_13: Guess what?
• 50:15
  SPEAKER_13: There are a lot of ranked teams in the SEC.
• 50:17
  SPEAKER_13: It's like every other sport.
• 50:19
  SPEAKER_13: Vanderbilt coming in, number 22 in the country, one o'clock on Sunday.
• 50:23
  SPEAKER_13: SEC network, big opportunity for your team to keep it going.
• 50:26
  SPEAKER_12: Yeah, I mean, it'll be another big match.
• 50:28
  SPEAKER_12: They're having a great year, and uh, you know, it's great for the sport, it's great for our conference.
• 50:32
  SPEAKER_12: Everybody's getting better, as you said.
• 50:34
  SPEAKER_12: It's in every sport, you know, the SEC continues to to dominate and and and now volleyball is doing the same thing.
• 50:40
  SPEAKER_12: So I expect a great match on Sunday.
• 50:42
  SPEAKER_13: Are you surprised at the overall growth of volleyball, the way it's exploding?
• 50:46
  SPEAKER_12: I would maybe a little bit.
• 50:47
  SPEAKER_12: Uh, you know, I I played a long time ago, and uh, you know, to think about where the sport is now um is truly amazing, you know, and I think it's just it's grown in in every way.
• 50:58
  SPEAKER_12: I mean, not just obviously the number of girls that are playing, but the you know, the TV exposure and the the talent.
• 51:05
  SPEAKER_12: I mean, there's so many good players now that are playing that have come over from other sports that you know the game across the country uh, you know, it used to just kind of be good in pockets, you know, but now it's everywhere.
• 51:15
  SPEAKER_13: Well, congratulations on the win over Kentucky, big for the program.
• 51:18
  SPEAKER_13: Go get Vanderbilt Sunday.
• 51:19
  SPEAKER_12: Thank you.
• 51:20
  SPEAKER_13: As we take you out, it's time for a little man on the street action from two of our students who work for us on the Mike Keith show, Taylor Langford and Lauren Gempler.
• 51:28
  SPEAKER_13: I'm not sure what they're doing here.
• 51:30
  SPEAKER_13: I'm told it's entertaining.
• 51:32
  SPEAKER_13: Enjoy as we finish this edition of the Mike Heath show, and we'll see you next time.
• 51:39
  SPEAKER_11: Suck! Suck suck suck suck suck I get.
• 51:50
  SPEAKER_26: Suck, suck, suck.
• 51:53
  SPEAKER_26: All right, Taylor, you know what I'm thinking?
• 51:54
  SPEAKER_27: What are you thinking?
• 51:55
  SPEAKER_26: I think Mike Keith's favorite interns have to give it a try.
• 51:58
  SPEAKER_27: I think so.
• 51:59
  SPEAKER_27: I mean, come on now.
• 52:00
  SPEAKER_27: Come on now.
• 52:01
  SPEAKER_26: All right, I'm nervous.
• 52:02
  SPEAKER_26: Here we go.
• 52:03
  SPEAKER_27: Under pressure.
• 52:06
  SPEAKER_27: If you do want to wrap this wonderful Mike D shirt, go to the Ball Network Instagram.
• 52:11
  SPEAKER_27: The link will be there.
• 52:12
  SPEAKER_27: All proceeds go to the United Way of Greater Not Code.
• 52:17
  SPEAKER_15: All week long to the latest from the Tennessee campus.
• 52:20
  SPEAKER_15: Mike Teach Go online, delivered by Uber Eats.com.
• 52:27
  SPEAKER_15: We are the Ball Network.