Latest / The Mike Keith Show / The Mike Keith Show | JESSE PERRY, AMARE CAMPBELL, JUKE HARRIS (9.16.26)

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The Mike Keith Show | JESSE PERRY, AMARE CAMPBELL, JUKE HARRIS (9.16.26) · The Mike Keith Show

0:00
SPEAKER_06: From the peaks of the smokies to the banks of the Mississippi.
0:06
SPEAKER_06: This is your call for the University of Tennessee.
0:20
SPEAKER_06: This is the Vault Network.
0:26
SPEAKER_06: Inside access, behind the scenes.
0:29
SPEAKER_06: From Rocky Top, direct from the coaches.
0:32
SPEAKER_06: Inside from the players, the inside track.
0:36
SPEAKER_06: Mike Heath starts now.
0:39
SPEAKER_07: Welcome to the Mike Keith Show delivered by Uber Eats.
0:42
SPEAKER_07: This is the University of Tennessee's Director of Athletics, Danny White, joining us as we go from home game one to home game two, first night game of the year.
0:53
SPEAKER_07: Here we go, yeah.
0:54
SPEAKER_07: Here we go.
0:54
SPEAKER_07: Exciting stuff.
0:56
SPEAKER_07: Kennesaw State officially a 745 kickoff this Saturday night at Nealand Stadium.
1:01
SPEAKER_07: Let's review game one to game two because you always have some tweaks after the first one.
1:07
SPEAKER_07: First of all, safety perimeter.
1:10
SPEAKER_07: How long has that been done?
1:13
SPEAKER_07: I maybe I missed some of it.
1:14
SPEAKER_07: I know in the NFL it was done probably five or six years ago.
1:18
SPEAKER_07: When did it come into college?
1:20
SPEAKER_10: We started it in 2021, which was my first season here.
1:24
SPEAKER_10: And I I think uh conference-wide it was a a push to to do it a couple years before that, but then COVID hit and and slowed some things down, and it's expensive.
1:34
SPEAKER_10: We we we've invested millions of dollars in the uh the mags as they call them, but the the walkthrough security screeners that uh are intended to speed things up and make it more efficient.
1:46
SPEAKER_10: And what they're really looking for is things that can harm harm people.
1:49
SPEAKER_10: They're they're not looking for your phone or your car keys.
1:52
SPEAKER_10: And Neeland presents a really challenging footprint.
1:55
SPEAKER_10: We've tried to screen right up to the gates, and that created a mob scene.
2:00
SPEAKER_10: Now we've extended the secure perimeter further away from the stadium.
2:04
SPEAKER_10: We think it's the best way to tackle the uh very uh challenging footprint that is our stadium.
2:11
SPEAKER_10: Is uh is as uh awesome as it is to have that location right in the middle of campus and right next to the river, when you're there, it it it does create some challenges.
2:19
SPEAKER_10: So I think we're really close to a solution that makes sense.
2:23
SPEAKER_10: And most importantly, to your question, is a safe and secure environment for 102,000 people.
2:29
SPEAKER_07: How did it go in game one?
2:30
SPEAKER_10: There were some great success stories.
2:33
SPEAKER_10: The extended perimeter at the top of Peyton Manning Pass worked great.
2:36
SPEAKER_10: We learned a couple things.
2:37
SPEAKER_10: We had some choke points that we're gonna solve.
2:39
SPEAKER_10: So we're adding entry points at the the the base of G530, that parking lot where it hits Philp Fulmer Drive closest to the stadium, because people were trying to walk that way.
2:50
SPEAKER_10: They see the stadium and it was a dead end.
2:53
SPEAKER_10: And we've learned that that's that's not a winning solution.
2:56
SPEAKER_10: So we're adding 10 mags there, and then the same thing in lot nine, where people can leave from lot nine and and get to Peyton Manning Pass.
3:05
SPEAKER_10: Similarly, people can go through the the the security screening at the top of Peyton Manning Pass and then leave it if they want to go back to lot nine and then come back through.
3:14
SPEAKER_10: So some of it is for our fans to uh get used to what a secure perimeter does, and and for us to create, and I think this the adjustments we're making for this weekend creates optionality at every point.
3:27
SPEAKER_10: You don't have to be stuck in the secure perimeter once you're in.
3:30
SPEAKER_10: You can walk back out and walk back in.
3:32
SPEAKER_10: The goal of it is to uh reduce the congestion closest to the gates.
3:36
SPEAKER_10: And uh we saw a great success with that.
3:39
SPEAKER_10: I I got a screenshot of gate 21 five minutes before kick last week, and it was a ghost town.
3:44
SPEAKER_07: So when you say mags, what you're saying is you're going to have more screening machines in place at these places.
3:51
SPEAKER_10: We are.
3:52
SPEAKER_10: We're going from 35 to 60.
3:54
SPEAKER_10: Let's overprogram it if if that's what it is.
3:56
SPEAKER_10: Uh the goal is to really minimize congestion and buildup of lines uh so people can get through.
4:03
SPEAKER_10: We know that the the stadium is safe and secure, uh, and and hopefully it doesn't uh uh create too much of a hindrance on on you know where they want to go out and about.
4:12
SPEAKER_10: So our fans are social, they like to sure go to this parking lot and see some folks, go over here, uh maybe go several different places before they they walk in the stadium.
4:20
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, makes sense.
4:21
SPEAKER_07: And the the difficulty with the campus is so if you're coming from campus, you're coming to the west side.
4:28
SPEAKER_07: If you're going to the vol walk, you're going to the west side.
4:31
SPEAKER_07: If you're going to watch the band, you're on the west side.
4:33
SPEAKER_07: Yeah.
4:34
SPEAKER_07: Everything really happens toward the west side.
4:38
SPEAKER_07: Is that what you're talking about when you say the difficulty of the campus environment and figuring all that out?
4:44
SPEAKER_10: It is.
4:44
SPEAKER_10: And the the topography of our stadium.
4:46
SPEAKER_10: The east side is way down the hill, and you know, the vast majority of 102,000 people are coming through one side of the stadium.
4:53
SPEAKER_10: That's why we expanded that southwest corner, Tickle Plaza, uh, and expanded those gates, expanded the south concourse so that can be a better conduit for people to get to the east side.
5:03
SPEAKER_10: I think all of those things should help a lot, but extending that perimeter like we've done this year uh was needed to avoid the congestion at the bottom of Peyton Manning Pass that we saw last year.
5:14
SPEAKER_10: Uh, we just didn't have enough options for people to get through it in game one, and we we're fixing that for game two and beyond.
5:19
SPEAKER_07: All right, let's talk traffic.
5:20
SPEAKER_07: A lot of work done by a lot of different people on the traffic plan.
5:24
SPEAKER_07: We talked a couple weeks ago about what was going to happen coming out of the concert and the bananas game in May and some changes.
5:33
SPEAKER_07: How did all that work?
5:34
SPEAKER_10: I think it worked really well.
5:35
SPEAKER_10: Uh, having multiple lanes of traffic heading west on Cumberland and on Nealand Drive for the first time took great coordination with a lot of different police units, starting with uh UT police and city, county, multiple counties.
5:48
SPEAKER_10: It takes a lot of uh first responders to put on a game at Nealand Stadium.
5:52
SPEAKER_10: And uh I I think we had uh good early reports.
5:56
SPEAKER_10: That game wasn't the best test for egress because people were leaving and trickling out throughout the second half.
6:01
SPEAKER_10: We need to be prepared for uh times when uh 100,000 people all want to leave at the same time.
6:06
SPEAKER_10: And I think we are.
6:07
SPEAKER_10: I think a reasonable goal, but it's an aggressive goal for us, is to to try to empty campus in in under an hour.
6:14
SPEAKER_10: That's a tall order with that many people, and there's not a lot of roads, as you know.
6:18
SPEAKER_10: We spend a lot of time and resources on this plan.
6:21
SPEAKER_10: And uh if everyone follows the plan, including our fans, and that's why we're communicating and over-communicating at times.
6:28
SPEAKER_10: If you park in this lot, this is how you should come and this is how you should go home.
6:32
SPEAKER_10: There's 102,000 participants in this playbook, and just like on a football field, if one player doesn't do their their their job, it messes the whole thing up.
6:41
SPEAKER_10: The route may not be how you normally drive, and we're we're asking you to follow the playbook, and then it's on us to to make sure that uh that that it works, and we'll continue to monitor it.
6:49
SPEAKER_10: And if we need to tweak it, we will.
6:51
SPEAKER_07: Being able to go kneeling to Kingston Pike is a game changer.
6:55
SPEAKER_10: Yeah, no question.
6:56
SPEAKER_10: We had to adjust that exit ramp to get up onto the interstate.
6:59
SPEAKER_10: So we have two lanes of traffic going on onto the interstate, which uh doubles the speed at which we're emptying Nealand Drive, which should double the speed at which we're emptying parking lots behind it.
7:09
SPEAKER_10: It's a trickle-down effect.
7:11
SPEAKER_07: And the cooperation, I mean, UT police, KPD, Visit Knoxville, City, County, everybody being involved, that's almost unheard of to have that kind of cooperation.
7:23
SPEAKER_07: So coming up with the plan and then having it executed by all these people working together is unusual.
7:30
SPEAKER_10: It's the best coordination, from what I understand, we've ever had.
7:33
SPEAKER_10: They've been awesome.
7:34
SPEAKER_10: We've had great partners across the board.
7:36
SPEAKER_10: And a lot of that is because of the impact our fans make on this community.
7:40
SPEAKER_10: The economic impact of game days is astronomical for the for the city, for our campus, for everyone involved.
7:46
SPEAKER_10: And we want people to have a great experience.
7:48
SPEAKER_10: I know they wouldn't want to go to uh some new stadium built out uh in the in the suburbs, surrounded by surface parking lots.
7:55
SPEAKER_10: They love Nealand Stadium, we all do.
7:57
SPEAKER_10: It's iconic, it's the cathedral of college football.
8:00
SPEAKER_10: I think we all need to uh understand, and I think our fans do, uh, that it does present some challenges with with the location and the footprint.
8:07
SPEAKER_10: But I feel really good about all the work that's gone into it and and the plan we have for this season.
8:11
SPEAKER_07: What was the reaction to the new sound system in Nealand Stadium?
8:14
SPEAKER_10: I think people really liked it.
8:15
SPEAKER_10: I I was impressed.
8:17
SPEAKER_10: It it uh it it was certainly expensive.
8:20
SPEAKER_10: It's it is the best solution in the world for a stadium that size.
8:23
SPEAKER_10: I think it delivered.
8:24
SPEAKER_07: Speaking of the fans, what about the takeover of Atlanta last Saturday night?
8:30
SPEAKER_07: Holy cow.
8:31
SPEAKER_07: Were you even surprised some by that?
8:34
SPEAKER_10: I can't even say I'm surprised anymore.
8:36
SPEAKER_10: Uh it's just been so many events uh away from Knoxville that just turn into a sea of orange.
8:42
SPEAKER_10: I think about the Mississippi State game on the road last year.
8:45
SPEAKER_10: Uh this was a lot like that, maybe even a bigger percentage of the stadium.
8:49
SPEAKER_10: They find a way.
8:50
SPEAKER_10: And another part I I think is you know, Nealand Stadium has gotten so hard to get into.
8:55
SPEAKER_10: So I think for some fans, uh it's an opportunity to see the vols in person.
8:59
SPEAKER_10: Uh where it's it's a it's a challenge just to get into our home stadium.
9:04
SPEAKER_10: We have 29,400 accounts on a waiting list.
9:08
SPEAKER_10: We average three and a half tickets and account.
9:10
SPEAKER_10: The passion is really uh, I think it's unparalleled.
9:13
SPEAKER_07: The 29th consecutive sellout is what is upcoming.
9:17
SPEAKER_07: And when you started with this thing five years ago, you had goals that you obviously reached much more quickly than in the five-year plan.
9:26
SPEAKER_10: No question.
9:26
SPEAKER_10: I I underestimated Vault Nation for sure.
9:29
SPEAKER_07: Well, but I I mean it had been it had been quite different.
9:32
SPEAKER_07: I mean, for years the passion was there, things were not good for a while, lost momentum, and then suddenly it has come back in in a dramatic, in a dramatic way.
9:42
SPEAKER_07: I mean, with the 29,000 people on the waiting list, do you keep going as you've talked about, looking at different options to maybe get them in the stadium sometime?
9:51
SPEAKER_10: We'd love to.
9:52
SPEAKER_10: I think the only place to do it is in that north end zone if we were gonna add seats.
9:56
SPEAKER_10: And uh, you know, beyond that that that waiting list for season tickets, we also have on average about 20,000 students, and we only have 12,000 seats in our student section.
10:05
SPEAKER_10: About 20,000 want to come.
10:07
SPEAKER_10: So uh we need more student seats.
10:09
SPEAKER_10: I'd love to have more seats for season ticket holders.
10:11
SPEAKER_10: It would also maybe help uh drive down the secondary market a little bit if add a little more supply.
10:17
SPEAKER_10: Uh I was a marketing major, but I took econ.
10:19
SPEAKER_10: You know, maybe we could help a little bit with that, but uh we're we're well, it's certainly not uh a quick and easy project.
10:26
SPEAKER_07: Thanks for taking the time to bring us up to speed on uh week two.
10:30
SPEAKER_07: More mags.
10:31
SPEAKER_07: Go from 35 to 60 on the perimeter.
10:34
SPEAKER_07: Traffic plan went well.
10:36
SPEAKER_10: Went well.
10:36
SPEAKER_07: Follow the plan.
10:37
SPEAKER_07: Don't be like my dad would be.
10:39
SPEAKER_07: And just he would have been that guy, would have just oh, I'm gonna try the shortcut.
10:43
SPEAKER_07: Don't do that.
10:44
SPEAKER_07: Go go the way you're told.
10:45
SPEAKER_10: And I still let me interject real quick.
10:47
SPEAKER_10: It went well from a macro stance.
10:50
SPEAKER_10: If you had a bad experience and we know about it, which I think we do, whether we observed it ourselves or or people, it's really helpful for folks to tell us if the the the staff working a specific intersection isn't following the plan.
11:03
SPEAKER_10: But we had a couple minor issues.
11:05
SPEAKER_10: I mean, they weren't minor for the people that it would that involved.
11:08
SPEAKER_10: It's never minor.
11:09
SPEAKER_10: We want to get it perfect.
11:10
SPEAKER_10: But it in the scope of it, uh, we had a few issues that that are being resolved.
11:15
SPEAKER_10: Uh, but by and large, the ingress and egress work great.
11:17
SPEAKER_07: Good.
11:17
SPEAKER_07: Let's do it again Saturday night.
11:19
SPEAKER_10: Let's do it.
11:19
SPEAKER_07: All right, Daddy White, thanks so much for the time.
11:21
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11:24
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12:01
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12:04
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12:10
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12:17
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15:39
SPEAKER_07: You could put him at right guard, you could put him at right tackle.
15:43
SPEAKER_07: He's going to play well and he's going to do the job with a lot of toughness.
15:48
SPEAKER_07: That toughness and his overall talent is helping him to gain recognition around the Southeastern Conference.
15:56
SPEAKER_07: You went to a high school that didn't exist when I was growing up, Middle Tennessee Christian.
16:01
SPEAKER_07: And Middle Tennessee Christian School has become just a great school.
16:05
SPEAKER_07: People are really excited about sending their kids there.
16:08
SPEAKER_07: Good in athletics.
16:10
SPEAKER_07: I saw you win a state championship.
16:12
SPEAKER_07: I want to ask you about your playing career there because it was a small high school.
16:16
SPEAKER_07: I mean, you're one of the stories that you come from a smaller program and have the chance to come play SEC football and very quickly become a contributor.
16:27
SPEAKER_07: A lot of guys who come from small programs, it takes them three or four years.
16:31
SPEAKER_07: It didn't take you that long.
16:33
SPEAKER_07: So how many guys were on your high school football team?
16:36
SPEAKER_08: There were 33 guys my senior year on the high school team.
16:40
SPEAKER_07: On the whole team.
16:40
SPEAKER_08: Yes, sir.
16:41
SPEAKER_07: Now, did you play offense and defense?
16:42
SPEAKER_08: Yes, sir.
16:43
SPEAKER_07: Okay.
16:44
SPEAKER_07: Did you ever think you might be a defensive player?
16:46
SPEAKER_08: So I actually broke my wrist my sophomore year of high school.
16:50
SPEAKER_08: And um, I don't really understand why they moved me to offensive line playing with the club, or they just moved me to strictly offensive line my sophomore year.
16:59
SPEAKER_08: And uh I just bought into the process, and it it was just you know, it was just history from then on out.
17:06
SPEAKER_07: So breaking your wrist might have turned out to be one of the biggest breaks, pardon the pun.
17:12
SPEAKER_07: One of the biggest breaks of your career.
17:14
SPEAKER_07: Really, it really could have.
17:15
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, that's incredible.
17:17
SPEAKER_07: All right, so state championship game.
17:19
SPEAKER_07: I'm watching you on offense.
17:22
SPEAKER_07: Do you run a wing, T?
17:23
SPEAKER_07: Technically, it's called the single wing.
17:26
SPEAKER_08: So you really ran the old single wing like Tennessee ran until 1963.
17:31
SPEAKER_08: Yes, sir.
17:31
SPEAKER_08: Basically, a little tackle over action.
17:33
SPEAKER_08: Um, you know, we got a block in the back, we got a wing, uh quarterback running back, we got one wide out.
17:40
SPEAKER_08: Um, and you can just do a whole bunch of stuff with that and just run power counter, buck sweep, and come on, man.
17:47
SPEAKER_08: Fired me up.
17:48
SPEAKER_07: But that doesn't really get you ready to play offensive line in the SEC, does it?
17:52
SPEAKER_08: It's a little bit different.
17:54
SPEAKER_08: So for my high school offense, it really established like a mentality.
17:59
SPEAKER_08: Uh just like go run through a dude's face.
18:01
SPEAKER_08: Definitely like a lot of down blocks, um, a lot of open pulls in uh in MPCS's offense.
18:08
SPEAKER_08: But that some of that stuff transitioned over.
18:10
SPEAKER_08: Like I had to pull a lot at tackle and guard, and I had to do like some down blocks and stuff.
18:17
SPEAKER_08: But there were definitely a lot of things I had to learn once I got to college, like pass sets, um, and then like duo footwork.
18:24
SPEAKER_08: Uh, that was all new stuff to me whenever I got here.
18:27
SPEAKER_08: But uh, my high school coach, Coach Petey, and Coach Tacket, they definitely did a really good job instilling a mindset.
18:34
SPEAKER_08: Uh that's like the most important part of the mindset, just go run through run through somebody.
18:39
SPEAKER_07: A lot of guys come to college to play offensive line and they know how to pass protect, but they really don't know how to move or run block.
18:45
SPEAKER_07: So you were the opposite.
18:47
SPEAKER_07: With your experience having seen it for a while now, do you feel like in a strange way you had an advantage?
18:54
SPEAKER_08: I still was a freshman just like everybody else.
18:56
SPEAKER_08: Like I had so much to learn.
18:58
SPEAKER_08: And like playbook, every every little different, like tight three-tech, loose three-tech, backer alignment, like your footwork and stuff can change really easily, uh, play-to-play.
19:09
SPEAKER_08: Um, so there's just a whole lot of learning with that.
19:12
SPEAKER_08: But I felt like I was able to come out play with my hair on fire.
19:16
SPEAKER_08: What appealed to you about how they recruited you?
19:18
SPEAKER_08: They definitely made me feel like a priority.
19:20
SPEAKER_08: Coach Overby and Coach Hype like showed me a way I could get onto the field, told me the steps that I needed to take, just gave me a clear, honest picture of what I had to do.
19:30
SPEAKER_08: And then strength staff, nutrition, uh sport, uh, sport med, like they all gave me uh the tools that I I believed I needed to utilize to my best, uh, to my best ability.
19:42
SPEAKER_07: Let's do this.
19:43
SPEAKER_07: Okay, so Nealand Stadium is preserved by our friends at Pilot.
19:47
SPEAKER_07: What is your favorite Nealand Stadium moment, Jesse Perry?
19:51
SPEAKER_08: Man, that's a hard question.
19:52
SPEAKER_08: There's been like some big big time things.
19:55
SPEAKER_08: The Bama game 24, we were uh Will Brooks interception.
20:01
SPEAKER_08: That was so cool to see.
20:03
SPEAKER_08: And then this past season, uh out there playing versus Georgia, I mean the game didn't end the way we wanted it to.
20:10
SPEAKER_08: But seeing Chris go up top like three times, like I do I get to do my job and I get to watch Chris do I do that is pretty sick.
20:21
SPEAKER_07: Most important question who is the fastest offensive lineman?
20:25
SPEAKER_08: Fastest offensive lineman.
20:26
SPEAKER_08: Um, I wish I could say myself, uh, but it's probably David.
20:31
SPEAKER_08: David Sanders.
20:32
SPEAKER_08: Yeah, David Sanders.
20:32
SPEAKER_07: Who's the most athletic offensive lineman?
20:35
SPEAKER_08: Still still David.
20:36
SPEAKER_07: Who's the best basketball player among the offensive linemen?
20:40
SPEAKER_07: You're gonna say Jesse Perry?
20:41
SPEAKER_08: Nah.
20:42
SPEAKER_08: You could.
20:43
SPEAKER_08: No.
20:44
SPEAKER_08: It's your interview.
20:45
SPEAKER_08: Uh the people back home are probably gonna be laughing through TV if I I said it was me.
20:50
SPEAKER_08: I'm not good at basketball.
20:52
SPEAKER_08: Uh I know Tani is really good at it.
20:54
SPEAKER_08: Jeremiah's Heard, I know he's good.
20:55
SPEAKER_07: Jeremiah's Heard.
20:56
SPEAKER_08: Yeah, Jeremiah.
20:57
SPEAKER_08: Is he 6'8?
20:58
SPEAKER_08: I don't know, but he's freaking huge.
21:01
SPEAKER_08: Okay.
21:01
SPEAKER_08: Like mountain of a man.
21:03
SPEAKER_08: Oh, yeah.
21:03
SPEAKER_08: He played basketball in high school.
21:04
SPEAKER_08: I know David played in high school.
21:06
SPEAKER_08: Those are two definitely the guys that are the best at basketball.
21:10
SPEAKER_07: Who is the offensive lineman who thinks he's the best at everything?
21:14
SPEAKER_08: That's me.
21:14
SPEAKER_08: Yeah, I think uh I think I think I'm the best at everything.
21:18
SPEAKER_08: Whether I am or not, like who knows?
21:21
SPEAKER_08: But like I walk into the room and I think I'm the best.
21:24
SPEAKER_07: Is there any group on a football team that has more fun than the offensive line?
21:30
SPEAKER_08: Nah, like we're we're a bunch of like big big old dudes we love going around blocking and protecting the quarterback.
21:37
SPEAKER_08: Um not a selfish group at all.
21:40
SPEAKER_08: And whenever whenever it's time to work, we're there to work.
21:43
SPEAKER_08: And whenever it's time to kick back and relax, we're all having fun together.
21:47
SPEAKER_08: When we come back, a juke.
22:00
SPEAKER_06: This is your home for coaches and players.
22:03
SPEAKER_06: One-on-one from Rocky Top.
22:05
SPEAKER_06: This is your ball network.
22:12
SPEAKER_07: Transfer Edition, Juke Harris continues to shine in every way for the Tennessee basketball team, even though they're not even fully into practice yet.
22:23
SPEAKER_07: Everybody who's had a chance to see him work after seeing him play well for Wake Forest knows this is a guy who can score the basketball.
22:32
SPEAKER_07: Ju Harris, a player that Tennessee fans are excited to see, is excited to get to work playing for Rick Bards.
22:40
SPEAKER_07: Give us a scouting report on Day Day Ames.
22:47
SPEAKER_01: Tough guard on the offense and defensive end.
22:50
SPEAKER_01: Can I done a three-ball, three-level score?
22:54
SPEAKER_01: If you don't stop or stop his first dribble, it's going to be hard to control him.
22:59
SPEAKER_01: So maybe just pack the pay and just pray he missed or something like that.
23:04
SPEAKER_01: I don't know.
23:05
SPEAKER_07: So you knew him from having played against him.
23:08
SPEAKER_07: Did you know several of the guys who have joined you here at Tennessee from at least the reputation of playing against them, or did you know some of them personally?
23:17
SPEAKER_01: I think the only person I knew coming in was uh Troy and Day Day.
23:22
SPEAKER_01: Troy played uh on Team Lord Virginia uh on.
23:25
SPEAKER_01: Troy Henderson, yeah, on a younger group whenever we was playing AAU, and then I knew Day Day from playing um actually my freshman year when he was at Virginia, and then my sophomore year at Cal.
23:35
SPEAKER_01: So those the two that I was familiar with coming in.
23:38
SPEAKER_01: So you'd seen too much of Day Day.
23:40
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I see.
23:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, he definitely killed his uh my freshman year at Virginia, also.
23:44
SPEAKER_07: So tell me what that's like when you're coming into a team and you have established guys.
23:51
SPEAKER_07: I mean, you're the numbers for all the guys who come in like yours are are outstanding, and you're trying to fit that all together.
23:59
SPEAKER_07: What's that like?
24:00
SPEAKER_01: Uh I think it's pretty fun seeing so many uh offensive guys on one team, and then how some of us are making so um certain sacrifices for each other, and I feel like that's just growing us even closer.
24:15
SPEAKER_01: Uh I feel like we all have conversations inside the locker room or what our goals are and what we want to do as a team, and all our goals aligned together, so it makes it so much easier.
24:24
SPEAKER_07: What's it like now playing for Coach Martins?
24:27
SPEAKER_01: Uh it's that it's definitely tough.
24:29
SPEAKER_01: It's it's definitely tough.
24:30
SPEAKER_01: Uh, I got so many stories and how he got on me, got on the teammates, but I know it's for the uh for the best of us, so uh I know it's gonna help us in the long run.
24:38
SPEAKER_07: What does he ask of you defensively that you haven't been asked for before at any level of basketball?
24:45
SPEAKER_01: Uh pick up half court.
24:48
SPEAKER_01: Uh normally when I play defense, I'm inside a three-point line, but now is I'm able to extend out on the defense end.
24:55
SPEAKER_01: So either that's picking up 94 feet and controlling the ball or whenever it's swung, getting up into my man, no matter how far he is off the three-point line.
25:03
SPEAKER_07: As a basketball player, it's satisfying to hit a three or to complete a fast break.
25:08
SPEAKER_07: Now that you're playing for Coach Barnes, as you've done some of the things defensively that he wants you to do, do you suddenly feel that's just as satisfying in a way that maybe, at least remotely, offensive plays happen to be satisfying?
25:25
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is.
25:26
SPEAKER_01: It's just like you get a steal, you get out on break, and somebody jumps up and dunk the ball.
25:31
SPEAKER_01: I feel like things like that, getting turnovers on the defensive end, uh having a great defense possession to the point where the team's shooting with five seconds left to shooting a tough shot.
25:40
SPEAKER_01: I feel like that's just the same as accomplishment as somebody just knocking down the three and we getting back on defense.
25:46
SPEAKER_01: So I feel like everything starts on the defensive end, and we got so many good offensive guys, we get those stops on defense, and now it's gonna be hard for them to stop us on the offensive end.
25:54
SPEAKER_01: It makes offense so much easier, too.
25:57
SPEAKER_07: Jalen Harrelson, tell me about him.
26:00
SPEAKER_01: Uh he's super tough.
26:01
SPEAKER_01: He he is definitely a tough kid.
26:03
SPEAKER_01: Uh can play one one through four.
26:06
SPEAKER_01: There's been times he's a lot of times he played the one position.
26:09
SPEAKER_01: There's been a lot of times he uh shifted over to the two, three, and four, so he's so versatile, great mid-range shooter, good on the defense, and able to control the pace of the game, able to get everybody involved, so he's a complete player.
26:22
SPEAKER_07: When you say he can play one through four, I I was shocked at how he can handle the basketball for a quote unquote big man.
26:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it is crazy.
26:30
SPEAKER_01: That's that's the first that I've seen also, too.
26:32
SPEAKER_01: The way he's able to control the ball, control the pace, and get everybody involved, and also can go down to the fourth position, and he's able to learn positions one through four, too.
26:42
SPEAKER_01: You got to be super tough minded to learn all those positions.
26:46
SPEAKER_07: Dwayne Brown.
26:47
SPEAKER_07: Um, a lot of talk about what he's meant to people in terms of bringing things together.
26:51
SPEAKER_07: What do you see from him as a player that maybe Tennessee fans who even saw him last year as a freshman don't know and will see this coming season?
27:00
SPEAKER_01: Uh I like to start with he's a true leader.
27:02
SPEAKER_01: Uh it's been times where practice has been down and he's been the voice to pick everybody back up.
27:08
SPEAKER_01: And on the court, he just super dominant also.
27:11
SPEAKER_01: He got a big frame, big body, so he's able just to move people out of the way and go dunk the ball.
27:16
SPEAKER_01: Uh it's been times he got the ball at the three-point line, took one dribble, went to go dunk it.
27:20
SPEAKER_01: So it's like I feel like he's gonna show a lot of what he can do this year that he wasn't able to last year.
27:25
SPEAKER_07: Garrett Maidenwall is the person involved in strength and conditioning.
27:29
SPEAKER_07: And as I see you, it looks like we've gotten have you added some bulk?
27:33
SPEAKER_07: Have you had you feel like you're stronger than when you when you arrived?
27:36
SPEAKER_01: Uh I'm way stronger.
27:37
SPEAKER_01: I think I came in at 195.
27:39
SPEAKER_01: I'm thinking I'm at like 207 right now.
27:43
SPEAKER_01: So I put on uh seven pounds of muscle so far just over in the summer.
27:47
SPEAKER_01: So you know Coach G, he's he's on us about getting stronger uh and just being just being more being more of an adult about uh how you approach things, about being on time, uh making sure we jogging from each spot to spot when we're in the weight room, stuff like that.
28:04
SPEAKER_01: So a lot of guys put on a lot of um muscle mass and we all get credit to G.
28:09
SPEAKER_07: When Juke Karras got here, there was a there was a plan for you, a development plan.
28:14
SPEAKER_07: There were things that you certainly had in mind that you want to get done this season.
28:19
SPEAKER_07: Are those things tracking the way you want them to?
28:21
SPEAKER_07: And what are you looking forward to in this 26-27 campaign?
28:26
SPEAKER_01: Uh they definitely are.
28:27
SPEAKER_01: I think one of my main goals this year was to be better on the defense end, and I feel like uh through practices it is shown.
28:33
SPEAKER_01: So I think I'm a little bit ahead of schedule too, and I just want to keep building on my game, uh offense and defense.
28:40
SPEAKER_07: Juke Harris's appearance here brought to us by First Horizon Bank, the official bank of the vaults.
28:46
SPEAKER_01: Yes, sir.
28:46
SPEAKER_01: You think a lot of them?
28:48
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
28:48
SPEAKER_01: Uh ever since I got here, they treated me like family.
28:51
SPEAKER_01: It's a great establishment, and I really appreciate them for all they do.
28:54
SPEAKER_12: You're one-on-one with Mike Key, sponsored by Food City, the official supermarket of the Tennessee Volunteers.
29:01
SPEAKER_12: By Farm Bureau Insurance, the official insurance of the vault, Tennessee Insurance for Tennessee Life.
29:08
SPEAKER_12: By First Horizon, Big Bank Hustle, Small Bank Hustle.
29:12
SPEAKER_12: By Pilot, Official Travel Stop of the Vault.
29:15
SPEAKER_12: See you out here.
29:17
SPEAKER_12: By Rackley Roofing, let us fix your lead, the traveled official roofer of the big orange.
29:23
SPEAKER_12: And by UT Medical, the official healthcare provider of the vault.
29:27
SPEAKER_03: At Rackley Roofing, we are not a one-man team.
29:30
SPEAKER_03: We're actually not a two-man team.
29:32
SPEAKER_03: Everyone is a critical part of the journey.
29:35
SPEAKER_12: Championship teams are not built on one person.
29:38
SPEAKER_12: Great companies aren't either.
29:39
SPEAKER_03: Like the Vaults, coaches and players need to learn to handle the pressure, including the pressure of success.
29:46
SPEAKER_17: We invest in the next generation.
29:48
SPEAKER_05: We invest in our community.
29:50
SPEAKER_17: And most importantly, we invest in our employees.
29:53
SPEAKER_00: Want to change the world?
29:54
SPEAKER_00: Change it one roof at a time.
29:58
SPEAKER_18: When you travel across the great state of Tennessee, one thing you're sure to find is big orange passion.
30:04
SPEAKER_18: You see it throughout every inch of the volunteer state, just like you see First Horizon.
30:09
SPEAKER_18: Serving communities big and small, offering big bank products with small bank passion.
30:14
SPEAKER_18: What else do you need?
30:16
SPEAKER_12: Big bank muscle.
30:17
SPEAKER_12: Small bank hustle.
30:19
SPEAKER_18: That's first horizon, the official bank of the volume.
30:22
SPEAKER_18: Probably serving Tennesseeans for over 160 years.
30:30
SPEAKER_05: Out of here.
30:59
SPEAKER_18: It's the Ask Coach Hyperloop.
31:01
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31:04
SPEAKER_18: I'm your host, Josh Hypo.
31:06
SPEAKER_18: Brent Wright.
31:08
SPEAKER_18: Coach, no many good data jokes.
31:13
SPEAKER_18: Hey Brent, thanks for asking.
31:15
SPEAKER_18: Why is grilling so great in Knoxville?
31:18
SPEAKER_18: Because the vaults always bring the heat.
31:21
SPEAKER_18: This has been Ask Coach Hypo, brought to you by Food City, the official tailgating headquarters of the vault.
31:27
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31:33
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31:47
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31:52
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33:00
SPEAKER_07: Glad to have you back with us on the Mike Keith show.
33:03
SPEAKER_07: This is ball linebacker Amari Campbell.
33:06
SPEAKER_07: Team high eight tackles.
33:08
SPEAKER_07: Tied with Ariane Carter.
33:10
SPEAKER_07: It's pretty good company.
33:12
SPEAKER_20: Yes, sir.
33:13
SPEAKER_07: Welcome back.
33:13
SPEAKER_20: Yes, sir.
33:14
SPEAKER_20: It was great to have him back.
33:15
SPEAKER_07: Uh great to get a win in Atlanta over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 45 to 24.
33:21
SPEAKER_07: As you looked at the tape, what did you think about the defense's performance in that game?
33:26
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, I feel like overall our effort was great, high effort.
33:30
SPEAKER_20: Um, you know, in those road games, we have to bring our defense and we have to play style football, but I feel like our energy was there and uh our ability to create takeaways in this game played a huge role.
33:40
SPEAKER_07: You did more things in a game plan than you obviously did against Ferman.
33:44
SPEAKER_07: And in trying to execute the game plan, what were the challenges in that both positively and negatively?
33:50
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, I would say just, you know, when we get on in the game, not every look is the same from practice.
33:55
SPEAKER_20: So, you know, just uh knowing the rules of our defense, knowing the uh techniques that we have to play regardless of the formation, regardless of whatever play they run, you know, just the uh constant uh techniques.
34:07
SPEAKER_07: How much is your knowledge of a gym knowles defense helping you at this moment with what you're doing in gymnole's defense from Penn State now to Tennessee?
34:18
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, it definitely helps a lot, you know, just having those game reps from last year, being at Penn State, you know, knowing knowing the scheme and just being able being able to apply it this year, playing against different competitions, uh different teams and different looks, it definitely has helped a lot.
34:32
SPEAKER_07: So is what you're doing at Tennessee very different so far than what you were doing at Penn State?
34:39
SPEAKER_20: No, I I wouldn't say it was different.
34:41
SPEAKER_20: I feel like just tightening up my techniques and just everything's techniques, really.
34:46
SPEAKER_20: Just my hand placement, eye placement, all those type of little things.
34:49
SPEAKER_07: The the use of this linebacker core, you realistically have four guys who are starters.
34:55
SPEAKER_07: I mean, in Spellman and T Lander and Carter and yourself.
34:59
SPEAKER_07: In rotating through in those different ways, and a couple of times being used all together, what is that like in terms of kind of dividing that up?
35:08
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, I mean, it's great, you know, just to be able to put us all on the field at the same time, and we're all we all have our own our own talent, we all have our own things, our strengths that we're good at, and our ability to communicate when we're all four on the field because we know we know the defense inside and out.
35:22
SPEAKER_20: So having four linebackers that know the defense inside and out, like it's a it's a great fella.
35:27
SPEAKER_07: Jeremiah T.
35:27
SPEAKER_07: Lander, a guy you work closely with, uh had a good performance the other night.
35:32
SPEAKER_07: Overall, what have you seen from him from the start of your time here until right now in terms of his improvement?
35:40
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, I would just say just his work ethic and like he's really he's really focused.
35:46
SPEAKER_20: He's really focused on not just himself but the team, and he's just focused on being the best that he can be.
35:51
SPEAKER_20: And you know, that elevates us all.
35:53
SPEAKER_20: So his his growth has been tremendous from from when I first seen until now.
35:57
SPEAKER_20: He's making huge plays, so he's he's doing great.
36:05
SPEAKER_07: These guys here returning had the advantage that they played for linebacker coach William Inge.
36:10
SPEAKER_07: What has it been like for you to get to know Coach Inge and figure out what's important to him?
36:16
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, it's been it's been good, you know, just figuring out the type of uh type of coach he is, the type of guy he is off the field.
36:22
SPEAKER_20: It's been good, you know, starting from now, January till now.
36:25
SPEAKER_20: I feel like we've built uh a pretty solid bond, just growing and learning each other, because you know, coming in with as a transfer, you know, you have to learn new people.
36:33
SPEAKER_20: So I just feel like we've been learning each other really well, and he's a he's a really he's a good coach.
36:37
SPEAKER_07: Xavier Gilliam's performance so far.
36:40
SPEAKER_07: I mean, you obviously came with him from Penn State.
36:43
SPEAKER_07: He had the big numbers in the Furman game.
36:46
SPEAKER_07: The numbers weren't as great in the Georgia Tech game, but he was giving all sorts of problems and creating opportunities for other people as you've seen his growth from last year to this year.
37:00
SPEAKER_07: What do you notice is the biggest difference?
37:02
SPEAKER_20: I just feel like he's grown, he's growing up, he's maturing, you know, he's starting to realize that when he takes when he takes everything seriously, when he when he gives his all and everything, like nobody can stop him.
37:14
SPEAKER_20: Like there's nobody that can stop him.
37:15
SPEAKER_20: And just the maturity that I've seen from him is the biggest thing.
37:18
SPEAKER_20: Like the more mature he gets, the more he'll turn into a natural leader, and then he just the sky's the limit for him.
37:24
SPEAKER_07: What are you enjoying most about playing for Tennessee in this defense through two games?
37:28
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, I would just say my teammates really, my teammates and the fans, you know, the energy that I that I love playing with my teammates and being out there with those guys, and then the energy that I have from the fans, you know, that that helps a lot.
37:40
SPEAKER_20: So those be the big things.
37:42
SPEAKER_07: Night football coming up at Neal and Stadium.
37:45
SPEAKER_07: You've you've had a night game with the balls, but you haven't had a night game with Neal and what are you excited about about this coming Saturday against Kennesaw State?
37:53
SPEAKER_20: I'm I'm just excited for the environment, really, just to see all the fans, see, see how the night game works, see uh what they do for the fans and all that type of stuff.
38:01
SPEAKER_20: I'm excited to see.
38:03
SPEAKER_07: Now when you ran through the tea against Furman and you went through that whole process of your first game in Neal, and did it take you a minute to kind of get back to center from the emotional excitement that you felt?
38:15
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, definitely.
38:15
SPEAKER_20: You know, running out, running out the tea, running out uh the tunnel was great feeling, you know, just everything going off, all the fans screaming and cheering, you know, definitely had to get back to uh locked in once that once that was over.
38:26
SPEAKER_07: All right, recently you were at Food City with Ariane Carter.
38:29
SPEAKER_07: Yeah, um, had a chance to meet the fans.
38:32
SPEAKER_07: What was enjoying or what was the the greatest enjoyment that you had about that experience at Food City?
38:38
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, really just really just the fans.
38:41
SPEAKER_20: There's so much so much love.
38:42
SPEAKER_20: You know, I'm a I'm a newer guy, but you know, sitting there with Ariane, those people have pictures from Arian from his freshman year, his sophomore year, like all his training cars.
38:50
SPEAKER_20: So, you know, that just shows the Vols uh Vol Vos fans uh dedication.
38:54
SPEAKER_20: You know, they have pictures of Arian from his freshman year, sophomore year, and junior year.
38:58
SPEAKER_20: So it was just crazy to see.
39:00
SPEAKER_07: But they know who you are already, too.
39:02
SPEAKER_07: Does that surprise you?
39:03
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, I mean, it definitely does, you know, coming from UNC and then going to Pissane and out here, just just being recognized by the fans is it's a blessing for sure.
39:12
SPEAKER_07: All right, so gearing up for for Kennesaw, what do you see from their offense that's gonna challenge Tennessee on Saturday night?
39:18
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, uh the QB is a mobile guy.
39:20
SPEAKER_20: He likes to move a lot, run a lot uh run around a lot.
39:23
SPEAKER_20: So and they have good players on offense as well.
39:25
SPEAKER_20: So I I feel like our tackling and being able to control them in space is a big thing.
39:29
SPEAKER_07: Now, talk to me about recovery after a game as we wrap up.
39:33
SPEAKER_07: You you played Saturday night, eight tackles, tough opponent, physical game.
39:39
SPEAKER_07: How do you get your body back to normal to be ready for this Saturday night?
39:44
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, it really starts right after the game.
39:46
SPEAKER_20: You know, uh on the flight back, we have uh Fireflies, you know, their recovery tool that we use, you know, just starting as soon as we get on the plane after the game, and then Sunday coming in, getting a massage or getting sauna or getting treatment on that Sunday, and then on that Monday, uh getting more tubs and maybe could get another massage or, you know, just trying to hit those recovery modalities every day.
40:08
SPEAKER_20: Whatever uh parts of my body feel the most sore or took the most brunt of it, definitely hit those parts.
40:12
SPEAKER_07: How long did it take you to learn that as a college player?
40:15
SPEAKER_20: Man, I feel like I learned that early, man.
40:18
SPEAKER_20: I really learned that early coming in freshman year, man.
40:20
SPEAKER_20: It's not like high school ball.
40:22
SPEAKER_20: So definitely gotta take care of your body.
40:24
SPEAKER_07: Is that something important for you to pass along to these young players about the different recovery areas and and what a vital part of their training that is, man?
40:35
SPEAKER_20: Yeah, definitely, because your your body is your work, you know.
40:38
SPEAKER_20: So if you're not able to go out there and perform at the level you want, then you have to get your body right.
40:42
SPEAKER_20: So just coming in early, you know, dealing with injuries, uh, whoever it is, just being able to continue to get recovery and continue to fix those things so you can be on the field.
40:51
SPEAKER_07: Enjoying watching you play.
40:52
SPEAKER_20: Yes, sir.
40:53
SPEAKER_07: That is number zero.
40:54
SPEAKER_07: Amari Campbell with us on the Mike Keith Show, his visit presented by Food City.
40:58
SPEAKER_07: We're back with more of the show right after this.
41:02
SPEAKER_06: Getting you ready for the game.
41:03
SPEAKER_06: The Mike Keith Show delivered by Over 8 is your ball network.
41:18
SPEAKER_07: The Mike Keith Show continues with Andy Asks, presented by First Horizon.
41:23
SPEAKER_07: And just like that, here he is.
41:25
SPEAKER_07: Andy ready to ask questions.
41:27
SPEAKER_07: It's Andy Brock, everyone.
41:29
SPEAKER_11: It's great to be here.
41:30
SPEAKER_07: It's great to see you, and you can send a question to the Vol Network text line at 865-657-1278.
41:39
SPEAKER_07: Andy will ask your question, and somebody on our staff will attempt to answer it.
41:45
SPEAKER_07: So, Andy, please ask.
41:47
SPEAKER_11: Let's go for it.
41:48
SPEAKER_11: Let's go.
41:48
SPEAKER_11: Right into it.
41:49
SPEAKER_11: Ethan Davis, injury news came out Monday at the beginning of this week.
41:53
SPEAKER_11: What adjustment do you see the offense making with his absence, primarily with the team's usage on 12 personnel?
41:59
SPEAKER_11: That's Wilkes from Knoxville.
42:00
SPEAKER_07: That's a good question.
42:01
SPEAKER_07: I mean, uh the loss of Ethan Davis is a big deal.
42:04
SPEAKER_07: Tennessee clearly likes 12 personnel.
42:06
SPEAKER_07: Trent Thomas, the transfer from South Alabama, has been doing a good job.
42:11
SPEAKER_07: Design Brain will probably have to step into the Ethan Davis part of the role.
42:16
SPEAKER_07: Luca Wolfe, the freshman, may get a chance.
42:20
SPEAKER_07: Um you feel good about him.
42:22
SPEAKER_07: He's a very physical player.
42:24
SPEAKER_07: And then, you know, Drake Martinez, transfer from UT Martin, maybe another guy who gets an opportunity.
42:29
SPEAKER_07: Or do you have somebody that you just move over there situationally for a blocking role if you need it?
42:37
SPEAKER_07: Uh the question was more toward 12 personnel.
42:40
SPEAKER_07: And I think it'll be Braym and Thomas as you start to think about it and see if Wolf can work into the rotation, but it's definitely a block.
42:49
SPEAKER_11: Both those guys, Brame and Thomas, had gotten some playing time the first two weeks.
42:53
SPEAKER_11: What are their individual strengths?
42:54
SPEAKER_07: Well, Thomas is more of a blocker, and Braim is a very similar player to Davis in that he's kind of had to step up his blocking as he got in there.
43:05
SPEAKER_07: Brame is more receiver than blocker, or was more receiver than blocker.
43:09
SPEAKER_07: Uh he's certainly putting in more of an effort there as he gains more size.
43:14
SPEAKER_07: But we'll just have to see.
43:15
SPEAKER_07: I mean, if you're if you're in the 12th personnel, you certainly have to have at least one guy that is really blocker guy.
43:22
SPEAKER_07: And um we'll see.
43:24
SPEAKER_07: You know, but uh it had gotten to the point with Ethan where he really could be counted on as a blocker.
43:30
SPEAKER_07: And so that gave you more versatility there.
43:33
SPEAKER_07: That wasn't always the case, but he had very much improved in that area.
43:37
SPEAKER_07: Becoming a more multi-dimensional tight end, I think is where they really will miss him the most because he had to become that guy who could be in there and line up on any situation.
43:50
SPEAKER_11: Speaking of blocking, Cole from Knoxville.
43:52
SPEAKER_11: He wants to know about phase on.
43:54
SPEAKER_11: Obviously, two starts in, has liked what he has seen with his ability to create with his.
44:00
SPEAKER_11: What does Tennessee need to do to be able to spring him loose more, maybe in that aspect?
44:05
SPEAKER_11: Because he feels like that his legs could be emphasized even more, in his opinion.
44:09
SPEAKER_07: I think it's just going to be situationally.
44:11
SPEAKER_07: I think Tennessee will pick their spots with the called runs.
44:14
SPEAKER_07: And I think in certain situations, you just want him to take off.
44:59
SPEAKER_07: Those players don't make the smart plays every time because they're playing a game and there's a lot of things that can happen, including the opponent can make something happen.
45:07
SPEAKER_07: But I think the feel for Faison Brandon's running will can continue to be natural.
45:13
SPEAKER_07: I don't think there will be eight called runs a game or him taking off and having 32 carries in a game.
45:21
SPEAKER_07: I don't think it'd be anything like that.
45:22
SPEAKER_07: I think it will be him feeling it and then Josh Heipel also feeling this would be a good time to make a call.
45:29
SPEAKER_11: There's a difference between running as fast as you can and still being smart about it.
45:33
SPEAKER_11: Right.
45:33
SPEAKER_11: The feeling is maybe phase on we haven't seen that full next year.
45:37
SPEAKER_11: He's just been smarter.
45:38
SPEAKER_07: Oh, it's there.
45:39
SPEAKER_07: I mean, it's there, and he will break a long run at some point.
45:42
SPEAKER_07: He will break a difference-making run at some point.
45:46
SPEAKER_07: I don't think there's any doubt about it.
45:48
SPEAKER_07: And I think his legs are very much part of this offense.
45:52
SPEAKER_07: But how they're used, I think they will continue to unveil that.
45:57
SPEAKER_07: And he will continue to unveil that as he goes.
46:00
SPEAKER_07: And that's what I mean about him.
46:02
SPEAKER_07: He just plays the game.
46:03
SPEAKER_07: He lets the game come to him.
46:05
SPEAKER_07: Nothing feels forced with him right now.
46:08
unknown: Okay.
46:09
SPEAKER_07: Next one.
46:09
SPEAKER_11: Jack from Waynesville.
46:10
SPEAKER_11: Yeah, I've been to Waynesville.
46:12
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
46:12
SPEAKER_11: Two games in as well for Jim Knowles and his defense.
46:15
SPEAKER_11: What do you see in the defense two weeks in?
46:18
SPEAKER_11: What are the strengths and maybe some areas of improvement needed?
46:21
SPEAKER_07: They've gotten off the field.
46:23
SPEAKER_07: That's the most important thing.
46:24
SPEAKER_07: Whether it be the two takeaways or a third down stop or a fourth down stop, for the most part, they've gotten off the field.
46:32
SPEAKER_07: And from that standpoint, I think we already see that kind of improvement, and you understand that from his calling.
46:39
SPEAKER_07: Now, they gave up a third and ten early in the ballgame where they could have really taken command.
46:45
SPEAKER_07: And so I think you'll see them try to improve in those situations to not let the other team have those moments when they get in third and long and can make it happen.
46:57
SPEAKER_07: There were some things, functionality-wise, they could have done better defensively to keep that from happening.
47:02
SPEAKER_07: But overall, I think you will continue to see them get sharper with their execution.
47:08
SPEAKER_07: The only worry is where are you personnel-wise with some injuries?
47:13
SPEAKER_07: You know, do you have enough defensive linemen?
47:15
SPEAKER_07: Do you feel good about everybody at safety?
47:17
SPEAKER_07: Do you, you know, where are you right now?
47:19
SPEAKER_07: You're probably okay, but you don't want to lose a couple more guys because then you potentially get thin at some spots.
47:26
SPEAKER_07: And then it makes it hard to execute because your level of athleticism goes down.
47:31
SPEAKER_07: You can make the right read, but because you're not the player, say the number one or number two guy at a position is, maybe you can't get there.
47:40
SPEAKER_07: And that's the challenge that you get into.
47:42
SPEAKER_07: But it's exciting to watch them, exciting to watch what they're doing and to understand there's a lot more to come.
47:49
SPEAKER_11: Let's go down to Chattanooga.
47:50
SPEAKER_11: We got Will.
47:51
SPEAKER_11: Will?
47:51
SPEAKER_11: He's asking about the big night from the running back group.
47:54
SPEAKER_11: That was obviously one of the stories against Georgia Tech.
47:56
SPEAKER_11: We saw Dewan Morris have a big night, Deshaun Bishop another big night.
48:00
SPEAKER_11: As we keep moving through the schedule, how do you see the carries behind Deshaun Bishop being split?
48:05
SPEAKER_11: Javen Gordon had some explosive plays against Furman, looks good still against Georgia Tech.
48:09
SPEAKER_11: How do you see things shaking out with that running back group?
48:11
SPEAKER_07: I think who gets hot.
48:13
SPEAKER_07: I think Dewan Morris has upped his game and has put himself in line for some of those carries.
48:19
SPEAKER_07: I think Gordon is still figuring out a little bit about what the game speed of it looks like in terms of Tennessee's run style.
48:28
SPEAKER_07: And you could see Brent Hubbs made this point.
48:31
SPEAKER_07: I thought it was spot on.
48:32
SPEAKER_07: You could see Morris had patience on multiple runs in the ballgame that he did not have a year ago.
48:41
SPEAKER_07: Gordon is just figuring that out because he's new.
48:44
SPEAKER_07: You know, you can practice it, but until you see how the other team will defense it, you don't know that, hey, I've got to wait on Deshaun Brahm to come across and get this block before I make this cut.
48:56
SPEAKER_07: That timing and that feel takes time.
48:59
SPEAKER_07: So I think you know, Deshaun Bishop is going to get his carries, and then I think the hot back will be the one who gets the next highest number of carries.
49:08
SPEAKER_11: That's typically what Josh Heipel has done.
49:11
SPEAKER_11: That's right.
49:11
SPEAKER_11: It's a good formula.
49:12
SPEAKER_11: Okay, last one, Preston from Morristown.
49:15
SPEAKER_11: Is the Big Orange Rewind still being played this season?
49:18
SPEAKER_07: The Big Orange Rewind was a show that we did last year on the Vall Network from six until eight Eastern on Sunday nights.
49:26
SPEAKER_07: It is not back.
49:28
SPEAKER_07: And last year, what we did is we did a two-hour show on Sunday nights, we did a two-hour show on Thursday, and then we did a one-hour TV show on Monday.
49:37
SPEAKER_07: So we had five hours of programming.
49:39
SPEAKER_07: What we found is our two-hour shows didn't do as well.
49:44
SPEAKER_07: It was a lot of commitment to ask people to make.
50:03
SPEAKER_07: So what we did is we took everything we were doing last year and we made it into what you're seeing right here.
50:10
SPEAKER_07: And that is the one hour show, five days a week, under the same name, which is the Mike Keith show.
50:16
SPEAKER_07: And it's available on the Ball Network Radio and TV, and then it's available on the Tennessee YouTube channel.
50:23
SPEAKER_07: It's also available via podcast.
50:25
SPEAKER_07: So we do the same thing every day, which is one hour.
50:28
SPEAKER_07: Now, the Big Orange Rewind show, which I really liked as well because I loved working with Brent, we took the content from that, which was Brent Hubbs and I talking about ball, and we moved it to the Monday night Mike Keith show.
50:44
SPEAKER_07: So several of the things that people seem to enjoy content-wise, we've included in this five days a week, one-hour show.
50:55
SPEAKER_07: So if you're interested in what you get out of Big Orange Rewind, it's on Mondays with Brent.
51:01
SPEAKER_07: And we invite you, if you want to send us a question for that show, again, use the Vol Network text line at 865-657-1278.
51:11
SPEAKER_07: So yeah, I was disappointed because I I love doing the two-hour radio show.
51:15
SPEAKER_07: It was kind of old school.
51:17
SPEAKER_07: But we just live in a different time now, you know?
51:20
SPEAKER_07: And it was good of you to ask.
51:22
SPEAKER_11: Yes, it's a good question, but every day does have its own personality still.
51:26
SPEAKER_07: It does.
51:27
SPEAKER_07: And that's the idea.
51:28
SPEAKER_07: The idea is that it's not the same show every single day.
51:33
SPEAKER_07: And as we get into conference play and as we get into basketball, fall baseball, softball, other sports, soccer, I think you'll see more and more we'll do different things.
51:44
SPEAKER_07: And so that's the idea is that every day has its own personality.
51:48
SPEAKER_11: Okay.
51:48
SPEAKER_11: So ask more questions about the shows.
51:50
SPEAKER_11: Yeah, we're happy to tell you.
51:51
SPEAKER_07: I mean, it's not a secret.
51:52
SPEAKER_07: Andy Brock, thank you.
51:54
SPEAKER_07: And thank you to you for being with us.
51:56
SPEAKER_07: Andy Asks is brought to you by First Horizon, official bank of the Vols.
52:01
SPEAKER_07: The Mike Keith Show is delivered by Uber Eats.
52:04
SPEAKER_07: Thanks for joining us, and we'll see you next time.