KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — With temperature at kickoff in Columbia, Mo., expected to be in the low 30s, the Vols are preparing for a chilly game against Missouri on Saturday.
Playing in the 30s would mark Tennessee’s coldest game since Nov. 29, 2003 when the Vols defeated Kentucky, 20-7, in a game that was 30 degrees at kickoff. Since 1950, UT has played in just four games where the kickoff temperature was less than 30 degrees.
“It’s being locked in that zone and having that mental focus and preparing for it,” Tennessee head coach Butch Jones said on Wednesday. “We’ll do a walkthrough at the stadium on gameday like we always do when we play a night game, so we will try to get them out there in the elements.”
Jones added that he was hoping for colder weather this week in Knoxville to help prepare the team for Saturday’s expected conditions. In the absence of those chilly conditions locally, Jones and his staff have stressed mental toughness to the players.
“You talk about it and you embrace it,” he said. “Both teams have to play in it and it gets back to that mental conditioning. It gets back to that toughness. It gets back to the maturity of your football team.”
Building Something Special
When Butch Jones arrived on campus back in 2013, he set out to rebuild and revitalize the Tennessee football program from its foundation up. Almost three full seasons later, the Vols are seeing the early returns of that rebuilding process with wins over ranked opponents, bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009 and 2010 and a regained respect from their peers in the SEC and around the country.
The highly-touted recruiting classes Jones assembled have not yet reached their senior seasons, but those players who committed to “Brick By Brick” and “One Tennessee” and their veteran teammates who adapted to Jones’ philosophy have bonded as a family, thriving off of each other and their shared sense of duty to return Tennessee to college football’s highest ranks.
“I think every individual in our program understands right now that they are part of something special,” Jones said. “We’re building something special with the togetherness of this football team and the ability to push each other on the practice field and make each other better. But then when you step off the practice field you’re brothers and you’re one Tennessee and one football team. That’s what being a team sport is all about.”
The team chemistry is as good as it has ever been under Jones and it grows stronger with each practice, each game and each opportunity to showcase the Vols’ shared mission and shared passion.
“Our team has showed incredible maturity,” Jones said. “Our maturity will be on display Saturday night. We’ll find out a little bit more, but up until this date, I’ve been proud of our players.”
Kerbyson: A Definitive VFL
With two regular-season games and a potential bowl game remaining this year, redshirt senior offensive lineman Kyler Kerbyson nears the end of a proud Tennessee career. Kerbyson is both living out the dream of thousands of young Knoxville-area football players and establishing what means to be a true VFL.
After redshirting his 2011 freshman season, Kerbyson worked hard as a reserve offensive lineman in 2012 and 2013 before earning a starting role last season. He is the most-experienced player on the offensive side of the ball (23 career starts) and has played at various positions along the line over the course of his career.
“A lot of times, individuals play the game for different reasons,” Jones said. “Kyler Kerbyson plays the game because he loves football. He’s been through so much in his career.”
Kerbyson’s selfless and endearing demeanor have made him a natural mentor for younger linemen on the practice field and in film study. Jones called him a “rock of stability” for his consistency, hard work and the values that he stands for. After biding his time early in his career behind some of the Vols’ future NFL offensive linemen, Kerbyson has grown into the role of a leader and a respected voice.
“I think if you’re looking for an individual who defines Vol For Life, and we have a lot of them in this storied program’s history, I think Kyler Kerbyson is truly a Vol For Life for the adversity he’s suffered, the perseverance, the resolve,” Jones said. “He’s playing his best football as a senior. He’s a leader. He does everything that’s required of him and asked of him and more.”
When told that Jones spoke so highly of him as a VFL, Kerbyson smiled and noted the responsibility that comes with that.
“I’m really happy he said that,” Kerbyson said. “I feel like that’s what I try and do every day. I try and be that for this team and for all of the guys that need an example – I try and set it for them and let them understand how important it is to be a VFL, the tradition that comes along with it and how many people are really looking up to you. I just try to make that evident and try to come out here and do my best every day.”
Especially Special Teams
All year Tennessee has placed an emphasis on special teams. It has paid off as UT ranks third in the nation in punt returns and first in kick returns.
The Vols will look to push that advantage against a Missouri team that has struggled so far on special teams.
The Tigers are giving up an average of 26.65 yards per game on kickoff returns which ranks 122 out of 127 NCAA Division I FBS teams. They’ll attempt to stop Evan Berry who has helped lead the Vols to a number one ranking and a 38.80 average on kickoff returns. Berry is tied for the national lead with three kickoff return touchdowns.
Missouri ranks 65th on punt return defense surrendering 8.12 yards per game while the Vols have notched an average of 18.29 yards on punt returns and both Cam Sutton and Alvin Kamara have taken a return back for a touchdown.
In the last game, North Texas countered the Vols return game by kicking the ball high and short; forcing other players to call for fair catches. In the punt game the Mean Green used a combination of rugby kicks and sky high punts to keep the ball out of Sutton’s hands. He had two returns for 28 yards in the game, but he almost broke one, only being tackled by his ankles after a 22 yard return.
This has been the strategy multiple teams have tried to deploy, but the dangerous Tennessee returners need just one opportunity to impact a game. Against Kentucky, Evan Berry only needed to touch the ball once to score a 100 yard touchdown. Look for him to try to take advantage against Mizzou.
SOUND BITES
- RS Senior OL Kyler Kerbyson(On playing with young offensive lineman on the road)
“I think there is a standard we hold ourselves to in the offensive line room. We always say that we are a snap away from getting in there. You have to be prepared no matter what. Everyone gets the same test. Everyone is held to the same standard during practice and during games. You must hold it down on your side, do your job and not make mistakes and because of that the freshman that have stepped up have really done a good job.”
(On handling Missouri’s physical style of play)
“This year we are a better offensive line than we were in years past. We are more in sync and we know what we are doing. We aren’t as inexperienced as we were last year. It will be different. It won’t just be their front four running around and running all over us. I am hoping that our experience and our know how will help us.”
- Sophomore WR Josh Malone(On Missouri’s emotional environment)
“We are well aware of how the environment is going to be. It is going to be very unique especially with what all is going on. Their coach is about to retire and seeing that it’s at night, we’re looking forward to the environment and just looking forward to the challenge of going out there and playing another day.”
(On the mindset of Missouri’s defense)
“It’s definitely a mindset, but it’s not our first rodeo against a big time defense. As an offense, we just want to go out there and play and keep pushing ourselves each and every week.”
- Freshman LB Darrin Kirkland Jr.(On feeling comfortable in setting the front)
“From the beginning of the season and when I had to jump in there during Florida, there were a lot of situations that I wasn’t exactly prepared for. There were many different things that were given to me. I feel like now when I am making those adjustments on the field, I am able to break things down in my head. I am making sure that everything on the defense is set.”
(On his mindset during games now and before)
“Now I wish it were simple like the way it was in high school. When someone called right then everyone lined up right. It is a lot different now being at an SEC school, you must be a volume defense, because you cannot let teams get a beat on you. It is definitely a big challenge, but I have definitely gotten comfortable with it.”