[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]
Tennessee coach Butch Jones appeared on The Paul Finebaum Show after practice on Wednesday, in preparation for the Vols upcoming matchup against No. 8 Alabama in one of the great rivalries in the Southeastern Conference.
“This, as you know, is one of the most important rivalries in SEC history,” Finebaum said. “For guys like me, we grew up and devoured this game, but in recent years it has not been that competitive.”
“This is a game that means a lot to a lot of people,” Butch Jones acknowledged. “It’s one of the greatest rivalries in all of college football — a very storied rivalry.”
“It’s also the importance of the game and our players getting back to understanding what it represents. But really, focusing on the task at hand and really what it takes to play winning football and give ourselves an opportunity to win in Tuscaloosa.”
Even though Tennessee suffered three heartbreaking losses this year, there is a positive in the way Jones’ team performed in those games, according to Finebaum.
“When you’re able to take a deep breath and think about Tennessee’s accomplishments this year, you don’t get ahead of quality teams like Tennessee did against Oklahoma and Florida, or even Arkansas, without having a lot going for you,” Finebaum said.
Jones believes the culture is changing at Tennessee and the win against Georgia revealed a lot about this football team.
“Our players understand what it takes to win and they believe they are going to win,” Jones said. “That’s something in our culture now, Paul, that we’ve really worked hard on. And our players expect to win now every time they go out on the football field. But it’s investing in victory each and every week and, to this point and time, we’ve been able to do that. We’ve come up short, but I think the character of this football team was revealed in that victory against Georgia.”
“I’ve been very proud of our players because we continue to progress and get better.”
Forum discussion – Finebaum: You don’t get ahead of quality teams without having a lot going for you.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]