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Josh Heupel on maintaining focus against Vanderbilt: ‘We’re going to get their very best’
By Crissy Froyd
Published:
Josh Heupel knows this year’s Vanderbilt team is not the one he is used to having faced in the past. This is a much stronger group of Commodores that can hang their hat on several big wins this season, most notable their victory over Alabama – which was ranked No. 1 in the country at the time.
The Tennessee head coach spoke to his opponent and what they bring to the table ahead of the Rivalry Week matchup.
“We’re going to get their very best,” Heupel said.
He went into detail on the talent of quarterback Diego Pavia, the way the team has played solid complementary football and the pure toughness and grit they show every time they come out onto the field.
Pavia has been a superstar for Vanderbilt this season, and an instant boon to a program that had trouble with being taken seriously. The shifty QB is unorthodox, but effective – he’s thrown for 16 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions this season.
“You look at what they’ve done throughout the season, but statistically they do a great job of tying all three phases together. They play complementary football,” Heupel continued. “They’re smart. They’re tough. They’re physical. They’re disciplined. They make you earn it. Offensively, the quarterback’s a dynamic player. It’s quarterback-run game. He has the unique ability to extend and make plays outside of the scope of the play-call, too. Defensively, don’t give up a bunch of big plays.
Tennessee most recently shut out UTEP, 56-0, and will look to end this in-state rivalry on a high note. Kickoff is set for noon in Nashville.
Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.
