By Ashley Stadnicki
Tennessee isn’t letting one loss turn into a lingering problem.
After Saturday’s setback, Josh Heupel’s message to the Vols was centered on one word: accountability. Heupel said there was plenty of good to take from the film, but also plenty that needs to be fixed. For him, that starts with owning his own mistakes and making sure the team does the same.
“We’ve got to take ownership of the things we need to do better,” Heupel said. “It’s about what’s next.”
One of the biggest storylines moving forward is freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon. The young quarterback has rarely experienced losing, with Heupel noting that Brandon hadn’t lost a game since his sophomore year of high school. Now, he’s getting his first taste of SEC football and learning just how quickly the game can change.
“He wants to play at a high level, and he knows he can play better than he did Saturday,” Heupel said.
Brandon isn’t the only area Tennessee wants to see improve. Heupel pointed to the offensive line, saying the group needs to be more consistent for all 60 minutes, both in the run game and in pass protection.
The players echoed that message. Daune Morris called the upcoming week “another opportunity” to show what the Vols can do, while acknowledging that the team is still learning from its mistakes.
Trent Thomas also said there are both mental and physical details to clean up after getting valuable SEC experience.
But when it comes to Brandon, Thomas sees a player who can handle the challenge.
“He’s very mature for his age,” Thomas said. “He’s a tough guy.”
Now, Tennessee’s attention shifts forward. The loss is in the books. And the next test is already waiting.