Ahead of Tennessee's biggest game of the season, Josh Heupel came across like Tennessee was playing another non-conference cupcake instead of hosting Georgia. It may have only been an introductory press conference leading into Week 3, but where was Heupel's energy? He looked incredibly tired, and it felt like he was reading off a script before answer questions from the media.
This is a coach who uses emotion to his advantage within the context of a game. The former star quarterback at Oklahoma may favor the offensive side of the football, but he is not a walking stiff like many so-called offensive gurus are with a microphone in front of his face. He may have been tired trying to prepare for Kirby Smart's Bulldogs team, but Heupel kicked off Georgia week with a dud.
It is a bit overstated, but this kind of lethargy and general malaise is how you lose to Georgia again...
Josh Heupel's Tennessee press conference vs. Georgia inspired no one
For as big of a stage as Tennessee has this week, Heupel seemed to be going through the motions.
“We know the test that we have in front of us facing a really good Georgia football team. It’s a great weekend. Opportunity for GameDay to be here on the biggest stage in college football.”
Finishing with the good, ole "Checker Neyland" directive seemed kind of like an afterthought as well.
“Checker Neyland – anticipate our fans helping bring in the Neyland Effect here and create a great atmosphere on Saturday afternoon, so looking forward to the contest and the preparation during the course of the week. Open it up.”
Here is everything Heupel said in the lead-up to Tennessee's home game vs. Georgia in Week 3.
Heupel is an excellent coach, but he does not have a strong track record vs. Georgia and Kirby Smart.
Josh Heupel's Georgia press conference lacks crashing sense of urgency
Look. This may be the nature of the beast when it comes to an offensive-minded coach. Then again, if this were Georgia week for Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas, would Kalen DeBoer, Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian have been this undeniably milquetoast? Tennessee may be the apple of some national pundits' eyes, but who have they beaten? Syracuse is not good, and East Tennessee State plays FCS.
Although Georgia's proven track record vs. Tennessee over the better part of a decade may hold up in this game, there is a good chance Tennessee could pull off the slight home upset. The Vols are getting 3.5 points at home vs. Georgia. The line to crown Tennessee prematurely is getting longer and is starting to wind its way around the building's street corner beyond just the sidewalk. Will this stop?
To tie a bow on this, Georgia has the perfect plan to match Tennessee's intensity. Not only does Smart has his team prepare for big moments like this all offseason long, but the Dawgs played poorly in a blowout win of their own last week. The team will be motivated to go out and prove that kicking Georiga out of the top five in the latest AP Poll was a foolish mistake. It all starts with a win in Week 3.
The players have to make plays, but Smart is the one operating with more urgency than Heupel is.