Heupel Era Kicks Off Thursday vs. Bowling Green

Football season has officially arrived on Rocky Top as the Tennessee Volunteers open their 2021 season against Bowling Green Thursday in primetime on SEC Network at 8 p.m.

BROADCAST INFO

Thursday's game will be televised on the SEC Network with Tom Hart (PxP), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline) on the call. Kickoff is slated for 8:04 p.m. ET.

Fans can also listen to Tennessee's official radio broadcast on the Vol Network (WIVK-FM 107.7/WNML-FM 99.1) and satellite radio (Sirius Ch. 138, XM Ch. 190, Internet Ch. 961). A live audio stream of the broadcast will also be available on UTSports.com​ and the Official Gameday App.

Bob Kesling (PxP), Pat Ryan (analyst) and Brent Hubbs (analyst) will call the action, with Kasey Funderburg handling sideline duties. Big Orange Countdown begins at 6:30 p.m.

GAMEDAY INFO

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee's 2021 gameday policies, please visit the Tennessee Football Gameday Information page on UTSports.com. Some important information is also listed below.

Tickets and Parking

Fans with digital tickets and/or parking are encouraged to download their ticket(s) and parking to their phone prior to arriving at the gate or parking lot. Fans still interested in purchasing tickets to the game can visit AllVols.com or click HERE.

Tennessee Athletics App

Fans are encouraged to download the Tennessee Athletics app, which now houses the Coca-Cola GBO Zone, allowing fans to play trivia, take part in a light show and much more. Search "Tennessee Athletics" in the Apple or Google Play Store or use this link to download: http://utsports.com/app

NEED TO KNOW

Fan Experience Upgrades

As we enter the 100th season at Neyland Stadium, Shield-Watkins Field, Tennessee Athletics has unveiled several new, exciting fan experience enhancements for the 2021 football season. Among the new gameday enhancements are new LED stadium lights, ungraded fireworks and "I Will Give My All" signs throughout the stadium.

Fans should plan to be in their seats 30 minutes before kickoff to take in new game day experiences leading up to the game. The Pride of the Southland Band march will start via the Joe Johnson–John Ward Pedestrian Walkway crossing over Volunteer and continuing via the bridge to the stadium.

LED Lights: A vibrant, state-of-the-art LED lighting system is in the final stages of completion in Neyland Stadium. A dramatic LED light show will accentuate pregame and in-game festivities.

Fireworks: The traditional fireworks show is moving and now bigger than ever. Fireworks will now be showcased from the roof of the north end zone and the east and west skybox rooftops during pregame and following UT touchdowns and victories.

"I Will Give My All": As fans make their way to their seats, they can participate in a similar tradition as the Volunteers who take the field. "I Will Give My All" signs have been installed above the portals entering each section of Neyland Stadium. Just as the team is reminded to "Give My All" before running through the T pregame, each fan entering the stadium is encouraged to do the same.

Vol Village: Make sure you visit Vol Village presented by Toyota for a whole new fan experience. It's FREE for all fans with or without a game ticket. There will be live music, activities for everyone of all ages, food trucks, and more. Vol Village, located in a great spot to see the Vol Walk and the Band March is just across from Circle Park. The Toyota Vol Village on Sept. 2 will feature the band The Desert City Ramblers, a video game truck, tailgate games and much more! Fans can stop by from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Truly's Tailgate: Truly's Tailgate, located outside Gate 9 will open at 4 p.m. and stay open through the end of the third quarter. Fans can stop by for food and drinks during that time.

Heupel Era Begins

Josh Heupel makes his Tennessee debut after three successful years as the head coach at UCF.  The 27th head coach in Vol football history, Heupel owned a 28-8 record at UCF. His 28 victories rank ninth among FBS head coaches over the past three seasons. Heupel's units ranked second in the FBS in total offense in each of the past two seasons, including a Power 5-best 568.1 yards per game last season at UCF. Heupel returns to the SEC after serving as the offensive coordinator at Missouri from 2016-17. Under his watch, Mizzou led the SEC in total offense in both seasons.

Thursday/Season Openers

For the first time since 2016, Tennessee will open a season on a Thursday night. The Vols held on for a 20-13 overtime victory over Appalachian State in Knoxville that year on Sept. 1. This is the third time that UT will open a season on a Thursday. The Vols are 2-0 in those contests with the other win coming by a 28-11 score at Louisville to open the 1991 campaign on Sept. 5. UT owns a 26-20-7 record all-time in Thursday games. Its last Thursday contest (all games) was a 23-22 win vs. Indiana in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The Vols are 15-5-2 all-time in Thursday games played in Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee owns a 92-26-6 record all-time in season-openers. The Vols are 74-14-4 (.826) in season-openers played in Knoxville. UT is 54-12-3 (.804) in season-openers played in Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field (since 1921). UT opened the COVID-19 2020 season with a 31-27 win at South Carolina last September. Heupel is 3-0 in season openers as a head coach, outscoring opponents 167-38.

Non-Conference Success

Tennessee and Bowling Green are meeting for just the second time. The Vols have won 19 out of their last 23 games against non-conference opponents dating back to the last meeting between the two teams to open the 2015 season. UT has won three in a row over non-SEC foes with its last win occurring against Indiana in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Heupel was 8-3 in non-conference games in three seasons at UCF.

Looking for Win No. 850

Tennessee's next victory will be its 850th. The Vols are seeking to become the 10th FBS program to reach 850 wins, joining Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Penn State and USC.

 

Statues Honoring UT Trailblazers

Tennessee will unveil a new and permanent tribute to four trailblazers from throughout the storied history of Volunteer football as a kickoff to Neyland Stadium's year-long centennial celebration. Prior to the game on Thursday, larger-than-life bronze statues commemorating Lester McClain, Jackie Walker, Condredge Holloway and Tee Martin will be unveiled in the plaza outside Gate 21 at Neyland Stadium.

SERIES HISTORY

Vols lead series, 1-0

Tennessee and Bowling Green square off for just the second time and the first time since the 2015 season-opener in Nashville.

That game was the debut for VFL and current New Orleans Saints star running back Alvin Kamara, who is now pictured on the back of Neyland Stadium's videoboard. Kamara led the Big Orange with 144 yards rushing and scored a pair of touchdowns to help lead UT to a 59-30 victory.

ABOUT BOWLING GREEN

Bowling Green enters the 2021 season looking to put a disappointing 2020 campaign behind them after finishing 0-5 during the COVID-shortened season. Falcons are led by third-year head coach Scott Loeffler, who is 3-14 during his time with the program.

The Falcons one of the youngest teams in college football, boasting a roster that includes 71 players who graduated high school in 2020 or 2021, which is the third most in the nation. Only 16 current players have started a game for BGSU entering this season. One of those players in senior quarterback Matt McDonald, who started all five games for the Falcons in 2020, passing for 712 yards.

In an effort to add some experience to the roster, Bowling Green added seven transfers from Power 5 schools: Bryce Brand (West Virginia), Davon Ferguson (Kansas), Jayden George (Alabama), Tommy Guajardo (Michigan State), Austin Osborne (Washington), Ali Saad (Minnesota) and Devin Taylor (Virginia Tech).

Vols Excited for Season Opener, Heupel Names Starting QB

It's game week on Rocky Top as the Volunteers get set to kick off their 2021 season in just three days' time.

Head coach Josh Heupel met with the media on Monday to preview Thursday's season opener against Bowling Green. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at Neyland Stadium, Shields-Watkins Field.

"We have been at work over the course of the weekend. We had three really good practices. Guys are mentally and physically in a really good spot," Heupel said. "We need to clean some things up the next couple of days, but we are excited for the opportunity to go play inside Neyland Stadium.

"For our coaches, this will be their first opportunity to play inside Neyland, run through the T and experience the Vol Walk. I am unbelievably excited about those opportunities and the chance to live out those traditions. We are excited to go out and show the work we have put in during the last seven to eight months to go play some football."

The big news of the day was Heupel naming redshirt junior Joe Milton III the starting quarterback for Thursday night's opener. The Michigan transfer joined the team in June and has impressed Heupel and the staff with his strong arm and accuracy as well as his decision-making and athleticism.

"At the end of the day, Joe's grasp of our offense in a short amount of time, his growth during the middle portion of training and his acceleration in what we are doing with his physical attributes and decision making led us to put the ball in his hands for the first game."

Heupel was also quick to note that he really likes the quarterback group as a whole and trusts any of his three scholarship signal callers if and when their names are called.

"I really do mean it when I say that I love that group," Heupel said. "They push each other and are really positive. Our team and offensive group see and feel that energy. All three of them have a positive effect on the offense and team as a whole. They've handled that throughout this entire process, which is really difficult to do.

"I really believe that all three of them will have an opportunity to go play at a really high level if given the opportunity."

Experienced Secondary Ready to Lead Vols Defense

Two weeks away from the season opener against Bowling Green, the Tennessee Volunteers took Haslam field for the 13th time in preseason camp.

Secondary coach Willie Martinez took the stand after practice to discuss how developed and experienced his group has been throughout camp.

"I've been a lot of places, this group, even in the springtime, they did a really great job of getting lined up," coach Martinez started. "Eyes in the right spots … they're confident, they feel like they can get lined up fast enough now and actually get the calls in and get their eyes on the guy who is the playmaker, the formations, the sets, trying to ID to be able to make a good play."

Technique and fundamentals have been a key part of preseason camp, but Martinez expressed confidence that when the defense executes, they can compete with anybody.

"If everyone does their job, and does it to the best of their ability, and understands our defense and scheme and play fast and strained on plays, that gives you a chance if you do it on a consistent basis against fast-tempo offenses, or offenses in general in this league."

A few returning Vols in the secondary have been a great resource to establish the scheme of the defense and Martinez acknowledged the impact that leadership has meant to him.

"You can see the leadership there," Martinez said referring to Alontae Taylor, Warren Burrell and Theo Jackson. "I think that's why the young guys and new guys have really been connecting well with the group."

An added bonus is the coaching players in the secondary have given each other. That is how growth multiplies, according to Martinez, who couldn't' be happier about his team's commitment to success.

"If it's not player-driven, you've got no shot. I think they are doing a good job of that as a collective group on the backend. I think the whole defense is."

Vols Build Toughness in Rainy Final Scrimmage

Heavy rain from remnants of Tropical Storm Fred greeted Tennessee football at its second and final preseason scrimmage on Tuesday morning, allowing the Volunteers to focus on ball security and building toughness.

Tennessee scrimmaged for less than two hours in conditions that could be common on a Saturday in the fall. The Vols also dressed at Neyland Stadium and went through warmups, simulating a normal game day.

"We got a chance to get out there in the rain and some adverse weather there," head coach Josh Heupel said. "I thought special teams (and) offensively (we) handled it pretty well for the most part of the day.

"Game day, you wake up (and) no matter what the weather report has said throughout the course of the week, you've got to play in the elements that you've got. We will play in a rain game, so your mindset – offense, defense, special teams – has to be that this is the right weather for us to go out and execute. It has no bearing on who we are and what we do and how we do it."

Heupel said all three quarterbacks – Harrison Bailey, Joe Milton III and Hendon Hooker –- executed well in the conditions and made good decisions.   

"There really weren't a ton of turnovers last week. The weather really had very little effect, for the most part. I thought the quarterbacks handled the weather (and) were able the throw the ball efficiently and effectively. I thought our wide receivers did a pretty good job. (We) didn't have any center-quarterback issues. It was really pretty good."

Tennessee will take Wednesday off, which is also the first day of classes of the fall semester. The Vols begin a three-day stretch of practices on Thursday morning.

Small, Evans Headline Young and Talented Running Back Room for Vols

Tennessee wrapped up practice No. 11 on Monday morning at Haslam Field as the Volunteers continue to power through preseason camp and move closer to the season opener against Bowling Green.

First-year running backs coach Jerry Mack met with the media following Monday's practice to talk about the progression of UT's backfield as it prepares for Tuesday's closed scrimmage at Neyland Stadium.

What the Vols' running back room may lack in experience, it makes up for in talent and depth, as a handful of players seem poised to make an impact on offense and special teams this season.

While Tennessee fans will see plenty of faces in the offensive backfield this fall, sophomore Jabari Small and junior college transfer Tiyon Evans have emerged as the two leaders of the group.

"As we're toward the end of fall camp, we're still combing through the depth chart. I do think those two guys have separated themselves as far as being a little bit more at the top of the depth chart than more at the bottom," Mack said. "Both of those guys, they can go in the game right now as 1A and 1B and participate. They both have very similar skill sets. Jabari is obviously a little bit smaller, a little bit shiftier, has got some experience playing the receiver position, so he can do a lot of different things as far as his repertoire.

"At the same time, you have Tiyon, who has just so much power like I said before, running between the tackles. Those guys have really been a good 1-2 punch throughout fall camp."

Garner Looking for Continued Improvement and Winning Mentality from Defensive Front

Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner met with the media after a hot and humid morning practice as Haslam Field on Monday to talk about the progression of the Vols' deep defensive line group.

UT's defensive front proved to be one of the strongest units in Thursday's scrimmage, drawing praise from head coach Josh Heupel afterwards.

"I thought the defensive side of the football was extremely physical and changed and disrupted the offensive front, played on the other side of the line of scrimmage," Heupel said after Thursday's scrimmage at Neyland Stadium.

Despite the impressive showing on Thursday, Garner was quick to point out that his group still has plenty to improve on before the season opener in less than three weeks.

"There's room for improvement all across the board, including coaching. We've all got to hold ourselves to a higher standard and understand what that standard is, just understand that there are no shortcuts to success," Garner said. "It's going to happen through adversity and how you handle adversity when you put yourself in adverse situations.

"Are you going to find a way to fight and win, or are you going to find a way to lose? That's what we've got to change, that mentality. Where we're going to find a way to win when the game is on the line."

The Big Orange will get back to work on Sunday and Monday at Haslam Field before holding another closed scrimmage on Tuesday.

Defense Shines In First Preseason Scrimmage

With exactly three weeks until Tennessee's season-opener under head coach Josh Heupel, the Volunteers went through their first preseason camp scrimmage on Thursday morning in Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee worked all three phases for two hours and the scrimmage featured live tackling.  

"There's only one way that we should compete when we walk in that stadium," Heupel said. "I'm proud of a lot of the things we did on both sides of the ball. Defensively, I think we played with great effort, energy and strain. We competed extremely hard and tackled well in space. A lot of really positive things from them. Offensively, we showed glimpses of those things, but didn't really string it together the way that we want to or need to."

Heupel gave equal reps to all three quarterbacks battling for the starting spot, including Harrison Bailey, Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III.

"They kind of cycled through. If a guy had a three-and-out he might have had an extra drive just to keep the play count relatively close."

The Vols will take Friday off before practicing three straight days beginning on Saturday morning. That leads to the squad's next scrimmage, which is scheduled for Tuesday in Neyland Stadium. The scrimmage will be closed to the public.