Volunteer Country

Josh Heupel Shares Reasoning Tennessee Is Having a Spring Game When Others Aren't

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel shares the real reason on why Tennessee will have a Spring Game this year.
Caleb Sisk|
Tennessee defensive back Jordan Matthews (24) tries to take down Tennessee wide receiver Dayton Sneed (82) during Tennessee's Orange & White spring football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024.
Tennessee defensive back Jordan Matthews (24) tries to take down Tennessee wide receiver Dayton Sneed (82) during Tennessee's Orange & White spring football game at Neyland Stadium on Saturday, April 13, 2024. | Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Tennessee Volunteers

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel shares the real reason on why Tennessee will have a Spring Game this year.

Many teams have turned away from their spring game across the nation. Tennessee is one of the teams who opted into the Spring game, and they are set to play in April.

While many fans question this, Volunteers coach Josh Heupel provided a better explanation.

“That’s not just the tradition of it. I do love the spring game. Opportunity for our fans to be here inside the stadium, but it’s usually a great environment on campus that day. I think it’s important in particular for our young players to get a taste of what it’s going to be like in the fall to play in front of a crowd, a big stadium. We open up on the road this year. You don’t want that to be the first time that they’ve played in front of a bunch of people. So that experience… I think it can create urgency, understanding what it’s gonna feel like as they finish up spring ball, go into summer. End of the day, we've got to accelerate their growth curve. A spring game in those settings is a part of accelerating their growth.”

Tennessee is set for their first game in Atlanta against Syracuse in a huge neutral site test. The spring game can help the players get used to an electric environment early.

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Caleb Sisk
CALEB SISK

Caleb Sisk is a talented sports journalist from the state of Georgia. Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Sisk's passion for sports grew. Bringing years of recruiting coverage experience, he has been named a National Recruiting Reporter and covers various college sites on the On SI network. He takes pride in covering recruiting and has been featured by numerous companies for his excellent coverage and knowledge. He has also spent time at other companies, including Rivals, where he covered the Tennessee Volunteers.

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