We’re moving our notes over from Chomp and Cheer to We Like Sports! Here are notes taken live during Dan Mullen’s press conference with the media on September 17th, 2018. News and notes are expected to cover the the game week leading up to Tennessee. Apologies for any spelling errors or related – I’ll do my best to go back and correct later:

Tennessee is always a big game for us and our first one away from home.

You see them improving under Pruitt with a lot of little things. Playing good defense and running the ball hard. They are doing well on special teams as well. Want to see how our guys handle adversity this week. Last week we played in the hottest game ever in the Swamp and this week it’s getting a big win away.

Malik Davis has a broken foot and will be out for an ‘extended period of time’. David Reese and CJ McWilliams, Shaun Davis is questionable.

Asked if he does anything to talk up or hype up rivals – some things here and there, some people have fun things they like to do. But the guys know it’s a big game and you don’t need to go overboard. If you push too much on one team or another than it takes emphasis off of other games.

First trip to Neyland was in ’06 and ’08, and with Notre Dame in ’99 and Syracuse again. Jokes about a questionable pass interference call in the game when playing them at ‘Cuse.

Asked about 2006 game AKA ‘Tebow’s welcome to college football’ – remembers it was a big game for the East early on. Leak came back and had a nice game on some good WR routes, then Tim came in in his first meaningful game and scored from the 1. Had to run it out in the end… cool.

Tennessee isn’t quite what it used to be since then, asked if he and Jeremy Pruitt have a chance to restore it – it’s on ESPN and an SEC night game that greatly impacts the East, so everyone knows it’s a big game.

Pierce is doing a good job running the ball. Listening to the coaching and playing hard on special teams. Very talented with the ball on his hands and trying hard to learn the little things. Going to continue to grow and build on his skills and is thrilled to see his effort on special teams.

Learned early on working for Urban Meyer that you have to be very involved as a head coach in special teams to make sure that it is constantly held at a high standard and keeps players engaged in its importance. Nobody who signs a scholarship signs up to play special teams, but if the head coach is telling you and showing you it is important than you get those guys to understand.

Preparing for a night game in a rowdy environment. Will mix Rocky Top into the crowd noise and pump it up a bit. Annoyingly catchy tune, depending on what sideline you’re on. Hopefully we hear it more in practice than on game day.

Asked about James Houston – through Spring Ball they met and he just wasn’t where he was expected to be. Told him he needs to buy in to have success here. About halfway through training camp they saw it click for him and now he is having some success. That’s the idea, the harder you work the better it makes you. If he keeps that up and keeps focusing on improving he’ll only get better.

Has of course seen the Franks game winning TD last season against Tennessee. Was surprised by the initial play call, but it looked pretty cool. Weren’t we winning by two scores in the 4th quarter of that game? [Mullen asks] – was surprised they gave up those points and didn’t put it away earlier, needing the score.

Mental and physical toughness is most important, just like leadership, but being able to quickly process information is crucial to a quarterback being successful. He has 10 seconds to make a ton of decisions and about 0.5 to make a dozen more. The more reps you get the more you learn and get used to the timing and quickness. Learning to anticipate comes from experience and grinding – knowing what is going on all around the field, even when you aren’t looking at it happening, so you can still make the second or third read