John Adams

john.adams@knoxnews.com

When Tennessee’s football regular season ended Saturday, that also meant the end of coach Butch Jones' regular Monday press conferences.

But I wasn’t quite ready for that. And since I thought some of you might feel the same way, I decided to have the next best thing: a mock press conference, which might go something like this:

Media: Will there be disappointment when you see Florida line up to play Alabama for the SEC championship this Saturday?

Jones: Disappointed? We have gone 1-0 eight times this season. How many teams in the history of the world can say that?

Media: Still, there has to be a sense of “What might have been?” after that 5-0 start. You finished 8-4 and didn’t win the SEC East as expected.

Jones: Why is it so hard for you people to understand that something special is going on here? It has been a long time since a Tennessee team won eight games. We’ve won 14 of our last 18 games. How many teams can say that?

Media: Do you wonder what this team might have accomplished if not for all the injuries?

Jones: We don’t use injuries as an excuse. That’s life in the SEC. You have to have a next-man-up mentality.

It just shows what great resolve and resiliency this team has. That’s why I love ’em.

No team in the history of the world has had this many injuries. But we will never use injuries as an excuse. We don’t even talk about them.

Media: Coach, have you been in touch with Jalen Hurd since he quit the team?

Jones: Jalen and I have a great relationship. And that’s all I’m going to say about that.

Media: But have you talked to Jalen since …

Jones: I said, “No more questions about Jalen.”

Media: What makes Joshua Dobbs so successful?

Jones: He wants to be great. And he’s constantly working at developing his craft. He studied video for 25 hours last Wednesday.

Joshua Dobbs could be president one day.

Media: Why has Derek Barnett had such a great year?

Jones: He wants to be great. And he’s constantly working at developing his craft. He studied video for 25 hours last Thursday.

Derek Barnett could be president one day.

Media: If Joshua Dobbs ran against Derek Barnett for president, who would win?

Butch: You must not have children. If you did, you would know you don’t choose one over the other. You love them the same. If your two children ran against each other for president, they would tie.

Media: If Joshua Dobbs and Derek Barnett tied for president, how would our country choose between them?

Jones: One would be president one day, and the other one would be president the next day.

Media: What if one was supposed to be president on Tuesday, but was ill. Could they swap days?

Jones: That’s a good question. One of you guys needs to research that.

Media: Could Jalen Hurd be president?

Jones: I said, “No more questions about Jalen.”

Media: Do you have a bowl preference?

Jones: Bowls are like children. You love them all the same.

It’s just great to be in the bowl conversation. Not since 2002 has Tennessee been to bowls in three consecutive seasons. That’s how far we have come in four years.

There’s something special going on here.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him on Twitter: @johnadamsKNS

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