KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee football interim head coach Brady Hoke spoke to reporters at Monday’s noon press conference in the Ray and Lucy Hand Digital Studio.
Hoke was named Tennessee’s interim head coach on Sunday. He made it clear on Monday that he and the coaching staff are focused on the team’s seniors and that group’s final two regular season games in orange and white.
“These last two games are only about one thing, and that’s the seniors on this football team,” Hoke said. “They have been part of 29 wins, three bowl wins and they’ve laid a foundation for this program that was badly needed. They’re the ones who we play for. The foundation they laid now and for the future, I think is really positive. As a staff, we are going to coach our hearts out for the seniors. Our hope is that in the next two weeks, the next two games, the team, coaches, former Vols and Vol Nation make it a great experience for those kids.”
Hoke has 34 years of coaching experiences, including 12 years as an FBS head coach with stops at Michigan (2011-14), San Diego State (2009-10) and Ball State (2003-08). He compiled a 78-70 record as a head coach.
“The one thing that I’ve always kept in perspective is I got into coaching to help kids,” Hoke said. “If every day, I’m not helping kids that I’m coaching, then I’m failing those kids. If you are at the end of the day, then you can feel good about what you’ve done.”
Tennessee (4-6, 0-6 SEC) takes on No. 24 LSU (7-3, 4-2 SEC) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
1997 SEC Champs To Be Honored
The 1997 SEC Champion Tennessee team will be honored on the field on Saturdayduring the first quarter.
Coached by Phillip Fulmer and led by quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive end Leonard Little, linebacker Al Wilson, running back Jamal Lewis and wide receiver Marcus Nash, the 1997 Vols finished 11-2 and overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat Auburn 30-29 in the 1997 SEC Championship Game.
Capt. Stan Jones To Provide VFL Flyover on Saturday
VFL and former Tennessee football player Capt. Stan Jones will fly an F/A-18 Hornet over Neyland Stadium before the start of Saturday’s game.
Capt. Jones joined the Vols as a walk-on and was on the team during the 1985 and 1986 seasons.
Capt. Jones earned a bachelors of science in industrial engineering and a master’s of science in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee. He has accumulated over 3,000 flight hours and 623 carrier arrested landings and he has flown 30 different aircraft types. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals (three), Strike Flight Air Medals (three), Navy Commendation Medals (two), Navy Achievement Medal (two), and various campaign and unit awards. Capt. Jones joined the Navy and entered Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, in April of 1991 and earned his wings in January of 1994.
On Friday, the public can meet Capt. Jones and view the F/A-18s at McGee-Tyson/TAC Air from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
-UT Athletics
