Hendon Hooker, Bru McCoy detail postgame feelings after big win

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham09/25/22

AndrewEdGraham

Beating Florida is a big deal at Tennessee in any year, but with the Gators dominating the series of late and College Gameday on campus, Saturday’s 38-33 win for the Vols was especially sweet.

For transfer wideout Bru McCoy, in his first season at Tennessee, winning against the rival Gators in front of a checkerboard crowd at Neyland Stadium reaffirmed his decision to come to Knoxville.

“I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, in the best way ever. Couldn’t picture it, couldn’t fathom it — the sound, the crowd, everything. It’s an unbelievable experience. It’s surreal. I made the best decision I’ve made coming here,” McCoy said.

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The Vols had the win pretty much in hand at the end of the game but let Florida make it close. After the Gators miraculously recovered an onside with less than a minute remaining and down five, they had one final shot at the end zone to try and win the game.

It was to no avail as the Tennessee pass rush got home on Anthony Richardson and his throw as he went to the ground was intercepted short of the end zone by Kamal Hadden.

For Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, it was a mixture of joy and relief when Hadden came down with the ball with no time on the clock.

“I don’t know, honestly. It was kind of just a — I’m glad we got the dub,” Hooker said. “That’s what we came to do. So as long as we got the dub in the win column, I’m happy. I’m happy ‘Mal made a great play. I’m happy the defense line got the pressure on the quarterback and we got the win.”

McCoy, however, loved living in those moments of glory shortly after the game.

“There’s no better feeling, I think everybody let out a big sigh of relief at the end of the game,” McCoy said. “You celebrate, you see the fans, just how happy they are. Everybody in the locker room, the coaches, the staff, we all just kind of soaked in the moment, enjoyed it the best we could and right now is a time to just be in the moment. Next week we’ll be forward facing but right now, we get to enjoy it. There’s no better feeling, celebrating with the guys you put in work with every day.”