Josh Heupel shares message to Max Gilbert after missed game-winner

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel revealed the message he gave kicker Max Gilbert after the latter missed a game-winner in regulation. After the missed kick, Tennessee went to overtime with Georgia and ended up losing 44-41.

It’s hard to pin an entire game on one play, especially after Gilbert nailed a 42-yarder on the first OT possession to give the Vols a 41-38 lead. But the moment had to have stung.

But Heupel echoed the situation of Gilbert getting one back in overtime, giving Tennessee a chance. Since football is a team game, it just didn’t work out in the end as the Bulldogs left Knoxville with a victory.

“Man, listen, I told the team – it’s a series of one plays that make the difference,” Heupel said postgame. “As a specialist, sometimes your life gets showcased in a way where you get very limited opportunities. I love the fact that he came back (in) overtime, drains it.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t make the one before, but he had his head high. That’s the life of being a kicker, you know what I mean? I love the way he responded. He’ll continue to grow. We’ve got great trust in him. Unfortunately, we didn’t finish that one.”

Gilbert hit two-of-three field goals in the game, nailing a game-long 48-yarder for Tennessee. However, the Vols saw a 21-7 first quarter lead evaporate over the course of the next 45 minutes of game time.

“You’ve got to go play,” Heupel said. “Listen, it’s the nature of the beast, right? They hit us with a heavy set and scissor zone and didn’t have it gapped out, or lost the edge on it. Offensively, we weren’t able to pick up the yards we needed to sustain the drive and go score.

“It’s not for lack of effort. Just didn’t make the plays at critical moments when you to have to in this game. That being said, in the back and forth of the game, man, this group competed really hard.”

Tennessee has a chance to get back in the win column on Saturday with a game against UAB at home. It could prove to be a get-right game for the Vols after an impressive showing in a defeat.

“Losses never feel good, taste good,” Heupel said. “That’s not the expectation inside of this locker room, just to play somebody tight. I think the disappointment of tonight can be a moment, something in our journey together that can springboard and propel us if we choose to use it that way.”