What Josh Heupel said after No. 15 Tennessee's 41-34 overtime win at Mississippi State

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Everything head coach Josh Heupel said after No. 15 Tennessee’s 41-34 overtime win over Mississippi State Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium:

Opening Statement

“Man, fan base, awesome. Love the way they showed up. Love the way we competed for four quarters, playing the next play, playing the next series. Offensively, special teams, man, there’s a whole lot that can be a lot cleaner. End of the day, it’s a win for who we consider to be the good guys. And at the end of the day, love competing with these guys. So a lot to clean up — everybody, coaches, players, everybody. But good road win against a good football team. Excited about that. And got a chance here (with the) bye week to heal some guys up, get better and get ready to get back to work.”

Not taking a timeout at the end of regulation, after DeSean Bishop ran for a first down on third-and-1

“We actually had the second play ready to go. With the time on the clock, whether it was right or wrong, with the two timeouts, being able to get it out quick and burn it. We had the second play ready to go. That’s why I didn’t use it there. With the time that it ended up, probably would have been right (to call the timeout). So Joey scrambles around on the play and burns the clock, so.”

DeSean Bishop’s touchdown run to start overtime, then Tennessee’s defense getting a stop

“We got some movement on the counter play. We’re able to get up to the second level. Bish kind of steps through one a little bit, too, and got into a personnel grouping that we hadn’t used much during the course of the ball game. With Ethan (Davis) being out, just hadn’t gotten into our 12 (personnel) stuff and kind of switched it up and went 12 and blocked it and he ran through it.

“The line of scrimmage, they controlled (it on defense). They made it uncomfortable for the quarterback on a couple of the passes. Matched guys out. Ty (Redmond) is close to picking one over on the sideline. They end up hitting that play on second and long. Then just relentless and played with great communication, alignment, assignment and made plays. It was a great effort by our defense — I should have said that at the beginning — the entire night. There’s a couple things that (Mississippi State) busted, run fits early, some of the outside zone, and we let one down the middle of the football field for a big play for them. But there was a lot of things that they did at a really high level and (we) had to face some adverse situations, too, and continued to respond. Really proud of those guys. Obviously, a couple huge plays. Defensive lineman strip sack, scoop and score. And the pick six.”

Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar being poised, that showing up at the end of the game

“It showed up at the end of the game. Big drive, big conversions, showed itself there. There’s some things, early, middle, third quarter that he would like to have back and we’d like to have back. But the fact that he just kept competing, is a really positive sign. One of the things that we love about him.”

If he got an explanation on the offensive pass interference call against Chris Brazzell, taking away a Tennessee touchdown 

“Man, they didn’t say anything to me. That would be an interesting play to go watch here.”

Tennessee’s Boo Carter not being deep to catch the first two punts, if that was by design

“It was. Obviously that’s one of the things that you can’t have happen. Mishandled the first one. Don’t catch the second one, goes down to the one-yard line. Got Boo back in there. He did a good job catching it. So they’re unique in their punters.They’ve got multiple punters, multiple footed and a little bit sporadic where they hit it. We didn’t start very well handling it, finished a little bit better. Obviously the fake was disappointing.” 

Tennessee defensive lineman Tyree West continuing to improve

“Tyree’s just, you talk about a young guy from day one until now, how he’s grown. He’s a man and he’s a competitor. Understanding our defense, playing with relentless effort and playing with great technique too. He’s played on the edge, played some inside. Just done a great job. Great job here and you talked about him playing his best football. There’s no doubt that the last few weeks he’s been playing his best football.”

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar’s interceptions in the second half

“The one to Kits was probably a little bit further inside than you want. His hand got grabbed as he’s going up for the football so ends up being a deflection. The previous one, Joey’s throwing off his back foot,  it’s a little bit high. When there’s bodies around, bad things like that happen, and so combination of a little bit of everything from him leads that to be an error.”

The Mississippi State road environment, cowbells

“Cowbells, you know, I’m not sure the right way to describe it, but it’s a little bit of everything. But a noise maker at the end of the day. We had a couple of false starts on tempo in short yardage situations that changed the way the game’s played. Those things are, they’re a part of it, you know?”

Sharing a moment with Tennessee offensive guard Wendell Moe postgame

“He’s an elite competitor. And this one mattered to him in a big way. You talk about tough, smart and physical. That guy embodies all that. And it’s just awesome from the time that he got here, when we got on the field, you saw him. He’s really smart and plays the game at a really high level. It’s been fun to see his personality really come out during the course of the summer, but really training camp and he’s got great leadership traits. It’s just, it’s been fun seeing him continue to grow. He’s a great player.”

Not taking a timeout before half when Mississippi State faced fourth-and-2

“Fourth and two. There’s a lot of things that go into that. We get the ball after half and defense has been on the field. Burning a timeout. If they do go for it, giving them time, I just felt like it was the right thing with where the scoreboard was and how everything had transpired and us getting the ball to let that thing milk. If it’s a long yardage situation, it’s different.”

David Sanders making his Tennessee debut on the game-tying drive

“I thought he went in there in a tough situation, getting first action, responded, played really well. It’s a great example to young guys that haven’t been in this game that you don’t know when it’s coming, but it’s coming, you better be ready. It’s during the course of play, 60 minutes. It’s week to week, and it’s great to have him back. 

“That’s a young guy that has had to deal with an adverse injury right out the gate, handled it well. He was a great teammate and has wanted to be on that field. As a coach, you deal with a lot of hard moments, too. When he got the word that, man, he was cleared— that’s one of those great moments that stays with you too.”

Mike Matthews having big catches

“All those guys got great trust in him. I think Mike had a big time night. He’s winning one-on-ones. He was getting open down the football field, working in the middle of the football field. Guy’s a highly competitive guy that is playing really well, but his best football is still in front of him. I think that’s one of the exciting things for Mike.”

Going back to Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman late

“Great leader, same competitor. Every day, guys know that about them. They’ve seen it. Trust them, believe in them. Quarterback trusts them, guys around them do. This game’s never going to be perfect. It’s always about the next play. And with all the things that we got to correct from this game, I am proud of this football team for just going and playing the next play.”

His trust in DeSean Bishop, two late-game drives

“Great drive offensively, responding and going and getting themselves in the end zone. He’s leading the parade there in that situation. Smart, tough, physical, loves to compete. Guy works all year long, man. That guy’s working to go accomplish the things that he said before himself and go to battle with that guy any day.”