Vols and Northwestern Desire “Good Clean American Fun” in Outback Bowl

    Ever since November, the Vols have been dreaming of spending a warm New Year’s in Tampa.

Said head coach Butch Jones-"We’re playing at Missouri. It’s about 23-degrees. Before the kickoff, Jalen Reeves-Maybin gets everyone up and says, if you don’t like this weather, let’s win so we can go to Tampa."

    Both coaches want their guys to soak up the bowl experience.

Said Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald-"When it’s time to work, it’s time to work and be focused and disciplined in what you’re doing. Then when it’s time to have good clean, American fun. Go cut it loose and party your tail off."

Added Jones-"And let’s make sure we never take the bowl experience for granted. I think we found that out in our storied tradition at Tennessee when you go a few years without a bowl game."

    Jones and Fitzgerald understand you really can’t prepare enough for a bowl game.

Fitzgerald-"You’ve just got to expect the unexpected. That’s just what ends up happening. I’ll go back to the six I have coached in as a head coach. You go in with a plan, and then you better be ready to adjust."

Jones-"As a coach, you want a clean football game. You don’t want pre-snap penalties. You don’t want turnovers. You don’t want missed assignments. All those things that are execution based."

    Northwestern can make school history with a win over the Vols.

Fitzgerald-"Which would be the first time in our program’s history of getting to eleven wins. (in a season) I wish it was against my high school because it would be a lot easier. That’s not the case. Been a challenge getting ready for Butch’s team. He has done a terrific job all season long. Played one of the most competitive, if not the top schedule in the country."

Jones-"The thing when you watch Northwestern. Again, they don’t beat themselves. They force you into making mistakes."