Tennessee coach Butch Jones claims responsibility for the Volunteers’ inability to hold off Oklahoma in Saturday’s double-overtime loss to the Sooners.KNOXVILLE — Tennessee football coach Butch Jones put on his politician hat during his Wednesday news conference and delivered a sort of state-of-the-program address.
The Volunteers collapsed in the second half and failed to close out a would-be marquee win against ranked Oklahoma last Saturday, and the hangover the from loss has made for a tense week around Knoxville.
While the team has been preparing for FCS opponent Western Carolina, the critical plays and coaching decisions from the loss to the Sooners have undergone scrutiny all week.
Despite another missed opportunity to notch a big win, Jones remains confident in the direction of the program that is 13-14 under his watch.
“I can tell you this as somebody who’s lived the program for three years: The strides that we’ve taken in two-and-a-half, three years is monumental,” he said. “And it’s a tribute to our players and our coaching staff to even be playing in that type of game last week of what’s gone on here and building this program.