Tennessee’s Malik Jackson holds on to LSU’s Spencer Ware.KNOXVILLE — Tennessee senior defensive lineman Malik Jackson wanted to put to rest any rumors that the Volunteers snack on warm milk and cookies, crank down a little Brahms on the boom box and listen to coach Derek Dooley read a bedtime story or two during halftime.
Still, when you get outscored 56-6 in the third quarter of your first four Southeastern Conference games, you know the sports world wants to know what’s going on inside your locker room during intermission.
“Oh, we have crumpets, a little bit of tea, go in there and relax,” Jackson, who transferred from Southern Cal before the 2010 season, said Monday with a grin.
“No, it’s pretty much the same as it was at USC. The offensive and defensive coordinators both meet with their players. Then you get with your position coach for a few minutes. Then Coach Dooley says a few things and we go back out there.”
Yet Jackson also knows something needs to change and change quickly during UT halftimes as the Vols head into the second half of their eight-game SEC schedule this Saturday night against South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.