It’s not uncommon for college football coaches and players to be asked Thanksgiving week to name what they’re thankful for or to share some memories.
Tennessee second-year receivers coach Kelsey Pope provided a new one Tuesday.
“I’m thankful for you guys and for being able to be here in this position,” Pope said as he looked around the news conference. “I’m not sure if a bunch of you guys know, but a couple of years ago I was a D-III coach and I would be watching interviews like this of guys I look up to. Being up here at this podium is kind of surreal.
“I’m always thankful to have this opportunity.”
The No. 25 Volunteers continued preparations for Saturday afternoon’s regular-season finale (3:30 on the SEC Network) against visiting Vanderbilt. Lopsided losses the past two weeks to Missouri and Georgia have turned Tennessee’s 7-2 start into a 7-4 record that includes a 3-4 mark in Southeastern Conference play, while Vanderbilt will seek to stop a nine-game skid after opening its season with wins over Hawaii and Alabama A&M.