KNOXVILLE — The magnitude of Saturday’s top-15 matchup between Texas and Tennessee was put in its proper perspective Thursday evening when Tennessee announced that third-year linebackers coach William Inge was hospitalized “with a personal medical issue.”
The university sent out an updated statement Friday morning in which Inge, 52, said he was resting comfortably and that he appreciated everyone’s support.
With Inge still hospitalized Saturday, the Volunteers went out and had a stellar defensive showing in their 20-17 loss to the top-ranked Longhorns. No. 14 Tennessee held Texas to 262 yards and sacked Arch Manning six times.
“I don’t think it deterred from me being focused as much as it made me lock in even more, and understanding what he would want you to do as a coach and just having that competitive composure and fighting spirit,” senior linebacker Arion Carter said after his 11-tackle performance. “He’s literally fighting for his life, and it’s understanding that this thing is bigger than football.
“We wanted to go out there as a group collectively and put our best foot forward and represent him to the best of our ability.”