KNOXVILLE — Tennessee football coach Butch Jones opened his weekly news conference Monday by pointing the blame for the Volunteers’ double-overtime loss to Oklahoma directly at himself.
As one would expect with the loss of a 17-point lead still fresh and an FCS opponent in Western Carolina next on the schedule, the main topic of discussion for Jones and the four players who spoke to the media was the difficult defeat.
Jones wasted no time saying it was on him.
“As the head football coach, I am responsible for the losses. I take responsibility,” he said. “Everyone in our football program was extremely disappointed, and everyone in our organization needs to continue to improve and learn from the experiences that we had, not only from Saturday night but through the week leading up to it in our effort and preparation.
“We must continue to move forward and make great strides. It was a tough loss. I’m encouraged of the progress that we’re making and the positives. I will tell you this: As the caretaker of Tennessee football, I refuse to allow any negativity to creep in or around our football program. We have way too much positive going on, and we have to get some things corrected.