In the grand scheme of things, what's a few more days?
Tennessee first-year football coach Josh Heupel in a Monday morning news conference did not announce the starting quarterback for next Thursday night's season opener against Bowling Green inside Neyland Stadium. Monday was the only media availability for Heupel this week, though he is scheduled to be on "Vol Calls" Wednesday night.
"No decisions have been made," Heupel said. "Those guys have been great and continue to compete, and we'll see where we're at here at the end of this week."
Sophomore Harrison Bailey, who started the final three games last season, has been vying with Virginia Tech graduate transfer Hendon Hooker and Michigan grad transfer Joe Milton in recent days for the starting opportunity. Redshirt sophomore Brian Maurer began preseason camp in the mix but had his repetitions reduced in practice and opted to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
Heupel addressed Maurer's departure for the first time, saying, "I just had a conversation with him of where we were at during that point of training camp. Ultimately he decided he wanted a different opportunity for his future, and we wish him nothing but the best."
Bailey, Hooker and Milton have the trust of their teammates, said Heupel, which is an accomplishment for Milton given that he didn't arrive in Knoxville until after the Orange & White spring game.
"Him not having spring here is what it is," Heupel said. "For him, he's got less time on task in what we're doing offensively. He spent a ton of time in May learning what we were doing before everybody was back in June. The quarterback group as a collective group has spent a ton of time and energy really becoming refined in what we're doing.
"Joe has really progressed through the course of our training camp. You look at the first half and the second half, and he's much more comfortable with what we're asking him to do."
Heupel described this week as a combination of getting some scout-team looks in preparation for Bowling Green with continuing to build as a team.
Odds and ends
Heupel began Monday's news conference by offering well wishes to those in the middle of the state who were affected by the significant weekend flooding. ... When asked about his team's vaccination rate, Heupel didn't offer a specific figure but said, "We continue to move the needle in the right direction."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.