Josh Heupel details Vols’ open date week of practices

Tennessee (4-4, 2-3 SEC) has an open date in Week 9.

First-year head coach Josh Heupel met with media Wednesday and discussed the Vols’ week of practice.

“Good day of practice with our guys today,” Heupel said. “It is the first day that we have been on the field. Monday was a brief lift for them, and yesterday we got an opportunity to kind of push forward on this week. You guys know, I said it after the ball game (at Alabama) too, important that we get a bunch of guys healthy here this week. That will be really important for us, and then, opportunity for us to continue to sharpen our skills and get better too. A little bit more good-on-good work and then a little bit of Kentucky (preparation) too.

“For our staff, huge week. The beginning of the week, a little bit of recruiting, but the back end of it is loaded with recruiting. Our entire staff will be out Thursday and Friday, really important for us. First and foremost, inside the state, and then continue throughout the areas we continue to go recruit. Finish this class and also push forward a little bit.”