Shoop: Tennessee football ‘built for sustained success’
Coach has high praise for new program
Bob Shoop didn’t come to Tennessee to be part of a one-year wonder.
When he left Penn State in January as defensive coordinator to take the same job with the Vols, he did so to help build a championship culture in Knoxville.
Shoop, speaking Friday to area high school football coaches at the Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic Kickoff Luncheon, went into detail about his defense’s core values — passion, toughness and a team-first mindset.
“I always want to build a championship organization,” Shoop said. “To me, I sell our guys on this: When I came here, I came here to compete for SEC championships. I came here to get to Atlanta. I came here to win a national championship.”
Tennessee was picked to get to Atlanta and the SEC championship game last week at SEC Football Media Days, voted by media to win the SEC East.
Shoop isn’t shying away from the hype.
“We have the people in place,” he said. “We have the facilities. We have the resources. And Coach (Butch) Jones said this at SEC Media Days: This isn’t a one-year wonder. We’re built for sustained success. And that’s something I truly believe in.”
For now Shoop is explaining to his defense the difference in good, great and a championship.
“I sell (this to) our guys all the time,” Shoop said. “There’s a lot of good defenses, a lot of great defenses. But at the end of the day there’s only going to be one championship defense. And that’s what we’re striving to be in everything we do.”
Tennessee was 36th nationally in total defense last season, allowing an average of 362 yards per game. The Vols were 47th against the pass (210.4 yards per game) and 45th against the run (151.62).
Shoop appreciates the mature approach his players have had entering a season with so much hype.
While Florida players have taken to social media or interviews to gloat about their 11-game winning streak against their rivals, Tennessee’s players have stayed quiet.
“The thing that’s been most impressive about the players, you don’t hear the talk about hype,” Shoop said. “Our players have been pretty mature and responsible.
“It’s been about focusing on that day, individual improvement in a particular day.”
Shoop said the summer has been the next step in building a relationship with his new players.
February and March were spent getting to know one another. Spring practice, during March and April, allowed Shoop to learn how his players handled adversity.
“I think I kind of have a better understanding of how to push individual people’s buttons,” Shoop said, “and I think there’s a comfort level as we head into camp next week that maybe the guys didn’t have in March.”