Notes from Muschamp's Tennessee press conference

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp met with the media Tuesday to discuss the Gamecocks matchup with Tennessee.

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Quick-hitters from Muschamp:

** Tennessee has done a great job recruiting. They look like what you're supposed to look like. Butch Jones does good job. Derek Barnett is very good at defensive end. Joshua Dobbs is a senior who does a good job and and Jalen Hurts is a big, physical back. They are very talented at receiver too. Really good football team.

** Had a really good practice today. Guys had good focus. Game has been decided by 11 points last four years.

** Jake Bentley is a better athlete than given credit for. He can run, he will run. Had some zone-reads called the other day but the read was to give.

** There are a lot of similarities schematically between South Carolina and Tennessee, so the 1s vs 1s that South Carolina has done recently could help. We'll find out Saturday. Eliminated scout reps today and went good on good. Made a mistake not doing it earlier in the season.

** Donell Stanley practiced today. He's a little gimpy on the ankle. Hopefully he'll feel better as the week goes along. Stanley needs to move a little better. He's a tough kid and it's a testament to him that he's been able to get back because they thought he might be out for the season.

** One of Bentley's "talents" is preparation and a workmanlike attitude. Asked him how much film work he got in yesterday. He said 2.5 hours. The young QBs are learning from Perry Orth about how to prepare. Bentley and Brandon McIlwain "get it" and they have a great role model in Orth.

** Other than Wednesday of the UMass week, the team has practiced the right way this season. Happy with the guys for that.

** One of the few things that Muschamp inputs to the offensive playcalling on Saturdays is that he's always looking for the time to take a shot down field. You want playcalling to be 50/50, but you want to look for opportunities to take shots down field. Have to stay balance. If a team runs an overloaded pass pressure to one side and you run to the other, you get a big play, so it helps keep a defense off balance.

** Muschamp said he's shared with the team just how close the games have been between South Carolina and Tennessee. What's going to make a difference is the preparation. Your preparation for the game, makes a difference. A play or two here or there is the difference in a close game. Tennessee has won three straight close games because of that.

** Tennessee has been hit hard by injuries and it has affected them, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

** Muschamp played Rocky Top a ton in practice this morning. Told the players if they are tired of it to play well and they won't have to hear it as much.