Tennessee Volunteers

Butch Jones inspired by Gary Pinkel's approach at building a program

Published Nov. 16, 2015 5:55 p.m. ET

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To open his introductory press conference for Missouri week, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones opened by paying tribute to Tiger head coach Gary Pinkel - who of course will be coaching in his last home game for Missouri this weekend against Tennessee. 

“I remember being a young coach in the Mid American Conference and he was the head coach at Toledo," Jones said. "You look at everywhere he’s been and he’s won. He’s done it his way.

"Same personality from the Toledo teams that you see from the Missouri teams. Starts with great defense, great, great discipline as a football program, tough. Can spread you out, run the quarterback, great screen game and physical style of play and that has not changed."

Jones even admitted he learned a thing or two from observing the culture Pinkel created at Toledo, a football program Jones described as the "premier program" during his time spent in the MAC. 

“When we went to Central Michigan, I kinda modeled that same format that (Pinkel) had at Toledo."

Tennessee will likely enter the game as the favored team, the Vols opened as a nine-point favorite, but it had better be on upset alert, as the Zou will be rocking as Pinkel's 15-year career nears an end in his last home game. 

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