Spencer Rattler heard those vulgar Tennessee chants. Here’s what he thought about it
Spencer Rattler was a marked man by the Tennessee defense — and the crowd — at Neyland Stadium on Saturday night.
The South Carolina quarterback was harassed by the Vols’ defense to the tune of six sacks. The Tennessee student section also had its own form of harassment against Rattler, with various chants during the night, including a steady and repetitive “F--- you, Spencer” that was so loud it could be heard on the TV broadcast.
Those chants began in the first quarter and continued until the final buzzer sounded in the Vols’ 41-20 victory.
“It was a great environment, but I must be doing something right if they keep saying that the whole night,” Rattler said. “Like I say, if you ain’t got haters, you ain’t poppin.’ ”
Rattler played a major role last season in ruining the Vols’ hopes of making the College Football Playoff. The Oklahoma transfer had his best game of the 2022 season against Tennessee, completing 30-of-37 passes for 438 yards and six touchdowns in the 63-38 win at Williams-Brice Stadium on Nov. 20.
Because of that, the Vols were building Saturday’s game into a revenge contest, with announcers on SEC Network calling it a “reckoning.”
“It was like their Super Bowl tonight. Congrats to them,” Rattler said.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said his team took last year’s loss pretty hard, admitting that it was one of the motivating factors headed into the game. The Gamecocks gained 606 yards of offense last year and were held to 333 on Saturday.
“I think everybody took it personally, as an entire program. Our fans did, too. But certainly on the defensive side of the ball,” Heupel said.
Heupel said his team was able to make Rattler uncomfortable all night long with different pressures up front and by mixing up coverages. The Vols also did a good job shutting down Rattler’s top target, Xavier Legette.
The senior was held to five catches for 50 yards. Legette came into the game leading the nation in receiving yards and receiving yards per game.
Rattler finished 24-of-35 for a season-low 169 yards and one interception, which Kamal Hadden returned 28 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter to put the Vols up 24-10.
“Had a guy in my face, threw it an inch high. It was the right read, a little too high,” Rattler said of the interception. “.... Obviously the pick hurt us. We just didn’t find a rhythm all night. We came out, did some good things, but couldn’t find a rhythm. We have things to clean up. We’re 2-3 right now, but it doesn’t feel like we’re 2-3.”
This story was originally published October 1, 2023 at 12:37 AM.
