Tennessee football raises trash can to celebrity status
Dan Fleser
If Tennessee's football team can collect turnovers in a trash can, perhaps the Vols should do the same for touchdowns.
Offensive tackle Brett Kendrick liked the idea and said, "I'm going to make sure I talk to Coach Jones about that.".
More: Why the Vols had a trash can at the Georgia Tech game
Tennessee's receptacle has achieved celebrity status after Monday's 42-41 overtime victory over Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
The trash can has been used as a motivational ploy since last season. Players have deposited footballs in it after forcing turnovers. The can's profile literally was raised Monday night after being paraded along UT's sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium like hockey's Stanley Cup.
"I woke up (Wednesday) morning and saw a tweet about the Tennessee trash can or something," Kendrick said on Wednesday. "There was a tweet for it. It's pretty funny and crazy what social media will take and make."
Tennessee Vols football podcast | The Volunteer State: New episode available
UT coach Butch Jones said he had a bet during his weekly press conference regarding who would ask a question about the trash can.
"It's never meant anything disrespectful to the opponent," Jones said. "It's a heightened awareness of turnovers."
The awareness certainly is higher than before.