University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones answers questions from media at the University of Tennessee Football Media Day Thursday, July 31, 2014, in Knoxville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason.KNOXVILLE -- In this day and age of social media and immediate communication, it's no surprise how fast news can travel, particularly if it's just going about 135 miles along Interstate 40.
At his weekly news conference early Tuesday afternoon, first-year Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason began referring to Tennessee as "the team out East" ahead of the Volunteers' visit to Nashville on Saturday.
"There is no love lost between these two teams, and that's really where we sit," Mason said. "This football team feels like they've got something to prove. I'm sure the team out East feels like they've got something to prove, looking at trying to get bowl-eligible. There's a lot at stake, and we're going to play the game that way."
"They're a good football team," he'd later add, "but they're the team out East. We're Vanderbilt. They're the team out East."
About three hours later, Tennessee coach Butch Jones barked at "the team from East" as the Vols practiced.
After practice, Jones, who last season had the Vols referring to Alabama as "the red team" before a 45-10 loss to the Crimson Tide, kept his answers regarding the name-calling fairly brief, while his players downplayed the whole thing.
"This is actually the first time hearing that," Vols quarterback Josh Dobbs said. "I'm not really bothered by it and don't really care."
"I really hadn't even heard about it," added freshman tailback Jalen Hurd.
Tennessee can secure its first bowl bid since 2010 with a win Saturday, while the Commodores are 3-8 after back-to-back nine-win seasons under James Franklin.
"We've got much more bigger things to worry about and concern ourselves with," Jones said. "We should have enough motivation to win the game and get win number six. Our players know what's at stake. That doesn't even need to be discussed."
The Vols are certainly aware of the moniker the Commodores have applied to their in-state rivals, though, and Tennessee also hasn't forgotten its losses to Vanderbilt the past two seasons.
"It definitely creates a lot of respect for them," safety Brian Randolph said. "They came out to play, and they got us the last two years. We're just trying to worry about this year. We're trying not to look back and cry over spilled milk. We're trying to go out there and play the best that we can."
Behind the Berrys
Tennessee freshmen Evan and Elliott Berry were both at practice Tuesday, about 24 hours after older brother Eric, the current Kansas City Chiefs star and former Tennessee All-American, was placed on the NFL's non-football injury list and flew to Atlanta to have more tests done on a mass in his chest that team doctors believed to be lymphoma.
The trio's father, James, also played at Tennessee.
"Obviously our thoughts and our prayers are with Eric and his entire family, and obviously Evan and Elliott," Jones said. "They're here; they're practicing; they're doing everything. 'Vol for life' is all-encompassing, and it's very important to us, but they're here going to classes and practicing.
"Their teammates have been there for them, so it's been family coming together."
Jones said Tennessee is looking into ways -- a helmet decal, for example -- to honor Eric Berry on Saturday.
"We're in the process of evaluating some things," he said. "We'll know a little bit more later in the week. We want to obviously respect Eric and his family as well, and we've been in constant dialogue and communication."
Mason and Dobbs
While the defensive coordinator under head coach David Shaw at Stanford in 2013, Mason was Dobbs's primary recruiter as the Cardinal pursued the Alpharetta (Ga.) High School star.
Mason said Dobbs visited Stanford and wanted to play basketball and walk-on to the football team. Dobbs ultimately committed to Arizona State. He was on board with the Sun Devils until Jones and Tennessee's new staff flipped him on the eve of national signing day.
"Through recruiting you form relationships with coaches from a lot of schools, so I got to know Coach Mason very well while he was at Stanford with Coach Shaw," Dobbs said. "I haven't talked to him since, but we did have a good relationship through recruiting."
Mason was complimentary of how Dobbs has played since taking over at quarterback four games ago.
"Josh is talented, and he's bright," Mason said. "He plays the game the way the game should be played. He's the savior to their season. When you look at how they've rebounded, Josh has been very key to that. He came in the Alabama game and put up points, and since then he's been on a run.
"He's smart, has a strong arm, is athletic, makes few mistakes and he's efficient."
Status updates
Defensive tackle Trevarris Saulsberry returned to practice for the first time since suffering a knee injury against Alabama about a month ago, but center Mack Crowder (knee, ankle) was not at practice while he did some jogging with a trainer and remains iffy for Saturday's game.
Freshman tailback Derrell Scott (hand/thumb) was at practice and had a smaller cast on his right wrist.
Tailbacks Hurd and Marlin Lane were in noncontact jerseys.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.