For UT's Butch Jones, losses never fade

Tennessee coach Butch Jones reacts to the referees late in the game against Florida on Sept. 26, 2015. Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsFullscreenTennessee coach Butch Jones yells to his players during warmups before the game with Western Carolina on Sept. 19, 2015. Wade Payne, APFullscreenBuy PhotoCoach Butch Jones isn't happy about a call as Tennessee plays Oklahoma in the second half on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Knoxville. Larry McCormack / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoCoach Butch Jones greets the fans at the Vol Walk before Tennessee plays Bowling Green at Nissan Stadium on Saturday Sept. 5, 2015. Larry McCormack / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenTennessee coach Butch Jones speaks to the media at SEC Media Days on July 14, 2015. Brynn Anderson, APFullscreenBuy PhotoCoach Butch Jones celebrates after defeating Iowa 45-28 in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Friday Jan. 2, 2015, in Jacksonville, Fla. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee coach Butch Jones celebrates his team's win over Vanderbitl 24-17 on Saturday Nov. 29, 2014. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee coach Butch Jones and the Tennessee players celebrate their 24-17 win at Vanderbilt Stadium on Saturday Nov. 29, 2014.. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee coach Butch Jones greets his players as they come off the field after a field goal as Tennessee plays Missouri at Neyland Stadium Saturday Nov. 22, 2014. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenTennessee coach Butch Jones yells to his players from the sideline during an NCAA college football game against Kentucky Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014 in Knoxville, Tenn. Wade Payne, APFullscreenTennessee coach Butch Jones celebrates and sings "Rocky Top" with his team and fans after a win against South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. RICHARD SHIRO, APFullscreenTennessee coach Butch Jones celebrates with his team and the team's fans after a win over South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. RICHARD SHIRO, APFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee coach Butch Jones isn't happy with a call as Tennessee plays Alabama at Neyland stadium. Saturday Oct. 25, 2014. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanFullscreenTennessee coach Butch Jones, right, talks with Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Wade Payne, APFullscreenOct 18, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Spruce Derden, Spruce Derden-USA TODAY SportsFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee coach Butch Jones sends instructions to his team as the University of Tennessee plays Chattanooga in Neyland Stadium. Saturday Oct. 11, 2014, in Knoxville, TN. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee coach Butch Jones isn't please by the way things are going in the final minutes of the game as Tennessee plays Florida in the second half in Neyland Stadium. Saturday Oct. 4, 2014, in Knoxville, TN. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoButch Jones and his players make their way through the crowd during the "Vol Walk" before Tennessee plays Florida in Neyland Stadium. Saturday Oct. 4, 2014, in Knoxville, TN. Larry McCormack, / The TennesseanFullscreenBuy PhotoCoach Butch Jones isn't pleased with an officials decision as the University of Tennessee plays Georgia in Sanford Stadium Saturday Sept. 27, 2014, in Athens, GA. Larry McCormack / The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenOklahoma coach Bob Stoops, left, and Tennessee coach Butch Jones, right, shake hands following an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. Oklahoma won 34-10. Sue Ogrocki/APFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee Head Coach Butch Jones walks the Vol Walk before the University of Tennessee plays Utah State at Neyland Stadium. THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoA fan gives Tennessee Head Coach Butch Jones a hug as he walks the Vol Walk before the University of Tennessee plays Utah State at Neyland Stadium. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoTennessee Head Coach Butch Jones walks through the tunnel as the end of the Vol Walk before the University of Tennessee plays Utah State at Neyland Stadium. THE TENNESSEANFullscreenBuy PhotoHead Coach Butch Jones isn't pleased with his players jumping off sides as the University of Tennessee plays Utah State at Neyland Stadium. Larry McCormack/The TennesseanFullscreenBuy PhotoHead Coach Butch Jones signals that Tennessee defensive back Cameron Sutton (23) intercepted a ball as the University of Tennessee plays Utah State at Neyland Stadium. Larry McCormack/The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoButch Jones walks between his players as they warm up before the University of Tennessee plays Utah State at Neyland Stadium. Larry McCormack/The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenTennessee Coach Butch Jones speaks to the media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days, Tuesday, July 15, 2014, in Hoover, Ala. Butch Dill/APFullscreenBuy PhotoUT football coach Butch Jones and Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick sign autographs for fans at the Big Orange Picnic Tuesday, July 15, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. UT Alum Adam Parker, left, after having a football autographed, said "We've got high expectations, so I'm confident we'll do well this season." Steven S. Harman / TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoHead Coach Butch Jones isn't happy with his teams play as Tennessee is behind 35-0 at half as the University of Tennessee plays Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoTN head coach Butch Jones reminds his players during a time out that it is 4th down for South Alabama as the University of Tennessee plays South Alabama at Neyland Stadium. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoUT head coach Butch Jones has a discussion with an official as the University of Tennessee plays the University of Florida Saturday Sept. 21, 2013, in Gainesville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoUT's Butch Jones isn't happy as he leaves with a 31-17 loss to the University of Florida Saturday Sept. 21, 2013, in Gainesville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoUT head coach Butch Jones has a talk with his players as they come off the field as the University of Tennessee plays the University of Florida. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoTN head coach Butch Jones encourages his team as the University of Tennessee plays South Alabama at Neyland Stadium. Saturday Sept. 28, 2013, in Knoxville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoButch Jones has his photo taken with Connor Moss as he signs a football for him at the UT All Sports Picnic at Lipscomb's Allen Arena Thursday July 18, 2013, in Gallatin, Tenn. Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEANBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoUTFOOTBALL0208 Wanting to meet as many fans as he could, UT football coach Butch Jones has his photo made with Jared Vetetoe by his father Chris at the downtown Hilton during the Tennessee football staff's recruiting celebration trip across the state of Tennessee from Memphis to Nashville. Larry McCormack/The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenBuy PhotoUTFOOTBALL0208 UT football coach Butch Jones talks to fans at the downtown Hilton during the Tennessee football staff's recruiting celebration trip across the state of Tennessee from Memphis to Nashville. Larry McCormack/The TennesseanFullscreenBuy PhotoWanting to meet as many fans as he could, UT football coach Butch Jones stops to shake the hand of William Burgess as he walks intothe downtown Hilton during the Tennessee football staff's recruiting celebration trip across the state of Tennessee from Memphis to Nashville. Larry McCormack/The Tennessean Larry McCormack/The TennesseanBuy PhotoFullscreenLike this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:ReplayAutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext SlideCONNECT 1 TWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE

KNOXVILLE -- Tennessee coach Butch Jones won't forget last weekend's stunning collapse against Florida any time soon.

He'll remember it far longer than he would have had the Vols not blown a 13-point fourth-quarter lead.

"That's the thing in coaching is, you know, the wins are never as high as the lows of the losses," Jones said. "They live with you. You forget the wins. You never forget about the losses. They stay with you, and you learn from them."

Coaches' jobs after losses become significantly more challenging because of social media's ability to show players how fans and pundits are reacting, according to Jones.

"You can't let any negativity, clutter or distraction creep in and permeate throughout your football program," Jones said. "You can't allow that to happen."

THE TENNESSEAN

Vols, Arkansas go from high hopes to butt of jokes

Despite Jones' warnings about social media, cornerback Cameron Sutton said he isn't affected by what others are saying about the Vols and their pair of devastating losses through four weeks.

"I don't really hear much of the noise outside of the program," Sutton said. "We are going to be at home this weekend. It's another opportunity to show who we are as a football team. We know our fan base is going to be there to support us through thick and thin."

Tennessee fans have grown restless following the latest loss. In an unscientific poll conducted by The Tennessean, 65 percent believe Jones is either already on the hot seat or would be placed on it with a loss to Arkansas on Saturday (6 p.m., ESPN2).

THE TENNESSEAN

Poll: Is Jones on hot seat if UT loses to Arkansas?

Jones has now opened all three of his seasons in Knoxville with a 2-2 record. Because of the disappointing start to the season, Jones said it's important for the team to "stay the course" and rely on its veteran players, like injured fifth-year senior defensive end Curt Maggitt, who made the trip to Florida but did not play. The decision to bring Maggitt, the leader of the defense, was an easy one, according to Jones.

"I've been very proud of our players," Jones said. "I think they've handled everything very well. They've been very resilient, and we're responsible for what we create and we're looking forward to Saturday."

Reach Matt Slovin at [email protected] or on Twitter @MattSlovin.

THE TENNESSEAN

Butch Jones needs to drop script, think on his feet

NEXT GAME

ARKANSAS (1-3, 0-1 SEC) at TENNESSEE (2-2, 0-1)

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

TV/radio: ESPN2/104.5-FM

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