Tennessee football linebackers coach William Inge will miss his third straight game due to serious health issues as the Vols get ready to play Auburn today. It’s a heavy situation for the team and for Inge, who remains hospitalized at 52 years old with a series of undisclosed medical problems.
GBO, #WeRollin: Inge’s Family and Former Colleagues Show Up
Inge’s been fighting this illness for a bit now, having already missed UT’s 42-9 win over Kennesaw State on September 19 and their tight 20-17 loss to Texas on September 26. This is his third season on Coach Josh Heupel’s staff, and you can tell how much he means to everyone. On September 25, Inge himself put out a statement saying he was “resting comfortably” and “fighting this illness,” which is just gut-wrenching to hear.
The support for Inge is pouring in, especially from his family. His wife, Rae Ann, kept it simple but powerful on X today, October 3, posting “GBO” (Go Big Orange) and including the hashtag #WeRollin. That’s his favorite catchphrase for motivating players, man, and it just hits different coming from her. His daughter Raya, a softball player at Alcoa High School, also shared a photo of her dad and a message on social media back on September 26, saying, “Thank you to all who have reached out. My family and I appreciate all of your prayers. God’s Got US.” It’s clear Inge, his family, and the entire UT football team are leaning on those prayers right now. Even his son Isaiah played for Tennessee as a walk-on defensive lineman in 2024-25, so this is a family deeply tied to the program. The connections don’t stop there, either. Plenty of Auburn coaches and support staff, like safeties coach Tim Banks and assistant cornerbacks coach Earnest Thomas, worked with Inge at Tennessee during the 2024-25 seasons when Banks was UT’s defensive coordinator. The football world is small, and everyone is feeling this.
Fighting for a Brother: How Inge’s Battle Inspires the Vols
Coach Heupel himself got real about Inge’s condition after the Texas game, saying it “turned serious in the middle part of (last) week,” but that Inge had “small wins (in the) late part of the week.” Heupel called Inge “a fighter,” “tough,” and someone who “believes in the power of prayer.” You can tell the team is taking that to heart. “We’re lifting him up in prayer,” Heupel said. “I know our fans are, too. He’s got a real fight on his hands still, but he’s had some positive news.” It’s inspiring to hear about those “small wins” in such a tough situation.
The Vols are trying to fill Inge’s shoes by utilizing analysts and other coaches, with veteran defensive coordinator Jim Knowles even stepping in, having coached linebackers for much of his career. But it’s about more than just filling a coaching spot. These players are playing for Inge. Edge rushers coach Andrew Jackson said on September 29 that the UT players were absolutely motivated to play well against Texas for Inge, and they want to bring that same fire against Auburn while upholding the teamwork Inge preaches. Jackson put it perfectly: “Bigger than football, Coach Inge is one of our brothers. He’s like a dad to me, so that was extra motivation going into the (Texas) game.” He talked about the players “chasing greatness,” “working together,” “communicating well,” “loving each other,” and “celebrating with each other.” It sounds like they’re embodying everything Inge taught them.
The 17th-ranked Vols, currently 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the SEC, are set to face Auburn, who also stands at 3-1, but with a 1-1 SEC record. That game kicks off today, October 3, at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, live from Neyland Stadium. You know every player out there is carrying Coach Inge in their hearts. They’re playing not just for a win, but for their brother, for their coach, and for those “small wins” Inge is fighting for off the field. You just gotta root for ’em.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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