Cooper Mays responds to former Vols OL Gerald Mincey's controversial comments from earlier this offseason

Former Tennessee Vols offensive lineman Gerald Mincey caused quite a stir earlier this offseason for some comments that he directed at the UT football program after he transferred to Kentucky.

Mincey, who started his career at Florida before spending two seasons with the Vols, told reporters that Kentucky is going to "bust [the Vols] in the mouth" when the Wildcats visit Neyland Stadium in November.

"I think I owe it to all the Kentucky fans to handle business on Nov. 2 (when UK and UT play)," said Mincey in late January . "So I'm excited for that...."Kentucky has got to do more to earn it (a win against Tennessee)....I love the underdog (role). So when we go there Nov. 2 to Neyland and we bust them in the mouth, we can put the standard back over here ."

Mincey also appeared to throw some shade at Tennessee offensive lineman John Campbell at one point during the offseason, posting a clip on his Instagram story of a play from last year's Tennessee/Alabama game where Campbell gave up a strip sack fumble that helped clinch the game for the Crimson Tide.

Last week at SEC Media Days in Dallas, CatsPause.com asked Vols offensive lineman Cooper Mays about Mincey's comments.

And Mays, unsurprisingly, gave a diplomatic answer about his former teammate.

From CatsPause.com : "Probably, yes. I think so," Mays said when asked if Mincey's desire to beat Tennessee was simply part of his personality. "I think everybody should be excited to play anybody in this league. I don't really discriminate who it is. I'm excited to play every week."

Mays also praised Mincey's abilities as an offensive lineman.

"He's got a great body, great potential," said Mays when asked about Mincey. "That's a guy that's as big as they come and has got long arms. He is athletic and versatile. He's a guy that's going to be good for them, I think."

That's a smart response by Mays. There was zero reason to add any fuel to the fire and give Mincey and the Wildcats any added motivation (especially since Mays won't be going head-to-head with Mincey in November).

I'm sure Tennessee will have an added edge to their game when they take the field against Kentucky in November thanks to Mincey's comments. But there's absolutely no reason for the Vols to put that out there in the media.

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