Louisiana Tech knows the odds

The next one is Saturday night against Tennessee (2-0) at always filled-to-the-brim Neyland Stadium.

"It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to be the coach on the other side," quipped the sixth-year engineer of the Bulldogs. "I always wanted to go to places like LSU, Miami or Tennessee. The only problem is that I've got to coach the other team.

"Otherwise, it's a huge thrill to be in such a great atmosphere where they play college football."

He'll be sending his Bulldogs (2-1) into one of the noisiest, most electrifying and intimidating stadiums in the country this weekend, the challenge being tenacious enough if for nothing else for the surroundings.

Adding to the mission, though, is that Tech will also be playing a team that perennially ranks among the most successful.

And it's seven days after having lost 48-0 to top five ranked Miami on the road.

"You just have to put that one behind you and forge ahead," Bicknell said. "As a competitor, you have to gear up for the next game. As much as you don't want to look ahead or maybe think about what happened in your last game, you have to move on and get ready for the next opponent.

"Tennessee is another team along the lines of a Miami where the talent level doesn't drop off very much from one team to the next. Like them (Miami), they have tremendous depth at every position. Their offensive line, in particular, is extremely good. It's definitely one of the best anywhere in the country."

Tech will be playing the Vols for the second time ever, both having been at Neyland, where the country's third largest collegiate facility transforms into one huge bowl of orange on game day.

The last time the Bulldogs were here was in 1993. Result: a 50-0 pounding.

" We have to look at this Saturday as being another huge challenge against a great program," Bicknell said. "You put the Miami game in the past and forget about it and go from there. Tennessee is next. Thus, they're the biggest game on our schedule at this moment. Although we do have plenty of tough ones during this stretch, don't we?"

That stretch of tough games continues next Saturday at home in a Western Athletic Conference showdown against No. 17 ranked Fresno State. On Oct. 9, it's on to top 10 ranked Auburn.

For now, though, the Vols are plenty to deal with.

"I'm not so sure it's a good thing," Bicknell answered when asked about having to face such a formidable stretch of opponents. "But I don't believe we can get the schedule changed at this point. It just might be the toughest four-game stretch in college football. I'm not sure too many other schedules are like this one.

"But we have to deal with preparing for Tennessee and being ready to face a team that is definitely one of the best in the country, year in and year out."

Making Tech's task of trying to pull off an upset even tougher is that two starters in the offensive line with be out because of injuries. Tackles Adrian Gonzalez and Lester Brown won't be playing, the former out with an undisclosed injury and Brown sidelined because of ankle problems.

"It will be tougher facing Tennessee without those two guys," Bicknell said "Now, we've got to have some others step up for us. But that's the game of football. Injuries are going to happen sometimes and you have to prepare for it."

While Tennessee has been successful with a freshman quarterback tandem of Erik Ainge and Bret Schaeffer, the Bulldogs will have junior Donald Allen starting for the third straight game.

Although he left the Miami game in the third quarter following a bump to his right shoulder, Allen's injury wasn't deemed serious and he's been practicing throughout this week in preparation for the Vols' defense.

"That's another good defense we're going to be playing," Bicknell said. "Tennessee particularly has a strong group of linebackers and they go two and three deep at every position."