Perhaps no one can appreciate the challenges that lie ahead for Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge better than Casey Clausen.
Clausen, who was quarterback for UT from 2000-03, had a similar situation working with young receivers entering his senior year.
"We had a highly touted group that included Robert Meachem, Bret Smith and Jayson Swain, and we'd just lost Kelley (Washington) and Jason (Witten),'' Clausen said. "We were hoping to get something out of our young guys early, but it just takes time.''
While Ainge has returning receivers Josh Briscoe, Lucas Taylor and Austin Rogers, Clausen had James Banks, Mark Jones, Tony Brown and C.J. Fayton to fall back on.
"We had to move James and Mark to receiver, and they both handled it well,'' Clausen said. "I remember Meachem had a great fall camp, but then he hurt his knee. Jayson was the most consistent, while Bret was a guy who made big plays.
"But I know from what I've seen and talking to Rick (Clausen), Erik is going to be good to go this year,'' he said. "He'll see those freshmen continue to get better, and he'll know when to get the ball to them.''
Clausen's 2003 Vols showed steady improvement en route to finishing ranked No. 6 in the nation before a disappointing fall in the Peach Bowl to Clemson.
UT opened that year 4-0, largely behind the play-making of Banks, who's now at Carson-Newman College. Then the Vols lost back-to-back games at Auburn and against Georgia.
Swain finished his freshman season with 21 catches, while Smith had just five.
"I know nobody wants to hear this, but you just have to be patient with young receivers,'' Clausen said. "Shoot, that's any position in college, lineman, linebacker or receiver, it takes freshmen time to adjust.
"I know people point to what Kelley (Washington) did as a freshman (64 catches, 1,010 yards in 2001), but he was a full-grown man who had been a professional athlete.''
Clausen, now working with the Poms and Associates Commercial Insurance Company in Woodland Hills, Calif., said he also has a greater appreciation for what the UT coaches are going through.
"That year I spent as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State (2005) while getting my Master's changed my perspective,'' Clausen said. "As a quarterback, you get way too much praise when you win, and when you lose, you better get ready for criticism.
"But it's even worse for the coaching staff.''
Clausen said fans need to appreciate what UT coach Phillip Fulmer and his staff are going through.
"No matter what happens, you can't fire the kids, so the coaches take the blame,'' Clausen said. "Those guys are there from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., and their livelihoods are in the hands of 18- or 19-year-old kids.
"People can say what they want about Coach Fulmer, but for him to be at one school for that long a time and done what he's done is amazing.''
Clausen said as the years go by, he appreciates his UT career more.
"I think the first thing you've got to do as a quarterback at Tennessee is realize there will only be one Peyton Manning, and he'll go down as the best quarterback to ever play the game,'' Clausen said. "You've got to be your own guy, and at Tennessee I was able to do that.''
Mike Griffith may be reached at 865-342-6289.
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Comments » 23
FatherVol writes:
Good interview, Casey. Thanks.
tnvoloh#528914 writes:
Wow...might be the best interview by Casey EVER...never expected to hear from a Clausen again after daddy didn't get his way and Rick went on to further his career!
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Man, all I ever hear out of most "Vol fans" mouths are how Casey was a big idiot or how he is ridiculous for this or that.
He was awesome. He did a great job, and I would love to hear from someone else who feels the same way; because I am sick to death of how the Vol Nation rode on Casey's back for 4 years, and then once he was gone all anyone ever did was do their best to put him down.
He took the job from Suggs respectfully and never looked back. Look at the records at UT. Just look at them. To be listed on the same lists as Peyton Manning is great. To be second in career TDs is amazing when comparing to Peyton Manning.
And Casey didn't have Cutcliffe coaching him. He had Sanders, so he was an accomplished Vol QB learning from someone with much less knowledge and wisdom. I hate to sound like a weak little kid when saying this, but it is seriously time that people just left him the hell alone.
andy112382#209793 writes:
I like hearing the input from former players like this, give another perspective.
orangesox writes:
I tend to agree with you cwise. Clausen never really got his due. Sure, he was no Peyton. But there'll never be another Peyton at UT or anywhere else. Clausen was a good QB on some pretty good UT teams that just never could quite finish the deal.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Casey deserves our respect as a former Volunteer.He played hard and he played to win.Way too much drama and unnessary storylines concerning him and both his brothers. Sounds like Casey has matured.Thanks for wearing the Orange. bonzaivol
buzz29 writes:
Right on the money, cwise!
mtnvol writes:
You can say what you want to about the Clausens, but all they did was win. It may not have been "Peyton Pretty" or even "Streater Fast" (for us old folks) but they did win more than their share of games for UT. I enjoyed both of their tenures on The Hill and will remember them as great Volunteers!
wkjq#213863 writes:
I always went around defending Casey, I think the biggest downfall for most of his career was week O-lines. He was probably the toughest QB we'll ever have. very gritty. GO VOLS!
Sheepscape writes:
Yep, Casey had balls of solid rock. Remember he played with a broken collarbone in the long OT win vs Arky in 02? He really played well in the overtime victory against the Tide in 03, as well converting the 4th and 19 and making the dive for the pylon.
pastor_VOLSfan writes:
Great to hear from Casey and the good things he had to say about UT despite how he has been treat by some Vol fans. Last year or year before Pennington wrote an article about the most overrated and underrated players in UT history and Casey was the most underrated player hands down. I have said that Casey suffered from three problems: (1) he came to program in a perptual state of PMS (post manning syndrom - not sure if I read this term somewhere or not but it has stuck with me as an accurate depiction of UT fans towards the next great QB to enter the program). I had relatives who only knock on Casey his whole time at UT was "well he's no peyton." (2) his broken shoulder in 02 limited his effectiveness later in the season. I still think that if he had not gotten hurt, he may have turn pro after his junior year and been drafted. (3) as mentioned in the article he had to break in a new crop of recievers and while Swain and Smith began to devolop as the season progressed, they were not nearly the playmakers then as last year and Meachem really did not show his true potential until last year. I also think that points 2 and 3 lead to a dip in his numbers his junior and senior years and ultimately caused teams to pass on him in the draft.
Thought Rick did handled a difficult situation in 05 as best as he could and won some games with more heart than skill sometimes.
AllVol writes:
Well done, Casey. I've always maintained that Casey had the heart of a Volunteer--many great wins. It's fantastic to hear him speak so warmly of UT.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
I am glad that Casey can look back on his time at UT so fondly. Lord knows many of the people in the Orange Nation made his life tough with their comments and criticisms. He has turned out to be a fine man and I am sure his parents and family are proud of him and so should UT fans.
VOLnAla writes:
Casey did a great job and was a tough competitor. Thats what Tennessee needs. Go VOLS!
jcherrie#219531 writes:
2-0 in the swamp versus the reptiles!
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
Casey's "problem" unfortunately, was that he was the much hyped (out of high school) quarterback...for some rather underachieving vol teams. Casey gave his all for Tennessee football as did the Clausen family. Why some Tennessee faithful constantly berated the entire Clausen family was unjust....and unwarranted. Thanks to all the Clausens....except for Jimmy who now has gone to the darkside.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
jwraymond1 said:
And yes it would have helped more if he didn't run like a giraffe.
jw - Yeah, that is one piece of negative criticism that I will let stand in regards to Casey. I always said he ran like a deer.
everyone else - thank you for commenting so positively. I have really thought for a long time that I was the only Vol fan in the world that thought Casey gave his all for the Vols everyday.
knoxmike56#261027 writes:
"Pastor"...You're comment are the most "on-point" here on this post. It's sad that Casey and family probably on hear the likes of the radio yo-yo's and people on this type of site who have liitle or no experience in what they purport to "editorialize" on. I know in the circles I run in - which is a large Vol contingent - everyone's opinion of Casey was that he was probably one of the toughest, grittiest, leave-everything-on-the field guy we've had out there on Saturdays in a Vol jersey. He took a hittin, and kept on tickin, and never whined, complained or made excuses. He was a man, and he'll be successful in the business world because of that "character", and work ethic. I for one thank him for all the long days of hard work and sweat he gave during his days at 'ol UT, and hope he'll come back often to let us show him our gratitute. Go Vols! - take care of business at Cal!!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Casey did just fine as a QB. For all the poop he took about the Georgia quote, he was right: the vols would've been better with him playing.
Don't ever forget: Casey had the Vols one play away for a National Championship game. If Battle makes the interception against LSU, UT wins and off they go.
CoverOrange writes:
Reading this site over the last two years, I had come to the conclusion the most Vol fans hated the Casey years. Good to see others felt the same as I did, not that I know any more than the average Billy Joe. Mostly agree with CR that that game in 2001 was a result of lack of focus (still celebrating the gator win) and would be an omen for many games, especially bowl games, to come (including the Penn St game last January). Doubt that Casey or Rick are reading any of this but, if someone passes it on to him by some chance...thanks guys.
BigAl writes:
I always liked Casey and thought he did a great job. What I didn't like was later, when Fulmer and the others couldn't decide between Rick and Ainge after saying the year before that Ainge and Schaeffer were noticably better despite being freshmen. Rick was never the answer at QB, but after beating Vanderbilt, KY, and Texas A&M (woo hoo), I guess they felt pressured to play him, or else deal with his dad. I was happy that Jimmy went elsewhere, to be honest.
murrayvol writes:
Whenever you feel the urge to criticize Casey Clausen, just look up his SEC road record while playing at Tennessee. There's no nastier place in college football than the SEC road and Casey was tougher than a box of rocks along that route.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Thanks Casey, you were one of the toughest players I ever saw...Gritty and tough as "Whit-leather. " You will always be a Vol, nobody can take that away from you, pal.
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