Hamilton: UT likely headed back to Outback

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess

Tennessee receiver Gerald Jones is stopped by LSU safety Craig Steltz.

ATLANTA - Tennessee looks like it's headed back to Tampa.

After falling to No. 5 LSU 21-14 in Saturday night's SEC championship game, UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said the most likely bowl scenario for the Vols is a return to Florida for the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day.

"We'll know for certain tomorrow," Hamilton said after Saturday's game. "We anticipate the most likely probability being in Tampa to play in the Outback Bowl, but we won't know anything certain until tomorrow."

UT has a press conference scheduled for Sunday evening to announce its bowl destination.

If the Outback Bowl chooses another team - likely Auburn - the Vols would most likely be headed back to the Georgia Dome for the Chik-fil-A Bowl, held on Dec. 31, to face a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Chick-fil-A has second pick of ACC teams after the BCS.

Virginia Tech defeated Boston College in the ACC championship game Saturday afternoon.

The Outback Bowl has already selected Wisconsin as the Big Ten representative.

UT played in last year's Outback Bowl, losing to Penn State.

The fact that UT would be a repeat selection in that game isn't a factor, Hamilton said.

"I don't think it's an issue at all," he said. "They've had Florida back-to-back years, they've had South Carolina back-to-back years. In fact they had Ohio State against South Carolina two years in a row."

G-Gunned: Wide receiver Gerald Jones finished with 39 yards rushing, second only to tailback Arian Foster's 55 yards rushing.

Both of Jones' carries came out of UT's "G-Gun" package, with Jones lined up at quarterback.

The first shot was fired early, with 13:33 left in the first quarter. Jones faked a handoff and ran for 20 yards off left tackle.

In the second quarter, Jones handed the ball to Foster for four yards and a first down.

In the third quarter, Jones ran for 19 yards, then handed off to Foster for no gain on the next play.

The Vols also utilized backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton in an option package. In its debut, the Vols were forced to call a timeout just before the play in the first quarter. Crompton was stopped for no gain on the same play in the third quarter.

Fulmer said the Vols implemented the two attacks after seeing Arkansas' success using similar packages, such as the Wild Hog, in which tailback Darren McFadden plays quarterback. Jones ended the game with 39 yards rushing.

Creer Sets Record: Lennon Creer's 50-yard kickoff return in the first quarter set an SEC championship game record.

That play set the Vols up at the LSU 42-yard line, but Tennessee moved the ball just 5 yards and was forced to punt.

The true freshman's return bested Markeith Cooper of Auburn, who returned a kickoff 46 yards against the Vols in the 1997 championship game.

Orange Out: Tennessee wore orange pants for the first time since 1999, when the Vols beat Memphis 17-16 in Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee tight end Chris Brown said Vols players had asked UT coach Phillip Fulmer to wear the orange pants this week in practice, but Fulmer said no.

Brown said the pants were a surprise when the team arrived at the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

Good Half: By virtue of its 7-6 halftime advantage, the Vols have now held a lead at the midway point in three of their five championship game appearances.

No Flag: Officials waved off a pass interference penalty on LSU's Chevis Jackson.

Jackson hit UT receiver Josh Briscoe before the ball arrived, but officials said Tigers defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage.

Lucky Toss: The Vols won the coin toss for the 10th time in 13 games.

UT has elected to receive the ball all 10 times.

Gault Honored: Former Tennessee wide receiver Willie Gault was honored before the game as one of 12 SEC Legends.

One former player from each of the 12 member schools was honored before kickoff.

Injury Report: Linebacker Ryan Karl left the game in the first half with a right elbow sprain and did not return.

The senior finished with two tackles. In his absence, Ellix Wilson played at strong side linebacker

Defensive back Nevin McKenzie suffered an ankle injury and did not play during the second half.

Fourth Down Fulmer: Fulmer said freshman kicker Daniel Lincoln's two missed field goals were discussed when the Vols decided to go for it on fourth-and-4 at the LSU 21 trailing 21-14. Lincoln's struggles, however, were not the determining factor, Fulmer said.

"We had a good play on," Fulmer said. "We just didn't complete the pass. If you kick the field goal, you still have to score a touchdown. I felt strongly we could make it."

The Vols were stopped when freshman receiver Denarius Moore dropped what would have been first down reception.

Rising Rogan: Defensive coordinator John Chavis said freshman cornerback Dennis Rogan was inserted into the game in place of junior DeAngelo Willingham based on Rogan's play, not an injury to Willingham.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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