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Tennessee Stat Book
Tennessee’s football team returned to the practice field on Saturday, one week after losing the SEC championship game to LSU.
Coach Phillip Fulmer said he was pleased with his players’ attitude after leading the Vols in a one-hour, shorts and shoulder pads practice. The Vols (9-4) will play Wisconsin (9-3) in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 1 (TV: ESPN, 11 a.m.).
While Fulmer said the players seem to have moved past an emotional loss, the Vols are also dealing with a handful of injuries. Fulmer said he expects the Vols to be healthy once practice starts in Tampa on Dec. 26.
“We have some guys that are injured but that’s football,” Fulmer said. “You have injuries. I think most of them will be back by the time we make it back to Tampa.”
The most significant injury is to senior linebacker Ryan Karl, who suffered a broken right elbow against LSU.
Karl returned to the game after the injury occurred, thinking he had only suffered a hyperextension. Soon after his return, Karl landed on his elbow and realized the injury was more significant than he first thought.
Safety Nevin McKenzie is expected to return to practice in Tampa. McKenzie suffered a minor ankle fracture against LSU.
Offensive lineman Ramon Foster underwent surgery on his right wrist and thumb. The junior suffered the injury during pre-game warm-ups against Arkansas on Nov. 10. Foster is expected to play against Wisconsin.
Fulmer said backup sophomore quarterback Jonathan Crompton will receive 50 percent of the first-team practice snaps as has been the case all season. The Outback Bowl will be the final game for senior Erik Ainge.
Fulmer said he has no intention to play Crompton solely in hopes of giving him more experience, even though Crompton is expected to be the starter next season.
“I’m not going to take Erik out of the game,” Fulmer said. “He’s our best chance to win the game. Otherwise he wouldn’t be the quarterback.
“We’re not just going to randomly start playing two quarterbacks. This group wants to go and win the ball game … Not that Jonathan couldn’t (win the game) if called upon, but that’s not the way we do it.”
Fulmer has been on the road recruiting for the past week and said he hasn’t yet watched the tape from the SEC championship game.
UT hosted seven prospects this weekend. All were in attendance for Saturday’s practice.
After today’s practice, the Vols will take Monday though Wednesday off to take final exams. UT will return to practice on Thursday.
More For Berry: Safety Eric Berry was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America first team. Kicker Daniel Lincoln was an honorable mention selection.
Meanwhile, Lincoln was named to the AT&T ESPN All-America team.
Berry already was named the Sporting News’ SEC Defensive Freshman of the Year and National Defensive Freshman of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 33
james#216392 writes:
If we happen to get a big lead, I would play Crompton for next year. (Or if the reverse happens and we get way behind but that's not going to happen. Good Luck to Ainge and the Vols.
bigorangesob writes:
I agree, I would play him as well and I also agree we won't get way behind,come on guys let's go win our 10th win game, and send our seniors out on a good note, lotta memories with these guys over the last 4 years, I would really like to have one more set of memories of you guys before you go. GO VOLS
tenken writes:
Lincoln, on the All Espn team. Wow didn't know that. I am happy for him. We really seem to be a kicker U as well as a wide reciever U. Good for Lincoln.
GreerVol22 writes:
Can't blame you for not watching it either coach. Ainge cost you he a lot of dinero with those two 4th quarter picks....I'd play Crompton at the first sign of "Aingeitis".
CoverOrange writes:
Freshman All American from the Sport News but only freshman second team in the SEC by the coaches. Hmmm.
In the few days after the SECCG, there was lots of posts about Crompton playing significantly and here is Fulmer answering that suggestion. Don't tell me Fulmer doesn't know what is being talked around the Vol Nation.
Sad that Ryan won't get a chance to go out on a win. However, should get a good look at Ellix Wilson, et al.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Eric, play your best on your last outing. You've been a warrior. Probably the thing he'll miss most other than Cutcliff will be Philisms. "he's our best chance to win the game. Otherwise he wouldn't be our quarterback". Lord I certainly would hope so, senior or not. Its a little late in the season to admit anything else. Otherwise you'd think that we were misguided. Fear the Phil, Badgers, he comes for you. He hasn't watched the tape of the SEC CG. We're bonding, I haven't watched it either. Merry Christmas to all and congrats to Lincoln.
jim_bell#606576 writes:
Huff&puff,
All you have to do is pull the cord above your head on the bus, it will immediately stop and your can get off. Fulmer is here and will be until he decides he wants to leave since he just got a raise and new contract and I'm sure you don't want to hang around for the extended period of time. Have a Merry Christmas.
murrayvol writes:
I was traveling on Championship weekend and didn't get to see or hear the game. Finally watched it a few days ago. Hell, who could blame Fulmer for not watching. It's really hard to imagine what it must have been like to see that in real time. There I was late in the third quarter, knowing the final score, and still couldn't believe we're going to lose this game. All we had to do was keep punting. This one got to me as bad as 01' ever did. Whatever! On to Wisconsin.
dfreeman writes:
Hey powderpuff, Berry's last outing?? Are you SERIOUS?? If you think he's leaving you're crazy!! Fulmer will be smiling at you til he decides to retire........ ON HIS OWN TERMS!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go away!!!!
wyomingvol writes:
WIN.
threehundredbowler writes:
hey defreeman,powderpuff as you choose to call pdhuff,did not mention Berry.He was refering to Ainge who happens to have Erik for a first name.Good heavens.
wisonsinvol writes:
WD40, interesting logic. We post comments about playing Crompton on this website. A reporter asks Fulmer if he is going to play Crompton. Fulmer answers question. Therefore, Fulmer reads the posts on this website. Is that the way it works?
DadwasaVol writes:
Hey Wisconsinvol - what are Badger folks' reaction to drawing Tennessee in a bowl game?
inquiry writes:
Hey Vols.. Let's play to win the game this year in Tampa..
invisiblekid writes:
Banter about getting the backups more playing time before a bowl is nothing new and, with the game Ainge had in ATL, it's reasonable that Fulmer would want to head off any controversy ahead of time.
Crompton has been on campus for 3 years and has been getting half of the first team reps. He has enough experience going into next year. They need to focus on winning this bowl game because, if you buy into things like wins and losses, 9-5 is a step backward from last year.
invisiblekid writes:
dfreeman, the NFL requires that a player be out of high school for 3 years before they are eligible to enter the draft so the Vols should have Eric Berry for at least 2 more years by my math. And hard as it may be to believe, there is more than one Eric on the team. See for yourself:
http://www.utsports.com/football/page...
Volalumnus writes:
"Fulmer said backup sophomore quarterback Jonathan Crompton will receive 50 percent of the first-team practice snaps as has been the case all season."
The 50% Ainge has been geeting must not be the deep passes.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
jim bell good post- The last few stops I've seen on this route say - wait none of the last nine said Vols - SEC Champs. Glad you relish that ride and its results. Kinda makes me proud, too. Realism, whether you like it or not is cold. Stay the course, next year, blindly follow, glad that's your bag. Not all of us fall into that category. Psssst... Not all Cubans believe that Castro has been good for Cuba either, despite the orange spin, Enjoy driving the 1948 Buick around Havana with the rebuilt (nine times) Chevy straight 6. It runs, but its not all it could be. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
CoverOrange writes:
Something like that Wisonsin. Sorry for taking up space inflating my own ego in an "Itoldyaso". But I was called a few names for suggesting Fulmer hears our rants (never said he read the posts) via KNS, et al. Ever see direct responses to the very same direct questions asked in your neighborhood bar and gripe tavern (now known as the internet)?
And would anyone think that Ainge "lost" that game because he was desperate to make something happen, not getting much help from the backfield as it were? How many 3 and outs were there before those two intercepted drives?
agentorange writes:
I know Ryan tried like heck, but he's not a good lb. Ryan and Austin Rogers don't have the talent to start and neither is one of those guys who doesn't have the talent to start but comes through in the clutch. They both fold in the clutch for the most part.
CrankE writes:
Fulmer said something that has got me thinking. Crompton is getting 50% of the first team practice snaps as he has all year. Which would mean that Ainge, the starting QB is getting a mere 50%. Could be a great explanation as to why our offense has done a halfway job so many times this year. You will play like you practice.
Did we not already learn that splitting QB time doesn't work (2005)? If I put UT's offensive stats of 2005, 2006, and 2007 side by side for games against common opponents, I wonder if I could tell the 5 win team from the 9 win team? Or the sophomore Ainge from the senior Ainge?
I'd like to get my hopes up for 2008, but I have this feeling that Crompton and his backup will be splitting practice snaps 50/50. Staying the course with a stuck rudder.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
wd40plusVol- dead on -even a blind watchman can smell smoke. My shortcomings with Phil's recent results have been my inability to appreciate the offerings. I keep seeing "came close" and "working like heck to get better" after an SEC CG or Fla thrashing. After all, four years of college comes down to a one-line GPA. No spin, there it is! Whether its 2.5 (me) or 3.97 (nephew), calling it a 4.0 doesn't make it so. Its not hard to see nine years w/o a SEC ring, its hard to accept. Well, I digress. On to Wisconsin. We can win but I simply don't see anything to tell me we will. Actually, there's not a lot of difference in the 10-4 trophy or the 9-5. Maybe to Phil's bank account but to fan's taking a serious look at this program, small difference. No BCS again. Whew. Enuf already. Merry Christmas.
RangerForSix writes:
First of all we do not play 14 games this year without Ainge!
Florida or Georgia or Arkansas would have loved to play 14 games; but WE WON THE EAST!
Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina or Kentucky and Mississippi State didn't!...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
grvol - interesting. "Shelve Ainge" - "check off dink and dunk" - Psshaw, thats heresy. Dunk has nothing to do with Dunkin Do-Nuts does it? Could possibility of another do-nut truck caper be developing? Lemme study this awhile and get back to you. This could be diet-busting stuff. Merry Christmas.
ONUV writes:
so when is the rudy karl movie coming out?
iowavol writes:
Dadwas, most folks up here like Tennessee as their favorite SEC team. Wisconsin plays a similar role to Tennessee, they recruit well by typically lag UM and OSU. They ususally put a pretty good product on the field but never really develop an SEC caliber QB. The folks up here feel like the badgers laid a couple of eggs or they should have been competing for the Rose Bowl or NC. Having gotten my undergraduate from Tennessee and my MBA from Wisconsin, it's a win/win for me - however, my blood runs orange.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
iowavol - interesting - not many people get to go from mediocre to more mediocre. Ever consider your next move possibly to Indiana or even Syracuse. Most of us just stay here and get mediocre without the expense of moving. Its cheaper. Do you have don-nut places in Iowa? Merry Christmas.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I have got to quit geting tickled when I start to spell dough-nut, do-nut, don-nut. Dern it. Sorry.
GoVol writes:
Elix Wilson should be playing in place of Karl anyway. I like Karl's heart, attitude and work ethic, but it looks like he is trying to run in mud when he's chasing someone. Elix Wilson should be starting, but our coaching staff doesn't always play the 'best' players. Same song, same dance, same ole result!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Has Adam Myers-White been playing much at all? McKenzie as a linebacker? How bout Dorian Davis or Lamarcus Thompson? Inquiring minds want to know.
TommyJack writes:
Welcome back ALLARKIEVOL.
Sorry about Karl,but CPF played in pain all year with tennis elbow from spearing too many creme-filleds.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TommyJack : 10:39 Touche! But he soldiered on whenever the red light was lit. He's our man.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Forgive me for wanting to talk about linebacking on a linebacker thread, but I understand that Chris Donald was a redshirted lb this year, that right? What do y'all think about Chris Walker ... do you think he'll stay at de or go back to lb?
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