Tennessee Stat Book
Wisconsin Stats
TAMPA, Fla. — Erik Ainge has his questions about Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.
Not about his coach’s work ethic in preparing Tennessee for Tuesday’s Outback Bowl against Wisconsin.
No, Tennessee’s quarterback has a question about his 53-year-old coach’s physiology.
“I don’t know how his body works getting the amount of sleep he does,” Ainge said. “He’s always working. If he’s not recruiting or game-planning or writing scripts for practice, he’s on the phone in his office doing this or doing that.”
Lately, he’s been doing this and that.
On one hand, Cutcliffe is preparing UT’s offense to face the Badgers.
On another, he’s working to hire a new staff at Duke, glad-hand Blue Devils alumni and get ready to take over as the school’s new head coach.
But in the process, something had to give.
It wasn’t Tennessee or Duke.
It was Cutcliffe’s time under the covers at night.
“I had a little less sleep than probably I normally would have, but I’m all right,” Cutcliffe said. “It’s pretty easy to deal with hiring a staff late at night. I’m not going to hire anybody that’s not up late working anyway. I’ve been able to maintain my exact schedule in preparation for this ballgame. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise, if I was going to short-change this job. I wouldn’t do that.”
Those late-night sessions are almost over, too.
Cutcliffe said Friday that he’s about “ten-tenths” of the way done hiring his staff.
Cutcliffe, who will take over full-time at Duke following the Outback Bowl, wasn’t giving anything away about those new hires.
“We’re pretty much there,” he said. “But we’re not ready to make any announcements yet.”
Those likely will come sometime during the first week of the new year. And it could include a couple familiar names for Cutcliffe and Vols fans.
Running backs coach Kurt Roper and tight ends coach Matt Luke are expected to follow Cutcliffe to Duke. Roper is the likely choice to be offensive coordinator.
Cutcliffe stayed mum Friday when asked if any of his future assistants are coaching in the Outback Bowl.
“I’m not going to get into that one,” Cutcliffe said. “We’ll wait and see. That was already written about yesterday. But good question, though.”
Cutcliffe did acknowledge that, as would be expected, several future Blue Devils assistants have jobs.
“There’s people still out there coaching, all kinds of situations involved out there for that individual person,” Cutcliffe said. “I’ll do the best I can respecting the situation for guys that have other jobs.”
Soon, Cutcliffe’s days of having two jobs will draw to a close.
With only four days left with Tennessee, he won’t have to worry about juggling new obligations and old ones.
Since the official announcement on Dec. 15 in Durham, N.C., Cutcliffe has traveled to New York City on Dec. 20 to speak to a group of Duke alumni and watch the men’s basketball game against Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden.
At Thursday’s practice, he hosted Duke athletic director Joe Alleva and several others he’ll work closely with once taking over.
The reasoning was simple — allow those to have a first-hand look at how he works. And how he’ll work once he’s at Duke.
“A picture’s worth a thousand words,” Cutcliffe said. “I told them what to look for. My words to them were, ‘Hey, I’m going to work now.’ I had no idea where they were after that. It just kind of felt normal for me.”
Seeing Cutcliffe working felt normal for Ainge, too.
“He’s still coaching me just as hard,” Ainge said. “He’s not saying, ‘Erik’s a senior and I’m about to leave. Maybe that wasn’t very good, but I’m not going to say anything.’ He’s still right up in my face, anybody’s face.
“That’s a personality characteristic. He can’t do anything half-speed. He’s an all-or-nothing guy. I think it would kill him if he went to practice and was just hanging out. He doesn’t know how to do that.”
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 44
texan writes:
Does anyone believe that business is really normal here? This is a dog and pony show. There seems to be no intensity. Just seems to me they are treating this as a reward not an important game.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Badgers by 10, at least.
chrisw2967 writes:
I agree houtxvol: Fulmer is running a circus down there , with Trooper looking at Okla St players in the cowboy-r-gay magazine and its really pathetic.I thought we were suppose to go down there and play a football game ? this could get ugly.
skyhawk836 writes:
Awesome.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?sl...
Give this to 12times.
RangerForSix writes:
I say the players 'rally around the coaches'.
The players all have dreams of playing on Sundays. They would never begrudge their coaches dreams.
I see the defense 'flying around the field' like when we beat Georgia and beat Arkansas...
I see the offense scoring 30+ points, like most games in the Cut era; and that should be enough to win!
I see another bounce-back game!! Just when everyone thinks this team is done, 'they bounce-back'. Incredible resiliency!!
10 wins is a great year...
Go VOLS
TNPilgrim writes:
Since Fulmer's teams usually gravitate to the level of their competition, I see a game similar to last year's bowl game against Penn State. Fulmer and his staff get outcoached again, and five losses is yet another mediocre year.
newtonrail writes:
Chrisw, and the rest the sky is falling on, get real. Our staff has visited other college and NFL practices yearly. This is no different. I have faith these folks know it will reflect badly on them on National Television if they just " Mail In" a Coaching Effort. Nuts.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Shortchanged?.......he's done enough of that with his playcalling. Personally, I like Cutcliffe, but as an OC, he leaves alot to be desired. Instead of this circus act that is now ongoing, we should have just shipped him off to Duke ASAP.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
mbumburur- agree. Badgers munching on cheddar and wurst wondering where they rank on the Vols attention scale. About where a mediocre Penn St team did last year before we snatched defeat.
You can't blame Cut. He and Trooper never look back after this bowl game. Phil will then use his "new staff" and spin to try and get a 2 year reprieve from ANY responsibility. Hope I'm wrong but Music City Bowl, here comes the Teflon Don next year. Oh well, we're used to it. Nine in a row. That's real, not negative.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Serving two masters, Hmmmmm........Do one well, the other......
bigtimevol writes:
Not that they aren't "trying" to do the right thing, but as said above...something's got to give. Graduating QB, coaches leaving, key players suspended...It doesn't look good for the home team. I hope they surprise, like vs Michigan or Texas A/M.
dford9#209809 writes:
The T-VOL's by a Daniel Lincoln field goal~!
abrown#232236 writes:
It does feel all wrong. Company goes as CEO goes. This team is an "organization" and has been for years. There are alot of good tings that come with that. But it is not an angry, scrappy team that has something to prove. We all know that when Phil has his a$$ on the line, his teams play great. Maybe he doesn't feel that right now -- well if his team is lackluster and lazy in this game, the boo-birds will resurface fast. Coach -- please get your team ready and and pi$$ed off.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
It is a difficult position for all. It is not ideal but opportunity came knocking for Cutcliffe and he took the opportunity without bailing on his current responsiblities. I think he is genuinely doing the best he can. It is a bizarre situation to be coordinating one team while everyone knows that you are already gone.
All in all, I respect Cutcliffe's hard work in this time and hope that this will end up being a great send off for the seniors and the coaches.
DadwasaVol writes:
So Tennessee and Duke coaches should stop going to visit other college and NFL teams? Nearly every other head coach does this. By asking Fulmer to stop visiting with other programs you give an advantage to the competition. More and more posters here do not know what they are talking about. There's also this thing called the coaching fraternity where not all coaches want to be like Saban or Belichick. My sales manager quit and went to work for the competition. I asked him to stay a month to finish the job properly, keep supervising employees, etc. Like Cutcliffe, my sales manager was a professional and an adult and there was a seamless transition to the next guy.
VolsorCat writes:
Let's face it, no one knows what is really going on, especially the commentators on here. No jab at anyone, just the facts. With 100% dedication last year, the Vols laid an egg! Maybe the distractions, will actually force them to focus for a change. Every time we have buried the Vols this year they come back. God knows any effort from the coaching staff to represent Duke football is probably an improvement over what they have seen since the smart-a** at S.C. left. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and let's ring in the New Year with a bowl win for a change.
vol4good#206163 writes:
I will not scorn a loss in this Bowl Game, as long as I see tremendous EFFORT. Lay it on the line guys!! This fan base really needs a shot in the arm.
ellisonfamily writes:
My biggest disappointment about last year's bowl loss was the flat emotional level I saw. It just appeared to be a lack of effort. Vol4good, I am with you. Could UT at least not go down and lay down? I would at least like to see them lay their hearts out on the field...
ellisonfamily writes:
By the way...nafslov's perspective is as backward as his screen name on this site.
invisiblekid writes:
DadwasaVol, how many times have members of the Volunteer coaching staff been allowed to visit other teams in the middle of a season or before preparation for a New Year's bowl game? My second question regards your sales manager, did you allow him to invite his new boss and several members of his new organization to stop by for a visit? No offense, but I totally disagree with the position that this whole situation is no big deal and won't have an effect on the team. It was an unwarranted distraction and I think the team has plenty of those already.
DadwasaVol writes:
Invisible - it may be true that this visit was a distraction. It was uncomfortable in my office those last days. And maybe if Fulmer were to be impolite and territorial, and even pissed off, we may see a more focused team in the bowl game. But I'm more interested in young players seeing coaches acting like grown-ups - almost more than winning a nearly meaningless bowl game.
TommyJack writes:
What the invisiblekid said.
rootin4volz writes:
“He’s always working. If he’s not recruiting or game-planning or writing scripts for practice, he’s on the phone in his office doing this or doing that.”
Too bad Lucas didn't learn a few time management/motivation lessons from Cut and take care of HIS business... Then you'd be able to throw to him in the bowl game, eh EriK?
invisiblekid writes:
DadwasaVol, I agree that it's important for these coaches to act as adults wholeheartedly. And I am not suggesting Fulmer be territorial torward Duke or anyone else. I wouldn't have any issue with the entire Duke athletic program showing up at Spring practice. Actually, that would make more sense to me as they could see the UT facilities as well. However, I think this is one instance where Fulmer should have stepped up and said no. I can see this having the potential to send the absolute wrong message to these players. Anyway, just spouting off my opinion on the subject, hope everyone has a good weekend and happy New Year's.
JSMITH2432 writes:
Just two of the mentaly challenged comments I saw posted here:
1. I see no intensity with this team -- While I am sure you have a great view from your couch in Rockwood, pardon me if I don't take your view of the team in Tampa's mood.
2. Comments about Lucas Taylor -- This shows right there you are talking out of your a**. If you knew anything at all about his situation you would never post anything negative about that kid. Very classy to put down a kid while knowing nothing about what he is going through. That would be like me saying I hope you choke on your possom and the EMTs have a hard time deciphering which trailer is yours. I would never do that.
mississippi_vol writes:
meaningless bowl game? this is national exposure. there are no meaningless games in college football. that's been UT's problem for a while if they're out of contention or not playing for a national title the game is meaningless to them and they get gorrila stomped (see arkansas '06) i hope they have a lil pride about them this year an man up
philfan writes:
I think that the point of this article is that Cutcliffe is a very hard worker. Several coaches in the NCAA find themselves changing jobs and are probably working two jobs temporarily, but probably not with as much intensity and perseverence as Cutcliffe would. Ainge has said he (Cutcliffe) is coaching me just as hard, and as far as I am concerned, that is all that matters. Cutcliffe will do well at Duke. I hope so, because he in a way represents Tennessee Football. Some of you are becoming a bit hysterical over nothing.
GerryOP writes:
JSMITH: Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged... Matthew 7:1-2 (KJV)
BTW, check your spelling of mentally and possum.
Sir, you have a nice day.
skyhawk836 writes:
GerryOP,
Why is the Lord never injected after one of the rants posted by the haters?
ncvol17 writes:
I look forward to watching Cutcliffe over here in the Triangle. He will make DUKE fun to watch even if his players aren't ACC (not to mention SEC) calibre. At least he won't have to worry about his players flunking 6 hrs of classes. They take 6 hrs of classes a day , not a week.
No one at ESPN gives the VOLS a chance against the Badgers. That's good news for us.
Skin the Badgers...
rockytopron writes:
Fairweathered fans at it again. alkhall, good riddance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GerryOP writes:
I don't know 'Hawk. Why?
skyhawk836 writes:
I don't know, either.
And, I wasn't asking sarcastically. Things don't always read like they would have been said.
TommyJack writes:
skyhawk836: "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord".
Psalm 1:24
Pound the rock.
skyhawk836 writes:
Posted by TommyJack on December 29, 2007 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
skyhawk836: "Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord".
Psalm 1:24
Pound the rock.
------
Don't know your intent here and won't take offense, but I am one of the posters that have kept my oar in the water as opposed to jumping ship.
And, I'll stay in the boat when the next guy comes along. No problem riding the storm out.
As to the article, I don't see Cut staying as a big negative. Kids finish the year being coached by the same coaches that started the year.
Belichick made Weis stay through the play-offs 2 years ago. Almost killed Weis but New England went deep and Weis recruited well at the same time. The piont is that if anything has to suffer during this transition it should be and has been Cuts' schedule, not UT's. He's finishing what he started while moonlighting with Duke.
skyhawk836 writes:
Above- should read "point", not "piont". Da*n.
TommyJack writes:
Hawk..Your previous post seemed to imply that the losers/haters didn't post verses. So I posted one. No offense intended. You're the one with the curious post.
steve22043#233791 writes:
How do players like Lucas Taylor, who are given a free education which is an expensive gift, and the possibility of an NFL career, which is an even more lucrative gift, think they can get off with not meeting academic standards. I hope those losers never play a down in the NFL
pdhuff#552644 writes:
skyhawk836 - interesting post -but Weiss recruited well! If he did, he can't coach if we're referring to the ND debacle. Maybe you weren't.
But this bowl game is much ado about nothing if our approach is still the same. We'll see. Go Vols.
skyhawk836 writes:
Posted by TommyJack on December 29, 2007 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawk..Your previous post seemed to imply that the losers/haters didn't post verses. So I posted one. No offense intended. You're the one with the curious post
-----
Sorry. No offense taken.
I was just curious as to why verses have never been used on the bashers- not by the bashers. For example, when personal comments about Fulmer are made as opposed to coaching criticisms I've not used scripture to take exception.
Anyway, it was tongue-in-cheek and I shouldn't have said it.
Agree that it was "curious" sounding upon my re-reading it.
I'll stick to the subject.
skyhawk836 writes:
Posted by pdhuff on December 29, 2007 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
skyhawk836 - interesting post -but Weiss recruited well! If he did, he can't coach if we're referring to the ND debacle. Maybe you weren't.
But this bowl game is much ado about nothing if our approach is still the same. We'll see. Go Vols.
-----
pd,
I'll try to defend the Weis comment. According to recruiting services he has recruited well; top 10 classes in his first 2 years and ranked #1 or 2 now.
His first group will just be juniors next fall. Everything done so far, good and bad, has been done with Willingham's players. Hope he can't coach, but we are close to finding out.
But, I was just saying that over the short term a man can work 2 full-time jobs and neither employer have to suffer-if he is willing to work the second job on his own time, i.e., the middle of the night.
I don't know but I bet this type of scenario happens frequently in the coaching world. Dog's life.
skyhawk836 writes:
Posted by TouchdownTN on December 29, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sky: Thanks for sticking to the subject. Your posts were giving me a headache
-----
No problem.
What were we talking about?
gobigorange writes:
i personally believe that cut should not be coaching in the bowl game. i cant see his heart being completely in the game. GO VOLS
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TDTN-believe I just found out the answers to pretty much everything. Mama just brought me a large chilled green bottle with Jaegermeister on the front with a Vol shot glass. I'll be checking back in with Fulmer-like clarity in about 30 mins. Out.
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