Dave Hooker audio
- Dave Hooker interviews offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe
- Dave Hooker interviews OG Jacques McClendon
- >Dave Hooker interviews LB Nevin McKenzie about his punt block
- Dave Hooker interviews C Josh McNeil
- QB Erik Ainge talks to the media about the ULL game
- LB Ryan Karl talks to the media about UT’s defense
Gameday
Tennessee Stat Book
If you were looking for another example of the decline in Tennessee football, you got it Saturday evening at Neyland Stadium.
The last time UT played a Sun Belt Conference opponent for homecoming, it won 70-3 over Louisiana-Monroe in 2000. Seven years later, the Vols celebrated another homecoming with a measly 59-7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, the second-worst team in the Sun Belt.
Of course, I'm kidding. Never mind if the Ragin' Cajuns are a Division I-A bottom feeder. The Vols held them to seven points. That's a success story for a defense that's on pace to be remembered as the worst in school history.
Keep in mind that ULL's offense isn't nearly as bad as its team.
The Cajuns even scored 14 points on South Carolina. And no one else has held them to single digits.
Here are a few more reasons to feel good about UT's defensive effort:
n No one from ULL had a career day. In UT's previous three games, six opposing players had career days.
n Not since the fifth game of the 2006 season has an opponent scored fewer than 10 points on UT.
n The defense is starting to make highlights of its own and not just for its opponents. UT scored on a 70-yard interception return by defensive end Antonio Reynolds, and Antonio Wardlow scored on a blocked punt. Couple that with the four forced turnovers the previous Saturday against South Carolina and you have a trend.
n ULL runs the option, and you know what that usually means. If a team announces its intention to run the option against UT, it's appropriate to give it 14 points before kickoff. In this case, you would have had to take points off the board.
n UT safety Jonathan Hefney made a one-on-one open-field tackle in the first half. Granted, he missed two others on ULL's scoring drive. But as poorly as he has played this season, one out of three is progress.
Obviously, this wasn't all about defense. The Vols hadn't scored this many points since the sixth game of last season.
And the finish was more impressive than the start.
You knew that starting tailback Arian Foster would be able to make yardage against ULL's porous defense. You knew that Erik Ainge would be able to complete passes.
But you didn't know about the reserves.
Finally, you got to see wide receiver Kenny O'Neal's speed - on a 49-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Jonathan Crompton. You also got to see Lennon Creer's speed.
You have to consider the competition. But watching Creer run against ULL made me wonder if the Vols would have been better off dismissing tailback LaMarcus Coker in preseason, instead of last week.
Coker made more headlines for his off-the-field problems than he did on the field. And he was a more effective runner last season than this one.
There aren't enough plays for four running backs. But when Creer joined the threesome Saturday, he made the most of his opportunities, rushing for 109 yards on only seven carries while demonstrating the speed and toughness that he showed in preseason scrimmages.
He's faster than fellow tailbacks Foster and Montario Hardesty. He also has better running instincts than the departed Coker.
Creer gives UT more hope for the future, and I'm not referring to next year. The Vols are three consecutive wins away from the SEC East championship.
Maybe there's still time for their much-hyped recruiting class to contribute on offense.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
Vanderbilt 93, Tennessee 79, Feb. 9…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Notre Dame beats Tennessee 72-44…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 50
carolinavol writes:
You're right! There is hope for the future, and the future starts a week from today! Let's get ready to slaughter some Hawgs!
Congrats on a great win, Vols!
OldNumber7 writes:
Sorry - it didn't matter today. When it has mattered we've been embarrassed. I'm not giving any points for anihalation of a 1-win team. For crying out loud folks - what have we become.
tenvolone writes:
Winston Wolfe in "Pulp Fiction" said it best; "Let's not start ****ing each others ****'s just yet gentlemen." Remember one very important thing guys! We are where we are because we fell into this position. Not because we fought to earn it.
OldNumber7 writes:
Hail tenvolone. Finally some words of wisdom.
Oenoboy writes:
This game/practice is just what we needed. It allowed us to work on some execution problems, provided our young players some game time experience, and gave our reworked secondary a chance to adjust to its new line-up.
There's nothing to gripe about this week folks. We scored in all our offensive possessions but one and kept them scoreless in all of theirs but one. It's what we were supposed to do against a team of that caliber and we did. It's nothing to brag about or be negative about. It just is.
tigervol9802 writes:
I like the Foster/Hardesty punch in the backfield with Creer coming in as needed. If he keeps his head on straight, this guy is going to be very special.
Rogan also looked pretty good in his debeut at corner all things considered. Maybe he will get some more snaps in there down the stretch.
Here's just hoping Chavis remembers what made him a good D-coordinator and is aggressive next week. If he tries to run that base 4-3 and mustang the entire game, the Hogs will run for 500 yards.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Remember, we may have fallen into this position, but we still have a chance to earn a spot in the championship game. People aren't excited about beating the snot out of a Lousiana team not ranked number 2; they are getting excited about the potential for what can still happen this year.
While you may not think 2004 was a glorious coaching job, you can't really point to it as cause to fire. Same would apply to this season.
The 'Bama game finally made me question if it was time to break the ties with Fulmer. The boys in orange still have all the power in their hands to sway me either way.
Let's look at a rushing attack that put 500 on a team that we couldn't rush against. Next week is going to be rough. Here's hoping for a good showing.......
tnbanker_govols writes:
Great game for the vols! I was starting to think that we would never be able to beat a team by more than 50!! Next week....alfrizzle is right....the vols have their work cut out for them next week. The razorbacks looked pretty good tonight with Mcfadden rushing for over 320 yards. Chavis better have his defense in the film room early Sunday morning. In order to get a victory next week, THE DEFENSE MUST STEP UP!! GO VOLS!!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
Hey, facts are fact, we are 1st in the east, control our destiny, finally got to see O'Neal provide a deep threat and other young guys get involved, and we finally looked like we should against an inferior opponent. Lets just hope McFadden used up all of his yards on SC, geesh, over 300 yards rushing.....insane, remind me to add him to my fantasy football team next season when he joins the NFL!!!
GO VOLS!!!
girdle1998#233171 writes:
I don't know if we can tackle McFadden. Gees, he made SC's defense look like garbage.
asleep#212036 writes:
We didn't completely fall into this position. We are where we are partly because of a little contest 4 weeks ago in which we kicked the fool out of Georgia. And remember, although AR ran through SC's defense, the Gamecocks have one of the worst run defenses in the SEC. Further, SC scored 36 points against the Hogs, only 24 against our "horrible" D. The GA game showed the potential for this team to be really good, the FL/AL games showed the potential for this team to be really bad. If we play well the next 3 games, we win out, period. None of those teams, including KY, has the talent we have on both sides of the ball. It's just a matter of execution (and I don't mean Fulmer!). Let's hope they can. No KoolAid, just pulling for my boys! Go Vols!!!
OldNumber7 writes:
I will tell you why the Georgia game was half a mirage. Because Richt did not use misdirection. He felt he could beat the Vols pounding the rock - which Tennessee can defense pretty well. But enter the misdirection factor. Now, Tennessee's overpursuing dumb-style of attack is going one way while the ball is going the other. This is why we are terrible against the option (Air Force, Maryland and Nebraska) and hilarious to watch against the spread (Florida, Clemson, Cal this year, South Carolina 2nd half, etc...). The point is, if Arkansas uses misdirection on the run - forget it. Kentucky WILL use it. The win against Georgia was as much a Richt screw-up as it was a Fulmer win - keep it in perspective.
yeavols#228407 writes:
We won't have an answer for McFadden and Company next week. But go VOLS anyway.
james#216392 writes:
With the way things are going this year, a win is a win. Arkansas is playing well now. They score. Tennessee has potential to score and maybe this is what they needed to get their offense going. Defense didn't let down in the second half. Some positives against a weak team but hopefully will carry over next week. Go Vols.
volsrock writes:
Look on the bright side, McFadden can't set the SEC single game rushing record two weeks in a row. Can he?? Don't answer that.
wisonsinvol writes:
Rocketvol, you are about half full of phooey. Yeah, we have a problem with overpursuit and getting out of our lanes. But the GA game was a complete game and damn good win. Yeah, we did get a little help to get where we are, but the last time I looked, we are in better shape than both GA and FLA. We do need to execute each an every play on offense next week and keep the Hogs on the sideline. McFadden gets better with more carriers - he had 35 in yesterday's game, let's hope he's still sore next week, although he wasn't touched too many time.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
I will say this if tn runs the table and plays in atlanta against lsu and wins I will give fulmer a break... but this is what really will happen tn win out at best and goes to the championship game and gets beat by 40 and end up number 4 from the bowl selection.... since 2000 fulmer has teased us with teams that we thought we championship teams but each quality opp and coach proves us we're still average... FACE IT VOL NATION THIS WAS THE YEAR TO WIN THE EAST... fla lost everyone on defense, ga is very young and sad to say this but we're suppose to be better than the rest of the east... so it isn't going to get easier for an average coaching staff to succeed in the east....
if hamilton give this coaching staff an extension after this year fire his butt too..even if we make it to atlanta becasue we'll lose the bowl game... god we just sux and i'm sick of it.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
P.S. --Before euphoria take over, rewind Ark-SC and watch Jone, McFadden and Co.. What's the over-under for time of possesion! For rushing yds, I say Ark by 9 minutes in T>O>P> and yards at 356 on the ground. Ark's poor QB play should be no factor! Yes we beat a ONE-WIN team, but tighten your girdles, ladies for this one! Well, lets pray that somehow we can get 30 points, it'll take it next Sat! Go Vols!
rootin4volz writes:
What RocketVol and Tenvolone don't remember is that football is a game where complete turnarounds can happen in a season. I'm so dang SICK of the negative attitudes you idiots post on here. If the team and coaches were to think like you dumb***es, well YEAH, we might as well hang it up. Here's to three consecutive victories!!! GO VOLS!!!
imnotwithphil writes:
Phil Fulmer's dominance over the Sun Belt continues... perhaps we should defect from the SEC and just join the Sun Belt. Fulmer could keep his $2M a year job and the Vols could get back to playing championship football.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Don't get your hopes up,I am afraid disappointment is on the way with either the Hogs or the CATS or both. We will take Vandy, their quarterback is terrible and Bennett has about done his do. The Cajuns were in my opinion the worst team that has played in Neyland in a long long time.
tenvolone writes:
Dumb***es like you rootin4volz, are why there are infomercials, "Do not use in water" tags on hairdriers, and incest laws. Back off Mr. Positive....
jweaver3#395614 writes:
TouchdownTN how stupid will you feel when the Vols beat Ark??? oh you will still be stupid either way!!!
GO VOLS!!!
ONE OF THE TRUE VOL FANS!!!
WIN,LOSE OR DRAW!!!
I support the staff as long as Mike does
BEAT THE PIGS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
Colliervol writes:
My only comment is to get ready for a track meet Saturday because Arkansas' defense can't stop anybody either. Don't think anybody can pick the winner in this one. Looks like a toss up to me.
Stayhomebluehair writes:
I bet that the entire Oregon team and 3/4 of the fans at Autzen were high as a kite last night when they beat #4 ASU. My point is that they all looked like they were having tons of fun. I’m personally sick of the very dominant blue haired no fun having geriatric UT fan base that haven’t stood up and cheered at a home game since 1955. They seem to be offended when others stand up and show some pride. Please all of you old people turn in your season tickets, this is college. I hate that Neyland smells of mothballs and old cheese.
wyomingvol writes:
Good post Stayhomebluehair.....
Love the tradition and the life longers, but cheer instead of sneer....
Colliervol writes:
Stayhomebluehair, I've got a good one for you. My daughter (a freshman) got into it with one of these folks at the SC game. Somehow this "gentleman" (and I use the term loosely) ended up in the student section (his first mistake) and promptly told my daughter at the start of the game: "I paid for these tickets and you are f---ing going to sit down." Needless to say, they did not sit down and this guy kept on and on with a bunch more f bombs thrown in. Finally my daughter told him that her father had paid her tuition which was a lot more than his ticket price for her right to stand and yell her brains out. And that he probably should get over it or move. They never sat down the whole game.
arkyvol writes:
i was at the arkansas-sc game last night. hate to say it, but mcfadden and jones are hitting on all cylinders. that's why spurrier was ordering up on-side kicks. he knew his defense had no chance at all of even slowing them down. only one pass in the second half, a t.d. pass from guess who? this pair would have given a good tennessee defense fits. i cringe to think about how they will licking their chops, wanting to get at chavis' best efforts.
OldNumber7 writes:
I am not very informed on Arkansas' running attack other than McFadden. I will say this about Chavis, if the opponent has one back, and is one-dimensional (runs all day), you may be surprised how tough he can be. Overall, I think he is a porous coach that doesn't adjust well - but if he sells out, it's usually bad news (go ask Richt). Chavis and the Vols have been this way forever - ask Eddie George (Heisman) who got no-where, or before all this Bo Jackson. This tradition of hammering one-dimensional running games goes way back to when Penn State was stuffed in Knoxville. Anyway.....
I have been vocal and frustrated about how UT fans get all excited about beating a 1-win LaLa - especially fans that started in quick on those like myself who are very critical of Fulmer's game. I don't think many of you so-called positive folks look past the W or the L as to how good we really are. But I'm getting off that and looking ahead. UT stands a chance this week if Arkansas is one-dimensional. But if option and mis-direction is involved - no way. Guess I need to do some research or hear some take on their game.
tlc429#392720 writes:
Oh how I love these boards. Even if I do take a hammering for being the only female to post. My favorite thing that happened on 11/3/07 was when Spurrier was headed into the locker room at half time and said "We were down more than this last week". BAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Ok, I love my Vols, win lose or draw and to the Bluehair person...your comments show that you truly don't own season tickets and/or have rarely been to any games at home. I've sat in section K, row 49 since I was a child attending games with my father. I have watched the couples who sit in front of me get engaged, married, have kids, see the kids grow up and attend UT (the school...not just games). Those "Bluehairs" DO stand up and cheer. It's funny, either the vol faithful who pay the season ticket price to cheer and/or fuss are either being criticized for still doing the wave or we're too docile. And my hair is blonde, but even if I didn't dye it, it wouldn't be blue.
threehundredbowler writes:
stayhomebluehair,what kind of a fan are you anyway.If it were not for us old people donating to the university and buying season tickets every year,Tennessee would not be able to afford a football team.You need to grow up.Drunks and pot heads like you are the ones who need to stay home.
tenndave writes:
Let me say first, "God Help Us Saturday"
When you look at how ineffective we have been at stopping the run, and you look at the game tape of McFadden/Jones vs SC, your stomach gets queezy. He is a stud, unlike anything we have seen this year. His O line is massive, quick and good. On paper there is no way we can keep it close. (thus the queezy stomach)
Now let's enjoy. Odds are against us, experience is against us, freshmen against McFadden????? Yet I don't remember a time when we have the chance to make a statement for the future and the present like this one. Young guys have a chance to prove they are everything their recruiting rankings said.
We have nothing to lose really so play with abandonment. Nobody expects us to win and that's why it can be highly probable if we play with an aggressiveness we havent' seen so far.
I am hyped, sick at my stomach, nervous and expecting a win. Opportunity is great right now. Let's eat BBQ pork.
vjnd3#219886 writes:
Seven - I think it's laughable that you think that this university wouldn't have a football team if you didn't buy season tickets. There are tens of thousands of people ready and willing to purchase your tickets right now and many of them are young and waiting to inject life and volume into our stadium. Thank you for your contribution to our university now kindly step aside.
tlc429#392720 writes:
I was about to start arguing with TouchdownTN until I viewed the grammar. No point having a battle of wits with an unarmed person. I'd still be willing to be he's never seen the inside of Neyland Stadium. Like we care how old the wave is. When you have 110,000 doing it, it still looks great INSIDE the stadium.
tlc429#392720 writes:
vjnd3, I guess you don't have any parents or grandparents right? Step down? I'm 40 and would never disrespect anyone older than me because they just might be YOUR mother or father...if they claim you.
hueypilot writes:
Wow Rocket Vol. You displayed the same up and down feelings folks like me and tngeoff have been having all season. But your real hook was recalling Bo Jackson's visit in '85. That game defined that team, and later when they lost their stud, Tony Robinson, they were able to lean on Donohue's defense to pull them through. This will be a great test for this defense. You've got to admit they play differently at home than on the road. It will be fun to watch. McFadden is the best looking running back and the most dominant runner I have seen since, dare I say it, Herschel Walker. Different kind of runner but how he gets underway in a hurry is jaw dropping.
Good test. I give us a 1 in three chance of winning the next three and getting to Atlanta, but it is a chance.
asleep#212036 writes:
First, not one national publication had Tennessee winning the East. Some had them second, most had them third. Second, Arkansas has played only one decent run defense all season - Auburn, who shut them down. LSU will do the same. Stopping the run is not the weakest part of our D. Over the years, when we had an above average defense, that was our specialty. Chavis' defenses have often been able to stop the run but never strong against the pass. Arkansas doesn't pass. Third, Spurrier lacks something we have - a QB. Whether or not he has reached his potetial, Ainge is still head and shoulders better that Mitchell, Smelley, or Dick (AR's unfortunately named QB). Will we win, who knows? But these last three games provide a much better opportunity to win than road games at Florida or Alabama. And the Georgia win? Some still insist it was a fluke. I'm sorry, but you don't fluke a 28-0 halftime lead against Georgia. That was a complete effort, period. Again, it always has to be someone else's mistake when we win a big game. Garbage. Now can we repeat that effort? We'll see in the next 3 weeks. Go Vols!!!
tenndave writes:
Asleep has a good point. I am convinced a win over Ark and we can run the table. Wouldn't it be nice to return the favor to LSU and spoil their coronation that the media is promoting. Miles has been lucky so far in many instances and it does take luck to win a NC(ARK in 98) but I predict if we run the table we are going to win the SEC. Lose to ARk and it is the Liberty Bowl maybe. Tenn wins the SEC gives OSU the NC. Everyone knows they can't beat an SEC team if we win it, LSU can't play them.
vjnd3#219886 writes:
Tic - Must be that TOTM.
pj_ladyvolnMI writes:
Some of you must still be at that age where you believe that you will never grow old. You're in for a shock...because you will grow older (unless you die first), and you'll still love Tennessee football, and will hopefully become a human being deserving respect of those younger and still naive. How will you want to be treated then? I'm not "old" yet, but old enough to be past that ignorant stage. You will likely reap what you sow.
tlc429, if you keep reading posts on here for awhile, then you'll realize you aren't the only female poster by a long shot. There are quite a few. Glad to have you, though there's those, again out of ignorance, who think female's comments on sports are as useful as the old people in the stadium. Just ignore them. pj
TommyJack writes:
vjnd3: It's one thing to be a moron. It's quite another thing to advertise it.
webbofconfusion writes:
I really look forward to the game. Mc Fadden looked awesome last week. Hope we have something in the bag for him.
You know with all the negativism on here today you might think we are going to go 0-12 next season... I look forward to being thrashed by Superman next year!
invisiblekid writes:
Gotta agree with you on the wave comment TDTN. At the game Saturday, they were doing it and my only comment was "I don't do the wave when a Sunbelt team is driving the ball down our throats."
scvolalum writes:
Enough said TouchdownTN. First: I often wonder why stupidity has such a loud voice. Secondly: UT had an excellent English program back when I passed their basic courses (and I graduated). You've undoubtedly never even attended one of their courses. Thirdly: Why don't you change your monicker to LoserTN, or CrybabyTN, or Mymommydoesn'tapproveofmesoI'mafemale dogTN? I've seen unreasonable naysayers on these blogs, but you don't even deserve to be on the same page as those other daily losers. I'm OLD, dude. I've raised more h---, kicked more a-- and snagged more p---- than you could imagine, but I grew up and realized that It's stupid to act like such a loser. Why am I assuming certain things? I think it's obvious.
GO VOLS FOREVER!
Colliervol writes:
See my post on another article TDTN. Can't play that comparison game. Georgia beat Bama at Tuscaloosa and we blasted Georgia. Comparative stats and scores don't mean anything when they line up to play one another. In a pick 'em game, it comes down to turnovers, breaks, penalties, etc.
It might mean something if Nutt was that much better a coach than Phil but I just don't see that. If he was, the Hogs wouldn't be firing him at the end of the season.
TommyJack writes:
ALLVOLinarkie: o.k., I'll bite...RTYAB??
TommyJack writes:
got it. thanks
TommyJack writes:
back at ya....RTYAB, bro
Colliervol writes:
Hey TDTN. You are certainly correct about the UT defense. I mean it hasn't been pretty this year and nobody can refute that. All I'm saying is that Arkansas is not the powerhouse folks are making them out to be and they have holes like we do (and that includes coaching).
The gambling folks say it's a pick 'em game and I agree with that. No way we totally stop Arkansas from running the ball. I'm just hoping we can force them into some mistakes and control the ball to keep McFadden and Jones off the field as much as possible.
Smokey57 writes:
All you piss-and-moaners be sure and watch the game. And take good notes so you can come on here and spew your venom. Frankly, I believe that's the only reason you keep up with the Vols. If you are so disgusted with the team, why else would you watch/ follow the games?
If you all were around in 1997-98, I would love to see the comments you posted then. I'll bet they were still negative! It must be a joy to live with you, or be a friend of yours- everything is gloom-and-doom.
I challenged Greer***22 in a previous article to post just ONE positive comment about our team. The result- silence... how about the rest of you naysayers?
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