Tennessee Stat Book
Georgia was done in by one of its own Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.
Go ahead and ask: "What does Georgia have to do with Tennessee's 25-24 victory over Vanderbilt?"
Answer: Everything.
The Bulldogs had taken care of their SEC East business with a victory over Kentucky earlier in the afternoon. But they still needed help in their quest for a division championship.
And Vanderbilt was providing plenty of it against the Vols, the only team that could finish ahead of Georgia in the East.
Leading by 15 points, the Commodores seemingly had forced the Vols to punt late in the third quarter. Hope was building in Athens, where Bulldogs fans were chanting "Let's go, Vandy" in the final minutes of their team's 24-13 victory at Sanford Stadium.
Broderick Stewart of Newnan, Ga., didn't get the message. The Vanderbilt defensive end delivered the biggest hit of the game. Unfortunately for Georgia and Vanderbilt, the hit came after UT's Britton Colquitt had punted.
The roughing-the-punter penalty gave the Vols a second chance. And you know what this team does with second chances.
The Vols have been bouncing back all season. They were left for dead in The Swamp in September and a month later in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
You count them out, and they play their way back in. You knock them down but you don't knock them out.
They took a flurry of punches from the Commodores. Then, they took the game.
Stewart's boneheaded play didn't give them the game. It just gave them an opportunity.
The Vols took it from there with as much teamwork as they have exhibited all season. The offense produced scoring drives on three of its last four possessions prior to the last minute. The defense shut out the Commodores for the last 24 minutes. The special teams got a 45-yard punt return from Dennis Rogan, and a game-winning, 33-yard field goal from Daniel Lincoln with 2:46 to play.
"We made enough plays to keep it close," UT quarterback Erik Ainge said. "When it's close and (the game's) on the line, we're gonna get it done." And Vanderbilt isn't.
The Commodores upset UT in Neyland Stadium two years ago. They have become more competitive in Bobby Johnson's six years as head coach. But they haven't shaken their history. In their last 13 games decided by seven points or fewer, Vanderbilt has lost 11.
That's who they are.
Georgia can't complain about the championship that got away Saturday. The Bulldogs are still in contention for a division championship only because of Vanderbilt's ineptitude in the clutch. The Commodores fumbled a game Georgia's way in the final minutes a month ago.
Vanderbilt evened the score Saturday. The rest is up to UT.
The Vols are 5-2 in conference play, compared to Georgia's 6-2. If the Vols beat Kentucky on Saturday, they're in the SEC championship game, based on their head-to-head tiebreaker, a 35-14 victory over Georgia last month.
Other than getting to play Vanderbilt again, UT couldn't ask for more. In fact, UT's track record with the Wildcats isn't that much different than its series with the Commodores. The biggest difference: Most UT players weren't alive the last time the Vols lost to Kentucky.
The Vols have won 22 consecutive games against Kentucky, and some of those games were decided just the way Saturday's was. With the game on the line, UT came up clutch, and Kentucky came up klutzy.
The Vols don't have to make history to win the East. They only have to repeat it.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 20
DennisVols writes:
The title to my blog this week is "The Most Important Game of The Year"
UT - Vandy is always tough. There have been a fair share of blowouts, a few upsets ('05) but every year this inter-state rivialy is hard fought. GA beat Vandy, this year, after Vandy fumbled on thier final drive while in fieldgoal range and GA came back and won. Vandy had played everybody tough so to expect anything less in this game would be wrong.
Week 1 Cals was the most improtant game UT had, then came the Gators and it was. After loses to the Gators and Bama, by margins we still hate to discuss, many wanted Fulmer tard & feathered. Now here we stand, 8-1 since the Gator game and just one win away from a trip to ATL for a shot at the SEC Championship game.
Earlier this year it was said "Fulmer can't win the big games anymore" There was plenty of proof to support that.
But as we look forward to next weeks "The Most Important Game of The Year" we must look at all the other most important games UT has won. Shut down a GA team that has not lost since UT whooped em, shut down a Hogs offense that most thought would run over UT, came back from a 24-9 sub par game in the 4th qtr to beat Vandy today. That was the 2nd biggest comeback in UT history. And it was The Most Important Game of The Year at least until next weeks game.
It doesn't matter how you win or by how much you win, only that you win "The Most Important Game of The Year"
If you got a min. check it out and tell me what ya think.
Keeping it Real!!!!
Go Vols!!!!!!!!
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn...
creepykev#228270 writes:
Your post is way too long for my short attention span.
DennisVols writes:
This season in college football has seen more "The Biggest Game of the Year" type game than I can remember. Tonight TX Tech is taking OU to the barn so far, 5 times #2 has been beaten and the list goes on. UT has pulled themselves up off the mat. Not just today but after loses to Cal, UF and Bama they were being counted out by the sportswritters, fans and many others. In someways this has been the best uT team since the '98 team. They have showed alot of charater in keeping themselves in the running for a shot at a title. The '05 team fell apart when face with simular situations.
This team has the backbone to win out now, they have learned so much and grown so much since the start of the year.
Today we saw what we did not see in the Gator game. We saw a team reach back and not give up. They fought and made the plays they needed to make when they needed to make them.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!!
TommyJack writes:
Long ago, someone told Skaggs he was a writer. He never got over it.
Colliervol writes:
It didn't help my heart much but they pulled it out somehow and I'm happy about that. Somehow, I think this scare might have been a good thing. Got it out of the way before going to Lexington. I think they go in there and play their best game of the year next Saturday.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Lets see, in yo-yo, the yo-yo goes down and then back up. Hmmm, down and back up! Maybe, Lexington will be the up. Great death-struggle win, liked game plan to give Vandy 400 yds and pull out secret dumb-Dawg rough the punter play while down by two TDs! Whomever drew that up has my vote for game-planner of the year. Well, lets watch LSU toy with Ole Mess! Go Vols. Yo-yo goes down and .....???.
DennisVols writes:
A long time ago someone told TommyJack he was to stupid to amount to much and he has spent his life living up to that .
seaplane#216536 writes:
Which commentator from ESPN last night said Daniel Lincoln saved Phil Fulmer's job for the second time this season?
waterskier3#226480 writes:
again the kool-aid is free... if anyone that watched tn think we're a good team well have some more drink...... we lost to alabama by 20 that lost to UL monore people and miss state..... we would have lost yesterday if it wasn't vandy they just find a way to lose........ not sure if we beat kentucky but they had more of the killer instinct than in the past so if we get down 14 or so we could be in trouble....
DSaVolismyidiot_half_brother writes:
waterskier, with your logic I am sure you can connect the who beat who losses and determine Wofford to be Nat Champ.
tenndave writes:
Take it from a Vol Fan living in KY. They expect to beat us this year and are counting on this being their year. Make no bones about it, their receiving corps and quaterback are the best we have seen since FLA, but this Tn. team seems to be 1985 Reincarnation. We are not suppose to win according to the experts, the vol blog haters, even on this site, and of course he Almighty Experts at ESPN, but this team seems to have the unseen talent of knowing how to win in a clutch. I will not be surprised if it is Ky's year but I am not betting against the VOLS!!!!
TommyJack writes:
SKAGGS believes in the axiom--Why use 50 words when 500 will do
asleep#212036 writes:
Pdhuff,
I think Vandy only got about 270 yards and it is amazing that with so few yards, they could score 24 points with no special teams/defensive scores. A win is a win but a couple of things are bothersome. First, why all the field goals? Red-zone offense has been conservative and predictable and therefore, not scoring TD's. That won't win at either Lexington or Atlanta, if we get that far. Second, the long lapses in intensity during the games. The only two 60 minute games we played were blowouts over pretty good conference opponents. Coaching? I don't know about that. I can't imagine Fulmer is happy with that either. And don't say he is the only one with the problem. Yesterday, 'Bama lost at home to a Sun Belt team, Oklahoma gave up 27 first half points, and Michigan was comatose in their biggest game of the year. But if Fulmer ever can find the key, or more likely the players figure out a way to keep themselves fired up for the entire game, this team can flat play. I heard all the talking heads and they all have Georgia already in the SEC CG. I wouldn't have it any other way! Go Vols!!!
DennisVols writes:
TommyJack
The words are for the benefit of those who have enough intelligence to understand them and also for those who are too stupid to face the fact that this is not a bad UT team.
I’m not claiming it is the best or that it could not get better. All your whining just does not hold water. Fact: UT 7-1 over the last 8 games. No team in the conference has a better record over that span. In those 8 games UT has the best scoring defense and the 2nd highest scoring offense.
Overrated you have called them. On what basis can you prove that? Neither the record or the stats support that statement.
TommyJack writes:
SKAGGS: a good writer gets his facts straight. I NEVER said we are overrated. I said Ainge is the most overrated QB in UT history. I stick by it.
My opinion. You certainly AREN'T timid about expressing yours.
DadwasaVol writes:
Well said, Dennis. I like your posts, you list actual facts, something the uneducated have problems with.
DennisVols writes:
Erik Ainge. Tennessee's senior quarterback completed 67 percent of his passes, totaling 245 yards and four touchdowns
Individual Season
Completion Percentage (Min. 100 atts.) — 64.9, Daryl Dickey 1985 (85 of 131)
Completion Percentage (Min. 200 atts.) — 64.6, Heath Shuler 1993 (184 of 285)
Completion Percentage (Min. 300 atts.) — 67.0, Erik Ainge 2006 (233 of 348)
Completion Percentage (Min. 400 atts.) — 60.2, Peyton Manning 1997 (287 of 477)
Season Completions
Name, Year Completions
Peyton Manning, 1997 287
Peyton Manning, 1995 244
Peyton Manning, 1996 243
Erik Ainge, 2006 233
Season Yards
Name, Year Yards
Peyton Manning, 1997 3,819
Peyton Manning, 1996 3,287
Erik Ainge, 2006 2,989
Looking at the facts again and it seems Ainge is not overrated either. His career has at least 2 more games in it and a strong possibility of 3 to strengthen those stats.
He only had the benefit of coach Cut's guidience for 2 of his 4 unlike Peyton.
Those are the facts.
Another fact. I earned a death cert. while serving in the US Army back in the '70s so I quit being timid or scared of anything or anyone a long time ago.
TommyJack writes:
saying you're timid about expressing opinion = comment on your service in the Army?? Kind of a leap there don't you think?
Sorry to put you to so much fact finding, but then again, you seem to thrive on it. So, if you're happy man, it tickles me plumb to death.
rootin4volz writes:
Girls, girls...You're both pretty! Come on, now!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Asleep, you ask why all the field goals---our genius OC on third down doesnt throw the ball beyond the sticks but throws the 2-3 yard predictable out pass againnnnnnnnnn expecting the RAC for the first down which doesnt happen cause they always camped out waiting on the dump----I've had about all the ultraconservative , predictable play calling i can stand out of this guy----if Cut wasnt so attached to Fullmer at the hip I'd be more Ok with another year for Phil--Hamilton should say we'll bring you back on condition that 1 or your coordinators goes, take your pick (thats the first step to changing course and the replacement is one that could be Phils replacement when that time comes--JMO)
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