Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee at Kentucky
- When: Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Commonwealth Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
It hasn't taken Tennessee's Dennis Rogan much time to make his mark on the Vols' kick-return unit.
Now he's getting a little recognition from the SEC.
Rogan, a former Class 3A Mr. Football finalist at Fulton High School, was named the SEC's special teams player of the week Monday.
"We're really happy with Dennis," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He's done just a fantastic job of making good decisions."
The true freshman had a combined 146 return yards in Saturday's win over Vanderbilt, 72 on three punt returns and 74 yards on three kickoff returns.
None was bigger than his 45-yard punt return that set up the game-winning field goal.
He even made a game-saving tackle.
On Vanderbilt's final kickoff return, Rogan stopped Commodores return man D.J. Moore from scoring.
Since taking over the return duties at midseason, Rogan is averaging 13 yards on punt returns and 31.7 on kickoff returns.
Those numbers put him in some elite company.
Or would.
Rogan only has eight kickoff returns in 10 games played, not enough to meet the 1.2 returns per game needed to rank among individual leaders in the NCAA or SEC stats.
On kickoff returns, Rogan would rank second in the SEC, behind Arkansas' Felix Jones (32.7) and ahead of Florida's Brandon James (29.0).
That 31.7-yard average would rank fifth nationally.
He would rank third in the SEC on punt returns behind James (18.7 yards per return) and Alabama's Javier Arenas (15.4).
Little Better: Tailback Rafael Little, Kentucky's leading rusher, is closer to 100 percent after missing three games this season.
"I would think so," Kentucky coach Rich Brooks said on his Sunday teleconference. "He had no setback in the game (against Georgia).
"If we get back to where we're blocking better, hopefully we'll get some production from our running game. That's one of the biggest reasons we were as good as we were through the first three quarters of this season."
Little, who played last week with a minor back injury, has 784 yards rushing and averages 5.7 yards per carry and 98 yards a game in his eight appearances this season.
Last week, however, Little had 32 yards on 16 carries.
The Wildcats had just 29 yards on 29 carries in a 24-13 loss to Georgia on Saturday.
Windy City: The win in Neyland Stadium on Saturday was tricky - so tricky, in fact, that UT kicker Daniel Lincoln abandoned trying to figure it out after missing an extra point and a field goal earlier in the game.
"You couldn't really get a bead on it," he said. "The hardest thing about it was the wind was doing something different on the middle of the field where you were kicking than it was at the goal posts."
Lincoln recovered to make a 33-yard game-winner in the fourth quarter.
Vandy's Bryant Hahnfeldt didn't fare as well on his game-winning try from 49 yards out with less than a minute remaining.
The culprit? Lincoln said the wind.
"I think the same thing happened with Vandy's kicker at the end of the game," Lincoln said. "He missed it badly. It came off his foot way left. He got some help from the wind to make it that close."
Lincoln Learns: On Tennessee's missed extra point - the first of Lincoln's career - Lincoln said he rushed the kick and hit behind the ball.
He also said he did not ask the official to move the ball along the extra-point line to improve his footing.
"I'm not making any excuses. It's inexcusable," Lincoln said. "It won't happen again."
Recruiting: Tennessee has offered Alcoa quarterback Randall Cobb a scholarship for the 2008 signing class. Cobb. who committed to Kentucky in June, could play a number of positions in college, including quarterback, receiver and defensive back.
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 24
tnfanincali writes:
hello? where is everybody?
so i just have a good feeling about this. KY was looking damn good early in the season but have lost 3 of their last 4 and 4 of their last 6. they looked great against LSU. but lately they just don't have that same spark. the VOLS are on a winning streak and i think the close call against vandy might have served as a wake up call of sorts. it sucks that our coaches can't seem to motivate this team week in and week out but you've got to give it to them that they do keep winning. i'm not trying to be negative or a hater so please don't take it that way. i think most of the criticism (of the coaching) comes from the fact that we were so uncompetitive in our 2 SEC losses.. but you can argue that we were in the FL game until the end of the 3rd (and the CAL game for that matter). we do have a lot of talent.. and we have lost a lot of starters.. but i think there is no way AL should have beat us like that. why does CUT always go away from the run when we seem to be getting better at it all the time? anyway, if we do make it to ATL i don't think anybody is giving us a chance in hell and that seems to be when we rise up the most. and we owe LSU big time for ruining our NC hopes in.. um, 01? i think we can catch them sleeping.
GO VOLS
littletheyknow writes:
Rogan is the best thing that has happened to the VOLS in a long time. This kid will be among the best that has ever played for the VOLS. I,m a Rogan fan and have been since he was in high school. Rogan is the TURTH thats right the TURTH give the kid a chance and he'll open some eyes, watch and see. GO ROGAN!!!!!
bigtimevol writes:
One of many 1st year players contributing. GREAT to have them around for years to come. Good point above: our situation paralells LSU's rise starting w/ Saban in '01. UT was the dominator, and LSU up and coming. IF we can win at least our next 2 games, and maybe the Sugar Bowl...WHAT a season and turn around, whic could jump start another wave of Vol greatness. We have the ability, just have to decide we're going to take the SEC crown.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I wonder what Rogan think's about Phil's decision ala Jamal Lewis to leave him on the pines soooo long!
CoverOrange writes:
pdhuff, I think you can take a clue from the quote from Phil about making good decisions. Don't know what bad decisions Rogan was making before (helmut on backwards? shoes on wrong feet? forgetting to wash his socks?) but Phil has his excuse..er..reason.
lnbadger320 writes:
he's pretty exciting. i just hope he keeps working hard. i'm proud of the guy.
DSaVol writes:
Too bad the player can't laud the coach's decision making.
threehundredbowler writes:
pdhuff,players ride the pine until they prove in practice they are ready to play.You,like most of us,do not see practice sessions.How do you know when he was ready to play?Talent alone does not guarentee playing time.Playing time is earned on the practice field.There is more to kick returning than catching the ball and running as fast as you can.Please leave the coaching and player selections to the coaches.They know more than we and want to win more than we do.
BOASoldier writes:
you cant spell orange with out R.O.G.A.N. :)
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Our guys just wont play hard unless you make them mad so here goes. JT go back on your mission. Hef cut your stringy hair. Josh Oniell you are are sorry redneck. Fulmer you need to drop about 80. Rico you are a serious pansy. cats are about to eat your lunch you lazy gang of sissy's
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
I'll be sitting behind you guys getting loud and wild. I hope some BLUE CLAD drunk gets in my face!
CoverOrange writes:
I think a lot of us would be less likely to question Fulmer's decisions if he gave us some inkling as to what went into them. I would have expected that if Rogan was screwing up in practice that he would occasionally screw up in the game. So far I've only seen one and that was from lining up too shallow on a Vandy punt. No fumbles, no muffs, no catches in traffic, no fair catches while standing out in the cornfield by himself. So what, if anything, was holding him back?
The deal with Jamal, supposedly, was that he didn't know the protections. Thus the opposing defense would know if Jamal was in the game he was going to get the ball. But wasn't that the mantra of the OL back then to be able to tell the defense what you're going to do and still do it anyway?
copan07#220906 writes:
Anyone have any info on the QB from Alcoa?
Fred08 writes:
Just read this from Fox Sports. This is a great piece of an article about Rogan...
"Rogan is a freshman defensive back assigned to the Tennessee Volunteers' kickoff coverage unit. It was Rogan who stood alone in the face of two Vanderbilt blockers while Commodore return man D.J. Moore ran downfield with the pigskin in the final minutes of Saturday's intrastate rivalry game in Knoxville. Outnumbered and outweighed, Rogan faced long odds in his attempt to prevent Moore from getting a touchdown or, at the very least, reaching the UT 25 for a manageable field goal. With Vandy down by a single point, Rogan was placed in his own personal version of "Mission Impossible:" fend off two blockers to tackle an onward-rushing ballcarrier, or face the prospect of another disappointing loss that would significantly affect the trajectory of Tennessee's entire season.
While Vandy's two blockers slowed down and lost focus, Rogan continued to play at full speed. He knifed through a gap and steered the hesitant Moore to the sideline, shoving him out of bounds at the Tennessee 42. Accounts of this play didn't make the standard-issue game stories cranked out by the Associated Press. Even the Knoxville News-Sentinel didn't mention the episode in its initial report on the contest.
But at the end of the day, the main reason why Phil Fulmer isn't getting buried in the press can be summed up in two words: Dennis Rogan. The reason why Tennessee is still alive in the race for the SEC East title and a spot in the prestigious SEC Championship Game against LSU? Dennis Rogan. The reason why a football season still matters in Knoxville? Dennis Rogan.
Sometimes, football analysis doesn't require hours of talk or large sections of cyberspace. Sometimes, a season is defined by people like Dennis Rogan. These quiet and obscure young men need to be given the credit and praise they deserve.
At your own school, find the unsung heroes who toil for your enjoyment on Saturdays. Be sure the Dennis Rogans on your team receive due recognition and gratitude. — Matthew Zemek"
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Wow, thanks for that Fred08. Not sure I would agree with all of that but there's no doubt that Rogan is an impact player.
As we've all asked: where in the heck has this guy been? Why did they stick with Hefney for so long?
Same thing when they stuck with a very average Gerald Riggs. Only when he went down and Arian Foster came in did we all realize that the wrong guy had been starting in the backfield all that time.
How many more playmakers like Rogan and Foster are standing over on that sideline just waiting for a chance?
That's what I ask myself when I read stories like this.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
sevin pin - I checked with my black lab and he said he bet a light bulb came on! Phil thought, I believe he's ready. Even though he doesn't fit in Phil's philosophy of letting seniority always take precedent, Big Boy made an exception. He stuck with Hefney a while. What do we know? Only that Rogan saved his bacon. Did he get all that speed in the last 3 weeks? Some even say he was fast in high school! Well, as you say, ole Phil always knows best! I bet you even applauded our effort against the Gators. We held a mediocre team to 59! Well, we all want the same thing. Beat the Cats and stumble on toward Atl!
1974Vol writes:
Dennis Rogan is a perfect example of how the game has changed. You have to get your play makers on the field. Its all about players making plays. The Vols played no one this year, save the LA team that they could just man handle them. Its like basketball on grass now. You have to not only play hard but do the football equivelent of making shots. This weeks game with KY will come down to whose stars play better. I think the Vols D will play well enough to not just implode and lose the game. Its up to Ainge to out play Woodson, our 3 WR's to out play KY's, and Foster & Hardesty to make more plays than their counterparts. Everyone now has 2-5 guys who can play and when they bring their A game you can have games like OK losing to Texas Tech or the mack daddy this year of Mich losing to App State. Stuff unheard of 10 years ago. The day when showing up fired up and playing hard would win you the game if you were a bigtime program are over. You better hit your 3's too.
movol77 writes:
Rogan was playing behind (and with) a very talented sophmore on kickoffs who couldn't keep his personal life straight and is now no more. That sophmore made some big plays at UT. Looks like Rogan does though. :)
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
For those of you that want Fulmer to come out and explain in great detail every decision he makes let me offer some insight via outside observation:
I believe Fulmer stuck with Hefney on punt returns because he proved in past seasons he was pretty good at. Remember as a freshman he ran his first punt back for a TD (only to be called back for a penalty). For some reason Hef has not performed up to the standards his past standards this season. Enter Dennis Rogan to spark the return game.
On kick returns Coker and Creer weren't doing to bad.
CoverOrange writes:
Hef also proved in past seasons the ability to muff and fumble punts. Did Rogan muff an fumble in practice at the beginning of the season? Not looking for great detail, just an inkling. I wonder if Phil even tells his players how they are screwing up.
movol77 writes:
But Phil doesn't really need to tell his players how they are screwing up...he has ESPN analysts, impatient fans, etc. to take care of this too.
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Is wd40plusvol actually touchdowntn?
I sure wish some of you could be happy with the wins. The coach some of you always want to scalp may have this team landing a top 10 ranking. Not a bad job really. Excellent, if inconsistant. Ranked properly we should be number 9 or 10 instead of those gorgie curs we so soundly whupped. If we had Georgia's ranking, would that be enough to silence the Fulmer bashers for at least this year? I doubt it.
Sometimes I think Johnnie Majors (who I think is a great Vol) has 4-5 logon accounts for this site. Also, it bothers me that the famous words shouted by John Ward as I was a kid listening on the radio, "TOUCHDOWN TENNESSEE!!!" can be used as as a name for someone who has little to say good about our team or coaches.
Now for the touchdowntn chorus (Sung to the tune of 'Here Comes Santa Claus'):
I hate ful-mer
I hate ful-mer
I hate him more than death.
(Repeat last 3 lines ad infinitum. time)
LargeOrange writes:
Please don't taunt TDTN, he is a recovering Hater-Aid addict and is on heavy doses of kool-aid to keep him rational and positive, I think he is recovering well and back on board the BIG ORANGE WAGON passing through Lexington on it's way to Atlanta. Keep the faith TDTN, resist the dark side of the glass always half-empty few who infest this fan board. GO BIG ORANGE beat the wussycats!
APPLEJAX555 writes:
This game, my friends, is the 'hump' that TN football needs to earmark as whether it wants to be an elite football program in the SEC, full of pride, tradition, and a program that wins the ones it needs to and should win. All the chips are on the table right here. In the year where parity perished, this is the year that the Volunteers need to create their own 'seperation' from the pack. Do the Volunteers want to build momentum, pick itself up and dust itself off - regaining its 'brass' as an elite power in the SEC, or does it want to slip into second tier status, among the Georgias, Alabamas, South Carolinas of the Conference - or those that suppose their programs at the strength and rememberance of an era gone by... Those teams that consistently drop 4 or 5 games by the wayside. Is this the Tennessee that not too long ago was always putting distance between the competition, with a shot at the title year after year, or were the successes in recent years/1990s for the Vols just an anomaly?
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