Gameday
LEXINGTON, Ky. — An SEC Eastern Division title and a chance to play for an SEC Championship came down to three yards.
That’s how far Tennessee needed to go to get a two-point conversion that led to a 52-50 win over Kentucky in four overtimes at Commonwealth Stadium on Satur-day.
Three yards to take a commanding lead.
Three yards to put all the pressure on the Wildcats.
Three yards to continue the march to Atlanta.
“That was huge,” UT senior quarterback Erik Ainge said of the pass he completed to receiver Austin Rogers in the end zone for two points. “Them knowing that they had to score and get a two-point conversion, the odds are slim that that’ll happen.”
The Wildcats failed to convert on the two-point conversion, just one-yard short of the end zone.
Ainge and the Vols almost didn’t get that far in the fourth overtime. With a defensive lineman coming free, Ainge knew he’d have to take a hit to take the lead.
“You can’t hold anything back in that situation,” said Ainge, who was 28-of-45 for 397 yards with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. “It doesn’t matter if guys are coming free or if you’re about to get drilled.
“None of that matters.”
UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said a season’s worth of stellar pass protection (three sacks in the previous 11 games) helped Ainge feel comfortable even when there was plenty of reason to panic.
“I was really proud of him stepping up and making that play,” Cutcliffe said.
The TD that set up the two-point conversion was almost as exciting as the conversion itself.
UT was penalized 15 yards to the Kentucky 40 before the drive even began because of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on tailback Arian Foster on the previous drive.
That didn’t deter Ainge, as he found a wide-open Quintin Hancock for a 40-yard touchdown pass on the drive’s first play.
Cutcliffe said he had called the same play earlier and noticed that Kentucky’s safety was overplaying another receiver, leaving Hancock open. The play call was also predicated on Cutcliffe’s belief that defenders will naturally pay more attention to receivers running deep passing routes in overtime.
“You don’t want to be the guy that gets beat deep,” Cutcliffe said.
Hancock caught the pass, then stumbled before finally diving into the end zone.
“They just left me wide open,” Hancock said. “I kind of stumbled a little bit. It seemed like it took forever to get in.”
Cutcliffe joked that his back was sore from keeping Hancock upright.
“I helped him, by the way, from the press box to not fall down,” Cutcliffe said. “I reached out with a long arm.”
The Vols could have used an extra set of arms after a handful of dropped passes in the second half.
“It becomes a mental thing,” receivers coach Trooper Taylor said of the rash of mistakes.
UT’s shortcomings at receiver robbed its offense of any consistency. Meanwhile, Kentucky stormed back from 17 points down to force overtime.
Rogers admitted he thought the game was lost after he dropped a pass on third-and-7 with UT clinging to a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter.
“We killed drives,” Rogers said. “We usually make those plays and we didn’t. When I dropped that ball on the curl, I thought ‘There it goes. They’re going to win.’ ”
The Vols got their passing mojo back when freshman receiver Gerald Jones reeled in a twisting touchdown reception in the first overtime.
“The whole team, not just the receivers,” Taylor said when asked how that energized the Vols. “They were calling him super rookie.”
Ainge seems uncomfortable discussing his legacy at UT. But whether he admits it, those three yards could be how he’ll be remembered.
“I don’t think like that,” Ainge said with a smile. “We got two more (games). That’s what matters right now.”
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Comments » 26
CoverOrange writes:
Best game I've seen Ainge throw all year. Stood in the pocket and made the throws down field. The intentional grounding was BS. WRs had their moments, both good and bad. Prevent defense gave it away in regulation.
slsmithsr#269458 writes:
They never covered our tight ends the whole game, but they didn't have to in the second half...they were on the bench.
The young guys stepped up whenever Ainge decided to throw to them..I don't know why he doesn't trust them..they are playmakers.
And finally, Ed Orgeron has a pedigree as a OL coach and recruiter..hope we decide to give him an assistant job before USC snags him again..
aj_vol#248433 writes:
WD40, Ainge didn't throw past the line of scrimmage on the grounding penalty and no receiver was within 15 yards
I think the penalty was valid, but it took every KY fan in the stadium booing and an earful from the UK coaches for the ref to throw the flag
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
"I thought that we got away with one on the Jones TD reception."
Correct me if Im wrong but isnt a player down when his knee, elbow, or backside touches the ground?
To me it looked like Jones had control or the ball, his elbow hit the ground first (at which point it was a TD) and then his body came down causing the ball to hit the ground.
That's what I saw anyway.
Volborn writes:
To all the haters that consider 8 and 9 win seasons in the SEC "mediocre": YOU ARE SPOILED! What this staff has done with this young secondary is fantastic. If Coach Cut can keep us averaging 30+ ppg next year while this defense comes of age, look out!
So many hearts were broken on Saturday.
1. LSU's: Because they couldn't get a top 10 opponent to bolster their rankings.
2. Kentucky's: 23 in a row.
3. Georgia's: They just got another hob-nailed boot in the face just as the first wound was healing!
4. The Haters: Fulmer will get an extension and raise!
CPF..best winning % of all coaches with 10+ years experience, 7-1 in overtime games...Show me another coach with that kind of record in OT or close games. I will enjoy my orange kool-aid this week.
One point about this SECC. LSU has about as much to play for as Miami did in 1985. I'll paraphrase Jimmy Johnson's quote before that game. The best thing that can happen is for us to beat Tennessee by 40 and we'll only finish 2nd. LSU blew their shot at the NC, Les Miles is going to be bombarded by questions about the Michigan job....and LSU will be favored. :) I like our chances!
AllVol writes:
Well said, Volborn. Well said.
mtnvol writes:
Mentally and emotionally, LSU limps to ATL while the Vols sprint. We'll be big 'dogs and the haters will spend the week posting how badly we'll get beat. I LIKE OUR CHANCES WHEN WE "HAVE NO CHANCE!"
philfan writes:
Coach Fulmer deserves to be SEC coach of the year for his comeback in the latter part of the year. You can count on the Big One to win in a clutch, overtime situation all the time. Was someone kidding about Orgeron coming to UT, with his terrible record at Ole Miss? I hope not. When you have a staff that wins most of the time, you do not want to change any aspect of that winning formula.
CrankE writes:
Volborn is right on. Can I add to your list?
5. The Press. The national press overwhelmignly picked UK to win this game. Some of them by big margins. Today, they're hardly saying a word about this game-just an afterthought to KU-Mizz. (Predictable). Come eat guys, your crow is getting cold.
I can't figure the press out other than that they hate UT. They're just lazy. They write their storylines before the game, then get mad when the "underdog" strikes and wins making them rewrite. (heheheee) Some examples:
After Friday's performance, half the country should give McFadden their Heisman ballots. Georgia is the greatest team in the SEC, they've got two sets of home jerseys! And they can celebrate!! So does UT get any credit for stomping both of these fantastic players/teams? No, all we get is that they lost big to Cal, UF, and Alabama. Sigh.
The press is holding it for another week though. You watch. They'll double down on their bets. "Give Tennessee credit, but..." LSU's too talented, too loaded, too angry after losing to Arkansas, too whatever for UT to win. They'll talk about how LSU beat the two teams that EMBARRASSED UT this year. But minimize or ignore altogether the apples to apples comparison that UT beat both of the teams LSU lost to (in Kentucky and at home).
I agree with mtnvol, I LIKE OUR CHANCES WHEN WE 'HAVE NO CHANCE'
BRING IT ON!!!
kenscott#357713 writes:
Another point on the press bias...
I watched SportsCenter last night and leading into the UT-UK highlights, the anchor said "and now for the game of the day." I think anyone would agree. Regardless of rankings or bowl implications, from a pure football perspective, the UT-UK game was the best of the day.
However, if you go to ESPN.com, they have video highlights of every BS, inconsequential game that was played yesterday, but no highlights whatsoever of the UT-UK game. Pathetic.
mdvol writes:
Speaking of bias....check this out. Not only did CBS dump the KY game for our Vol faithful in Fla, someone jumped the gun on the final score. This is amazing.
http://leftofdial.com/?p=311
thevol writes:
No "Yawns" today CR or JW. At least touchdowntn is man enough to get back on here and talk football. Two more wins. Go Big Orange!
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
WD40 that intentional grounding call was a bunch of BS. He was clearly outside the tackle box and threw the ball well over the line of scrimmage. Of course no penalty for a face mask that about beheaded Berry really frustrated me. Then the gall of the refs to give Foster a 15 yard penalty, it did play into our hands though, starting from the 40 istead of the 25 changes your play calling and Ainge found Hancock wide open. I know I look through the world with orange tinted glasses but them refs did us no favor in that game.
utme1998#216234 writes:
Note to Vol Fans: Get ready for five wide and the shotgun in the Sec championship game next week from lsu. If Kentucky would have done that the whole game It would have not been close. Lets face it they cant cover in man to man coverage.
alfrizzle097 writes:
Woodson can hit those short quck routes. Flynn can't. I say we run our blitz package again to force some bad throws. The man coverage has been poor but the zone has been porous.
mbradshaw1#655539 writes:
ESPN and the national media did not give us any chance. But I will give Kirk Herbstreit credit for picking the VOLS. He said on Game-day when our backs are against the wall and nobody gives us a chance we find some-way to pull out a victory. He was right.
GO VOLS!!! Lets do it again next week.
ODA751 writes:
I love this team. Early in the season, they made some mistakes that cost them. But, these guys didn't quit. They kept working and improved. The Kentucky team they beat yesterday is a good team. Their strengths pointed right at Tennessee's weaknesses. Yet, the Vols didn't quit. I think we beat LSU in the championship game. The defense took a lot of abuse earlier in the season. Now, it's time to give them their due. I saw some BIG hits yesterday. Mayo, Ayers, Bolden, Wilson, the entire defense: great job. The guys never quit. What's the old saying? "Quitters never win and Winners never quit!" These guys are winners!
Huntingdonvol writes:
HUGE WIN ONE OF THE BEST GAMES I HAVE EVER WATCHED!!!!GREAT COACHING GREAT PLAYING!!!!!GO VOLS IN HOTLANTA!!On a sad note,Long time Huntingdon tn.football coach PAUL WARD PASSED ON LAST NIGHT(TIM PRIEST)HIGH SCHOOL COACH.MY PRAYERS GO OUT!WE HERE IN HUNTINGDON LOST A GREAT ONE!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
So stick to the fight when you hardest hit, its when things worse that you mustn't quit. Lordy, that old adage applied to the OT FG try! I know my heart's in good shape when you wonder where the ball went. Whew, don't say we aren't blessed. Go Vols and pull off another miracle in the Dome. Dawgs will be watching on the tube. Oh, also the Gators. In the yo-yo isn't it time for the yo to go UP!! Go Vols!
ncvol17 writes:
Cat Fans: How long since you saw a W against the VOLS? 1st you had birth - then school - then college - then marriage - then kids - No wins vs the VOLS !!!
1974Vol writes:
Agree that Vols probably come out "higher" team against LSU, but the game lasts 60 minutes. The players are on an emotional roller coaster ride throughout the game. How many times have you seen a single play change BIG MO. I was in the Superdome when the Vols beat Miami in Jan. '86. Part of that win was Vol fans owned the place and were loud and proud the whole game. It would be great if Georgia Dome was same next Saturday night!
1974Vol writes:
Does anyone know why when KY got personal foul face mask on FG block return that's not enforced into next OT period, but when Foster slings the ball down (hey Foster shouldn't have done it but a good offical doesn't potentially change the outcome of that game with that call) Vols get the ball at the 40? Had to be a rule thing. Dead ball fouls at the end of the period count, but live ball fouls don't? The fouls in the first 2 OT periods don't carry over, but ones later do? I mean what's the deal?
wisonsinvol writes:
Allvolinarkie and burntorange, the rule is that if you have clear possession during the catch, the ball can in fact come in contact with the ground. The earlier non-catch by Brown that hit the ground, the ball was not secure in his hands. Jones had the ball secure in both hands - or at least you couldn't tell from replay that he did not have control with both hands. That's why the play was not overturned.
tenndave writes:
More Talking Points
The penalty on Foster was a cheap call under the circumstances. At most it should have been delay of game. But it did call attentiont to a problem on penalties in OT. I understand why KY was not penalized for the face mask but the rule is wrong because it is very apparent that if another team is in the same situation, they have permission to do whatever they can legally or illegally to stop the team from scoring. They are not going to get penalized because of the change of possession. Hurt someone bad or simply run in off the bench. A penalty on the last play of overtime no matter what should be assessed against the offending team in the next overtime or Katie Bar The Door!!!
phi0129 writes:
The refs were horrible and almost cost us the game. BS pass interference calls, no penalty assessment on the downright cheap face mask on Berry, and a barrage of other horrid calls made it look like they wanted TN to lose.
I had a collection of mini heart attacks on Saturday and I'm only 24. I knew KY was going to comeback. But I thought they would beat us and it would be indicative of our season. But I underestimated this team's heart when it comes down to it. I am very upset about the predictable waste time O in the 2nd half and zone D with no preesure (pressure on Woodson is what drove us in the first half) that almost results in blowing a huge lead. This has been a constant theme all year. How do we expect to beat LSU when we haven't played 1 complete game this year? (besides la whatever that one game) I still think we will get it done somehow though...
And the media can kiss my you know what. Even last week when they started discussing the UT-KY game on ESPN, Jesse "I'm a douche" Palmer barely talked about TN and instead spent 5 minutes talking about how great UGA was and how they were going to be in the 'Ship. I was sooo angry. And then the other night the only highlight they show is when it was 44-44 in OT. But you have all these crappy games getting 5 minutes of coverage. I'm so sick of that. Why do they hate TN so much? I dare Gameday to come back to Knoxville....
lctaylor#266399 writes:
Rarely do I post, but I have to chime in here on the media bias for Georgia. Saturday before the game, they were talking about Hawaii winning ang probably going to the Sugar. Archie Manning said, "Where they will either face LSU or Georgia". I thought, hello, has TN-KY already played or something????
Then on ESPN the other night it was Lou Holtz (God, I hate that slobbering bastard!) and Mark May talking LSU and Fowler said "Where the Tigers will face either Georgia or TN" and Holtz cut him off in mid sentance just to blurt out "GEORGIA". Like a 10 year old trying to get his opinion heard. The bias against Tennesee sickens me, but apprently it makes them play better. Come on Holtz pick LSU to win.
BTW: Did anybody see Corsoe and Herbsteit's picks on College Gameday Saturday morning when they picked the TN-KY game? loved it!
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