Vol Report
Audio
- Podcast: Interviews with players, coaches and SEC commissioner about the SEC Championship game
- Dave Hooker interviews SEC commissioner Mike Slive.
Videos
- Players: The SEC Championship matuchup against LSU
- Does Tennessee play better when they're the underdogs?
- Coach and players on media and fan criticism
- Coach and players: Jerod Mayo as leader
- The Orange Nation celebration
Related links
Event Details
- What: SEC Championship
- When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Where: Georgia Dome
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
Phillip Fulmer can identify with the distractions facing the LSU football team these days.
He just doesn't sympathize.
Right now, Tennessee's football coach couldn't care less if LSU coach Les Miles goes to Michigan, or LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini heads back to Nebraska, or Alabama coach Nick Saban is considering a return to Baton Rouge.
Distractions are part of the game, part of the day-to-day life for most college football coaches.
All Fulmer had to do was reflect on 1998, the year Tennessee lost its offensive coordinator just prior to winning a national championship.
"You know we went through a similar thing with David (Cutcliffe) a little bit taking the Ole Miss job in '98 before the championship game," Fulmer said after Thursday's practice. "We didn't allow it to be a problem.
"I don't know what they're going through. I really have no idea. I'm just worried about our guys, getting them down there and getting them ready to play.
"Once the ball is snapped, none of that matters."
It may not matter to the Vols, but it seems LSU fans and media members are thinking about everything except playing Tennessee for an SEC championship at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Georgia Dome.
Scary LSU defense: Cutcliffe doesn't like to look at the numbers LSU's defense has manufactured this season.
"I keep the numbers up behind me on the board for a reason - so I'm not staring at them all the time," he said. "When you look at the numbers, it's kind of startling."
The Tigers are third in the nation in total defense (278.9 yards per game). They're second in the SEC in passing defense (175.1) and rushing defense (103.8). They lead the league in turnover margin (31 gained-13 lost).
"They're really good," Cutcliffe said. "I mean they're really, really good.
"When you get problems up front just trying to figure out how to manage pass protection, how to manage the run game, it's amazing to watch them in certain games."
Jonesin' for Jones: UT quarterback Erik Ainge complimented freshman receiver Gerald Jones, who caught his first touchdown pass of the season with a diving grab in the end zone in last week's 52-50 four-overtime victory at Kentucky.
"He's been doing that kind of stuff since he's been here," Ainge said. "That was a great catch. I thought I overthrew him just a little bit. He went down with it and I turned and saw the screen."
In the second overtime, Ainge looked for Jones again, but the Wildcats had him double-covered.
"Maybe they recruited him, too," Ainge said. "Maybe they saw him."
Crompton Ready: Stability from Ainge at the quarterback spot has provided a calming influence for UT's backup.
While Ainge has passed for 2,908 yards and 27 touchdowns, Crompton has watched and learned.
"It has been great to see him improve with this stability," Cutcliffe said. "Jonathan seems more ready than he has ever been. He has had a tremendous month and a half this part of the season.
"I think it's from getting in that groove Erik's in with practice, practice, practice. I'm glad we haven't had to use him, but I think it has almost been a calming influence knowing if we had to he would do extremely well."
Crompton has some experience with LSU. He replaced an injured Ainge in last year's 28-24 loss and went 11-of-24 passing for 183 yards and two TDs.
Good Omens?: The UT sports information department came up with some nuggets offering positive signs for the Vols.
Tennessee is 2-0 in SEC Championship games when it plays an opponent it didn't meet in the regular season.
The Vols also own a 10-0 all-time record in games played on Dec. 1.
Injury Report: Fulmer is confident backup tailback Montario Hardesty (ankle) will be available "if needed" against LSU. Freshman Lennon Creer took all the backup snaps this week.
Freshman cornerback Brent Vinson continues to fight through shoulder pain and will play against LSU. He will require postseason surgery.
Defensive tackle Demonte Bolden (foot) has been limited in practice but will play.
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Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 20
Skibum165 writes:
The team won on last play of the game in the last two contests to Vandy and Kentucky. There is no inflated self image. They realize they live on to fight the good fight another day. UT will come out extreamly focused as they play on "borrowed time ". Vols roll big with a simple game plan.
ThaiVolFan writes:
I said this earlier in the week. LSU is definitely distracted. There is no possible way not to be. Miles already has an appointment to meet with Michigan next week. Pelini has already been interviewed by Nebraska. You can be sure that there is most definitely a lot of talk in the locker room and on the practice field that is NOT about Tennessee! The players may even feel a little uncertain about their own futures, as a new HC and DC may be coming in next year. Distractions? You bet ya!
Go Vols! Stay on task and take the SEC by storm!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
This may be the downfalling of LSU waiting to happen. If the coaches go, I bet a bunch of talent will jump ship to the NFL. I love the distractions. Let's hope this thing shakes out in an orange way!
VOLinDAWGland writes:
I'll take luck any time and say thanks for the good fortune...beats sucking on a lemon...but that's just me.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
"Distractions" Huh. Is that what happens when Vols WR drop a wide-open pass? Oh Lord, why are we talking about LSU's problems, real or not? Can you say Hester, over 800 yards straight ahead. Lord, don't let Berry make all the tackles on him (he will). Ainge & Co., its all on you. This is the BEST team you've played. A Vandy-SC-Ky type effort will not be purty! Watch this defense run to the ball. Foster, even with your 1800+ yds (700 spent going across field) you MUST run North and South. You'll look like a mama possum with little-uns if you get cutesy. Remember , strength punishes, speed KILLS! Lets dink and dunk our way to a RING. Not the mythical East championship (they're still waiting for the hardware to arrive for those) but the grail. Catch the ball. Foster, hold the ball. Ainge, toss the pig. Feel better now, Bud count up to 32 and cold. Fear the Phil, Bengals.
Singaporehillbilly writes:
Hey faux vol. Funny how when the Vols win the close games it is called luck and/or backing into a championship game, but the close losses in 2005 were all the fault of Coach Fulmer. Tennessee won their way into the game.
Please go back to the bama board, flush the toilet and yell roll tide.
10ACVOL writes:
"Fulmer backed his way into an SEC championship game". You people really have no clue, no team has ever "backed their way" into an SEC championship. That's a ridiculous comment.
CoverOrange writes:
Only way to be sure LSU is distracted is everytime UT comes to the line yell "hey! is that a Michigan AD over there?" or "look! there's Tom Osborne" Otherwise, don't count on that to win the game.
utalum04 writes:
Touchdown TN has to be the most pathetic excuse for a fan I have ever seen. He comes on here ever single day bashing Fulmer and the team. Please get a life!!!! I'm telling you, they make medicine for your depression!!!
BigOrangeJeff writes:
The song remains the same... When the Vols win, it's one of three things: 1) Coach Fulmer gets lucky, 2) the opposition sucked, or 3) the wonderful players pull together and manage to somehow overcome the woefully inadequate coaching. You're already planting the seed for your next salvo if we happen to win.
Once again, go find another team to complain about. We don't need you, and the team certainly doesn't need your "support".
BOJ
PS Is the dementia that comes with syphillitic fever as bad as they say it is?
Volfan1 writes:
TouchdownTN comes on here EVERY DAY spewing garbage. I think TouchdownTN should be banned for "comments that are....defamatory,...abusive" according to the terms of agreement. His constant namecalling, i.e., "FOOLmer" is one example of his CONSTANT violation of the terms.
Opinions are one thing. Personal attacks on someone, even the coach, show a lack of respect for this board, the board manager, and everyone in the Big Orange Nation.
Tell him, "goodbye", everyone. That is what he deserves.
DennisVols writes:
Can someone please tell me the name of the receiver that never dropped a pass before? How about a coach that did not have to have some luck involved in winning a game, a season, or a title?
TDTN and pdhuff seem to think that this kind of team and player exsist somewhere.
I am sure it has nothing to do with the facts that they were predicting a 5-7 season after the UF loss, predicting losses to GA, AR, UK.
Would you please grow up. You are complaining about a coach that has a 6-2 SEC conference record, no one has a better one, the team is playing for a SEC title, only one other team can claim that.
You whined about not playing for the SEC title earlier this year and now you whine about how we got to this point. I have a 9 yr old son who is more mature than either of you.
SCORES DO NOT MATTER, DROPPED PASSES DO NOT MATTEER!! RESULTS DO MATTER!!! And the results are a East division title and a better than even shot at winning the SEC this year.That is the 1 and only fact that does matter.
DennisVols writes:
Two deer hunters were standing on a ridge near a highway in
rural Tennessee on the opening day of deer season. They
both saw a trophy-class buck meandering towards them. As the
one hunter raised his gun to shoot, a funeral procession came
slowly by.
The hunter lowered his gun, took off his hat, and stood with his
head bowed until the procession was past. Of course by then, the
deer was long gone.
The other hunter exclaimed "Wow! That was the most sportsman-
like act I've ever seen! You allowed this trophy buck to escape
while showing such compassion and kindness toward someone's
dearly departed. You are a great humanitarian and a shining example
to sportsmen throughout the world!"
The first hunter nodded and said; "Well, we were married for 42 years."
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
The whiners are the same guys who demand that the VOLS get all the best players in the country, but then play only the local dudes. When a game is won by running, they want6 to know why we didn't pass more and when the game is won by passing, demand to know why we didn't run more.
They were not satisfied with winning only 13 games in 1998, apparently forgetting that they played only 13.
Could that have been a result of not reigning in
reality in loux of pouring over their expectations?
I wonder how that sentence would fare in English 111 at UT. It must be OK in Journalism 499.
The words aws used come from NS copy.
rexxel2004 writes:
WELL SAID DLSKAGGS! MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY
BigOrangeJeff writes:
Good points, dlskaggs. Terrell Owens led the NFL in dropped passes last year, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton fumbled occassionally, and I remember seeing both Johnny Unitas and Joe Montana throw interceptions. Too bad none of them are good enough to play for the geniuses claiming to be Vol fans.
And, if I remember correctly, Gen. Neyland actually lost 31 games in his tenure as HC, including 5-5 and 4-4-2 seasons in '47 and '48. Makes you wonder how loudly these Einsteins would have screamed for his head.
Again, given the choice between Coach Fulmer and these morons, I'll take my chances with Fulmer every day of the week and twice on Saturday.
BigOrangeJeff writes:
I'm glad you brought up 1998, ggriggs939.
I remember these losers - after we'd won the NC, mind you - complaining that:
1) Too many games that year were close,
2) We got lucky in the Arkansas game,
3) The only reason we beat FSU was because of Marcus Outzen,
4) Fulmer and Co., still did a bad job. It was only our players that allowed us to win, and
5) We only backed into the game because KSU and UCLA each got beat on the last day of the season.
BOJ
PS People with syphilitic dementia suffer from deterioration of memory, lethargy, headaches, insomnia, depression and irritability. Sound familiar?
VolFanInAtl writes:
LSU WILL be ready... count on it. We need to take care of our own business.
VOLinDAWGland writes:
Hey TDTN,
You think Hamilton will wise up and modify Fulmer's (that's Foolmer for you) contract extension (bet that made ya twitch) to read, "this does not include the luck package. Backing into the SEC Championship Game despite embrassing losses and improbable wins that came down to fricken field goals over bottom dwellers and beating a SEC West team when they're down or distracted will not count"?
Stumps writes:
some of you folks really must be football idiots.
by the very nature of the game of football, "luck" or whatever else you want to call it plays a factor. The ball is even shaped that way - sometimes the luck bounces you way, othertimes it doesn't.
Look at USC's national championship runs - look at some of their games against those pansy PAC-10 teams. Luck was the only reason they made it through.
if you want to hate fulmer or hate the vols, nothing anybody can say will change your mind, but using "luck" as an excuse just makes you look stupid.
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