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
Tennessee has been taking a long look this week at LSU's defensive line. It would be more enjoyable if the Vols didn't have to play against it Saturday in the SEC championship game.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer sees a preview of future NFL drafts:
"You say 'He's going to be a pro. He's going to be a pro. The young one, he's going to be a pro.'
"The whole defensive front is outstanding.''
Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe sees a strategical headache:
"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.''
Ramone Foster, UT's junior offensive tackle, sees the makings of a cage match in the Georgia Dome:
"It should be a big SEC brawl between the two lines.''
It's said of any football game that it will be won in the trenches. Saturday, that will unquestionably be the case when the Vols face the best defensive line they've seen all season.
Kickoff is 4 p.m. (TV: WVLT) for the right to wear an SEC championship ring and advance to the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day.
"They're really good,'' said Cutcliffe, "I mean they're really, really good.''
Led by All-America defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the Tigers rank third in the nation in total defense, sixth in pass defense and 14th in rush defense.
Only one runner - Darren McFadden, Arkansas' Heisman Trophy candidate - has rushed for 100 yards against LSU.
Collectively, the Tigers have notched 32 quarterback sacks. That's 28 more than UT has allowed this year so something's got to give.
Dorsey, the league's best defensive tackle since UT's John Henderson left in 2001, is a finalist for the Outland and Lombardi trophies. He hasn't been full speed for a month, slowed by hamstring, knee and back injuries. The Vols hope there are no medical miracles this week.
"He's got great talent,'' said guard Anthony Parker, most likely to be lined up opposite Dorsey, "but the main thing that helps him out is the whole D-line is pretty good and it's hard to put a double-team on him.''
There's Tyson Jackson, who will be Foster's personal headache. There's Kirston Pittman, who leads LSU with seven sacks.
But Tennessee is in no mood to be intimidated.
For one thing, the Vols faced the Tigers last year in Knoxville. Playing largely without quarterback Erik Ainge, Tennessee managed only 248 yards of offense but was seconds away from a win before LSU prevailed.
"They know the challenges ahead of them,'' said line coach Greg Adkins. "It will not be a surprise when we get there.''
More current, though, UT's offensive line feels good about the body of work it has put together in 2007.
So does Cutcliffe.
"I was concerned coming out of the spring ... and concerned a little after two-a-days,'' Cutcliffe said. "Why weren't we as consistent as we needed to be in scrimmages?
"I just think we continued to grow and improve.''
The crew that must manage a standoff against LSU includes four sophomores and two juniors.
The only senior, tackle Eric Young, suffered a season-ending injury on Oct. 27. Foster has played the past three games with a broken thumb.
"LSU's had a great season and done some things to get attention this year,'' said Parker. "Everybody knows how good they are.
"I think we've done some things to get attention as well. I think people are wanting to see this battle.
"Either their defensive line will prevail or our offensive line will.''
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Vanderbilt 65, Tennessee 47, Jan. 24…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 66
VOLnATL writes:
Can't wait until Saturday and I will be in the ATL waiting on the Orange Nation! Take care of business Vols!
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
This is definately going to be a challenging game for the Vols. I've seen two LSU games from the stands and the defense has great team speed with or without Glen Dorsey. They are going to make the Vols fight for every point that much is certain.
But LSU's offense is suspect and Matt Flynn is shakey. Ryan Perrilloux will likely be getting a lot of snaps and in some ways that is an unknown factor because who knows what role he'll be playing? One of the "keys" to the game will be to pressure whichever QB is on the field and if Tennessee can do it as well as against KY then we may be able to stop their offense. Jacob Hester is an up-the-middle threat who can wear down a run defense.
Ainge, you are our senior and our leader. This is going to be the biggest game of your college career and I know you're going to put up a performance for the "ages".
Good Luck Vols and BEAT THEM BAYOU BENGALS!!!
philfan writes:
I would would like to see much more action from our giant tight ends. They were played far too little in the Kentucky game. A few years ago we beat Alabama by having the tight ends catch a lot of passes. The Alabama coaches said that it really disrupted their game plan. I believe the Cottam guy is about six feet, eight inches tall.
DennisVols writes:
It's the Christmas season so here is my take on the
"UT 's 13 Saturdays of Christmas"
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Denn....
Life's short, have fun, and Beat LSU
Go Vols!!!!
ThurmondEppy writes:
This is the biggest week of the season and the KNS is eeking out like one article a day. I wanna read more stuff about our Vols! But I guess you get what you pay for...
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
I just heard a good'un!! LOL
"What's the difference between bulldog puppies and bulldog fans"??????
"Eventually the puppies stop whining!!! rotfl!!!
RobLCTN writes:
Yes,
is best to be prepared for any challenge LSU will bring against the VOLS.
Lets kick some tiger's butt on Saturday
Go VOLS!!!
RobLCTN writes:
TouchdownTN,
I agree with you on that one. I'm sick and tired of hearing all this talk about how bad the Vols are going to get beat this Saturday by LSU.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall =)
DennisVols writes:
Laughing? Richt has be consoling the Dawgs all week. Talking about how much less a BCS bowl game is compared to a shot at at a SEC Title.
TDTN you are just bitter because Fulmer pulled off one of his better years and he ain't going to be fired.
I know the wins have not been pretty but in the end 6-2 in the SEC was as good or better than any team from either division.
Go Vols!!!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
dlskaggs- appreciate your posts. It will, however, take one of your better spins if your bud, big Phil, runs his record to 7 wins out of his last 25 outings against ranked teams. I feel you can do it, but no rings (SEC) in NINE years will take a little more work. Maybe he can make all of the above conjecture not necessary, but I don't feel good about this one. I wouldn't worry about Mark Richt or where Les Miles might go. I'd worry about LSU. Go Vols!
fullbackless writes:
Name an example of who is laughing at TN right now besides all you idiots on this board.
fullbackless writes:
Im sure FL,GA,KY,SC,and Vandy are all pretty envious of Tn right now.
jawjavol writes:
TDTN said-
"The rest of the SEC is laughing at us". Dude the rest of the SEC, including UGA is saying I wish we were there because you cannot win the conference crown without playing in the SECCG.
You said UT was lucky against Vandy with that missed FG. I say Vandy was lucky with our missed field goal and PAT earlier in the game. UGA was lucky to have had a late fumble and last minute field goal to beat the 'Dores.
After this team had the opportunity to tank the season after the Bammer debacle they reeled off 5 gritty wins in a row. If memory serves you have been totally incorrect in predicting UT losses since the third Saturday in October. You predicted Spurrier would find a way to outperform us, McFadden would have a field day and Woodsen would get back in the heisman race.
WRONG WRONG WRONG.
TDTN picks please pick the Vols to lose.... again! We need the karma!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
reality check vol fans... watching the 2004 CG against auburn and guess what.... defense suxs.. cb playing soft... miss tackles and no pressure on the qb... sounds familar??????? more of the same this sat night.... man the more you watch the past the more it looks like the present except the players in 2004 were faster but couldn't tackle just like now...
man this is going to sux...... how many cg have fat phil lost..........
JETnTN writes:
That game is next Sept VolnFlorida......Is florida playing saturday?????????????? in case you missed it... NO is that answer. See you REAL FANS in the ATL saturday with ME!! TN 27 LSU 24
fullbackless writes:
VolnFlorida you go ahead in live in the future. Im living in the present.
jawjavol writes:
Guess Pseudo-VolIn-girlswithfatarms-Fl has a little time on his hands.I hope he is heading up to the NYC Touchdown club cuz he sure ain't headed to the Georgia Dome. Not even the Peach Bowl wants him around.
Go Vols- win th SEC with the weakest team since divisional format began. Just to make the pups, crocodile tear reptiles and pink Saban pachyderms whine that much more. If that ain't motivation enough then I don't know what is!!!
Go Vols
pete.broockman#629092 writes:
TDTN,
WOW, YOU KNOW THE PAC-10 and BIG-10 teams! We are so honored to have such an important member of the college football system on our board. Does the Pac-10 or Big-10 call you for advise on how to play and who should coach also? You seem to know it all and have an answer for everything. I bet those " friends" you are talking about are the people that talk to you when you are cleaning thier bed pans! you are pathetic!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
errr..pete.b - cleaning bed pans is an honorable profession. Just hope LSU doesn't clean our clock. None of us know much about anything, but a little about everything. That said, we're all pulling for the Orange to, somehow, finish this stumble into Atl with the hardware. Yes, hoist the grail, show off the rings, salute the victors (sure hope its us) walk the walk. Well, I digress, we're talking bed pans instead of the #3 defense. Thats ok, since we're not familiar with defense. Fear the Phil, Tigers.
grandolph1958#209664 writes:
tdtn, perhaps you need to see a shrink. I dont believe this site is for you. Did you try to walk on for the vols and get kicked out of the dressing room before tryouts, not sure just drop and look
1volk-nowi-tall writes:
Do we remember that LSU's quarterback actually fumbled near midfield on the drive that ended the game with LSU scoring last year. UT recovered the fumble but to no avail since that is not a reviewable call. Same thing happened in the Bama, Vandy game this year where a Bama player fumbled and Vandy recovered without it being called. This rule needs to be changed to allow it to work both ways. It did cost us the LSU game last year and it may have cost Vandy a win against Bama this year. Beating LSU is a great challenge, just as most of this season's wins have been great challenges. Just do your best VOLS and see what happens. GOOD LUCK to these UT players.
What an honor to even get to play in an SEC Championship Game.....
GoVol writes:
TDTN - yeah, he was a walk-on who never made it out of the locker room alright. When he was changing into his uniform and he was laughed out of the locker room because his pecker was so small.
Same size as his brain apparently.
jlange#632002 writes:
The gators to the Citrus Bowl. you going, volnflorida? Should be a barnburner.
orangebloodgmc writes:
LSU is not laughing at us, they are arguing about who their next coach should be. Nice article on Ainge in today's Baton Rouge paper. Tigers know they barely beat us last year with our backup qb, and they quote multiple Tigers conceding that they will see a different Ainge from what they have faced before.
Fred08 writes:
TDTN do you not embarass them back? Remind them of Satan's 6-6 record. Remind them Georgia has only 1 loss less than we have, and we beat them up and down the field. Remind them that Florida has just as many losses as we do. Remind them that a W is a W...no matter how close. Remind them that TN IS IN THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
jawjavol writes:
VolInFl is just bitter cuz his momma and his girlfriend have fat arms.
By VolInFl's reasoning Gators won several close games by luck so they now become known as the weakest NC's at least since UT won it. I guess thats how you lost three games this year. It all comes down to luck.
At least FL and Georgia can bask in the glow of being their respective States' champions. Chomp Chomp. WOOF WOOF!
Too bad FL scheduled the weak part of their schedule early. A tired TEBOW could have benefited from a little smarter scheduling. BTW UTs schedule would have been stronger if SABANABAMMER were not ranked #63. We can't help it if the SEC forces us to play them every year!
PS Appleby's is a great place to watch the Vols play in the SECCG and laugh at them. I tell you what, win or lose I will laugh with you, because you both backed out of the title. UT just won baby!
WOOF WOOF CHOMP CHOMP
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!
memphisvolman writes:
I agree Orange Blood- Baton Rouge is too worried about the next coaches they will hire. With so many positions open and limited coaches you know they have to be thinking very hard about that!
Miles dream job is waiting on him right now so you know what he is thinking about!
Too many distractions for LSU to stay focused.
The Vols win in a wild one 31-28
movol77 writes:
TDTN, are you SURE you work with all these different fans you listed? :)
Singaporehillbilly writes:
Ignore the faux vol fans. Not sure why they have certain names, but their posts show that their colors are not orange and white. Hoping for a Vol loss in the championship game regardless of your thoughts about the coach shows your true agenda.
Sorry to be postive but, Tenn 35 .. lsu 17
I grew up in Baton Rouge and this is the team I want us to beat. GO VOLS!!
todd#529269 writes:
take it to em' Big Orange!!!!!!!!!
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
Bottom line, all you Dawg and Gator fans, is that the Tennessee Volunteers are the SEC East Champions.It doesn't matter who picked UF or UGA to win the East.They get paid to GUESS.A lot, as you know, can happen during a season, and that's the case here.UT lost a few early, but finished STRONG.EVERY TEAM has to have a little luck on their side.Remember the UF-USC game last year?Two inches and you don't play for the NC.The Vols have EARNED the right to play in the SECCG because they have refused to give up, even in the face of criticism and negativity from the KNS and virtually everybody except the most loyal Vol fans.They believed and now they are being rewarded.We are praying for a victory tomorrow,but regardless of what happens, the Vols are champions of the SEC East, and your team is not.If "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we'd ALL have a Merry Christmas.GO BIG ORANGE!!!
VolFanInAtl writes:
You can bet Miles is preaching sjt18's "lighting strike" scenerio into the ears of the tiger players. They need to humiliate us to get a shot at the NC.
There will be no let-down on thier part that we've been hearing the media mouthpieces talk about. LSU will be ready.
VolFanInAtl writes:
If we win the SEC and the Sugar bowl and still finish ranked lower that GA or FL I will be pissed!
Concerned_Mother_Focker writes:
TDTN, I imagine you lost a lot of money betting against the Vols this year. G'ARNGE!
orangebloodgmc writes:
He's a Volwannabe in Fl.
orangebloodgmc writes:
sjt18, you figure McFadden is gone?
jawjavol writes:
Attention all Gator fans- go ahead and stock up now on your Athlon, Street & Smith, and Sporting News 2008 Football previews. Enjoy them for the next nine months. Then let reality set in as the best quarterback in the SEC fails to get it done.... AGAIN!!!!
Go Vols 2007 SEC East Champions. 60 minutes away from 2007 SEC Champions!!!!
Gators 2007 Sunshine State Champions
Pups 2007 Peach State Champions
Sabammer 2007 Tuscaloosa City Champs
OldNumber7 writes:
From ESPN: "We were 1-2 and everyone had given us up for dead," Fulmer said. "We had one of those Sunday night player meetings, where you pound on the podium and tell them what they need to do to be a better football team, and to their credit, they have listened."
I would like to recommend similar motivational speaches before all practices and games - instead of waiting til the season is nearly in the toilet.
VolFanInAtl writes:
Tomorrow the best D-line in the SEC faces the best O-line in the SEC. Something's got to give.
jawjavol writes:
Hey SJT18,
I'm just trying to use the same criteria for QB that the Gators used for Peyton. Couldn't win the big one or couldn't win it all!
Go Vols
mtnvol writes:
TDTN mentions talking to Big 8 fans. When did that conference get resurrected? The Big 8 combined with the Southwestern to become the Big 12. But the biggest joke is the Big 10 who can't count. They have 11 teams in the conference!
Lucky? The harder you work the luckier you get. So FL must not work too hard to get beat THREE TIMES this year! I'm sick of other fans whining about luck. Losers whine. Winners may not win, but losers whine. That's why I heard so many KY fans chanting "LSU" after they lost for the 23rd time to UT. LOSERS!!
Geaux Vawls!
OldNumber7 writes:
Like Manning to Martin, I think Ainge to Crompton ADDS offensive flexibility and a scramble-capability. Tennessee will be more dangerous next year. Nothing against Ainge, but when you know he'll be in the pocket..... Cutcliffe better plan to move the pocket early and often Saturday - that'll help the running game between the tackles too.
mtnvol writes:
What were the mighty Gators and puppies preseason picks? courtesy espn.com
USA Today (coaches): FL 3; UGA 13; UT 15
AP: FL 6; UGA 13; UT 15
Harris (week 4 start): UGA 4; FL 11; UT 15
Looks to me that as of today, UGA and UT have either met or exceeded preseason expectations while the Gators have not.
Southland writes:
Florida is about to run out of Zooks players and then they will be going down down down Its not just this year get used to two or three or four losses a year and Florida needs to stay away from South Florida who will hand them their heads in a couple of years
eduardo writes:
Hey sheep! When are you people gonna wake up and realize LSU is going to beat this lousy so called football team down.! Gimmee a break! Wake up you so called football experts! Get rid of this overpaid coach and staff
mtnvol writes:
Hey everybody, eduardo's back. While he's at the keyboard your livestock is safe!
orangebloodgmc writes:
Aw hell, I just woke up! Hey, guys, we don't need to post any more or even watch the game tomorrow, cause Eduardo just gave away what's gonna happen. What were we thinking!
99gator writes:
alcofc
sweet mother of pearl.... uhh, where do i start.
the following people scored td's against tenn.
tebow
c.newton
b.james
harvin
cooper
ingram
doe
only one of them was recruited by ron zook (ingram). most of the gator team that played this season was not recruited by ron zook.
if y'all think the season for florida was a disaster (after winning a national title and losing damn near the whole team) and if you think florida will meekly slip into mediocrity in the future... then i overestimated some of the opinion makers on this thread.
Kris4UT writes:
UT: 31 LSU: 18 GO VOLS!
mtnvol writes:
Posted by TouchdownTN on November 30, 2007 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"fullbackless: I don't live Tennessee and work with people who support other SEC teams, Big 10 teams, and even Big 8 and Pac 10 teams."
So tdtn, how do you explain the Big 8? They went out of business in 1996....goober.
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