Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Georgia
- When: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia offensive line coach Stacy Searels doesn't talk to the media, but I won't take that personally.
Maybe it's the Nick Saban influence. Searels was an assistant on Saban's staff at LSU when the Tigers won a national championship. Saban rarely allows assistant coaches to talk with the media.
Or maybe Searels is just a man of action, rather than words. The folks at Appalachian State can attest to his actions.
Seven years ago when Searels was an assistant coach at Appalachian State, a van carrying football players and staff members was involved in a head-on collision. Eleven passengers escaped, but two others were trapped. Searels pulled them from the van just before it went up in flames.
He received the NCAA Award of Valor, which has been awarded only seven other times.
Georgia senior offensive guard Chester Adams was surprised to hear about that Monday evening after practice. Maybe his first-year position coach will fill him on the details when he has a spare moment. That probably won't be anytime soon.
Coaching Georgia's revamped offensive line is an overtime job. Searels knew that when he left LSU for his home state. He also knew he wasn't trading up.
He was leaving one of the best offensive lines in the conference for one of the least settled. In fact, it seems as though Georgia's offensive line hasn't been settled for the last five years. Recruiting busts and injuries repeatedly have made it a position of uncertainty during coach Mark Richt's successful six-plus-year run with the Bulldogs.
Don't be misled by Georgia's 328 yards rushing against Ole Miss three days ago. Georgia's offensive line still has a question mark behind it as the Bulldogs prepare for Saturday's game against Tennessee.
"I don't know if our line blocked for 300 and something yards," Richt said in assessing the unit's most recent effort. "There were a few times when we really blocked them good. There were a lot of times the backs really made some great runs."
No one questions the ability of Georgia's Thomas Brown and Knowshon Moreno. Both are exceptional cut-back runners and also are strong enough to break tackles. It was evident against Ole Miss when they combined for 270 yards rushing, they don't need a lot of room, just a little.
That's why Georgia's offensive line will play such a key role against UT, which has been vulnerable against the run.
The Georgia line starts two seniors in Adams and center Fernando Velasco, and three freshmen - guards Chris Davis and Clint Boling, and tackle Trinton Sturdivant. Sturdivant, who enrolled at Georgia in January, and Boling are both true freshmen.
"They're very athletic and have tremendous potential," Adams said.
Potential won't mean much Saturday in Neyland Stadium, which hardly qualifies as an accommodating environment for young offensive linemen. But Georgia's freshmen held up sufficiently in an overtime victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
"I was a little concerned about that (before the game)," Adams said. "But we practice with noise every Thursday, and our communication was good."
Richt credits Searels for the young line's progress. But freshmen haven't been the only ones to improve.
Adams said Searels studied video of all the returning players after he arrived. The coach pointed out Adams wasn't bending his knees enough and needed to play with his hands more inside. Both tips have paid off.
"He's a great teacher," Velasco said. "He breaks everything down to the simplest form."
Saturday's challenge for Georgia's offense is simple enough for a freshman to understand. The Bulldogs have two good running backs, and an accomplished passer in quarterback Matthew Stafford.
All they need is the blocking.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 36
andy112382#209793 writes:
Just get the win and set things back on track. We hung 50 on them last season and Ainge hasn't lost to Georgia, lets keep that trend going. Beat the dawgs! GO VOLS!!!
budd#207344 writes:
hey CR Fool, that is all he has done is talk about his young line he and every barking dog in the state.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Our defensive line and linebackers are going to educated by these Georgia beefeaters on the line. I have $100 that says GA will have 100 yards rushing by halftime.
Opinion based on our defensive performance over past four games.
VolHooch14 writes:
This is going to be a great game. UGA went into Tuscaloosa with that young line & won in OT. Also, Richt's win / loss record on the road is 88%.
I hope the VOLS come out firng on all cylinders & take advantage of the opening that has come up in the SEC east.
GO BIG ORANGE
ODA751 writes:
I agree Volhooch. It should be a great game. Go Vols!
GreerVol22 writes:
mbumburu, I think your right, but short about 50 yards.
OldNumber7 writes:
Actually, Tennessee's philosophy has always been run fewer plays exectuted better (worked for OU, Nebraska, and Bama along time ago - Air Force still does it). Small playbook. By the second series UT will have run every play they know. I'd love to see Fulmer having a brew with Rich Rodriguez or Urban Meyer lost in the entire conversation.
TheGreaterGood writes:
Listen up guys. You have to understand ths. CRVol HAS FOOTBALL KNOWLEDGE, and you don't. CRVol HAS PASSION, and you don't. CRVol IS ON A MISSION, and you're not.
bpvol#216873 writes:
UT will beat the dogs on Saturday...
Mark it down...Its going to happen..
The defense will find a way to stop them, at least once...and GA may slow down but they will not stop our offense. (Ainge will have a great day as will Coker)
bpvol#216873 writes:
JW - Can't explain it.
You know as well as I do that it IS possible.
I just have a gut feeling. Believe the team will rally around their coach and it will happen...
Can't speak for the rest of the season, but believe Saturday will be the Vols day...
utvols1 writes:
I heard that UT opened as a 2 or 3 point favorite? Oh my. I feel another hob nail boot coming.
SavDawg writes:
Guys, have a little faith in your team...last year we lost to vandy and kent. for heavens sake but we came back and one a few clutch games, thus salvaging our season. The lack of confidence and evidence of self pity from these posts is making me depressed...I never thought I would reveal this to a Vol fan but reading obnoxious and overly confident posts in the past was much more fun...keep your heads up. It will be a great game, it usually is, and everyone knows SEC games featuring teams with the type of history Ga. and Tenn. have are extememly hard to predict. Go Dawgs!
gvegasvol writes:
Hey jwraymond - I've read some of your posts about fulmer and his inability to coach and his record, etc. Being that you are obviously an expert could you tell all of us your coaching experience and your record in the SEC? I know you must have been a national championship winning coach to have amassed all of this knowledge. Surely you are not just some whinning idiot complaining about something you have no idea about. Please inform us of all your coaching accomplishments so we will have more confidence in your posts!
papavol writes:
Hey CRVOL, go be a fan of another team. Kentucky is a nice fit for you. Southern Cal is also winning. Ohio state is undefeated too! your options are open. Or perhaps, you can stop whining and complaining like a little B*TCH.
OldNumber7 writes:
gevegasvol - you must have been asleep in '98 when Phil had an NFL-loaded team and nearly lost 3 games that should have been easy, and was struck by lightening when he won the other. Keep in mind, with Peyton Manning - arguably the games' greatest signal caller at the line Tennessee could barely beat Vandy, was embarrassed by Nebraska and Florida regularly, and lost, for heaven's sake, to Memphis. A quality coaching job would have at least had Tennessee in contention for a National Title one of those 4 years. You should think more critically of the quality of that '98 team and it's performances - I think Al Wilson should have won Coach of the Year.
aj_vol#248433 writes:
CRVol your posts are annoying - is that the point?
What will your reaction be "if" the Vols get things turned around this season and have a stron finish (8-4 or better)? (notice I said "if" not "when")
My guess is you will not be happy until Fulmer is gone regardless of how this season plays out. Another "loyal" fan who loves 'Small Mike' and all of his anti-Fulmer rants.
It's really pathetic to be honest.
Vols 38 Dawgs 17
UGA will get exposed this weekend - Ole Miss nearly did it in the 1st quarter on Saturday, but the Vols will show Richt he's got more problems than we do.
aj_vol#248433 writes:
I have Comcast Sports South and watched the replay last night - what a concept!
There is no reasoning/debating with someone who will only agree with his own opinion.
We lost to the 2 best teams on our schedule on the road - both Cal and Fla were favored to win. That doesn't matter because the Vols are supposed to go 13-0 and win the NC every year. I mean it's happened twice in 117 years of Tennessee football, so why not?
I would guess that you would also want Fulmer fired if we had won vs Cal & Fla and then later lost to UGA and Arkansas.
No matter what you and all the other anti-Fulmer fans say on this message board or any other, ultimately the results on the field the rest of the 2007 season will determine what happens to the head coaching job at Tennessee.
I will support the Vols regardless of what you or anyone else thinks.
aj_vol#248433 writes:
You are a genius CRVol.
Did you forget who Ole Miss was playing?
MONDAY:
GEORGIA - 12:00 PM ET & 9:00 PM ET
aj_vol#248433 writes:
For your question about 60 minutes of football I would say probably the Cal game last year.
2006 Florida and LSU were close, but even 59 min 51 seconds doesn't count.
We got jobbed on the JaMarcus Russell fumble on the winning TD drive though.
aj_vol#248433 writes:
You're not worth my time CRVol.
gvegasvol writes:
ray and crv - PLEASE remember this: It is easy to be down on what you are not up on! Plain and simple. Though both of you have the ability to look at simple stats and draw conclusions neither of you know squat about football or what goes into coaching football. The fact you post on websites looking for validation for your thoughts should be proof enough to you both. Why not ask a college coach or the players what they think is the problem? I bet you would find your opinions are totally different - but looking truth is not what you are about - you just want for someone to think you are smart. Good luck and I hope the other parts of your lives are more significant than the one you have on here!
gvegasvol writes:
CRV - let me see if you can understand this. UT's mediocre football team is not ALL Fulmer's fault and you have no clue as to why. We are in a state where there is mediocre football at EVERY level. Go to most any highschool football game and see what the state of TN is doing with football. We produce very few good football players. What makes UF, USC, CAL, and other schools good are the high school players from those states have strong programs and the players from those programs are wanting to play for their home states. WE DONT HAVE THAT AND THAT IS NOT FULMER'S FAULT. We are forced to get the leftovers from those states. How can that possibly be Fulmer's fault?
As to my coaching credentials - according to you to be a critic you don't need to have been a coach or player. I am being critical of your attitude and lack of ability to see the overall scope of things - not just the win - vs - loss stuff. My credentials for that are pretty good.
gvegasvol writes:
jwraymond - my life may or may not be better than yours - but my perspective is much better. My happiness or fulfillment is not based on how a group of kids perform on Saturday therefore I don't have to look for ways to place blame on my unhappiness. To be frank - if my doctor is right I won't have many more Saturdays to watch the vols - or my kids - or anything else. Life is so much broader than 60 minutes of football on Saturday and I really hope it doesn't take a tragedy to help you grasp that. Be gratful for your blessings and thankful that your favorite team isn't Miss State!
Didn't mean to call you a name - sorry for that!
gvegasvol writes:
CRV - thanks for making my point about Fulmer. He brought the talent in from somewhere else and HIS TEAMS won with it (guess you wanted him fired then for losing to FL all the time), though if you go back and look at Rockets post from 1:20 he makes a very good point. Even then we had trouble competing at an elite level. Face it - we are not the best program in the nation - never have been and never will be. Why can't you just deal with that? We have done well with what we have to offer and it will get better in time. Penn State, Nebraska, FSU, Miami, Bama all have better heritages than we do and look at them now. Where was USC and LSU in the mid 90's? Dude, it is a game of cycles just bear with it.
mjohnsonvols writes:
jwraymond Boise ST is not a top 20 team nor a top 25 team look at the poll. You are the smartest guy I know. If TN wins Saturday you are a joke.
mjohnsonvols writes:
You didn't say anything about last years Boise St team. You need to clarify. How many national titles does the oh mighty Boise St Broncos have in Division 1 there oh great one of football knowledge?
OldNumber7 writes:
jw and CR, we obviously are seeing the big-picture on the same exact wavelength. Need to meet you at the pub. jw, on aj, anyone who picks UGA to lose to UT this weekend by 21 with that much confidence has obviously not been watching Tennessee football very long - don't waste your time with'em. Tennessee football is like a box of chocolates......
It's amazing, no one is questioning Fulmer for not producing titles every year. But asking that your team shows up each week is not too much to ask, or expect, unless your standards are low I guess.
mjohnsonvols writes:
Still didn't answer my question there Bronco fan. How many National Titles have they won Sports information director of Bosie St?
mjohnsonvols writes:
By the way what conference do the Broncos play in and is that a better conference than the SEC? Just a quetsion for the oh great one of football knowledeg.
vol4jesus writes:
Poster wars: the new movie coming to your town soon. Starring the 'Darlings of poster twins,CR___ and jwraymound. The kingpins of poster slash and stats galore. Men so enamored with themselves you could be in the same room and they probably wouldn't even know you are there. Satire at its best. Rated pg (pretty gruesome) as well as parental guidance. Will the movie answer insights into CR___s personal life? How he finds true happiness in his multiple personalities of varying poster names. Film at eleven. Adults only.
yeavols#228407 writes:
It just hit me like a ton of bricks listening to the local news in Atlanta. The sports broadcaster mentioned that Mark Richt is perfect at Neyland Stadium. Forget "STAY THE COURSE" JUMP SHIP!!
mjohnsonvols writes:
Will not answer the question scared I guess. So go pull for the Broncos and I will stay with the Vols. Sorry to piss you off. I agree if we go 8-4 again there needs to be a change but to bring a Boise St team who has never won a national title (this your answer) is pretty dumb. I know they got lucky and and won a BSC game last year big deal Colorado did it as well. We will be back and if that means a change so be it but I will be pulling like heck for the Vols saturday. Good luck to you jwraymond I hope TN looses for you and buddy rufus (CRvol) so you guys will be happy again.
footballrules writes:
I sometimes touch myself, when I have my manning jersey on!!!
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
rules:That is the best post I have read to date!
Ty for restoring some sanity to this site.
^5 from NC.
invisiblekid writes:
I nominate RocketVol for the Quote of the Day :
"I think Al Wilson should have won Coach of the Year."
And as a throw-in, just remember this from the first page of the "True" VolFan Playbook,
"in lieu of reasonable arguments, attack the negative poster by questioning their ability to coach or their experience in coaching or as a player".
west_tn_volfan writes:
Why is it if a person isn't satisfied with an 8-4 record and if a person demands excellence,he isn't a real fan? It would seem to me that a real fan would get sick of seeing his team being the victim on someone elses highlight film.People who are satisfied with mediocrity don't do much for a program.If you will settle for mediocrity thats what you'll get,if you demand excellence thats what you'll get.Call me crazy but I prefer excellence. I support tennessee football and thats why I'm ready for a coaching change.
go vols
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