Photo by Saul Young // Buy this photo
Tennessee tailback LaMarcus Coker celebrates while scoring on a 56-yard pass from wide receiver Lucas Taylor against Georgia on Saturday at Neyland Stadium. The Vols beat 12th-ranked Georgia 35-14, improving to 3-2 for the season.
Gameday
Links
- Vol Report: Published Oct. 7, 2007
- PostGame audio slide show: UT vs. Georgia
- Box Score: UT vs. Georgia
- Watching with Ward: Review the game, play-by-play
Articles
- ‘Putting it together’
- Vols show some power with running game
- Numbers add up to a dominant defensive effort
- New formation, Colquitt aid kick coverage
- Dawgs' Richt: 'They beat us soundly'
- Adams: Change of identity alters season's course
Vol Audio
- Dave Hooker interviews OL coach Greg Adkins
- Dave Hooker interviews RB coach Kurt Roper on UT's new punt formation
- Dave Hooker interviews offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe
- Dave Hooker interviews WR coach Trooper Taylor
- Dave Hooker interviews DB coach Larry Slade
- Dave Hooker interviews WR Austin Rogers about UT's running game against Georgia
Tennessee Stat Book
Anybody notice that new footwear Tennessee’s football players showed off Saturday?
It sure looked like hobnail boots.
On a pivotal afternoon for their embattled coach, the Vols mashed No. 12 Georgia 35-14 before 107,052 surprised witnesses at Neyland Stadium.
"We needed it,’’ said senior quarterback Erik Ainge. "A win is a win, but when you win it like that, … 35-14 doesn’t really show what the game was like.’’
Ainge has a point. The Vols romped to a startling 28-0 lead in the second quarter. From there, it was only a matter of naming the final score.
Tennessee (3-2, 1-1 SEC) needed the win to stay alive in the Eastern Division race — and to put a stop to Georgia’s comfort level in Neyland. The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-2) had won their past three trips here.
"There’s not much to say other than they beat us soundly today,’’ said Georgia coach Mark Richt, a loser for the first time in four visits to Knoxville. "I believe we’re a better football team than what showed up today but you have to give Tennessee credit. They showed up ready to go.’’
That they did. The Vols forced a Georgia punt on the opening possession, then crunched out a 12-play touchdown drive and never let up. Georgia didn’t make its second first down until it trailed 28-0.
When the Bulldogs finally got on the scoreboard on a Matthew Stafford touchdown pass with 9:39 left in the third quarter, the Vols answered with a 13-play drive to restore the lead to 35-7.
"Great drive,’’ said UT coach Phillip Fulmer. "That took their juice away.’’
The Vols had shown little juice through a troubled September that raised questions about the current team, Fulmer’s stewardship and the general direction of the program.
For 3 hours and 17 minutes on a warm but gorgeous fall Saturday, though, the Vols played championship-caliber football.
"I’m not saying Georgia didn’t come to play, but I felt like we were on a different level,’’ said tailback Arian Foster, who scored three touchdowns.
The numbers suggest Foster is correct. Tennessee outgained Georgia 411 yards of total offense to 243. The rushing yardage was even more surprising — 190 to 69 in UT’s favor.
"There was a lot of apprehension going in,’’ said Fulmer. "They were excited and anxious to prove people who might have been doubting us wrong.’’
Tennessee’s defensive unit had heard nothing but doubt through four games.
Georgia, however, couldn’t run and had only sporadic success passing. That made a busy day for Brian Mimbs, who punted seven times in the first half alone.
"I always said it was there,’’ said UT defensive coordinator John Chavis. "It was just a matter of putting it together.
UT even put together its kick-coverage game.
Georgia returned only two of Britton Colquitt’s six punts for a net eight yards. With Colquitt handling kickoffs for the first time this season, the Bulldogs started drives with average field position at best.
Ainge was above average, completing 17 of 22 passes for 165 yards.
UT’s only touchdown pass, however, was launched by receiver Lucas Taylor.
In a repeat of a play that worked for a score last year against Florida, Taylor took a handoff from Ainge and threw to a wide-open LaMarcus Coker for a 56-yard touchdown to make it 14-0.
Foster had scoring runs of 9, 22 and 4 yards.
Montario Hardesty got the other score, a 10-yard TD run.
Hardesty’s score made it 21-0 with 9:24 left in the first half and capped a 48-yard drive after Ellix Wilson blocked a Georgia punt.
Georgia’s subsequent punt was successful but the end result the same. The Vols drove 65 yards in only four plays.
On third-and-1 at the 22, Foster took the handoff, cut outside and found a clear path to the end zone for a 28-0 lead.
The Bulldogs didn’t cross into Tennessee territory until the 10:42 mark in the third quarter.
The play was en route to Georgia’s first score, a 26-yard Stafford pass to Demiko Goodman, who wrestled the ball away from UT cornerback Brent Vinson.
With 9:39 left in the third quarter, it was 28-7.
At long last, Georgia had a pulse.
Tennessee, however, had the perfect response — a 13-play scoring drive that ate 7 minutes, 10 seconds off the clock.
The definitive play came halfway into the drive. Facing fourth-and-1 at the Georgia 40, Tennessee had the confidence to go for it, and Foster’s 5-yard charge moved the chains.
"You have the ability to control your own destiny when you can run the ball,’’ said Fulmer.
Moments later, Ainge converted third-and-11 with a 12-yard toss to Austin Rogers.
Four plays later Foster crashed in from the 4 for his third touchdown. With 2:29 left in the third quarter, it was 35-7.
"That was important,’’ said Ainge. "We knew they were going to start picking up the tempo.
"It was huge for us to go down and get that touchdown.’’
The Bulldogs’ final touchdown, a 2-yard Stafford pass to Tripp Chandler with 6:05 to play, elicited a chorus of boos.
Two plays earlier UT’s Marsalous Johnson intercepted a Stafford pass in the end zone. However, Johnson was flagged for pass interference. Georgia kept the ball and got a first-and-goal at the 2.
Jonathan Hefney later did get an interception off Stafford, the day’s only turnover.
UT goes to Mississippi State and Alabama the next two weeks. Saturday’s win — and the authority with which it was accomplished — puts some needed wind in the Vols’ sails.
"It’s only a start for us,’’ said Fulmer, "a step in the right direction.
"But I’m really proud to get this done.’’
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 193
papavol writes:
Its about time we played some real Volball.
chadbuckles#235104 writes:
All you haters, I would like to hear you eat crowe!!!
We need to stay focused for the next 2 weeks!
God it feels great, I am soooooooooo happy for Phil Fulmer and his family!
kesterja#235578 writes:
Wow! That was fun. I loved that misdirection pitch play we ran several times...where has that been?
Awesome D. Awesome running game. Clutch passes and catches. Nice trick play. We even played great on special teams.
I realize this was probably an overrated Georgia team, but we really did seem to have improved in a lot of areas.
Go Vols!
thevol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
shane6#638715 writes:
Did all you trash talking idiots see that game? I bet someone will still find something negative to say...... GO VOLS....
gvegasvol writes:
I guess all the firefullmerons will be quiet for a couple of days now! Ole CRV and Ray Ray are probably trying to figure a way to turn this into a negative. I can hear it now: they ran the ball with authority, played great defense, the special teams were special, Fulmer should be fired because they don't do this every game!
Great game today - guess the article yesterday dealing with the demise of the program and all the coaches doesn't mean as much - especially to the unnamed players quoted - they were probably nonschlorship players on the practice squad.
I hope the crow tastes good BOYS - especially all you idiots that were saying UT only wins 5 or 6 games this year! Grow uo, get a life and enjoy the rest of the season!
FWBVol writes:
jwraymond1 where are you?
Yes, Mark Richt, the King of the Road really owned UT today. Go ahead throw out those numbers again.
Tell me how bad UT looked. I'm waiting.
Phillip Fulmer and Staff showed today the game hasn't passed them by. Very few missed tackles, a wonderful game plan and the best the special teams have played in years... at least in covering kicks. The last Georgia score was bogus, I don't think it was interference, but it really doesn't matter.
UT pounded the rock and controlled the game. This is something to build on. Today the Bulldogs from the East and next week the Bulldogs from the West. And yes, if LSU wins tonight, the Vols still control their own destiny.
HOW BOUT THEM VOLS!!!
ibvolman writes:
I am glad to see a win for the players sake, and for the fans. It seems like the understanding that Fulmer's job was on the line lit a fire under some seats. Perhaps we need to keep Fulmer's job on the line based upon game performance. It seems like that is one of the only times the Vols are truly motivated and play up to their potential.
For all you Fulmer lovers who keep chanting we have a talent gap, I think this proves to the contrary. The only gap we have had has been in coaches getting players ready to play. But threaten their jobs, and look at the amazing results.
This game is what UT football should look like. It could look like this regularly if it didn't take five weeks for coaches to get our players ready.
mjohn321 writes:
cut is 9-0 against martinez
99gator writes:
a few things....
1. congrats to tenn. kudos to fulmer and staff for going back to what tenn football was known for.... being physical on both lines of scrimmage.
2. he did not lose the game for georgia... so don't misunderstand me. but, i don't want to hear anything more about matthew stafford until he actually, you know.... does something. less than 50% completion percentage against carolina and tenn isn't going to cut it.
3. it's a long season. the key is which teams in the country can play with a consistent effort from week to week. tenn needs to find what was in the air in knoxville and bottle it up for the rest of the season.
msdyb writes:
Great Performance! That was a more typical Big Orange effort that we need more of. We have to keep up that kind of effort PLUS more to really come out on top of the SEC East. We can't rely on other teams to do our job for us. From what I saw we were more energized and put forth a more total team effort - Defensively, Offensively and on Special Teams. A Great Win and a good start toward a revitalized season. GO BIG ORANGE!
ellisonfamily writes:
I'm not sure that crow is the word here. It is one game. We are in a tie for first place in the east. If FL loses tonight, we are in an even better shape. Nevertheless, we still have some tough games ahead. I'm not too quick to fire Fulmer, but I'm also not too quick to say everything is alright again. We beat Cal at the beginning of '06, but ended up with a poor showing against Penn St. and went 9-4. That is not very impressive. This was a good win, but we will see.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
THAT'S the University of Tennessee football that we know and love.
WHERE HAS IT BEEN THE FIRST FOUR GAMES? AND WILL WE SEE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN -- EVERY DOWN IN EVERY GAME? OR WILL IT DISAPPEAR?
More to the point: why didn't we come out and play like that in Berkeley? In Gainesville?
THAT'S THE QUESTION FOR YOU, COACHING STAFF.
dtaylor0730, couldn't agree more.
k0605#241765 writes:
That's the way the Vols have to play in every phase every game. If they do, Phillip will be around for alot longer.
gvegasvol writes:
Good post slovog. I also agree about dtaylor.
As a side note the "v" in crv stands for violated which is exactly what he feels like just happened to him!
gvegasvol writes:
I told you guys what the firefulmerons would come out and say. Hey bum - give it a rest!
ibvolman writes:
slovog: "And congrats to dtaylor0730 for being today's earliest jackass and winner of this week's Richard Cranium Award."
I am so glad to see you are such a mature person. To think that your intellect has risen to the position of name calling because another person expressed an opinion is rather pathetic, and something one might expect from a grade school child. Grow up! Last time I checked, America is still free, and I still have freedom of speech. I do not agree with everything others say in here, but I have no need to resort to immaturity because I do not see eye to eye with another. A kind, "I respectfully disagree" would suffice, thank you.
utmdm writes:
"GA is gonna kill TN". Yep, Right on the mark.
Hey we need to schedule more open dates. We got almost as much done there as in the fall. Maybe we should forgo the extra game next year and have an additional bye week!
How is Vincent's injury?
Coach_Joe writes:
Man, what a step in the right direction!
ColumbusVol writes:
Hit you in the face football came back today coupled with a sound game plan for which Georgia had no anwser.
There will be no crow eating by anyone as one game does not change the dissapointing trajectory of our football program over the last decade. I believed we would beat Georgia today just based on the Vols in big games with their back against the wall. It is only AT the wall that we finally show some fight which is the whole debate about a coaching change and why it even exists today.
Congrats to our boys in orange and Phulmer and gang turning down the burner. It felt good to wear orange and watch this football game.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Well, I predicted Tennessee winning 34-20, but I am happy to be wrong and win by even more! Now THIS is how Tennessee football should look every game! After this display of balance, I can now get why so many people are mad when we lose or win sloppy, because we do indeed have the talent to be winning games like this in this fashion.
GO VOLS!!!
thevol writes:
Tngeoff- Yes I would appreciate if you checked with me before you post. Who knows, I might save you some embarrassment.
Just kidding, Enjoy the win. I am and I hope ALL Vol fans are having a good time tonight. Go LSU. CHEERS!
MillisaAnn writes:
Congratulations to the Vols, Keep up the good work.
We still got a long way to go though.
justingh1 writes:
I was at the game today it was reminiscent of Cal last year just a complete game from start to finish. Great crowd. I said last week no one pulls a rabbit out of the hat like Fulmer. He can coach like hell when he has to. I just wish he would get these boys to play like this more often. I have sit on the fence when it comes to Fulmer and still do. It's interesting that some of the people that post every single day on almost every article can't seem to get on here. I am sure they will have a great excuse. As for me I will stay the course this year and let the season play out. GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!
CrankE writes:
kesterja: Ditto, love the misdirection picth. Auburn has been eating people up with it for years. I guess we caught onto it.
As far as hearing from the Fulmer haters, they won't be satisfied until he's gone. You won't hear anything new from them. I'm not a Fulmer hater, I'm a mediocrity hater. If he can't keep us on the right course and put on more steam towards championships, then replace him. If he can continue pulling out performances like that, then he's our guy. (I guess those folks wanting Richt to come up here won't have much to say for a while though.)
I guess I'll celebrate for a day or so. But if Georgia turns out to be a lame team, then this game won't mean nearly as much. (Remember 2006?) It's on to Miss. State!
spencer1989#206886 writes:
One big win but a lot more work ahead....And a lot bigger games are coming up. The importance of the games get bigger as the season goes along. We will see after Kentucky just what the record will be for this season.
ibvolman writes:
CrankE: I'm not a Fulmer hater, I'm a mediocrity hater.
Good point. I think the problem around here is simple. If people are not satisfied with mediocrity, and think things may need to be changed, they are automatically labeled as Fulmer haters. I know there are Fulmer haters on here, as well as Fulmer lovers who believe underachieving should be OK.
Good win for the Vols. I hope things have turned around, and we can play every game with this kind of intensity. But if this is just a flash in the pan...I cant support that from the coaching staff.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I believe I foretold a fairly easy TN victory here... not this easy, but hey, we're a good team so I guess we can all be surprised.
Anybody want to jump on that SEC East champ bandwagon I"ve been pushin around?
Go LSU!!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Till December anyway.
thevol writes:
We weren't mediocre today, and now are on the right track. The rest of the teams on our schedule are beatable if we play this way from here on out. Most people thought we would lose to Cal and Florida, then win out. We are on that course and hopefully "stay the course". It is just great to watch TN dominate again. Still waiting for the negavol b.s. Come on Cr, JW, come out of hiding.
mtnvol writes:
Folks in my section were flabbergasted at mis-direction, halfback pass, something new on punt team, O and D line dominance and GREAT kick coverage. Nice to see what can happen when we play to bury the other team rather than play to not lose. Great win! GO VOLS!
rootin4volz writes:
I HOPE THAT SHUTS UP ALL OF YOU NEGATIVE, ANTI-FULMER, NAY-SAYING, BOYCOTTING, SAY THAT YOU'RE VOL FANS BUT ONLY SUPPORT 'EM IN THE GOOD TIMES IDIOTS! THAT WAS CLASSIC VOLUNTEER FOOTBALL TODAY. LET'S KEEP IT UP COACHES AND PLAYERS, AND KEEP THESE NARROW-MINDED YAHOOS THE HELL QUIET!!! GO VOLS!!!!
ibvolman writes:
thevol,
Most people did think we would lose to Cal and Fl. I thought it was a very real possibility as well. What was not foreseen was the magnitude of the losses, the abysmal tackling, and generally unspecial special teams. It is suspiciously odd that in 2 weeks time we have become excellent on special teams, have really become a top form tackling team, and have a pretty darn good running game. The point many are expressing in here is this: Why does it take so deep into the season for UT to see success like this? And please do not say it isn't a weakness in coaching.
I support the Vols, have for 30 years, and never want to see them lose. Like CrankE, I do not support mediocrity. I respect Fulmer, and refuse to use all the name-calling that some others delve into. I think Fulmer is a good guy, and knows football, but for some reason has problems coaching the team to preparedness week in and week out. I hope he has got this thing turned around, and we can see great things in the future. If not, maybe it is time to consider a change.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Wow!
Don't know what to say. Didn't get to see much of the game, but was well pleased with what I saw! We play like that down the stretch, we'll win the East!
I'd like to know what they did during the bye week!
andy112382#209793 writes:
Hey, I intend to be at the South Carolina game at the end of the month, I will be in Charlotte training for my job and I have the weekend off, maybe I can keep my streak of 17 years in a row (19 games) without seeing Tennessee lose a game in person....see you there! GO VOLS!!!
FWBVol writes:
tngeoff, it was 2005 that UT went 5-6.
I know there is still a long way to go before UT fans can book tickets to the SEC championship game, but this can be a foundation game. Hopefully the Vols will continue to play hard and smart like they did today.
I believe one reason it has taken so long to get defensive players in the right position is because of the youth and injuries. Two starters from last year's D-Line were picked in the first two rounds of the NFL draft this spring. Mapu is starting to play well, but I still don't believe he's playing as well as he did before his Mormon mission.
I like Vinson and Berry in the secondary. Two true freshman are showing they have a load of promise. The one play UGA scored on Vinson, the receiver made a great play to make the catch, and sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other guy.
Class act by both coaches. Mark Richt didn't waste all his time outs when the game was lost trying to make it closer, and Phillip Fulmer simply ran the clock out with the game in hand.
agentorange writes:
he's 100% correct. if you want to criticize somebody, put your name on it. pennington sucked a fatty on that story.
utclassof1992 writes:
Not there yet. Liked the effort today, but we've a long way to go before we can crow. I believe that a fire got lit under some collective butt, and they responded. Good. Keep it up.
tenvolone writes:
Give me a break! Lets not go s*****g each others d***s just yet. Time for Fulmer to go away. Like it or not. I love my alma mater. I love the state of Tennessee. But change is a comin'. Needs to happen. In case al you idiots defending Fulmer forgot, let me remind you: We lost to a mediocre Cal team, and we got destroyed on national TV by UF. Quit being such a bunch of bandwagon riders! "OOOO we won today! Yeah lifes good!"
CoverOrange writes:
Now I understand why people throw money at the lotto week after week: lose, lose, lose, win Heywerenumber1ohyeahuhhuh. Impressive data point but not equal to a win over Fl or LSU.
USNavy, I'm guessing Chavis kicked *sses over the bye. More likely, Chavis stacked the line daring Stafford to throw.
FWB, Vinson did tip his hat, involuntarily as Goodman smacked him from behind going for the ball. And the PI on Marsolous was bogus.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
lsu is choking and tn will be in last place again... all you happy posters live it up because its a long season and we will lose two more games.... i'm glad we won but i also understand that we are not a good team.... so all you fans that think 8 wins are ok go back to your average jobs and average pay and leave the elite expectations to the rest of us....
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Uh... LSU... is anyone home? Your supposed to be unbeatable at home at night. Wake the heck up!!
Vol43 writes:
ok CRVol I know you're out there. It's over for the VOLs, right? How could Fulmer pull this off? It's doomsday for Tennessee football. That's what you say. You gotta be sucking eggs at this point. You are the FOOLMORE.
movol77 writes:
dtaylor0730, mbumburu, etc.
My mother always said, "Don't talk with your mouth full of CROW!"
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
Seriously, we are 3-2 and begging the Gators, Gamecocks, and Wildcats to lose. Why don't we play to our potential every week?
DennisVols writes:
I have been saying it for two weeks now the UT would beat GA. The only thing I was wrong about was by how much (predicted a 10 point win. All the whinners can keep whinning. It seems to be what they do best. But this was classic UT football and expect to see it the rest of the year. Pound the line and short pass the opponent to death.
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!
murrayvol writes:
I'm not a Fulmer hater. Never have been and never will be! I only question what I see as a prolonged slide from elite to irrelevent. As great as the win against UGA was today (and I was damn glad to see it), I won't be at all surprised to see us struggle with MSU & Bama over the next two weeks. Can we sustain the level of play on display today? I hope so but I won't be betting the farm on it. On a lighter note, it was good to see one of our defensive backs (Vinson on the TD pass) actually turn around and look for the ball while in coverage.
creepykev#228270 writes:
It was a great win and I enjoyed it very much, but let's wait and see how we do the rest of the year before we decide if this was a turning point or a fluke. Remember 2 years ago we had a great win against LSU in Baton Rouge just to watch TN play horribly the rest of the year. While our guys did come out fired up this game, it seems they come out flat too many other games. Also an area of concern is the fact that we never challenge anyone deep and no you can't count the trick play we used today. Most of Ainge's passes are of the 5-7 yard variety. I'm firmly on the fence on Fulmer right now but I think I would check to see who's available at the end of the season just in case this season goes sour.
MiserableFloridaVol writes:
By the way, make your reservations for Atl...for the Peach Bowl!
movol77 writes:
" I only question what I see as a prolonged slide from elite to irrelevent."
murrayvol, you seem to forget who coached the "elite" NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM most recently.
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