Event Details
- What: Tennessee at Mississippi State
- When: Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, 2:30 p.m.
- Where: Away Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
As SEC football weekends go, this one won't shift earth's tectonic plates. Or will it?
Last weekend didn't figure to be a watershed moment in the Pac-10. Then Stanford rocked Southern Cal's world late Saturday night.
Hey, it's 2007. Anything goes, and that especially goes for the SEC East.
"I don't remember it being this balanced at all,'' said Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer. "It's a really tough scenario in our division right now.''
Nobody in the East can distance themselves from the pack this weekend. Three contenders, however, could take a knee to the groin.
If Georgia (2-2) loses at Vanderbilt, the Bulldogs are toast.
If Tennessee (1-1) loses at Mississippi State, the Vols would require a miracle to get to Atlanta.
If Kentucky (1-1) picks up a second loss at home against No. 1 LSU it will be harder to avoid a third loss next week against Florida.
Florida (2-2) has the week off to recover from a physical battering at LSU.
South Carolina (3-1) turns to a border battle with North Carolina.
Normally, by mid-October the East scenario has boiled down to Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. But 2007 isn't normal.
"I can't remember a time when Kentucky and South Carolina only had one loss this time of year,'' said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier.
There's a reason Spurrier has no such memory. There is none.
South Carolina's best SEC starts were 5-1 in 2000 and 2001 under Lou Holtz. In each case, the Gamecocks then lost to Tennessee and Florida. The Gamecocks opened 3-1 in 2002, only to lose their final four league games. Kentucky was dreadful those three years.
The last time Kentucky had just one SEC loss this late was 1999. The Wildcats were 3-1 before losing at Georgia on Oct. 23. South Carolina went 0-11 that year.
Kentucky has the toughest row to hoe Saturday, trying to match up physically with LSU.
Win or lose, it will match up better than last year, when LSU made gumbo out of the Wildcats in Baton Rouge, 49-0.
Since that game, Kentucky is 10-2, losing only at UT last November and at South Carolina last week. The low point at LSU was a turning point for quarterback Andre Woodson.
"His defining moment was in the locker room after the game,'' coach Rich Brooks said this week. "He called the team up and said, 'This isn't us. We're better than this and we're going to get this thing together and go forward.'
"His teammates all saw a little bit different Andre Woodson after we had our fanny handed to us.''
Georgia's fanny is in jeopardy Saturday at Vanderbilt. The Bulldogs have lost their past six games with East rivals.
The sixth was a 35-14 spanking at UT that was worse than the score indicated.
"They had a couple of weeks (to get ready),'' coach Mark Richt said. "I knew they'd have a pretty good initial surge.
"I thought somewhere along the way it'd settle into a normal football game but we weren't able to make that happen. We never could answer their initial momentum.''
Tennessee takes that hard-won momentum to Mississippi State, where the Vols run into former assistant coaches Woody McCorvey and Pat Washington.
"They'll have some familiarity with things we do,'' said UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe.
McCorvey didn't overlap with Cutcliffe at UT, but Washington did from 1995-98.
"A lot of that all changed and it's changed since then,'' Cutcliffe said. "Even if he were in our huddle, I'm not sure he'd know what we're doing.''
Fresh Legs: So much for being pressure-tested. The three most accurate field-goal kickers in the SEC are freshmen.
Alex Tejada of Arkansas is 10-of-11. The Razorbacks finally got a keeper out of Springdale High School.
Auburn's Wes Byrum is 8-of-10 with a game-winner at Florida.
"He played defense in high school,'' said coach Tommy Tuberville. "He's a tough individual. He's not your typical kicker.''
And, of course, UT's Daniel Lincoln is 8-of-8. Lincoln also played defense in high school.
"More people than ever are taking a lot of training as they come up that used to not be there,'' Fulmer said. "There's just more of those guys coming in who are fundamentally and technically ready to kick.''
Auburn freshman Ryan Shoemaker is also the SEC's leading punter at 45.1 yards per kick.
Last Word: Arkansas coach Houston Nutt on the physical style of Darren McFadden and the consequent punishment he absorbs:
"It's hard to change a guy's running style, a guy who's been physical and tough.
"He doesn't just absorb all the tackles and punishment. He gives it out, too. There's a lot of DBs and linebackers who are sore too. I wouldn't change a thing.''
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 49
vol52 writes:
It's not a "tough scenario" coach. You just have to win the rest and you go to Atlanta. If you plan on any additional loses then it becomes complicated.
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
awhill00: I am one of the insane freaks of nature who says we can run the table but please slow down a bit when you start talking about LSU. I think we ALL need to see A LOT of excellent football before we can think about taking the Tigers behind the woodshed.
Way to be optimistic though. GO VOLS!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
Oh, yeah. I forgot Pat Washington was at MSU. No wonder they are sooo good at receiver.......
*moment for large ammount of sarcasm to exit*
If we play like we did against Georgia at MSU, we could put on quite a show....sure hope that momentum and gameplay sticks around from now through our bowl game!
Beat MSU! GO VOLS!!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
amount**
VolsFan17 writes:
Focus. Preparation. Execution. Go Big Orange!!!
CoverOrange writes:
Dang, Andy, ya beat me to the punch line.
This will be a defensive battle, low scoring, decided by the team with fewest mistakes (special teams). UT 20, MSU 14
DennisVols writes:
Second chances have never been the norm in the SEC or the national picture for that matter. Will this be the season that there will be no un-defeated teams?
UT has the opportunity to silence all the critics. Go un-defeated the rest of the season and they will be playing in Atlanta the 1st weekend in Dec. for the SEC crown. With 2 loses and a fall out of the top 25 winning a National Championship is more than likely out of the question this year. But with a strong finish and possible SEC title they would have a platform to build upon.
The question is; Is it possible? Parity throughout the SEC is oblivious. 4 weeks ago after Florida ran over UT everyone was making plans to watch the Gators possibly play LSU for that title. Now the Gators have had the tables turned with 2 straight loses and must hope UT and others lose. The only definite in college football today is that there is nothing definite. Appy State wins in the Big House, a 41 point under-dog beats the #1 team in the country, Auburn loses to MSU but beats the Gators. How in the world can we even begin to know how or who will survive this season. Every game is a big game no matter who you are playing. Four weeks ago UT looked like a jv team against the Gators, last week they looked like a team that could beat anyone. Can Fulmer maintain the teamwork, fundamental playing and swagger they had against a GA squad that had owned Neyland Stadium for 6 years? Some say the recent past says he won’t be able to, but looking at this year’s games nationwide one might have to believe that nothing in the past manners anymore. Did it matter that no 1-AA school had never won against a ranked 1-A team, no, did it matter that Stanford was out talented, un-ranked and overmatched when they faced USC this past weekend, No
Anything is possible.
Go Vols!!!!!!
phi0129 writes:
As I think has been mentioned before, how great would it be for us to run the table and upset LSU in the SEC championship game to prevent them from going to the national championship game...hmm...that sounds like a familiar scenario just flipped...
asleep#212036 writes:
I, for one, believe if we play like we did the first half against Georgia last week, we could beat LSU. However, we also have a couple of pretty stinky halves of football on the 2007 resume. I agree, let's not get too excited yet. We can talk more after the South Carolina game. If we're 6-2 at that point, then we can start thinking trash. If we get to Kentucky at 9-2, then we can start whispering trash. Win that game, THEN we can start talking the trash headed for Atlanta. I like the one at a time philosophy - break the Gators' hearts slowly. Go Vols!
williamshockley#225607 writes:
Just beat Miss State....that's all I want this week.
99gator writes:
i don't know what florida will do the rest of the way.....
but i guarantee tenn is not done losing. they have 6 conference games left. somebody or somebodies will get them.
but, we will see.
ntansey7#207282 writes:
sjt18:
back being an optimistic TN fan??? I think meds can help your split personality
auttat writes:
People are amazing. We live on extremes, don't we? We have gone from people posting that UT won't win another game to they will win the SEC. Just play the game and have fun.
Coach_Joe writes:
Attack, attack, attack!
99gator writes:
sjt18....
my goodness.... alright, let me rephrase.
1. i am willing to wager that tenn will lose another conference game. is that better?
2. while i would like to get to atlanta, that is not really wishful thinking. to me, the sec east is a competition to lose to lsu
3. the best case for florida (for me) would be to win out, which would make them 10-2, have tenn win the east and lose the sec title game. that way florida could go to the orange bowl as an at large and i could go see them play.
phi0129 writes:
auttat: I have noticed the same thing and it just goes to show the passion of our fans...but not the rationality of them. Do you guys really think that one game erases every problem that this team has? I sure as heck hope so, but let's be logical about this. We showed that we can play at a higher level ONCE out of 5 games this season. Despite a few bad breaks last year (the BS FL call that cost us the game, losing in the last few seconds to LSU with a QB that never really played, etc.), we still peaked with the Cal game. I think this staff has proven that they can't get the troops pumped up every game. We are fully capable of winning out as SC and KY are not nearly as good as their records indicate (they haven't really played anyone yet!), but I would say there is just as good if not better of a chance that we will lose 1+ more games than we will win out. Let's throw the emotions out the window and stop speculating until we at least get past SC. We are setting ourselves up to get heart broken if we remain unrational about the team...
FWBVol writes:
99gator, I hate to burst your bubble, but even if your best case works out...another team, say UT wins the East and beats LSU (which could happen in this crazy season) in the SEC championship game, I still don't know if a 10-2 Florida team goes to the Orange Bowl. I'd say there's an equal shot that a 12-1 LSU team gets the other BCS bowl from the SEC. I might be wrong, but I don't see how LSU at 12-1, unless they just got waxed in the SEC championship game, doesn't get the nod over a Florida team the Tigers beat.
This UT defense is still a work in progress, and improving. Mapu is finally starting to play like he did three years ago before his mission. The young guys in the secondary are starting to get come together, and the linebackers continue to make improvement.
I think Colquitt getting healthy helps our special team, especially on kick offs. If we can get that kind of coverage and angle getting/punting the rest of the year we should be OK.
Offensively, Ainge is looking great. I'm not ready to proclaim him the next Peyton, but he might be playing the best drop back quarterback since Manning. The exciting thing is there are a lot of times when Ainge is the only senior on the field offensively. This may sound crazy, but I think the one guy on offense UT can least afford to lose right now is Chris Brown. He's doing the job at tight end, H-back and fullback. His blocking in the I helps us play better power football and his ability to catch the ball, whether lined up at tight end or coming out of the backfield, gives Ainge a reliable safety valve that will catch the ball and make positive yardage.
The road is tough with Bulldogs, red Elephant, Gamecocks and more waiting down the road, but I still think UT can win out.
I know I'm in the minority here when I say this, and I'm ready for the comment about my sanity. But I still don't think the Florida game was as bad as the final score indicates. I was in Gainesville and felt that way before I heard Phillip Fulmer make his statements.
As is the case with any football game, two or three big plays by Florida started a snowball and UT didn't recover. If you put these two teams on the field in the Swamp again today I'm not saying UT would win, but I'd bet my bottom dollar it would be a very close and well played game now that some of UT's younger players are growing up.
99gator writes:
sjt18
if florida ran the table (and did not play the sec title game), the orange bowl would be a lock as long as lsu won the sec title game. the orange bowl is stuck with the acc champ and would sell its soul to bring in florida.
i think as well as florida played against lsu.... being a realist. it would only be worse the second time around. florida played as well as it could play and still lost. yes, there were some turnovers and other things that could have been different. again though, i think florida played its best game. lsu did not have doucet either. i like florida's team, especially the future. but, if lsu plays its best game then every other team in the conference loses.
i caution Tenn fans to chill out a little regarding georgia. georgia has lost 6 straight divisional games. not that it was a bad win or something, but it was not a monumental program changing win. i am not sold on south carolina or kentucky either. tenn running the table is possible, i just would not go crazy until you see some consistent football.
remember, i was the one (who before the fl-tenn game) said that tenn could lose to florida and still win the division and that was something a lot of so-called experts actually predicted.
also, care to reconsider florida state beating florida in gainesville.
Basketball_Jones writes:
"South Carolina's best SEC starts were 5-1 in 2000 and 2001 under Lou Holtz. In each case, the Gamecocks then lost to Tennessee and Florida. The Gamecocks opened 3-1 in 2002, only to lose their final four league games. Kentucky was dreadful those three years."
Anyday we can kick Lou Holtz in the nuts is a good day. Lispy Lou Holtz still hates Tennessee and Coach Phil. 99gator you need to remember your gauntlet through the SEC isn't done either. You have Kentucky and South Carolina still ahead which are no gimme's, plus a game with FSU (shouldn't be hard but ya never know). I think last weeks game vs LSU was based alot on emotion and coming off a loss to a crappy Auburn team.
I will tell you this, it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if Tennessee ran the table and LSU just happened to lose a couple games and get replaced by Alabama or Auburn
99gator writes:
FWB Vol
guess you missed the part in my post regarding the east champ losing to lsu in the sec title game.
99gator writes:
man 'o man
where in my posts am i predicting florida to run the table. someone please point that out to me.
that is best case scenario (obviously). i certainly think florida losing again is possible, if not, probable.
99gator writes:
sjt18
remember this is all assuming florida wins out and lsu wins the sec.
the bowl committees are very much in charge. when do bowls not take the at large teams they want. certain bowl bids are locked... but all other bids they have the freedom to give is based purely on money.
a lot of the schools you listed would have to win their conferences.... like south floirda, boston college, etc. if those schools won out, they would be confernece champs. if they don't win out, they will fall behind florida in the rankings.
it's not about bcs rankings and it's not about win-loss records anyway. bowls have freedom to make choices. the only stipulation is that teams in the top 4 or 5 (not sure) of BCS rankings must receive bcs bowl bids. that's how utah got a bid. bcs bowl bids and as a matter of fact, all bowl bids are not based on merit or worthiness (see notre dame). remember 2001. tenn beat florida, lost to lsu in sec champ game. florida went to the orange bowl against maryland.
right now, the orange bowl (a year ago they had louisville-wake forest) is looking at boston college or va tech as a automatic bid.
if they have a chance, they would take florida.
vscebail#247785 writes:
Gee, gator99... What happened to all those other gator fans that were flaming all over our web-site? It seems that they've all either been silenced by their second consecutive loss or they finally returned to their own site to lick their wounds. In either case, it's nice to see that they've been humbled a little bit. It's easy to make fictitious wagers. But when Tennessee wins out you'll be crying the blues - you can bet on that!
99gator writes:
sjt18
i am not overestimating florida. you are highly overestimating florida state.
i know just how bad fsu and miami are (what a horrible game that will be). fsu is a bad football team. it can't be stated any simplier or more accurately.
just how bad do you think florida is? i am more afraid of ky and sc than fsu.
99gator writes:
it's amazing to me.
i write 2 things....
1. i think tenn will lose another conference game
and
2. IF, IF, IF... florida won out, the orange bowl would be a very legitimate possibility and everyone is going ape.
i've got people telling me florida is not very good. yada, yada, yada
i have not once referred to the game in september (until now). yet, some of you are so sure florida will struggle the rest of the season and have the attitude that florida will be lucky to go 3-3 the rest of the way. but for the team florida beat, it will be a walk in the park.
was it not just a week ago, that all of you were breaking out your coaching wish lists to replace fulmer. but me saying, i think you will lose another conference game is just unheard of.
i know i can be wrong, but am i missing something.
was something i wrote a really outlandish statement.
auttat writes:
I think Florida is pretty dang good and should not have lost the 2 games that they did. They will rebound and most likely play for the SEC, or at least a BCS bowl. That is just my opinion. The facts are, they have 1 more loss in the SEC east than KY, SC, and TN. Currently they are not in control of their own destiny. Just play the game that is infront of you.
99gator writes:
sjt18
i hate to break it to you...but you're dead wrong. i will find some sort of bcs link. there is nothing that says a bcs bowl has to (as an example) take a one loss bc over a two loss florida. that just isn't true.
also, three teams from one conference can not receive bcs bids.
auburn is not beating lsu.
it would have nothing to do with media or tebow. it would have to do with a bowl in miami, fl, needing a school to fill up the stadium versus an acc school that won't bring anyone to the game.
auttat writes:
Can everyone please shut up about Florida? They handed UT's a@# to them on a platter. They are a great football team. You don't talk trash about a team that beat you like a red-headed step child. 99gator, you are arguing with someone that was posting doom and gloom just a week ago. Obviously, he is not rational.
99gator writes:
http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/elig...
i was wrong about one thing. apparently, now all a school from a non conference bcs conference has to do is be in the top 12 of the BCS standings. that change may have been made when they added the 5th bcs game. but, there's the link.
99gator writes:
sjt18
again not true. they would have to be in the top 4 of bcs rankings to be guaranteed a bcs berth.
teams outside of the top 4 bcs rankings and not conference champs can get bids (again notre dame last year)
again three teams from one conference can not go to a bcs bowl. only two of the pac 10 can go to a bcs bowl.
read it again.
auttat writes:
OK sjt, you may not have been posting doom and gloom, but please stop arguing with a Florida fan. My goodness, I wanted to cry after that game. I've never seen a UT team get bulldozed like that. (But I did witness 45-3, even did the gator chomp) All I'm saying is can we please just think about beating Mississippi State? The Florida game is over, the BCS games are a long way away.
99gator writes:
sorry, i just wanted to set all that straight.
as i said earlier in the week...
right now picking a winner of the sec east is like predicting the weather on 3/8/08. i think tenn has arguably the best shot due to schedule. again, that's why a lot of people thought tenn could lose to florida and win the east.
auttat writes:
99gator, I had nothing directed toward you.
"Anything can happen, that's why you play the game."
thevol writes:
Sjt is right about the BCS bids. Notre Dame is an exception. They just have to have 9 wins and finish in the top 12.
On a side note, did you know Notre Dame gets payed 1 million dollars a year by the BCS if they don't appear in a BCS game? 4.5 million if they do.
99gator writes:
thevol
sjt18 is not right
read #4 under automatic qualifications...
4. Notre Dame will have an automatic berth if it is in the top eight of the final BCS Standings.
notre dame was not in the top 8 last year and got to the sugar bowl.
99gator writes:
At-Large Teams
If there are fewer than 10 automatic qualifiers, then the bowls will select at-large participants to fill the remaining berths. At at-large team is any Division I-A team that is bowl-eligible and meets the following requirements:
A. Has won at least nine regular-season games, and
B. Is among the top 14 teams in the final BCS Standings.
Note: in order to participate in a BCS Bowl game, a team (i) must be eligible for post-season play under the rules of the NCAA and, if it not an independent, under the rules of its Conference and (ii) must not have imposed sanctions upon itself prohibiting participation in a post-season game for infractions of the rules of the NCAA or the rules of its Conference.
thevol writes:
99gator- Sorry Notre Dame is BCS ELIGIBLE with 9 wins and a top 12 finish. But, we all know that is as good as an automatic berth.
99gator writes:
i will use last year as an example...
last year's bcs top 15...
1. Ohio State (big 10 champ)
2. Florida (sec champ)
3. Michigan (automatic at-large. in bcs top 4)
4. LSU (automatic at-large. in bcs top 4)
5. Southern California (pac 10 champ)
6. Louisville (big east champ)
7. Wisconsin (disqualified, 3rd big 10 team)
8. Boise State (automatic at-large, due to provison 3a or 3b, take your pick. were in bcs top 12 and ahead of another bcs conference automatic champ in standings 'oklahoma, wake forest)
9. Auburn (disqualified, 3rd sec team)
10. Oklahoma (big 12 champ)
11. Notre Dame (at large. did not qualify automatically. notre dame must finish in top 8 to qualify automatically)
12. Arkansas
13. West Virginia
14. Wake Forest (acc champ)
15. Virginia Tech
based on the link i provided.... the sugar bowl could have chosen west virginia instead of notre dame. they chose notre dame. they did not have to.
so... if the current poll was the final bcs standing. i will pretend the highest rank team from a conference is the conference champ.
1. LSU (sec champ)
2. california (pac 10 champ)
3. Ohio State (big 10 champ)
4. Boston College (acc champ)
5. South Florida (big east champ)
6. Oklahoma (big 12 champ)
7. South Carolina
8. West Virginia
9. Oregon
10. USC
11. Missouri
12. Virginia Tech
13. Florida
14. Arizona State
this is a good example. based on these standings. a bcs bowl could choose to take arizona state and screw oregon and usc. there is no non bcs conference school in the top 12. there is no notre dame in the top 8. the other at large spots could go to whomever as long as you don't take 3 from one conference.
i hope this makes sense
Colliervol writes:
I have no doubt that Florida is a good team based on the thumping they gave us and going toe-to-toe with LSU (and probably should have beaten them). Having said all that, I like our chances of winning out just as much as I do the Gators' chances. They have to go to South Carolina and, believe me, Stevie will be ready for them.
On a different subject, does anybody think Georgia might be starting to doubt Mark Richt? He certainly got off to a hot start in his career at Athens. But he has cooled off noticeably. If they have all the talent they are purported to get every year, shouldn't they be winning more?
99gator writes:
sjt18
the biggest obstacle for the scenario to play out if florida winning out. some of those teams will fall in the polls because they play one another.
the way this season is going a 10-2 florida would be ranked around #5 give or take a spot by the end of the season.
99gator writes:
colliervol
it is hard for me to find any reason to respect georgia. they have lost 6 straight divisional games and matthew stafford can't hit the broad side of a barn.
99gator writes:
i keep saying this too.
i am not predicting florida to run the table. just that, if they did, the orange bowl is a good possibility
99gator writes:
i think there are a bunch of teams not done losing. lsu and usc were in the top five with 2 losses last year. if anything, chances are better this year because most teams have lost already and there are two months left in the season.
99gator writes:
IMO....
my conference champs
big east- south florida (they will have a loss). don't believe in cincinnati or rutgers.
big 10- ohio state. michigan, sconsin, illinois will all have two losses or more.
acc- pin the tail on the donkey in this conference. i'll go with va tech. whoever it is the conference champ is the only one getting a bcs bid.
pac 10- usc. cal will have one loss on the year (usc). oregon will have two.
sec- lsu. unless carolina wins out (and loses sec champ) every sec school will have two or more losses.
big 12- oklahoma. missouri will lose a couple. they are missouri. texas has already lost twice. i don't believe in kansas either.
point is.... BCS at large bids are wide open. that's where cal loss hurts tenn. if tenn had beaten cal, they could lose sec title game and get bcs bid. but not with three losses. it's sec or bust.
murrayvol writes:
Good points Collier. If anyone has doubts about how UghA fans feel about Georgia, simply log on to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution message board. The bloom is definitely off the Richt Rose. If they fail to dispatch Vandy this weekend, the meltdown will be complete.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
99gator
In your 5:42, do you mean EVERY SEC school will have at least 2 losses, or every SEC EAST school?
99gator writes:
usnavyvolfaninva
i meant every school other than who i project to be champ, which would be lsu. the exception would be south carolina winning out to atlanta, but i don't think that would happen.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
99
Thanks.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
99gator: We owned Florida when I played.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.