Gameday
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Josh McNeil didn't receive the game ball for Tennessee's 33-21 win over Mississippi State.
He took it.
As Tennessee was milking the clock in the final seconds of Saturday's game, quarterback Erik Ainge turned to McNeil and asked if he'd like the ball.
For the sophomore center who grew up a Mississippi State fan, it was an easy decision.
"I'd like to have it," McNeil said he told Ainge just before the final snap. "It's a pretty big win for me."
Still, there was one more hurdle to clear before claiming the prize. McNeil asked an official if he could abscond with the football.
"He said there was nothing wrong with it so I figured why not?" McNeil said.
The prize was well earned. McNeil expected the game to be physical - if not dirty. And the Bulldogs lived up to expectations.
"I've known that since back when my brother played," said McNeil, whose brother, Chris, was a center for the Bulldogs center from 2001-04.
Dirty or not, McNeil said the Vols matched Mississippi State's play.
"We're not the nicest guys on earth, including myself," he said. "We're still standing and they're not, so we got the best of them."
Injury Report: Sophomore receiver Austin Rogers took a vicious hit as he tried to reel in a pass near the 5-yard line in the first half.
"He got me pretty good," Rogers said. "Knocked the breath out of me. Then, when I regained by breath I realized I had a hole in my lip so they went and stitched me up."
Rogers' bottom lip required two stitches.
He couldn't stand immediately after the hit, crawling on the ground as teammates came to his aid. Officials flagged the play for unnecessary roughness on safety De'Mon Glanston.
"I thought it might have been helmet-to-helmet," said Rogers, who returned to the game.
Rogers, who claimed he didn't suffer a concussion, said the play typified the entire game.
"It was clawing and scratching the whole game, hitting here, hitting a little bit late here," Rogers said. "It was a tough game."
Sophomore tailback LaMarcus Coker suffered a head injury in the second half and did not return.
Junior linebacker Adam Myers-White did not dress because of stitches in his heel.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer lauded his players' toughness after the game.
"We've got some tough guys," Fulmer said.
Guard Chris Scott had a 103-degree temperature early Saturday, requiring two pre-game IV's and another at halftime.
Junior offensive guard Anthony Parker also played most of the game despite a bruised right knee that sidelined him this week in practice.
State's Stars: MSU's top two defenders - defensive end Titus Brown and safety Derek Pegues - registered six and 10 tackles, respectively.
Junior offensive tackle Ramon Foster drew the assignment of blocking Brown, who had 1.5 tackles for a loss, for most of the game.
"I think I did pretty good against him," Foster said. "He's a good athlete and he comes off the ball fast."
UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said State had the best defensive front the Vols have played thisseason.
"I thought they at times won the battle at the line of scrimmage," Cutcliffe said.
Cutcliffe said he was pleased with UT's offensive adjustments and tenacity but disappointed that the Vols had to settle for five field goal attempts.
"Usually when you're on the road in the SEC, it's tough to win (with just field goals)," Cutcliffe said. "That's a tribute to our defense."
Fast Start: The Vols have scored touchdowns on opening drives in all but two games this season - losses to California and Florida.
The Vols took a 7-0 early lead on State with a nine-play, 78-yard opening drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ainge to senior tight end Chris Brown.
For the first time all season, UT scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half. The Vols drove 67 yards on nine plays. Foster's 1-yard scoring run completed the drive.
Going Long: Junior receiver Lucas Taylor has been a part of UT's two longest plays of the season, catching a 51-yard touchdown pass against Mississippi State and throwing a 56-yard touchdown pass to Coker against Georgia on a trick play.
Fourth-Down Fulmer: UT stopped the Bulldogs on all three of their fourth-down attempts.
"That was huge," Fulmer said.
The Vols didn't attempt a fourth down. UT is 3-of-6 on the season.
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Comments » 16
BigUn writes:
It's a good thing they didn't try and give a game ball to Austin Rogers because he probably would have dropped it.
I didn't realize going toe to toe with Miss St was such a big measuring stick for the season, but apparently it is, according to Fulmer.
I'm hoping we beat Bama, but not sure we can because of the homefield advantage and our lack of big play threats at WR.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Sorry BigUn, but I really have to disagree with you on the big play reciever. Lucas Taylor made some awsome catches and two really deep balls. Rogers only dropped one pass, granted it was a TD, but man did he make alot of first downs. Sorry, but I find it hard to attack any player that takes the lick he took and still come back in and play. If you didnt see the game, he was extended on a pass over his head and got leveled by the saftey. He got up and jogged off the field. I couldnt have taken that hit and walked again.
auttat writes:
11 catches for 186 yds. That is, what, 16, 17 yards per catch.
Clearly, satisfaction for some is unattainable!!
alfrizzle097 writes:
Rogers is getting open which is why the ball keeps going his direction and why the coaches are putting him in the game. He jus HAS to make those catches. That 12 point win should have been 19, well out of reach.
thevol writes:
Hey Bigun, why don't you take your head out of your ass and watch the game.
orangeblood writes:
rogers didn't drop any passes against georgia, and like these guys are saying (i followed it on my cell phone; no radio or pay-per-view) rogers only drop was when the SOPHOMORE receiver heard some footsteps and got shalacked (penalty was thrown). Our offense is too consistent to be stopped. We have the receiving ability to make twenty and thirty yard throws as well as eat the clock with 90% of the throws being in the 5 to 15 yard range. We have four decent running backs and a damn good quarterback. Not to mention we have a great o-line. Alabama may be able to make a game if they can keep up. I honestly don't think they can. US 34 THEM 17
mikeinknoxville writes:
Rogers is a tough reciever that will go across the middle and take his lumps.
The Bama game will go down to the wire and if the ole miss-bama game yesterday is any indication the zebras may have a stake in the game.
VolsFan17 writes:
Give credit to the O-line. Brown for MSU was second in the SEC with six sacks coming into the game and the O-line protected Ainge all day and allowed no sacks yet again.
rootin4volz writes:
Hey BigUn...Were you watching the game with TouchdownTN at his house?
ODA751 writes:
Orangeblood, I agree with most of your post except where you said that Rogers heard footsteps. I watched the game on ESPN 360. The ball was overthrown and behind Rogers. He jumped high, leaned back to try to make an extended one handed catch leaving himself wide open. The Miss St. player that made the hit, jumped higt to try to take off Rogers head. Note, that Rogers had already landed from his jump and the hit took place a full second after the pass went by. My point is that Rogers didn't hear footsteps, he just got a cheap shot. The drop in the endzone was bad and I'm sure he knows it but Rogers has a big pair to get up after that hit.
I too, like our offense. Also, I'd like to give Hardesty a big pat on the back. He played a monster game and hits the hole so quick.
wisonsinvol writes:
Rogers did not get up and jog off the field. That boy didn't know his name after that hit. He did finally get up and walk off the field with blood pouring from the gash in his lip only to come back in the game and get a few good blocks on the linebackers. Rogers is a good player who frustrates the heck out of us when he makes the hard catch and then drops the easy pass that kills drives. But, he is a very good route runner and very good blocker. I've seen him pancake some guys. It would be nice to see some of the freshman speed on the field.
orangeblood writes:
well, like i said, i didn't watch the game. I was just going off what other people were saying on here. I did however see that this morning on the phil fulmer show. That drop in the endzone was bad, but, hey, everyone makes a drop every now and again, the key is if they can keep their head up and make the nice grab next time
callen825#321558 writes:
The VOLS have all the physical threats they need to beat Bama this Saturday...let's hope they show up with the heart to beat Bama. This will be a pivotal game for the team and the coaches, obviously.
threehundredbowler writes:
TDT may know something about football,but he knows nothing about being a man.STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES.He would be much better off if he would keep his mouth shut and have people think he is stupid rather than open his mouth and let people know he is .
orangebloodgmc writes:
Maybe we have been saving our freshman/juco wr's as "secret weapons" vs. Bama ... well, we've done a good job of keeping them secret.
10ACVOL writes:
2 things making me nervous about BAMA game: Our dbacks guarding DJ Hall and the fact it is a road game. Good receivers have absolutely slaughtered us this year on the road. BUT, John Parker W hadn't looked so good lately so that helps.
Spec Teams need to play better than last week too. GO VOLS, BUCK FAMA
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