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Quarterback Erik Ainge leaves the field at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday following Tennessee’s 41-17 loss to Alabama.
Photo by Saul Young
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Quarterback Erik Ainge leaves the field at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday following Tennessee’s 41-17 loss to Alabama.
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. South Carolina
- When: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, 7:45 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
On the surface, Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge understands the comparisons.
Through seven games, the Vols are 4-3 and have lost to their two biggest rivals by a combined 63 points.
Just two years after he lived it, the senior can see why some might compare this season to Tennessee's 5-6 season in 2005.
He's just not buying it.
"If you look at the wins and losses, yeah, it's similar right now," Ainge said Monday, two days after the Vols lost 41-17 at unranked Alabama. "From a team standpoint and what we're doing and the energy and everything around here, it's nothing like that.
"It's like we're playing good, but we're not playing good enough to win in some big ballgames. And we're making some mistakes for whatever reasons that are costing us some wins. I don't think it's anything like 2005."
Neither do his teammates, who want to make sure Tennessee doesn't let a lopsided loss to Alabama keep Tennessee from rebounding against No. 15 South Carolina on Saturday (TV: ESPN, 7:45 p.m.).
In 2005, Tennessee was 3-2 and ranked No. 17 only to lose an ugly 6-3 game in Tuscaloosa.
From there, it went on to lose two more games before a late loss to Vanderbilt knocked them out of a bowl game.
On Saturday the Vols were 4-2 and ranked 20th, but still lost 41-17 - their worst defeat against Alabama since a 28-point loss in 1986.
In 2005, the Vols lost two more games after Alabama, part of a four-game skid that sent them reeling to their first losing season since 1988.
The record might be similar to 2005, but the attitude isn't.
"In '05 we had a lot of good players, but people started becoming selfish and things like that," junior linebacker Jerod Mayo said. "We're determined not to let that happen this year."
The Vols have kept this season away from 2005 territory once already.
After a 39-point loss to Florida, Tennessee won three in a row, including a 35-14 victory over Georgia.
Senior defensive end Xavier Mitchell wants to see a similar turnaround, only one that lasts a little longer.
"We can bounce back from anything," Mitchell said. "We're going to use this as fuel to feed the fire and keep going.
"Hopefully everybody keeps in mind that the losses that we've taken were pretty significant. Not take a loss here and then bounce back for three games, but keep it always on our mind so we could finish this thing out."
Enter Tennessee's new chart.
At coach Phillip Fulmer's urging, the Vols will fill out a chart for the next five weeks, which asks if players did all they could to improve on a daily basis.
"If you can't give it everything you have - getting to bed earlier, waking up earlier, watching more film, trying to get your body feeling better, getting yourself mentally ready to play for 35 days - then you're not very dedicated," Ainge says. "We feel the guys on this team - the better guys especially - are guys that are going to be able to give everything we have for 35 days whatever happens."
Mayo would add tuning out the detractors to Ainge's list.
Only a few weeks ago, columnists advocated Fulmer's ouster. Fans piled on, both on the Internet and talk radio.
The same things are happening again.
Mayo says the Vols need to tune it out once more, like they tried to do following their loss to Florida.
"We're a tight-knit group of guys," Mayo said. "Coach Fulmer and his staff do a good job of keeping us together and keeping us close, blocking off the media and blocking off the nay-sayers. That's pretty much what we have to do this week as well."
Not just this week.
After hosting Louisiana-Lafayette next week, the Vols have games left against Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Kentucky - teams that are more than capable of beating Tennessee.
Regardless of how those games play out, the Vols need to remain hunkered down for the long haul, Mitchell says.
"One day we could be the best team in the country, and another week we could be the heel of every joke," he said. "We've got to just stay focused and concentrate on ourselves and progressing as a team and not worry about what any other team says or any other person out there is saying about us."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 151
vtvol#210290 writes:
Do you think Mike Hamilton and the powers that be would take serious notice if the "Phil must go!" chants started DURING this Saturday's Vol Walk?
volfans_1#225396 writes:
Holy phooey lets make them write their name on the chalk board 1000 times if they miss tackles or drop passes.I bet that will help get them focused.
ibvolman writes:
Ainge is right, this isn't anything like the 05 season. All of those losses were relatively close.
It is sad that Mayo has to reveal the truth, that it takes a complete debacle to get the team motivated to win their next game.
I suppose Fulmer's little chart is his big idea of shaking it up a little bit. You shouldn't need a chart to get the best effort from your players. Just another ridiculous ploy to make people think he is working like heck to fix it.
SmokeDog72 writes:
"I'm gonna say the course"
"See ya at 3, you know, after lunch"
BigUn writes:
Filling out a chart? That'll beat Meyer and Saban next time!
Maybe they should add this to the game maxims, that are ignored by Fulmer and his staff, along with group hugs during the pre-game speech.
Could I get paid 2 million for things like this?
TommyJack writes:
gimmick
MrBamSeydu writes:
I've said it before, I'll say it again:
Pay me 2.1 million per season to be the head coach at UT and I GUARANTEE better results.
FULMER: Stop wasting scholarships on 2* and 3* recruits who are "sleepers" or "have potential". This coaching staff can't progress players (except for maybe Cutcliffe with QBs). We need 4* and 5* recruits at every position to win (like USC, UF, LSU). Real coaches, like Spurier and Tuberville, win with whatever they've got. Stop trying to turn WRs into DBs, LBs into DEs, DTs into OLs, and TEs into FBs. Recruit players for their position and LEAVE THEM THERE unless they're a freakish athlete (which we don't have).
WHY: Is Ryan Karl starting?
WHAT: Did we see in Jakouri Williams?
WHEN: Will our defense show up for 60 min?
WINS: South Carolina, LA-Lafeyette, Vandy
LOSSES: Ark, Kentucky
7-5, (Loss in Liberty Bowl or Gaylord Music City Bowl to ACC team)
7-6
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Wow, Charts. That's going to turn this thing around.
JDvols writes:
I've been a fan since Dickey was coach before jumping ship for UF. Battle wasn't successful on a consistent basis and was replaced. Johnny came home with high expectations but failed to meet them and was replaced. Fulmer had early success but his performance has declined consistently dating to the loss to LSU in 2001. Fulmer is a nice guy. However, he has fallen behind as a coach. He lacks passion and the game has passed him by. Unfortunately, despite ample motivation to become more innovative and less predictable, he lacks the ability or desire to change. His teams are no longer prepared to compete consistently (successfully). It is time to make a coaching change.
illstaygold writes:
Goodnight Fulmer, just a few more weeks until Hamilton drops you like a bad habit.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Chavis, we are in need of about 35 big, strong, and mean boys to turn their rage loose -- in every practice and even at a higher level for each game.
We need cornfed and beefeater boys fired up and ready to knock the snot and then some out of opposing players. These boys should be mad because they are not reared or resepected by the other team on the field.
Our games need controlled explosions of rage and destruction. An irresistable force looking for trouble fro opposing offenses.
Craig Puki tackles. Roland James hits. Dale
Jones and Dale Carter plays of stripping the ball. Jamie Rotella determination. Reggie White's righteous fury.
Let's play with ferocity. Play like Richard Butkis.
Tackles to remember. Hits that requure stretchers on the field.
Attack, attack, and attack to get that ball back because it's OURS.
Where are all the mean monsters of this defense? We need you mean, nasty, fierce and determined.
vols76 writes:
Where is this energy they talk about....I haven't seen it?
footballrules writes:
FIRE FULMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is what the chart should say in hamiltons office duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
footballrules writes:
FIRE FULMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is what the chart should say in hamiltons office duh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
utmdm writes:
mbumuru,
You know we hired that new nutritionist. Guess the guys can write the cornfeeding on their charts. OMG! This is what 2 mil gets?
utmdm writes:
Sorry bout that mistype on the name.
chrisw2967 writes:
is fulmer going to fill out a chart on how he coaches ? or is he just going to fill out his weekly menu ?this is the biggest phooey I have ever heard of. This is nothing but a circus .
we dont need no chart to see Fulmer does not do all he can do to improve the players , record speaks for that and the last 7 years speaks for it also. I cant believe its Tuesday morning and him and the other 2 stooges still has a job.
snafu14u#241639 writes:
I do not believe I just read this about a "chart". Did this come in the form of a memo from the desk of Phillip Fulmer CEO.If this wasn't a family site I'd blow a gasket.A chart.A chart.Unbeliveable.Go Big Orange Chart.bonzaivol
creepykev#228270 writes:
lets let them coach themselves is what I got out of this chart thing.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
What a nuclear idea! Lets chart ourselves right off the SEC map! 1st chart, 7AM - Krispy Kreme for a dozen hot one! 9AM -knock out 6 Twinkies discussing Spurrier - Noon 6500 calories at Ryan's, 3PM 2 quick Wendy's triples before practice, Lean over and hold knees while deciding which Golden Corral to hit at 5:15 before the rush. Drive home for milk and cookies knowing the charting is scaring the Gamecocks! Wow, no wonder he's not had any serious offers from other teams! They couldn't meet the food budget! And all this while "we're going to work hard to get better"! Chart this buzzword! UNEMPLOYED with no prospects, so lean back with your bucks, Phil and become a star on the hotdog eating circuit as we go down the drain. Enuf already!
CrankE writes:
Mike Hamilton has a chart too. It's only got one block on there: "Did you fire/dismiss Fulmer as head coach today?"
*&^$!!#^ a damned chart! What would Gen. Neyland say?
CrankE writes:
"We can bounce back from anything," Mitchell said.
How did you bounce back from Cal? Unfortunately, bouncing is a perfect term here because like a bouncing ball, they keep returning to earth Cal, UF, ALA-all low points of impact with the solid ground. Here's a depressing thought though, apart from any outside force (such as an effective head coach), that bouncing ball will eventually dribble to a stop, hitting the ground with increasing frequency with each bounce being lower and lower-eventually coming to rest on the bottom. Mitchell might have swerved right into the perfect picture of Tennessee football right now.
____________________________
One more thought, shouldn't the head coach know who's been naughty and nice on his team? Shouldn't he know who's been giving it his all and who's just screwing off? It confirms for me the image of Fulmer as this lofty CEO type who is not in touch with the reality on the field.
I'd love to see these charts at the end of the season.
VOLnATL writes:
That is pure genious Phil. Stay the course right out the door!
tigervol9802 writes:
vtvol -
That would be about the most white-trash thing I could think of. I hope that if you do that you get beaten to a bloody pulp by all those around you.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
Wonder what Hardesty's chart would have looked like from the Mississippi State to Alabama game?
GreerVol22 writes:
Phil, your chart should say..."My Daddy is coming to town this Saturday". USC had a bad game against Vandy, but no one turns up the wick like Spurrier, and as it turns out, all you need to beat Tennessee is and average quarterback and a 6ft something reciever.
All this BS about charts and playing for pride is all smoke and mirrors. Phil has no answers, neither do either of his croney coaches, the players have quit on him, and Ainge will say anything to keep an NFL tryout within reach.
That being said, I fully intend on traveling to Knoxville again Saturday, eating ribs and drinking Bud Light at Calhoun's until my belly bust...maybe if I cant see the scoreboard or the field it will seems like a win...
GET SOME!....chart that Phil.
bruteforce7#630403 writes:
I think if Spurrior comes in and has a good showing against us he may get a call form our ad with an offer to come coach at UT. If this is what it takes I'm sorry guys I'm going to have say, GO COCKS!!!!
goeltzd#649642 writes:
The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to win or lose.
-Sun Tzu, the Art of War
tennisvol writes:
I'm glad that ole Phil has finally figured out the reason for the 3 blow outs this year. I wondered why they had not been doing the charts?
That's what Vol fans get for 2 million!
hooverd283#563729 writes:
fulmer says we've got some mean and nasty boys on the o-line...sure do wish he would let them prove it for more than one or two plays per series....ITS TIME FOR THIS TEAM TO MAN UP AND WHIP THE MAN ACROSS THE LINE FROM HIM FOR 60 MINUTES !!!
MemphisVolFan writes:
When I played, the only chart we had was a depth chart. All you had to do was look at it every day and determine where you stood. That's how we knew if we had improved or not.
It's about heart, passion, accountability - qualities that are sorely lacking within our football program. Instead of a chart, why don't we get everyone an "Easy" button?
10ACVOL writes:
I like Spurrier's comment referring to "we're gonna try and run the ball"...HA HA HA! Yeah right, this comment following the week that BAMA's QB and WR set school records in passing and receiving...We have no chance of winning this game, we'll get out-coached, just like the other 3 games we've played against good coaches this year.
ACG writes:
Please do not start the Fulmer must go chanting during the Vol walk. I agree - he should go - but to do it during a special time for the players is to insult the players.
tnbanker_govols writes:
I hate to say this but it's gotta be said......do the coaches need to see it on paper before they realize how ineffective and flat this Tennessee football team has become??? Here it is...halfway through the 2007 season and our coaching staff is having to get new commitments from the players to "give it their all." THIS SHOULD BE A GIVEN!!! Waking up earlier, going to bed earlier, watching more film....strange habits that are normal for Championship football teams. Shouldn't we already being doing some of these things???
jhenson#377512 writes:
***Sunday Practices***
***Stay the Course***
***Charts***
***Team Unity***
OMG...look out Gamecocks!!!!
LMAO! Our program is a joke. Thanks Phil
mikes70gto writes:
CrankE said what would the General say?? I'll tell you exactly what !! A coach in the 50's had the Vols under his wing,finished second and fourth in the nation in his first five years. From there things went wrong and fast,so the answer is he lost his job due to the fact he could NO LONGER win against whom he should,could not develope recruites,and let the staff become lackluster. Fans started feeling the same we do today about the program.The General bit hard and came to the conclusion that the coach had to go due to the forementioned reasons,the first being no changes in his staff to correct the problems,the General fired this man,a former UT recruit,player and assistant under Neyland a native son so to speak,the coach was Bowden Wyatt,now what makes him any different than CPF !!! Wyatt even won a championship under Neyland,so its not about one man,or the staff as a whole its about UT football and what it suppose to represent,National Powerhouse,Traditon; and the fans that have the right to see this happen on the field. Neyland would walk into CPF's office and tell him this is not UT football make due changes now or I will !!I feel this is EXACTLY what the General would do !!
jhenson#377512 writes:
**There once was a coach named Phil
**Who concocted a chart for a thrill
**And with doughnut in hand
**Shrieked "shucks what a plan"
**While his team was reduced to nil
GreerVol22 writes:
They say misery loves company...
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A prankster placed a for-sale sign on Florida State coach Bobby Bowden's yard last night after archrival Miami defeated the Seminoles 37-29 with 13 points in the final 1:15.
Bowden said it reminded him of his days in West Virginia in the 1970s when he was once hung in effigy as well after a loss.
Florida State (4-3, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) has now lost 10 of its last 14 league games after losing its second straight Saturday.
Bowden chuckled at the joke and said he'll save the sign for when he's ready to move.
mikes70gto writes:
Correction on my post they finished second once and then down hill from there.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Forgive me, but the only effective way I've ever seen to motivate a player to improve is to sit his butt down. Playing time.
If you can't get the job done, you will sit and we'll give the next guy a chance.
The defensive line is not getting the job done. The secondary is not getting the job done. And, oftentimes, the linebackers are not getting the job done.
Sit them down and give all that talent on the bench a chance. Give them some serious reps, not a couple of garbage-time series.
Maybe we'll find another John Henderson, Raynoch Thompson or Roland James.
What do you have to lose, Chief? How much worse can it get? TAKE A CHANCE.
HAVE A CLUE: what you're doing isn't working with the players you put out there.
jhenson#377512 writes:
the "Chief". That's funny! "chief" of what? He couldn't lead a bachelor party to a whorehouse.
finn writes:
I've never liked CPF but this article made me even more disgusted as it brought home the fact that our players are the ones really getting SCREWED. Sure, fans experience plenty of dissapointment but nothing compared to those kids. They have worked their a$$ of all their lives to get to this point and our program is not returning the favor. The players are the ones that are truly invested emotionally and physically. They deserve a coach that puts in at least the same if not more effort than they do.
SmokeDog72 writes:
Maybe Fulmer should have his own chart.
First line could read:
"Ways to help me not suck today".
Did Bama's QB pass for 6 or 7 hundred yards on Saturday?
jhenson#377512 writes:
finn...you bring up an excellent point. It's easy to say that players should be self-motivated and to a certain degree, I would agree with that; however, there aren't too many Peyton Mannings in the world. These players are a reflection of a coaching staff that has let them down in every way possible. It has to be demoralizing to play for a coaching staff that consistently puts you in bad positions and seldom makes the game time adjustments necessary to compete in the big games. I'm not saying they get a "free pass" for not demonstrating heart on the field, but this coaching staff certainly does them NO favors.
jhenson#377512 writes:
tngeoff & I_love...great trip down memory lane and good call by both of you on some Tennessee football legends. It's been at least a decade since we've had one and given the top 10 recruiting classes we've had...that defies logic. Again, a reflection of a coaching staff unable to coach them up and instill in them the heart of Tennessee football.
jlange#632002 writes:
Biggest bunch of whiners crybabies and losers I ever saw. Get a life of your own and quit relying on Tennessee football to define your self image. If any of you were on this team, you'd already have rolled over and quit. Ya'll handle adversity like 4 year olds.
jhenson#377512 writes:
jlange...easy on the caffeine bro! heck friend, we're just having a "barbershop" discussion about Tennessee football (minus the barbershop). I'd be shocked if anyone on here defines the success of their respective lives as a direct correlation to what Tennessee does on the football field. Now you might be right...perhaps if I played on this team I would "roll over and quit". I'll tell you what I wouldn't do though...I wouldn't "roll over" look behind me and scream " Give it to me one more time Phil"...which is apparently what you'd do.
grvol writes:
Vols need to punt on the west coast QBs with the flipper feet. Enough of the Clausens and Ainges. Vols need gutsy QBs from the South like Warren (GA), Holloway (AL), Robinson (FL), Kelly (TN), Shuler (NC), Manning (LA), Martin (AL), Crompton (NC).
orangebloodgmc writes:
JLange, you are right. Its easy to pile on a man when he's down. For the players its either strive or quit. Root hog or die. Its called life.
2000man writes:
How about Foolmer keep a chart of how pathetic his team has been since the national title year and Chavis keep a chart of how pathetic his defense has been.
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