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
There was a time when Steve Spurrier might have taken a potshot at Tennessee's defensive misadventures. The Vols have certainly provided ample wisecrack material.
These days, however, Spurrier's barbs are aimed at his pride and joy. That would be the South Carolina offense that stumbled and bumbled its way to a 17-6 loss to visiting Vanderbilt last week and hasn't scored a touchdown in six quarters.
"The fans probably had a right to boo because it just appeared our guys didn't give a damn, to tell you the truth,'' Spurrier said at his Tuesday press conference.
Even when he was asked about Tennessee's defensive struggles, he didn't take the bait.
"They've played some good teams and they've hit some passes on them (UT) ... and I don't have the answer for that.
"I don't have the answer for why we're number nine or 10 in the league in offense, either.
"Except that a few players here and there can make a huge difference. That's probably the case over there (too).''
Spurrier could have poked fun at any of several of the Vols' woeful stats. Instead, he invoked a number that illustrated his frustration:
"We've brought the punt back into play this year that's for sure. Forty-two already, and a total of 30 last year.''
Spurrier and UT defensive coordinator John Chavis are old adversaries. They have dueled under happier circumstances than they will Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
When Chavis took over as UT's coordinator in 1995, Spurrier welcomed him with 62 points on a long, hot afternoon at The Swamp. Florida didn't punt much in those days.
Counting his runs at Duke (1987-89), Florida (1990-2001) and South Carolina (since 2005), Spurrier is 10-6 against Tennessee. He has won in Neyland Stadium with all three programs.
"It's fun to compete against him, there's no doubt about that,'' Chavis said Tuesday, "because he presents a challenge every time he walks on the field and that's the way it'll be Saturday.
"We'll get their best shot ... we'll give them our best shot and we'll see what happens.''
The heavens would have to align just right for both South Carolina's offense and Tennessee's defense to muster their best shots Saturday night.
UT has been riddled in all three of its losses, to Cal, Florida and Alabama. Turnovers and sacks are equally rare. Yardage and points pile up.
You'd think the last thing Tennessee's defense needed coming to town was a Spurrier offense.
Spurrier isn't just the head ball coach. He's the offensive guru. And Tennessee isn't the only program he's carved up.
"The thing I think he does best,'' said Chavis, "is getting those quarterbacks ready to play. And when you've got quarterbacks and they're extensions of the coach and they're making the same decisions that coach would make when they see things, it's difficult.''
Only this year, Spurrier's quarterbacks haven't exactly been extensions of the head coach. He's juggled senior Blake Mitchell and redshirt freshman Chris Smelley to mixed results at best.
They have only one big-time receiver in Kenny McKinley. And the offensive line, that's another story.
The quarterbacks have thrown 12 interceptions, more than anybody in the league but Ole Miss. They've been sacked a league-high 26 times.
The Gamecocks rank ninth in total offense and 11th in third-down conversions.
"We had trouble blocking South Carolina State, so it shouldn't shock us if we can't block Vandy or some these other teams,'' said Spurrier.
Despite all of the above, the Vols would be foolish to underestimate any Spurrier-coached offense, and they won't.
By the same token, Spurrier, freshly humbled by the Commodores, won't assume the Gamecocks will be picking the Vols apart.
Heck, he'd just like to score a touchdown.
"I'm sure they're over there working as hard to fix their problems as we are to fix ours,'' said Chavis.
"It'll be interesting to see who gets the most of them fixed by Saturday.''
It should be a classic. The resistible force meets the movable object.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.
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Comments » 36
99gator writes:
this is just not good news for tenn. when spurrier bashes his own team.... they play much better the following week. i have heard this kind of speech before.
what the heck happened to tenn. i was at a wedding this weekend and did not see any football. i tivo'd the gator game, but saw nothing else.
TnVolFaninSmyrna writes:
Hey Gator-
Let's just say the action AFTER the wedding was more than us Tennessee fans saw in the 2nd half.
99gator writes:
well, i'll say this....
i go back and forth playing devil's advocate abou what the right thing to do about fulmer is.... but with 2005 season only two years ago and losing three games by whopping margins is just inexcusable.
i wrote a week or two ago that blowouts happen. they have happened to florida, they happen to everyone. but, i can't remember the last time florida got blown out multiple times in a season. losing is one thing, not being competitive is another.
chrisw2967 writes:
Chavis:"It'll be interesting to see who gets the most of them fixed by Saturday.''
well this is what week 8 ? and Chavis still dont have his fixed , the odds are against him as well , Spurrier has a better chance getting his off. fixed than Chavis does getting his def. fixed. Its not going to matter any ways. Its going on Wed. and Hamilton hasnt fired Fulmer yet ?
SmokeDog72 writes:
Tennessee's defense will be exactly what the doctor ordered for the ailing SC offense.
We are going to get spanked by Smelley the Cock.
Pullingguard writes:
Nah, we don't have that... Saturday you will see the Vols look good and defeat South Carolina. Everyone will be asking, why can't they play like this game and the Georgia game all the time? I don't know, can't answer that question, I only give predictions.
CoverOrange writes:
Basically, Gator99, in the first half JPWilson passed to DJHall like 99 times. Thus in the second half as the UT front four bull rushed the relatively inexperienced Bama OL, JPW threw screens left and right. Couldn't get there in time and forgot the guys sneaking through the line. Watch Spurrier do the same thing. The DL and the LBs just don't work together.
revjulian writes:
You can't spell "sucks" without USC
BigVolinCarolina writes:
A joke for Vol Fans....
A lifelong die-hard UT fan wanted to show his commitment to the Big Orange. So, he decided to go out and get 2 tatoos--one on each butt cheek. On the left cheek., he had the likeness of Coach Fulmer's face, and on the right cheek he had the likeness of defensive coach John "Chief" Chavis's face.
Unfortunately for the fan, he was involved in a horrific automobile accident. When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they immediately got him out the car and transported him to the hospital. An emergency room nurse undressed him and checked over his body. Upon seeing the tattoos on his rear-end, the nurse quickly summoned a doctor.
When the doc arrived, the nurse asked: "Doc, do you know what this is?
The doctor replied, "No, I don't know who the one on the left is, and I don't know who the one on the right is...but the one in the middle is Steve Spurrier."
Chainsaw writes:
Good one, BigVolinCarolina!
cphil writes:
Ok fans...can you identify the kid in the blue circle in this photo?
http://uploader.ws/upload/200710/1952...
powert#205805 writes:
cphil, is that SOS?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Let's face it, we're not good enuf to be jabable (sic). Even Superior has sympathy for a run-over dog! But lets "work hard as heck to get better". Now I feel better. SC 34 Vols 19!
cphil writes:
That's the "Old Ball Coach" from 1952. His dad, Rev. Graham Spurrier was the minister at the Newport Presbyterian Church. (He's the guy to the left in the whit shirt and tie. Mrs. Spurrier is standing in front of him.) This phot is from vacation bible school that year.
99gator writes:
reading the articles regarding football and basketball.... i have come to the non-biased, non-overreaction assessment that fulmer does need to go.
sometimes... it's about positive attitude and excitement. i know that sounds corny, but it's true.
the vibe, correct me if i am wrong, around tenn football is that they will never be great again (under fulmer) and if they are, they will not play that way. they will find ways to lose. so, tenn people walk around hoping and praying without believing and that permeates the team, the campus everything.
whereas in basketball, where the history and tradition are slim, tenn (despite having a coach and team that currently has not won anything YET), there is no hoping and praying. there is only belief. belief that championships will come. belief that making the tournament is a goal that will be achieved yearly. belief that, win or lose, tenn basketball is going to be the best it can be because of who is on the sideline.
that belief and excitement can be felt by players, coaches, alumni, etc. it just isn't there in football. changing the year on the calendar won't change that vibe.
by the way, for those of you upset by certain vols left off the preseason basketball all-sec team.... one florida player made the 1st team all-sec last year... off a back to back national title team.
vol4good#206163 writes:
I agree with pullingguard, I think now that Phil has his back against the wall, he will get the game plan right and the players attention. For at least a couple of weeks. If the players can stop having fun long enough to find thier manhood. This is football fellas, the only time it is fun is when you are winning!
tennisvol writes:
SC may be 10th in the league in offense, but they haven't played TN yet. The TN defense will make any average offense look like a Super Bowl offense just like they did against Bama.
west_tn_volfan writes:
marc_ash: good post. I've never understood why people cottle college players the way they do. Call a 20 year old Army Ranger a kid and he'll probably make you eat your words but call a 20 year old college football player a kid and he'll probably live up to the expectations you would have for a kid. These guys need to be held to the expectations you would have for men. Discipline, work ethic, toughness, and accountability for their actions both on and off the field. They are not children.
vscebail#247785 writes:
Spurrier probably read some of these posts by our spoiled and disgruntled Tennessee fans, and he realized that he didn't have to bash Coach Fulmer anymore because we have been doing enough of that ourselves!
RunRunPassPunt writes:
Lucky for Spurrier we don't sack, intercept passes, cover or return punts well, tackle, or put pressure on the quarterback. Since you can never predict a team's performance against the vols based on their previous outing - I'd say spurrier gets back on the TD wagon - to the tune of about 4 against our sorry defense. And then haplessly demoralizes us with some trickeration. However, its definitely stuff that Phil "has seen before." Which, despite his assertions, we couldn't stop anyway even if they ran the same play all night.
GoVol writes:
Did you just hear - FULMER was just fired. Yes, Hamilton just fired Fulmer 2 minutes ago. Oh, darn - someone just woke me from the wonderful dream I was having. Dang!
orngejuiced writes:
99 gator, why do you contiue to frequent this site? you are truly pathetic. no one gives a *hit about your insight or thoughts as a florida fan.
99gator writes:
orngejuiced
that angry, huh.
CrankE writes:
Well...If Spurrier is going to be the next coach at Tennessee-as some have suggested, he may be getting an early start on being nice to his new employers. BTW: I heard one time that no coach from South Carolina has ever gone on to be a head coach elsewhere.
orngejuiced writes:
99gator-its not so much anger as confusion. you constantly are here commenting. why? follow YOUR team, that's what you do as a fan. frankly, i think you're pathetic. do you you rally think anyone here posting cares what a gator fan's view point is on our current coaching situation? i can't think of anyone whose opinion matters less. if it makes you feel all warm n fuzzy, by all means, watch loyal fans discuss their misery you poor, bored soul.
Volunatic writes:
tngeoff-- have you seen any comments this week (other than your own) referring to how Fulmers "blood runs orange"?
I haven't.
I still say he's here through next season unless Tennessee doesn't win 8 games this season. I think Tennessee WILL win 8 games (they might need to play Northwestern or Indiana in the Music City Bowl to reach that total, though).
If Tennessee wins this Saturday, Phil will have won 3 out of the last 4 against both Spurrier and Richt. That would be pretty weird, especially considering the blowout losses we've endured this season.
Who should be the next UT coach? Who WOULD be the next UT coach?
Volunatic writes:
By the way, I totally agree with you that the "chart" thing is bunk.
NCCOLTSFAN writes:
No worries!
Here is what coach said about the SC game.
"Both of us are in the mix for the Eastern Division championship, so you have a game that is crucial, both schools coming off tough losses," Fulmer told the Vols' official Web site. "We want to get back on the right track."
Hmmmmmmmm.
Can you say "dumbbbbbbbbbb?"
99gator writes:
orngejuiced...
i came on here way back when to talk to fans of a different school to get a different perspective.
it's just sharing opinions back and forth... like the rest of you.
it may be scary but has been interesting reading this stuff all year long. fulmer is horrible. tenn is horrible. after florida loses twice and tenn beats georgia.... tenn will win the sec.... now fulmer stinks... basketball in 9 nine days.
if most of the opinions on this site mattered... fulmer would have been gone in 2005.
i read and post on gator sites as well and follow my team just fine. so, i will continue to be a pathetic, poor soul.
someone hand me a tissue. i think i'm going to cry.
ncvol17 writes:
Nat'l television embarassment this Saturday. SC 32 Tenn 17
orangebloodgmc writes:
I just don't plan to ever root against the Vols (with possible exception of my son playing for some other opposing team).
invisiblekid writes:
"The fans probably had a right to boo because it just appeared our guys didn't give a damn, to tell you the truth,'' Spurrier said at his Tuesday press conference. Like him or not, and I sure as hell don't and can't imagine him ever coaching the Vols, comments like that are why Spurrier gets the respect he does. And this is part of the reason Fulmer gets the criticism that he does:
“First, I’d like to congratulate the University of Alabama on a great effort and fine job of winning and playing exceptionally well. I do not think we played very well."
ACG writes:
99gator - "i came on here way back when to talk to fans of a different school to get a different perspective"
Yeah and that made sense during Florida week. A couple days later, I thought you'd overstayed your welcome. But you're STILL here?
Trust me. Your opinion quit mattering 5 1/2 weeks ago.
instigator writes:
You have to say one thing about Spurrier. He jabs at the opposition, but he can talk about himself and his team as well. Maybe Phil could take a lesson or two.
Oenoboy writes:
Easy there ACG and orngjuiced, 99gator is a football fan just like the rest of us and doesn't come on here with BS or idiotic jabs against our team, players, or coaches like most of the so called "Vol fans" on this site do.
You "fans" have fun pulling for the Cocks this weekend so you can get your next Bobby Petrino who will stick around maybe two or three years before moving on.
All I can say is, there's no place like home this year. I hope we can find a way to stay perfect at Neyland and continue our streak against the Cats.
GO VOLS!!!!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Spurrier is the Michaelangelo of college football..these guys only come around once in a generation...Yes Steve is proud of saying that he is "just a guy from Tennessee." I've heard him say that several times. To say he hates the Vols is absurd, just like Vol fans express their dislike for Steve is just "plain fan talk." We have to take a shot at getting him.
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