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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
It wasn’t that long ago that many wondered if Tennessee — or college football for that matter — had a place for Chris Brown.
Listed generously at 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, some questioned whether the tight end was big enough to block defensive linemen and get off the line in passing situations
“I knew it was going to be a challenge,” the senior said. “It was tough because everyone was telling me I was too small to play tight end in college.”
Now, coaches sound like Goldilocks, saying Brown is just right. Being small isn’t an issue, thanks the evolution of the position.
Being small usually means more athletic, certainly true with Brown. Being small means a player is often better suited to play H-back, the tight end-like position that has become en vogue in college and professional football.
And being small (not to mention quick and athletic) has quietly put Brown on the verge of having the most prolific season of any tight end in UT history.
With 26 receptions for 195 yards, Brown needs just 13 more catches and 298 receiving yards to break both single season marks, set by Jason Witten in 2002 when he caught 39 passes for 493 yards.
With two more touchdown receptions, Brown will tie Austin Denney’s 1966 single-season mark of seven.
Brown can move closer to those totals Saturday when the Vols play host to South Carolina.
“It would mean a lot,” Brown said of breaking those records. “Coming here I never really envisioned me doing those type of things. For my name to go down with those people would be an honor.”
Such achievements wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for UT’s reliance on the H-back, a position in which Brown is often in motion before the snap.
Capitalizing on his athleticism and mental acumen, Brown is able to improve his blocking angle and regularly get a clean release when he’s running a pass route.
“I honestly don’t know where I would be,” Brown said when asked what would have happened had H-back not become a centerpiece of UT’s offense. “I love it, being able to not put my hand down.
“Putting your hand down is tough. I like being able to get running starts and move around and try to confuse guys. I think that helps me out a lot.”
And will certainly help his NFL draft status. Brown has helped prepare himself for the pros by showcasing his brain as well as his athletic ability, playing at least five positions this season — all three of UT’s tight end positions, fullback and receiver.
“There’s a lot of people interested in Chris for his versatility,” tight end coach Matt Luke said. “More offenses are looking for that, a guy that can play a dual role, making him harder to defend.”
Fulmer likened Brown to Shawn Bryson. Bryson was listed as a fullback, but he played a key role in UT’s 1998 national championship run by playing whatever position was asked of him.
“It’s pretty difficult,” Brown said. “You get in a hostile environment and it gets kind of hard to know what position you’re playing.
“One play I was playing fullback, the next play I was playing tight end, the next play I was playing receiver.”
Brown was prepared and willing to play all those roles this season, but that certainly wasn’t the original master plan. That is, until senior tight end Brad Cottam went down with a wrist injury in a preseason scrimmage.
So much for just playing H-back. So much for focusing on one position. It was time for Brown to show off what he had learned in his three years at UT.
“With the loss of Brad Cottam, I think he felt like he needed to step up his game even more,” Luke said. “If there was a turning point, that might have been it.”
The turning point Luke speaks of wasn’t just about playing more positions; it was about Brown’s willingness to do so. That meant the likelihood of giving up statistics that players hold so dear.
“To me, that’s been the biggest addition to his game,” Luke said. “He could always make plays, but he’s really, really been unselfish and been a team leader.”
Said Brown, “Doing things that I do, I get joy out of it because I know coaches trust me to play a lot of different positions and do a lot of different things.”
This season isn’t the first time UT’s coaches have trusted Brown. As a freshman, Brown was suspended for the 2004 Alabama game for shoplifting during a team outing.
Just a freshman — and undersized at that — the Vols could have sent Brown packing.
But the Vols weren’t ready to give up on Brown — no matter how big he was.
“He’s always been a good player but he’s had his immature moments,” Fulmer said. “He’s not going to have those anymore. He’s a young man.”
That young man is paying back UT’s coaching staff exponentially for the loyalty shown to that undersized freshman. And he’s doing so by being the most versatile — and one of the most valuable — players on UT’s offense.
“My patience has paid off,” Brown said. “I’ve been doing a lot of special things this year.
“Hopefully, when I leave I’ll be remembered as a pretty good football player at the University of Tennessee.”
The record books should see to that.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 56
orangebloodgmc writes:
Brown is in good company, mentioned with Witten and Austin Denney. But what about Reggie Harper? Although about as athletic as a wide receiver, I am pretty sure he was a very productive tight end (early 80's?). What were his numbers?
smokedoctor writes:
Thanks, Chris for wearing the orange. I look forward to watching you on Saturdays for the rest of this year and on Sundays for many years to come.
smokedoctor
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Enough of the negative comments, are you a UT fan or not. It sounds like your just an idiot!!! I told you before email Mike Hamilton, don't use this site where people support the team!!!
GO VOLS!!!
BEAT THE GAMECOCKS!!!
TXVOLSFAN
bowerst#242774 writes:
You can be a fan and want change. You can be a fan and support the team no matter what. I'm frustrated by the program's slide, but some people are so negative they won't be satisfied until everyone associated with UT football is fired.
I understand why people who see Fulmer clap and offer encouragement to players after a bad play think he is too soft or just an idiot. But when Spurrier throws his visor, gets in the players' faces and basically acts like a spoiled brat on national TV, I am embarrassed for him. I also wonder what kind of example that is for the young men who play for him and the kids who watch on TV.
Everyone makes fun of Fulmer for saying the team is going to hang in there, not give up and stay the course. Sure, I want him to fix what is wrong but I also appreciate that he is teaching his players not to give up, and not to act like a baby and stomp, pout and cry.
Come to think of it, lots of people could learn some lessons like that…
RemembertheAlamo writes:
orangebloodgmc.....Reggie Harper....1977 thru 1980...98 receptions, 1141 yards, 7 TD Average 11.6 yards....
RemembertheAlamo writes:
jweaver3....I would rather email you or post on here....it probably does just as much good....
RemembertheAlamo writes:
bowerst...we are not negative, and we don't want everyone fired....we just want them to get their heads out of their... (uh, I mean out of the sand)....call the right plays and show they know how to coach......right now my high school team could beat UT's coaching......I watched the Bama game again last night (for the 3rd time) and the play calling sucks (big time).....Passed when we should have run, ran when we should have passed, and the passing routes..... punted when we should have went for it...I cannot see punting if you are going to only give up 20 yards....and the 15 minutes spent on tackling could be used on something else, cause it isn't helping the tackling any.....special teams really need help, too..........our teams progress looks like they are in the second week of spring practice.......
volntx writes:
10-2 or 10-3 would be good, ok 10-4 is possible, thats fine too. basically 10 wins somehow. nice disclaimer lol.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
I would have been satisfied with 12-0 or 5-7 either one, if we had play competitively in all the games....but blow outs and bad coaching sucks. Lossing to Florida is bad, but going to the wire losing 59-58 or 21-20 and taking some chances I could live with, but blown out, as in Florida, Bama, and Cal........ if we win out from here still 9-3 will not look good to me....
bigbluevol writes:
Chris Brown is a great football player and I wish him and the team much more success this year. Thanks Chris for putting the team first and giving it your all. You'll definitely be missed next year.
MOOREVOLS writes:
I can accept the Cal and Florida losses, but we're more talented than the other 10 teams we play this year, so 10-2 for me. I could accept a record of 9-3 if we looked prepared and lost hard fought, close games. Anything other than that and the season is a disappointment.
TommyJack writes:
Nice research, Rainman...are you exhausted?
bowerst#242774 writes:
Agree that there are coaching problems, especially punting on 4th and short around midfield when we proved we could not stop them all day.
Doesn't matter what record would satisfy me. It has been a tough schedule with lots of tough road games, but more importantly, we need to either put more of the spread offense in or learn how to stop it, because this ain't working.
All I am saying is Fulmer is a good man. No he is not a coaching genius, but they are few and far between. If the time has come to part ways, let's do it with class. Let's recognize that this man delivered one of the program's two national championships. He has never disgraced the program by cheating like Alabama, he is not an egomaniac crybaby like Spurrier and he teaches his players to toss the ball to the refs when they score, etc.
And Fulmer brought in players like Manning, Wilson and Travis Henry that I feel privileged to have seen play in person.
Maybe the next guy will do better. Maybe he will do worse. In the meantime, why not show some class as fans?
TommyJack writes:
Bowerst: Travis Henry plays hard, I'll give you that.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Good Post Vols76--I concur--Go down fighting and bleeding and we will love you. Get Blown out and quit, well I guess we are living that now.
bowerst#242774 writes:
Takes two people to have babies. You don't think any of the mommas might have had $$$$ in their eyes do you?
But Travis, 75 cents is waaaaay cheaper!
TnVolFaninSmyrna writes:
You know, this is what's so frustrating. As a fan of the Orange for many years, I've grown accustomed to losing. But this year, it's the way we've been losing, poor gameplans, poor coaching, poor coaching decisions. I could almost stand walking away this year with a record of 9-3 or 8-4 if we were competitive. We are anything but competitive. Yeah we beat a so-so Georgia team that was severely over-rated. A football team is a direct reflection of it's coaching staff. That is why this team needs a change in leadership. The game has passed this staff by. Year in and year out, we recruit top 10 classes WITH NO PLAYER DEVELOPMENT. That fault lies directly in the lap of a coaching staff. This coaching staff. I will always be a fan of the Orange, and I will support the team. I can no longer support this coaching staff. It's time for a change. Anybody know Bobby Petrino's number?
RemembertheAlamo writes:
Tnvolfaninsmyrna....good post except for the last 3 words.....Not Bobby....he cut the leading tackler on the offensive line today.....he is 1-6 and cuts his best tackler.........I have questions about his ability to know players..
hglover40#234154 writes:
It's great that we all get to give opinions about the state of the UT program. But I doubt anyone on here has the knowledge to watch a film and point out mistakes in the play calling. If you did you'd be coaching at the same level. And saying you'd be happy with 10-3 if we were in each game is BS. We were in every game last year but Arkansas, and ended up 9-4; were people happy. NO. Fulmer may be burned out and ready to go, but any reasonable person will have to admit that he had some great years. Oh NO the yappers out here don't even give him credit for those years.
invisiblekid writes:
Brown has been one of my favorite players on this team the past two years. All he does is make plays when they put the ball in his hands and I hope they have enough sense to help him break those records.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
Now I am a "Yapper".......Fulmer has had one great year.....you need to go back to Sept 18th and read the post by "Oldhickory" to see had great Fulmer has been since the Championship...and then preach to me about his greatness...I was happy about last year because it was better than 2005 and something to build on.......but I didn't know we were building a basement....
Ralph_Crampton writes:
TALKING ABOUT FLORIDA'S TIM TEBOW, ONE SPORTSWRITER WROTE THAT THE REMARKABLE GATOR REMINDED HIM OF THOSE GREAT TAILBACKS GEN. NEYLAND USED TO HAVE ON HIS TENNESSEE POWERHOUSES. VOLUNTEER TAILBACKS DID IT ALL, KICKING, PASSING AND PUNTING. TEBOW DID EVERYTHING BUT PUNT.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
Tebow is good......I will be sick if he wins the Heisman this year.......
RemembertheAlamo writes:
hglover40....go over to the story "Running game hangs in Balance" and read post by DCSOvol at 5:44 and then come back and tells us how great Fulmer is again......
utclassof1992 writes:
Memories of seasons past:
1997-With a young Jamal Lewis sitting on the sideline 'because he doesn't pass block well", UT quarterback Peyton Manning has to throw the ball about 60 times in a loss to Florida.
1999-With time running out on a game-winning drive, UT runs a toss sweep on fourth and four to seal another loss to the Gators.
2001-Tennessee employs a seven defensive back "Mustang" package in order to seal a UGA victory on a last second touchdown pass to a reserve fullback after an 80+yard drive with just a minute left.
2001-Tennessee throws three straight fade patterns inside the 10 yard line during the third quarter of the SEC championship game. This effort combined with the inability to stop a second string quarterback from running off guard helped the LSU Tigers secure an upset victory and killed UTs 2001 national championship hopes.
2002-Kelley "the Future" Washington takes advantage of the staff's uneven applilcation of discipline to completely destroy the cohesion of the 2002 Vols.
2002-The UGA onside kick incident.
2002-During another bowl spanking in Atlanta by Maryland, fullback Troy Fleming uses a cell phone during Coach Fulmer's halftime meeting. Nothing is done.
2003-A Clemson player walks up to Rashad Baker during warm-ups for the Peach and slaps him in the face mask. No reaction from the Vol team, and Baker walks away with his head down. Clemson collectively does the same thing to the rest of the team in another bowl loss for the Big Orange.
2004-Arrests galore. Near loss to UK. Beaten by a losing ND team.
2005-A pre-season #2 team limps to a 5-6 record and loses to Vanderbilt while almost going 4-7 in a lackluster effort against UAB.
2006-Cannot run the ball and fritters away leads against UF and LSU. Completely run off the field by Arkansas. (Yes, I know Ainge was hurt, but he wasn't in the UT defensive front seven).
2007-Outstanding effort in losing to Cal, UF, and UA by an average margin of 24 points.
As you can see, this is nothing new. PLEASE LEAVE!!! That's all.
utclassof1992 writes:
I had to post it again so they could see it. Thank you, by the way, vols76.
volntx writes:
the 97 florida game jamal lewis ran a sweep for 9 yards and did not play again. pass blocking,that was funny, jamal does not have to block when you give him the ball. that was one hot,crappy day.
gmccown007#392764 writes:
What if I were to GUARANTEE you that I can give all of you the name of the ONE and ONLY coach in the whole of America that can return Tennessee to ALL of its heartbreakingly long lost days of glory? Now, if I could "do" such a miraculous, seemingly impossible thing, would you immediately "sign up" and --- with all of your heart --- "get on board"? Or would you --- with the NEGATIVITY that has now engulfed the VOL NATION --- and indeed, is now threatening to DESTROY it --- INSTEAD join --- GLEEFULLY, no doubt --- in the FLOOD OF NEGATIVITY that would almost certainly follow an idea so "wild" and, no doubt, certain to be PERFECT? Perfect, that is, once all EMOTION is completely wiped away.
I have --- literally --- been sitting in that once hallowed stadium for OVER 55 YEARS!!! NO ONE'S blood runs any more orange than mine! NO ONE'S!!! Consequently, there is NO PRICE (other than my immortal soul) that I would not pay for a return to those once halcyon days of glory.
Want to return to such days of triumphant joy? Admittedly, now, only for a mere handful of remaining years? Or do all of you prefer to merely continue to endlessly, fruitlessly bicker? There is only the tiniest window of opportunity now left. But that window DOES exist. With no blasphemy whatsoever intended, there is a "savior" available to us. Incredibly, he is even a native son. Tennessee born and bred. Further, he is, regardless of one’s prejudices, the GREATEST football "genius" alive. WITHOUT QUESTION!
Now, mind you, we do not always see eye-to-eye. Collectively, or otherwise. But who cares? Particularly, for such a magnificent ultimate "prize"? I have sat around a hundred tables and heard it repeated a thousand times.
"Native son or not he would never take the job. Besides, there is no one alive who hates Tennessee any more than he does”.
I promise you, folks. Neither statement is true. Now, it IS true that out of high school, he “refused” our recruitment. But only because he was determined to remain a quarterback.(Tennessee still ran exclusively single wing and not being a Tim Tebow “type” (of that day or any other), he knew his running skills simply were not adaptable to U-T's offensive sets. And, mind you, he was more than "right".
Once he became a coach, though, he has been ready --- more than once --- to come back to Tennessee. Justifiably, though, he has never judged it "right" or "proper" to do the asking. And, indeed, why should he have?
Of whom are we speaking? Well, the one and only one man who can save the "train-wreck" that is now Tennessee football. Steve Spurrier.
By the way, time is running out. Like Lou Pinella with the Cubs, this would, guaranteed, be Spurrier’s last hurrah.
At this stage, it would probably call for one dollar more than Lou Saban. In case you have forgotten, the man who just handed us our a$$.
I don’t know about you but I will never forget that pain. Never.
I’m good for the first $100,000.00. Anybody got a dollar?
justingh1 writes:
Does anyone remember Dustin Moore? He was probably the best tight end I ever saw at UT but he got into some kind of trouble and was released
hglover40#234154 writes:
vols76,DCSOvol,
You prove my point with your post. You blame Fulmer for every mistake(even if the mistake exist only in your head) but give no credit for his wins. I think after the loss to Florida in 97 we went on to win the SEC. I think in 2001 we played for the SEC title and almost went on to play for the National title. So, he gets no credit for the wins that got us to the title game, but darn him he sure blew that game. And all you have to say about 2004 is the Notre Dame lose, but fail to mention we finished 10-3!! And last years near misses against LSU and Florida, both who had superior talent; somehow you turn those in to big failures by Coach Fulmer.
And how in the world can you blame coach Fulmer for Rashad Baker not fighting back when slapped.
See you make no sense.
utclassof1992 writes:
Its simple, hg. Any other football team in the country would have been in Clemson's grill after that. That showed a lack of heart. The 2004 10-3 should have been 12-1 or 13-0. In 97, if we had a running game, we beat Florida and play for it all. Fulmer blew chances to play for the title on at least 4 occasions due not to vastly better competition, but failure to motivate, gameplan, and adjust on the fly. Spurrier, Holtz, Saban, Nehlen, etc would have played for 4 titles over the past 16 years with this program(1995, 1997, 1999, 2001).
utclassof1992 writes:
I used to work at the Knox County Jail when Dustin Moore was locked up. He was a good kid, but dumb as a bag of hammers. What a waste of talent. He was about 250, could run like a WR and had hands of glue.
utclassof1992 writes:
And as to my last post, that would have been 5 title games (I forgot 1998). My major was not math.
utclassof1992 writes:
Anyone remember Travis Cozart? He was supposedly much better than Jay Graham and would have started in front of him if it werent for that pesky prison term he picked up.
utclassof1992 writes:
Dustin Moore reminded me a lot of TE Keith Jackson (Oklahoma, Philadelphia Eagles). Same type talent.
invisiblekid writes:
I used to play ball against Dustin Moore in high school, I remember him all too well. Every bit of 250 lbs and made it look effortless when he was running with those long strides. You got that right though DCSO, not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I think he wound up getting a tryout with the Vikings even after all his issues but it didn't amount to anything.
invisiblekid writes:
HGlover, no doubt Fulmer deserves credit for what he has done for the program and I want to see things either end on a high note(not likely at this point) or at least clean for him without the drama we saw with Majors(I have my doubts because he seems a little too stubborn). But he has gotten ample credit over the years for his contributions and, unfortunately, he now deserves every bit of credit he is getting for the downward slide of a great program. It's time for a change when fans have to start digging back nearly 10 years to remember the highlights of a team. There have been some great wins since the last championship, but far too much inconsistency with too many instances of his teams not playing to their capabilities for it to be acceptable in my opinion.
invisiblekid writes:
HGlover, one more point in talking about "making sense". Exactly how much sense does it make to celebrate close losses against FL and LSU last year, both being games in which the Vols couldn't hold late leads? Seems more like opportunities wasted to me. I guess the point could be made that they were competitive in those games which is much more than can be said this year against higher levels of competition.
hglover40#234154 writes:
There is no way you can even begin to prove that those coaches would have played for that many championships with the those teams. That's just speculation. Holtz had some great teams at Notre Dame, why didn't he win 5 NCs up there??
Why didn't Spurrier win 5 at FL?
Didn't Spurrier have a chance to play for the title in 2001. Oh... that is until coach Fulmer took a team that nobody gave a chance to the Swamp and kicked his backside.
Another point - I'm sure if there had been a big fight before the Clemson game someone would be on here talking about how we have no discipline.
For someone to think their team should have won 5 NCs in a 7 year period, it just shows how far from reasonable-ville you live.
You know, I agree that we may need a change; since around 2003 things seem to be really sliding.
But it's sad that people refuse to give Coach Fulmer credit for what has been until now great career.
utclassof1992 writes:
I give Fulmer credit for the 98 title. That took some work. However, I didn't say win. I said play for the title. Winning 5 would have been tough, but all those teams were just a couple of coaching breakdowns away from title shots.
hglover40#234154 writes:
So all the decisions the coach made during the 11 and 10 win seasons, all the decisions that got us 1 win away from a NC game; no credit for those years? Plus the recruiting to put those teams together no credit for that either. And can you say for sure all those teams lost because of a poor game day call by the coach. Hindsight can make us all seem wise.
Really, I think no coach will live up to your standards.
utclassof1992 writes:
Not him.
newtonrail writes:
Duh-- Been watching UT games since 1956, and I'm not as smart as all these " Monday Morning QB's" on here. Mike should just hire all these bloggers who know so much more than Coach Fulmer and his staff. Time for my meds again.
utclassof1992 writes:
CPF has frittered away enough talent over the past 12 years to fill the rosters of at least 2 NFL teams. While I dont think this is worthy of, say, a public hanging, I think that our program deserves better. 1 title was great, and kudos to CPF. However, I watched most of these games in person, including the 2001 SEC Championship, and I watched most of these decisions. I played the game at the college level, and believe that some of these seasons could have been another title shot with another coach.
hglover40#234154 writes:
Invisible kid ,
I didn't say we should celebrate the loses to FL and LSU last year; But two loses by 5 points - one to the NC team, the other to a team that finished I beleive in the top 5, would you consider those loses proof that Coach Fulmer can't coach anymore? It just didn't seem like a valid point to me. Another point everyone likes to make is how he lost the SEC title to LSU in 2001, but no one remembers the only reason we were in that game; Fulmer took an uderdog team - one no one in America gave a chance- he took them to the Swamp and kicked butt!!
bowerst#242774 writes:
If you think kids are not influenced by what they see on TV, the video games they play and the words to today's music, you have lost touch with reality. As a parent, of course you are ultimately responsible, but kids see how people behave and if you approve of Spurrier's ego and the way he treats his players, then your kids think it's OK too.
My point: Fulmer encourages his players even when they make mistakes, even though their mistakes may eventually cost him his 2 million a year job and fans hate him for it. Spurrier acts like a baby, throws his visor, makes an a_ _ of himself and embarrasses his players on national TV and everybody says "Oh Spurrier is the best coach and I wish he would come here!"
Folks, there is more to life than winning football games and don't give me that phooey that Fulmer never won any. Maybe the game is passing him by, but there were some great years and great players that he brought to Vol fans. He represents the University with class even in the face of adversity. I just wish fans could show him some class.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Vols76, thanks for the Reggie Harper numbers. He made a lot of clutch plays for us. Dustin Moore was from my home town and could have been a good 'un.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Well folks her we are on the eve of ANEONT (another national embarassment on national television)
aj_vol#248433 writes:
tommyjack you're wasting you time. rainman isn't old enough to know that you were talking to him.
He's also only old enough to have watched UT football post-1990.
I think that's why he is such a big advocate for firing Fulmer - he doesn't understand the alternative. See late Battle to early Majors years.
RemembertheAlamo writes:
orangebloodgmc....you are from grnv....I went to DB ....Dustin played in 1995 and 1996......started in 1996....had 27 catches for 301 yards (averaging 11.1 yards per catch).....I remember him playing with Manning....but I forgot what kind of trouble he got in or what happen to him after that...
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