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Tennessee tight end Chris Brown rumbles down field behind a Lucas Taylor block on South Carolina cornerback Carlos Thomas on Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
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After a wild Saturday night that followed a wild Saturday afternoon in a wild college football season, Tennessee is in control of the SEC East.
The Vols snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to two clutch Daniel Lincoln field goals and escaped with a 27-24 overtime win over No. 15 South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.
"A lesser team with a lesser spirit and a lesser will would have lost that game tonight,'' said UT coach Phillip Fulmer after watching a 21-0 lead turn into a 24-21 deficit in the second half.
And with a lesser foot, he might add.
Lincoln hit a 48-yard field goal with 5 seconds on the clock to force overtime at 24-24.
Then the redshirt freshman connected on a 27-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime.
South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop had a quick journey from hero to goat.
Succop's 49-yard field goal with 1:24 to play in regulation put the Gamecocks up 24-21 and appeared a likely game-winner.
The Vols, however, scrambled back, caught a couple of breaks and sent it to overtime on Lincoln's first field goal.
After Lincoln's second kick restored UT to the lead, Succop missed wide right on a 40-yard attempt to tie. A crowd that began the night at 105,962, finally had something to cheer about.
And - get this - a week after the disheartening loss at Alabama, Tennessee (5-3, 3-2 SEC) is in control of its own destiny in the Eastern Division title race.
The Vols and Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3) took the field knowing Florida had lost to Georgia earlier in the day, meaning the team walking out of Neyland Stadium a winner would be in charge of the East.
"We knew, but South Carolina knew too,'' said UT quarterback Erik Ainge. "They were in the same boat as us.
"This league is crazy. You're never out of it. We're back where we were two weeks ago.''
Despite an utter second-half collapse.
A 21-0 halftime lead disappeared as South Carolina scored on three consecutive possessions then kicked the go-ahead field goal. All the while, UT's offense managed 97 yards and three first downs in the third and fourth periods.
"Don't even ask me cause I don't know,'' said Fulmer. "We couldn't do anything.''
South Carolina outgained UT 501 yards to 317 and held the ball for 12 minutes, 50 seconds longer than the Vols.
"We made some yards and hit some passes,'' said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, "but in the clutch we didn't hit crap and we got beat.
"We played just good enough to get our butts beat.''
Four turnovers - two early, two late - undermined Carolina's statistical edge.
Eric Berry got the early two, each time giving Tennessee a short field en route to a 21-0 lead.
South Carolina, recharged by Blake Mitchell, who replaced starter Chris Smelley at quarterback, scored on three consecutive possessions to tie it 21-21 with 11:11 remaining.
And Carolina might have scored more but DeAngelo Willingham and Ryan Karl came up with turnovers in the final seven minutes of regulation.
Tennessee's offense couldn't get anything going the entire half but it scrapped together a drive in the final 84 seconds of regulation to get in position for Lincoln to send it to overtime.
Along the way was a 37-yard kickoff return by LaMarcus Coker, then a 17-yard-run-fumble-and-recovery that ended up safely in the arms of guard Jacques McClendon.
Finally, when Lincoln's 43-yard field-goal try to tie sailed wide, he got an unlikely reprieve when Tennessee was flagged for a false start.
Backed up 5 yards, Lincoln tried again and made it.
Then, overtime.
South Carolina won the toss and elected to play defense first.
After one first down, Lincoln hit a 27-yard field goal to make it 27-24, Vols.
South Carolina could get no farther than the UT 23 after Cory Boyd was thrown for a 5-yard loss on first down.
On fourth-and-8, Succop's 40-yard try to tie missed wide right.
It was an odd end to an odd night.
After going eight quarters without a touchdown, South Carolina got a pair in a little over three minutes to close a 21-0 deficit to 21-14.
The opening drive of the second half landed second-and-goal at the 4, but the Vols successfully defended three passes, taking over on downs.
Three plays and a Britton Colquitt punt later South Carolina was back at the UT 39 for another try.
This one prevailed when Mitchell scored on a 1-yard keeper with 5:41 left in the quarter.
South Carolina then whipped 86 yards in only six plays. Mike Davis took a draw play 29 yards for the touchdown to make it 21-14.
Tennessee still had no answer. Ainge's fourth-down pass at the Carolina 34 sailed long and the Gamecocks were back in business.
This time the Gamecocks motored 66 yards. Mitchell got the tying score on an 8-yard pass to wide-open Kenny McKinley with 11:11 to play.
Succop's 49-yard field goal made it 24-21, but the Gamecocks left just enough of a window for Tennessee to crawl through and force overtime.
Overtime seemed unlikely at the half.
UT's first score was a 2-yard drive after Willingham knocked the ball loose from Carolina receiver Freddie Brown and Berry scooped it up and ripped off a 52-yard return.
It took three cracks for Arian Foster to nudge the ball across the goal line, but UT led 7-0.
Three plays later, Berry intercepted Smelley and returned it 13 yards to the South Carolina 44.
The Vols were soon looking at a fourth-and-1 and went for it. A pass interference flag on the Gamecocks was the break Tennessee needed to keep the drive moving.
Ainge twice converted third-and-long with passes to Quintin Hancock and Austin Rogers, the latter producing first-and-goal at the 6.
Two plays later Montario Hardesty strolled untouched from the 3 to make it 14-0.
Mitchell replaced Smelley at quarterback. The change didn't immediately put any points on the scoreboard but at least Mitchell kept the ball out of Berry's hands.
A timely third-down stop by Karl led to a Carolina punt, which, in turn, led to a 72-yard scoring drive by Tennessee.
The big play was a 37-yard floater to Lucas Taylor. The payoff was a 5-yard TD to Josh Briscoe.
Tennessee was in command, 21-0, with 4:39 left in the half.
Or so it seemed.
"We've got to hang on some way,'' said Fulmer. "We've got to get to Atlanta.
"Because we control our destiny right now, 100 percent.''
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Comments » 121
ncdawg writes:
Go Dawgs!
mgoss#229013 writes:
Yes, big win. Took recovering 2 fumbles and a false start penalty to pull it off, but we hung in there pretty darn good LOL. Glad there wasn't a letdown in the 2nd half. We are terrible
jandjhome#228397 writes:
It was Fulmer's chewing gum that did it.
LittleJohnny writes:
Glad we were lucky, because we didn't deserve it.
volsfaninBoca writes:
First i am happy the vols won. I must say however it was some kind of ugly. This defensive scheme simply does not work as we saw time and time again tonight and week after week. Runners become heisman contenders against us as do qb's and receivers. We now control our destiny but we really do not. Unfortunately we have to play another team and Arkansas, Ky, and Vandy all have a better than even shot at beating us. So we as fans are all set up to have our hearts broken again by some of the worst coaching in the conference. The schemes simply do not work. And for Coach Fulmer (who has done some great things for the university) to tell the television audience how our defense played their hearts out and kept us in the game in the second half is ludicrous--they just gave up 24 points to let SC back in the game. i will always pull for the Vols but i am absolutely exhausted following this game.
jobrando#216494 writes:
The defense came to play and won that game for the vols..
jandjhome#228397 writes:
We made a bad mistake by hiring Cutliff, he made some of the worst calls I have ever seen tonight.
tenken writes:
You know we won this game. No need to be negative. The defense gave up over three hundred yards but saved our butts the end of the game. Good job D, please continue to do that the rest of the season. Offense, you must play better.
lilmoorevols writes:
sometimes it's better to be lucky than good
vol4good#206163 writes:
Which game were you watching Jobrando-- the D gave up 400 yrds and 24 pts in two quarters. They only showed up for the first three plays of the OT. Please dont misunderstand me. I am glad they finally showed up, but to say that the D came to play is really not so true. TN sacrificed 20 Irish Rabbits before the game. Just kidding-- They won and I am Happy for that, but the D had only a little to do with it.
picchic913#459936 writes:
Always glad for a win, but geez. Ugly doesn't even begin to describe it.
lilmoorevols writes:
how many points are we going to have to score to beat KY?
cphil writes:
Tonight was a classic example of good/bad coaching.
After mistake after mistake after mistake, the GOOD coach took his team to the locker room at halftime, made adjustments and got them fired up to play the second half.
After playing a good first half, the BAD coach took his team to the locker room at halftime and apparently did nothing more than tell them not to lose it in the second half.
Sometimes, it's nice to just be lucky.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Yes, the defense finally showed up at the very last minute but they were again schooled in the second half. This schizophrenia is maddening.
Cut called a pass play on 4th and 1? Hmmm...
Secondary was again shredded. And our run defense never took the field apparently...must have missed the bus.
Offensive line again protected Ainge superbly. But they couldn't open holes -- we had 101 yards on the ground. And balance? We had 45 pass attempts vs. 28 carries. I guess that's because we had no real running game.
But we won. Congrats Vols! My hat goes off to Erik Ainge, who is a superb college QB. This guy is Mr. B. Kool back there.
arkyvol writes:
i'm happy for the win, but in the long run, this team will be remembered, if at all, for one of the worse defenses ever to wear the orange. i do believe that's a lost art in knoxville.
kdaff51 writes:
Im starting to feel like a man on death row that keeps getting a stay of execution. DAMN what a game!
cstewart81 writes:
They ran the same play that didnt work the entire game how they won i dont know it feels like a loss doesnt it. Just being real honest this ut team isnt that good they are young yes but the coaching staff has no trust in the young players espeacially the WR can someone stretch the field I know that they have WR that can do that i mean this is the 8th game and they still dont know the offense i hope they win out but they have to start playing a lot better than that. lets go UT they almost didnt score in the second half again. man im down.
Regulator writes:
In the words of "Iron" Mike Ditka, "I'll take the luck, I'm tired of the skill." How appropriate.
eb502us#225637 writes:
We won, which is really all that counts. However, it would be nice to know how much better this team could be with proper coaching. For those Fulmer and Cutcliffe supporters, say all you want, but neither has a clue. Cutcliffe might be a great QB coach (like Sanders), but he's horrible as an OC. If Fulmer survives this season and isn't given an ultimatum on bringing in some new offensive and defensive coaches, then perhaps Hamilton needs to go as well. One good hire (Pearl) doesn't make him a genius.
agentorange writes:
heckuva win. those charts worked like mofos.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Chavis seemed absolutely gobsmacked and lost in a fugue of bewilderment in the second half.
I feel for the man because he's a fighter and has fielded some of the best UT defenses of my lifetime.
(Fugue: a dreamlike state of altered consciousness that may last for hours or days.)
Or a college football season...
volfaninchattanooga writes:
I love beating Spurrier, Our defence doens't have a clue, but they did come up with 4 big turnovers. Don't know what happened, but any win over SC is sweet to me. I live in SC for 5 years, they are the most obnoxious fans in the world, believe me, I know. Ugly, ugly game, but at least we won. I'll enjoy this one because we beat SC. I'll worry about Arkansas in 2 weeks. Go Vols.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Yes, agent -- it was clearly te charts that made the difference in this game. Clearly gave us our edge.
LMAO.
Pullingguard writes:
How did Cutcliffe get his resume' of being an offensive Guru. His play calling stinks, last week and tonight... He and Chavis must be hanging out together recently.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
They should absolutely turn the next game over entirely to Crompton and the subs, the guys who never play. Let 'em all play and get some serious reps.
The coaches might find some players, especially on defense. How about Trooper's "spotted gazelle?"
clcvol writes:
The D was decent tonight, but the offense's inability to do anything in the second half hurt the defense. The team that scares me the most in the future is Kentucky. With our young DB's that can't seem to stop a pass, woodson can easily rip us apart. The only thing that will save us against Arkansas is the fact that they are one dimensional. But that still requires us to stop two great running backs.
txsvol#372416 writes:
I am so happy for our players. They played as well as our coaches prepared them to play. But, having watched the game, which team do you really think left it all on the field? That little cornerback with the military name was the best player on the field, and as Patrick and Blackledge said, he should be promoted to Major. I wonder if the score would have been different if cramps had not have set in. Well, again we control our destiny for two weeks, before A. Foster has a chance to fumble it again, Nutt's defense stops our running game, and Chief has his defensive masterplan thwarted by those brainy, brawny Razorbacks, McFadden and F. Jones. No coaching raises or extensions for 7-5 or 8-4, Hamilton. We need cap space for the buyouts! Go Vols! SAVol
utmdm writes:
Yes the charts - guess I have to apologize - Ha.
We should have some fun people - it is a win.
lilmoore, I don't think there are enough points in our bag for KY unless KY just tanks.
I thought Neyland was rolling in the grave over our kicking game the past few years. But this defense - even with losing 2 backs preseason and 2 out with injury ... Then again it is hard to figure out exactly what our scheme is - Blitz with coverage playing off??
What is with the passing on 4th and short? The announcers were even is disbelief.
gmccown007#392764 writes:
"jobrando"
You, obviously, love the VOLS. As, tragically, so do I. But, partner, exactly what game were you watching?
"The defense came to play and won that game for the vols".???????????????????
All I can say is bless BOTH of our no doubt "lost" and forever to be tortured hearts. And may GOD have mercy on us both.
Regulator writes:
volfaninchattanooga, are you Canadian, or just a hockey fan? "Defence" haha lol
cphil writes:
Guys, did I miss something this week? Hardesty finally gets in the game tonight and was the first back to actually look good for us in the game. The announcers on ESPN kept talking about him having an ankle injury this week, then sure enough, after he scored the touchdown, he disappeared again.
When/how did he hurt his ankle?
utmdm writes:
They are saying surgery for Johnson also.
FWBVol writes:
The Vols seemed to have the game in control until Mitchell started making plays at quarterback early in the third quarter. I tip my orange cap to the kid, he's a warrior. The same pressure UT was using to rattle Smelley and pick up key sacks, didn't phase the 5th-year senior.
Just as the SC offense fed off Mitchell, it carried over to their defense.
With poor field position on UT's first possession of the second half, it seemed smart to go conervative on that series, but after that it things just snowballed.
I question the offensive interference call against Chris Brown that took away a first down. Yes, he pushed off the defensive back, but I don't know the ball was in the air at the time. From my living room, it didn't look any worse than the pushoff Alabama's DJ Hall got away with on one of his TD catches.
That said, speaking of Hall, I'm great concerned about the secondary. Last week Hall had a career game againt us and this week the SC kid did. Maybe the coach that needs to bite the bullet is Larry Slade in the secondary.
I respectfully disagree with those who question Cutcliffe as an offensive coordinator and play caller. Nobody seemed concerned about the play calling when UT handed it to Georgia and lit up the scoreboard. I will say though, if you can't get his name correct with as long as he's been a part of the UT program in his two tenures on the HIll, it's not "Cutliff," don't rip the man's coaching ability.
Did we get lucky tonight? I think so, but I'm not complaining. I'll take a lucky win any time.
FYI, Fulmer is now 2-2 in his last four meetings against Spurrier and has won 3 of the last 4 against Mark Richt and Georgia.
Hunter writes:
Could we not just have someone on the defense stand 15 yards from the line of scrimmage in the center of the field???? They threw it there seemingly dozens of times and we seemed surprised every time. Also, is there a 10 yard "halo rule" now for receivers? Apparently the conference told Chief about it, but no one else!
chefjorge writes:
I'm in the we didn't deserve the win camp. We can't tackle, cover or run with any consistency and are generally uninspired. I've just about had it with bad football, no sense of urgency football. I'm never rooting for us to lose, but I think the decision on if Fulmer stays or goes should be based on the actual product, not how lucky it is.
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
All the negatives are obvious, and I could spend an hour railing against the coaches, but as a change of pace for this board, let's focus on the positives:
DeAngelo Willingham - forced 2 fumbles
Eric Berry - 1 fumble recovery (and great run), 1 INT, should have had Karl's INT had it not been for Hefney - in my opinion, UT's best open-field runner/playmaker with the ball in his hands
Gerald Jones - 2 great, athletic catches - he looks faster than anyone else on the field when he's in
All above are first-year players. Our future looks outstanding; 2008 could be the year.
I predict Fulmer has a one-year stay of execution, caoches 2008, then hands the program to Cutcliffe and Trooper (who will need to become more involved in playcalling to make that next step).
FWBVol writes:
I agree we probably didn't deserve to win, but I don't think any UT fan will turn it down (OK, maybe those calling for PF's head will). I'm going to enjoy it for now and forget how ugly it really was. GO BIG ORANGE!!
JDvols writes:
Vol coaches, outstanding halftime adjustments! I'm glad we won, but must we continue to look so inept?
FatherVol writes:
Rayno, WHO will the QB be in 2008. Since 2001 I have sounded more like a University of Memphis fan since I find myself saying, "Next year's the year..."
ONUV writes:
fire fulmer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
raynochonspeed#212632 writes:
FatherVol: Crompton will get his shot, but I've read Cut mentioning that BJ Coleman has the best potential on the roster and that Coleman spends more time breaking down film than anyone he's seen since Peyton.
The QB doesn't need to be great, just efficient and effective. All RBs and WRs are returning, as is most of the offensive line.
Our receiving corps should be electric next year, especially if Eric Berry gets some looks there (which he should).
Oenoboy writes:
ONUV...hmmm...must stand for Overly Negative Uneducated Vol-hater. Right?
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
501 yards against our (alleged) defense, 300 in the air. Our prevent defense didn't.
Our offense was offensive, too, in the second half -- 70 total yards.
We all know how close we came to losing this game (Foster's fumble, SC missed FG). One play away from an orange lynching mob.
Yet here we sit, with a chance to go to Atlanta. Unbelievable.
I sure wouldn't want Fulmer's or any of the coaches' jobs.
jhenson#377512 writes:
slovog...You have every right to be a blind loyalist and support your coach, but I'd suggest you study the stats since 1999 (our last SEC championship...btw) before continuing to make ignorant comments such as... "I see where you guys are coming from. If you keep writing that we have no chance, over and over, every game, every week, you are correct every so often and then you can feel like you know football. Brilliant strategy. Very impressive."
Ok Slo (fitting name btw...)
Here's what's not impressive...
Only two bowl wins since the National Championship, lost over half our games against top 20 teams, a 5-6 season mixed in, and just generally ugly fotball.
So yeah...any time we play a good team, I'll contend we will probably lose and the stats say I'll be right more than I'm wrong.
I'm glad we won tonight, because I'll never pull against UT, but dude surely you're smart enough and know enough about football to understand we will lose more games than we win, against good teams, playing like we did tonight.
jhenson#377512 writes:
mbumburu...No doubt! Unbelievable. Funny thing is...my SEC championship tix came in the mail this week and I didn't think there was a snowballs chance in hell I'd be using them. Honestly, I still don't, but who knows...after a 5 touchdown loss to Florida and a 3 touchdown loss to Bama, we don't really deserve it, but...we once again control our own destiny. Hard to imagine we can continue playing this poorly and win out, but what the heck....GO VOLS!
cphil writes:
slovog, the bottom line is it should NEVER have gotten to the point of being tied at the end of regulation. We have a far superior talent pool to USC. In spite of the coaching, or lack thereof, we had the 21-0 lead at halftime. Instead of getting the team up to come out in the second half and continue to play aggressive ball, they came out flatter than roadkill on I-40.
Who blinked? I did for the entire second half, as I bet most Vol fans did...in shock yet again.
gmccown007#392764 writes:
For those of you who still have a copy of our 1998 National Championship year OVERTIME defeat of Florida (and Spurrier)I give you a point of stunning, almost EERIE fascination. That game, too, ended with us winning in OVERTIME on a missed field goal (Final score Tennessee 20 Florida 17). That, though, is not even remotely the point. The point is this. Tonight, from the moment the ball leaves the kickers toe until it ends up in the fans hands, EVERYTHING about the kick is 110% IDENTICAL to the kick of 1998! I mean, not just that that kick too was a "push" --- with absolutely identical FLIGHT, TRAJECTORY, etc. ---but if you "count" LEFT to RIGHT (from the right most goal post) as well as UP and DOWN (that is, account for all the consequent ROWS of seats) the ball ends up in the hands of effectively the "same" fan.
Now, other than the remarkable oddity of all of that, what does any of this really "matter"? Well, regardless of just how deeply we admitted FANATICS love our VOLS, there is not a single one of us, if you are genuinely honest --- no matter how "DEVOTED" you may be --- who isn't "forced" to concede that we --- in no way --- genuinely DESERVED to win tonight's game!!! Thus, we would seem to "need" the intercession of some sort of HIGHER POWER. Say, perhaps, like whatever "author" of the "event" I have just outlined for you.
Let it be said, though. I am not even remotely tempted to give the victory back. Say, to forfeit the game to Spurrier. After all, how many times have we been on the other side, suffering all the torments of the damned?
agentorange writes:
WE WON! That used to be a good thing no matter what. There are no style points. Is anybody posting on here more than 10 yrs old? doubtful. Fulmer has the highest winning percentage of coaches with 10 years experience. If you want to fire a guy with that plus an nc, you're dumb. enroll at UT for a semester or two and learn something. you'll get free fb tix too.
10ACVOL writes:
Anybody else see ol' Kevin Simon on the sideline during the game? NICE
JDvols writes:
slovog: It’s not about who blinked. With the overtime rules being what they are, inevitably one team or the other will win. That’s not the point. If you have a 21-point lead at halftime, it should never come down to overtime. If not for SC’s own mistakes in the first half, we likely would have had only a marginal lead at halftime, if at all. Adjustments should have been made at halftime because we were playing poorly. If any were made, clearly they did not help. SC put up 400 yards of offense in the second half and our offense did not perform much better than the defense. We were very fortunate to escape with a victory.
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