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Lincoln gives Vols another kick start
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Erik Ainge knew exactly who to thank.
He looked to his left, smiled his best that-was-close smile, and bowed in Daniel Lincoln's general direction.
The freshman kicker had bailed out the senior quarterback.
Lincoln was almost ho-hum about his two late field goals lifting Tennessee to a 27-24 overtime victory against No. 15-ranked South Carolina.
Ainge was relieved. He called it his worst game of the season.
Lincoln called it just another night in what has become a sterling, breakout season for the kid from Ocala, Fla.
"How about this guy right here winning the game for us?" Ainge said of Lincoln in Saturday's post-game interview session.
Lincoln just gave an aw-shucks shrug.
But Tennessee (5-3, 3-2 SEC) is in control of the SEC East division because of the leg of Lincoln.
With five seconds remaining in regulation, Lincoln missed a 43-yard practice field goal.
A motion penalty moved the Vols back five yards and Lincoln calmly drilled a career-long 48-yarder to force overtime.
His chip-shot 27-yarder from the left hash eventually won it for UT in overtime.
"I just needed to take advantage of that next opportunity and make that next kick," Lincoln said. "Everybody's going to talk about the two field goals we made, and those were big plays, but …"
That's when Lincoln proceeded to credit LaMarcus Coker for his kick return and Ainge for moving the offense into his range.
Coker's 37-yard kick return answered South Carolina's 49-yard, go-ahead field goal and put UT at its own 47 with 1:11 remaining.
Ainge managed to complete a couple of short passes to Chris Brown and Arian Foster was living right when his fumble was recovered by UT lineman Jacques McClendon and resulted in an 18-yard gain to the South Carolina 26.
"I just let them know if we got there we were going to make the kick," Lincoln said. "That's my job.
"If I get one opportunity, or three opportunities like I did tonight, it's just about taking advantage of the opportunities and going from there."
For the season, Lincoln has hit 15 of 16 field-goal attempts and has been perfect (29-for-29) on extra points.
"He's a football player," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He's just a tough kid."
Lincoln seemed unfazed by his first wide-left field goal blown dead by the UT penalty.
"The first kick, I heard the whistle blow and just decided to go ahead and kick it," he said.
"I think Casey (Woods) eased up and was about to pull the ball up when I kicked it. We knew it wasn't going to count."
Tennessee spent most of the second half holding its breath and trying desperately to hold onto a 21-0 halftime lead.
A Vols' offense that had produced 205 yards in the first half, stumbled and stuttered its way to 112 yards in the second half.
Tennessee had two second-half first downs, both coming on the same third quarter drive, before rallying for the biggest first down of the night at the end of regulation.
Ainge finished 26-of-44 for 216 yards and was intercepted once. He was 12-of-23 for 77 yards and off target much of the third and fourth quarters.
"I probably played worse tonight than I have all season," Ainge said. "I really didn't play well.
"I didn't play well tonight, but defense and special teams kept us in it and won the football game for us. They got it done."
Center Josh McNeil let everybody know Tennessee wasn't going away without a fight.
"It has been a rollercoaster ride the past couple of weeks," he said. "But we're back on top of the East right now."
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Posted by slovog on October 28, 2007 at 2:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He may not be "Honest Abe" Lincoln, but Daniel is AT LEAST that "true".
Posted by slovog on October 28, 2007 at 3:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey loser/haters - any of you looked at the east standings? They're posted. And I'm feeling a little pleased with them. Please show me how it's terrible. And could you pile some "Foolmore's" and Krispy Kreme references on top of that, please.
And could someone please cut and paste gmc's rambling nonsense about Spurrier being our next coach. You can find a version of it in any article or column from the last couple of days.
Don't forget the waistline jokes, either. They are sooooooo funny and witty. And FRESH!
I'll be here waiting, sipping on this refreshing orange kool-aid. Thanks!
Posted by nicksjuzunk on October 28, 2007 at 3:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
slovog:
Pass that kool-aid! I'll have another swig when I think about Kentucky, South Carolina, and Florida all losing while TN goes up!
You're right. Spurrier is the only one who can save us now from certain SEC East champion status!
Let's find a way to stop Arkansas run game (doubtful) or at least pile on 40 points!
Posted by slovog on October 28, 2007 at 3:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The swine DID have an impressive win over some Florida highschool earlier today.
Posted by nicksjuzunk on October 28, 2007 at 5:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
slovog: As the great UT optimist though, I still think we don't have a shot at stopping their run.
However... they do have Casey Dick as their QB and not much D so I give us the win.
MacFadden and Jones should peel off over 300 combined though.
Posted by cphil on October 28, 2007 at 6:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it healthy for all the lemmings to be drinking Kool-Aid?
Posted by girdle1998 on October 28, 2007 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SC had one of the toughest defenses we have seen all year. Ainge said he played badly, but most of those guys were covered all night. Eric Berry was one of the main heroes of this game though. That fumble return was tremendous.
Posted by killer65forevervol on October 28, 2007 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
girdle1998 is exactly right about SC defense. So why does Cutcliffe continue his 80/20 pass over run offense??? Why couldnt Cutcliffe see receivers were well covered? I cant figure this out understanding our playing this year has resulted in better game play when we had a balanced attack offense. No trickery, no innovation.... Same ol' pass and hope for the best.
Posted by Ironcity on October 28, 2007 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Better to be lucky then good.
Posted by tngeoff on October 28, 2007 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
cphil,
Good one!
Posted by Rok_Etop on October 28, 2007 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Spurrier,
You can't spell Sucks without a U, S, and a C !!
Ugly wins are still W's!! Go to church this morning and thank the good lord, then get back to work!!
Posted by johnlg00 on October 28, 2007 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gotta say, I'm about over Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator. I've never played or coached football but I've heard all my life that when the defense has 7 men in the box, you run; when they have 8 men in the box, you pass. About halfway through the 3d quarter, I noticed several times that SC had 3 men on the line and the LB's were three yards or more off the line and yet we continued to try to pass. And not long field-stretching passes, but the same old 3-yd turnouts into the teeth of the defense! At least twice we dodged bullets when the DB's failed to make easy interceptions on the corner that they could have taken to the house. Ainge is a good QB when he is in rhythm and has time, but he is at his best when the running game makes the play-action credible. I nearly fell out of my chair when they tried that 10-yd fade pass into double coverage on 4th-and-1, instead of manning up and pounding out one lousy yard! SC leads the SEC in pass defense but is middle of the pack in run defense, yet we kept trying to pass even when the defensive alignment favored the run. Maybe the professionals on the side lines saw something different, but that's the way it looked to me.
Posted by invisiblekid on October 28, 2007 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lincoln not only won the game for the Vols, but he put them in "control of their own destiny" for at least a couple of weeks and possibly saved the head coach his job in the process. Good job young man. No suprise to see Fulmer with that___-eating grin on his face after the game. That was priceless. Blowing this game along with the pathetic showings at Bama and FL just might have been the final nail in the coffin.
Posted by DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu on October 28, 2007 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This kid is a slam dunk for SEC All Freshman team (if they have such a thing) and maybe even for All SEC. He certainly has the right attitude.
Don't change anything you're doing, son.
Posted by TurboFan on October 28, 2007 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Other than the 12 yard run by Coker in OT, was there any other run play that gained more than 3 yards? Not many if any. That is why we had to pass. How in the heck does the 3rd worst rushing defense in the SEC stonewall us?
And the "10-yd fade pass" was more like 25 and was brilliant if Ainge didn't overthrow. If we had run the ball, how many would be complaining of "predictability"?
Surprised Fulmer didn't get another gatorade shower. Why should he be so happy that his team played so bad yet still won. Never be happy with mediocrity! News flash, we were outplayed in the first half also, practically given 14 points by SC's Smelley QB.
Posted by asleep on October 28, 2007 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Outplayed? Garbage! Turnovers are part of "play" and we did better in that category. Probably the only category we won but it was, in this game, the most important. Further, on any other night, we have 2 more TD's from Ainge in the first half and the 4th and 1 fade was an overthrow, plain and simple - the receiver had beaten his man. I say USC got lucky Ainge was off or that would have been another Georgia whipping. I can't believe people are apologizing for scoring off of turnovers, as if those TD's were not legitimate. Ask Auburn (MSU or S. Florida) and Kentucky (MSU) if they would rather have won yardage or turnovers. Win how you can. Heck, if your defense sucks (ours certainly does) and the offense is predictable and unbalanced (no doubt the last two games) then take your turnovers and go with it. Plus three in turnover margin the rest of the year will likely get us to Atlanta no matter how badly the defense or offense play! go Vols!!!
Posted by invisiblekid on October 28, 2007 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Asleep, turnovers are the great equalizer but I don't think we can count on being + 3 in every game from here on out. I hope this team and coaches remember to "work like heck" on the many shortcomings they had last night.
Posted by asleep on October 29, 2007 at 12:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
invisiblekid,
Agreed. And they are going to be working a "heck" of a long time to clean those shortcomings up!
Posted by mparker on October 29, 2007 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I kinda thought that was the deal on Lincoln's first try. Clearly, the whistle had blown, and he kicked it any way. I guess it makes for better drama if the TV guys play it up as a 'miss'.
Yeah, Spurrier can't stand losing to Phil. That bothers him more than losing, period. steve did a great job at halftime. He's such a smart coach, and he got the right plays in place for his kids.
I dread the day when Steve has the QB's like he had at UF.....
Posted by LazhilUT on October 29, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
At least the kicker is good and can deal with Fulmer calling him out...I wonder how the D and Ainge would deal with Fulmer calling them out...oh wait...Fulmer doesn't have the balls to call them out because he has NO control over the football team. Pardon me.
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