Audio:
- Dave Hooker interviews Phillip Fulmer
- Dave Hooker interviews offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe
- Dave Hooker interviews DT coach Dan Brooks
- Dave Hooker interviews DB coach Larry Slade
- Dave Hooker interviews QB Erik Ainge
- Dave Hooker interviews LB Ryan Karl
- Dave Hooker interviews DE Xavier Mitchell
- Dave Hooker interviews DT Dan Williams
Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Southern Mississippi
- When: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, 7 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee demoted two senior starters on Tuesday following a 45-31 loss to California in the season opener last Saturday.
Defensive tackle J.T. Mapu lost his position to sophomore Dan Williams while Jarod Parrish lost his starting strong safety spot to freshman Eric Berry for Saturday’s home opener against Southern Miss.
“I want everybody to understand that the guys that played the best are the ones that are going to play,” Fulmer said.
Berry started the opener as UT’s fifth defensive back in its nickel package. Berry was then moved to strong safety for the entire second half.
“He brings an energy and he tries to crush people,” defensive backs coach Larry Slade said. “He gets around the football, whether it’s at corner or safety. He’s an outstanding football player.”
Berry had seven tackles Saturday. Parrish had three tackles, one for a loss.
“Jarod has played well,” Slade said. “He’s just got a guy in front of him that’s extremely talented.”
Said Fulmer, “Eric Berry’s a special football player.”
Berry primarily practiced at cornerback since arriving at UT early this summer. Midway through preseason practice, he began seeing time at safety, the position he played at Creekside High School in Fairburn, Ga., as well as quarterback.
“He’s a football player,” Slade said. “You put him out there, he adapts. He sees things. There are some things you can’t coach.
“He’s maybe the best freshman that I’ve coached. He probably comes with a little bit more maturity than most others.”
Williams wasn’t quite as ready when he enrolled at UT. He lost 60 pounds within months of his arrival in 2005, then added strength and improved his technique throughout 2006.
“He’s continued to improve throughout spring practice and this fall,” defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks said. “He’s got his weight in a situation where I think he can help us.
“I think he’s stronger than he was a year ago, without the weight.”
Fulmer said the decision was based on the Cal game, in which Williams had one-half tackle for a loss while Mapu had one tackle.
“Dan Williams played in the game better than J.T. did and he’ll take the challenge,” Fulmer said. “That’ll make us a better football team.”
Williams was surprised when made aware of the change by media assembled for interviews Tuesday.
“When I go out there,” Williams said, “I just try to play 100-percent and give my all for the team.
After making the announcement, Fulmer was adamant in defending the pair who lost their starting positions.
“I don’t want anybody to think for one minute that Jarrod Parrish or J.T. lost the game,” he said. “That’s not the case at all.”
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Comments » 36
vol4jesus writes:
CHA..CHA..CHANGES. Good sign the willingness to do so. For others it reminds them they are being watched and evaluated. No position is safe. GO VOLS!!!
scvols writes:
I thought Mapu was going to be an all conference player. I thought him and Bolden were going to have an outstanding year. 0 sacks, I know, I know, I can not stop saying it.
Ironcity writes:
Next should be Josh Briscoe
mdvol writes:
Wow, a willingness to play the younger (more talented) players! Fulmer has always shown a bias toward upperclassmen. Benching two seniors for a freshman and sophomore ought to send a message. Percy Harvin at Florida, Moreno at Georgia and that Cal freshman who ran all over us are all winning games for their teams. We have lost too many games (mainly to Florida) with key freshman on the bench. Neither Coker last year nor Jamal Lewis as a freshman played against Florida only to become studs later the same year. I say ABOUT TIME.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Thanks, I concur with the decision. Any Change on the D line is good right now. Any one heard if X man will be ready this Sat?
volgrog#210164 writes:
vol4good, in another post I believe one of the reporters said Mitchell practiced on Monday.
objk1#231846 writes:
good
volfanjustin writes:
Any one heard if X man will be ready this Sat?
Jimmy Hines of Scout.com said on a local radio show here in Nashville that Chavis told him that he would play Sat. Now maybe we will get really lucky and Fulmer will not make it.
rootin4volz writes:
There was NOBODY on that defense who was hitting as hard last Saturday night as Eric Berry was...That dude is a stud! Good call on starting him.
bloodrunsorange writes:
We’ve still got a lot of speed that needs to be put in situations to be successful. Returns, WR’s, DB’s, and RB’s have speed on the bench. Cal used their speed and we didn’t. I guarantee Florida will.
BigUn writes:
They need to move Mayo back out to OLB where he is a beast and move Ellix Wilson or somebody else to MLB. Ryan Karl, take a seat next to Parish.
Get the best guys on the field at their best positions, is what it's all about.
andy112382#209793 writes:
vol4jesus, agreed.
I must say I am suprised at Mapu, that might make us shy away from recruiting heavily the guys who will be leaving on missions halfway through their eligibility, apparently in this case all of that coaching in the first two years when he was tearing it up went down the drain, at least to an extent, enough to make him lose his starting job. I have been impressed in the limited time I have seen Dan Williams, hopefully Bolden and Williams will be a winning combination, we shall see saturday!!! Err, well in my case, most likely HEAR saturday since I don't really have a way to watch it.
GO VOLS!!!
DroopyDrawers writes:
Briscoe is not SEC ready. We need someone to catch the ball and make something happen.
Austin Rogers will hit you. He lost his helmet Sat and still got 4-5 more yards.
Go Vols!
seaplane#216536 writes:
Hope Hefney is looking over his shoulder, because he sure had a rough time last Saturday night.
hueypilot writes:
I wasn't impressed by any of the down linemen. X chased Longshore deep in the pocket making him throw it away was about the only real hurry I saw all evening. As for the "why didn't we blitz?" cries, we did several times and appropriately got burned. Longshore is a heck of a qb in knowing where to distribute the ball. Don't know if he'll stay around for four years, but I think you will defintely see him playing on Sunday. Dont' know about our penchant for the big durable back like Foster or Hardesty (Houston, Davis, the list goes on) over the smaller more mobile back like Forsett (Charlie Garner was really the only one I remember that we've had) Maybe Forsett will get hurt at some point in the season, giving rise to those who like a bigger more durable back, but those little darters like Forsett sure look impressive when they get the ball in space.
RunRunPassPunt writes:
I am still completely baffled by Ryan Karl being a starting linebacker. Andre Mathis, Ellix Wilson, Adam Myers White, Dorian Davis, and the list goes on. He may have a motor but it does you no good when you are constantly on your back. Cal ran right at him all night and I can't recall even one tackle. A lot of the teams we play have running backs bigger than him! Someone please tell me what he brings to our team?
RunRunPassPunt writes:
I'm with you HueyPilot. But our down linemen do break through at times - when the OL lets them so they can sucker us into a screen. How many times did you see that last year? The overpursuit by our D kills us. Yet it never seems to get corrected.
vol4jesus writes:
Andy you can get game on free streaming via utsports.com. Read article on cha..cha..changes at Neyland and the info is about half way into article about free this year. Congrats on new job!!
Basketball_Jones writes:
I think this is a great move by Fulmer. I honestly don't ever recall this happening in the past unless there was an injury or the QB job. If Berry is as talented as everyone says and from what we all saw he is, why not put him on both sides of the ball or have him return punts and kicks. I also think that we need to put better athelets on our special teams units, this isn't HS where kids who are 3rd teamers get to play, put your studs out there. Take a note or 2 from Frank Beamer
vol4jesus writes:
I'm cha...cha..changing this to a HOT article now!
westennvol writes:
I'm glad that PF is finally deciding after 15 years to play some freshman. It is how most other D-I schools do it. As far as Mapu. I never saw anything out of him worth wasting a scholarship for. He got a free ride for nothing at UT. Trying replacing Ryan Karl w/ Chris Donald from Huntindon. I saw him play in H.S. AWESOME!
TNvolunteer writes:
It's about time Fulmer wakes up and realizes that Berry needs to be in the line-up...but at Strong Safety? Put him at Cb...Where in Nevin McKenzie and DeAngelo Willingham??? Those two kids have about as much expireince as the entire secoundary combine? Austin Rodgers is turning into a good WR...Lucas Taylor appears to be solid...Briscoe is a little iffy...Fulmer needs to get Kenny O'Neal into the games and get him some open field catches...I dont understand why we recruit JUCO kids if we dont plan to use them right away...I mean isnt that the point..I bet if we had Coker returning kicks against Cal...He scores on the one that Foster had a huge return on...Chris Brown is very reliable...He is our saftey blanket for Ainge...Brad Cottam needs to hurry back...I am with the guy who suggetsed moving Mayo back to the outside and moving someone like Ellix Wilson or Chris Donald inside...Karl is ok..but he may not have the physicality to play LB at the SEC level. Go Vols!
vol4jesus writes:
Oh what a happy camper we have here! Look at the post name and get a good idea on the heart in each post. Get delt a bad hand huh? Do you want all the UT players to be unhappy every Saturday? Let's play them and the results will take care of themselves either way ok? Canned or staying time will tell. In the meantime GO VOLS!! You can't say that because it defeats your purpose. True colors, if Orange and White, will hear silence or negativity from you only. My what a quagmire to be in on Saturday or any day.
invisiblekid writes:
Good to see CPF take some action after the first game instead of waiting until game 3 or 4 as he has in the past. Tend to agree with IronCity on Briscoe, he shys away from contact too much. Not the case with Hancock, who seems more willing to block. I'd say the majority of long runs are a direct result of the WR blocking downfield and if they can't get open downfield, then we at least need someone who can block downfield. Also agree with Huey on the issue of the bigger backs. Don't get me wrong, I like Foster, but if he doesn't get caught from behind, Lucas Taylor isn't lining up and taking the snap on the series I felt did as much to lose the game for us as any. As far as the O line and D line goes, I have beat that to death on here and will leave it at saying that I don't believe they are up to the standard we have come to expect at UT. Finally, with regards to Berry, I think it is too soon to assume anything after one game but he sure stood out for a freshman, glad to see him starting.
Txvol57 writes:
I think that is great that Eric Berry is starting. But, what happen to Nevin McKenzie? He was listed on the depth chart behind Parrish. 6'2'' 210lbs playing safety!!!! I saw his game tapes and he hits like Atwater!! I think Berry is going to be great but McKenzie is a monster!! Why is he not starting?
footballfan writes:
Why is there so much argument over whether or not to fire Fulmer? And what is this about he has earned the right to make things right? I must have been watching something else since the late 90s, but it seems to me that Fulmer has had one and a half good seasons since his national championship. I don't think it is even a choice for someone with any football sense. I have read over and over again about how all the fire Fulmer people start screaming for his head and how all of his supporters are tired of hearing it. Well my friends, there are only two ways you will stop hearing it. You can either don the earplugs, or, and I would much rather see this, Fulmer could start winning. Fulmer supporters are flabbergasted at the dissent for Phil. I say, I am flabbergasted that anyone would want to stand up for him. He is a decent man, decent husband, and a decent father. Good for him. That doesn't make him the right choice for UT football. He is a past-his-prime coach. Take a look at his career. He got to coach Peyton Manning, who make anyone look good. Then he got as lucky as I have ever seen any sports team of any kind get in '98. Since then, let down after let down has been the norm. Still, he has earned the right to make things right? You have got to be kidding me. I would love Fulmer as much as the next guy if UT was winning, but they are not. Henceforth, I see it as not only necessary, but all the more proper that the Vols find themselves a new football coach. I do not hate Fulmer. I applaud him for his accomplishments, as everyone should, but those past accomplishments don't give him any right to influence the future of the team. UT needs help, and lots of it. I would love nothing more than to see UT win. If Fulmer does it, then I'm ok with that. If he doesn't, then I'm ok with him being fired. That is the way most of us fire Fulmer people feel. For all of you supporters of Phil, I implore you to look over your Vols history the last 16 years and see just how much of a slip has occurred. Too much talent coupled with too few wins anywhere else in the world and he would have been long gone. I'm sorry to all those that disagree, but at the end of the day, if he doesn't have it, he doesn't have it.
Go Vols.
invisiblekid writes:
Good questions about McKenzie and Willingham, seems pointless to sign JUCO guys if they aren't going to make a strong push to start.
objk1#231846 writes:
Move Hardesty to MLB, we should have done the same with Jabari Davis.
mdvol writes:
Bring out the stat freaks and Fulmer bashers because here I go. footballfan, who do you propose is better than PF? Carr, Stoops, Coker, Weis, Brown, Richt, Tubberville, Spurrier??? Past his prime? You're nuts. Last 16 years? You don't want to got there. I know we lost to Cal but so will at least 10 other teams this year. Granted, there have been several bowl disappointments. But, he just inked one of the best recruiting classes in the country in a state that has inconsistent and mediocre talent. He's making player changes prior to the SEC slate. I know close enough is not good enough in most Vol fan's eyes. I agree. You haven't posted much and I'm sure you'll disappear if UT wins at FLA and beats GA in Knoxville. Pete Carroll has the upper hand on everyone right now but besides him we better stick with the winningest coach in D-1 over the past 10 years.
Txvol57 writes:
mdvol...are you retarded? Have you not paid attention to the last decade? Yes, UT had a great run in the late 90's mostly because of great recruting classes that put UT's level of talent above everyone else. Not so much now that every one has caught up. Need I remind you that in the last 7 seasons UT has a 14-11 record over the last 25-game span in perspective, Tennessee lost 11 games over a six-SEASON stretch from 1993 through 1998. NOT TO MENTION FULMERS LESS THAN SPECTACTULAR RECORD AGIANST TEAMS RANKED IN THE TOP 25. Miami in 2002, Auburn twice in 04', Cal this year, Georgia and Florida how many times? Wake up!! Fulmer's BS approach of playing not to lose is sicking.....his idea of just wating for the other team to make a mistake is garbage....whatever happen to the days of going for the throat and putting teams away? A la Spurrier, Tubberville, Tedford and Carrol.
footballfan writes:
mdvol, why do you hate me? Is it because I don't believe the same as you? I know exactly what you want. I should just throw on my blue jumpsuit now and start typing in Newspeak, huh? I don't care what you think about my beliefs, I care about the Vols. I truly believe Fulmer cannot take the Vols to prominence again. If I am wrong then I would be very happy because it would mean that Tennessee had a great season this year. It has nothing to do with the loss at Cal. I appreciate your love for Vols football. Let's keep up that enthusiasm and I really do hope the Vols have a great year.
Go Vols.
mdvol writes:
Still didn't answer my question. Fire Fulmer, THEN WHAT? Find a Bruce Pearl out there? I wish. Name a coach that doesn't have a condom for a mascot that you could GUARANTEE would take us BCS bowling every year. You guys will feel better after this Saturday.
footballfan writes:
So mdvol, since there are no clear cut answers to who might be available to take the Vols to a BCS game every year, we should just go ahead and stick with a coach that hasn't taken the team to a BCS bowl in how many years? I'm no expert, but it seems taking a chance on someone that could get it done is a better deal than staying with a coach that has proven for a few years now that he absolutely can't get it done. I hope, for the sake of this year's team, that Fulmer does, in fact, get UT to a BCS game. It would be my pleasure to be wrong about something like that.
Go Vols.
Txvol57 writes:
Mdvol......fire fulmer and the entire coaching staff except Troop and hire the Boise St. coaching staff. Can you imagine their offense with our players!!!! There are plenty of coaches out there....get an offensive coordinator from an NFL team that wants a head coaching job just like USC and Noter Dame did
westennvol writes:
I would love to see PF put Eric Berry at wideout and see if we can stretch the field like back in 2001 w/ donte' stallworth. I think that if we can run the ball effectively this year and keep opposing defenses on the field, we can play old-school UT football Neyland style, we can control the tempo of the game and maybe, just maybe that will make up for our shortcomings on defense. Oh yeah, not to be a jerk, but why in the world would you ever want UT to have a losing season just to get Fulmer fired! That sounds like something that bama guy on here the other day would have said. OH YEAH, THAT WILL ATTRACT THE RECRUITS INTO K-VILLE! 5-6 OR 4-7 SEASONS! Are you crazy????
tom865#278083 writes:
In response to govols57, Boise State's coaches trying their offense in the SEC would get our players mangled and crunched very quickly. Oh yeah, hire somebody like Charlie Weis? Let's see how well did we play with our backup qb last year against LSU? Now, how did Charlie Weis fare against LSU last year in the bowl game? This is what you guys want? Come on! Let's talk some sense!!
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