Event Details
- What: Tennessee at Florida
- When: Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Gainesville, Fla.
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Cue the tumbleweed. Go ahead and press play on the theme from “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” It might not even hurt to wear a 10-gallon hat.
If conventional wisdom prevails, 22nd-ranked Tennessee’s SEC opener against No. 5 Florida this afternoon in The Swamp (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.) will be a shootout more fit for Tombstone than Gainesville.
Through two games, the teams are averaging a combined 84 points and more than 900 yards of total offense.
Both defenses are young and the Gators’ unit, which replaced nine starters from a year ago, has yet to be truly tested in opening games against Western Kentucky and Troy.
But with a high-scoring game comes momentum swings, and controlling those swings can often mean the difference between winning and losing.
“During the course of the ballgame, you kind of have to stay smooth and calm and know there’s going to be another upside,” UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. “If it’s late in the fourth quarter, you know you’ve got make something happen fast. These have been such close ballgames and both sides have had swings. That’s where your veterans on your team help you a lot. We expect them to help.”
The Vols (1-1) will be counting on senior quarterback Erik Ainge the most.
UT’s unquestioned leader on offense is completing 66 percent of his passes and has 547 yards and five touchdowns without a single interception so far this season, despite a broken pinky finger on his throwing hand.
Wide receivers Lucas Taylor and Austin Rogers have upped their game, and both topped 100 yards receiving last week. Taylor has done that in both of the Vols’ games this season.
Combine that with the effective running of Arian Foster, and the expected improvement of gamebreaker LaMarcus Coker, and the Vols’ offense is capable of putting plenty of points on the board.
That offense has also shown it’s capable of handling some pretty big momentum swings.
When Cal returned a fumble for a touchdown on UT’s opening drive of the season, Ainge recovered from a vicious hit by linebacker Zack Follett and led the offense 70 yards for a touchdown.
Staring down a six-point deficit late in the second quarter last week against Southern Miss, the offense responded again with a 73-yard touchdown drive to take a 17-16 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, UT scored on four of its first five possessions to take control in a 39-19 win.
“We talk about that,” Fulmer said. “That’s one of the game maxims: If things don’t go well, you put on more steam. We’ve had two tough ballgames that we’ve handled it both times pretty well. One we got it done real well, the first time we didn’t.”
What matters this week is getting the job done against Florida (2-0) and its spread option offense.
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow has shown that he’s not just a running quarterback in completing 75 percent of his passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns. He’s also averaging 5.2 yards on 25 carries and is the ideal quarterback for Florida coach Urban Meyer’s spread option offense.
They key to defending the Gators will be what gave Tennessee so much trouble in its 45-31 loss to No. 8 Cal: Tackling superb athletes in the open field.
“You have to defend the entire field, and you have to be able to make great plays on great athletes in space,” UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. “That’s what makes it so effective. They get the ball to their most talented athletes in open space. Our challenge is to make the play in our first opportunity.”
And ultimately, take advantage of the one presented today in Gainesville.
Whether it turns out to be a shootout like the series was in the mid-1990s or a grind-it-out game like it has been recently, the stakes are the same.
“It’s a big SEC game. It’s a rivalry,” senior tight end Chris Brown said. “The winner of this game usually goes to the SEC championship (game). We just want to do what we can do and control what we can control.”
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Comments » 168
Coach_Joe writes:
Is it just me or is JA the only one who has a man crush on Meyer. If he has such high feelings for him then why doesn't he go and cover the gators instead of shovling us full of Tebow?
Thanks Drew for your contribution and remembering that you're in K-town! Whether you think we'll win or not.
VAVol writes:
The Vols will win by 10 points.
bigbluevol writes:
Maybe a little too far wkb. I'm sick of him too, but you have to admit, he's a great human being. I definitely don't want him to get hurt. I just want the world to remember he's human. I hope we can do our part to show that Saturday. It's too bad he had to go to Florida. Oh well, nobody's perfect.
auttat writes:
wkb12, Heard a classic from John Adams during SEC Media days this summer. You know how Tim Tebow screws in a light bulb? He just holds the light up to the socket and waits for the world to revolve around him. What i wouldn't give to see him the get the treatment Quincy Carter got in '98. Just don't see it in this defense, yet!!
carolinavol writes:
wkb12, the first part of your comment was very funny. The last part was cruel. Tim Tebow is a good kid and a great football player. If he were a Vol, we would all be loving him! Lighten up and enjoy the rivalry!
andy112382#209793 writes:
I don't want him to blow a knee, but I would love to rattle him and see McCoy & Co. lay enough hits on him to make him think twice before running on just any ol' SEC defense throughout the duration of an entire game as a starter.
I think two things people are forgetting here that could play a large part in the game are
#1) Caldwell being out, 'nough said there. We all know the signifigance of that one, one less guy to worry about who is a leader on their offense.
#2) Their LT being out with a broken foot. They guy was a great blocker, if that helps just a little bit in our pass rush and run defense, it could mean the difference between a QB hurry and a sack or getting a hand on the RB or stuffing him at the line.
Ultimately I see the Vols early tests this season being THE difference maker, first playing against awesome atheletes as an away team against Cal then playing against an option team and a veteran defense, great tune-ups for the showdown of the season, this is a gigantic game and I think the Vols could come away winners to the tune of 38-27.
Just Beat the Gators!!! GO VOLS!!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
They guy??? I believe I mean 'the guy'....weird, sorry!
DannyVol writes:
Very good article. Finally one that doesn't read like an article written in Gainesville, Florida.
Adams, I'm sorry if you want to be a beat writer for the Gators. They would not hire you. Plus, Tim Tebow does not have the same feelings for you as you do for him.
Like I said before, we can beat this team. Possibly beat them badly...with the right plan of course. I know we can. They are overrated and overranked due to past reputation. This year's Florida team isn't even close to being as good as they were last year or the year before. After we expose them, I see Florida losing at least two more after that. After tomorrow, you can take that "S" off Tebow's chest. He will look like a (mortal) sophomore quarterback starting his first SEC game.
Yes, we will expose them tomorrow. We will expose Tebow as being inexperienced and expose their less than typically strong defense. Watch and see.
Tennessee 34 Florida 27
GaterHator writes:
Has anyone else heard of some kind of fight between Trooper and Chavis?
tidwell_1999#230247 writes:
Haven't heard anything about Troop vs. Chief, but there are rumors floating around that Coker will not play due to a pulled hammy. Anyone else hear anything about Coker?
mtnvol writes:
Given that both defenses are less than what they typically are, this could be the first high scoring game in this series in a long time. Whoever has their defense ready to roll will be in the best shape. Based on opponents and competition, I'd have to give that advantage to the Vols. It is in the Swamp, home of the most inhospitable fans in the SEC, so that edge goes to UF. Therefore, it all comes down to the kicking game. Love our kickers, squirm at our kick coverage. This should be a good one!
G8OR_FAN writes:
Anyone that hopes for or wishes injury to any player, no matter what team they play for, should suffer that same wish ten fold. Both teams have strengths and weaknesses and the game could go either way. As a true college football fan I hope for a great game and everyone comes out of it safe and healthy. GO GATORS
UF 54
UT 39
willwork4vols writes:
Destiny has passed the dice to us again...it's time to roll the point. The point being the difference between mediocrity and returning to college football prominence. Hand me the dice!!!
tidwell_1999#230247 writes:
I was at a sporting goods store at lunch today and the guy behind the counter is the one that told me about Coker. I asked him did he mean Jones and he said no, definitely Coker. Said he heard it on a sports radio call in show this morning.
BOASoldier writes:
I agree G8or-fan, just like I agree that any team that has fans foul enough to throw urine on men and women supporting the opposing team should have everyone of their starters sidelined with injuries. Karma is a bad thing and I hope Tebow gets a mouth full of cleats before the game is over. Shut the cocky Sophomore up. GO VOLS!!!! enough talkin lets take it to them.
G8OR_FAN writes:
We motor-home and tailgate all home games and a few away games every year, we try our best to set up with oppposing team fans and always have the best time with UT fans. Just remember there are good fans and bad fans for every team. Don't judge any teams fan or wish injury to any players because of the bad. When you do, that makes you a bad fan. sjt18 is right, Tebow is the most humble and well mannered young man that I have ever seen from a major university football program. GO GATORS
MrVols writes:
I am deep in gator territory and continue to fly the Tennesse orange on my home, truck, an office. I can tell you that the herassment has gotten a lot better with Meyer. And sjt18 is correct, Teebow has been handling all the hype very well. Much the same Peyton did when he busted out at Tennessee. I hope that our Defense can rise to the occasion.. and Tebow gets a true SEC welcome.
99gator writes:
marc_ash
uhhh...danny wuerffel (93). terry dean(94). doug johnson (97). maybe jesse palmer in (00), because i do not know if palmer or johnson started in 98
BOASoldier writes:
If Tebow Is a truly good guy I apologize for the comment about his cockiness... but I still hope he gets layed out. Nothing serious just hit so hard he walks to the wrong sideline.
andy112382#209793 writes:
I read a good preview on scout.com, their devils advocate article: http://tennessee.scout.com/2/679775.html
Check it out. It points out some trends of Florida scoring tons in their opening games and how it drops off quite a bit against Tennessee and how the last two seasons we lost by being limited agaisnt a very tought defense which is now no longer there. And for those who love doom'n'gloom mode there is the flip side of the argument as well.....though, I need to point out that two of the key people the guy points out, Caldwell and their LT, are both injured.
Beat the gators!!! GO VOLS!!!
andy112382#209793 writes:
TouchdownTN, you have got to be kidding me, only way we beat them is to knock out Tebow??? My orange koolaid is much healthier then whatever you are on. Last time I check, football is a team sport, one man doesn't single handidly beat 11 guys on defense, this will be a very close and good game, oh, and you are embarrassing as a fellow Tennessee 'fan' the way you trash the team you supposidly pull for on occassion.
OldNumber7 writes:
Let's see: Senior QB against Soph. in First SEC Start. Young TN Secondary versus young FL defense. It goes to show that Florida being Favored is a tribute to the uncertainty of which UT coach or team will actually show up - and to the confidence that Urban Meyer with a very young team is better than Fulmer with veteran offensive team and young secondary. On paper, Tennessee should have this one in the bag - but you long-time fans like myself know it's anybody's game (The UT factor). Man I hope we get the ground game going.
Nonprophet writes:
Hello Vol Fans,
Everyone in Northern California is pulling for you. UT has been in the proverbial fire playing tought opponebts - Florida has not. Smack Tebow around and let's see if he completes 75% of passes. Senior QB's make a big difference. It will be tough game but your "gonna take em" UT 32 - UF 21 GO VOLS!
ps LSU looks like #1 not USC.
scvols writes:
I love the VOLS and I have my whole life. It would be great for Fulmer and the staff to go to the swamp and bring home a win, but our program is heading one-way, while the gators are heading the other way.
UF - 41
UT - 17
AKVOL writes:
GO VOLS! from your small, but loyal, fan base here at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
smith7206 writes:
I have nothing against Tebow (other than his choice in schools) but I do know how to play defense against any type of option -- 60 minutes of "kill the qb". Now don't get me wrong, I don't want him injured but it would tickle me if he was "Quasimodoed" so that I could hear the bells in his head from here. :)
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
Tennessee lost to a very talented, very motivated CAL team at home. Their was alot of concern expressed on this website prior to the season about the sandwich game with Southern Miss. Alot of people were more concerned with them than with CAL. When the defense got it's collective head in the game, they played much better. Tebow will have a good game, he is a stud, but Tennessee wins this ball game! Score.....does it matter if we win....38-27
tlc429#392720 writes:
You know, I try so hard to read these mythical posts and NOT post myself but it's impossible. You've got one person wishing a career ending injury on Tebow and another stating bogus facts about FL's QBs. Urban Meyer is no dummy. Go read up on his stats while he was at Utah. They could put in the 2nd string QB and Urban will beat us on special teams. Face it, our defense and special teams SUCK. And that's putting it nicely. When's the last time a team started a drive inside their 20 this year against us? The opposing teams average starting position is around the 40yrd line. Now y'all can act like Tebow is the anti-christ if you want to but he's very talented and you can best believe, with all the trick plays I saw him in last year's games, Urban will have plenty more this year. Fulmer, look out for the fake punt and watch for the blitz when it's our turn to punt, kick, etc. Oh and to the dummy who had the nerve to bring up basketball? Florida is the reigning football AND basketball NCAA champs. I'm hoping that was someone's young child who snuck onto their parent's computer while they were sleeping.
volfaninchattanooga writes:
"I have great respect for their personnel," Meyer said. "They are definitely a top-five personnel group, there is no question."
One of the players which must concern Meyer is Arian Foster, the Tennessee junior tailback who has rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries.
If Meyer thinks we have top 5 talent. What does that say about our coaching staff? Frankly, I have faith in all the staff, not sure about Fulmer though. I think he has been satisfied for to long.
OldNumber7 writes:
Tlc has spoken some wise thoughts. Meyer is smart. He knows this game is won and lost on fundamentals. Tennessee has been terrible on special teams, running defense, tackling fundamentals, QB pressure, and the DB's don't break from routes and hit the ball carrier fast enough - too much gap. Unless a new defense shows up today - expect more of the same. The offensive line doesn't seem to get push in short yardage which means their blocking is bad. We were held on 1st and goal from near the goal line by Cal for heavens sake and I didn't see good down-blocking once. Two things of goodness, however, offense has been excellent on turnovers and penalties. Also, field-goal kicking has been good. But the field position thing will kill UT today - unless that gets fixed. Unless Fulmer pulls out a convincing performance, solid, mistake free win against a young team he should beat, then I will still think he and his staff are arguably given so much accolade only because of the UT talent pool - not because they are smart, well-schooled, good teaching coaches.
OldNumber7 writes:
Sorry to post twice, but Volfaninchatt just highlighted my last point. If the NFL and other coaches think UT is a top 5 or 10 team for talent - then why don't we at least compete for a top 10 slot every year? Why is UT not in the title hunt every season? Has anyone seen where our top 5 team is ranked?
mdvol writes:
marc_ash.....
I believe the stat is the last 4 Florida QB's lost their first career start against UT. Doug Johnson was the last in 97.
Also, no Florida coach has won their first three meetings with UT. Meyer is 2-0.
History may favor us.
imnotwithphil writes:
I hope all you Foolmer fans had a good week enjoying our epic win against Southern Miss. Now it's back to reality for the Big Orange. The Vols don't have a chance today. Expect the Gators to double up our score... 56-28 or something in that neighborhood... In the past decade and a half, the Big Orange brain trust has come up with exactly *one* winning game plan: play strong defense, run the ball, control the clock and wait for the game to end. This year we don't have the "D" and we don't have an effective running attack to support this plan. A good coaching staff would modify it's gameplan to fit the talent of the team's players and the "gametime situation." A mediocre staff will try to force his single minded strategy – even when it lacks the players to execute... I hope I’m wrong. Beating the Gators will be worth all of the abuse I'll take the next day on this message board. As much as a I dislike Foolmer, I disklike the Gator even more. Go Vols!
writer#358485 writes:
It's nice to have a solid quarterback and an offense that seems to rise to the occasion most of the time. However, I'm old enough to remember what Gen. Neyland taught, offense is for show but defense wins games. Except for the second half last week, Tennessee hasn't shown much defense and even then, it gave up 19 points against a second-level team. I will bleed orange when it happens, but I'm afraid we're going into the Florida game with our best team on the wrong side of the line of scrimage. I believe it was the General who said: "Only three things can happen when you throw the ball and two of them are bad." Watching the LSU defense thoroughly dismantle Virginia Tech was almost pure joy--at least as much as you can have without orange jerseys on that defense. Fulmer has the right philosophy, run the ball and play defense. Even the greatest quarterback in the NFL today couldn't win it all as a Vol because of a lack of defense. If it's time for anyone to go, it's Chavez.
invisiblekid writes:
No offense volfaninchattanooga and RocketVol but Meyer's quote is called coach-speak. IMO, either Meyer doesn't actually believe the Vols have top 5 personnel or it is a back-handed compliment to the coaching staff in the way he singles out the "personnel". The Vols have had a recent uptick with Allen, Harrell, Meachem, and Sears but go back in the NFL draft and it was 4 years between first round draft choices prior to those guys. I personally don't think there is any question that the talent level isn't what it was in the mid to late 90's at UT. Now whether it is a function of missing the call in recruiting or not developing the players when they get on campus is open for debate. Personally, I don't think it matters since either scenario falls at the feet of the coaching staff.
OldNumber7 writes:
2001 through 2005 Tennessee is 5th in nation with 30 NFL picks. Florida is 6th with 28. Florida is top 5 NCAA ranked - Tennessee isn't close. Why?
invisiblekid writes:
Don't know that I would put it quite the way tlc429 did with regards to the special teams and defense but it is a valid point. A team can't consistently lose one area of the game(special teams)and only show up for parts of the game in another(defense) and expect to be successful against the better teams.
writer#358485 writes:
As I said above, RocketVol, lack of defense. That's where you start in building a Top 5 team. If there is one legitimate hit on Fulmer, it is that he has stayed with Chavez too long.
imnotwithphil writes:
Warren - there are several legitmate "hits on Foolmer" - the biggest being that he retired on the job and has been milking the Big Orange Nation for $$$ since 1998.
writer#358485 writes:
I disagree, imnotwithphil, he did give us our only national championship of modern times. Once he got Cutcliff back, the offensive problems were solved. He needs to make a similar move for the defense. A head coach today is a CEO--he just makes final big decisions--it's the coordinators who actually control most of the game. As a CEO, he should solve the problem on the other side of the ball--the most critical side--defense.
invisiblekid writes:
Think we both have a like-minded opinion on the answer to that question RocketVol.
mdvol writes:
Disappointing many of you are in such awe of the Gators. Year over year they have certainly elevated above UT. And, playing at the Swamp today gives them the advantage. But, the Vols have proven they can win in Gainesville and I like the breakdown. Take Ainge over Tebow. Our OL versus their DL. I'll take Foster and Toker over their running game even with Harvin. Our offense will run the ball and control the game. We'll complete just enough passes to convert key third downs. When that happens we always win. Count on big swings in the game but Tebow makes enough mistakes to give the Vols the upset. Toker breaks two long runs for TD's. Vols 31-28. Possible overtime game. I think we'll see a fight in UT today not seen since last year's Cal game.
writer#358485 writes:
Only problem is Ainge doesn't play Tebow, our defense does and that's the rub. If it's a 31-28 or similar basketball game score, we're in trouble. Hope I'm wrong, but unless our defense brings its A+ game, we're in for a long afternoon, evening. You can't just outscore these guys, you have to be able to stop them from scoring, something we haven't done very well to this point in the season. Any chance we can borrow LSU's defense for the afternoon?
imnotwithphil writes:
Here's a must read for you Foolmer Fools: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns...
My favorite stat from the article, "Fulmer has an unsightly 24-23 record against the SEC's current crop of coaches."
My favorite qoute from the article, "I don't have my head stuck in the sand," Fulmer said. "[I know] we need to compete for a championship."
I agree coach... your head isn't stuck in the sand... it's stuck up your...
OldNumber7 writes:
Thanks Kid. And there is truth to the defense statements others made above. In 98, we won because a guy named Al Wilson was a leader and made huge plays. Also, Martin to Price was huge and so on. But it's a total package problem - not just defense has it's woes. The numbers don't lie. Tennessee consistently has top talent that the NFL respects. But at the NCAA level, this talent is underachieving and really not even competing for it's own conference titles. Those facts don't lie - the winning message is not getting to our plays or players.
mdvol writes:
Most of you are writing comments as if the game has already been played. Doom and gloom. As if we've already been blown out. 2005 all over again. Why not go ahead and start writing the "lose to Florida" how can the Gators lose two SEC games scenarioes. Write all that BEFORE the game is played. Look, we all know the 15-11 stats, read the ESPN articles, never beaten Meyer, 2-4 against Richt, yada yada.
My point is we are better than Florida in several phases of the game. Our D showed signs of life in the last game. Tebow is unproven while Ainge, Toker and Foster are ready to go. It's going to be close but I wish many of you would save your rage for the kickoff.
buxavol writes:
I'm just thankful the attention is on the GAME, not "Fulmer can't beat Spurrier" or UT's struggles against UF in the past!!
It's time to once again put the ROCKY TOP STOMP on some Gators!! They will not "chomp chomp" on our "STOMP STOMP"!!!!
UT 37 UF 24
GO VOLS!!!!!!!!
gohawks1 writes:
Well said, mdvol. Ainge will pick them apart, which will open up the run, and big things will happen for us on offense.
I think the nay-sayers will be quieted after today. As usual, it will be close, but the Vols come away with a win in the Swamp. Everybody talks about how hard it is to win down there. Correct me if I'm wrong - aren't the Vols 2 for 3 over the last three games in the Swamp?
OldNumber7 writes:
Tngeoff, you nailed it with the Manning point. But for now, it's time to support the team and hope the A-team shows up. If they do, I think Tennessee wins. Will be on the road listening on Sirius today. If you are going to the game, watch out for flying port-o-potties and drive carefully. And win or loose my blood will floweth Orange in the morning. Go Vols.
tom865#278083 writes:
Tngeoff, we did have a no.2 ranking with Peyton Manning when we beat Ohio State. We had a shot with Peyton Manning playing a team that won a share of the national championship, but it was our defense that was massacred that game, not our offense. Our offense played with them in the first half, but in the second Nebraska's offense (and our defense) never gave our offense a chance to get out on the field.
You Fulmer haters have a gaping hole in your logic. You always talk about our talent, but fail to talk about the talent of the teams around us. Some of you are complaining about Coach Chavis. It's only been in the last half of last season and this season that we have had problems on defense. Chavis has taken mid-level talent and consistently produced very good to outstanding units (when was the last time we had defensive players taken in the top four rounds?). Yet, Coach Chavis has consistently developed our players into an outstanding unit.
And one more thing, I noticed several people talk about the number of players taken in the NFL. Comes on guys, how many of those players were drafted in the top rounds (say the top five). Now, let's compare that to the number of players our top competitors have taken in the top rounds. Could be illuminating. Some of those teams that have had much higher draft picks than us we have beaten. That looks good on the coaching staff. I rest my case on this.
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