Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Arkansas State
- When: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Arkansas State
The math is simple, a lot more like fourth grade than calculus four.
It's not hard to understand that big plays often equal victory. And the reverse is equally true more often than not.
When Tennessee hosts Arkansas State on Saturday night at 7 p.m. (TV: Pay-per-view), job one is making sure the Vols come out on the right end of that equation.
Against Florida the results weren't pretty in the least.
On just 11 plays, the Gators gained nearly 300 yards on offense.
"The other 66 were pretty good," UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. "That's not good enough. That's going to get your butt beat every time. We got taken to the woodshed. We're back at work, trying to get better.
"Those kids don't want to make those mistakes. It's obvious that I haven't done a good enough job getting them ready to play."
Job one is eliminating those brutal mistakes, like the 49-yard pass the Gators completed from their 1-yard line on first down.
Or the two punt returns for touchdowns the Vols have given up in four total returns, a number which includes a muffed return attempt by Florida.
Or those poorly timed turnovers from the offense.
That's what bothers offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe the most.
"What I'm most sick over is the ball being turned over at critical times," he said. "That's something we don't do, something that absolutely is not acceptable. To me, that's a reflection on me and what I'm getting done. That's the part that hurts the most."
Tennessee wants to start making sure its opponents earn every point they get.
"We can't give people anything," quarterback Erik Ainge said. "We're good enough on offense, we're good enough on defense, and we're good enough on special teams to beat anybody, if we don't give them anything.
"It all works in a cycle. We're plenty good everywhere else to beat everybody else we play, if we don't give them anything."
Especially early.
In its two losses this season, Tennessee surrendered touchdowns before the opponent's offense took its first snap.
Against Cal, it was a fumble return for a touchdown that put the Vols in an early hole.
Against Florida, it was a punt return touchdown by Brandon James.
For a team that's rushing offense ranks last in the SEC and 90th in the country through three games, it's not the easiest way to start a game - or build momentum on the ground.
"When you're playing from behind, you're playing catch up the whole time," Ainge said. "It's hard to justify running the ball on first and second down when the clock's running and the clock's running and the clock's running."
The clock is ticking for the Vols, as well.
After Arkansas State - a team that lost by eight points at Texas in its season opener - the Vols have four consecutive SEC games beginning with an Oct. 6 contest at home against Georgia.
But UT's coaches insist the problems can be fixed.
"There's no question," Chavis said. "If not, I'd be at home somewhere. I've never walked out on anything. And you're dang right that's what I'm here for. I've got all the confidence in myself, this staff and the players.
"It'll be fun to see how much progress we've made between now and gametime,"
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 65
BobbyGraham writes:
i am curious to know what kind of defense we were in on that 49 yard pass from the 1 yard line. Were we blitzing or sitting back. i do believe that Charlie Strong would have sent the house after Ainge. Of course, we would never be throwing out of our own end zone. We would have run 3 QB sneaks and then punted.
agentorange writes:
dork#2- here's a crazy idea. quit moving all the recruits out of the position they played in high school. it works occasionally, but we seem to move everyone. our highest rated linebacker recruits are now at DE. why? and where the hell is the 3-4 or the prowler? chavis, if any of them, has let us down.
mjohn321 writes:
someone please say no
mjohn321 writes:
to j gruden being the next coach
bigorangesob writes:
no gruden,no gruden,no gruden
slojim writes:
I find it very hard to believe that we should let any coach (referring to Chavis) go. After all, I do believe the Indy Colts wanted to hire him away a few years ago. NFL playoff teams and eventual Super Bowl Champions know quality when they see it. Chavis stayed, and I believe we are better for it. I do believe that our problems stem from a lack of a running game, which is our greatest problem right now...slightly beating out our lack of tackling skills, but I attribute this to a young and immature group of kids we have recruited. Recruiting rankings aside, I believe our recruits (the past couple of years) have simply been over rated. Coaches make a great difference, but players win championships. I dont think we have the athletes right now, but then again I could be wrong. One thing I have noticed is that we have been recruiting nationally and on the west coast a lot lately and I really worry that those kids dont have the passion or understand the intensity of football in the south....perhaps I am wrong about this and I suppose I need to look closer at the roster...but that is another topic for another time.
By the way, I saw Arkansas play Alabama the other night...one day I dream of having a running back like that kid from Arkansas....jeez he is a stud-hoss!
Go Vols! Beat Ark St!
bigvoltrumpet writes:
"Those kids don't want to make those mistakes. It's obvious that I haven't done a good enough job getting them ready to play."
that is the first time I have heard a coach man up and take any responsibility...that is atleast a little encouraging
Urbiewerecomingtogetyou writes:
Our so called complicated defence and offence seems to be taught to young players on our rivals teams pretty easily. They don't seem to have any trouble comprehending how to defend or score on us. I'm sick and tired of hearing how complicated our system is to grasp. This is another excuse that's also getting very old. If you have difference making talent coming in, you have to find a way for them to make an impact early and often. That has been an achilles heel around here for a long time. In response to an earlier poster, I will always be a fan of Coach Fulmer, because I believe he is a man of impeccable character. The criticism he is receiving is his own doing. I too am very upset about everything that has already been mentioned many times. I only wish everyone would stop the personal attacks, name calling etc. I promise you nobody wants change more than I do. Mr. Hamilton it's very simple, either we change and succeed, or we stay the course and continue to fail. That sir, is the future of our football team, and very easy to foresee. The ball is in your court.
west_tn_volfan writes:
I agree we need a coaching change but not Gruden.He won a super bowl with Dungy's players and hasn't done anything since. He isn't the image we want either. If he was our coach,I could see us on probation soon after.
GenNeyland1285 writes:
"We're back at work, trying to get better."
- John Chavis
There is a big difference between "trying" and "doing." How about saying something like this..."We are back at work and WE ARE GETTING better. I take responsibility for what happened and I'm hear to tell you that it won't happen again."
Big news Chief! You all couldn't have looked any worse than you did last Saturday.
Is anyone else sick of seeing Timmy Tebow jump around like an idiot after every play?
There is nothing wrong with being excited, but showing some composure instead of acting like a cheerleader is what seperates the men from the boys...especially in the NFL (which Tebow has no shot at).
With any luck one of these days he will do that "rah-rah" cheerleading phooey around the wrong bunch and end up getting carted off the field.
Maybe the guys at LSU can break him of that. Hopefully FAU will get frustrated and one of their players will "spear" him in knees. I think FSU might have the thugs to take him out. If they can't tackle him they can always shoot him.
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Of course all of what was just said is in jest, but I am sick of seeing that turd act like one of SNL Spartan Cheerleaders. WTF is up with Urban keeping Timmy and the rest of his 1st team in the game until late in the 4th quarter when the game was obviously over? Great way to get your starters injured. And why in the world is he throwing the ball at the end of the game? No class at all...shades of Spurrier already.
GO VOLS!
GreerVol22 writes:
LSU, now ther is a team that actually uses their arms when tackling.
Slojim, how do you explain your young, immature tackling skills on Jonathan Heffney? pre-season All American senior and only uses his shoulder to tackle with...
bruteforce7#630403 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
BuckFama writes:
I heard Bill Belichick bought a RC Cola at the Pilot on Cumberland while driving through the state of Tennessee in 2006. Is he going to be our next coach?
DadwasaVol writes:
Still having a hard time with that, bruteforce? Eventually, you'll get over it and get on with life.
TommyJack writes:
Buck...heard he had a Moon Pie with that RC. He's in.
VolsorCat writes:
We all hear that college football is a big business and being a UT coach is like running a division of a fortune 25 company. You have annual goals that you are to achieve. Some are realistic and others are stretch. The stretch goals (National Championships) rarely get you fired for not achieving them. It is consistant failure to achieve the realistic goals (SEC East Title and every few years an SEC title and BCS game) that gets you in trouble. In business, one to two years of underperformance is documented in the review process. Continual underperformance should result in a change of direction. The business needs a change of direction whether that be one more change of coaches and coordinators or a completely different direction with a new head coach. Either way, UT has not been achieving ANY of their goals recently. To revise the goals to accept 5-3 or 6-2 in the East and making a bowl game is admitting defeat. I like Phil as a person, but do believe the best option now is for action to be taken to shake up the entire staff. WE MUST ACHIEVE OUR GOALS, NOT ADJUST THEM TO FIT OUR PERFORMANCE.
OldNumber7 writes:
The reason our players are not mentally focused on each and every play of the game is poor coaching and poor motivation. I will post it again....
Winning is not a sometime thing; its an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit. -Vince Lombardi
Our coaches are NOT teaching the winning habit.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
Sick of seeing Foster coughing the ball up at key moments.
onecrazyvol writes:
I agree totally RocketVol. I work EVERYDAY on the premise "Shoot for perfection and accept excellence". Winning is an all day, every day thing. Its not just in practice or game day or in classes. Its a 24/7/365 philosophy. You either do or you don't.
OldNumber7 writes:
When some weeks receivers drop passes then the next they don't.....or when some weeks players miss tackles...then the next they don't....or within a game 60 plays go well.. but half a dozen don't.... You kinda start to question where the winning habit is hiding.
I am probably preaching to the choir to you guys. Thanx, and hope for the best this weekend.
GenNeyland1285 writes:
Brute,
EXALT! That scares me...I'm not gonna lie. I thinks it's just a widely accepted rule among males that hand shakes are the extent of displays of affection...huging your dad is pushing it. Guess Timmy would have known that if he would have crawled away from his mama's teet sometime before his 18th birthday. And GOD only knows what happened in the dorm that night. Any word on when Timmmmaaay!!! and his boy toy are going to make it official?
(On a side note...I heard PETA was at U of F the following Monday to protest against gerbil abuse.)
Now the Ron Zook / Chris Leak fairy tale love story was one for the ages. Brokeback Mountain meets the Notebook.
Oh God. I'm gonna hurl.
GO VOLS!
Ironcity writes:
I am surprized Chavis didn't say other then the 8 touchdowns they scored, I thought we played pretty good! I think I would feel better if Chavis stayed home.
Oenoboy writes:
Hey Brute and Gen, what's up with the homophobic routine? If a simple kiss on the cheek bothers you two that much, maybe you guys should get together and explore why it stirs up such strong emotions in you. Denying one's true nature is usually the cause of such insulting banter.
pres1942#366184 writes:
It is a puzzling year so far with facts being facts nothing adds up to the hype before the season - great recruiting classes, experienced QB, Coaches that have won before in this league.
Think the leadership is not there for some reason. Coaching getting them ready and motivation mentioned earlier seem appropriate conclusions.
Very devastated and I have followed them since 1950 when I was eight years old.....
mloaks#222092 writes:
No player leadership, because no one has performed on the field itself, except for the kickers and starting receivers.
instigator writes:
I hope you read this and see the humor. Both our teams have quarterbacks, or star players we admired. You had Manning, we had Danny...and there were others on both sides.
These are some of the things being said around campus at UF.
I hope that you don't think it's offensive, or a slam in any way, because it's not:
- Life doesn't give Tim Tebow lemons. Life asks him which fruit he wants.
- Tim Tebow doesn't bowl strikes, he just knocks down one pin and the other nine faint.
- Tim Tebow can eat just one Lay's Potato Chip. Don't tell Tim what he can't do.
- Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Tim Tebow pajamas.
- There are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Tim Tebow lives in Florida.
- God wanted to create the world in 10 days, Tim Tebow gave him 6.
- What color is Tim Tebow's blood? Trick question. Tim Tebow does not bleed.
- It takes Tim Tebow 20 minutes to watch 60 Minutes.
- Bo knows football. Bo knows baseball. Bo does not know Tim Tebow.
- Tim Tebow's tears can cure cancer ... but he's never cried. Ever.
- Tim Tebow is so fast, he can run around the Earth and stiff-arm himself in the back.
- The primary ingredient in Red Bull is Tim Tebow's sweat.
- 'Icy-Hot' is too weak for Tim Tebow. After a game, Chuck Norris rubs his muscles down with liquid-hot magma.
- On a hot day, you can find Tim Tebow swimming in Lake Alice and biting the alligators.
- When Tim Tebow does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
- If at first you don't succeed, you're not Tim Tebow.
- Superman's weakness is Kryptonite. Tim Tebow laughs at Superman for having a weakness.
Hunter writes:
Once again we see Chavis and Cutcliffe taking the blame for their unit's shortcomings.
What does Fulmer say? "Dadgum, I know I'm a heckuva coach and I got all the doggone confidence in myself that I can have (clap, clap, chew gum, clap)."
Will someone PLEASE put Ol' Yeller out of his misery and bring in a coach who doesn't live in Fantasyland????
volsfan327 writes:
It is ridiculous for a national program to have such a sloppy consistant record. With all the money that goes to the UT football program and the #1 fans in the Nation, there is NO EXCUSE not be a top 10 team year after year. I, like most everybody else, am tired or excuses and tired of the lack of respect that is now become common place with the media, as well as other team in the NCAA.
I am also tired of some UT fans acting like it is disloyal to actually question the decision making of the program. I think it is high time we started, not only expecting better play but in this case, demanding better play and be tough enough to take the changes it will require! Go Vols!!
joebomb writes:
I did like that kiss InstaGator. How about - When Tim Tebow does a pushup, there is usually a team laying underneath him.
instigator writes:
joebomb you sure are into that lifestyle aren't you? Hmmm...
joebomb writes:
How original. I just call it as I see it. Brokeback Swamp
instigator writes:
About as original as 'Gator.' You saw that movie huh? ~lmao~ What did I expect, of course you did.
A few years ago the Tennessee legislature passed a law saying it was legal to eat road kill, the only road kill left in that state is your football team. Looks like the coach passed away and was left to swell.
OldNumber7 writes:
Did anybody just hear Colin Cowherd, ESPN Radio's host of The Herd at lunch? He layed down his "slow program erosion" pick for coach that needs to go before it's too late. Anyone care to guess which program was labled as "eroding"...or what coach was labled as "poor"? Real simple, when SEC was down - he won games. Now that SEC has good coaching - he can't compete. Guesses?...anyone?
NortheastTNVol writes:
FULMER. QUIT TALKING PEOPLE AND JUST %^@$#@#%ING DO IT! PLEASE. Jeez.
I don't care one bit about Fulmer. I would not miss him or any of his staff once they were gone. Our players don't desereve to be coached by someone this horrible. We need Cowher.
NortheastTNVol writes:
FULMER. QUIT TALKING PEOPLE AND JUST %^@$#@#%ING DO IT! PLEASE. Jeez.
I don't care one bit about Fulmer. I would not miss him or any of his staff once they were gone. Our players don't desereve to be coached by someone this horrible. We need Cowher.
volsfan327 writes:
Bill Cowher would be a great choice for the Vols. He certainly has fire in the belly!
GenNeyland1285 writes:
Tony Joiner approached Tim Tebow, placed his hand on top of Tebow's head, leaned forward, and kissed the Gator quarterback on the cheek.
The public display of affection, coming on Florida's sideline following Tebow's second quarter touchdown pass to Cornelius Ingram, seemed innocent enough.
However, the kiss was caught by CBS cameras and replayed several times on national television.
"It was?" Tebow said after the Gators' 59-20 victory. "Oh, I'm going to have to get on him for that."
Joiner, who is Tebow's roommate, said the kiss was his way of showing his love for his friend and roommate.
"That's my roommate. I love him," Joiner said. "We've grown close. That's not the first time I've kissed him."
Asked if he's ever kissed other men, Joiner smiled.
"Not many," he said. "Probably just my dad and Tim Tebow."
andy112382#209793 writes:
I say a 'definite no' to Bill Cowher and a 'only as a last resort if everyone else said no' to Gruden.
NFL and College ball are completely different atmospheres. Pete Carroll to USC and being a huge success is very rare. Steve Spurrier to the NFL, that is more like the flop you have. Think about how a coach has to manage millionaires all around him in the NFL, manage his employees, work with the front office, etc. Whereas in college you are talking about recruiting year around, you have kids not employees, they don't come to you developed, your job now is to develop them into NFL caliber players. Kind of like a college professor expects you to get to college with certain things already cemented in your mind, an NFL coach expects his players to already have route running skills, blocking skills, etc down or you get cut from the roster.
Not saying it could never ever work (hence the Carroll comment) but I would see it as a disaster waiting to happen when there were perfectly fine candidates elsewhere already with it as far as college football goes.
GenNeyland1285 writes:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=v9fcjR-d-7M
Reminds me of ole "Sunshine" from Remember the Titans. I guess their "friendship" is really blossoming. Any word about when they are making it official?
volsfan327 writes:
Andy, if not Cowher what are other options? I like Gruden but some fans say we have no other options than to stay with Fulmer. Do we? Are there any good coaches available.. what about Cutcliff as head coach...I don't know
OldNumber7 writes:
I don't know why you folks would be worried about finding a good coach - we don't have one now! When coaching talent was very low in the SEC (mid 90's), the only two guys winning were Spurrier and Fulmer (albeit Fulmer never beat Spurrier and got rudely spanked by him). Now that the conference has good coaching we have all the data we need to make an informed decision! Tennessee is eroding slowly to becoming a doormat school in SEC football (Colin Cowherd discussed this on The Herd today on ESPN). In 2 years we'll be lucky to beat South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Alabama....and we'll have a top recruiting class as upperclassmen! It's not an option folks - it's already here....mediocrity is already here.
volsfan327 writes:
I think the reason for wanting good coaching is because Tennessee tends to "stay the course" with its coaches for many years. IF and when, UT decides to make a coaching change, you can count on that guy to be here for along time and if he can't win either, we will be stuck with him too!
hoskinsfive#468391 writes:
Wouldnt it be awesome to see Spurrier in a Tennessee hat. The pride would return. The expectations would return and the excuses would go out the door. OH MAN
Basketball_Jones writes:
Oh my lord Gen Neyland get off the homo issues and Tebow....Remember when Isiah Thomas kissed Magic Johnson at halfcourt before the finals? Who cares! Ok Gruden bought land in Sevierville like 8 months ago, so he is not coming to UT and why would we want him? He won 1 Super Bowl with Dungy's players, I mean Trent Dilfer won one too. Why would you want Bill "I sit on a lead" Cowher, he said about 3 weeks ago that he would not coach anywhere next year cause his daughter is going to be a senior and he wants to be there for that and watch her play Volleyball....
My #1 choice is Spurrier...#2 is Mike Belotti from Oregon...#3 Bo Pellini at LSU and lastly is Jimbo Fischer from FSU.....Please not Cocah Cut, we have to go outside the program or we'll remain mediocre
tnorthern#228599 writes:
Interesting that Chavis is having fun, I'm sure not. I might have more fun if he did stay home though. These coaches are hilarious in their pathetic attempts to figure out what's wrong when they don't even know what they're doing or what they're looking at. They thought the 05 team was going to the Rose Bowl. I rest my case.
Colliervol writes:
I could care less if Joiner pecked Tebow on the cheek. If you're hung up on that, you've lost sight of the problem. If we could contend for the SEC title again, I wouldn't care if we suited up the entire cast of the Pirates of Penzance and The Birdcage, changed our colors to pink, and started playing Dr. Frankenfurter's solo from the Rocky Horror Picture Show as our fight song.
Colliervol writes:
Just kidding about changing the colors but I'd consider the fight song if they could play in Atlanta again (and not the Peach Bowl).
GenNeyland1285 writes:
I'm truly honored that two people have taken time out of their "busy" days to call me out. Thanks y'all! I'm 100% sure Tebow isn't gay. Obviously I'm just joking around on here, so please remove your panties from your cracks.
Gruden isn't coming to UT, so don't get all worked up over nothing. Either his mother or mother in law lives in/around Morristown...so I'd say they bought land up here to be closer to the family.
I'd give both my legs to see Spurrier leading the VOLS, but that just isn't going to happen. Belotti, Pellini, and Fischer seem like more realistic candidates...lets not count ole Randy Sanders out either. I'm holding out on Schiano!
footballfan writes:
Did anyone read Ainge's comments? If we just play better offense, defense, and special teams than everyone else, then we will win. Thanks for that Nostradamus of the endzone. What a brain you've got up there.
budd#207344 writes:
Why are we constantly listening to players and coaches talking? When we they all learn to quit talking and go back to work? Does Bill Belichek ramble on like this? Tom Brady? We have played poorly. We have coached poorly. Give Charlie Weiss credit for at least getting them out on Sunday to work. So just stay queit and go practice like it matters. Cause for the coaches it does. Contract or no contract
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