Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge has a hard time believing that one of his teammates gave up against Florida, much less told an opposing player about it.
But that's exactly what a Florida special- teams player told the Florida Today newspaper.
Gators reserve tight end Derek Baldry said that a UT player told Baldry not to bother blocking him on an extra point late in Florida's 59-20 victory last Saturday and that the Tennessee player said he was tired and wouldn't rush.
According to Florida Today, the unnamed UT player stood up and did not rush on that play.
"I couldn't imagine that happening," Ainge said. "If it happened, then whoever said that would need to take a hard look in the mirror because there's a lot of guys that would do anything to go out and play on the special teams for the University of Tennessee.
"If that were the case, I wouldn't want him playing for me on my team, period."
Baldry, who spent four years with the Army's 3rd Ranger Battalion before enrolling at Florida, told the newspaper, "In the locker room, that's all everybody was talking about. It just seemed like we were going at a different speed than they were, especially at the end."
Sophomore defensive tackle Dan Williams said that if the story is correct, he hopes UT's coaches find the player guilty of the on-field concession.
"If you love the game and you have pride for yourself and pride in your team and pride in your program, it shouldn't be hard at all," he said of continuing to play hard. "The first play should be played the same as the last play of the game."
UT coach Phillip Fulmer questioned the accuracy of the report following practice Wednesday. He said earlier this week he didn't believe any of his players quit before the game was complete.
Slade's Secondary: There seems to be a strong possibility that either junior DeAngelo Willingham or freshman Brent Vinson will soon start at one of UT's two cornerback positions. The two have seen first-team snaps all week.
Willingham has been earning his coaches' praise all week.
"He's had a great week of practice, competing his tail off," defensive backs coach Larry Slade said, "really excited about him having an opportunity to play."
Willingham said he's learned to kick his work ethic up a notch from junior college.
"It's a whole other level," Willingham said.
Slade said he's also pleased with Vinson. Fulmer concurred.
"Better than I could have ever hoped it would have been," Fulmer said of Vinson's ability to play cornerback after having been moved to the position less than a month ago.
Fulmer said he's long been aware that Vinson could end up at corner.
"He wanted to play receiver really, really bad," Fulmer said. "Now, he just wants to play. He's really taken to it."
Fulmer said the Willingham and Vinson are competing with Marsalous Johnson for UT's two cornerback positions. Who will start?
"I have no idea," Slade said. "We will determine that Friday or Saturday."
Whoever starts at cornerback, it seems likely that freshman sensation Eric Berry will make the move back to safety this week.
Pinkie Watch: Ainge said he hasn't had any problems since he returned to using his right hand during handoff exchanges. Until this week, the senior had only been using his left hand, which resulted in two fumbles in two games.
Ainge said he's also been able to avoid contact between the ball carrier and the broken finger. Jamming the finger against someone could affect his passing immediately afterwards.
Captains: Fulmer said Ainge, tight end Chris Brown, punter Britton Colquitt, linebacker Jerod Mayo and defensive end Xavier Mitchell will serve as captains for Saturday's game against Arkansas State.
"I really like this football team," Fulmer said when asked to compare this team to the 2005 Vols that went 5-6. "This team has a good spirit about it and a good work ethic about it. They're likable people.
"In '05, we got splintered in a lot of directions. The staff is very much together. The players are very much together. We'll get this back to where we want it to be."
Receiver Report: Trooper Taylor has been asked about playing UT's young receivers more times than he can count. The frustration with the questions - and the situation - seemed to be mounting when he was posed the all too familiar query this week.
"It's kind of like having a car with no gas," Taylor said. "I don't want that. I want to be able to drive it."
Taylor said junior Kenny O'Neal and Denarius Moore are still the two receivers closest to cementing a regular role. And as for UT's other highly touted newcomers?
"I'm not one of those guys that says because he has five-stars that he belongs out there," Taylor said.
Taylor said he's not surprised that the newcomers haven't had more of an impact.
"Look at (Robert) Meachem," Taylor said, referring to last season's leading receiver. "He didn't do it correctly - the way you wanted him to - until he was a junior."
Do two losses increase the pressure on Taylor to turn to the bench?
"Nope," he said. "Not for me."
Booming Briscoe: Coming off his team high eight reception for 86 yards against Florida last week, junior Josh Briscoe is certainly leaving his reputation for avoiding contact in the past.
"Really has improved," Fulmer said, "Trooper (Taylor) has done a tremendous job with him."
Colquitt On Watch List: Colquitt is on the Ray Guy Award watch list, the Greater Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council announced.
Colquitt is averaging 43.3 yards per punt, despite having battled a quadriceps injury suffered late in the preseason.
The list will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists in early November with the national voting body voting for the top three finalists at the end of November. The award will be presented live Dec. 6 during the Home Depot College Football Awards Show on ESPN.
Drew Edwards contributed to this story.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 73
agentorange writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I love how people take anything Fulmer says and turns it into a negative thing. He could say, "I am donating 1 million dollars to the university" and he would still get criticized. Oh... I guess he already did that huh? And the people who criticize couldn't give a rip about the players or the University. You just want to see championships. We all want to see championships but we have a good coach and a good person at the helm. Remember when Nebraska ran off Frank Solich? Loyal to the University for years, pretty good coach, got fired really quick and it took them years to get back. Don't be too quick people. It can definitely get a lot worse.
jboyle5555#228112 writes:
Finally looking at somebody to replace Marsalous Johnson.. Hello ! Get an athelete at the corner, somebody that can run with the receivers and cover.
mtnvol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
TNvolunteer writes:
Hey guys, get off Marsalous Johnson.....This is his first year starting.....Remember Jason Allen and Inky's first year as a starter...They couldnt stop passes thrown there way and got beat on a regular basis, but they got better with expereince...Give him so time, he'll come around....But I am glad to see and hear that Willingham and Vinson are close to playing more.
Feared_Mustang_Package writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
agentorange writes:
crvol, i'm a miami brain and you're close to breaking the 4-post rule already that we set out weeks ago. go down to that bar under vic and bill's and while we eat vol burgers you find your soulmate.
jaruk123#472898 writes:
Just like the Peach Bowls, just like UGA in 2003, Fulmer coached teams quit on the field just like Fulmer did by punting with 2 minutes left at Cal. Disgraceful. UT needs to find a new coach.
DennisVols writes:
Taylor said he's not surprised that the newcomers haven't had more of an impact.
"Look at (Robert) Meachem," Taylor said, referring to last season's leading receiver. "He didn't do it correctly - the way you wanted him to - until he was a junior."
And what happened after Meachem had the good year? He left for the NFL. Meyers takes the same 4 and 5 star freshmen receivers and has them making big impacts in their 1st SEC game, 3 weeks into the season. All this talk about the young guns not being ready is more of sign of coaching talent than the receivers. UT’s schemes have long been known to be overly complicated and if we have to wait 3 years for our coaches to train this talent to a level of excellence we saw in Meachem then something is seriously wrong. Either the system is messed up or the coaching staff is incompetent to a point that they are incapable of training highly touted recruits to the level they need to be in order to help this program be successful.
I don’t want to hear that it cannot be done. It is getting done by every successful program out there. What a waste that Meachem could not be developed by the coaching staff for 3 tears. Look at what we lost in the 2 years we did not prepare him to play. Then we got just one good year before he went to the NFL. Basically the university invested 3 yrs of education, a cost many in the state cannot afford for their children, just to get one year of the level of production out of him they expected when he was recruited.
I don’t blame Meachem. It is the coaching staff’s job, at the University of Tennessee, to develop these young men into the types of players that help this team be at a level of competition that is expected.
Now we are at 1-2 on this season, beaten soundly by the only 2 ranked teams they played and I hear the coaching staff saying that the young gun are not ready to play.
"It's kind of like having a car with no gas," Taylor said. "I don't want that. I want to be able to drive it."
Wake up. The university has bought that car Mr. Taylor, the investment in the cost of the scholarship is more than most of us would ever pay for a car. It is the responsibility of this coaching staff to have these young men ready to play. Not until they become seniors or juniors but right away. By the time these freshmen are juniors (using Meachem again) the same FL players will be juniors as well. The deference then will be that the FL players will have 3 years experience under their belt. Our juniors will be freshmen in their junior year and that will be the next excuse.
utbear writes:
It's a shame, I like Fulmer. But being a good person and a well liked person doesn't mean you can do the job.
We continually say we have the top 5 recruting class, but we just don't know how to develop the talent to the BEST of our ability. Players like Manning will work hard and play hard for themselves, regardless of what the coaches do. If you don't have someone to motivate and develop the talent in those unlike Manning, your screwed. Florida lost a lot of players last year and they have a lot of new, young players, they must know how to work with and develop their talent.
You have to be willing to change with the times, mix it up, keep it different.
Is this not one of the reasons Majors lost his job? Being stubborn and not willing to change? During the finals call in show, there was a previous player on who said he reqonized the same old plays from 10 - 12 years ago. Hey Coach, try something new, be different, don't want to see you go.
mtnvol writes:
crvol, so it was your sweety. Sorry dude, but some surprise packages just aren't meant to be opened.
orangeblood writes:
i don't recall jason allen ever getting torched much
dbrandon writes:
Great comment dlskaggs!! Agree with you 100%
DannyVol writes:
utbear:
Very good post.
Just look at all the talent we have squandered over the years...Jabari Davis et al. Davis was the fifth ranked player coming out of high school and he barely made an impact at UT.
There are many others like Davis within the last five years. Sure, there are always hits and misses, but I think we rank pretty high with our recruiting misses -- mostly because of development.
Then look at poor old Arkansas. You think Tennessee is a recruiting desert? They rarely have even 3 star athletes, but compete for the West title about every other year. Unlike us, development is their forte.
We need a coach, a real hands-on coach, not a CEO.
movol77 writes:
"Remember when Nebraska ran off Frank Solich? Loyal to the University for years, pretty good coach, got fired really quick and it took them years to get back."
They're still not back. Solich was fired for going 9-3.
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.
GenNeyland1285 writes:
Why does this come as such a shock? From the looks of it there was more than one player with a "T" on their helmet that "quit" last Saturday. Find'em, kick them off the team, and figure out a way to turn this thing around.
We still have 9 more games to go and anything could happen. Lets hope this team can shrug off the UF game, figure out how to play defense, and win some games this year.
GO VOLS!
P.S. Does anyone have Greg Schiano's phone number...I heard Mike Hamilton has been looking for it.
GreerVol22 writes:
I've already spoken about Ainge pouting on the sideline after he muffed the handoff to Arian...so who quit Mr Ainge? look in the mirror bud, before you throw out a statement like, "I wouldn't want him playing for me on my team, period." You are the leader of this team, act like it, or take a seat.
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
GatorNation, you weren't saying that $#@! when Zook was your head coach!
vol88 writes:
If a player quits, it's the coach's job to see that and replace him with someone who wants to play. I promise you there were dozens on the sideline Saturday who would've loved to go in there, regardless of the score. Find those kids and develop them. Let the quitters ride the pine for a while.
grvol writes:
It was obvious to the gator players, the fans, television audience, everyone except the Vol coaches. Also there's an article in Tennessean about Vols pathetic (last place in the nation in all divisions) punt coverage team. Fulmer says they'll work to fix it. Its been that way for years and he either won't or can't fix it. They won in 98 despite terrible punt coverage that was never fixed. That team was so talented and lucky to overcome such pathetic coaching.
RocketVol writes:
This does not surprise me. A few years ago Nebraska players commented that UT was not nearly as tough as they thought they would be up front. Video evidence reveals the trench butt-lashing was indeed accurate. Tennessee is obviously soft - have been for 2 decades - and I'm sick of watching the line get dominated. Roto-Rooter the Program.
"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
Tennessee is NOT teaching the play-to-play, practice-to-practice, game-to-game winning habit.
tigervol9802 writes:
Why is anybody surprised by this? After getting embarassed over, and over, and over, and over, I'm sure I'd quit too. Especially if it was the second time in two weeks.
There is a big difference between being "reserved" and "intense". I have seen many coaches before who were reserved, not animated, stoic, etc. on the sidelines who still were able to fire a team up and have them ready to play on the field. Tony Dungy anyone?
That said, I don't see on this team where the coaching staff has them excited to play and intense anymore.
And RocketVol - That is my all time favorite quote and I have that entire speech framed on my wall at home.
bigbluevol writes:
Two things: 1)Please never cite Jabari Davis as an example of a talented player we wasted. He was the epitome of a bust, but not even that because he was overrated. 2)Hate the coaches all you want, but don't get on here and root for the other team. That's freakin' ridiculous.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Young dbs can look bad but grow into something else; Rashad Baker had some bad days as a freshman but I think he is still playing in the NFL to this day. But if they come here as juco's they better get up to speed much quicker. Geaux Vawls!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
we gave up after the first score or was it hte 3 and 1 that we tried a pass and didn't make it then fla scored... I could see in the off and defense... the past several tn teams have lacked the toughness to compete for championships... when the tough gets going they whine and quit instead of making plays to keep everyone focus for 60 min and that folks is what's wrong with this coaching staff........ take urban and our talent and i promise you we wouldn't be having this conversation.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Y'all be sure and read that little story over on the left side of the home page, "Players that were ready when their name was called, part 1."
orangebloodgmc writes:
OK, its on the RIGHT side, not left, right under the schedule, "Players WHO were ready when their name was called."
clcvol writes:
Whether or not a player flat out said that he gave up is irrelevant. Tennessee has a history of falling apart and giving up. The "when the going gets tough, UT starts packing" attitude has killed us time and time again. Coaches need to step up and change that attitude before anything else in the program will change. It doesn't matter how good you are if you're going to quit the first time something goes wrong. You'll lose everytime.
Pullingguard writes:
Face the facts; Tennessee coaching staff has never been able to prepare young highly respected recruits to play their first year at UT. Evidently it's a coaching problem for many other SEC schools play them and they learn and develope under fire and pressure of the game. Not UT, they have to pay their dues, play on scout team, and any excuse for not having developed them to compete and make a contribution within the game.
bhtymco#213247 writes:
My grandson is 5 and I have a hard time getting him to concentrate, our receivers are supposed to have "some" experience and should not have the same concentration problem.
Come on BIG ORANGE players .............., play like you mean it on every snap and dog on it, if the starters won't or can't, why not try some of the younger players. Find someone who will step up. Don't wait until they are Seniors only to find that they don't have the heart to catch a ball over the middle or to go deep and fight for the ball.
Please, don't make the thousands of transplanted BIG Orange fans and students have to explain that we'll gett'em next year!!
vol4jesus writes:
jwraymond if you have to ask the question you show us where you come from. The means justifies the end? Please don't call youeSELF a VOL fan if you ever find yourSELF pulling for the opponent. OOPs you just did so you are now an Arky st fan I guess cause you sure ain't no VOL fan, but a turncoat! Gooday Paul Harvey page 2!!! GO BIG ORANGE!!!
mloaks#222092 writes:
Anthony Parker said it well. The players just did not get it done.
orangebloodgmc writes:
clcvol, you wrote: "Tennessee has a history of falling apart and giving up." I respectfully disagree with that. We have some epic hard-fought overtime wins to back me up (Bama, at LSU come to mind). We came from behind 3 times at top-ten Cal's place to tie it up at 21-21. Last year we were in the games vs. LSU national champ Florida until the bitter end. Your most recent memory (last weekend) is not same as "we have a history."
wyomingvol writes:
Ok, lets fire Fulmer,
Who is the better man for the job? Is Les Miles leaving LSU? Spurrier SC? Meyer FLA? Richt GA? etc...
Find a better person for the job, then think about firing the coach....
'Well, Coach Sparks up at Carson Newman...' Please, that isn't going to get it done.
joebomb writes:
brdteton....that's not our worry, it's for Mike Hamilton to figure out. Were you a big Bruce Pearl fan before he got here? Had you even heard of him? This is why we have AD's.
tigervol9802 writes:
Man, we heard the same questions about Buzz when he got released. "Who can you get better?" Ummm....I think the new guy turned out all right there. Heard the same last spring with DelMonico. I may be wrong, but Raleigh looks like he knows what to do and will at least pump some energy into the program if nothing else.
People, despite what you may think, Tennessee is one of the top coaching jobs in the country. Coaches know they have facilities, money, and a fan base that wants to win. No, it's not a job every coach wants because some don't want to deal with the pressue to win, especially in the SEC. Then again, I don't want a coach who doesn't want that pressure! But, I guarantee there are coaches out there who would love the chance. Who knows right now, but anyone who thinks Tennessee can't land a great coach whenever Fulmer is gone is out of their minds.
The only worry I have is the "being the coach after a successful" coach fear. Then again, I could also argue that Fulmer 02-07 has already taken care of that because he does not seem like the same coach to me as Fulmer 93-01.
And JR, I understand your thought process if no one else does. I want us to still win and still go 10-2, but at the same time, I know what is best for the program and what I am afraid it will take to get that to happen.
thevol writes:
CR- You are a broken record. Do you just copy and paste your previous posts? Come back when you have something new and worthwhile to say.
JW- At least you finally admitted that you root for the other team to win.
Why were so many posts removed? I missed all the action.
TurboFan writes:
Geez, does anybody not have a tape of the game to go look at and figure out which UT player Baldry was talking about? Appears the Florida newspaper confirmed the story (although not naming anybody). Why can't the KNS do it to (at least confirm). I would like to see if that player is still around next Saturday!
RocketVol 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?
vol4jesus writes:
the british are coming so jw and ___nFlorida get your brassy Redcoat out of the closet so you won't get shot. That is what any good turncoat would do. You are showing your 'True' colors and they ain't orange for sure! The means justifies the end? Telling 10 yr old Johnny lie after lie to conceal your cheating on your wife(adultery) is certainly for the good in the long run right? Pulling against the Vols shows you to be a turncoat and not a 'TRUE VOL FAN.' A true fan will stick by the VOLS even in the muck and mire! That doesn't mean we like down times anymore than you not liking them. It means will pull for the team in the good,bad, and ugly. Now is ugly, but I've been surprised b4 and might be again. Don't know but I'm not throwing in the Orahge towel now! What is that I hear? The British are coming! Run men to your closet and get your brassy redcoat so as not to be identified with us , but rather with the enemy. I say GO VOLS!!!
NortheastTNVol writes:
Hey all-it's my first post, so I will try to make it meaningful.
Coach Graham Clarke from Dobyns-Bennett High School would do a better job than Fulmer. Trust me. He knows what a defense is as well as a high power offense. Case closed.
First of all, it's all fine and good that SOME folks tend to be favoring Fulmer as our head ball coach. I am sorry to say that his record, donations to the university and the fact that he is coaching at his alma mater MEANS NOTHING.
The premise of any sport is to win games? At least that's the last I checked. You may need to speak with the Browns coach about that one, perhaps he and Fulmer would make great company for one another.
Bottom line, no questions asked, we are not winning key games. Fulmer is full of hot air and his staff is just plain lackluster. Once upon a time, we had a great team. Matter of fact, several great teams, but the problem lies in the coaching. We are not playing a progressive style of ball. Although its not always necessary, it would seem to me that we would think of changing a few of our schemes. Instead we get the same phooey at Fulmer's press conferences about how we "Can't run the daggum ball against ______ team!" If I could venture to say, maybe you should be watching game film? I think Fulmer sits and watches doughnut commercials all day long instead of game film.
Anyway, we just need to oust Fulmer. If any of you happens to be a donor to this organization, stop, please. For the love of God, lets write a check to a progressive ball coach who knows how to respond to the heat of the SEC.
And to those of you who worry about the next few seasons being bad sans Fulmer? Imagine how much worse it WILL be WITH the Tennessee Doughboy at the helm. Jeez, I don't know how you're all so enamored with a person who will probably not win many more games as a football coach.
Bye bye Trooper, Fulmer, Cutcliffe, Chavis, Slade... er... how about this:
Dear Football Staff,
RESIGN NOW. Go coach in the middle school ranks, because that's all you will ever amount to.
Sincerely,
Tennessee Fans
clcvol writes:
Northeast- You seem to think that every coach needs to go, although not every facet of our team is in trouble. For example Trooper: Our WR's are catching the balls, the lack of deep threats are due more to play selection then anything. I've read where we don't have people who can break tackles. We have played some good defenses that know the basics (as we seem to not know) and can tackle. Need I remind you that Meachems two long TD's against Cal last year were more a cause of shotty tackling then breaking tackles.
jdcvols#230433 writes:
This idea that we quit in games bothers me. Look at last year, Georgia has us killed early on and we could have quit in that game...instead we come back and win big. In 2005, LSU had us down big time and we fought back to win in OT. I did not see the players quit vs California but I sure as heck witnessed Fulmer quiting. Enough has been said about the FLA game, it was over the minute that Arian "game killer" Foster pulled his magic just like the Penn State game. There are no rooms at the inn for quiters!!
bigbluevol writes:
I can understand why people would rip on Fulmer, Cutcliffe and Chavis. They're the big three and each has had their problems previously. However, no matter how much you hate this staff, you have to be pretty dense to think Trooper Taylor is not a good coach. He took Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs and made them into 1000 yard rushers. He took Meachem, Swain and Smith and turned them into a fantastic trio. This guy is a great recruiter and a phenomenal coach. If you all get your wish and Fulmer is fired, I hope his replacement is at least intelligent enough to retain Trooper.
abingdonvolsfan2 writes:
Fulmer is one of worst motivators I've ever seen on the side lines he never looses his temper and often smiles one of his players fumbles on the three yard line! He could learn a lot from coaches like Steve Spurrier who consistently beat Tennessee with inferior talent like he did in 2005 when brought the gamecocks to knoxville! Phillip Fulmer doin' less with more since 1998! And you better believe that South Carolina will beat us again this year!!!
Colliervol writes:
Vol4jesus, with all due respect, you are on the verge of being tabbed the new "busybody" with your "odd" commentary. It's gotten where I see the word "Redcoats" and move on to the next post because I know yours is going to sail right over my head. But maybe it's just me.
Mr_Bandman writes:
"I like this team"...."They're likeable people".....????!!!!????!!!!???!!!!
Forgive me, but who gives a bleep?!?!?!
Nice guys finish last....WHOOHOO---Phil likes his players!!!!! Please go win a game you aren't expected to win for a change, then you can get together on the checker board, hold hands, and sing "Kum Ba Yah"....until then, I really don't care who Phil Fulmer likes.
bigbluevol writes:
Sad news. CBS Sportsline has it that Tyler Smith's father passed away this morning. It's news like that that puts football in perspective.
Wilhelm16 writes:
Al Davis said it best: Just Win Baby!
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