Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Georgia
- When: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
Tennessee Stat Book
Event Details
- What: Tennessee vs. Georgia
- When: Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, 3:30 p.m.
- Where: Neyland Stadium
- Cost: Not available
- Age limit: All ages
ATHENS, Ga. - Tennessee fans probably had a couple of one-word reactions to Auburn's 20-17 victory over Florida on Saturday night.
One reaction: "Help!"
Another reaction: "Hooray!"
The cry for help stems from what happened to the Vols a few weeks ago in The Swamp. Florida's entire offense looked ready for the hall of fame during a 59-20 victory over the Vols. The induction ceremony has since been postponed.
After a 30-24 victory over Ole Miss and the loss to Auburn, a Florida offense that UT made look spectacular is now regarded as a two-man gang - quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Percy Harvin - with an occasional appearance by tight end Cornelius Ingram.
UT's offense also suffers by comparison.
Ole Miss threw deep successfully against Florida's young secondary. UT didn't.
An Auburn offensive line that included three true freshmen repeatedly got the better of Florida's suspect defensive front when it mattered most. UT made no headway running against the same defense.
That accounts for the "help." But the "hooray" is just as valid.
The stumbling, bumbling bunch of Vols who did almost nothing right against the Gators have newfound hope in the SEC East race. So does everybody else for that matter.
Florida already has one loss and - unless Tebow really is Superman - is headed for another Saturday in Tiger Stadium. And the SEC East is headed for its wildest ride since the conference went to divisional play in 1992.
In a normal season, if the loser of the UT-Georgia game had two losses, it basically would be eliminated from the division race. This is anything but a normal year.
Never mind that the Vols and Bulldogs already have lost games within the division. You don't have to strain your imagination to envision three losses for any team in the East.
Kentucky is the East's only unbeaten team. But if the Wildcats look around the corner, they will see reality coming with a vengeance. After playing South Carolina, they get LSU and Florida back-to-back.
Florida has to play at South Carolina, where coach Steve Spurrier is better than anyone at exploiting an inexperienced secondary. Moreover, the Gamecocks might have enough speed in the secondary to stick with Florida's receivers.
The Gamecocks have their own problems, though. They have lost All-SEC middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley to a season-ending knee injury, and he was sorely missed in the second half when Mississippi State rushed for 95 yards Saturday. If they can't shut down Anthony Dixon and Christian Ducre, how will they hold up next month against Arkansas' Darren McFadden and Felix Jones?
The unpredictability of the East is compounded by youth. The top four programs - Florida, UT, Georgia and South Carolina - all rely heavily on younger, inexperienced players. Which team's younger players make greater strides in the last two months of the season could determine the winner of the division.
Georgia's offense against Ole Miss on Saturday featured senior tailback Thomas Brown, who rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns. But most of his blockers were freshmen.
The Bulldogs, who rushed for 328 yards against Ole Miss, started two true freshmen and one redshirt freshman in the offensive line. Their second offensive line included two redshirt freshmen and another true freshman.
You would think that young line might struggle on the road against UT. You also would have thought Auburn's offensive line would have fared badly in The Swamp.
It's hard enough predicting winners in this division. How can you possibly predict how freshmen will perform from one week to the next?
Get ready for more uncertainty when UT and Georgia square off Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.
You might be watching the SEC East champion. Or you could be watching the second-worst team in the division.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
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Comments » 40
Hunter writes:
The East winner will have at least two losses - but can we really only stumble once for the next 8 weeks? History says no, but it's a wide open division. I even think Vandy will pull an upset or two - they're not that bad. I just hope it isn't in Neyland....again.
andy112382#209793 writes:
East is up for grabs, Kentucky could very well lose 2 of the next three, and probally will. Tennessee could still very well win it, I just hope to see more people on here pulling for the Vols to win, it is sickening when I see people pulling against Tennessee so that we could switch coaches, no possibly argument you can come up with to defend yourself if you do that when people tell you that you aren't a true Tennessee fan.
GO VOLS!!!
BigUn writes:
I don't know who's going to win the East, but unless UT got John Hendersona, Albert Haynesworth, Parys Haralson and Shaun Ellis back this week, we ain't gonna win it.
I predit we will finish 4th to even dead last in the division.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Don't set the bar too high there, BigUn!
GO VOLS! Beat Georgia!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
After 22-years it appears it is likely that the Vols will lose to Kentucky> For many years, the Vols play medicore against Kentucky...In Lexington...Kentucky awaits with bitter thoughts of last 22-years. And most probly the best team effort will await the Vols.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Wasn't Kentucky also finally suppose to beat us after years of losing when they got Tim Couch? Or weren't they finally suppose to beat us while we were down in 2005 just as Vandy did? Just look at this past weekend and it is clear none of us can predict the outcome to any upcoming games with any certainty. GO VOLS!!!
murrayvol writes:
Numbers don't lie and the tale of the tape since 98' is a downward trend with an uptick here and there. Regardless of what happens for the rest of the year, there's no way to explain away 59-20.
wisonsinvol writes:
I don't know, maybe it's just me, but it seems to like we have had pretty good defenses since 98 until the last couple of years. It also seems that the downward slide in offense was blamed on Sanders until he left. It also seems that Cut promised 30 pts a game - we should be close to that. And, we are doing that with a qb who has a broken finger and new receivers one of which has dropped as many as he has caught. I don't know, it could be just me, but... My predicition, our offense starts coming around and closes out the season averaging close to 40 a game, the lb's figure out their position and quit overrunning the plays, the secondary picks off 10 more passes while still giving up the big plays and win 7 of our last 8 games. I've got a good feeling about this weekend.
cgbtn writes:
Andy, I am a good enough fan that during the course of my military career, I paid for season tickets for 15 seasons I was stationed overseas and could not use them. But, like Chuck, I am not an idiot. Fulmer's players cannot block and tackle. Michael Munoz is the classic example: he graduated from high school good enough to start in the SEC as a freshman. He graduated not able to block his way out of a wet paper bag. I don't care how many signed baseball caps Coach Fulmer has given you, you need to open your eyes. You are one of the politest and most knowledgeable people who post here. I always read your posts and greatly appreciate your opinions about players. I sincerely apologize if you think I am attacking you personally. However, you seem to be totally lacking in objectivity with regard to the head coach.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Hey, all I am saying is you should never pull for your team to LOSE. I would certainly hope that everyone on here rather a Fulmer-led team turn things around a win out the rest of the season rathen than totally collapse just to satisfy those ready for a new coach. I have already said before that October will decide what happens to this coaching staff and that if we go 2-2, 0-4, 1-3, something like that, then we need new coaches, heck, I even have a list of top three coaches to check out (1. Chris Petersen 2. Kevin Higgins 3. Brian Kelly) But, I would never pull against Tennessee just to get to that point.....it should have made anyone who is a true Tennessee fan sick to see people that are 'Vol fans' post 'Go Arkansas St.!' as I saw several times.
andy112382#209793 writes:
Quick question, for those lucky enough living in Knoxville a little closer to all of the action, any word on Cutcliffes future plans? Didn't he promise two years when he first arrived back on campus? Just wondering on if he was planning on sticking around longer or if it just depended on what came up. I would think someone like Trooper would take his spot if he were to leave, he is a proven coach, heck he turned out some good WRs at Tulane, and then made good with out RBs (2 1000 yard runners) and then helped turn Meachem into a record breaker and has Lucas Taylor ahead of Meachems receptions pace. Just curious.
Sheepscape writes:
Jim Leavitt
iowavol writes:
Wow, we are well represented in the NFL at many positions, especially offensive lineman. Mike Sherman, former Packer coach and the current Packer coach say Scott Wells shouldn't even be playing in the NFL because of his size, yet he's been starting for three years and grades out very high every game. He and Chad Clifton have both been mentioned as being fundamentally very good - meaning they were coached well. Our offensive players have an advantage entering the NFL because of the coaching and the offense we run. I too think we need a coaching change but these negative comments are getting real old.
chriskf1#210269 writes:
I don't think this team has a serious shot at winning the rest of its games, but -- with the exception of Kentucky (and, hey, they're still KENTUCKY) -- all of the remaning teams have shown significant flaws and look very beatable.
...and the possibility of Florida watching the SECCG from home after gong undefeated against the entire Eastern division (even that's not a given) makes me smile -- no laugh out loud.
Thank you Auburn! / Chomp on that Florida!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
what's so funny is that the team is so bad that no matter who we pull for they will continue to look lost on the field. I love tn but i'm really tired of fulmer and his attitude that i'm right and we're all a bunch of dumb &^% when its his team that is getting beat by 59 in fla team that lets 3 aubrun freshman OL dominate them like a bunch of kids.... so why can't our offense can't run the ball????? auburn had 3 true freshman vol fans... what do we have... its not all defense.. the offense suxs(runnning) and has for years....
Colliervol writes:
Evidently Florida was very beatable too if you have a defense that can tackle somebody. LSU probably has the best D-line in the country and a very fast defense and I think they control Florida just like Auburn did.
For some reason, I have a pretty good feeling about the Georgia game but their running game scares me along with Arkansas. (Are we physical enough to control the line?) Kentucky scares me because of their attack being similar to Florida. (Can we tackle in open space?)Too many questions to predict an outcome to the season so I guess we'll all just have to watch it play out. As somebody said though, you can't explain away 59 to 20. Especially after Auburn (with a pretty average team) exposed the Gators. That's the bottom line.
Andy, please give up that "true fan" junk. Nobody is paying attention any more. This situation has gotten way past that, even for a lot of the die-hards. I'm not going to root against them but I understand the mindset if losing is the means to justify the end.
skinalive#242458 writes:
In no way do I "pull" for Tennessee to lose just so a coaching change takes place. I just simply do not see this defense making enough stops to beat GA, SC, ARK and KY. If they split those four games then Fulmer has done a great job based on the four games played so far.
I hope Fulmer and the players turn it around and pull it out. It is just incredibly difficult to envision that happening.
hueypilot writes:
Right Andy. Don't be a fan anymore. Pull for Tennessee to lose so these "fans" can get their blood lust on and get Fulmer gone then then can go back to kicking the dog or whatever else gets theri attention.
But for me and I guess Andy and I hope another 100,000 wackos, we'll be there Saturday rooting for the Vols to Win.
snowvol writes:
The whole nature of questioning whether or not someone on here is a True Fan if they dare be critical of Fulmer is over-tired to the extent of needing to be put to bed. I've watched and supported the Vols with my voice, my presence in Neyland and my bank account for more than 40 years; I don't need anyone ever questioning my loyalty to the Vols or UT. But I'm a realist, first. If someone in my company isn't performing to the level he/she needs to perform, they are told what the problem is and given a "bar" and a timeframe to improve. The "bar" is always reasonable and the timeframe is never a quick-fix. But when the timeframe comes due, if the bar isn't met or exceeded, that person is done.
Since the second half of the 2001 SECCG against LSU, Fulmer's teams, save for the rare uptick, have been underachieving and underwhelming while possessing a significant amount of highly recruited talent. No one argues against Fulmer's great ability as a recruiter; but the results he generates on the practice field manifest themselves on gameday. I want the Vols to win no less than anyone else. But win or lose, it is time for a change.
missrvrvol writes:
Georgia and Fulmer supporters will be the only ones in Neyland when the 4th quarter starts. This one will be a laugher by half. UGA by 21. Please VOLS, prove me wrong.
5th place in the East and a trip to Nashville is the best we can hope for after this weekend.
Sheepscape writes:
ilove_football, its simple. Leavitt might leave because of the challenge. By the way, he coaches for South Florida, not UCF.
Comfortable surroundings aren't always what coaches strive for. Comfort breeds complacency, as we are seeing here in Knoxville.
Basketball_Jones writes:
Andy, who in the world would hire Cutcliff? Unless he has a Manning at the helm he runs a stagnet offense. Everyone went on and on about how ND hired him, yea well Wise doesn't look like much of the genius now does he. No one on this staff will get looked at by a major program, they have ZERO ability to think outside the box and they coach scared. No coach for UT football coaches to win, they coach not to lose. We have conservative play calling across the board. We don't blitx very often on D and rely on our front 4 to get all the pressure (Chavis the genius). I will say it now as I have said it for 15 years, every game we go into we know we will be outcoached, thats just fact! The only reason we beat teams like Marshall, Air Force, Vandy, Wichita State is because we have bigger, stronger, and faster players. I have no reason to doubt that another coach could take this team and beat them against a UT coached team. We have no idea how to get the most out of our players. Fire tham all and bring in a non UT affiliated coaching staff
Colliervol writes:
Another thing on Leavitt. Yes, he could stay at South Florida as long as he likes. But he will always know that he will always be 4th at best in the pecking order in that state and that will never change. At UT, you're the top dog in this state and always will be. $80 million athletic budget and more backing that he could ever dream of. It would be hard to resist. And unlike Rich Rodriguez, I think he's just competitive enough to want to take the challenge of competing in this conference.
murrayvol writes:
Collier, I said you can't explain away 59-20 and in our gut how many of us really want to get to the SEC Championship game (it's conceivable but not likely) and play LSU? This team may well get better but not that much better. When you can't block and tackle, you simply can't win against good to great teams.
andy112382#209793 writes:
heels_fan_23 , we are averaging 34.5 points a game, offense hasn't exactly been the issue, it is the young defense. Plus, look at how he turned Ainge around and Meachem broke a receiving record his first year under Cutcliffes offense.
mdvol writes:
The Georgia game is the MUST WIN of all MUST WINS for Fulmer and company.
aj_vol#248433 writes:
Vols thump UGA 2 years in a row.
Vols 38 Dawgs 17
andy112382#209793 writes:
I almost forgot how much I dislike the dawgs until this week, I don't know, something about driving around down here around all of the dawg fans just gets under my skin and makes me happy I have my giant orange power T on my car! Beat the dawgs! Badly!
GO VOLS!!!
invisiblekid writes:
Gonna go the cut and paste route because I just posted about Leavitt on another thread(and I'm too lazy to type it all again).
While we are on the subject of potential replacements for Fulmer, Schiano and Leavitt are a couple of names I have seen pop up on here that are interesting but I don't think they would come to Knoxville.
Schiano at Rutgers signed a contract for 1.5 million a year through 2016 in February. He turned down a Miami program that he had ties with and had more to offer than Rutgers. He is a Jersey boy and seems sincere about wanting to stick around and turn them into a national power.
Word was that Leavitt was on the short list for a number of schools including Kansas St, Illinois, and possibly the Crimson Tide. Similar to Schiano, he had ties to Kansas State and apparently turned them down. Like Schiano, he is a local boy and under a long term contract with the Bulls.
To finish up, both coaches have started something in building programs from the ground up and seem like they want to finish the job. While everyone around here has been arguing over what constitutes a true Vol fan, the Big East is starting to shape up into a major player in the BCS. Both Rutgers and South Florida could turn into contenders for national titles in the next few years. Think about it, where would you rather coach: the SEC where every week is a war or the Big East where making it through Louisville and West Virginia almost guarantees a BCS bid
invisiblekid writes:
Andy, I agree with what I believe was the point in your 11:54 post. Pulling against the Vols amounts to heresy in my opinion. My respect for Fulmer as a coach drops more with every loss, every missed tackle, every fumble, every blown assignment on special teams and every excuse he offers to try and explain it all away, but I'll never stop pulling for that Big Orange T on the helmet. BTW, another coach to add to your list may be Muschamp at Auburn. He has head coach potential written all over him and, having ties at GA, Auburn, and LSU, would have a leg up on recruiting in the South over some of the other names thrown around.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Leavett of South Fla., would not in my opinion be a good fot for the Vols..he wins because he is up to his ears in great talent in South Fla.
yeavols#228407 writes:
For all those who think we are pulling for the VOLS To lose, we don't have to do that-
For all those who believe VOL ball is where it should be- stay the course.
For all those who think that we can't find anyone else to coach- save it for someone who is listening.
ronnie_022277 writes:
go vols
invisiblekid writes:
sjt18, regarding Leavitt, your comment "unless he stays at USF and wins enough to put their name on the national map" is the reason I think he stays with the Bulls. He has put their names on the map as they are ranked in the top 10 in every poll. I tend to disagree with CollierVol about the pecking order in FL. I think Leavitt may be well on his way to #2 in the state of FL behind the Gators. I have doubts about Shannon turning the Hurricanes around and it's only a matter of time before the Seminoles pull the life support on Bowden's career. The Bulls recently built a new training facility and playing at Raymond James, a pro stadium with those ever important luxury boxes, they have about as much to offer as anyone on facilities. All those things would seem to point to more success in recruiting and continued success for Leavitt. Throw in the fact of his being the architect of the program which has given him that "equity" that Coach Fulmer was so fond of citing a couple of years ago, and I think it would be a tough sell getting Leavitt out of FL.
As far as Schiano goes, you make good points about Miami vs. Rutgers in terms of facilities and the talent pool of New Jersey. However, I think it is safe to say that Miami offers more tradition than Rutgers and the talent pool is much deeper in FL. Whatever the reasons, he had his chance to go and turned them down. It would be interesting to see what his response would be if Hamilton came calling.
rpdunn#223481 writes:
See. Paying for this site wasn't that bad. Non-Vols were at a mim. I for one miss the way it was-- in reporting and in Sports at UT.
Vol in CAlif.
invisiblekid writes:
sjt18, a couple of teams you may want to add to the list that gets talent out of NY/NJ is Penn State and Maryland. Paterno always seems to have 4-5 kids on the roster from the Garden State and Friedgen's roster is usually loaded with guys from there as well. As far as the ratios you mentioned, it does work in the favor of Rutgers, but I'm still betting that a glance at Rivals would show quite a few more prospects coming out of FL than NJ/NY. One question this discussion does raise though is why doesn't the ace recruiting staff at UT get more players from there. Only one I can remember right off was "The Human Weapon" Bill Duff.
DadwasaVol writes:
I don't care about blocking as long as we continue to see 35 points per game put up like we see now. I don't think blocking is a problem. Now, defense is another story. Did you see how Auburn tackled Florida? I listened to the game on radio and still could see Auburn tackling em. Anyways, quit the female dogin and wait til season's end to vote for, or against, the coaches. All of us certainly expect the players to do so.
west_tn_volfan writes:
I don't hope we will have a losing season so we will get rid of coach Fulmer but I expect us too.If being a realist means I'm not a "real fan" then so be it but I haven't seen one thing out of this team that would make me believe they will beat a quality football team this year. Do I want them to lose? No way,but what can anyone show me that should convince me they're improving? I don't need to wish for losses,this coaching staff is providing them regularly.Thats why so many of us want a change.We hate the losses and we want our team to be respected and feared not shown in someone elses highlight reel.If demanding excellence means I'm not a real fan then I guess I'm not.
Go Vols
invisiblekid writes:
sjt18, I did a QUICK scan through the current UT roster and didn't see any NJ players listed. Seems like we had a defensive player in the past five or so years that signed then transferred, can't recall the name right off hand and could be wrong though. Another quick glance at Rivals illustrates my point in the earlier posts: NJ has a top 30 listing, FL a top 100. Something that, had it not been so depressing would be funny/ironic, the #1 recruit in the state of NJ has already committed to FL.
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks for the info tngeoff,always some good links you provide, gotta admit that Zander rings a bell and Rotella is before my time though.
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