Slogging through its third practice in a little more than 24 hours, Tennessee's football team needed a boost Wednesday morning.
And they found one - more than one, actually - blaring from the loudspeakers on Haslam Field.
Sensing his team's fatigue and needing to give his defense a chance to practice the hand signals used for pre-snap adjustments in a loud stadium, coach Phillip Fulmer cued up Georgia and Florida's respective fight songs near the end of UT's 2 1/2-hour, full-contact practice.
"I turned that music on at the end there just to create some excitement on the practice field and saw everybody kind of pick it back up," Fulmer said.
The choice of schools wasn't an accident, either.
Georgia is ranked No. 1 in the preseason coaches' poll, while the media picked Florida to win the SEC championship last month at SEC media days.
"I want them thinking about this," Fulmer said. "That's who we've got to play and beat to win this conference. That's a challenge."
The musical motivation worked for senior defensive end Robert Ayers, who said it recalled UT's 59-20 thrashing at the hands of Florida last season in Gainesville.
"It gives you a little pep in your step," Ayers said. "You hear that song and you get the feeling that it's game time. For me, it makes me want to play a little harder. It's motivation, too. Considering what happened last year (at Florida), it's motivation to want to work harder in practice."
The Vols, who usually blast crowd noise during practice before road games, will give the offense a similar treatment later in camp, Fulmer said.
McNeil, Parker Limited: Center Josh McNeil and guard Anthony Parker, both starters, took about half their normal snaps during the morning practice.
Both McNeil and Parker had offseason knee surgery, and Fulmer said a light day Wednesday was an effort to provide them a little rest with five practices scheduled in a three-day period.
"They were limited some," Fulmer said. "Both of them coming off knee surgeries, had two practices (Tuesday). It's expected to be sore."
Paige Slowed: Redshirt freshman wide receiver Ahmad Paige hasn't progressed as quickly as Fulmer would like, and Fulmer said that Paige needs to "get over that mental hurdle."
"All a coach wants is the best a guy's got everyday," Fulmer said. "If he's a very talented guy like Ahmad then you've got a chance to be a special player. … I think Ahmad can be special, but he just hasn't crossed that threshold yet from a mental standpoint. Some physical, but he's bigger and stronger than he was. He's got great feet, great hands. He's just mentally got to grow up."
Waiting Game: UT has not heard back from the NCAA Clearinghouse on signees Montori Hughes or Marlon Walls, Fulmer said.
"Hopefully we'll know something here soon," Fulmer said of Hughes and Walls, the only members of UT's 2008 signing class not on campus.
Linebacker Gerald Williams is in "good shape" academically, Fulmer said. Williams, who enrolled at UT in July three years after initially signing with the Vols, needs an acceptable grade in one summer class to become eligible.
UT still has not received a ruling on tight end Brandon Warren's appeals to the NCAA and SEC.
Foster Practices Again: Tailback Arian Foster (bruised knee) practiced again after missing Saturday's scrimmage and practice Monday and Tuesday morning.
Foster returned to practice Tuesday afternoon, and said that rest is the only way to heal the bone bruise in his right knee.
"I feel good," he said. "I've got to rest. It's one of those injuries only time will heal it. There's not treatment. You've got to stay off it as much as possible."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 50
volroadwarrior writes:
Rival's fight songs???? I am sure we will hear from the arm chair coaching geniuses about this!!!!!!
TennVol4Life writes:
FIRST...sorry, had to do it. :)
TennVol4Life writes:
ok, 2nd :)
dvols writes:
works for me!!! i get fired up and pissed everytime i hear other schools bull>>>>!
im'm fired up now!
marinevol writes:
Whatever it takes.
topgun writes:
Give them Ipods and earphones if it helps.
jmsbolt writes:
He should have blasted RAMMER JAMMER YELLOW HAMMER.. whatever the phooey that was they were yelling last year in Alabama, after they killed us
hipps78 writes:
I am thinking about making the trip for the UCLA game, does anyone know what section the UT fans will be in at the Rose Bowl??? Looking on ebay, and I have no idea what area I should be looking for.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
I'd rather our players hear UGa's and UF's fight songs now as opposed to during the game. If you hear it alot during the game, that means things are not going well for the Vols.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Better to hear that phooey now and then hush 'em up during the game. Geaux Vawls!
young_vol writes:
ah hell we just opened the flood gates with this one.I'm leaving this post and not lookin again cause every freakin gator fan uga fan negative ut fans and all other schools will want to leave their two cents. sorry just don't feel like listening to it tonight. we will just take care of it one the field guys. I'm out. go vols!!!
gavol2572 writes:
Good tactic Coach!! Light a fire up under these guys!! But we CANNOT overlook anyone. Lets make hung chow out of Norm Chow!
wheatbarley writes:
Back in my day, Jay Julian and the Screamers(UT Band) used to practice before the season on the baseball field--directly behind the fraternity house. I'll never forget the day of the Auburn game, when a brother, hungover, and fed up with the EARLY morning practice came out, wearing only a towel and carrying a pistol, fired one warning shot, then without a word, turned back in and went back to sleep. The band never performed the circle drill as well for the rest of my college career.
HighlanderVol writes:
THIS IS GOING TO BE A LIZARD BOYS AND BULL DOGS BULL SH** CONTEST NOW . I HEAR ENOUGH OUT OF THE 1 OR 2 DUMB A** ON HERE NOW SO I DO MY TALK AFTER THE GAMES GO VOLS
vol1994 writes:
amazing how Mcbrim, aka John Adams has to
put his two cents in. I guess he does not realize that other teams, such as florida, ga, etc play rocky top many times while practicing, good grief.
Well have a good night everyone. Rough day as my bank was robbed today so tough day.
CheckerboardPhilosopher writes:
3sib takes a look at the Brandon Warren situation. Shameless promotion time.
http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Ga has a fight song?
LargeOrange writes:
hipps78 - I am going to the UCLA game and sitting with some friends, so I have two in the Tennessee section if you want them - face value, let me know.
Reasonavol writes:
Go Vols. McBrim did gator fans reject you? Why are you over here. It is one thing if you are a considerate fan, it is another to come on here night after night sligging your sarcasm. Go hang out with some gators.
HighlanderVol writes:
THIS IS SAD GUYS . mcbrim1998 YOU NEED TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF FOR THAT COMMENT I FELL BAD FOR THE Gators PLAYERS TORE THERE ACL AND THE SAME GOES FOR THE GEORGIA BOY PEOPLE LIKE YOU ARE WHAT WRONG WITH THE WORLD TODAY HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW WE FELL ARE YOU ME OR THE GUYS THAT COMMENT ON THIS SITE I HOPE YOU CAN SLEEP GOOD TO NIGHT . THAY ARE MORE TO LIFE THAN A GAME mcbrim1998 THINK ABOUT IT
BillVol writes:
Most people could not identify Florida's fight song or Georgia's. But everybody knows Rocky Top.
huntined#565710 writes:
Hey Guys leave mcbrim alone.. I go in on the Fightin Gators and I haven't seen mcbrim in there.
We have some supose to be VOL FANS in here that are as bad as he is..At least we know he is a GATOR..What do you expect him to say in here if he is a Gator..after the last 3 years he has his bragging rights over the vols, but last year not over the sec or the sec east..Man he can get some of you guys fired-up
IBleedOrange444 writes:
hipps78-
I think they'll be in the corner endzone around sections 14, 15, & 16.
wheatbarley-
Legend has it it was a guy by the name of HighlanderVol.
I've got a novel idea... How 'bout you blast the UCLA fight song!!! At least throw it on the mixtape for good measure!
FREE BRANDON WARREN
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Here's a seating chart for the Rose Bowl. I can't wait to watch the place fill up with orange!
http://www.indux.com/map/494_RoseBowl...
HighlanderVol writes:
IBleedOrange444 What have i got to do with your comment
IBleedOrange444 writes:
Don't get all offenden man. I'm just joking around 'cause you went on an all-caps rant there for a minute.
jeremyinitalia writes:
UT will be on the east side, opposite the press box. Also, the visiting team usually has a small section in the NW corner. Make sure to avoid parking at Brookside or in the lots (I think it is 20$)...your best bet is to park on a side street up the hill (usually the west side of the Arroyo is less congested). Your best option is to take the shuttle from the Old Town Pasadena shopping/dining area on Colorado Blvd. See you there and GO BIG ORANGE!!!
jeremyinitalia writes:
High up in the hills of Westwood, sprawled authentic to the eye, stands the royal jokeful campus known as Westwood High. Home to all the Bruin bearcubs, ugly is their name, their football team is wild, the campus is a pile, and their students are a shame...U rah rah rah G rah rah rah L rah rah rah A rah rah rah....F**** the BRUINS!!
(mock UCLA fight song sung a generation or two back)
jeremyinitalia writes:
Hoddy Toddy gosh almighty who the hell are we...flim flam bim bam OLE MISS by Damn!
(just getting into the spirit of the preceding posts)
GatorBait11 writes:
Hey bricker I wouldnt say Florida sucks at the TE position considering the replacement for Ingram is going to be Aaron Hernandez who was a Freshman All American last year. maybe you should do some research before shooting your mouth off.
wheatbarley writes:
jeremyinitalia
great song, kind of reminds me of something about Cuyahoga's waters and Cornell. I could be wrong on the river, though.
caskew#218608 writes:
OldSouth,
He said Freshman All American, so I'm guessing he'll be a soph. this coming season. He didn't mean high school all American.
GO VOLS!
chad_t31 writes:
That's very true. We wouldn't care if he were at another school. That's just dumb as hell. But you, my friend, do seem to care about other schools...this one in particular.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
FIGHT SONGS TO FIRE UP THE TEAM? WHAT'S NEXT? MY COMMENTS ON THE BULLETIN BOARD!!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
VolinDothan - never forget Vandy is "Dynamite".
I think officially Tenn is "Down the Field".
Which was eclipsed by R Top.
Ol' Siwash is "We will always outdrink you"......
bobbarbilly writes:
Whatever...as long as they don't play 'um the coca-cola theme song.
TommyJack writes:
bricker865, 11:25: My guess is McBrim is a ringer for KNS. NO FL fan would spend 24/7 on opposition site. Just doesn't compute.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
Please Man Up to Florida for the 59 - 20 drubbing!
GatorBait11 writes:
Old south;
Your correct he is from connecticut but i said freshman all american meaning college so what would that have anything to do with him play against high school kids in connecticut. Freshamn all american means he was considered one of the best freshman college football players in the country
orangebloodgmc writes:
Let's guess who does the Florida fight song ... could be Streisand, maybe Neil Sedaka.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Florida's could be the Oscar Meyer song ... "Oh I wish I was ..."
orangebloodgmc writes:
Or Tebow might have gotten it changed to "Its Rainin'Men."
Ralph_Crampton writes:
If you Vol fans go to game in Rose bowl, and spend a few days in the Los Angeles area..and if you go to beach you will be stunned to learn that the ocean water is too cold to enter Its like taking a cold shower at the same time it feels like someone poured a bucket of ice cubes on your head. This is long held secret in Southern Calif., The ocean water on the beach comes from a corridor straight out of Alaska. The sun feels good, but water is always cold. If you'll notice the the only folks to brave the cold water wear black rubber suits. The famous Southern California "All-year club", which has touted the area since the 20's, has kept this fact a little dark secret. How do I know? I lived in Hermosa and Redondo Beach area for five years. Now, I'm sorry to say this, but on the other hand, Florida beaches and their ocean water is almost perfect tempature to enter for a swim. But if you are a brave soul..go on jump in the ocean..but don't say you weren't warned.
givehim6 writes:
Thay should play the bamer fight song to.
chrslyp writes:
bigfan502:
the only way i'm going to the beach in l.a. is if they're giving away free beers.
ladivolfan writes:
I laughed so hard I fell out of my chair!
bobbarbilly writes:
I went to a beach in LA once and had fun until a car drove through the water and splashed the hole dry.
ncvol writes:
Nothing fires me up but ...
Rocky Top, you'll always be Home Sweet Home to me.Good Ole Rocky Top, Rocky Top Tennessee.
The Gator chomp with the Jaws music stirs my blood so I am for what will work for our UT Vols.
Go Vols!!!
pammyvol1000 writes:
I like the beach for 3 days.. but those swimming holes in Tennesse rivers were great growing up. The waters are crystal clear and the mountains are spectacular. Just good ole fun in a beautiful state. I'll take that over a swamp any day!!
GatorBait11 writes:
Old South:
Your still not getting my point. Aaron Hernandez was named a Freshman All American after his first year in college i dont think you are understanding that. That means he earned that honor playing at Florida in his freshman year catching td passes from Tebow. He is going to be a sophomore this year and i am sure you will see him catch a touchdown pass in knoxville this year when we shred your defense again this year.
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