Drew's Notebook
Dave Hooker audio:
In the most literal terms, there's a simple answer to the difference between the timing of Tennessee's season-opener this year and in years past.
"Two days," UT coach Phillip Fulmer joked following Monday's practice, the official beginning of game-week preparations for the Vols' trip to UCLA on Sept. 1.
By the time Tennessee kicks off its season at 8 p.m., almost every other team in the country will have played its first game. But the Vols open the year in primetime and in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
That's worth the wait for tailback Arian Foster.
"That's what you grow up thinking about as a little kid," Foster said. "Everybody watches Monday Night Football. This isn't the professional game yet, but it's the closest thing to it. You're the only football game on TV."
That's a rarity for most teams these days.
South Carolina will open its season against North Carolina State on ESPN at 8 p.m. Thursday, however Oregon and Stanford kick off an hour later on ESPN2. Kentucky has a monopoly on television Sunday, but its opener against Louisville is at 3:30.
Monday's season-opener will be UT's first non-Saturday game since 2005, when its game in Baton Rouge against LSU was moved to Monday night because of Hurricane Rita.
But unlike that week, when UT was prepared to forfeit rather than travel in unsafe conditions, the Vols' schedule this week is set.
It is different, however.
The Vols will use their usual Thursday practice routine on Thursday and Friday. They'll practice early Saturday afternoon before hopping a 1,900-mile flight to Pasadena. And the team will sleep late Sunday morning before holding a walkthrough at the Rose Bowl at 8 p.m. EDT.
"I think you try to keep them on a routine," Fulmer said. "That's the reason we go out a day early so they can get somewhat accustomed to it. It would be different if we were playing at 8 o'clock out there and it's 11 o'clock here. We're playing at 5 o'clock which means it's 8 o'clock here. It will keep their body clocks pretty much the same."
UT has had mixed results playing on the West Coast in recent years.
In 1994, the Vols lost by two points at UCLA. In 1997, they won by three at UCLA. And last year, 12th-ranked Cal drilled the Vols 45-31.
Fulmer won't blame that loss on a time change, though.
"We've made that haul a couple different times and it works out. Last year, not so well, but I don't think it was because of the travel or the time or anything," Fulmer said. "It was because we didn't take care of the ball, didn't play the kicking game and didn't tackle."
Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who will start the second game of his career on Monday, says the extra two days of practice should help Tennessee get ready to play.
"You get a few more days to rest your legs from camp. You get a few more days to watch film, prepare a little more, find the little things you may have missed from the day before. I think it's a good thing."
And the arrival of game week after 3 1/2 weeks of preseason practice is even better.
"There's a slight difference," Crompton said. "On the outside looking in, you can't notice. But when you're out there with the team, you kind of get the feeling that everybody's ready.
"I would say we're about 98, 99 percent game-ready with the offense and defense. A few more days and we'll be 100 percent ready to go."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
NCAA Tennessee 83 - Ohio 68
Vols' spring practice wit…
NCAA Tennessee Lady Vols 75-4…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 157
1manningfan writes:
LETS KICK SOME UCLA TAIL!!!
OrangePower11 writes:
Less than a week and we set this thing in motion!!!!!! Saw some of Gaither's (Tampa) summer practices, and Jarvis Giles is gonna REALLY look nice in Big Orange!
jacksfacts writes:
don't know about everyone else but it's kinda nice not knowing what plays we're going to run. Here's to hoping JC becomes a ut legend over the next 2 years. TN 24 UCLA 14 in a ground game slugfest.
1manningfan writes:
ORANGEPOWER,
Do you live in Tampa? Only asking because i live off of Bruce B Downs, near Dale Mabry close to wear Gaither High school is and where J.Giles plays.
volunteer_cowboy writes:
better watch about betting on ut early, they always sandbag it until the florida game or run out of 100 different formations to give florida something to practice on!!!
jacksfacts writes:
cowboy i think they do that too. i would like to see them come out monday with everything they have. Just to say to Florida this is what we run see if you can stop it.
murrayvol writes:
Kaplan: It's forfeit (not forfiet) in graph #9.
You're welcome. :)
orangebloodgmc writes:
Yeah, cowboy and jacks, I always advocated showing everything, practicing everything and daring future opponents to stop everything, rather than to try and reveal little but in so doing not get to practice much of our own plays.
jacksfacts writes:
manningfan i live in lakeland and it's weird but i swear i see mor TN stickers and flags than FL. But I guess that's the difference between 100 yrs of tradition and 18 yrs. Go Vols.
utwick writes:
awhill, be careful with that shirt selection 'cause this game is riding on it.
DennisVols writes:
UT comes to the line for the first time after forcing a 3 and out for UCLA on their 1st possession. Berry is already showing his talent with that monster hit on Craft for a sack.
Crompton to the line. UT shifts its receivers out with Taylor, Briscoe and Jones with Warren at tightend.
Crompton takes the snap, it's a play action to Foster, Crompton looks right pumps to Taylor then throws over the middle to Jones. Jones breaks a tackle and heads up field. Briscoe lays a block for Jones and he's in the open field. Jones is at the 40, 45, 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 20, 15, 10, 5, Give Him SIX. It's Touchdown Tennessee on their first play from scrimmage here in the Rose Bowl. The UCLA fans seem stunned.
I'm telling you Lee I have not seen that kind of action in a UT offensive play in quite sometime. The secondary bit on the play action and the pump fake to Taylor just opened up the field for Jones who shows why many consider the main play maker on UT's offensive team this year.
OrangePower11 writes:
manningfan...
I live in Lakeland, but I wanted to check him out, I'm planning on checking out the Plant/Gaither game (Murray and UGA vs. Giles and UT) I went to USF so have some ties to Tampa area still
OrangePower11 writes:
Jacksfacts...
I live in Lakeland too, and you are dead on in you assesment of more UT stuff than UF. I moved here in December of last year from Manatee county, and I was floored by all the orange.
GO VOLS!!!
britt writes:
Just won FL tickets off ebay!! Cant wait to see Neyland again.
GatorHater326 writes:
so did I britt ... 7 rows up from the south endzone ah yeah GO VOLS!!!
Volomatic writes:
Orangepower no matter where you go in the south there is orange I've lived in fl. and al. and now currently reside in in texas all three are extremely loaded with UT pride I meet people everyday here that are UT fans its crazy
Gameday so close my bones are aching
I also read that even though espn is carrying the game its going to be on "espn on abc" does anyone know if thats true
Volomatic writes:
another alabumian living in the past wish we had BB here to help us win again
jacksfacts writes:
what's fulmers record against alabama? I remember when Al was our biggest game. Now they're kinda like georgia, they beat us every once in a while, but fulmer has owned them as well. Not only on the field but with the ncaa and soon to be in the courtroom. Enjoy last years win for a few more weeks because it may be a few more years before you can come on here and spout your nonsense. However, hope you beat clemson on saturday.
jacksfacts writes:
How many Alabama fans does it take to change a lightbulb?
jacksfacts writes:
10, one to change the bulb and 9 to talk about how great things used to be.
MrBamSeydu writes:
KAPLAN:
edit needed= Oregon State vs Stanford
gobigorange writes:
U know I live in Alabama and their fans are the worst I ever met.When SEC teams play someone out of the conference I usually pull for them. But as for Bama i dont really care if they ever win another football game. Just because of the fans.i.e.(iam4ua)GOVOLS!!
rootin4volz writes:
30th!...idiots.
chrisw2967 writes:
lol rootin
bigorangebolt writes:
It is great to be a Tennessee Volunteer!
Go Vols! We are behind the Vols 100%!
ravensearay writes:
gobigorange- I also live in Alabama, and I have to agree with you. As a group, Al fans are as rude as they get. Some of them are alright when you get them one on one. But most of them are just-----way out there living in the past.
Wilhelm16 writes:
I just hope we don't see a repeat of the Cal game where once something worked on offense we would move on to something else.
hueypilot writes:
Hey Wilhelm. I was at the Cal game. Refresh my memory. What did we do on offense that worked? I don't remember too much that did.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I will pull for Bama vs Clemson. Hard to do, but they are SEC still, aren't they?
With that football payroll, both above and below board, they could well be in the Dallas Cowboy range.
Well, this time next week, the doldrums will be over and this board will be in full roil.
Either full sloshing slurp or wilted, stained shakers.....
ravensearay writes:
pd- I just can't find it in myself to pull for bama
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
JACKSFACTS & ORANGEPOWER11... I live in Auburndale & work in Lakeland. I agree there is a lot of UT stuff flying around here. I don't know how long you guys have lived around here but it seems like you really didn't to start to see alot of UT stuff until they won the NC back in 98'. I thought i was one of the only UT fans around until they won it. Anyways, good to see non the less.
orangeinbama writes:
I live with these bummer morons (NE Alabumma) and and I tell em they have the biggest payroll in the country, they are the NY Yankees of the south. Cant earn a championship, buy it........Just on the local news this morning they were talking about this freshman wide receiver who is starting....They actually mentioned him and "Heistman" trophy in the same breath...And he has never played a down....Obnoxious Idiots....
SemperVol writes:
RichRollin, be careful talking about iam4ua's mom like that. Whether she's got a full head of teeth or not, she's a champion. Rock on toothless hooter mama!
Regarding your last comment at 12:21....is it so she can hit her spittoon with laser like accuracy or something a little more lascivious?
orangeinbama writes:
General....I want to see the Vols kick a 50 yard field goal and it clear the crossbar as time runs out....Those hurt the worse...Then I'm going downtown and watch them jump off the Coosa River bridge....A couple I might even help get on the railing.......
99gator writes:
from cbs sportsline......their five "experts" make picks for each week.
1. their two games of the week are missouri vs. illinois and lsu vs. appy state (not tenn vs. ucla)
2. two of the five picked ucla.
thought y'all would like to know.
TurboFan writes:
We won by 6 in 1997, 30-24, not 3.
We also tied Colorado in Anaheim in 1990 and won in 1989 over #3 ranked UCLA in Pasadena 24-6
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
How...in gods name do two...so called experts pick UCLA....They are a makeshift team....sheesh...we could be playing the high school there and still not be a favorite....Tennessee gets no love...I sure hope someone from the team gets some of this bulletin board material and uses it...I mean...Fulmer....ranked 33 best coach....and Neunuts ranked above him....and hasnt coached in 6 years....SEC east champs a year ago.....bowl winner...and yet..no love....GO OUT THERE....KICK SOME AZZZ....SNOTBUBBLES ALL OVER THE FIELD...AND GET THAT RESPECT BACK...dang the "experts" pizz me off sometimes ...lol...just ridiculous
shoalcreekvol writes:
I like Crompton's attitude. He always seems to have a fire in his belly. Maybe it's the cafeteria food, but whatever as long as it works...
orangeinbama writes:
shoalcreekvol-Monroe county?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Sheer conjecture to end soon to be replaced by disdain for UAB.
Nueheisel who many diss is 66-30! I would have guessed he was 2-94 from some reactions.
Oh well, as Gen Melon said, he is roadkill on the way to the Grail. Just not roadbump, please.
auttat writes:
Haha! Appy State and LSU is a game of the week! No! Trust me! I'll watch, I promise! GTFOAH!!
auttat writes:
Does the Gameday crew travel the first week of the year?
waterskier3#226480 writes:
GO VOLS and its that time of year where we all hope for that dream season again like 1998.... wait a minute i'm starting to sound like everyone else...lol
no we should win I agree but we have a lot of questions to be answered also because ucla might not have to pass if they become more physical than our DL and run the ball effectively... that's my concern stopping their run and then we turn the ball over and give them easy scores... that's the only way they beat us...
99gator writes:
auttat
they will be in atlanta for clemson-bama
auttat writes:
Just looked at the website, but thanks 99gator.
Seriously, there are several good games for the 1st week of the year, but LSU and Appy State is NOT one of them. Please! What were they thinking?
Go4Two writes:
I lived in BirmingSPAM for a while I now live in Tampa. The Bama fans are totally front runners. Let Saban turn in another 7-6 and It will get ugly.
jmbigorange#280428 writes:
Espn will be watching Bama(overpaid coach & crack selling players) vs Clemson(underachieving coach & overpaid players). This will be a real barn burner.
ctownvol writes:
Ravensearay- Me neither! No matter who they are playing. It seems my hypocracy only goes so far.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
So tell me....unbiased as possible...knowing UCLA and Tennessee this year....and I know its gonna be hard to be partial...who would you pick in this game....??...If UCLA had their starting QB....and hadnt been decimated by injuries...I could see giving them some love....but sheeesh....why oh why arent we getting some.....just for the unknown factor?...what do you guys think?
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
No iam4ua...that just indicates ESPNs lack of love for UT...ever since the Fowler debacle....we will never be in any pecking order...unless our women continue to win championships and USC fields a team....lol...If Corso can take a breath from the Hummers he gives Carroll...they wont give us any love at all...and Kirk....Im pretty sure he gives all the Buckeyes reach arounds before each game...so we know where his loyalties lie....ESPN....we love the west coast...big ten...Notre Dame...and most SEC schools except UT......
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.