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Tennessee Stat Book
UCLA Bruins
Reluctant spectator Gerald Williams had company on the sidelines Thursday. Make that alarming company for four days before Tennessee opens its football season at UCLA.
Williams was joined by defensive end Ben Martin and linebacker Nevin McKenzie in non-combatant status.
Turned out to be a false alarm, at least for Martin and McKenzie.
McKenzie took the day off to have a tooth pulled. Coach Phillip Fulmer said Martin had a slight groin pull but will be good to go Monday.
“We should be 100 percent of where we were when we leave for L.A. (on Saturday),’’ Fulmer said.
The Vols hope to learn today if Williams will be on that flight.
The junior-college transfer missed another day of practice while awaiting a ruling from the SEC on whether he is academically eligible.
At issue is believed to be a correspondence math course and whether such a course is recognized under recent SEC rule modifications.
“I don’t know that I’ve been told (today) is (a deadline),’’ Fulmer said. “Certainly for traveling with this team for this game it might be. And it (today) is the last day for drop/adds, so we’re hopeful to hear something.’’
Asked if he was optimistic about what he will hear, Fulmer just said, “I’m hopeful.’’
Pearls of Wisdom: Basketball coach Bruce Pearl addressed the squad after practice. His message included being prepared for opening day and the importance of projecting confidence.
“We have such a special relationship between myself and Bruce and Pat (Summitt),’’ Fulmer said. “Pat’s done it before for us and I’ve done it for her. Bruce has asked me to speak for him.’’
The Starter Is?: Adam Myers-White said he doesn’t know yet whether he or McKenzie will open at strongside linebacker.
“You’re asking the wrong guy about that,’’ he said. “I just know I’ll go out and get as many plays as I can and do the best I can for the team.
“I prepare like I’m going out there and playing every down. You never know what might happen.’’
Fulmer said he considers both starters:
“It depends on which package we open in, they both may be on the field.’’
Rogan & Creer: Lennon Creer will be the first guy deep alongside Dennis Rogan on kickoff returns.
“We’re fortunate to have a lot of combinations,’’ Fulmer said. “Dennis will be the guy we’ll work to get the ball.’’
Neyland Ready: The $27.4 million Phase II renovations at Neyland Stadium are completed more than two weeks before the Sept. 13 home opener against UAB, UT announced Thursday.
The improvements include restrooms, concessions, lighting and signage for fans on the lower west concourse, locker room renovations, a Letterman’s Room, a new media center and brickwork around the Shields-Watkins Field level.
The estimated $72 million Phase III will take place over the next two years, adding the West Club (422 seats) and Tennessee Terrace (1,800 seats). Ticket-holders affected by Phase III will be contacted about joining the Tennessee Terrace or moving to another area. No one will be displaced out of the stadium or required to increase their annual donation to maintain their current number of season tickets.
Simulcast: The Vol Network broadcast of the UCLA game can be heard in the Rose Bowl on 87.9 FM.
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Comments » 125
irmovol writes:
1st haha.. eat your heart out! put the boy on the plane
RockyTop31174 writes:
2nd or 3rd or 4th - KEEP JOHN ADAMS - BOYCOTT VOLS0073 POSTS
pammyvol1000 writes:
If Gerald doesn't make it.. I will cry..
ok.. I know there's no crying in Football but my heart goes out to him.. plus I'm a girl and can break the rules a bit..
IBleedOrange444 writes:
This is absolutely unacceptable on the part of the SEC. Even if they do finally clear him, they've really screwed us out of a full week of game preparations. This is certainly not helping one of their member schools to go out and put on a good showing against one of the other "Big 6" teams. The SEC ought to realize that this is going to be a deterrent that will push good Juco talent away from the SEC.
longtimefan writes:
Hope he gets the ok. We sure need him. Why are they dragging it out till the last minute? They gonna pay somebody overtime tonight to make a decision? Whats the holdup? Everybody down there in Alabama go on a long huntin trip? what a bunch of phooey!
TheFuj writes:
Somebody has really missed the boat here. When one is still awaiting clearance 4 days before the 1st game, then someone administratively has not helped matters.
UT4ME writes:
Here is an excerpt of the "rule" that has Gerald Williams out of football at UT:
Earned at least three credit hours of transferable math with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00 in these credit hours
(Effective August 1, 2008; for student-athletes first enrolling at an SEC institution on or after August 1, 2008, correspondence, extension and distance learning courses may not be used to fulfill this requirement). Effective June 1, 2003; Revised 6/1/2007
Gerald Williams passed the math class. The new rule went into effect on August 1, 2008. HOWEVER, it was put in place on June 1, 2007, and all faculty and students were notified of the change. If this ends up being the fault of a UT advisor/coach, then we have truly let this young man down. Fulmer's open letter response to John Adam's calling for his job will come back to haunt him on this one...this could be another example of the complete ignorance and/or incompetence of the "mentoring" part of helping all "STUDENT" atheletes at UT. The facts are not fully known yet, at least by me, but while this may not matter to folks for very long, if Gerald is denied eligibility and it is because UT coaches/tutors advised him incorrectly, I will never support Fulmer again. He probably did not make any of these decisions, but he's got to take responsibility for screwing a guy who has done everything he can, apparently, to play for him. We'll see.
irmovol writes:
I just dont understand the situation ... Did he take a class that was not transferable , did he take a class that was transferable .... did he fail or did he pass .. end of story !!!!
irmovol writes:
beecher no looking too good ... interception !!!! hahahahahahahaahaha
VOLinDAWGland writes:
What is crazy if this doesn't go through is the lack of exceptions for what seems to be such a nit picky technicality. I would not let the first however many students get caught into this if I were the SEC. It takes a while for new policies to get fully understood and implemented. I work for a very large company and communicating something like this and having everyone fully understand in the first go is impossible. They should consider the circumstances, the effort, the intent and rule justly. Turning back this young man whether it be at UT or any university that a young man desires and works to qualify for is not JUSTICE. It is the soft handed, limp wristed mandarins gone wild. Some adult needs to step in and make this right.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Creer and Rogan on kickoffs sounds dynamite!
Man is GW in a jam or what? Sad.
irmovol writes:
AMEN!!! VOLDOG, it just ain't right!
murrayvol writes:
I would understand how Gerald Williams might be inclined to go postal if he has endure another wasted season. I wish him the best but don't have a good feeling just now.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Is it ok to pray for someone to play football?
Not sure what the rules are there but I really want him to be wearing the Orange!!
irmovol writes:
Pray girl ... Pray hard
irmovol writes:
Maybe VOLGJUZ will pray for the boy :-)
britt writes:
Guess we'll need to start the hunger strike all over again. It worked for Warren it will work for Williams.
Smallmike4pres writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
PreventUT writes:
"For student-athletes first enrolling at an SEC institution on or after August 1, 2008"
What is the implication of the word "first"? Did he not "first" enroll in the summer of 2005?
Obviously his situation is a little unique in that he had started to complete the necassary work years ago and the bar has since kept moving.
irmovol writes:
interception # 2 for beecher ...i would be suprised if he comes back out ... hahhahahahahahahaah!!!!!!!!11
DennisVols writes:
This is NUTS. He either is or he isn't. If the SEC can't make such a simple decision then how messed up is the rest of theor decisions.
It is a simple decision. Did he complete the courses necessary? yes/no
Did the course meet the requirements? yes/no
If bith answers are yes then he pkays if either is no then he doesn't.
It is not brain surgery.
Williams is being treated wrong by the fact they failed to make a decision that shouldn't take more than a hour to complete.
There needs to be rules for the SEC as well as the teams. There should be a required time frame in which they must reach a decision. Every corp. has them, every job has them. How is it that the SEC can drag it's collective feet on making decisions that affect peoples lives?
I know I sound like I am on a soap box but this it truely obsured.
gavol2572 writes:
uh oh two picks for spurrier and co. Won't be long and that young man will warming the pine.
caskew#218608 writes:
Smallmike,
I actually turn the radio off at Noon and turn it back on at 3:00. Maybe I'm not the only one that doesn't enjoy listening to Rome talk about his new Blackberry and how many he has in his office drawer that he never uses.
PreventUT writes:
Besides, full and 1st sessions began June 2, and the 2nd session started July 7th. It's not when the class ends, but when it starts.
So if what UT4ME wrote is correct, one would think GW "should" be fine.
irmovol writes:
smelly's not much better ... will we see the all so hyped up GARCIA.. They say ( (ock lovers ) that he is the next boy kisser
Smallmike4pres writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
LiveFaith writes:
I have an idea. Let's all climb the trees around the SEC offices and live there until Gerald Williams is freed. Eat, drink and sleep there.
Nobody's ever done that before I bet. :-D
vtvol#210290 writes:
Pick number three
caskew#218608 writes:
Beecher blows....... 3 ints.
irmovol writes:
i hope he plays against my vols
irmovol writes:
put your paycheck on it .... we will run all over the gamecocks
caskew#218608 writes:
Smallmike,
I'm actually a 21 year old University of Tennessee student. What about not liking Jim Rome automatically makes me middle-aged? I enjoy listening to local sports talk rather than a national show.
DennisVols writes:
Hooker seems to think this USC team will be the Vols? Give me a break
trap2240#1340138 writes:
Free Gerald Williams!
irmovol writes:
dennisvol: im not very impressed so far either, hopefully we play better in la
pdhuff#552644 writes:
caskew 8:44 - most geezers around here do exactly the same thing on 104.5 The Zone. 12-2 is silent.
Talk about self-promotion, he is a successfull king.
pammyvol1000 writes:
irmovol: I am praying.
Gerald.. Gerald.. Gerald.. Gerald.. Gerald......
I lost the email address to whomever holds this young gentlemen's life in hand.. Does anybody have it? I am ready to send the email of my life.
Madkels writes:
It looks like the SEC (in Alabama) is taking as long to answer this question as it took the other morons in Alabama to serve CPF with a supeona!
OrangeKoolAid writes:
Slive & Co did a nice job getting $$s for the conference, but what does it say that they didn't leave somebody in the office to make a decision about a young man's career? They owe a lot of people apologies and explanations.
The evil one's gameychickens are looking really bad. Can't believe Beecher is still in the game.
I saw a little bit of the Vandy game at BW3 with dinner. They looked like they were taking care of business (27 - 10 @ half).
Take care of business in LA - GoVols!
wildberry14 writes:
i say we just put him in someone elses uniform and give him a tinted visor and tell him to keep his helmet on.
maybe no one would notice
except for the ucla qb
ibvolman writes:
FREE G.Williams!!!!!!!
Boycott Ala-stinkin-bama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
britt writes:
Int #4 cant believe hes still in there
vtvol#210290 writes:
Int # 4 for Beecher. They're going down to Vandy next week.
CoverOrange writes:
I'm with Caskew, Jim Rome is an egotistical self-indulgent, know-it-all, poser. I figured that out over 10 years ago when irmo was still in grade school.
Pammy, I'm willing to bet emails to the SEC office go to some lowly paid assistant to the assistant who's task his to write form letter responses once a week. Just like writing your congressman, using an envelope and a stamp is more likely to get read. But not by much.
CoverOrange writes:
I still say Gerald should go ahead and sign up for classes to null any threat of the SEC office not ruling in time. He can always drop them later if the ruling is negative.
irmovol writes:
Hey Turbo : are you refering to me as being in grad school 10 years ago? If so what has led you to believe that ? if you must know , 10 years ago I was pleasantly stationed in okinawa japan serving 4 years in the corp. And here i thought you Knew WTF you were talking about all this time..
CoverOrange writes:
Was just kidding ya irmo. Thanks for your service.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Turbo: Your absolutely right! I guess it's back to praying for a miracle! Bless his ever loving heart!
irmovol writes:
almost thought we might have to meet in the dirt parking lot after school
pammyvol1000 writes:
dtaylor: No worries mate. Ala-mullet-bama will be polverized by the Tigers..
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