Foster: 'It's not the gameplan - it's us'

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Maybe Tennessee was just living on borrowed time.

After managing to go 193 offensive plays without a turnover, the Vols' clock simply ran out in the second quarter Saturday night against South Carolina in Williams-Brice Stadium.

For an offense with an already razor-thin margin for error, Tennessee's two turnovers proved way too much to overcome in a 27-6 loss to South Carolina, the Gamecocks' first victory over Tennessee on their home field since 1992.

"It was two not very good offenses playing against each other," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said, "and ours was worse than theirs was at times."

The lowlight - and the turning point - came when South Carolina defensive back Stoney Woodson picked off a Nick Stephens pass and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Carolina lead on the first play of the second quarter.

That interception was the first of Stephens' career, which spanned 106 passing attempts and four starts before Saturday's game.

In fact, the Vols hadn't turned the ball over since Stephens fumbled when sacked in UT's 13-9 victory over Northern Illinois on Oct. 14.

But on Saturday, his reaction to his first career interception was enough to land him on the sidelines for the rest of the first half.

"On Nick's pick, I didn't think he hustled after the interception, and I wanted to set a tone," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. "He needed a reminder you always have to play hard."

Stephens, who returned after halftime and completed 10 of his 24 passes for 134 yards in his fifth career start, agreed with the decision.

"I was mad, and he calls it 'dirt-kicking,' " Stephens said. "It was my reaction to the play that caused the consequences. He told me that. I agreed 100 percent because you shouldn't do that. That'll never happen again from me."

With Stephens suddenly on the bench, the Vols (3-6, 1-5 SEC) saw something they didn't expect to see Saturday: Jonathan Crompton under center again.

Crompton, who had not played since going 8-for-23 for 67 yards in UT's 14-12 loss at Auburn, led the Vols' final four series of the first half.

The results weren't spectacular: Three punts and a fumble by tailback Lennon Creer that led to another South Carolina touchdown.

It was another in a series of miscues that have cost the Vols points and ultimately games.

"It's not the gameplan - it's us," said senior tailback Arian Foster, who scored his first touchdown of the season and finished with a team-high 56 yards rushing on 14 carries. "We're out there making mistakes time after time. We can't keep on doing it and expect different results."

In the end, the results were typical of a season that is teetering on the edge of leaving the Vols without a bowl bid and below .500 for the second time in four years.

UT rushed for just 34 yards - factoring in six Carolina sacks - and couldn't make enough big plays in the passing game.

And while turnovers weren't a problem for the Vols in losses to Alabama and Georgia, they certainly were the mitigating factor against the Gamecocks.

"Once again, it was the same thing," senior guard Anthony Parker said. "It's a different person and a different situation on every play that we had go wrong. It's just killing us. It's just something here and something there, it just ends up being huge."

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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