After nine consecutive games, Tennessee's football team is hurting physically.
After the dismissal of their head coach last Monday and losing their seventh game of the season - 13-7 to Wyoming on Saturday - the Vols are hurting emotionally, too.
Sounds like a good time for a break.
UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday he hopes his team, 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the SEC, will use an open date this week to heal itself on all fronts before facing Vanderbilt on Nov. 22.
"Heal up physically and heal up emotionally and let's get ready to win two football games - that's what I'm anxious to see us do," Fulmer said Sunday night. "We're not going to fix all of our problems offensively in one week, but we can get a whole lot better from that standpoint and play more consistently. We're going to have to (in order) to win these last two games."
Tennessee, which will miss out on a bowl game for the second time in four years, needs those two wins to avoid finishing with the worst record in school history.
Saturday's upset loss to Wyoming, which the Vols were favored to win by as many as 26 points, marked only the second time UT has lost seven games in a season. Since UT first fielded a football team in 1891, it has never lost eight or more games in a season.
"I think our kids will rally and play better," Fulmer said. "I anticipate that we'll get ourselves started this week, get a good start on Vanderbilt and go from there. The open date probably comes at a good time for everybody."
That's certainly the case for sophomore receiver Gerald Jones.
"I want to get away from football for a second," Jones said last Wednesday. "I just want somewhere I can relax . . . this has been so stressful for me. I'm 19 years old. I don't know what to do with this stuff. It's good for me, because I'll learn from it, but it's been tough."
UT players and staff will visit area hospitals today before returning to practice Tuesday and Wednesday.
After a JV game Thursday night against Hargrave Military Academy, the Vols will have the weekend off before resuming their normal schedule beginning with practice Sunday night.
By then, Fulmer's emotional press conference will be nearly two weeks behind the team.
And, Fulmer hopes, his team will be energized by a week off and ready to play Vanderbilt.
"I would like to think that they will," Fulmer said. "Of course we'll make practice productive for the guys and try to do all we can to go forward and not look backwards."
No Vinson, Again: Despite having a one-game suspension lifted, sophomore cornerback Brent Vinson did not play for a second straight week. His absence against Wyoming wasn't technically a suspension, Fulmer said. Practically, though, it served the same purpose.
"It wasn't necessarily just a punishment thing, but you've got to do the right things in the classroom and you've got to do the right things otherwise," Fulmer said. "It's just a terrible example if you're not doing the right things consistently for the rest of the guys if you go out there and start and play a lot. I'm just trying to help the young man over a hurdle. I hope he'll pay attention and learn and go from there."
Vinson was suspended in a loss at South Carolina on Nov. 1 after police issued him five citations during a traffic stop. He also was suspended because of academics for the Vols' season-opening loss at UCLA.
Berry At QB?: With UT's struggles at quarterback, the prospect of safety Eric Berry taking snaps at the position came up again during Fulmer's teleconference.
"I think Eric can do some things certainly at quarterback," Fulmer said. "We've tried him in some of the things that Gerald Jones was doing. It's certainly something we need to look at. He's not a great passer, but some of the things he does running the football are pretty exceptional."
Berry has played on offense for one snap this season, catching a 3-yard pass in the Vols' loss to Alabama on Oct. 25.
Injury Report: UT plans to rest several players during the off week.
Defensive tackle Dan Williams (ankle) did not play in the second half against Wyoming, while tailback Montario Hardesty (stress fracture) and defensive end Chris Walker (back) did not dress.
Tailback Arian Foster (thigh bruise) also did not play against Wyoming. Receiver Josh Briscoe will be evaluated this week after suffering a concussion against Wyoming.
Receiver Lucas Taylor (shoulder), defensive tackle Walter Fisher (turf toe) and defensive end Wes Brown (knee) all likely will be limited this week in practice.
Drew Edwards covers Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 208
tnbigg writes:
No kidding...hopefully we win a game...
tnbigg writes:
I do mean H O P E F U L L Y...and I do mean A G A M E...because I doubt we'll win both. Worst record EVER in easy reach...
mdvol writes:
Spend the bye week getting BJ Coleman ready to start.
blitzshoot writes:
Get Fulmer away from this team now! He's a virus.
tennisvol writes:
The two weeks will give ole Phil more time to watch the film and work like heck in practice.
HollySpringsVOL writes:
Winning the last two games will be tough. Both UK and Vandy smell blood in the water. I'll be at the UK gaming cheering on my team. It may be ugly, but I have a 23 year record of attending the last home game and I am not about to break it now.
tnbigg writes:
I'm pretty sure we're still undefeated in practice...
Ironcity writes:
Great time to prep Colemen with the JV team and then start him with the Varsity next Saturday
kjvols writes:
Back to the Hecktagon
kjvols writes:
Ugly is an understatment
pdhuff#552644 writes:
"Regroup"!
That suggests we were grouped at one time.
I don't think so after watching the film.
silvertr6 writes:
Two weeks of practice will not help. From results this year, the team just becomes worse with practice. If the coaches were paid for winning, it would not be minimum wage pay.
threehundredbowler writes:
Fulmer is gone.He will not be back next year as Tennessee's head coach.Everyone knows that.With that said,why not give the man a little slack.He has gone through enough.All this talk and name calling is just childish and shows how inmature we are.We can now just sit back and wait for Hamilton to make a hire that will upset some of us and bring joy to others.The new coach will not be acceptable to everyone.Whomever is hired will be wrong to some of us and a God to others.Just get behind him and see how he works out.
DennisVols writes:
I would not play a single offensive starter the rest of the season. This loss to Wyoming was as poor a performance as I have ever seen. What happened to the pride? Win for our coach? We are mad about coach Fulmer's dismissle?
It was all a bunch of BS. If our offense had even half the heart that spewed from their mouth no way do they lose.
Fulmer has nothing else to lose. Bench those who all year long have played like they have no pride, failed to excute, and show no discipline.
bubbanator21 writes:
Didn't we lose 7 games in 2005 and 1977? By my count that's twice. Making this year's the third time.
BSweet writes:
Anyone have any idea when the last time was that UT had no players whatsoever taken in the NFL draft? After the Wyoming performance, it's hard for me to imagine any of the players that will be or could be eligible for the draft actually getting picked. None of them seem to have the heart to play big time ball. That is just sad.
bubbanator21 writes:
My bad we were 5-6 in 2005.
DennisVols writes:
Had the opportunity arrose they would have lost 7.
Moesart writes:
"Of course we'll make practice productive"
You have repeatedly proven you can't motivate players, nor maximize what you have.
There's an easy fat joke there, but I resist.
andy112382#209793 writes:
So if we get Butch Davis, can we have any of those top recruits switch over you think?
http://tennessee.scout.com/a.z?s=7&am...
Here is my top picks - in order - for a coach, at least from the names I am most aware of, I am sure there are candidates out there I just haven't become aware of:
1. Jon Gruden
2. Butch Davis
3. Lane Kiffin
4. Will Muschamp
5. Jimbo Fisher (yea, I know his status as FSU, but figured I could add him anyway, good offensice mind and recruiter)
6. Mike Leach (see any of my 50 posts about why he is down this low)
7. Brian Kelly
BubbaHoTep writes:
Hor$e$hit.
I was not satisfied with 2005 by any means, but that team lost three games by a total of 8 points (AL, SC, Vandy).
A break here and there in their favor, and that was an 8-3 team.
There is no comparison between them and this year's team.
99gator writes:
on the television program "talkin football"....mark schlabach made a remark that i think people should pay attention to because the new coach will need a significant amount of time if he is correct. when i thought about the comment, it made some sense to me.
he went through some of the losses wyoming has had and dispelled the tennessee not playing hard as a problem in that game. he basically said, tennessee did not need to play hard to beat wyoming.....wyoming is that bad. bowling green took them behind the woodshed. a lot of teams who "did not play hard" against wyoming would walk away with a comfortable victory.
in short, talent has to be a problem. because if tennessee had the players, there are no circumstances (including not playing hard or bad coaching) that would have prevented tennessee from winning.
again the more i thought about that it made sense. how many teams in tennessee's past could have played that wyoming team with people on this message board forming the game plan and calling the plays and come away with a win.
SFOrange writes:
Don't look for UT to win again this year...this is a total crash and burn--it'll happen and things will get somewhat stabilized once this season is over and Fulmer departs.
Its a era pivot. For all we've said about Fulmer/Clawson this year...and for the steady decline over the past few...here's to Fulmers dedication to the University--its been a great ride thats not ending the way any of us would have liked.
scgamecock writes:
May God Bless Coach Fulmer, his family and the Vols!
andy112382#209793 writes:
Amazing, since Wichita State doesn't have a football team...
DennisVols writes:
No comparison?
Player discipline issues both in academics and criminal activity: 2005, 2008
Quarterback issues involving both the 1st and 2nd string quarterbacks: 2005, 2008
Finished the season unranked after starting the season ranked with higher expectations: 2005, 2008
Lost at least 3 games they should have won: 2005 (Alabama, USC, and Vandy), 2008 (UCLA, Auburn, Wyoming) A break here or there and we win all of those games both years
No Bowl: 2005, 2008
These teams are very similar. Both have also been big let downs, under achieving, poor discipline, miss managed. Yes this years team will set a record for most losses in a season but in 2005 many picked UT to play for the conference and possible National Championship so on a scale of disappointment they are both fairly equal in that as well.
BubbaHoTep writes:
Unfortunately, SFOrange, your words of wisdom will not be heeded by many on this board (not necessarily this thread), which contains several trolls and offensive/defensive coordinators who have delighted in making derogatory comments against anyone/anything that doesn't go to suit them.
I mean, Hell, you'd think some of these people expected us to win the SEC with a first-year offensive coordinator or something.
There is no excuse for what we've seen on the field this year, I agree, and perhaps it's time for a change. However, much of this is classless B$.
I wonder if any of these nutjobs were among those I argued with back in 94 on a shuttle bus after the Bama game. En masse, they tried to convince me that Branndon Stewart, rather than Peyton Manning, was *THE* QB. Some of the same ones probably even whined when Peyton didn't win the Heisman, despite the fact that receipt of that trophy at that time had been a "kiss of death" for quarterbacks at the next level. Some of them might have even watched the SECCG last year and cheered for the Vols. Go figure. At least the Internet "empowers" them to some extent, I guess.
Thanks to Coach for a great run and many wonderful memories.
The old Athenians had it right with regard to the masses.
VolInColorado writes:
Add Chris Petersen from Boise State to your list. Look it up. We want him....
BubbaHoTep writes:
You're forgetting the comeback against LSU in 2005. A lot of people picked that LSU team to win it, didn't they?
That was a road win, too, if you'll recall.
As for discipline issues, I want you to tell me how in the world a coach is supposed to stop a kid from firing up a blunt at Ft. Sanders or getting into trouble off campus.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
Will the brother STFU already with the Rogers posts--if he had a deeper tan you'd be comparing him to Jerry Rice---and Vincent should be on the bench if he cant behave right and show some responsibility----he cant tackle anyway from what I've seen
shoalcreekvol writes:
23 years? Kentucky? OMG I hope that's not a tremendous coincidence. I hope we can stretch the streak to 24.
FYI there is an omen that indicates UT might lose to UK (besides the play on the field):
I will be at the UT-KY game this year. The last time I went to the KY game was my first ever trip to Neyland as a kid. The date? November 24, 1984. That would be the last time they beat us. This is my four kids' first ever trip to Neyland. I'm sure the Kitties are glad to hear I'm finally coming back.
OdessaVol writes:
99,
not sure that I agree completely. Last year we had very similar personel with the exception of qb and offensive coordinator. Also, missing Mayo at LB, but defense is not the problem this year. With similar personel we beat an 11-2 Georgia team badly, a decent Wisconsin and a couple other decent wins. I beleive the o-line has been a disaster and the main reason for our offensive inefficiencies this year. Last year with Ainge at qb, we used quick drops, short passes and Eric played pretty smart being a 4 year starter. The line only gave up 4 sacks all year and I realize Ainge had a lot to do with that but I still don't see how you beat a GA team like we did with no talent.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Bubba, don't you know this is GVX? Common sense and important facts are not welcome here.
shoalcreekvol writes:
I don't understand. This article says that next week is a bye week, but it also says there's a JV game Thursday night. After watching the replay of Saturday's game against the Cowboys, those two facts are not adding up. Are they implying that the UT team on the field Saturday was NOT the JV?
shoalcreekvol writes:
Where the he!! did that guy get "Brent Pearl" and "Wichita State"? WTF?
FYI I noticed CPF's resume includes a stop at Wichita State, who shortly thereafter cancelled their football program. Could he actually be a serial (program) killer in disguise? A giant neon orange disguise?
newtonrail writes:
There you go again Naffy! You just can't stop your racist banter. Do you think Vinson should not be punished for MJ and alcohol, no license, etc.?
volfan4life25#231291 writes:
Tennessee has quit: Shame on the Tennessee players for their disgraceful performance Saturday in the 13-7 loss to Wyoming. The coaches deserve part of the blame. They're the ones getting paid. But this one is on the players, especially with how they reacted earlier in the week during the news conference to announce Phillip Fulmer's ouster. If they had shown half that much emotion on the field and played with a fraction of that much passion against Wyoming, the game wouldn't have been close. This is a proud program that is seeing a dismal end to a coaching career that will go down as one of the most successful in SEC history. But this particular team (more precisely this offense) is assuring that Fulmer's finale will go down as one of the worst seasons in school history. The Vols (3-7) have never lost eight games in a season.
This is on ESPN.com
Volnbama writes:
I was there when we lost to N TX ST. I was there when we lost to army. I was there last sat. I was there when we lost to Memphis. This was the worst though. Im still pucking.
TheMagician writes:
Time to gather and evaluate talent as if it were day one. Let the ones that want it the most play the last two.
poof!
jsm67vol writes:
Good post.
I am as ready as anyone for the coaching change but this group of players seem content with being part of the worst record in UT football history. If they are so angry about the treatment of Phil which many of them were so outspoken about, how could they play that way against WY. Its unfortunate to say the least.
BlountVol writes:
Why always so much negativity? Everyone pause just a moment and watch this video Tribute to Head Coach Phillip Fulmer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Qk_Vu...
shipperman#280095 writes:
Well we only lost to Auburn this year by 2, if you want to grasp at straws
shipperman#280095 writes:
Where is our old friend, WELOVETENNVOLS? He must be more heavily medicated
zqvol writes:
This is the most rational post I have seen in weeks.
I will say it again, whether you like Fulmer or hate him, everything he has done was what he thought was best for the Vols and wheter you believe it or not this season hurts him worse than all of the rest of us put together.
He has class, let's make sure that we show as much class as he does.
murrayvol writes:
He's one among many on this team just now.
murrayvol writes:
The ride hasn't been all that great the past several years. IMO
Look on the bright side. He's got the opportunity to hang around the Athletic Dept. (in some capacity) to keep spreading the magic dust, not to mention advice to the next coach.
tnbigg writes:
This is MUCH more appropriate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfAW83...
blitzshoot writes:
I believe he went to the corn for a reincarnation.
GreerVol22 writes:
kingsport, even money says we miss the PAT. 35-6
Alwaysthinknnextyear writes:
Same receivers Trooper coached. Same running backs. same offensive line. Cut, Trooper, Roper, etc. must have made the difference. When Fulmer needed a goat he usually found one. What about the offensive line coach that we had from Florida a few years back. I thought we had a better coached line then. But when we had a little hiccup then Fulmer fires the guy. Wouldn't even consider Trooper for O coordinator. His personality was too hyped for the big ego of the boss. Give the credit where it is due and give the critique where it is due.
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