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Eric Berry says the Vanderbilt and Kentucky games will be a tribute to head coach, Phillip Fulmer, with players giving 110% on the field. Watch »
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Phillip Fulmer had some interesting praise for Vanderbilt on Tuesday.
"They've done a good job of using their personnel,'' said Tennessee's head coach. "Particularly when D.J. Moore comes over and gives 'em some plays from an offensive standpoint."
Moore, of course, is Vandy's talented defensive back who has of late become a two-way player.
He caught two touchdown passes last week against Kentucky, a game in which, wearing his cornerback hat, he also caught two Kentucky passes.
Fulmer also said quarterback B.J. Coleman will "get his opportunities" when Tennessee takes the field Saturday at Vanderbilt Stadium in an unfamiliar role as underdog.
Coleman, of course, is UT's redshirt freshman who has made only one varsity appearance, a cameo against UAB on Sept. 13.
I relate the two subjects under the common heading of wondering how well Tennessee has used its personnel in this misbegotten season.
If Moore has been a shot in the arm for Vanderbilt's piddling offense, might not the sensational defender Eric Berry have been likewise for Tennessee's?
If Coleman looked so dynamic last week in a junior-varsity outing, should he have gotten a chance before the 11th game to see if he could elevate UT's flat-line quarterback play?
And should Brandon Warren have ... No, I'm not even going there.
Off the top, let me say that Fulmer and his staff have a decided advantage over the media and the fan base when it comes to determining who plays where and how much.
They're professional football coaches with decades of combined experience. They observe every practice, then rehash it on videotape.
The rest of us watch the games on Saturday, then, through the prism of 20/20 hindsight, critique and second-guess.
Bottom line, I don't think we'll ever really know for sure if Tennessee could have avoided this train wreck of a season by using its personnel differently.
As for Berry, who might be the best defensive back in the nation, the party line has been that he's too valuable to the defense to risk getting hurt on offense.
Fulmer stuck to his guns Tuesday. He even revealed a new wrinkle: that Berry has been laboring with a "shoulder" issue.
You would have never guessed it the way Berry has been laying the wood to receivers and running backs all season.
For his part, Berry, a former high school quarterback, remains eager to play offense.
Seeing Vanderbilt's Moore make a splash "just makes me want to do it even more,'' Berry said Tuesday.
Coleman, meanwhile, will get play Saturday. To what extent has not been determined.
Jonathan Crompton regains the starting role he held the first four games, but Coleman moves ahead of Nick Stephens, who started the past six.
It would be naive to expect Coleman to experience the same success Saturday against an SEC defense that he enjoyed against Hargrave Military Academy.
But it's not naive to at least wonder if he would have provided more of a spark than Crompton or Stephens these past weeks.
Offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said he has agonized all season, waiting for a quarterback to separate himself from the others. He's still waiting.
"And those aren't good seasons,'' Clawson added.
You could make a case for handing Coleman the keys and letting him take every snap of the final two games. Except, that is, for the 20 or so snaps a game where Berry plays quarterback.
After all, the Vols are not going to a bowl. A coaching search is on. What's left to lose?
Well, two more games, possibly.
"There are some players on the Tennessee football team that are only going to put that uniform on two more times,'' said Clawson. "As professionals, it's our job to do the very best we can to put those guys in position to win.''
As professionals, they should have a better idea than the rest of us exactly what those positions are.
But the way things have turned out, there will always be a lot of second-guessing about 2008.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 37
blitzshoot writes:
Professional does not one qualify.
tnbigg writes:
They've done a good job with their personnel.
Hint; That is called coaching...maybe we should think about it for once...
tnbigg writes:
By the way...we got PLENTY of answers this year...not what we were hoping for...but true answers nonetheless...WORST SEASON IN TENNESSEE FOOTBALL HISTORY...does that answer any questions...
ctownvol writes:
Hey tnbigg. You say coaching? What's that?
blitzshoot writes:
Clawson " there are some players that are going to put that uniform on two more times"
In August it was 12 more times. Didn't really make a difference.
Volsfan1985 writes:
"There are some players on the Tennessee football team that are only going to put that uniform on two more times,'' said Clawson. "As professionals, it's our job to do the very best we can to put those guys in position to win.''
THATS RIGHT BECAUSE THE NEXT COACH WILL HAVE SINCE ENOUGH TO CUT JONATHAN CRAPTON... AS LONG AS HE IS TAKING THE SNAPS WE DON'T STAND A CHANCE
UTmama writes:
"Give Coleman the keys?" Fulmer lost the keys before the season started!
blitzshoot writes:
Has the offensive line decided to go on this trip?
If not, UT has a chance.
blitzshoot writes:
Something tells me this is going to be embarrassing.
ctownvol writes:
Going to be embarrassing? Going to be embarrassing?
tenuscvol writes:
I haven't particularly liked Cromptons attitude from the start and I do not believe that he will ever get it at QB. Don't know the guy personally but I have not recognized any leadership qualitities or basic fundemental football skills....at times he throws real well but the game smarts just don't seem to be there...
Makes me wonder if Crompton himself actually knows that Coleman is the best of the bunch and should start...
Probably wont matter as I predict within two (2) sets that Crompton screws it up and we'll see Coleman anyway...
Bama Sucks!
GoVols!
ncvol17 writes:
It will be a sad day when Sportscenter shows highlights of a rare Vandy win. At season's end we will beat out Michigan as the biggest flop in college ball. Same lousy record but we score less than they do.
We score less than the male Science club members at UT.
cainclifton23 writes:
Ut 73
UTM 46
At least Pearl plays the young players with talent
:]
tnbigg writes:
Going to be embarrassing? Going to be embarrassing?
Going to be embarrassing? Going to be embarrassing?
Going to be embarrassing? Going to be embarrassing?
Agree with your wise reply..
Going to be embarrassing? Going to be embarrassing?
tnbigg writes:
Something we no longer have even the slightest clue about Bro'...the former players called it right last year. It was "almost laughable" then...and now...it's beyond laughable...but...there has been much laughing...coach...wife...players...somehow I simply missed the funny part...my expectations must have exceeded "laughable"...I must be old fashioned...
gohawks1 writes:
Good one, brother.
I'm trying to look at the bright side - at least I won't have to shell out 30 bucks for the 2008 Season DVD.
DennisVols writes:
I believe the correct grammer would be: Going to be more embarrassing. :-)
gohawks1 writes:
Also referred to as the "mini-me" version. It will contain all the highlights of the decade.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good article.
Phixable leaves with a used van, ala Cafego, for engineering a "train wreck".
Clydesdales better get nervous in Swayback.
tnbigg writes:
What? This years highlight reel will become an instant classic! The fumbling, bumbling, hyena laughing, shoestring untying, punter punching, keystone kops! It will be an INSTANT comedy classic! Way to go coach! The grande finale comes against KY as the team runs out through the "T" and Phulmo trips and falls the rest of "F" troop fall over him and the 1965 orange and white VW comes shooting out through the "T" and 25 clowns pile out to help them up! As this happens the cheerleaders are busy throwing paper bags with eye holes and an upside power "T" on the forehead for 25,673 lucky folks who showed up. It will be unforgetable! Memories for a lifetime! A record for the ages! THE WORST RECORD IN TENNESSEE FOOTBALL HISTORY! WHOO HOO!
vol2211insc writes:
forget a spark..Tennessee's offense has not been in a rythm all season. I really wish they would give B.J. a shot. You hit rock bottom and you can't go any lower. No he won't have 300+ yards passing but he just might get the passing game rolling in the right direction
TommyJack writes:
The Belgians have bolted for Colorado.
Chartervol writes:
Bad as I'd hate to see it, the best thing that could happen would be for Vanderbilt to reclaim its stadium and wax Tennessee's dysfunctional arse Saturday, then go to a bowl and win it.
Tennessee needs the competition. Being unchallenged in its own borders has helped make the Vols fat-headed and lazy. Alabama has Auburn. Georgia has Georgia Tech. Florida has Florida State. Front-porch competition makes you better.
MidTennVol writes:
Another feature on UT's next head coach...
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_1...
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
If you can do a better job, just you go do it. Has your life been one of greatness? You are probably a loser in life afraid to try to fulfill your dreams, at least Fulmer coached over 10 years , had a 75 percent win percentage, and won a National Championship, plus other honors. If he was just lucky, what's your excuse?
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
You know, maybe it's Vanderbilt's time to win a few. We've beaten them up for years, made fun of them, and they've had to life with it. And the best we can think of is, well maybe we've had some bad coaches???? This is a pitiful excuse for an article, nothing positive, very little humor, and nothing to get your teeth into. Just another losing season, oh well. If it's not a thrill a minute for them they just can't handle it. Fulmer's not too exciting for them . Give us more action. Go to a wrestling match if you want excitement. And then they want reality. Never happy are they.
99gator writes:
it's vandy's time to win. are you serious?
i may be the only one here, but i find it laughable when people rank fulmer among the elite of college football coaches.
two conference championships in 17 seasons is not greatness in terms of "all-time".
to mention fulmer with the bear, spurrier, paterno, bowden, several notre dame coaches, bud wilkinson, osborne, woody hayes, etc, etc, etc.
stoops, tressel and pete caroll have a national title(s) and more conference titles and have been head coaches at their schools for a much shorter period of time.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Love how Clawson gets a totally free ride from UT fans. Hilarious.
WVVOLFAN writes:
VMI 111
U of k 103
The k stands for got kicked by karolina
WVVOLFAN writes:
i don't give him a free ride. i think he has done the worst coaching job in recent UT history. i've heard that CPF has taken the offense away. if that's the case then he should have stood up to CPF, if not he should not have taken the post. on top of that, what he does during practice with the QB's is a mystery. crompton throws a 10 yard pass 2 yards short, locks on recievers, can't move in the pocket, no pocket presence, Stephens forces balls, thrys to throw trough a DL hands. we also must have the record for most passes blocked at the line of scrimmage in the last decade.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Sign me up, tnbigg! A laff riot for the whole family! About a dozen will complete my Christmas shopping list!
indianacurly writes:
i'm embarrassed
jobrando#216494 writes:
Want be to embarrassing to keep it a 10 point game. I'm afraid it will be 21.
murrayvol writes:
I suspect Berry is laboring with a "shoulder" issue.
He and a small handful of others have been carrying this team and their coaches for 10 games.
Alabaster_Jones writes:
Someone mentioned that the coaches look at film everyday and blah blah blah.....This coaching staff is maybe the worst judge of talent than any coaching staff in the SEC. Fulmer is also WAY too loyal to his players and the promises he has made. I'm sure somewhere he told A. Rogers he would play, maybe so he could get his brother. Maybe he told the Cromptons that he would be the man his junior and senior year....But you have to play the best players no matter what. If Berry is the bst QB we have, play him. If he can makea difference on offense even though he's hurt play him. If he's so hurt he can't play, sit him. This program is a joke and a laughing stock acros the country and especially in the SEC.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?
shoalcreekvol writes:
Hey Vicky. I hope Phil, you and the girls are doing well now. I know this is a time of real transition for your family. Just want you to know that while we are excited about seeing UT get back on track on the football field, we appreciate all you and your family have done for the university and the community.
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