Dave Hooker's post-game audio
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Tennessee Stat Book
Northern Illinois Huskies
Northern Illinois exited the Neyland Stadium tunnel to cheers from a few hundred of its fans who had made the trip.
And why not? The Huskies (2-3) went toe-to-toe with one of the most tradition-laden programs in the South and were in position to pull off the upset before falling to Tennessee 13-9 Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
"In 25 years of coaching, to have the opportunity to play at Tennessee was a tremendous dream,'' said first-year NIU coach Jerry Kill. "The big thing is they are bigger, faster, stronger.''
And the Vols (2-3) proved just slightly better.
Kill didn't make any excuses, and he took the blame for allowing second-string quarterback Dan Nicholson to get hit too much and knocked out of the game with 5:49 left in the second quarter and the score tied 3-3.
Nicholson, a senior, missed spring drills and part of August with the same shoulder injury. He was pressed into action when first-string QB Chandler Harnish went down with a sprained foot in NIU's 29-26 loss to Western Michigan in the second game of the season.
Redshirt freshman DeMarcus Grady, who saw most of the snaps Saturday, was pressed into action when UT knocked Nicholson out of the game.
Nicholson was 10-of-15 passing for 83 yards when he left the game, and Grady came in to complete four of 10 passes for 39 yards as the Huskies were forced into a predominantly run mode.
Grady had 41 yards on 14 carries to lead NIU rushers.
The difference in the game, Kill implied, was that Vols quarterback Nick Stephens hit a couple of deep passes - a 52-yard TD strike to Denarius Moore and a 43-yarder to Gerald Jones that set up a UT field goal.
"We tried to get as many people in the box as we could, and they hit us with some big ones,'' Kill said. "We tried to do the same thing; we got behind the corner, but we overthrew the ball.''
The Huskies defense, however, kept them in the game by limiting UT to 69 yards rushing on 32 attempts despite being outweighed by 43 pounds per man on the front line.
"The big thing was our kids played with low pad level, and we slanted,'' Kill said. "We knew we had to stop the run; we were worried about the physicalness.''
The Huskies got physical themselves, as 2007 MAC Defensive Player of the Year Larry English blew past UT offensive tackle Ramon Foster to deliver a fumble-inducing shot on Stephens with 3:57 left in the third quarter at the Vols' 9-yard line. That led to an NIU field goal.
"We were able to move and use our speed against big offensive linemen that couldn't move as well and keep up with us,'' English said. "Our coaches really set us up with a good plan.
"We played a really good game despite those two big plays; those are two plays you wish you could have back.''
UT's two long passes accounted for nearly half - 95 of 225 - of the Vols' total yards on offense.
Kill said he didn't really know what to expect from Stephens - he wasn't able to get his hands on the only significant game film of the Vols' sophomore quarterback, that of a JV game against Hargrave Military Academy last season.
"We didn't really know anything, as far as what to expect or how they would play him,'' Kill said. "You can't prepare for ghosts.''
But Kill said the Huskies' overall game plan proved to be on course.
"We had to shorten the game, and in the first half we did exactly what we wanted,'' he said. "But in the second half the pressure of Tennessee's defense got to us.
"I just don't know if you could ask for any more effort from our guys.''
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Comments » 31
UrbanCryer writes:
thank goodness NIU was down to thier 3rd string QB or UT probably would have lost it.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
These teams have nothing to lose, so they experiment, we have to play it close to the vest. They can experiment, they have nothing to lose, we have to do more things across the board to preserve our victories. True theatre is what we are experiencing with our fans and enemies. We have to play against them too. It is hard to account for all of this, but we will, and then we will have our way . So don't expect us to love you when we win, those of you who have abandoned us when we lose. It is hard to have winning programs in all major sports. Success comes by degrees and their are people who want their teams to win some too you know.
FedUpVolFan writes:
Hey!We are now ranked 55th in the nation!
UCLA is 88th.
Go figure!
volintexas writes:
Why do we have to play it close to the vest against anyone, especially Northen Illinois which was down to their third string QB, much like UCLA? If we can't have our way with NIU, with whom, pray tell are we going to have it? Georgia? It is time for Phil to go. He needs to do the right thing for the University and step down. The sad thing is that the Clint Stoerner facilitated national championship of 1998, kept the orange Kool Aid passed around to the puppet AD and the large money boosters who participated in the quissling insurrection that led to Fulmer's hiring in the first place. It is sad that the house that Neyland built had to hit rock bottom before a change is going to be considered.
chrisw2967 writes:
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
These teams have nothing to lose, so they experiment, we have to play it close to the vest. They can experiment, they have nothing to lose, we have to do more things across the board to preserve our victories. True theatre is what we are experiencing with our fans and enemies. We have to play against them too. It is hard to account for all of this, but we will, and then we will have our way . So don't expect us to love you when we win, those of you who have abandoned us when we lose. It is hard to have winning programs in all major sports. Success comes by degrees and their are people who want their teams to win some too you know.
you cant be serious , playing close to their vest ? fulmer has this team playing they are coached , with no discipline and heart.you need to take those orange colored glasses off and put the orange juice down and step away from your computer. you even sound like someone who has not 1 clue.
Nobody has abandoned these players , its the coaches that the fans are tired of. get over it , Fulmer doesnt have it and needs to be shown the door, these players dont deserve this from this pathetic coaching staff
chrisw2967 writes:
i meant to say Fulmer has these players playing the was they are coached
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
bullcrap, vol fans. recognize a well-played game. Hats off to NIU:
-great clock management, shortened the game, kept UT O off the field
-solid paly-calling, worked the chains well
-great team discipline, few penalties
-only a couple of offensive mistakes, and one defensive blow-by (Moore's catch).
NIU did the perfect thing: they frustrated UT by running the play clock down every play, took away the advantage of UT's depth.
With Stephens at QB, we would most likely be 3-1. HOWEVER, we are still a weak, undisciplined team, playing bad ball.
Chavis is having a great year, but the staff as a whole do NOT have the team focused.
I'll conclude again: hats off to NIU on a very-well played and coached game. I think if you keep your starting QB, you win.
MidTennVol writes:
Yes, congrats to NIU. Great team with great coaches and a great scheme for this game.
OldNumber7 writes:
"In 25 years of coaching, to have the opportunity to play at Tennessee was a tremendous dream,'' said first-year NIU coach Jerry Kill. "The big thing is they are bigger, faster, stronger.''
"The big thing was our kids played with low pad level, and we slanted,'' Kill said. "We knew we had to stop the run; we were worried about the physicalness.''
"We were able to move and use our speed against big offensive linemen that couldn't move as well and keep up with us,'' English said. "Our coaches really set us up with a good plan.
I am guessing many of you think that since Jerry Kill is a coach, he IS qualified to make statements about football. Here's what I hear him and his team saying:
1) Tennessee has way more talent than we do (I agree)
2) We beat Tennessee's line play with fundamentals (obvious)
3) We out blocked Tennessee leveling the playing field (yep)
Tennessee's coaches are not coaching trench warfare and good fundamentals up front (on offense). NI beat us at turnovers and time of possession too. You just heard it from an expert.
98reax writes:
[Tennessee's coaches are not coaching trench warfare and good fundamentals up front (on offense). NI beat us at turnovers and time of possession too. You just heard it from an expert.]
The radio guys kept saying the Oline is just not hitting anybody. WHY NOT? Are they too small? Do they need coaching?
Why does this keep happening? This team cannot be as bad as they are looking. WE NEED A HEAD COACH with some courage.
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
Hats off to the Huskies for bringing their best game and playing 100%
Shame on the Vols (namely coaching) for the staying the course.
khelton657 writes:
Congrats Coach Kill..you are a coach and a team to be proud of....( Uh,this kinda awkward, but, wouldn't have a resume on ys would ya ?
shipperman#280095 writes:
NIU played a great game, we played our same crappy game. I wish they had beaten us. And a 4 poingt win over a school like this is about as bad as a loss
fedupvol writes:
Congrats to NIU...I CHEERED THEM TOO! Fire Philly and Hammy!
98reax writes:
mparker, your comments are almost always on target. What the heck shall we do now? The qb looks hopeful. The Oline looks inept and deficient. Do we have wide receivers who can be counted on to go get the ball, to run the route the qb has called, to catch and hold onto the football? Not so much. Why not? Little boys have been catching footballs since post-diaper age. My little preteen nephew can line up somewhere on the sideline and go out and haul in a pass and hold onto it with the jaws of death. Why can't these highly touted recruits do that?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Tenn coaches are coaching to the absolute best of their ability. With what they have to work with.
The record reflects that.
And on we go.
madcow26#524674 writes:
Ga 35- Tenn -13
CT_VOL writes:
My favorite part of the game was when Fulmer calls back to back time outs on the NIU 3 yard line to ensure everyone's on the same page. After waiting 10 minutes for this careful and crafty planning, we are treated to instant Stephens sack! Funny sad!
Frank
jmsbolt writes:
I like orange kool-aid but I think I have had enough lol
jmsbolt writes:
Tennessee 6.7
UGA 56
pammyvol1000 writes:
Who thinks we will see Crompton back in against Ga? The reason being....Phil will say it's on the road and he wants experience..
givehim6 writes:
You really think we will score 13 points on UGA?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
tngeoff, 98reax et al...
some good points.
tng, I think overall the defense plays solid. I DO THINK the whole team lacks discipline. Look at all the penalties, especially the movement and personal fouls. I agree that Chavis can be TOO passive in critical situations, where most modern d-coordiators bring the house.
98reaux, I beleive the coaches will be changed this season's end. I think Hamilton may already be searching. when fannies are NOT in the seats, there is NOT excitement, and the TV games are falling off, that is a BAD sign.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
we Will NOT get blown out by UGA or BAMA. we might even win one. these are the last games we have to 'play for pride'. In at least one of them we will stand up and be men.
However, UK, USC, and VAndy all look better than we do right now.
By the way, if I were ocach, first order of business would to cut the hair. NO hair sticking out of helmets. NO dredlocks. The seocond would be to lose all the nice dress-up bands and tape. Look like ball-players, not pimps on the corner.
Take a look at Berry: the kid looks like a player, plays like a player. He probably ought to be team captain.
thesavageorange writes:
Not that anyone cares abbout recruiting at the moment, but David Oku commited to us last night.
junder13 writes:
i just love reading your pile of manure on every single article. you would make custard's last stand seem heroic you imbecile! tell bob stoops or any other Top 10 team in the country you have to play a 2nd tier conference opponent "close to the vest". everything you spew is idiotic. no wonder you're a foolmer fan. hey, if the shoe fits...
invisiblekid writes:
That about sums it up.
dallasdog1 writes:
Hey volintexas,
You should go back and look at the film if you think stoerner "facilitated 98 national title"....he fumbled b/c UT d lineman did not quit, fired off the line and pushed arky offensive lineman 7 yards deep and into Mr. Stoerner....who then fumbled. If Billy _______ , the lineman, had not kept fighting ....no gift would have arrived from our pal clint.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
we out weighted their offense line 43 pounds per man . we sure got a sorry fat azz offense line .
RockyTop1 writes:
New Theory...Georgia let's win! Why?? Look at the facts!!
1- Georgia: loses last year to us and wins the rest of their games only to be ranked #1 in preseason.
2-Alabama: beats us last year only to lose very game they had left last year and needed a bowl win to get to 6-5?? !! That was worth 4 mil??
3-UCLA: beat us in the season opener only to LOSE to BYU 59-0
4-Florida: beats us to only to LOSE to Ole Miss?? (see a pattern?)
5-Auburn beats us to LOSE to VANDY???
BEWARE ALL FUTURE OPPONENTS LET US WIN TO SAVE YOUR SEASON, boy that was fun....but something to consider?????
GO VOLS!! "Hey guys put out the flames" ....we are going downnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.......
shoalcreekvol writes:
1) That Larry English kid deserves credit for that play on Stephens. He was lightning fast getting to him. The more I look at that play the less I fault Stephens. I don't think there's much a new QB could be expected to have done. The experienced, veteran O-line is NOT getting off the hook though.
2) What does it say about UT that NIU's players are saying the game came down to 2 plays?
3) It's refreshing to hear a coach talk specific X's and O's, and to hear a player say that their coach gave them a great game plan and a chance to win against a superior opponent.
4) FEDUPVOL - You have posted the same "rankings" comment on virtually every article at GVX. Enough already. We got it. Come up with something original.
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