Where have you gone, Arron Sears?

Where have you gone, Travis Stephens?

Where have you gone, Cosey Coleman?

Where have you gone, Travis Henry?

In the aftermath of Tennessee's 26-14 loss at Georgia on Saturday night, head coach Phillip Fulmer was as distraught as I've ever seen him after a game.

"I don't know where our running game has gone,'' he said, and he meant every frustrated word of it.

Fulmer was seated in the same cramped room under the Sanford Stadium end zone where in 1992 he basked in his first SEC victory, a 34-31 thriller over the Bulldogs.

Back then he was filling in for an ailing Johnny Majors. And in those days Tennessee knew where its running game was. It was James Stewart, Charlie Garner and Aaron Hayden. Even the quarterback, Heath Shuler, was a running back in disguise.

When UT won a national championship in 1998, it knew where its running game was to the tune of 211 yards a game.

Now it's come to this: Tennessee gained 1 yard rushing against Georgia on 15 attempts Saturday.

Let's see, that's a little better than 2 inches per attempt.

Subtract a couple of sacks and a kneel-down and that leaves 12 legitimate runs that produced 16 yards.

"It's a huge handicap,'' Fulmer said Sunday night. "Most good teams are going to be able to run the football.

"Early in the year that was kind of our bread and butter.''

On opening night at UCLA, the Vols rushed for a respectable 177 yards. Next, they plowed inferior UAB for 266 yards.

Then the bread began to get stale. The butter soured. Finally, on Saturday there was nothing.

Who kidnapped the running game? Has a ransom note been delivered?

One more question: Where have you gone, Arian Foster?

Yes, Arian Foster.

In this season gone wrong Foster is prominent on the list of scapegoats. That's fair, to a point. He's been involved in two crucial fumbles and a senseless penalty.

Also, you've no doubt noticed he'll never be invited to run on the U.S. Olympic 4x100 relay.

That last item, however, hasn't stopped him from reaching the brink of becoming UT's all-time rushing leader. He didn't get there by falling down.

Right about now, Tennessee would gladly take the afternoon Foster had last year in Starkville, Miss.

This is worth mentioning because Mississippi State is due in town. There's no mystery as to what the Bulldogs are about. Forget finesse. To beat State you have to be tougher at the line of scrimmage.

On Saturday, Vanderbilt was not. The Bulldogs ended Vandy's joyride by holding the Commodores to 107 yards of offense and only 45 rushing.

Last year in Starkville, Tennessee had the muscle and the will to beat a decent and physical State team at its own game.

A 33-21 victory was a testament to UT's toughness and proved an upset of Georgia a week earlier was no one-game fluke.

The Vols rushed for 211 yards, a 5.0-yard average, against Mississippi State. Foster gained 139 yards on 21 carries, a 6.6 average. Montario Hardesty was a valid complement: 78 yards on 16 carries, a 4.9 average.

Tennessee probably didn't lean on its running game often enough in David Cutcliffe's two-year second term as offensive coordinator. But that day, the Vols did and it was there.

This year, this week, I don't know. Whether it's Foster, Hardesty or seldom-seen Lennon Creer getting the call, it's been a case of diminishing returns.

And lately, I haven't seen any signs that the Vols have it in them to out-tough Mississippi State at the line of scrimmage.

Maybe you can help. If you have any tips as to the whereabouts of Tennessee's running game call the football office. Before Saturday.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.