TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama defensive back Javier Arenas needed a plane trip to appreciate the seriousness of the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry.
“The first time we went up there (to Knoxville) and played (in 2006), everybody was quiet and focused,” said Arenas, who signed with Alabama out of Tampa, Fla. “I was listening to it (rap music) out loud.”
His teammates didn’t approve.
“I got cursed,” Arenas said with a smile. “I was spurned.
“Then, they explained it to me. I just thought it was Auburn (as a big rival).”
Alabama All-American offensive tackle Andre Smith didn’t need a plane trip to understand the magnitude of the rivalry. It came to him in a song.
“They played ‘Rocky Top’ the entire time we were lifting weights,” Smith said. “Even when we were practicing, they played ‘Rocky Top.’ ”
Alabama is hearing more of the same this week as it prepares for Saturday night’s game at Neyland Stadium. Although the Tide is unbeaten and ranked second nationally, it’s not looking down on the 3-4 Vols.
“They’re good on defense,” Alabama senior quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “There’s no question about that.
“Their record is out the window against us. Against us, it doesn’t matter how they’ve done or how we’ve done. They’re going to show up and play.”
Alabama senior safety Rashad Johnson expects the Vols to have more motivation than ever.
“To those guys, it would be nothing better for them to beat us and change their season,” Johnson said.
Fulmer Endorsement: Tide coach Nick Saban was asked about UT coach Phillip Fulmer being on the hot seat.
“It’s not my position to make those kind of decisions,” Saban said. “Every institution has administrators who make those decisions.
“But as a coach, to me, Phillip Fulmer has been a good coach for a long time. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him as a coach, for what he has done through the years. I think the guy is really a good coach.”
Berry Endorsement: Saban’s position of expertise is the secondary. So it’s not surprising that he would praise UT sophomore strong safety Eric Berry, who is having an All-American season.
“He’s one of the best players in our conference,” Saban said. “He’s got athleticism, ball judgment and plays their scheme very well. And he runs with it after he catches the ball (on interceptions).”
Although Johnson is studying UT’s offense this week, he has seen enough of Berry on television to appreciate his fellow safety.
“He’s just a tremendous player,” Johnson said.
Extra Points: Although Saban won a national championship at LSU, he’s off to a 7-0 start for the first time in his career. He had 6-0 starts at Toledo and Michigan State. … Wilson has been selected as one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation’s top senior quarterback. … Alabama ranks second nationally in non-offensive touchdowns. The Tide has scored on two interception returns, two punt returns, a blocked punt return and a fumble return.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 45
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
We are going to kick their arse! First
CT_VOL writes:
We are going to kick their arse! Second
shipperman#280095 writes:
They are going to kick our arse.....2nd
shipperman#280095 writes:
well, 3rd then
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Somebody will get their azz kicked.
The bulbs wll tell us who.
vol4good#206163 writes:
Play with Passion and Pride and win or lose, we will cheer! Thats really all the majority of the Fans want, just to see our beloved VOLS play thier guts out and leave the field bloody and bruised, having given all they had to give that day. Go VOLS!! beat BAMMERRRRR!
pammyvol1000 writes:
Tiderinsider.com and Tidesports.com
pammyvol1000 writes:
Aaron Murray *****QB committ to Ga broke something.. Foot, leg, or ankle..?? a bone..:)
DennisVols writes:
Saban says Fulmer is a 'good coach", not a great coach, not one of the best he has faced, just a good coach. Not the raving endorsment one would want huh?
VolinCalif writes:
If it doesn't happen in the 1st Qtr it will be a dog fight. I don't think either team can play catch-up that well. As for CPF he has made Ala pay for the Bear years. So go easy on the old man
VolinCalif
gavol2572 writes:
Oh how sweet it would be.
bigorangeslice writes:
Just imagine....oh Lordy what it would be like to get another win against Bama. I got a feeling they're going to overlook us and the way our defense is playing we can get an interception or two. Man, I can't wait, and I don't care to send Alabama to 7-1 would make our season.
FWBVol writes:
If the players need a coach stepping down to motivate them to play well and have a winning season they are at UT...or any other school for the wrong reason.
Phillip Fulmer is old school when it comes to rivals and that means Alabama is THE TEAM he wants to beat the most.
Even though I grew up, and again live in, Florida, I'm old enough to think of Bama as the biggest rival.
A perfect Saturday for me this week is us beating the Tide, and Kentucky beating the Gators. A near perfect week is us beat Bama.
Go BIG ORANGE!!!
ctexorange writes:
Go Vols Beat Bama......This is what it's all about. Boys becoming men leaving it all on the field... Go Vols...
tenuscvol writes:
good post...
I think I saw a lot of that on the field with MSU...
The more I watch the replay the more I like what I see...with no penalties or turnovers it will be a great game..
GoVols!
wkjq#213863 writes:
second that.
The_Mayor writes:
That was friggin beautiful!
hipps78 writes:
Hey does anyone know the camera policy in Neyland Stadium. I decided to sell my season tickets to the MSU game and picked up some other ones a few rows up to take some up close pics. I was in my seat the whole time, after halftime a cop from the field started screaming like a crazed man for me to put it up or he would kick me out of the stadium, and said cameras weren't allowed. Later after the end of the game while we were leaving, i was taking a few pics of the scoreboard and another cop told me to put it away or he would take it??? At least he was nice about it, unlike the other one...I asked him why they weren't on the banned list on the back of the tickets if they weren't allowed...he said that he was just following his orders from someone on the field. Also, when they checked the bag at the gate, the cop or the usher did not have a problem with it. So does anyone know what the deal is....over the years i have seen millions of flashes going off in the stadium.
jt1369w writes:
Fans are allowed to bring the following items inside the stadium:
cushions and seats without arms
diaper bags that accompany infants
small cameras, pagers, cell phones and binoculars
http://www.utsports.com/tickets/polic...
budrhon writes:
Bama beats the Vols but the we get a comittment from a recruit that eases the pain. I'd rather we got both, but I don't see it.
ect1983 writes:
Look at a dictionary under moron and see 55Vol's face.....my guess is you are 5'2" tall,little napoleon,near the bottom of your high school class and never went to college
newtonrail writes:
Thank the Man upstairs that Fulmer, nor many other people are like you sir. What have you been Smoking tonight in those glass pipes?
posivol writes:
we have the d to beat em,its time for the passing game to start clicking on short outs and quick seams and then bomb them into submission.
and if that dosnt work,just run it down their throats for about 300.
go vols beat bama.
Involitrust writes:
8 words,to be said before, during and after the ballgame regardless of out come.
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, Go To Hell, Alabama!
thesavageorange writes:
budrhon ,
I think it may be 2.Whatcha think?
OldNumber7 writes:
That was Saban dodging a bullet - he knows the answer. Nice politically correct way to describe his coaching.
TommyJack writes:
I'll go with Dennis on this one.
blitzshoot writes:
I believe most coaches would say that you do not have to worry about Fulmer surprising you. He is fairly predictable.
I don't think anyone will have to worry about Bama being prepared. I'm sure Saban knows that once you get up on this UT team, very little chance they have in coming back.
thirdsaturday writes:
Tennessee is such a bigger historical rival than Auburn. Here's some good background on the history of the rivalry for Arenas:
Part 1: http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
Part 2: http://3rdsaturdayinblogtober.wordpre...
gohawks1 writes:
From the article: “Their record is out the window against us. Against us, it doesn’t matter how they’ve done or how we’ve done. They’re going to show up and play.”
Well, except for last year. That's about half right - we showed up.
gohawks1 writes:
country410 - you listed us as both winning and losing a bowl game in 02. Should one of those be 03?
And don't forget about the no-bowl in 06.
gohawks1 writes:
Okay, I think I got it - one was in January while the other was in December, is that it?
JayTee writes:
You folks just keep on dreaming. I've been watching Tennessee football for over forty years and this is the first time I have ever felt like we were going to lose to BAMA.
A man once said "the sun don't shine on the same dog's butt all the time" but I believe the sun has set fo Phil.
Below is a chart that gives us Phil Fulmer's career won-loss record versus Top-25 teams. The chart is further broken down by his record against Top 20; Top 15; Top 10; and Top 5 teams.
Wins Losses Win %
Top 25 33 38 .465
Top 20 25 33 .431
Top 15 21 31 .404
Top 10 14 22 .389
Top 5 6 13 .316
The real issue with Phil Fulmer is the decline in the performance of his teams as his career has gone on.
In the ten and a half seasons (including through the Georgia game this year) since the VOLS won the National Championship in 1998 (so 1999 - present), Tennessee is 15-30 (.333 ) against teams that ended the season ranked in the Top 25.
In the past five and a half season [(2004-2008 (thru Auburn game)], the Vols are 8-17 (.320 ) against Top 25 teams.
volguy41nlouisiana writes:
IMO......
WE all know Fulmers predictable. We gain five yards on first down on a nice curl route. Whats the next play? Anybody, anyone? Thats right Tommyjack...dive off tackle for no gain, setting up a third and five.
Point being, with all the chaos this season has brought, Fulmers job hanging in the balance, the entire Vol nation knowing Fulmers coaching strategy, with the SEC coaches as well knowing his conservative approach, wouldnt it be, dare I say, appropriate to SHAKE THINGS UP NOW.
If something needs unveiling. Ummm nows the time. 4th and 1 from our 35. Go for it. Dont be predicatable. If they think run, pass, and vice versa. Oh well, guess thats too much of a stretch. Would be nice to see though wouldnt it?
shoalcreekvol writes:
Should we add "tickturd" to the alternate-name list for Bama fans?
http://govolsxtra.ning.com/profiles/b...
givehim6 writes:
We lost to UCLA, lost to UF, lost to Auburn, lost to UGA. Only thing left to redeem the season is beat bama. So fire the guys up, put your helmets on stright, poilish the "T's" and GO VOLS get the tide!
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
After Saturday, Fulmer will be no more!! As usual, our sorry, play not to lose, pathetic excuse for a coach will have the players scared/tight, and Alabama will win big. It could get awful. I bet TN doesn't score a touchdown until Bama puts in the backups!
Beast writes:
BEAT BAMA
Tide_fan writes:
Hey Vols,
Hey Vols,
Hey Vols,
We just beat the hell out of you.
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer,
Give em hell Alabama.
What are you gonna do when there is 2 minutes left in the game and 40,000 Tide fans are screaming that in Neyland Stadium.
Roll Tide
Go Vols except this week.
Peace
Involitrust writes:
As i said.. regardless of outcome...
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer, Go To Hell, Alabama!
and take Saban with you!
spvol writes:
Kosmo, your stuff wears awfully thin, awfully quick. Why not just stay at home and keep your man-pleaser closed.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
During the facelift of Neyland, they added an extra 14" I-beam under the coaches box. That answered any question of structural integrity.
At least that's what Dupree said when he borrowed the T. Henry mask for Halloween. Also said it scares at lot of the girls, not all, though.
TideIsRollin writes:
LOL - We will go home after the game.... 8 and 0, headed for a showdown with the only REAL power in the SEC East...yep, FLORIDA. And we will revel not only in the victory, but in watching the train-wreck that UT football has become. Roll Tide, Bama, Roll Tide.
vol03 writes:
Ya'll are hilarious! calling each other names and saying demeaning things about each others programs! How old are you? 10? What we who love the orange say is GO VOLS!!! And really thats enough.
Involitrust writes:
What we who love the orange will always say.. is, "Go To Hell,Alabama!"
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