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Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty (2) runs the ball against Alabama on Saturday in Neyland Stadium.
Tennessee Stat Book
Another big game brought more wasted opportunities for Tennessee's offense.
Twice, the Vols returned gift-worthy field position.
Another time in the first, the Vols stopped themselves without any points after driving more than half the field.
For most of a 29-9 loss to No. 2 Alabama Saturday night in Neyland Stadium, the Vols simply couldn't find a way either to create opportunities or take advantage when they had a chance to score points.
"That's an understatement," said UT coach Phillip Fulmer, who coached his 200th game Saturday.
"It's really frustrating. I can't put 100 percent of a finger on it. It's like the dam and the little boy - it just keeps coming somewhere else."
UT's longest drive of the first half - a 50-yard march in the final 2:35 - wound up empty when Daniel Lincoln missed a 42-yard field goal. Penalties, more than Lincoln, were the culprit on that drive.
Two miscues turned a third-and-1 from the Alabama 14 into third-and-21 from the Tide's 34.
The Vols (3-5, 1-4 SEC) didn't do much better on two other first-half opportunities, either.
Montario Hardesty tipped an Alabama punt to set the Vols up at the Tide's 32.
The Vols lost 2 yards in three plays, and Lincoln missed a 51-yard attempt, which would have been a career long. Lincoln is now 8-for-15 on field goals this season.
But the real backbreaker for Tennessee came early.
After its first drive of the game stalled, UT caught a break when Alabama's Javier Arenas fumbled the return at the 5-yard line.
On that drive, UT lost 9 yards and had to settle for a 31-yard field goal, its only points of the first half.
"Inside the 5, we should score," senior tackle Ramon Foster said. "That shouldn't happen in a big game like that. We shot ourselves again in the foot."
In the second half, it only got worse.
On UT's first possession of the fourth quarter, the offense even prevented itself from getting a first down on a penalty - get this - by committing a penalty of its own to offset.
By the time that drive ended seven plays later with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nick Stephens to Josh Briscoe, most of the 106,138 fans wearing orange had already hit the exits.
"We felt like we had every chance in the world the second half the way our defense was playing," said Stephens, who was 16-of-28 for 137 yards and a score. "They played great."
Tennessee's offense, though, got worse.
Against Alabama's run defense, ranked fourth in the nation heading into Saturday, the Vols mustered just 36 yards rushing.
In the second half, UT had just 61 yards of total offense and ran just 17 plays.
Again, it was the same song on offense. After eight games, it's hard to keep track of the verse.
"You have years that it clicks and it goes well and it comes together and you find ways to make plays," offensive coordinator Dave Clawson said. "That hasn't happened this year. You've got to go back and work hard. It sounds boring to say it. It's not very exciting to write that in the paper. But what else can you do?"
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 28
TNVolsFan writes:
Being a TN fan with this coaching staff is a Miscue!!!!!
jack_2222#231746 writes:
"What else can you do?" Coaching them to line up legally would be a mammoth improvement.
17 plays in the second half----
FedUpVolFan writes:
Sad!
Where is welovevols????????????
MemphisVol writes:
it's time! get it done hamilton!
volnmdtn writes:
Please, go on and fire Fulmer and fire him now and take Hamilton with you as you leave Knoxville.
zanebreeding#490286 writes:
Ive got a few ideas, BENCH CHRIS SCOTT , he is the worst excuse for a lineman ive ever seen. He continually jumps two to three times a game and holds another 2-3. He flat killed us inside the 5 on a play all he had to do was stand still and scrape the end. Coaching has to come into play there , sit him down , tell him he wont ever see the field again until he mans up. Its almost sickening at times to see how Fulmer and the staff coddle these kids. Willingham shouldnt be on the field either , best cover corner???? he repeadedly gets toasted each game and has at least one big Pass Interference call each game. Just play Brent Vinson for gods sakes. COACHING , COACHING , COACHING. They are not prepared , not disiplined and not winning because of it. We moved the ball a little in the hurry up and then we go away from it and hand it off 5 or 6 times , i mean what in gods name do we have to lost letting him set back there and throw the ball. As a coach , its obvious Stephens throws the ball DOWNFIELD much better than he does the outs and slants, therefore i would allow him to do such , especially this year. O-line is flat horrible , that falls on Fulmer first , Adkins second. Just awful, the most frustrating thing ive ever watched.
servinggrant writes:
Oh come on guys, he used to win lots of games in the 90's. Just because his record is barely over .500 over the last ten years, and he could beat a top 10 team at home to save his life doesnt mean we shouldnt pay him millions and millions of dollars.
GerryOP writes:
Phil buddy, it's time. If you truly love the University of Tennessee, do the right thing. Announce your retirement. Do it Phil ... do it now.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Wonder how many of Phil's buddies in Swayback will come for the Wyoming tilt. Bet they have pictures of their Clydesdales.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Everyone is after CPF, ADMH and Clawson. How about Atkins the O line coach? Jump early, hold late, can't open a hole for a mouse. The O line has been a huge disappointment!
tr617 writes:
And everyone was blaming Crompton for the crappy season. Don't think that he was the problem, we are still getting the same results. Not moving the ball anywhere. Stephens had a great looking run on the touchdown. Still think it is game planning.
tennisvol writes:
We still have Wyoming coming to Knoxville on the 8th. Maybe ole Phil will be able to put his finger on the problems by then. Heck, he has to have time to watch the film and work harder in practice.
AlpharettaVol writes:
It's time for a complete shake-up. The TV announcers said several times that Alabama defenders contest EVERY play, not just a few. They were right up on our receivers EVERY play. They were fighting for the extra yard EVERY play. They only player we have who shows that kind of spark is Eric Berry and his hands are often tied when he is forced to sit 10-15 yards off the line in some kind of a prevent defense.
Every position is up for competition this week? I thought we said that last week. Let's wait and see. I want to hear some names in the offensive line that I haven't heard before. We have absolutely nothing to lose so let's let it all hang out for these final four games. As Dr. Phil says, "How's it working for you now?" The answer is, not very well.
shipperman#280095 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
grvol writes:
A total coaching mismatch. Just like UCLA and FL and Auburn and GA and... on and on. Where in the world are all these Fulmerons I've been going back and forth with now for years? I hold them partly responsible. Time to unite for UT football not the phat one. Run him out!!
givehim6 writes:
I had a funny dream last night. I dreamt Dave Cutclift was UT's head coach, Troup Tayler was the OC, and Al Wilson was the DC.
madcow26#524674 writes:
clawson..try telling the players what the plays are and where they are supposed be lined up and what they are supposed to do...but I guess you have other coaches to do that..hey wait a minute..maybe the coaches should get together and design a play and define the players roles...good grief..the team looks lost...how about trying to create mismatches ..arian foster cant run through toliet paper but he is a heckuva receiver especially with a linebacker covering him...
reachkim00 writes:
ROLL TIDE!!! Im with Briscoe, laughing my arse off!!
TommyJack writes:
It was just a series of unfortunate events, bad luck, bad ref calls etc. Keep the faith and pound the blame fritter.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
givehim6 obviously thinks this post is soooooo clever since hes copy/pasted it into every article/thread-----------I would now take Mickey Mouse at every coaching spot---we dont want Cutcliff--just more efficient boredom
blitzshoot writes:
Work like heck
ande1139 writes:
Just flat out horrible football. Not exciting to watch at all.
Whats the news down there in Knoxville. Dont hear anything with any credibility here in Cincy. Do you all think Butch Davis will be the next coach? Also, what the hell are they going to do about a QB? Stephens isnt bad, but he is not going to win big games. Keeping us in games is not enough. Who is coming in as a freshman now that Nunes bolted?
GerryOP writes:
Right-o. And next we will hear it was the fans fault. Them danged fools started walking out in the 3rd quarter. The sight of all of those empty seats really hurt the player's feelings.
shoalcreekvol writes:
"That's an understatement," said UT coach Phillip Fulmer, who coached his 200th game Saturday. "It's really frustrating. I can't put 100 percent of a finger on it. It's like the dam and the little boy - it just keeps coming somewhere else."
That's exactly why you have to go, coach. You've lost control of the program. Now you are chirping at the media and the fans, the players are griping about the "critics", and the fans are losing their taste for anything you have to say.
It's sad when a long-tenured leader develops a sense of entitlement and forgets he's there for the good of the program/country/company.
utmdm writes:
Agreed, but it is Phil's responsibility to step in when it is not happening and it has not been happening on the OL even before this year.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
First , I thought that no one was going to show up? 106,000 somehow means that Tennessee fans care, win or lose. So they left early, so would you and me too. You know we have lives to live, and sure to H....want to celebrate something besides seeing Alabama beat us(or win the game). Did you see Saban getting in the umpire's face? Gosh he sure wants to win(not lose), doesn't he? I am glad Fulmer doesn't show his a.........like that on the field(win or lose). Winning is not everything. I don't mind losing so much, especially when the refeering is so inconsistent. It was that way in the Auburn SEC game, and has been through the last 10 years. When we start getting the calls then the games will be ours. Look at the basketball team? Mens, we are getting our share of the calls and we are winning. The most, and i MEAN THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A BASKETBALL AND FOOTBALL GAME ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THE GAMES!!!! When we start to show them the respect that they are due. Then they will start calling it for us. Plain and simple. They have lives to live after the game, and we are the fall guys, pure and simple. Coach who you want, hire who you want, if this coach does not get the fans respect and respect the power of the officiating then you can consistently forget it. We , the fans, also have a part to play with the coaching, and the playing(executing ) of the players. It all has to work as one.
fishportion writes:
huh?
shipperman#280095 writes:
Go seek professional help Phil.
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