Tennessee Stat Book
Good practices that don't translate to a good performance on Saturday. Hard work that hasn't yet paid off. Frustration.
Kicker Daniel Lincoln understands Tennessee's struggles to cope with a 3-5 record heading into Saturday's 7 p.m. game at South Carolina (TV: ESPN2). Heck, he's lived it.
Everything the Vols have gone through as a team, he's gone through individually. After a earning All-America honors as a freshman, Lincoln's sophomore struggles are almost an exact parallel to the Vols' lackluster performance this season.
"If you've done something before and you fall on hard times, it's not an issue whether you can or can't do it," Lincoln said. "I'm struggling right now with something, and I know the way this season's gone for all of us, it just feels like the breaks have not gone our way."
Through eight games, Lincoln is 8-for-15 on field goal attempts with a long of 47 yards.
With one more miss, Lincoln will equal his total from last year when he hit 21-of-29 in his first season as UT's starter.
This time a year ago, Lincoln drilled a 48-yarder to force overtime against South Carolina. His 27-yarder in overtime proved the winner in a 27-24 victory that helped slingshot Tennessee to the SEC championship game.
"For me, I guess you could say, up to this point that's been the defining moment in my time here," Lincoln said. "It's definitely a confidence builder. That's what you come to work for - that when the game's on the line, you come through."
This year he's been living on the other side.
In UT's season-opener at UCLA, he nailed a 47-yarder to force overtime, only to push a 34-yard try on UT's only possession in the extra period that proved the difference. Only once, a 2-for-2 performance in UT's 14-12 loss to Auburn, has he hit every attempt in a game.
"Last year, I was on the top side," Lincoln says, "this year I'm on the flip side."
So are the Vols.
A year after winning the SEC East, they're struggling to reach 6-6 and earn a bowl berth. For players and coaches, frustrating hardly describes it.
"It's hard because nobody likes being in this situation," quarterback Nick Stephens said. "Nobody does, from us to our families to our coaches to the fans. Nobody likes it. We all know what we have to do. We have to go out and work hard, and that's what we're going to do."
After missing two of his three attempts against Alabama, that's the only approach Lincoln knows to take.
"I've been working harder than I've ever been working before, and I'm not getting the results on Saturdays that I'm working toward during the week," he said. "I'm frustrated with it. I'm just going to keep pressing. That's it. The only thing I can do is stay positive and keep pushing."
UT coach Phillip Fulmer expressed confidence in Lincoln after last Saturday's game, although he said Wednesday that punter Britton Colquitt will handle any tries from beyond 48 yards against South Carolina. This season, Lincoln has missed all three of his attempts from beyond 50 yards.
Lincoln said he's recovered from an early season groin injury that limited him against UCLA, when he missed from 51, 55 and 34 yards.
Before last Saturday's game, he connected on at least one 50-yard try in warm-ups. For whatever reason, though, his 51-yard try fell well short of the crossbar.
"I don't have excuses," Lincoln said. "When I'm called upon to make a kick from that range, I should be able to make it. I've made them in pregame. I've made them in practice. Didn't do too well with the attempt. It's frustrating, to say the least."
Lincoln is hoping for something good to happen for the Vols. A performance like he had last year against the Gamecocks or a repeat of his three-field goal day against Mississippi State could go a long way for both Lincoln and the Vols.
"I definitely want, been praying for, working towards, thinking about, dreaming about, falling asleep on it, waking up on Saturday thinking about that game where you hit four field goals in a row," Lincoln says, "with my snapper and my holder and us just coming together and finding an indentity. That's what I'm working toward."
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
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Comments » 110
Volundergrad47 writes:
First
Triton1 writes:
wooo hoo!
hotrodvol writes:
Sophomore slump or what, must be a conspiracy, to get rid of Fulmer. But really who is the special teams coach, for the kickers?
gdotallen#639789 writes:
Open competition for all positions... KICKERS as well... Accountability across all positions... GET'R DONE!
ncvol writes:
Hope you have a chance to fulfill your dream and make 4 field goals in a roll. Go Vols !
VolJoe writes:
Go Big Orange
timbojoe writes:
Heard Fullmer was on his way out at the end of the season. If Kentucky doesn't beat the vols this year please don't get rid of Fulmer until KY wins one. If the vols get a real coach we may never beat the vols again.
CrankE writes:
Maybe we should let Eric Berry kick field goals too.
And once again, a kid who comes in and does good early in his career at UT turns the corner and starts doing poorly. (I won't be surprised if Eric Berry declines as a player if Fulmer's staff stays.)
When a player at Tennessee struggles, an explanation like Lincoln's is often offered; "We all know what we have to do. We have to go out and work hard, and that's what we're going to do. I'm just going to keep pressing. The only thing I can do is stay positive and keep pushing." (Keep this one in mind later for the "Which Vol Said It?" quiz.)
Lincoln isn't the problem. His struggles and response to those struggles is a direct reflection of what he is being taught and coached under Fulmer. Work like Heck! I envision this Fulmer Coaching Wheel of Misfortune that he spins each time an issue comes up. And where every pie on the wheel says, "Work like heck!"
Where's George, "Just Kick The &@&*%%^@!!! Ball Through The #%^@%*&!!!! Uprights?" Cafego when you need him? If you're not doing it right, then why work harder at doing it wrong?
BillsBrother writes:
Time to warm up the Reveiz kid. Kicking is his family tradition.
bluetick writes:
I agree to most of that too crankE.. they lack direction on the whole team. Sure wish we still had Trooper on the sidelines. I knew it would be a big loss when he left. I think the Vols do better when there is more disorder and troublemakers on the team.. They are all so calm now. Maybe they should start smokin' the ganja again and maybe they'll play with some emotion. :)
junder13 writes:
Licoln was 21/28 last year (75%). This year, so far, he is 8/15 (53.3%). I believe he started out 9/9 his freshmen year. If so (I could be mistaken), than that would mean Lincoln is 20/34 (58.8%) since his 9/9 start. Not a good trend.
Can someone confirm something I am fairly certain I read on this site preseason. Did Lincoln get offered a chance to go to Jeff Hall's (or someone affiliated with UT) summer kicking camp and decline? If so, does anyone know why? That would be very telling if so...
junder13 writes:
Btw, ESPN shows Lincoln as having been 21/28 his freshmen year:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/s...
Not sure if ESPN or KNS is right but I thought I would post the link in case anyone is nit-picky enough to try and call me out on that (cuz I'm sure someone would).
kdaff51 writes:
Maybe Berry should coach. They want him to do everything else!
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
whats this "breaks arent going our way stuff" as it relates to kicking--not like hes boinking them off the post----whats this snapper, holder, kicker getting an identity crapola???????----------just kick it between the uprights, Daniel ---- all that breaks/identity stuff is nonsense
hilltopper writes:
it would be a shame if Tennessee got to go to a bowl with a 6-6 record which we most likely will not have at the end of the year. Please dont make fun of a young man already battling the booze problem that is not funny Trooper Taylor did not get promoted because the players swarmed to him and Fulmer was jealous but what does it matter CF is gone at the end of the year book it Lets just hope that it doesnt take too long to turn the program around and have it back to where CF had it in the 90's. We may not like him now but he was the best at UT after Neyland and there is no denying that. Coach Dickey was close but the jerk went to Florida so he can't count as one of the best
invisiblekid writes:
LMFAO
invisiblekid writes:
Britton should just tell Lincoln to aim for the ones in the middle, it's worked for him.
invisiblekid writes:
I fully believe Berry would be the first one down to make the tackle on kickoffs even if he was the kicker.
invisiblekid writes:
Also think you are onto something with this statement as well Crank E:
Lincoln isn't the problem. His struggles and response to those struggles is a direct reflection of what he is being taught and coached under Fulmer. Work like Heck! I envision this Fulmer Coaching Wheel of Misfortune that he spins each time an issue comes up. And where every pie on the wheel says, "Work like heck!"
That seems to be the answer to everything with Fulmer. I think he has got some of these kids like Lincoln so uptight that they have forgotten how to go out and just play football.
DennisVols writes:
The President of the Board of Trustees at Auburn has spoken out that he supports Tub's return for another year.
Strange how quite it seems to be in Knoxville. Not hearing anyone speaking out in support for Fulmer, no trustees, not the AD, not even a former players letter this year.
Slience of the Lambs
doegem writes:
It might be my memory playing tricks but it seems to me every time Fulmer sends Lincoln out to try a kick beyond his range, regardless of what he's done in warmups, Lincoln misses that attempt AND the next attempt regardless of the distance. And THEN Fulmer takes a shot at him on national TV implying the offense sucks because Lincoln is missing FG's. (That's the new Fulmer mark of success -- a FG in the Orange Zone)
I honestly believe that Fulmer's inept handling of the FG tries is responsible for a loss of confidence by Lincoln.
TommyJack writes:
Kickers were better back in the day. They didn't pretend to be jocks and would never hit the weights. Seemed to kick better, too.
blitzshoot writes:
ummmmmmm close
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
A lot of you guys must think that Fulmer talks to his kids just like he talks to you and to the media. Both you and the media have bats in the bellfrey. An inflated ego, and several personality disorders. Aside from that, he have to care a little. Please our Coach alone and go out and play some golf or something. We will take care of the problems, don't have a nervous breakdown over our football team.
BlakeyWakey writes:
Lincoln is a very good kicker he will get better ..
ibvolman writes:
WELOVE, I fnally figured it out. You are fulmer's wife, aren't you? And what is this "WE will figure it out?" Like you really have anything to do with it, or like you know anything about football to begin with.
Face it, Fulmer is probably gone after this season, and it was not the fans complaining that brought that result. It was the last 8 years of under achieving. When are you going to understand, when you have a high paying job, and you don't do your job well, you get fired? Get over it!
rubbervol writes:
Keep the faith man !!!
Gigavol writes:
Okay, I admit to plugging the Field Goal stats in a spreadsheet a while back. I was surprised at the trend.
Tennessee's Kicker started on fire his Freshman year: Making 18 of 20 kicks. Counting the bowl game, however, he finished hitting only 3 of 9 for a total of 21 of 29.
He started 2008 in the same slump. He is 8 for 16 in 2008.
Some trends in 2008: He is 1 for 2 inside of 30 yards and 0-fer over 50 (his career long is 48 yards per my stats). 0-fer in the 1st quarter, and 1 for 3 in the 4th quarter.
Seems like Crompton connected on more passes than that.
All of this begs the question: Has anyone seen Eric Berry kick a football?
bobbyutvol writes:
GIVE THE KID A BREAK... RELAX DANIEL YOU CAN DO IT... FORGET THE PAST.. BE POSITIVE WE WILL NEED YOU SATURDAY.. GO VOLS
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
you obviously have a lot of free time on your hands to waste like so--lol
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The ones following that regimen today are o-linemen.
Except for jock O'Neil.
Wonder if they could hit a 22 yarder?
Striker writes:
Who cares...
BobbyGraham writes:
While we are cleaning house, can we get rid of Kesling too?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Don't believe there is a special teams coach.
It is delegated as a secondary responsibility to various coaches and the results show.
TommyJack writes:
I would combine the TE's with the OL coach, freeing up a coaching position for Special Teams. Special Teams win/lose games...ask the pro boys.
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
"We're in the age of instant gratification and what have you done lately. I understand that," Fulmer said.
Can someone please tell CFP that instant doesn't mean 7 years?
dvols writes:
it's noooooooooooo goooooooooooooooood
joshuataber#650687 writes:
As I see it this is just another way of Fulmer blaming our losses on someone else. I understand that there will be games that we will depend on our kicker; however, we should not have to depend on him every game if the offense plays well. I believe Lincoln has hit a slump and most likely he will pull out of it.
DennisVols writes:
Maybe if the offense could finish drives we wouldn't need to rely on a 40+ yard FG attempt to score.
FG Phil needs to figure out how to score TD's instead of worring about FG.
VWCJR writes:
Hammy is going to toss the Great Pumpkin under the Big Orange Bus.
"But, I brought you Bruce Pearl!!" says Hammy, "You gotta love me!" Hmmm. Wasn't Pearl Hammy's 3rd choice after Roy Williams and Dave Odom?? I think Pearl found UT Hammy, not the other way around!
Sweep it clean! Summitt for AD!
RemembertheAlamo writes:
I agree...why are we not having open competition for kickers....I bet there is a girl at UT that could kick the ball through the endzone on kickoffs, we sure don't have anyone on the team who can.
CoverOrange writes:
There was a reason that Florida didn't offer Lincoln.
I figure Lincoln is missing because Fulmer is not out on the practice field harassing him all the time. That's because Phil is hiding in his office rearranging the chairs.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Kentucky's had a whole lot of good to great players. Last year we were lucky to win. But we did, even you had a great quarterback, who almost beat LSU! But as far as Fulmer goes, I think the Fulmer haters have had it in for this coach for a long long time. They think he was lucky to win the National Championship, and they think he is lucky and stupid too. They don't like the way he acts when he wins. It is a personal thing. That's why they just cannot help themselves when they post, the invectives and vitriole is just an indication of what I am saying. They would rather Tennessee lose if it makes them happy, or justified in their thinking(hatred) of Coach Fulmer .They would throw the program under the bus just to get rid of Fulmer. Sad isn't it. Seems like they had something to lose at one time, doesn't it?
GerryOP writes:
I seem to recall that after only one or two misses last year Fulmer did claim that he found a small error in Lincoln's technique. After correcting that, we now have the Daniel Lincoln we are seeing this year.
Any coach who assigns a Freshman All-American to 2nd or 3rd team status should say all that needs to be said about evaluating talent. And don't start with the "he won while playing in the wimpy ACC" junk.
G8er_H8er writes:
Lincoln is like a hack golfer right now. He is trying to hit it too hard (even on extra points) and either duck hooking it or pushing it. He needs to just hit it square and let it do the work. I am surprised our special teams coach has not told him that yet. . .oh wait we don't have a special teams coach. Yeah, special teams aren't important anyway. We need an O-Line coach, Fulmer and a TE coach (he was a terrible hire). Because we don't use our TE's and the line sucks because of Fulmer and Adkins. Lincoln your better of on your own.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Replacing this kicker next year should be a top priority
CrankE writes:
in response to WeLove...
No inflated ego or personality disorders here. No danger of getting too loud and proud over this Volunteer team. No bats in the belfrey-speaking of which, exactly what was your point? You just keep typin' like heck WeLove!
Go4Two writes:
I knew I would find someone that blamed Lincoln's woes on Fulmer. I going to bet there will be people on this site that will blame John McCain's loss in Fulmer. When Linclon made the 47 yarder to tie SC and made the game winning in OT I guess that was in spite of Fulmer..
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
lady vols getting more injuries than the fuzzball team , might orta
send pat summit over to football .fulmer practices touch football.
jeff1vol writes:
Where are all the GATOR TROLLS today? Must be "deadbeat Dad" day at the local Central Florida courthouse.
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