Vol audio: Post-UCLA
- Phillip Fulmer’s post-game comments
- Defensive coordinator John Chavis talks about his defense’s effort against UCLA
- Dave Hooker interviews UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel about QB Kevin Craft’s turnaround
- QB Jonathan Crompton talks to the media
- Arian Foster talks about UT’s first half struggles on offense
- Dave Hooker interviews RB Montario Hardesty about his performance
- Dave Hooker interviews WR Josh Briscoe about UT’s offensive struggles
- S Eric Berry talks to the media about UCLA’s offensive turnaround in the second half
- C Josh McNeil discusses UT’s pass protection issues
Links
Articles
Tennessee Stat Book
PASADENA, Calif. - Pasadena? This was more like Hollywood.
How does an offense as inept as UCLA's for three quarters suddenly look like the New England Patriots' in the fourth quarter? And how does a quarterback throw four interceptions in the first half, then turn into Joe Montana in the fourth quarter?
Meet UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft. If he were a boxer, he would be "Rocky."
And meet former UCLA quarterback Rick Neuheisel, the first-year head coach at his alma mater who had the good sense to hire Norm Chow as his offensive coordinator.
Neuheisel, who refers to himself as "relentlessly positive"; Chow, who found enough holes in Tennessee's seemingly dominant defense in the fourth quarter; and Craft, a third-string quarterback who ascended to a starting role only because of injuries to the two guys ahead of him, teamed up to produce a 27-24 overtime victory in a game worthy of a Hollywood scriptwriter.
Excuse the Vols if they don't appreciate the twist at the end. Last year's West Coast venture might have resulted in a one-sided loss, 45-31 to Cal. But this was worse.
It wasn't just a game UT should have won. It was a game it should have won handily.
Craft threw four first-half interceptions, and UT's defense repeatedly buried Bruin runners at the line of scrimmage. You couldn't have blamed Chow if he had headed for the beach at halftime. One of the game's fabled offensive gurus, Chow was a general without an infantry or air support.
UCLA's offense seemingly got worse with every clumsy possession. Guys were falling by the wayside, too.
An already-outmanned offense lost three starters - tight end Logan Paulsen, wide receiver Marcus Everett and running back Kahlil Bell - to first-half injuries. All three were out for the game.
As dominant as UT's defense was, little was needed from its offense. And that's what it provided.
Tailback Arian Foster, a talented runner with a history of clutch fumbles, lost another one to kill a drive. Jonathan Crompton, starting his first season opener, was all over the place with his passes. Punter Chad Cunningham handed UCLA its only first-half touchdown when he was a tad slow on a first-quarter punt, which was blocked and run in for a touchdown.
No big deal, right? As dreadfully lacking as UCLA's offense was, you figured the Bruins would have to block three punts to win this game. So what happened?
Coaching happened.
The Bruins made halftime adjustments. Chow calmed down Craft. And the coaches and players convinced each other they could win a game that appeared to belong to UT.
"Norm did most of the talking at halftime," Neuheisel said. "And I told (Craft) I threw four interceptions in my first game, too."
In the third quarter, Craft looked almost competent. In the fourth quarter, he looked like an All-American.
And UT's defense looked like last year.
Never mind the attrition suffered by the Bruins offense in the first half or UCLA's total absence of a running game. Craft couldn't miss in leading two clutch fourth-quarter touchdown drives. And neither could his receivers. They simply played pitch-and-catch, and UT's defense played dead.
It was one of defensive coordinator John Chavis' lowest moments. Despite UT's physical superiority, it couldn't come up with anything to stop UCLA's suddenly successful passing attack.
Despite all that went wrong, the Vols came back as they have so many times under coach Phillip Fulmer. They rallied with a last-minute drive to set up Daniel Lincoln's game-tying field goal that sent the game into overtime.
But when UCLA's Kai Forbath hit a field goal in overtime and Lincoln missed, the game didn't have a typical UT ending. It had a Hollywood ending.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Volscars 2012
Bruce Pearl through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 63
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on September 2, 2008 at 1:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Clawson...the next head coach at UT. LOL!!!!!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on September 2, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to the Goon Squad!!!! ROTFLMAO!!!!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on September 2, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Field Goal Phil strikes again!!!!!!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on September 2, 2008 at 1:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Only 1 play away from being undefeated!!! LOL!!!!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on September 2, 2008 at 1:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
a new low...UCLA's 3rd string QB and entire 2nd string offense. LOL!!!!!
Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on September 2, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW!!! averaged 6.48 yards per carry and threw the ball 41 times? CUtcliffe called and wants his gameplan back!!!!!!
surfmaster writes:
Wow, this column didn't take too long. Must have written it in advance. Enjoy the flight home Adams, I know you're grinning ear to ear.
TooLegit2Quit writes:
Wow what an embarrassment, how much longer are we going to allow this. This season is over as far as I'm concerned, if this is how we are going to play then we will go 6-6 with losses to UCLA, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and South Carolina. How embarrassing, not only for us but the SEC. We are the laughing stock of the College Football world. Go Vols!
TommyJack writes:
Painfully accurate article.
gillblog writes:
The terrible pain of this is that with all of UCLA's injuries, we might as well have been playing a High School team!
Headlines in LA: "Chow embarrasses Chavis. Clawson out of his league-Bruins Win"
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I'm too pissed about this game to complain about the shots Adams takes at the team. In-freakin-excuseable! How the heck did this one get away?
gillblog writes:
Does anyone else see a "Perfect Storm" season coming????? How many of those will UT accept before they make a significant change? Geezzz... Bama, LSU, UF, even USC were perseptive enough to go after truly winning coaches !
No matter what else happens this season, it's undeniable that the Vols were not well PREPARED. And, that is ALL on the coaches.
VOLKING writes:
Can we please get a reprint of the "Fire Phulmer" article? I want to see if Adams' points then are still valid now. *Note--This is sarcasm. Everything he said then came to light again tonight. Welcome back to Bill Battle and Johnny Majors country. Mediocrity and pretty good is the main course here. We took 'nationally elite program' off the menu. Phil will be your waiter this evening...and for a lot of long evenings to come. Enjoy!
TNisPeerless writes:
I will not post anything off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or invade anyone's privacy...in short, WTF happened tonight?!? TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT
TheVolMan writes:
Surfmaster, JA just told the truth: Norm Chow is a formidable OC. He called a great game. I thought UT fought hard. JA did not accuse Fulmer of losing the game. Our coach can't control A. Foster continuing to fumble at the worst times and places on the field.
If you must continue to insist on a JA-led anti-UT conspiracy, then you're officially a card-carrying Weenie.
FLAVOLS writes:
Adams has been right more times than not if our fans would get those Orange colored glasses off their faces.
dvol writes:
Get a CLUE. You guys come on here and are in total shock that we loss again. Adams tells everyone their needs to be a change and what do we the fans do we circle the wagons. We back Phil and try to throw John under the bus. Heck we even let them con us into another raise for Phil and a increase in ticket prices. Phil wants Neyland record before he is through. We are looking at 8 to 9 years here folks. Do we really want this for that many more years. Except for Miss. State, we were the worst SEC team to play this weekend. Tenn. new offense looked a whole lot like their old one. The Chief's Defense faded in the 4th quarter again. Lincoln read to many press clippings in the off season. The most important thing John you were right its time for a change. If you people can't see this by now I have a hunch after Fla.,Aub.,Ga., and Ala. get done with them Fulmer will be out the door along with the people responisble for letting UT football program sink into this abyss.
h_charles writes:
Two big picture takeaways:
1) This team was not ready to play. OK against UAB perhaps,not against any PAC 10 team on the road. Inexcusable. Coaches fault.
2) Numbers aside, Clawson's offense didn't look very innovative and didn't look flexible. Saw a lot of what we've seen in the past, and nothing that makes me think the system itself will cause anyone problems.
Not an SEC game, but this was national showcase. Think this helps an already declining recruiting position?
The ship may be righted, and there is talent here. It may be "fixable", but it should have been fixed in spring practice, not opening day.
tennesseeandy#208527 writes:
ITS BASKETBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!!!!
airship writes:
same song second verse, but it only gets worse. give fulmer a raise.
eb502us#225637 writes:
We should just nickname our coaching staff the three stooges.....Fulmer, Clawson and Chavis. Neither one has a clue!!!!
MidTennVol writes:
When, oh when, will Chavis and Slade give up the soft zone/prevent/bend but don't break coverage when we're trying to "protect" a lead?
Definition of stupidity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Once again, Fulmer fields a team that isn't prepared. And, once again, we're in a great position to "bounce back" with November wins over KY and Vandy.
I see 9-4, maybe 10-3 if the stars align. And then, of course, a two- or three-year contract extension and raise for Fulmer and the entire staff.
volinky writes:
I "flipped-flopped" my loyalty last night. I have been on CPF bandwagon since my senior year at UT when he became coach. I am now on the "other" side!
Here is my question: Who are the top 5 candidates to replace him? My suggestion: we need NFL influence! (Not ncaa division 2)
CoverOrange writes:
JA is wrong on one count. The punt block was because of that stupid formation at the line of scrimmage known as swiss cheese. You could have driven a truck through the gap between the center and guard. And guess what happens when 5 guys in blue hit at full speed 3 guys in white that are standing still?
mtnsvol44 writes:
Announcers pre game: "Inexperienced UCLA meets a VETERN UT team" ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!
Should have said afterwards; "Inexperienced UCLA THIRD stringers met underperforming, dumb playing,dumb coached, listless, paper tiger Vols and whipped their a*zes like they were freshmen high schoolers!!!!!!!!!
Hey SEC teams, you can count another win here BEFORE you play the useless Vols!
I see now why CNN has Phulmoore listed as only the 33rd best coach in football-should now fall to 133rd!!!!!
leedsvol2007 writes:
John, I think most of your assessment is on the money except for the blocked put. It was clear on the replay one of the up-backs made the wrong decision on who to block.
A basic of blocking on punts is you look inside first and then to the outside. The middle guy got the inside rusher and our guy right side guy did not then try and chip the guy coming from his right instead double teaming the middle rusher. Cunningham had no chance.
One thing Mike Hamilton needs to look at is scheduling an easier first game. I know its great to be on national television and it was a great game from a spectator standpoint but here we were breaking in a new quarterback and offensive coordinator against a team that had one of the NCAA's better defenses last year.
On the half full side I like the way Crompton responded when he had to bring us from behind. I think he will only get better. Some of the high throws were a result of nerves and he had a couple of drops that would have made him look a lot better.
The bonus in this is we know exactly what we have to address to realize the best from this team.
GoVols!
waterskier3#226480 writes:
where are the cpf and how great he is for the program and the state of tn at????? its funny isn't it... they will wait until we beat uab and then come on here and tell us how great we are and cpf has turned the team around... right... then fla will rip was and they will disappear again... do we see a trend here.
fulmer may be a good guy but he needs to move onto something else........
kantanuuv writes:
The Vols lose again, threatening the emotional and psychological stability of the faithful, and causing a regional economic mini-depression. This is what happens when all your cultural eggs are in one basket.
Who am I kidding - you have no cultural eggs.
Sure, watching the Vols get humiliated by a 3rd string QB is fun. But what's even more fun is reading the blogs the next day as the Vol Nation consumes itself, and looks to place blame on the officials, or the height of the grass, or the position of Saturn with respect to the Virgo cluster. (It can't POSSIBLY be due to a superior team.)
Who's my favorite team, you may be wondering? Why, it's any team that beats the Vols, of course.
Go Bruins!
WVVOLFAN writes:
62 days until it's BB time in TN
Pullingguard writes:
John Adams your column is 100% accurate on the game. This team looked like a class AA team and this is a projection for the future... Florida will murder these guys by 30 pts or more and vols will lose 5 games this season.. The offense is a disgrace, flip passes, QB who looks lost and star-gazing.. defense which cannot make adjustments and a coaching staff with the largest gut lines in coaching.. 08 season will not be pretty.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
I thought nobody read Tuscaloosa John's articles? LOL!!!!!!!
tennisvol writes:
Agreed. Chow gave the UT staff a lesson in coaching.
kantanuuv writes:
In response to VolnDothan:
Thank you for validating my comment about your "culture." ;-)
BigVolinCarolina writes:
No need for the coaches to "look at the tape" and evaluate what went wrong.
Looking in the mirror should be enough.
oldbasshead writes:
At first, I felt embarrassed by the loss, but today,not so much. Why? I don't think that anyone, who is not a UT fan, has any expectation that UT is an excellent football team. UT is perceived from the outside just like Miss St. or USC or Arkansas - a good team, but nothing special. Our boys played hard and the coaches did as good as they can do. From that stand point, I don't feel embarrassed anymore, just disappointed. I recently talked to a former Alabama player and I asked what he thought about UT. He said, "you don't go to UT if you expect to compete for championships". I think he is right even though we played in the SEC championship game last year because UT backed into that game after being killed by Florida, Alabama and Cal. Even the media recognized it by placing UT low in the current polls even though we had alot of returning players. I have also noticed that alot of UT's former players who graduated in the recent past are not fairing well in the NFL. Things are tough in college football and particularly in the SEC. UT is not in the uppper level of the SEC. Instead they are competing with Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Miss., Miss. St. Arkansa and USC for the middle ground and lower. Why, two things: 1) outdated coaching and 2) player talent not on par with talent in 90's. Will UT recover, not as long as Fulmer remains the coach. Will they take charge of the middle ground? Most likely for now, but not after Arkansas and Miss. St. get going.
Post a comment
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
What happened to the "look" that Foolmore had in his eyes again for this year? He was rejuvenated, etc. ROTFLMGDAO!!!!!!!!!!!
Hydra writes:
When will the coaches be held accountable for their terrible playcalling? Why do we:
1st down-run
2nd down-pass
3rd down-pass
4th down-punt.
And on defense:
1st down-blitz (awesome)
2nd down-blitz (awesome)
3rd and long-rush 3 or 4 and drop back in coverage allowing the quarterback WAY too much time to find open receivers which nearly always happens. This trend has been steadily growing the last several years (not awesome).
Where was UT when Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban and Urban Meyer became available? Any one of them could have brought us out of the conservative era and given us a chance to win multiple titles, especially with the talent we have had the last several years.
If our coach can't have us ready to compete with teams like UCLA at the start of the season (as sad as that sounds to even say it) then DON'T schedule them as the first game. Do you wonder why Florida's first game of the year is always a blowout? Because of good scheduling.
First games:
2007 Fla wins 49-3
2007 TN loses 45-31
2008 Fla wins 56-10
2008 TN loses 27-24
No matter how much the coaches deny it, losing the first game of the season decreases morale and confidence. The first game of the year should be a practice game unless Pat Summitt is the coach and Fulmer is NO Pat Summitt. With a better coach it would be fine to have a tougher schedule but until a new coach comes along we will just keep saying "maybe next year..."
invisiblekid writes:
"And how does a quarterback throw four interceptions in the first half, then turn into Joe Montana in the fourth quarter?"
Try coming up with your own material John.
Posted on September 2 at 12:10 a.m.
I'm sorry for all the Chavis fans out there, but please, leave him in California. How many 2nd and 3rd string players does this program have to make look like Joe F---in Montana before someone spots the trend. They have a kid throwing up wounded ducks the entire first half and the second half, he looks unstoppable.
PAT4889 writes:
This one had strategic significance. Big name coaches come in to turn a program around and always seem to find a way to make average talent beat average coaching. Sound familiar? Within two years, all the talent wants to go to those schools. Tennessee fans have become comfortable with mediocrity and yet we still go to the games and pay huge sums of money to the program. I'm changing my allegiance to Tennessee Tech. Let's all support Watson Brown!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Was this a telling quote or what?
"Coaching happened".
And on we go.
dickthompson1#218680 writes:
Coaching looked like 3 tons of buzzard puke !
99gator writes:
pdhuff
i give you credit. i think you were the only one who remained concerned about ucla despite the injuries.
rchris7842#229936 writes:
I guess I'm a fair-weather fan, because 7 years of underachieving and mediocre performances have turned me off. It seems pretty obvious over that time (and before 2001 for that matter) that when faced with an equal opponent UT's coaching staff often tips the scale to a loss. I vote for a wholesale change, but what's the catalyst to make it happen?
99gator writes:
tngeoff
if you remember.....
i had doubts about or considered the following to be question marks until proved otherwise......
1. crompton 1st year starter
2. clawson 1st time in division 1
3. the offensive line. did not protect ainge for more than 1.5 seconds and struggled in the running game.
with all the injuries ucls had.....did not expect this to show up against ucla
Waldorf writes:
99-
I may be the only one here, but I am nto completely ready to throw Clawson and Crompton under the bus....yet. For newness sake, I will give them two or three games. That is not to say I am not quite worried, but I'm not ready to call both busts. It would have been much nicer to break them in agaisnt UAB as opposed to UCLA, but alas, Mikey needed money.
My beef is solely with Fulmer and Chavis. The same stupid mistakes I've watched over and over happened again last night. There is no fire, there is no motivation to be a top 10 team again it seems. All I see is a guy who is there to get wins and another who doesn't want to be there at all.
99gator writes:
like i said last night....
tenn will get better this season. i believe that will happen without question.
the question is..... how much better how quickly? and will it be good enough to beat florida, auburn, georgia, etc.
my nightmare scenario (as a gator fan) is that tennessee runs well against florida and gets a bunch of turnovers and a non offensive td.
well, all of that happened.....against ucla.....and tennessee ended up on the short end of the stick. what happens when tenn struggles to run the ball or has more turnovers than the opponent.
people talk about the foster fumble. that happens. you have to overcome it. tenn ha time and field position on many occasions to overcome foster's mistake.
i would be extremely concerned.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
I agree with you, GoshDarn.
99gator writes:
goshdarn
that was my point in the summer. it's a new system and new starting qb. it will take time.
problem is tenn's schedule is front loaded and time is a luxury they don't have.
i am not ready to bail on crompton or clawson either. but, people who thought they would be great quickly and that losing a 4 year starter at qb was a plus...i thought were in for a rude awakening.
i think it's clear they don't know what they are doing yet and will probably scale things down.....which is what most teams have to do with new systems.
yeavols#228407 writes:
The Vols have a chip on their shoulder, they are flying under the radar, they are ranked low, they are getting no respect in pre-season. Well, if the shoe fits, wear it. On the opening play, 3 down and out in a matter of seconds, I knew it was not going to be good. Then continued mistakes, errors from a veteran offensive line coupled with an heinous 4th quarter lay down defense pretty much did it in for me. At least now I won't have to spend a lot of energy in the next few months following football. I will just wait until the next tide of change occurs. Maybe in another 6 years when the contract extension is up, I can be happy again. Until then, enjoy the view from the stands.
echapin writes:
Dave Hooker audio with players and coaches posted. See links above or go to http://www.govolsxtra.com/podcasts/da...
Erin Chapin
knoxnews.com
imnotwithphil writes:
John Adams was right last year. All of you Philbillies were (and are) wrong.
Time for Fulmer to retire!
OldNumber7 writes:
I watched Rich Rodriquez install his scheme in Morgantown. It took a year plus before the trench guys and QB caught on. They were terrible - looked clueless. Then the fire caught hold and WVU had (has?) the best spread in college football - RR basically invented it. He will be fine at Michigan just give it time...(tangent)
Anyway, when a new OC is installed with new system and inexperienced QB - it's gonna suck for a while. I think a good bit of that showed last night - and I hate to break it to folks but it may take all season to get going...or longer. We must be patient for awhile. I think Fulmer is a terrible motivator, disciplinarian (see crappy special teams last night)...and game-psyche guy and until he leaves Tennessee will not get motivated from the top. But Clawson needs time. Chavis has shown over many years he can produce fiery pass rush D, but his Achilles heal is the passing game - this we know from lots of years of data. Also, Clawson needs Fulmer to quit/getout/stayout of his shorts - let loose the reigns. Time will tell. The D may hold folks down some this year - but Tennessee is suffering from a severe facelift on offense that may take awhile to get going. A tremendous amount of what went wrong last night was the QB (accuracy) - that can be fixed....or replaced.
invisiblekid writes:
99gator, you said : "people talk about the foster fumble. that happens. you have to overcome it. tenn ha time and field position on many occasions to overcome foster's mistake."
I agree 100%. We followed that turnover up with 3 straight 3 and outs and the RB's touched the ball twice in those 9 plays. On the 4 carries prior to that fumble, Foster had 83 yards rushing and the DT's for UCLA were totally gassed. Said it last night and I'll say it again, all the talk in the off-season about a renewed commitment to the run was just lip service at this point. Very similar to working like heck on special teams.
You and I have discussed Clawson at length and I still think he can be successful as an OC. I wasn't as concerned with these first couple of games though. I thought, if nothing else, they would ride Foster and the stable of RB's hard along with the veteran offensive line and ease Crompton into the scheme of things. Instead, we see him put up 41 passes against a thin defense.
a_vol_in_ga writes:
I wonder what kind of effect last nights game will have on our recruits and prospects in California and around the country-It wouldn't surprise me if we lose a few after what I watched last night
Ralph_Crampton writes:
I just read what I feared by a Los Angeles sportswriter...he took a shot at Vols and the SEC in one sentence...just like they have done over the decades. He wrote " If Tennessee is one of the best teams from the SEC, then the Vols, and the SEC is overated". See the defeat not only was a slam against the Volunteers, but also our Conference. And this guy has a vote in national poll...where, it boils down to these guys really select BCS teams. The Vols reputation is now in the trash can. The games Fla, GA, Aub., will be looked upon as only backyard brawls by national press.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.