Florida's Spikes says Vols quit last year

Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes said the Vols "quit playing" during last year's game in a story on FloridaToday.com:

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Comments » 124

chad_t31 writes:

Is this such a surprise?? Anyone who watched the game saw that we quit.

SemperVol writes:

No way!

pdhuff#552644 writes:

Man, it that doesn't make one's chest swell with pride.

And some on here think we aren't widely respected!

The nerve.....

b_neas writes:

Good - Maybe if we get enough of these comments to put on the bulletin board, it will fire them up and we can stay within 2 td's. LOL

SemperVol writes:

For anyone looking to hate Chavis even more, from VolQuest:
----------------------------
AND YOU WERE THINKING WHAT?
This one goes to John Chavis, who had starting safety Eric Berry on the field for UAB's final two drives in the fourth quarter with a 35-3 lead. Not the best way to try and build depth at the roster-thin position of safety.
-----------------------------
However, it might be in part to backup Daryl Vereen's knee injury..but still, we heard alot from Prentiss Waggner, right?

jasonn1970 writes:

I hope CPF is reading this today and posts that article prominently in the Tennessee locker room Saturday. If this doesn't get the team fired up I don't know what possibly could.

SemperVol writes:

Hard not to fall into the pessimism trap after reading this article....

I don't know to look at this as
"Well, given their quit, maybe the final score wasn't very representative of the quality"

-or-

"Those SOBs gave up!?!?!....What kind of quality is being put on the field?"

Then again everyone put up Nintendo-like numbers on us last year. Still, that eats me up.

ClayMolder (Inactive) writes:

we are in so much trouble saturday.

Bigger_Al writes:

It's time to hit 'em in the mouth.

SemperVol writes:

Had a friend who sat right behind the Tennessee bench last Saturday. He said Bolden's best friend, after a drive, was that misting fan on the sidelines.

silvertr6 writes:

There will be no change until the leader is gone.

SemperVol writes:

I don't think I've had a positive thing to say all day. I apologize.

I hope Al Wilson does find his way to the sidelines on Saturday, and maybe stick his head into one of the defensive huddles. That'd be nice.

I'm taking a hiatus.

oldbasshead writes:

Late in the game, behind 30 points, who would play with the same intensity. Not even NFL players do that and Fl players wouldn't do it either. However, making it public by making a comment to the other team is not very smart. I can't see smart players beating their brains out, risking injury when the game is out of reach. Live to fight again on another day.

tonyfred#409061 writes:

Expect another quit this year. I love the Vols but Florida will DRILL us. We SUCK.

Go4Two writes:

Keep talking boys Keep talking seen this story line before. Fans need to be loud early we must keep pressure on the gators

jobrando#216494 writes:

Sure they quit. There leaders quit. Coach has never had the instinct to be mean. I've seen them make remarkable come backs but not in recent history. The current coaches time has been but now fading fast. I did see some fire in the coach last game and maybe he is trying to be again. Saturday will tell.

brokebackvol writes:

While Spikes and several other players felt Tennessee stopped playing hard at the end, it was Baldry's story that gained a lot of attention. A replay of the extra-point showed at least one Vols' player stood up and didn't try to rush the kick.

"That kind of surprised me, for him saying I don't want to rush," Spikes said. "But I know they are not really as tough as us."

Spikes said a lot of players on the team talked about the incident afterward. He said he'd never seen a team quit, at least, "not on this level." Relayed Baldry's comments, Volunteer players disputed anyone quit playing.

But Spikes said he wasn't surprised Tennessee quit last year, adding, "I've seen them do the same thing (before)."
###
Please tell me this is on the bulletin board. Calling the Vols "not as tough" and "quitters" should have someone real angry.

jclowers writes:

Spikes is just saying what everyone knows. We quit against Florida and we quit against Alabama. We aren't as tough as them and if we get down a bunch Saturday expect us to do it again. We need leaders on this team and I haven't seen them yet. Where's Al Wilson when you need him?

99gator writes:

top 10 list of why tennessee should be ready for this game in no particular order.

1. it's a conference game.
2. it's a divisional opponent
3. it's a home game
4. it's a team that they don't like
5. they have lost 3 years in a row to this team
6. a loss seriously hurts tenn's chances of winning the sec championship, playing in a BCS bowl, or having a successful season in general.
7. a loss can strengthen a possible perfect storm
8. they lost 59-20 the year before.
9. they would like to make it back into the top 25
10. fulmer would like the "never beaten urban meyer" thing off his back.

nowhere on this list should be something brandon spikes or joe haden or anyone else said.

remember, last year the tennessee offensive line was fired up about minus yards rushing in 2006. the 1996 tennessee team was fired up about florida putting up 62 in 1995.

play hard, play well and win. the rest takes care of itself.

jasonn1970 writes:

Having read this and knowing it will be used as motivation I have to revise my prediction for the game. I think the angry and disrespected Vols take out their frustrations on the trash talking Gators.

UT 31 UF 24

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

jclowers... That's a lot of this teams problem. Big Al Wilson never let his teammates give up. He was always in someones face getting them fired up. We need him back at Neyland motivating these players. We have no leaders on this team and a mediocre coach. Don't get me wrong i like Fulmer as a person, i just think as a coach we could do better.

VOLatile writes:

Holy phooey! How embarrassing is this? Either Spikes is VERRRY stupid, or is he is accurate in his assessment of the VOLS!
What is going to be Tennessee VOLS (coaches to managers and mostly the players)? Not like you need any motivation from bulletin board material, but here is bulletin board material. I would walk to class with it, I would take it to practice with me, I would study (term used loosely) with it and I would sleep with this under my pillow. I would let the Gator words resonate through my every being. On Saturday at 15:29 (military time for the lay Gators), I would unleash the fury to anyone of opposing side and jersey color.

That is PERSONAL!

Go VOLS!!!!

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

Jasonn1970...Man i hope your right.

olozbal#646632 writes:

He's right. Everyone watching knew we gave up.

MidTennVol writes:

Darn tootin' they quit. We all saw it. Question is...

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT SATURDAY, VOLS?

YOU WANT STUFF FOR YOUR LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD, YOU GOT IT.

HE ALSO SAID "WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT AS TOUGH AS US."

coxo921 (Inactive) writes:

Someone needs to Remind or show B.S. the tape of the FL / NEB national title game in 95. I saw a FL team that quit completely...in the 2nd qtr no less!! It happens when a team so completely dominates you...it takes the wind right out of your sails. I hate to see it but it happens. Will it happen saturday...NO... will it make a difference...I hate to say it, but probably not. What I saw against UAB didn't show me anything. The strong UT teams of the 90's would have completely dominated and knocked that UAB team out early and kept on them. But that's that.. we definitely don't bring the intensity or scare anyone like we used to....but neither does Nebraska. So some things just have to change through a down cycle. Hopefully we can pull off a miracle on saturday.

BahamaVol writes:

Butchis back...I like it...nobody beats up your brother but you...that's putting it in perspective. Let's Go Big Orange!

DennisVols writes:

I'm not stating that our offense doesn't need to get better. In fact it is a good ways away from what it could be or will be. But these are the facys so far after 2 games for both UF and UT. Remember UF has play a D1-AA team while UT has only played Bowl division teams.
Lets look at some simple facts.
Both UT and UF have played 2 games agreed?
Neither team has played a high cabiler opponet agreed?
Here is the current offensive standing in the SEC for both teams:
TOTAL OFFENSE G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Tennessee 2 443 471 150 914 6.1 7 457.0

7. Florida 2 344 407 117 751 6.4 8 375.5
RUSHING OFFENSE G Att Yards Avg. TD Yards/G
3. Tennessee 2 75 443 5.9 5 221.5
8. Florida 2 65 344 5.3 5 172.0
PASS OFFENSE G Comp Att Int Pct. Yards Avg. TD Avg/G
3. Tennessee 2 39 75 3 52.0 471 6.3 2 235.5
6. Florida 2 31 52 0 59.6 407 7.8 3 203.5

UT leads UF in every Team rankings concerning offense.
So just how much better does our offense have to be to win this game. According to the FACTS not opinions we are already better than UF at this point.
Now if UT is already ahead of UF with the way we have played so far think of what we can and will be once the kinks are worked out.

TVT1 writes:

Probably see the same thing this time too.

PaulTheVol writes:

You don't hang 59 points on a team unless it is complete physical mismatch or the other team quits. And we quit. And we were out coached. Florida is not tougher than us but they have much more speed and their coaches did a great job exploiting that advantage - and they should do it again this year.

The bottom line for this game is that Florida will put 8 and 9 guys in the box and make Crompton beat them with his arm - and that doesn't make me feel confident at all.

JacksonvilleVol writes:

Wow. I can't believe a Florida player said that (snicker).

Anyways, congratulations Florida, you just made bulletin board motivation for the Vols to run you down.

Because let's face it, if we run as much as we can, we will win. Our defense is built against the spread, I think we can do this, it's just.... BAD COACHING COULD SCREW IT UP. DON'T CALL BAD PLAYS!!!

murrayvol writes:

Thanks Brandon. We needed that.

smokeysal22 writes:

Great Point Dennis, I think we need to hit them hard early, like we did to the CAL TE on the kickoff in 2006, took him out of the game early, I think we will be fired up, NEyland will be rocking and Urban Myth will wonder what happened....

UT 27
UF 21

Concerned_Mother_Focker writes:

JORTS.

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

Hopefully Stocker can bounce back after a terrible game against UAB. I would also like to see Warren be a little more involved in the offense. After hearing what a weapon he is when are they gonna use him? Creer also needs to be more involved earlier in the game IMO.

bigorangedaddy writes:

PaulTheVol, you hit the nail right on the head. I hope our defense remembers Tebow doing the "gator chomp" and laughing at us when the back up QB scored last year. That sight made me sick to my stomach and if there is a defensive player that has any pride at all, they should remember that and do something about it!

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

Pound The Rock effectively and we will win.

MidTennVol writes:

Al Wilson, will you be in Knoxville Saturday?

Jim Haslam, can you please send a private plane to get him? Please?

sampears writes:

Guys, face it we dont have very good QB play. It is not a knock on anyone, it is what it is. Unless Crompton can look off recievers, check down to the open one, he is just not ready for a game like this. The only way I see winning is to see a whole different team Sat. ALL of our play makers on the field, play the best runners not the oldest, maybe the same thing, but you get what I mean. You got to play to win not make everyone like you. I think defense can help us out, offense needs to go to no huddle, our best talent on the field, maybe an option of some sort. All comes back to the QB. Go Vols!

FLAVOLS writes:

I'm sure the paper will announce a sellout for this game upcoming but I will be curious to see how big of an increase there will be of Florida Gator fans in attendance. Volunteer fans better show up to take back their stadium or this could get really ugly AT HOME!

SemperVol writes:

Florida's Spikes says Vols quit "last year"

'Tis a "new year." Time to turn over a new leaf. You don't beat up somebody's brother without expecting a little physical reprimand in return. I hope the players dish it out.

I've always hated that this matchup comes so early in the season. I definitely didn't think Florida would turn out a 9-4 season last year and we'd represent the East ahead of them.

That's what is so great. We've stumbled out of the gate, but there's alot of racetrack left, and we have the workhorse(s) to do it...

IBleedOrange444 writes:

coxo921-

What did you see in that UAB game? Was UAB EVER in that football game? We won 35-3. 5 TD to their 1 field goal and we didn't even have to play that crisp. I just don't see how everyone can act as if there were no positives at all to take away from that game.

jmbigorange#280428 writes:

ibleed...It should have been 6 TD's had Stocker caught that one across the middle.

orangebloodgmc writes:

Has Spikes come out of the closet yet, yes or no?

BigMix writes:

I wish there was one thing someone could point out to me that says Florida is this monster team that Tennessee hasn't a snowballs chance in hell of beating much less trying to make it a respectable loss.

IBleedOrange444 writes:

OK team. They're talking some crazy disrespectful poop about you. What are you going to do about it? Are you gonna let them walk into YOUR house and get away with that? These mother f@$kers who let the whole conference down when they LOST TO MICHIGAN in their bowl game and finished with a worse record than us are coming into this game as if the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Go out there on Saturday and make them regret they ever questioned your toughness. Take the fight to those b@stards for 4 quarters and when it's all said and done, they will know who the tougher team is and that team will be the one in the Orange & White! This time when you touch that sign coming out of the locker room that says, "I will give my all for Tennessee" know that it is more than just a sign, a tradition. It is your mission; it is your purpose for being there in that moment, and for the next 60 minutes nothing less than every last ounce of ability, intelligence, strength, and heart that you have will do. If each of you promise to do that for each other, there's no way you can lose.

TommyJack writes:

First two steps to recovery: Be competive. No more beat-downs.

99gator writes:

big mix

i don't think the thought of anyone including me is that florida can't be beaten.

florida obviously can be beaten.

the question is will tennessee play like a good football team. because they haven't done it yet.

GrnEyedBanditTN writes:

I'd like to use a classic quote from the great football movie "Remember the Titans"... Attitude Reflects Leadership! Hopefully CPF and staff aren't tight like they usually are during Florida week. I had a convo with a recent UT player this morning here at work... Coaches have to come with the attitude of... we are gonna win, or we are supposed to win! Go Vols!!!!

jobrando#216494 writes:

Laws of Average to prevail Saturday...Vols Fulmer lost 11 of 15 to gators. This one will be his...Gators will make way to many mistakes to win..Tebow knocked out of game early in first quarter.

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