Chalk Wednesday up as another long, hot, hard practice for Tennessee. Game week can't get here fast enough.
Helmets, shoulder pads and shorts were the apparel but there was plenty of hitting. I'll be surprised if the Vols have serious fumbling issues this year the way ball security is emphasized in practice. The defenders are constantly whacking arms and tugging at the ball, even long after the play is over.
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Comments » 26
GainesvilleVol1 writes:
Wow, these guys have had a tough training camp. We have the injurys to prove it. I think it will pay off, since we don't have the depth of our major rivals. These players will have to see a lot more playing time, especially on the o-line and defensive line. I believe Kiffin has tranformed a group of individuals into the true meaning of a TEAM. NO, I don't think we will win all of our games, but you can bet this team will play hard, and knock the snot out of you on every play. WKY won't be close, and we will beat UCLA by at least 10 points. I'm ready for the season to start, but my guess is not near as ready as the 2009 VOLS!
GO VOLS!!
Hounddog writes:
Perhaps as the Kiffin era grows UT will be able to handle the teams they are suppose to handle...rather than making every game close. (UAB,PussyCat High,KY,Vandy, etc.) I'm not saying first year, but eventually.
As I watch old games on CSS and ESPN replays, etc. every one we play is always "in the game". I understand the FL,GA, and Bama,Auburns, will always be a contest, but for crying out loud under Fulmer Little Sister's of the Poor could have taken us to overtime. I hope this new attitude changes all that. Go Vols!
Let's play football. Hounddog.
DC_Vol writes:
Kiffin is doing a fantastic job of preparing our team for the regular season. I don't remember practices being this physical in the past (i.e. green jerseys, walkthroughs). Our team has been playing full speed the entire time. I think we will come out of the gate strong. I always felt we needed a few games to get up to game speed due to our soft practices. We always seemed to play better as the season wore on. Kiffin has UT ready to succeed at the start of the season.
I love the fact that Bryce Brown will not miss any games. If memory serves me correctly, there were a lot of trolls suggesting he would miss a few games. A few even intimated the season. Bryce Brown will be a force. I expect great things to come from him and for UT. Go Vols!!!
GerryOP writes:
Don't guess Kiffin is going to take time off to let The Pride waste good practice time by serenading the footVols? Dang! This Kiffin-dude-guy is really ripping up our sacred traditions. TIC!
9 -- Fear The Kiffin...
10volunteers98 writes:
Will the Western Kentucky game be televised,by any chance? Man,I can`t wait for this season! I haven`t been this excited about Big Orange football in years.And thanks NCAA for getting it right in the Bryce Brown case.GO,VOLS!!!
Cldvols1 writes:
It's the first game to be televised by the new SEC Network at 11:21est, which will air either on FSN or CSS...I think. I can't wait either 10V98, I am sssssstoked! Go Vols!!!
Go4Two writes:
You might want to check Fulmer's record against the lower level teams. Never lost to KY only 1 loss to Vandy.
BigOrangeCrazy writes:
The first game is at 12:21. And is on WVLT/CBS in Knoxville.
11:21 is about the time i'll be getting my "game face" on. Nothing like pounded a few cold ones in the afternoon on a beautiful fall Saturday. lol
10volunteers98 writes:
Thanks,Volnauburn.I believe this is going to be a pretty exciting season.The Vols probably aren`t going to win every game,but this season will be a prelude of BIG things to come for Tennessee.And,no more quitting in the third quarter.I think the Vols will surprise some people.
bleuvol writes:
Um...11:21 is not the afternoon yet btw. But I do agree with you, I feel like a devoted fan when I can pop my first one soon after/during breakfast. (It's noon somewhere, right?)
Besides at this point, as I consider my first football beer the 'official' kickoff of the season, I don't know if I can wait until Saturday morning for that to happen.
I feel like I need to practice like CLK prepared them last week with a close simulation of game-day setting. Maybe this calls for a tailgate this weekend to get prepared for the intense season ahead. I wish I could give a big ole yell here at work right now, but it may cause alarm with some.
Go Vols! Rocky Top, you'll always be home sweet home to me!!
Laydbakvol writes:
Question. We're hearing a lot about the big plays our freshmen and QBs are making during the practices and scrimmages, but nothing of E. Berry. Has anybody seen or heard how our Heisman candidate is doing during fall camp?
BigOrangeCrazy writes:
Yeah I just figured afternoon sounded a lot better then too freaking early in the morning.
Either way the job must get done. Good idea on the "close simulation of game-day" though. You can never be too prepared. GO VOLS! 9 Days!
DennisVols writes:
Here is good write up about UT and what we can expect from this team.
http://tnjn.com/2009/aug/27/four-thin...
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
volstokke writes:
Thanks for the link. It was a good write up. Im so ready for football season. Go Vols!
tennezz writes:
Thanks Dennis, Good article!
the10sevol writes:
good to read that cody came to oku's defense. i think that says a lot about the offense's unity.
GBO
VolFanInAtl writes:
I just saw this today
http://tennessee.rivals.com/content.a...
Kiff taking some responsibility for Jones's injury!... is humility an unusual trait in a football coach? It's a first for me.
I hate that he was wrong when he said Meyer called Nuke (that made us look like idiots), but other than that, I'm starting to like this guy.
I'm also not really intimidated by all the media bull phooey about people being mad at us and wanting revenge. What are they going to do differently anyway? All of these kids are going to be playing their hearts out in the first quarter regardless of who's mad at who.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Thanks for the link! If the guy who wrote this is a journalism student, he has a bright future. Hope the KNS is looking at him.
DennisVols writes:
The lack of respect this years team is getting from the media has more to do with history than facts.
Two of the past 4 seasons have ended in losing results. Last years team had few bright spots altogether and really none on offense.
Kiffin is a first year, new head coach with no head coaching history at the college or SEC level.
Between the struggles of years past and no track record on the head coach it is easy to see where the doubts come from especially considering the level of the competition in the SEC.
That said there is also a lot to look forward to. UT could not continue on the path it was going with it's football program. Discipline issues continued to grow. It had become so outrageous that they named a trophy for the team with the most issues after UT's head coach (Phil Fulmer.
The last few years UT either did the same old thing or went so far to the right that not even the players knew what to do.
Kiffin has brought in discipline and a competitive nature is now the norm. No longer are freshmen stuck in a closet and not given an opportunity to contribute.
UT will be 2-0 when they make the trip to the swamp this year and I believe that game will turn out much different than many expect. Not predicting a victory (even though it is possible) but what will stand out is how competitive UT will be against the gators.
10 Days from now the boats will be lined along the TN river, Crowds of people dressed in all kinds of orange and white will line the street leading up to Neyland stadium awaiting the Vol Walk with a new coach and and new sense of hope and excitement that has not been here for several years.
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
A stat that KNS has neglected to report on the QB effectiveness in practice:
Crompton: 3 INT in 2 practices
Stephens; zero, but you keep hearing about his long ball effectiveness, while getting 35% of the reps...maybe CLK is seeing some things he still is not 100% comfortable with...Why/ if he picks Niclk Stephens at QB, Crompton looses his interest and competiveness..so the way to to keep JC and NS motivated is to give JC the nod, but by game 6 Stephens takes the helm..106,000 get to see it on 9/12 and 9/19...Witch Doctor Bones said so....
johnlg00#206211 writes:
And thank YOU for the link to another fine, informative piece. CLK certainly does seem to be a breath of fresh air in a world so clouded by "coach-speak". BTW, I could be wrong, but I thought Meyer DID call Nuke, and CLK was wrong to call that "cheating". It was not that CLK was wrong to say that Meyer had called. Or at least that is how I seem to remember it. We have seen a LOT of examples of how these incidents have grown in the telling, so who really knows at this point anyway.
Strongly agree that all the off-the-field stuff has a pretty short half-life once the action starts. On the other hand, it could be to our advantage if opponents fixate on "teaching us a lesson" and either lose their concentration or wear themselves out with "false" emotion. Like you, I seriously doubt it will have much effect except perhaps among some fans.
Hounddog writes:
Mike, I am keenly aware of Fulmer's winning record against those lesser opponents. It was the playing to the level of that competition that caused my Jack Daniels supply to depelete every Saturday. I am looing forward to playing to win and not to lose. I loved Coach Fulmer but he drove me to drink.
Let's play football! Hounddog
TnScooby writes:
I know everybody seems to be transfixed on the interceptions in scrimmage but let's be honest here....practice is practice......I'm sure CLK would make comments concerning interceptions if he was OVERLY concerned......This team has been given a chance to start with a clean slate....Crompton deserves the same...if Crompton doesn't play well enough to keep the job, then so be it...but I will support WHOEVER CLK starts or plays at QB....IMO Crompton is still an excellent QB talent-wise but results on the field during GAMES will determine what fans will think....and that is how it should be.....I personally don't think CLK will put Crompton in situations that force bad decisions....JMO...however, with that being said, Cromptons play THIS SEASON will determine how much success the Vols have and whether or not he will be the guy....I like Stephens just as much as the next Vol fan but I do still believe that Cromton has enough talent and ability to take us to a successful season....and BTW....the bounce pass references really do get old....give the kid another chance, CLK and staff have.....JMO
SWAVol writes:
I hope that they can fix the radar lock he had last year on his receiver. He would lock on his target and stand there like he was praying for him to get open. He has all of the tools as long as the head does not trip him up. I am really pulling for him to not just be serviceable, I want him to be a playmaker.
TnScooby writes:
Excellent point SWA....that is the one thing that bothered me the most...secondaries read the QB and locking in on a receiver is taboo...hopefully this has been pointed out to JC and he will avoid that at all costs....it would definitely improve his chance for success....JMO
GainesvilleVol1 writes:
If at any time CLK causes you to have an excess inventory of Jack Daniels, please let me know. I would be glad to assist you in that department. My consumption of the magic liquid seems to stay at a high level (according to my better half), whatever the score. Mabye its my neighbor's falt (damn gator). It can't be mine.
GO VOLS!!
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