AP Top 25 College Football
Tennessee Stat Book
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee and South Carolina's annual meeting has been a kind of turning point for both teams in recent years.
The Volunteers (4-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) are hoping their 31-13 win over the Gamecocks on Saturday means the start of a strong finish to coach Lane Kiffin's first season.
"It was a good win," Vols quarterback Jonathan Crompton said. "We needed that right now to kind of start our streak of what we want to do: to finish out the season undefeated."
And after dropping out of the Top 25 for the first time in a month, the Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3) are hoping to prevent a November losing skid.
Dressed in Halloween-inspired black jerseys with orange pants, Tennessee took advantage of South Carolina mistakes on Saturday and turned three fumbles into touchdowns.
"We hung in there and kept our heads high until the very end and we moved the ball. We just have to get better," said South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia, who passed for 300 yards.
The last time the Gamecocks were ranked as high as No. 21 was before the 2007 Tennessee game, when they were ranked No. 15. South Carolina lost that game in overtime 27-24 and dropped its final three games against Arkansas, Florida and Clemson — the same three teams it faces this November.
The Vols used that win over the Gamecocks to overcome a shaky season start and win their last four games and the SEC East title.
Florida has already clinched the East Division championship for this season, thanks to Tennessee's upset of South Carolina, but the Vols are looking to finish with a winning record, grab a bowl bid and avoid the kind of finish they had last season.
A 27-6 loss to the Gamecocks last season was the final strike against coach Phillip Fulmer, who was fired two days later. Tennessee finished with a 5-7 record after losing to Wyoming and missed out on the postseason.
Kiffin said he's encouraged by the improvement his players have shown through the season.
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier thinks his players still have some work to do.
"We're 6-3, that's a pretty good record, and we've played some pretty good teams," Spurrier said. "We've got to learn that to beat the good teams we've got to play more efficiently."
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Comments » 10
VolunTampa writes:
I like this team's chances to run the table. Finish strong, Vols!
DC_Vol writes:
I love the picture of the old ball coach shaking hands with Kiffin and looking him straight in the eye. A show of respect! The picture appears to be a passing of the baton from the old ball coach to the new ball coach Kiffin. I think Spurrier realizes Kiffin is a younger version of himself. Now Kiffin just needs to win a few National Championships and this picture will live in infamy!!! GBO!!
VolinCalif writes:
New feelings for both Steve and the GameCocks. Go Vols run the table. You too GamesCocks don't look back. It appears one must use Chickens or get banded, no C word allowed.
NorthwestVol writes:
Anyone else worried about a let down against Memphis?
brokebackvol writes:
Funny, I sense the same thing, he's about ready to say "change your name to SCREW U!" to the Cockadoodles.
You can't race in a Nova against a Mazerati. If he really wants to compete and stick it to the Gators, maybe he will go over to UGA post-Richt and start something over there. Can you imagine how it would irk the Gators if Saint Steve was coaching the Dawgs?
(Is it possible that the usually fatal "Vote of confidence" from the AD is soon for richt?)
arlvol writes:
Great post and I couldnt agree more. Probably Spurriers last season IMO. The last thing he wants to do is get crushed by the new / young guard every year!
SmokeyHound writes:
idk - we r probably getting too cocky and might see an upset from kentucky or ole miss. we better watch out
Vol737 writes:
Mmmm...I doubt it. Talked to a friend of mine that's a big UGA booster, pretty dialed in down there. Looks like the Dawg faithful will be satisfied with getting rid of Willie Martinez as DC. Say it's long overdue. That will buy Richt one more year and then he'll have to get his resume together if they don't win and win big next year.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
No, the picture will live in GLORY as a symbol of the rebirth of UT football! "Infamy" is a BAD thing. Of course, it WILL likely live in infamy in SC and throughout the SEC for that matter.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
It completely baffles me how you can be so reasonable and positive about UT basketball and yet so relentlessly negative about UT football! The numbers you keep citing are CORRECT, for the most part, but they miss the TRUTH about UT's football program since about 2001.
You talk about UT's historical record being built up against the Sewanee's, Maryville's and such, yet we LOST to Wyoming and barely beat N. Ill. and UAB just last year. Worse yet, look at our record against the other ELITE teams in the conference. How can you not see that we had fallen DECISIVELY behind those programs, and were barely holding off the Vandy's, UK's, and such? How can you defend the dozens of arrests and other unsavory goings-on over the last several years and condemn CLK when he has had NONE of that?
I have noticed that you never respond directly to any questions like this that I and others have asked you, yet you keep coming back with the same old slant. This shows a degree of self-involvement and lack of awareness of the outside world that would be disturbing if I saw it in a friend or family member.
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