Tennessee assistant head coach Ed Orgeron isn't talking to the media this week. UT's players aren't so shy.
"I wouldn't really say that we should be an underdog, especially by the way we've played," linebacker Herman Lathers said of Ole Miss being a four-point favorite for Saturday's game (TV: WVLT, noon) in Oxford, Miss. "But we're just going to go out and take it like we take every opponent, we're going to take it serious.
"We're going to get this win for Coach O and this win is going to secure us a bowl game."
Defensive end Chris Walker said Orgeron, who coaches UT's defensive linemen and heads up recruiting, hasn't acted any different this week just because he's facing the school that fired him in 2007 after three years as head coach.
That, however, likely will change, Walker said.
But Orgeron is known as a fiery coach. So, can he really be that much more intense?
"Yes," Walker said flatly. "We've only seen a little bit of it. We know he can get more intense than he's been. We're kind of expecting it this week."
Walker and Lathers were both recruited by Orgeron while at Ole Miss.
Lathers said he may have signed to be a Rebel had Orgeron not been fired. Walker took visits to Oxford but was determined to move further from home.
In an odd twist, both will be playing for Orgeron this week as he tries to extol some revenge on the Rebels.
"We want to do down there and get a win for Coach O," Walker said.
Head coach Lane Kiffin said it's natural for Orgeron to have Saturday's game at Ole Miss circled on his calendar.
"If you've been fired before and you ever went back to the place you were at, it's going to be a big deal for you," Kiffin said.
Walking the Walk: Walker said being an underdog can help UT this weekend.
"That's something that we've kind of been all year when we've been on the road," Walker said. "It's something that we thrive on. It makes us practice that much harder. It makes us play that much harder."
Walker said players believe there is a lack of respect nationally for UT. The Vols received votes in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches' polls. The AP had UT with the 31st most votes. The Vols are 38th in the coaches' poll.
"The lack of respect that people have for us is something that we recognize but we don't really pay too much attention to because it's all going to come down to us getting on the field and playing ball," Walker said. "The people that make up those little rankings can't really get on the field with us."
Walker said the disparity between the two polls could be a result of UT head coach Lane Kiffin's public comments about other coaches.
"He's saying stuff and we're backing it up for him," Walker said. "I don't think (other coaches) like it that much."
Walker said he believes the Vols deserve to be in the Top 25.
"I think so," he said. "We've been probably one of the hottest teams in the country lately."
Dandy Douglas: Right tackle Aaron Douglas' award-winning effort against Memphis wasn't his best performance this season. Douglas scored a '90' grade against the Tigers and a '91' against South Carolina.
Still, he was named the SEC offensive lineman of the week.
"I don't really look at it as an individual award," the redshirt freshman from Maryville High School said. "I think it's more of a team award."
Douglas said his grades have steadily improved through his first six career starts. Kiffin said Douglas has benefited from UT relatively simple offensive blocking scheme.
"You don't ever hear about him. That's a great thing," Kiffin said. "If you're not hearing about an offensive tackle during a game, that's a good thing because he's not having penalties, he's not getting beat for sacks.
"We've almost taken him for granted over there. We don't even help him in protection anymore. We put him one-on-one all the time."
Scouting Report: Kiffin spoke highly of Ole Miss' versatile athlete Dexter McCluster.
"The problem with Dexter is that he lines up everywhere," Kiffin said. "I don't know that I've seen a guy that can play running back and then go out and run all the receiver routes like he's been there forever.
"If you give him any space, he's so fast he can outrun almost anybody."
McCluster is averaging 13 yards per reception and 5.8 yards per carry.
Walker said the senior speedster reminds him of some of Florida's skill-position players. Size, however, isn't a strength. McCluster is only 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds.
"We're going to try to get a hold of him and try to get 11 (defenders) to the football and see how he can hold up against our pressure," Walker said.
No Apologies: Kiffin didn't seem bothered when asked about his UT's football coaches' pay scale, which USA Today reported was the highest in the nation Tuesday.
"I don't think anybody thinks about how much money does (defensive coordinator) Monte Kiffin make, or Ed Orgeron, when we play Georgia and Alabama back-to-back and they don't score a touchdown," Kiffin said. "Like I've said before, sometimes you've got to spend money to make money."
UT's overall coaching salaries, including Kiffin, rank fourth-highest in the SEC, according to figures provided by UT.
Kiffin took less money than most in order to pay his assistants more.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 59
SmokeyHound writes:
Beat ole miss! im goin to the game!!!
jeff luc...
OrangePride writes:
As a coaching staff, top to bottom.......I'll take this staff over any in the country...ANY. As for compensation, when a head coach takes less money so he can pay more money to hire the best assistants, I think that tells you something important. So we will just keep winning and we will just keep on recruiting and the rest can sit and analyze pay scales. GO VOLS.....WE BACK THE KIFF!
Atuss writes:
I have great respect for Orgeron as a passionate high energy coach. I don't think his personality lends itself to being the head coach. A 10-26 record will get you run out of a lot of places not called Vanderbilt.
Why did Ole Miss let Cutcliffe go anyway?
SanFranciscoVol writes:
Hayoo Whyoooh Hooyohh Do Ya'll FOOTBALL!!!
Souther writes:
These coaches are worth every penny they're paid. Much unlike the previous staff.
ArealVolFan writes:
Looks like J. James is a Vol
VolinCalif writes:
Take me with you! Please! Pleaseeese! I'll shine shoes, wash cars, sweep floors, etc. Have fun and yell like hellllll for me. Old Miss fans are fun and nice people.
txvolsfan writes:
I needed that money for my Krispy Kreme habit!!!
Phil
ncvol17 writes:
I am a VOL loving alum..but top 25 at 5-4 w/ wins over W. KY, OHIO, and Mumpuss High...not realistic. Let's beat the last 3 SEC teams and top 25 and a nice bowl will follow...
DooleyBall2012 writes:
GBO.. Beat Ole Miss. How bout them Vols?
JB0001 writes:
Coaching staff has earned every penny of it!
DenverVol writes:
Win out and those polls will take care of themselves. Agree with the others on here...this staff is worth every penny!
GO VOLS! Beat Ol' Miss!
BarrenPlainsVol writes:
I want to thank this staff for making UT football exciting again, no matter what the cost.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Every time I look at that picture, I just get chills because that is like "The Dream Team" of coaching staffs and that picture don't even include Kiff or the offensive coaches..WOW!!! NO WONDER FLA AND BAMA HAS BIG LUMPS IN THEIR THROATS!!!
MusicCityVol writes:
www.checkerboardchatter.blogspot.com
MTSUVOL writes:
Pay the Coaches!!!!! They deserve it. They are woth very cent!!!
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
And I guess Coach McCarneys legal problems and his daughters obivious UF views of police officers makes your team a perfect role model for all kids?
Cash writes:
..."Kiffin took less money than most in order to pay his assistants more."
don't hear that everyday. maybe some of these overpriced CEO's need to come to Camp Kiffin.
Voluvr writes:
Not taking the bait Vandyman.
dowhatsright writes:
What is up with this guy? I'm beginning to think he just makes stuff up to try to get a response. I think everyone should ignore him and maybe he will go away. There is something very weird about someone who hangs out on websites for a school he doesn't like just to try to stir things up. So "DuhMan", this is my last reply to anything you write.
tuckepk writes:
In an odd twist, both will be playing for Orgeron this week as he tries to extol some revenge on the Rebels???
extol-verb [tran.] praise enthusiastically
TrueVol70 writes:
Take it to the house, Big Orange!
Vol_Fan_4_Life_615 writes:
First off Coach O is the BEST DL coach in the country, college or pro. Secondly your the stupidest person to post on this or any site, get a life loser.
unclesmoke writes:
I agree completely. I would never hang out a teams web sight I didnt like, thats like watching tv shows you hate. Some people just aint happy unless their ruining your time.
Go Vols!!!!
dbc5361 writes:
This game opened up at Ole Miss -3.5 and now is at Ole Miss -5. I'm not understanding this trend. I honestly see UT winning by 10. With that said, this would be the Vols first win as an underdog so I guess that's why they play the game.
The1 writes:
I am not an insider, but it appears to me that coach Orgeron is a valuable part of the Vol coaching staff. I hope he is happy and he stays a long time.
sitinhere writes:
Compare J Crompton from this year to last year. Shoot, from Sept to Oct. GREAT COACHING Job.
ChattaVol1 writes:
I told all of my Vol friends earlier in the year that UCLA was our biggest game of the year! If we had won that game, we would have been 6-3 with losses to 1 and 2 ranked teams. I say it again, this Old Miss. game is HUGE!
VOLinATL writes:
"No respect!". What a snore.....half of the teams on any given day can say that because they aren't favored in the game. If that is what it takes to get you motivated, than that is lame.
Volunteer writes:
Come on now... Coach O may have a couple blemishes on his resume but he also has some pages that just shine. Such as number 1 recruiting classes with Miami and USC. Putting kids in the NFL that he has recruited and coached at Miami, USC, soon to be Ole Miss and Tennessee.
As for the attendace, you need to wake up. While i am in the Military i dont feel the strain of the economy like most in East Tennessee. It absolutely breaks my heart to see my family going without. People are suffering dude, they are cutting back on things they dont have to have and replacing them with the essentials, like bread and water.
While i understand your post are meant to get a "rise" out of me and my Vol bretheren you need to stand back and look at the big picture...This really hit a soft spot for me. You Sir, are an idiot!
CrankE writes:
When you're 10-26 as a coach, what's to avenge? Cutcliffe's firing mystified me. Coach O's firing doesn't. Get the win for Tennessee. Not Coach O.
I'd prefer our team to zip the talk about how good we're playing right now and just go on the field and do it. No 4 loss team is even ranked right now.
OrangePride writes:
Congratulations, DaMan. We can always count on you to have one of the dumbest posts on here and you've done it again! First of all, Mississippi is still running on the recruits and energy from coach O. Second, if you simply look at the difference in the line play from the last three years to this year, even someone as dumb as you would see the improvements. Finally, yes, our attendance dropped a little this year.....but we are still ahead of Florida by about 9000/game. Let's see how many show up to see us beat Florida here next year......that should tell even you something.
UTfaninYankeeland writes:
I hate the "we get no respect" talk. Every team that talks that junk ends up losing. Win the next 4 games (including bowl game) and you will be ranked. Until then, zip it.
commonsense32 writes:
I disagree with the posters who say don't talk about disrespect. That motivates people plenty, and especially kids. This is the most improved team in the country and one of the best. 4 losses or not they are a top 25 team in the country today, maybe top 10. The problem is the stupid polls. Who cares? If you stomp Ole pisses guts in the ground Saturday, then you do that to Vandy, and then kentucky, and then some weak azz team from another conference you will be considered one of the best teams in the land. The records will be better next year then the next. Don't worry about polls just play fast, loose,smart, and mad as hell and it will all be fine! You guys are a great team and your fans realize that. No need to talk about it just go out there and get it done..... The Vols should win this game decisively, but ole piss thinks this is their Nat. Champ game so it will be a dog fight. GBO
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Many OM fans thought the team underachieved with Eli Manning at QB, then they had a losing season--or maybe two, I don't remember--after that. Cutcliffe also was having some heart troubles at that time that I think are over with now. Still, there was some concern at the time that he wouldn't be physically able to continue coaching.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
You got it; no time to worry about rankings and bowls until we've taken care of all the on-field business, starting this Saturday!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
He probably meant "extort" or "extract" but Hooker's reliance on spell-check rather than proof-reading by a literate editor failed him again. Of course, in his defense, there AREN'T any such editors anymore. Gotta save money at any cost; and besides, these days, who would notice besides you, tuckepk, and me?
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Lots of Ole Miss fans betting, I guess. As if Mississippi isn't poor enough already(;-P)!
Munsterlander writes:
Dum@%% Man strikes again. yawn.
pm01 writes:
"Why did Ole Miss let Cutcliffe go anyway?"
From my understanding, Cutcliffe had health issues, so he stepped down from the coaching job at Ole Miss. Fulmer picked him back up a few years ago.
I'm sure Duke isn't complaining.
pm01 writes:
"Coach O is a disgrace. From his legal battles at Miami to his being hated by the Ole Miss kids. In between he was fired from the Saints. The Ole Miss kids even tried to organize a clock radio heist to embarrass Ogre. Wake up people. Yes some have. That is why the attendance is at a record low."
Orgeron probably held his Ole Miss player's feet to the fire, and they didn't like it. As a University professor myself, I can tell you students don't like it when you call them out and actually make them be responsible and grow up. It's easier to just sit at the back of the class and expect everything to be handed to you.
allvol32 writes:
KNS - please flush DaIdiotMan...
LibertyVolance writes:
You are one worthless POS.
10volunteers98 writes:
GO,VOLS!!! Give Coach O.a couple of Red Bulls before the game!As far as this staff being one of the highest paid,well maybe it`s because they`re WORTH IT!Remember the last staff we had (including the head coach)?They were making a fortune while the Vols went down the tube.If Kiff and crew can get this kind of results in their first yeat at UT,then things are looking good for the Vols.If they want a raise in pay,here is one orange-blooded Vols fan who would gladly chip in!Go,Vols--and Coach O!!!Beat `Ol Miss,and secure a good bowl game for UT!Congratulations to our latest commit from O-lineman James.You chose the right team!
HallowedHill writes:
I love this team's attitude and our chances this weekend. Time for a good ole' slobber-knocker this weekend. Pummel the Rebs!
GO VOLS!
The_Real_UT writes:
Wow, that really puts things into perspective. Thank you for your service to our country Sir.
chazz25 writes:
glad phils outta town but that was pretty lame
wayoutwill writes:
I knew, for a fact,that we were gonna beat Fla. St.,I knew for a fact that we were gonna come back in the 2nd half and beat Ga. when we were getting beat so bad,I've taken the Vols this year and won big bucks when they said the Gators and the Tide were gonna beat us like a rented mule!But,I know this for a fact,and I mean I know it more than I knew the things I've listed above,WE WILL BEAT OLE MISS THJIS WEEK_END!--If you like to win money,and I don't even consider this as a gamble,then take the Vols and the points!There is no way that we don't beat their butts off.I would almost gurantee you that we rush for 250 yards and that may be just Hardesty or Brown's total alone!This is a gurantee on the complete domination of the Rebels by the Vols!Take the points and get the money!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
If we bet the way you say, will you cover our losses if we lose(;-P)? I must agree, though; this ALMOST looks like a sucker bet to me. It will probably be a tussle for awhile, but I think the Vols will prevail.
VolunteerLifer writes:
This is a dangerous rebel team. they have alot of talent, and reason for motivation against the Volunteers even without this nonsense about Orgeron. They need another win for bowl eligibility, as do we. With upcoming games against LSU and away at MSU, they may feel like this is their best shot at the win to put them over.
They are smarting from a lack of performance so far this season, and would like to make up for it. They were preseason ranked in the top ten, and they want to regain some pride in their poor season. (They were overrated from the start, but don't tell that to them) Their coaching staff needs to get a scalp that will stop some of the grumbling going on there.
Although we are a hot team and improving, we still have yet to win a road game under Kiffin. I won't be surprised if this is a very, very tough game for us. It gives me some comfort to know that our coaching staff is much better than theirs, and that Kiffin has whipped Nutt badly twice in the past.
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.