Post-game audio
Now you know why Tennessee first-year coach Lane Kiffin fired his off-season potshots at Florida, rather than Georgia. The Bulldogs were too easy of a target.
If you just asked, "What do you mean?" you weren't paying attention at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Kiffin might have come across as a smart-aleck for his Florida-directed humor. He came across as just plain smart against the Bulldogs.
If UT's special teams hadn't been hell-bent on sabotaging an almost perfect Big Orange afternoon, the Vols might have locked up the victory by halftime.
They eventually settled for a 45-19 victory over the befuddled Bulldogs, who have lost four of their last six games against their SEC East rivals.
They didn't just lose Saturday. They could have been mistaken for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the process.
And it's not because both teams wear red. It's because both teams looked out of their league in Neyland Stadium.
That's acceptable for the Hilltoppers. They are out of their league.
Western Kentucky is a fledgling FBS program, which was predictably overwhelmed 63-7 in UT's season opener. What's Georgia's excuse?
How bad were the Hill Dogs?
Answer: Ask UT wide receiver Denarius Moore, who turned a short pass completion from Jonathan Crompton (more about him later) into a 33-yard touchdown.
After making the catch, Moore was hit almost simultaneously by linebacker Rennie Curran and safety Reshad Jones, who are arguably Georgia's surest tackles.
Moore reacted to the contact as though leaves had breezed into his shoulder pads. He then sped down the sideline for UT's second touchdown.
It's not supposed to be that easy for any offense in the SEC, much less one with a passing game as supposedly deficient as UT's.
Aside from one interception, the offense was almost flawless. It often is against Willie Martinez's defense.
Georgia's defense made UT quarterback Erik Ainge look like Peyton Manning a few years ago. This time, it made Crompton look like Ainge on his best day.
Crompton wore out the Hill Dogs with short passes in the first half, then beat them deep in the third quarter with a 51-yard touchdown throw to Gerald Jones. Everything worked against a secondary which couldn't tackle any better than it could cover.
The Hill Dogs gave up a combined 78 points in back-to-back victories against South Carolina and Arkansas. So you knew their pass defense was suspect.
But you didn't know UT could exploit it.
Not only did Kiffin and his staff come up with their best offensive game plan of the season. Crompton and company executed it with shocking efficiency.
Based on Crompton's track record, UT fans probably had a sense of uneasiness despite his unerring accuracy in the first half. He couldn't keep it up, could he?
You had your answer early in the third quarter when Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo returned an interception 28 yards for a touchdown.
But that was a hiccup, rather than a prelude to disaster. Crompton followed it up with five consecutive completions - including the touchdown toss to Jones - on the next two possessions.
Just like that, the game was in hand, and the rest of the season had a surprising glow.
A week earlier in a loss to Auburn, UT appeared to be teetering on the brink of a disastrous October. It looked like the second-best team in the East on Saturday.
And Georgia looked like a program Kiffin can have a lot of fun with.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 51
crimsonviper writes:
Just out of curiosity what was John Adams prediction on the score??
AceVentura writes:
After the Auburn loss I called this victory. I said we were going to beat Georgia, but man I didn't think we'd dominate them. The D only gave up 3 points. Incredible game.
seofeed writes:
Crompton really benefited from Kiffin speeding up the offensive calls and tempo. I think it caused all of the false start calls but ultimately was a much better plan because Crompton wasn't thinking as much. Fantastic win! Great job Jonathan and Coach Kiffin! Go Vols!
CalPoly_Vol_Fan writes:
What if...UT wins out and UF loses 3 SEC games? I would love to see it.
WytheVol writes:
Quick change in attitude from JA.. And many others I might add!! Helluva game! Helluva game! Proud to be a VOL!
WytheVol writes:
If we had executed like that in ALL of our games, we're 6-0 right now... There's always if's... But damn the O and D looked good today. Play like that the rest of the year and we finish the season 6-0. 9-3, 8-4 doesn't seem out of the question now. Ole Miss and Alabama have some great defenses though. But we'll deal w/that tomorrow. I'm gonna finish the night singin Rocky Top tonight!!!!
DownTheField writes:
How 'bout our freaking O-Line???!!!!! Awesome.
ReVolver writes:
Now we see why coach Kiff stuck with JC.
Despite JC's problems (and I'm sure he'll have occasional struggles as the season goes on), Kiff was RIGHT to keep him as the starter...keep him in the game, then work on fixing the stuff that wasn't working. Gives us a better chance of winning some games down the road, than waffling and taking a chance and 'hoping' the backup does better.
CLK seems to know something about coaching 'em up.
kthompson#255227 writes:
Way to go Vols. Fix the return coverage please, and blocking on special teams and we are rockin. More penalties than usual, but the Offense and Defense looked good! Based on JC's performance today, maybe Hitch can call Sports Talk on my drive home. I haven't heard him since he was saying Crompton would be drafted after his performance in the WKU game.
Oh and for the nice couple who paid for my Petros because of the jerks in front of us on the East concourse, God Bless You. You restore my confidence in the young adults at the games. GO VOLS!!
TommyJack writes:
Game dedicated to David Pollock and Mark Schlabach.
And the rest of the mopes at CSS. Bwahahahahaha
Gator_Hater (Inactive) writes:
Totally agree! Everyone else notice #50 on the field late? McNeil and Wes Brown have all the heart in the world to be out there giving their all!
suPEARLman writes:
Adams,
Even though I usually like your articles your right to write on this game is obselete after your prediction....
Get lost.
GO VOLS!!!
Homermoosevols writes:
I said its great to be a Tennessee Vol! JC congratulations. Keep it up! One soar note, Does anyone else get scared when D. Lincoln kicks extra points? Is it just me or does it always seem like its going to get blocked?
RJ_Vol writes:
Hill Dogs? What a classless reporter. They are an SEC foe. Give them some respect. They need it.
RJ_Vol writes:
...And dedicated to all of those recruits who have to make a choice between UT and UGA.
ctownvol writes:
The only offensive points for Georgia came on a 52 yard field goal. I think Monte just took Mike Bobo behind the woodshed.
chefjorge writes:
A great win to be sure. A decisive win in a rivalry game is always to be celebrated. I find your lack of grace in continually calling the Bulldogs "Hill Dogs" out of line Mr. Adams. Sure describe the beat down. There's no need to be a jerk however. GO VOLS! Way to bring it.
FatherVol writes:
How many back-handed compliments can you give a guy, Adams.
the10sevol writes:
from ja's weekly predictions:
"Georgia 16, Tennessee 14: Bulldogs win on a last-minute drive, after which they walk quietly to the sideline with their heads hung in celebration while carefully avoiding eye contact with their opponents or the officials."
at least you predicted the body language part. too funny for words.
GBO
pupvol writes:
there's your hobnail boot back
gavol writes:
John Adams, do you know how stupid you look at this point. You are a poor sports editor and poor sports writer. Please leave Knoxville and go somewhere else.
tdvol1989 writes:
You are correct. He reminds me of the Russell Zitsky character in the movie "Stripes". He said that his father advised him to never hit another person in anger...unless he was pretty sure he could get away with it. Running your mouth from a computer is easy.
And, by the way, I read Eric Berry's and Kiffin's comments on ESPN.com that Georgia would NEVER beat Kiffin as long as he was the coach at Tennessee. Coach, stop the trash talking. You said all you needed to say on the field.
It is time for the only things written about Tennessee to be how well we recruited and how well we played.
VOLFORLIFE writes:
Good one, pup! Boy, it sure wasn't such a long drive back to Sparta after that beautiful win today!
GO VOLS!!!
JUGHEAD
jandjhome#228397 writes:
To the Georgia Fan that laughed at my predition of Vols 30 Dawgs 10, you were correct we were not playing Western Ky, but the Dawgs were not much better.
OrangeBlur writes:
No, Adams, I'm having serious fun at your expense reading this tripe.
DennisVols writes:
I stated earlier this week that UT was a W.I.P. team. (work in progress) In every game that UT lost they were in the game but failed to excute the game plan fully. The errant passes, dropped passes, poor ST and questionable blocking had prevented them from winning. The coaching was there, the excution wasn't.
Coming into this game Crompton had a higher pass completion rating than Sneed at Ole Miss. The same Sneed one SEC coach voted as 1st team all SEC in the pre-season.
Today Kiffin placed Crompton in position for sucess again only this time the receivers stepped up along with Crompton.
The defense has done it's job all year. Today the offense made the most of the opportunties the defense gave them.
ST is still a major concern and yes one game does not errase a lot of bad offensive memories the past year and a 1/2. There have been improvements every game for this offense. Today was a major step forward.
I liked Kiffin's focus following the game. You could see it on his face. As big of a win as this was there are 6 more games to go. UT won't win any titles just beating GA. Enjoy the moment UT you made us all feel good for the 1st time in a long time. But as the Great Bear Bryant once said "act like you have been here before"
Keeping it Real
Go Vols!!!
murrayvol writes:
If my memory serves me, 16-14 UGA.
gaj619 writes:
I heard the NCAA is looking at game film and there may be sanctions for putting a Crompton mask on Peyton(lol). Seriously, great game JC and all of you young men. Keep it up. I live in Georgia and it is going to be fun for the next year(s). And as an aside, JA is pathetic. We need Mark Widmer from Chattanooga Times Free Press.
panavol writes:
WHERE IS "DAMAN"???
GREAT GAME VOLS!
tractoronthepole writes:
The CTFP has more good writers than the KNS and The Tennesseean now. The Tennessean used to have great writers but they have gotten too old to write. If you go to their website it only has articles from other sites.
tractoronthepole writes:
DAMan is suffering from little man complex, but you should know he is sweating it out watching his gaturds play LSU.
tractoronthepole writes:
On a real note, Adams really shows he is classless with the Hill Dogs comments. KNS are you that classless? I have always respected the KNS but it seems you allow anything now. Georgia has been a respected rival for some time with class fans. Now if you were talking about Alababbuba or Florida maybe I would understand the freehanded comments.
UTByrd writes:
We still need to be patient. CLK is coaching for the future. This year is the laying of the foundation and he's going to do like the smart little piggie and build his house out of brick.
He could have come out of his game plan in order to try to win some of the previous games, which, in essence, would weaken the foundation.
With all the mistakes this year, I am still excited as can be with what I've seen so far.
Patience.
Go VOLS!!!!!
DannyVol writes:
Amen. This is a classless and talentless hack who revels in UT's defeats and dismisses UT's victories by berating the opponent. He should not be writing about Volunteer football because, quite simply, he hates it. He should not be an editor because, quite simply, he is talentless.
rootin4volz writes:
Georgia 16-Tennessee 14. What a Bozo that Adams is, eh?
Salpointe writes:
That's a bizarre way of putting it - having fun at another program's expense. The fun is being able to execute an offensive and defensive plan the way they are designed; scoring points and preventing the other team from scoring - that's my idea of having fun; not simply enjoying the fact that another team didn't perform as well as they otherwise would have. John, where is your sense respect for another team's program and effort that they put into it?
crimsonviper writes:
Your memory serves you well,Too bad John Adams won't serve the Vol's interests occasionally.
blitzshoot writes:
Congrats to Vols and coaches. I liked Kiffin's
"all business' attitude after the game. No celebration. Letting players know this is suppose
to happen, why celebrate. The huddle on the field in the fourth was unbelievable! The Vols will take some more hits and pitfalls later in the season, but things will only get better over the long haul. It's nice to soak this one in and I would not want to be in Athens today.
OrangePride writes:
You're killin' me Doctor, killin' me! LOLOL. That's the funniest post on here today!
blitzshoot writes:
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/1...#
madcow26#524674 writes:
man..hard to predict this team.. great win! time to change the forecast...cloudy with a chance of sunshine...6-6 , now becomes 7-5 and possibly 8-4. I just dont think that there is any way they can win out with road games at alabama and miss...I hope you can vols...
VolunteerLifer writes:
Well, Adams, you finally got your wish after all of these weeks: Nick Stephens did get into the game. Happy, now?
By the way, has anyone seen smokeybones lately?
Noiseboy writes:
KNS. I would like to suggest removal of this entire article, and it's author. Never have I read a staff writer calling a long standing rival such crass slurs. John Adams has morphed into the exact stereotype UT fan that other schools love to hate. "Fire the coach; Bench the quarterback; OK you beat us, barely, but we suck." And when your team (it is YOUR team, isn't it Mr Adams?) puts a smack down on said long standing rival, you resort to adolescent name calling? Where'd you learn journalism John, working on Cas Walker's Watchdog?
This program doesn't need your insight or your comments, and I can't understand why KNS thinks it does.
Pathetic...
KptVol writes:
I Read this somewhere and thought it was hilarious:
"If Obama can win the Nobel, Crompton can win the Heisman"
After Friday's announcement and Saturday's game, why not?
volsgirl writes:
Yes sir .... leave right now....Go Vols
volsgirl writes:
Hey Adams some one from banma want to know how you prediction on the score? can he move to bama with you? for free.....
DragonSlayer123 writes:
Thats exactly what I have been saying for weeks now, ReVolver. We need to trust in this coaching staff, because what they have accopmplished in the little time they have been here is nothing short of remarkable, and that should earn them some trust and patience from the fans.
Our spectacular win against GA doesnt necessarily mean we will run the table the rest of the way, but it does show that regardless of how bare the cupboard was, our coaching staff did have expectations of at least becoming bowl eligible and also to coach up whatever we had and make them into the best team it can possibly be. They KNOW what they are doing.
Now add the ingredients of the recruits that are being added, and what we get next year is a very potent team, capable of transforming this program within a couple of years into a championship caliber program, and then reloading every year.
I dont know Mike Hamilton well, nor am I saying that he should be praised for everything he does...but he should be praised for having the guts and the vision to hire Lane Kiffin as our head coach.
I am proud to be a Tennessee Vol, and that was difficult for the last few years.
Go Big Orange!
Lakedawg writes:
Several comments:
1. Congratulations on a well-played
game yesterday. Tennessee had the
better day and won.
2. I hope that nobody thinks that
yesterday's game will seriously
impact where the state of Georgia's
top HS talent chooses to go. Much
of that top talent goes to Georgia
because they grew up here, have
parents and family who are Georgia
fans, and Georgia football is part
of the ingrained culture here.
We will continue to get the big
majority of the Georgia players
that we want. Tennessee, SC, and
Auburn will get a few too, because
of SEC geography, and it's not a
big deal because our state produces
more good players than we can sign.
We recruit your state well too.
3. Lane Kiffin's statement that
"Georgia will never beat Tennessee
while I'm at Tennessee" will come
back to haunt him. It means
nothing because what L. Kiffin says
means nothing. It will be just as
accurate as his recent statement
about "singing Rocky Top all night
long after beating Florida this
year" was. That statement didn't
work out too well, did it ? And
neither will yesterday's. We've
won a LOT more football games,
championships, and bowls than
your team has over the last 10
years...but we do appreciate the
bulletin-board material.
4. Your head coach has a
well-documented problem with
telling the truth and proper
respect. The "Urban Meyer cheated"
thing. The "South Carolina players
become gas station attendants"
thing. The insult of an entire
Florida town. Spurrier's recruiting
test. The issue at the airport.
Etc Etc Etc. My point is,
recruiting takes place not just
in winning games but primarily in
Mama and Daddy's living room. If
you think that the dishonesty and
disrespect above is going to play
well to the parents and family
in Georgia living rooms, you are
sadly mistaken....all of the above
had a lot of media play here. I've
seen the recruiting process, as my
son plays college baseball, and I
can tell you for sure that I'd
never have let him play for someone
like Lane Kiffin. Most good
families want their son playing for
someone with personal integrity.
Say what you want about "having to
get Tennessee's name out there"
....that's BS, and it also sounds
pretty desperate. It's nothing
more than unethical behavior
followed by spin control. Lying is
still lying, whatever the purpose.
I'm thankful that Georgia has a
head coach with integrity.
Have no fear....we won't be down for
long. Enjoy yesterday's victory while
you can ! When the payback comes,
y'all will be "having some serious
fun with us", right ?
All_Vol_in_GA writes:
Not a bad post, Lakedawg, but please allow me to respond:
First, what do you really know about Lane Kiffin? Have you ever met the man, sat with him, had a conversation with him? I would imagine that your only interaction with him has been filtered through the media (and primarily the Georgia media at that). Perhaps you shouldn't openly criticize and condemn a man that you've never met. A real person of integrity wouldn't do such a thing.
Second, Phil Fulmer was a fine head coach with a solid Tennessee background and from all indications was a man of character and integrity. In the arena of SEC football however, the game had passed him by. After years of going out of our way to never insult nor arouse an opponent, it's a bit refreshing to have someone who speaks his mind, inspires confidence, and sets tremendous expectations, even if it does ruffle a few feathers.
Finally, all of the talent that lands at an SEC school does not come from "good families" who "want their son playing for someone of personal integrity;" some of them want their son to play for a winner, a leader, and a mentor. Some of them understand that there's a place for Sunday School lessons, and there's a place for SEC football. More often than not, that's not the same place.
Mark Richt is a good man, from all that I can tell, but the current GA program reminds me a lot of what Tennessee went through for a few painful years before a change was finally made. I hope that's not the case for the Dawgs, because if yesterday was any indication, I would like for coaches Richt, Bobo, and Martinez to stay at GA for a long, long, long time.
Please stay the course, don't change a thing, and we'll see you in Athens next year.
gess9287#1374890 writes:
Adam, Let me be the first to congratulate Tenn on its victory on Saturday over Georgia. A well deserved win I admit. I must however take offense to your unsportsmanlike ridicule. Adam, It's one thing to talk a little smack, however it's completely another when the lips "spewing" forth are coming from ones crack. If you win enjoy it, if you lose be man enough to take it. Forget the rest of it and move on.
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