Sunday rest? Vols move on

Tennessee didn't have time to dwell on the heartbreak.

Lane Kiffin put the Vols back to work immediately.

After coming up just one play short of a huge comeback and upset at then-No. 1 Alabama on Saturday, the coach scrapped his old schedule and put the Vols on the practice field on a Sunday for the first time this season. The move might not have been specifically in response to their brutal 12-10 loss, but it obviously didn't hurt them to have something else to think about on what would typically be a day off.

"That's kind of what you have to do," left tackle Chris Scott said. "That was a tough game, we're not really excited with the outcome, but we have another SEC game this week and it's one that we have to get focused on. We just have to move on.

"It was such a tough game, so today's a good day to get it out of the way and get the questions out of the way and move on."

The Vols (3-4, 1-3 SEC) have already turned their attention to another ranked opponent, and they didn't waste anytime starting to prepare for No. 21 South Carolina (6-2, 3-2) on Saturday (TV: ESPN, 7:45 p.m.)

But UT also was able to put itself under the microscope more quickly thanks to the early workday, and other than its field-goal protection unit, there was plenty there to like and for Kiffin to highlight.

"I think instead of sitting around waiting for it they're in here getting ready, getting the film, getting the corrections done and we're able to move on," Kiffin said. "They get to see this is how close they were to beating the No. 1 team. It creates a lot of confidence.

"This was a heck of a game - a battle. I think if I would have sat here and told you guys last Friday we are going to score a touchdown, they are not going to score one at all and we are both going to kick four field goals - I think you would have felt pretty good about our chances to win. You have to point those things out to them and show them how much the little things matter. . . . They need to see what is going on and they need to see that their hard work is paying off."

The Vols hardly seemed to mind the chance to come back and do more with the Gamecocks coming to town this weekend, and they'll have the same opportunity for the rest of the season.

Kiffin used to stress a 24-hour rule to enjoy a victory or get over a loss, but the Vols didn't even have a full day to soak in what went down on Saturday before their next light workout. And that approach isn't expected to change after a first-half trial with Sundays off didn't give UT exactly what it wanted.

"We put so much on our kids and are so demanding of them, instead of having Sunday being their day off, I thought we'd come out here and practice, get it out," Kiffin said. "I've been around both systems of doing it, and it was just such a long wait. As coaches we're in here early getting everything done Sunday, then we wait all the way until Monday to rehash it with them.

"I'd rather get it out of the way, and then as a staff we get to move on to the next game and have a lot more time to prepare."

In theory, the players will be spending less time worrying about Alabama this week as well, and the timing couldn't have been better.

The Vols are turning the page and getting rid of one Kiffin brought with him from Southern California's playbook.

"I wanted to look at both ways having been around both," he said. "At (USC) we did it the way we were doing it for the first six games, but we also won every game, so it was a lot better because you were rehashing a win.

"It's a little bit different when you have to wait 24 hours to rehash a loss. We'll start winning, we'll also move it up."

The Vols also are already moving on.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!