UT Vols Football

4 Bold Predictions for Volunteers in SEC This Year

2011-09-09T13:55:00.002-04:00

1. The Vols haven't beaten Florida since 2004 and haven't won in the Swamp since Casey Clausen was at quarterback in 2003.

However, this year that will all change.

Florida is a team in transition under coach Will Muschamp. Tennessee will be the new regime's first test, and Tyler Bray and company will be more than ready to spring the upset.

2. Tennessee will be ranked for the first time since 2008 and undefeated when LSU comes calling to Neyland Stadium.

Not willing to predict a win over the Bayou Bengals just yet even though a much weaker Tennessee team gave them all they could handle last year in Baton Rouge.

The Vols will be coming off a wins over Buffalo and Georgia and will be in position to make a run at the SEC East title.

3. The former elite-11 prospect Tyler Bray now has over a year of tutelage under Drew Brees former college offense coordinator, Jim Chaney, and it will show this year as his big arm will be able to often find a duo of very talented wide receivers, Justin Hunter and DaRick Rogers.

Also, protected by a much improved offensive line, Bray will have much time to dissect defenses.

4. You heard it here first. South Carolina may be the odds on favorites and most talented team in the East, but things have a funny way of shaking out sometimes in the SEC.

No team is immune to an upset, and the Vols have backed their way into an SEC Championship appearance before.

Also, second-year SEC coaches are on a heck of a run right now, no reason why it will stop.

UT: Tyler Bray in the saddle

2011-08-29T10:21:00.003-04:00

Tyler Bray remembers the last pass he threw in a real game very well.

“I can pretty much tell you the whole play,” the University of Tennessee quarterback said of his game-sealing interception against North Carolina in the Music City Bowl last December.

“It’s play-action pass. I have [fullback Channing] Fugate out in the flat. [Receivers] Gerald [Jones] and [Denarius Moore] are coming on the backside. And I threw it right to No. 52.

“I try to forget and move on, but that game and that play is hard to forget.”

As hard as that particular play was for Bray to forget, it’s probably harder for anybody to forget what he did in getting the Vols to that game. As a freshman, Bray entered UT’s game at South Carolina in the third quarter last October and promptly tossed a pass right to Devin Taylor for the easiest touchdown of the Gamecocks defensive end’s career.

Bray bounced back with two scoring throws to keep the Vols in the South Carolina game, and he flourished from there, feasting on the easier part of the Vols’ schedule by throwing 16 touchdown passes in five games.

His physical gifts are obvious, but the story with Bray over the course of spring practice, summer workouts and preseason camp in August has always been about the mental part of his game. Improving his consistency, maturity and leadership skills and investment to reaching his potential are atop his to-do list.

“He’s asking a lot better questions,” offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said. “I think he’s had a good summer in throwing the football and trying to learn as a quarterback.” “You earn the respect to be a leader, to me, based on your level of commitment to the program,” coach Derek Dooley said. “People have a hard time respecting somebody if they don’t see them committed to doing everything they can to help us win. I think he’s proving that to our team. It’s a work in progress.”

That progress hit a snag in the Vols’ first August scrimmage, when Bray struggled with the tempo and command of the offense. He bounced back with a better second scrimmage, but his completion rate (45 percent) in UT’s two evaluation scrimmages was troubling.

UT’s coaches have put a lot on Bray throughout the entire offseason, and Dooley has noted that the staff has to help Bray by not putting too much on the quarterback and negatively affecting his ability to make big plays. “We’re starting to get an understanding of when we’re pushing too much because we don’t want to get him uncomfortable,” Dooley said. “I wish Tyler would get a little more consistent in his approach. That comes with maturity.”

The consistency and maturity the Vols are hoping for from their quarterback can come only with time and experience. Bray won’t be a secret to opposing defensive coordinators anymore, and stout defenses at Florida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina and Arkansas await.

First, however, Bray would probably just prefer to have a different last pass to remember.

“He knows where we have to be as an offense,” senior tailback Tauren Poole said. “He knows that we need him to be on top of his game to be a good offense. We’re definitely making strides, and him being a great leader like he is definitely has to come along. He’s only a sophomore [and] still a young one, but we need him to step up.”

Tennessee Volunteers Football: Final Predictions for the 2011 Season

2011-08-26T11:41:00.003-04:00

Tennessee Volunteers will go 8-4 in the 2011 regular season.

I'm not one of those guys who thinks the Vols will make the SEC Championship each year, either. I call it like I see it. For instance,the Titans will not win more than five games this year.

The team is young and thin at a few positions, but you simply can't look past how tremendous this offense will be. Tennessee could win games just getting Tyler Bray and Justin Hunter connected.

Just imagine what they'll do with Tauren Poole, Da'Rick Rogers and that great offensive line.

Prentiss Waggner lays claim to starting position at UT

2011-08-22T10:13:00.002-04:00

Amid the competition for the University of Tennessee's two cornerbacks spots, Prentiss Waggner has risen somewhat quietly to the top. The junior ball-hawk has enough versatility that the Volunteers could play him at any of its three secondary positions, but Waggner has found a spot.

"I know the playbook in and out," Waggner said after Saturday afternoon's scrimmage at Neyland Stadium. "I know the linebackers and D-ends, basically the whole defense. I'm comfortable wherever they put me."

With the Vols' preseason camp drawing to a close on Wednesday, Waggner has found a home at one cornerback, with junior Marsalis Teague and true freshman Justin Coleman fighting it out for the other spot. Junior college transfer Izauea Lanier also figures to fit into the rotation as the Vols plan to play a handful of defensive backs and use their five-defensive back nickel package a majority of the time.

Each of UT's cornerbacks has a unique attribute that makes them different. Teague was the Vols' best player there last year despite battling a nagging turf toe injury most of the latter half of the season, Coleman's physicality and competitiveness have impressed the Vols' coaches since his arrival on campus in January and the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Lanier has the staff's ideal size for the position.

Waggner, though, has the experience, instincts and playmaking ability -- he took three interceptions back for touchdowns last season -- to go along with his production this month.

"He's pretty settled at corner right now," coach Derek Dooley said. "I think he's been our most consistent corner. He's still got that ability to go to safety if something happens or just depending on who we play. Prentiss has been playing the best, most consistent out there."

The Vols have liked Coleman since the four-star recruit out of Brunswick, Ga., showed up to a camp last summer and battled receiver DeAnthony Arnett, who would eventually join him at UT, in one-on-one drills.

"They went every time, DeAnthony would win three and Justin would win one, but I mean they went like 30 times in a row," secondary coach and recruiting coordinator Terry Joseph recalled last week. "Justin Coleman not one time said, 'I'm tired, give me some water.' He just said, 'Let's go, line up again, line up again.'

"We knew his competitive character, and that's what really was the deal-closer for us, was that this guy, he's one of our guys. That's made us take him and offer him [a scholarship] and get him. Obviously he's proven so far that we were right."

The 5-10, 183-pound freshman was a surprise during spring practice, and he's brought the competitive nature he showed at the camp as a high school senior with him to UT.

"That's the No. 1 thing I like about the guy," defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said last week. "He is extremely competitive, and if he gets beat, he lines right back up and wants to play again. Playing corner, that's the No. 1 thing. That's huge, so he's continued to show that he's a willing tackler, he's a physical guy, he can run and I expect Justin to get better really fast.

"We're going to push him, and he knows that we're holding him high expectations, but that's the way it's got to be for him."

That may not translate into Coleman starting ahead of Teague, who's proven his ability, and Lanier, who continues to progress after his late start in the race in terms of experience and comfort with UT's defense. As Teague put it, the corner's focus is on individual improvement rather than the competition from their teammates.

"We're not really worried about the depth chart," he said. "We just kind of go in when the coach calls us. There's some days where there's a different person in there. We're not really worried about that, we're just focusing on getting better every day."

Dooley said after two practices last week he was looking for more from his cornerbacks, and later in the week he gave his preferences for the position.

"You've certainly got to have a level of size and speed to hold up, you've got to have some instincts, and then you've got to have a little playmaking ability, meaning if the ball's in the air and you're there, you've got to make the play," he said. "You're going to get beat some. They're going to catch some balls, but you've got to have a little playmaking ability."

Which is probably why Waggner sits atop the race less than two weeks before UT's season opener.

"I'm still out there floating around, from corner to nickel to safety," he said. "I'm just out there having fun."

Vols' defense starting to show development

2011-08-15T10:40:00.000-04:00

Tennessee's defensive players gathered in the film room before Saturday's scrimmage to watch a highlight reel of all the unit's big plays of previous years.

When they walked off the field at Neyland Stadium, they left with the assurance that they at least weren't on the wrong end of any plays that would motivate the offense in the future.

Outside of a deep catch by freshman DeAnthony Arnett that was called back for offensive pass interference, the Vols' secondary largely prevented Tyler Bray and the rest of UT's passing game from finding much success with the deep ball Saturday. Freshman Tom Smith had the game's longest run, a 22-yarder, but he didn't find the end zone.

It was a performance that fell short of matching Tuesday's lock-down effort, but was one that coach Derek Dooley said would allow him to enter the film room today with an optimistic vibe.

"The offense made a few plays and we missed a few fits here and there," junior Prentiss Waggner said. "When it comes down to it, coaches always talk about bend but don't break when we get in the end zone and just force field goals. I think we did that today."

The defense surrendered just two touchdowns — a 4-yard catch by Da'Rick Rogers and an 18-yard grab by Matt Milton — while allowing five field goals. The unit, though, was on the field for long periods of time, allowing drives of nine plays, two of eight plays and one of seven plays.

Tauren Poole mocks Tyler Bray's "little bitty arm."

2011-08-08T09:56:00.000-04:00

Is there a personality problem at Tennessee? Or is there just a senior whose mouth is moving faster than his brain? Vols' senior tailback Tauren Poole gave the Chattanooga Times-Free Press one doozy of a quote regarding his team's star quarterback.

"We definitely need the running game to win games," senior tailback Tauren Poole said. "We can't rely only on Tyler's little bitty arm to throw the ball every single play, even though he's talented enough. We're going to need to run the football."

"Tiny little arm?" that "tiny little arm" has done more than enough to give Tennessee fans hope that the dog days on Rocky Top are over there. Meanwhile, Poole's stats from last year are a little more up and down.

"Though the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Poole was one of just six players in the league to break the 1,000-yard mark and had solid games against Oregon (162 yards), LSU (109) and Alabama (117), he had his struggles. He rushed for a combined 96 yards in losses to Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina."

It sounds like Poole is going to definitely run more than his mouth this season.

Tennessee Vols Ready for Dooley’s Second Season

2011-08-01T11:28:00.002-04:00

Our countdown heads to Rocky Top, where Tennessee will begin the second season of the Derek Dooley era. The Vols won their last four regular-season games after a slow start. Can they build on that in 2011?

2010 Record: 6-7

2010 Skinny: The Vols started the season at 2-6, including a non-conference loss to Oregon and their first six SEC games. They also narrowly avoided a 1-7 start by beating UAB in double overtime. But November was a different story for Tennessee, which won all four of its games in the regular season’s final month. Yes, it beat up on lowly in-state rivals Memphis and Vanderbilt, as well as struggling Ole Miss and Kentucky, but the Vols were sparked by a quarterback change. Matt Simms was replaced by Tyler Bray, and the improvement was noticeable. The season ended with a crushing double-overtime loss to North Carolina in the Music City Bowl.

Returning Starters: 13

Coach: Derek Dooley (second season, 6-7)

Key Players: DT Malik Jackson, CB Prentiss Waggner, RB Tauren Poole

2011 Schedule:

Sept. 3 vs. Montana
Sept. 10 vs. Cincinnati
Sept. 17 @ Florida
Oct. 1 vs. Buffalo
Oct. 8 vs. Georgia
Oct. 15 vs. LSU
Oct. 22 @ Alabama
Oct. 29 vs. South Carolina
Nov. 5 vs. Middle Tennessee
Nov. 12 @ Arkansas
Nov. 19 vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 26 @ Kentucky

Anthony’s Take: Bray returns for his sophomore season, which should see some fine development after he took over for Simms as a freshman. The Vols also return Poole, a 1,000-yard rusher. The offense will be fine. LB Nick Reivez, a team leader, is gone, and the team already finished 10th in SEC in total defense. As always, the Vols’ SEC slate will be tough. And this year, they will make trips to Florida, Alabama and Arkansas. Oof. I know that logic dictates this team’s bump up to eight wins in Dooley’s second year, but something tells me it’s going to be the status quo in Knoxville.

Jim’s Take: The offense returns a lot of talent at the skill positions and getting safety Janzen Jackson back after he left school for awhile is huge. This is a talented team. You can’t really blame Tennessee for that cakewalk nonconference schedule when you have a Murderer’s Row of an SEC slate. The Vols will likely be underdogs in all but two SEC contests. But with four easy nonconference games and contests against Kentucky and Vanderbilt to end the season, UT only needs one upset to reach seven regular season wins. I see them doing that and winning a bowl game to show progress in year two.

Tennessee Football: Things Looking Up

2011-07-29T09:11:00.000-04:00

Tennessee natives know that when someone says Tennessee football they don’t mean the Titans. University of Tennessee football has claimed six national titles and 16 SEC titles over the years, but now they’re better known as an underdog team who can beat the best or the SEC’s biggest pushover on any given day.

Right now most major fans are clinging to tradition and of course, Peyton Manning and their post-Manning championship season. With Lane Kiffins’s terrible contribution to the Vols in his less than one year coaching, it’s hard to imagine them being restored to their former glory.

The University of Tennessee has placed a two-year probation on both its football and basketball programs in an attempt to offset any advantages the programs may have gained through their illegal actions, and punish the coaches without hurting players. Half of new head coach Derek Cooley’s coaching staff will not be allowed to make recruiting phone calls during the 2011 recruitment season, and their 2011 spring recruiting says have been reduced from 168 to 162. Despite everything that the program will be going through, things are looking up.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray stepped up at the end of his freshman season and was an instant success in Tennessee’s lackluster passing game. While there’s no one in the game now who could fill Peyton Manning’s shoes, Tyler Bray is a vast improvement over what Tennessee has endured since Manning’s departure and the fall of Coach Phillip Fulmer. Finishing his rookie season with a quarterback rating of 142.73 and a great performance against North Carolina in the Music City Bowl, Tyler Bray has a lot of momentum and backing from fans going into his sophomore year; he should prove to be one of the best players Tennessee has seen in a long time.

The real key to Tennessee’s success will be its offensive line. Though lackluster last season, they were young. In 2011, Tennessee will be going into the season without a single freshman starting on the offensive line, giving talented running back Tauren Poole and Bray a chance to shine.

The real question when it comes to Tennessee’s offense is their wide receivers. The Vols graduated three of their top wide receivers last season, leaving only Justin Hunter as a returning receiver. However, the Vols managed to pick up two top wide receiver recruits out of high school in DeAnthony Arnett and Da’Rick Rogers, and they could help the Vols keep up the pace on offence, or just drop the ball completely, you never know with freshmen. But that’s Volunteer football: completely unpredictable.

'On the same page'

2011-07-25T10:26:00.002-04:00

In his first 18 months on campus, Tennessee head man Derek Dooley and his staff have made some significant strides:

- They've healed a team psyche that was alarmingly fragile after predecessor Lane Kiffin bolted for Southern Cal.

- They've unified a fractured fan base.

- They've upgraded a depleted roster.

- They've restored some stability to a program that endured two head coaching changes within 15 months.

So, what does Dooley consider the most significant accomplishment of his Tennessee staff's first 18 months on the job?

"I think the biggest thing was the continuity that we had when we turned the clock and ended the season," Dooley said. "We were able to really clean up how we’re doing things, where we’re headed and effectively communicate it to the players. That’s a hard thing to do when you have nine new coaches and inherit a new team as late as we did.

"I just feel like we’re all on the same page. There’s not a lot of misunderstanding of how things are going to be done and what we expect. I think that’s been healthy for the organization."

Games are won in the fall but championships are won in the offseason. Dooley is impressed with the enthusiasm and diligence his players are showing this summer.

Little but lethal

2011-07-22T09:13:00.002-04:00

Veteran Vol fans surely remember Terence Cleveland, a pint-sized receiver from Sweetwater who averaged a whopping 17.1 yards per catch as a four-year letterman at Tennessee from 1986 through '89.

Now there's another diminutive wideout from the same area on the Big Orange radar. That would be Tre Herndon, a 5-10, 161-pounder from East Hamilton High of Chattanooga. Though only a rising sophomore, he showed advanced enough skills at Tennessee's June camp to earn the Most Improved Receiver Award.

His pride was obvious as he grasped the trophy.

"I feel good, excited," he said.

Herndon said he liked "everything" about the UT camp, adding: "I learned a lot. The coaches were great and everything else was good."

The young receiver seemed almost a little awed by Vol head coach Derek Dooley.

"I shook his hand," Herndon noted. "He's a nice guy. I like him."

Like most of the prospects who visit Tennessee's campus, Herndon was blown away by the sheer size of Neyland Stadium, along with the Haslam Practice Field, the Neyland-Thompson Indoor Football Complex, the spacious strength and conditioning area and the Gibbs Hall dormitory.

"The facilities are great," the young man said, nearly gushing. "The dorms are great. I liked the indoor and outdoor fields."

In addition to Tennessee, Herndon says he's interested in Florida State and Florida, adding: "I'm originally from Detroit, so I like Michigan, too."

Although he still has three high school seasons to play before signing a college scholarship, Herndon already knows the key attributes he's looking for in a football program.

"A good facility," he said, "with good coaches where I can learn."

So here is a prospect that we'll be a good addition tot the UT Vols !

Tauren Poole, Tyler Bray named to Walker, O’Brien watch lists

2011-07-18T08:49:00.005-04:00

The Tennessee offense was totally passed over by conference coaches.

One day later, two of its leading playmakers earned some attention from folks around the country.

Both quarterback Tyler Bray and running back Tauren Poole were among the many Vols not to earn a spot on the preseason All-SEC teams as voted on by the coaches on Thursday, but Friday morning both were confirmed as potential candidates for much bigger awards.

Bray, on the heels of his breakout finish to his freshman season, was tabbed for the Davey O'Brien Award watch list, an honor that goes annually to the nation's top quarterback.

Poole was one of eight rushers from the SEC named to the list for the Doak Walker Award, surely part of the reason the senior missed out on a preseason slot on the coaches team given the crowded backfield in the league.

Both Bray and Poole had already earned spots on the list for the Maxwell Award, which goes to college football's most outstanding player.

Vol great speaks to support Bristol Youth Leadership

2011-07-15T10:39:00.002-04:00

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback legend Condredge Holloway said Thursday that the university’s football program can withstand a current investigation into alleged recruiting violations and grow stronger from it.

“We’re going to change the culture a little bit and get things back,” Holloway, now a UT assistant athletic director, told some 100 people during a Bristol Chamber of Chamber breakfast at King College. “This is Tennessee, we’re not going anywhere. We’ll survive this little bump and go on.”

The UT football program is waiting to hear from the National Collegiate Athletic Association whether it will face NCAA punishment for alleged infractions that reportedly occurred while Lane Kiffin was Vols head coach. Kiffin left UT after the 2009 season: he’s now head coach at the University of Southern California.

“We’re not in the best of times right now, but we’ll be back,” Holloway said. “We’re going through a few changes that you have to [go through].”

Holloway – the first black quarterback in both Tennessee and Southeastern Conference history – made his remarks during an appearance to promote the Bristol Youth Leadership program, which helps area high school students become active in the community.

As an athlete at UT from 1972 to 1974, Holloway, now 57, led the football team to three bowl appearances and won 69 percent of his starts at quarterback – in addition to being an All-American baseball player for Tennessee. After leaving school, Holloway became a legendary quarterback in the Canadian Football League, playing 13 seasons and winning induction into the CFL Hall of Fame.

During his casual, often humorous talk, Holloway said he became devoted to sports when, after attending an integrated elementary school in Alabama during the early 1960s, many of his longtime white friends felt peer pressure to cut ties with him in high school.

“They had to choose sides,” Holloway said of his former friends. “I don’t think I ever got over that. In fact, I still don’t think I have. But I decided to put all of my energy into sports and not get involved in all that. I just said, ‘If you want to be around me, be out with me on the field.’”

Holloway , who works with both current and former Vols in his current assistant AD role, joked that he often gives today’s UT athletes the same advice he followed as a star player. “There’s not many [public] places you need to be in by yourself at midnight,” he said with a laugh.

The modest Holloway also poked fun at his famed nickname as a UT quarterback – the artful dodger – by noting that it stemmed from him having to constantly flee for his life from unblocked opponents.

“If everybody is blocked, you don’t have to run around like I did,” Holloway said with a laugh. “[The nickname] isn’t one I wanted to give myself.”

Holloway praised the Bristol Youth Leadership program and applauded the chamber and local businesses for supporting it.

“It’s good to see everyone is on board with what it’s doing,” Holloway said of the leadership program.

Earlier this year, ESPN aired “The Color Orange,” a documentary on Holloway’s historic UT football career. It was narrated by country music star Kenny Chesney, who was also the documentary’s executive producer.

Prentiss Waggner named to Thorpe Award watch list

2011-07-12T10:13:00.003-04:00

The preseason accolades continue to roll in for Tennessee cornerback Prentiss Waggner.

Waggner, the junior defensive back, was one of 37 players across the country named to the Thorpe Award watch list Monday. The Thorpe Award is given annually to the nation's top defensive back.

So far, Waggner has been named to four preseason watch lists. In the spring, he was placed on the Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list and, last week, received similar recognition from the Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski award committees.

Waggner, after moving from safety to cornerback, finished 2010 tied for third in the SEC and 15th in the nation with five interceptions. His three interception returns for a touchdown set a UT record. With Janzen Jackson set to return to the team at safety, Waggner, who played safety during the spring, could be back at cornerback in 2011.

Khalid Henderson commits to Tennessee

2011-07-08T12:03:00.001-04:00

Tennessee picked up its third verbal commitment for the class of 2012 on Wedensday when 6-foot-1, 210-pund linebacker Khalid Henderson committed to the Vols.

Henderson, from Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, GA, led is a three-year starter and led his team in tackles this past season.

“Coach Dooley was a little surprised when I committed,” Henderson told the AJC, who considers him one of Atlanta’s best kept secrets. “It was like he didn’t want to put pressure of me to commit. He asked me ‘What other camps do you plan on attending this summer?’ I told him probably Clemson, Georgia Tech and some others; Then I said ‘Coach, you don’t have to worry about that because you’ve got a Volunteer with me.’ He was really excited to hear that, congratulated me, and welcomed me to the Tennessee family.”

According to ESPN, Henderson registered an electronically-timed 4.69 40 and a 31.6-inch vertical at the Atlanta Nike Combine after his sophomore year.

The talented prospect was very impressive at a recent Tennessee camp and Derek Dooley obviously took notice.

Henderson has a total of 13 offers and joins Imani Cross and Corey Smith as current Tennessee commits.

UT Vols Football Tickets On Sale

2010-06-03T14:42:00.002-04:00

Tennessee Volunteers vs. Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 9/4/2010 TBD	view tickets
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Oregon Ducks	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 9/11/2010 TBD	view tickets
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Florida Gators	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 9/18/2010 TBD	view tickets
Tennessee Volunteers vs. UAB Blazers	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 9/25/2010 TBD	view tickets
LSU Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers	Tiger Stadium - Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA	Saturday 10/2/2010 7:00 PM	view tickets
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Tennessee Volunteers	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	Saturday 10/9/2010 TBD	view tickets
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 10/23/2010 TBD	view tickets
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Tennessee Volunteers	Williams-Brice Stadium Columbia, SC	Saturday 10/30/2010 TBD	view tickets
Memphis Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers	Liberty Bowl Stadium Memphis, TN	Saturday 11/6/2010 TBD	view tickets
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Mississippi Rebels	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 11/13/2010 TBD	view tickets
Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Tennessee Volunteers	Vanderbilt Stadium Nashville, TN	Saturday 11/20/2010 TBD	view tickets
Tennessee Volunteers vs. Kentucky Wildcats	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	Saturday 11/27/2010 TBD	view tickets

SEC has had its share of lively debates for years

2009-08-03T08:50:00.000-04:00

Thinking about what Tennessean columnist David Climer wrote recently, controversy amongst league members is nothing new. In fact, it has been a centerpiece of the vibrant history of SEC football since its austere beginnings in 1933.

During that time, there has been a goodly amount of sniping, good-natured and otherwise, among the member schools. It's all part of the ambience of SEC football.

Consider the 1963 Tennessee-Georgia Tech game. Georgia Tech was in its final year of membership in the SEC when it came to Knoxville on Oct. 12. Coached by former Tennessee quarterback Bobby Dodd (1928-30), the Yellow Jackets won easily, 23-6, over Jim McDonald's only Tennessee squad. Tech then left the league in a rules squabble in early 1964.

Late in the first half, Georgia Tech had scored on a "hide out" play, with receiver Ted Davis not returning to the huddle after an incomplete pass, choosing instead to go to a flanked position. Tech quarterback Billy Lothridge found him wide open for a touchdown to the south end, with Vol partisans crying, "Foul!"

When athletic director and former Vol Bob Woodruff complained to the media, Dodd responded by calling Woodruff "the worst public relations athletic director in the United States."

Just before the 1968 season, it was Tennessee and Georgia, mostly Georgia, clashing in the media over the advent of artificial turf.

During the summer of 1968, the verdant Shields-Watkins Field grass, the greensward on which Gene McEver, Bob Suffridge, Johnny Butler, Hank Lauricella, Bob Johnson, John Majors, and many others had created so many memories, was unceremoniously dug up and a green carpet laid down in its place.

Tom Siler reported Georgia was informed about the change by telegram June 17, with no one in the Georgia camp being reported amused.

"It's a radical move that should have been considered by the conference," Georgia AD Joel Eaves said. "Why didn't Tennessee bring this up when all of us met at Biloxi in May? We're thinking about voiding the contract. Maybe Tennessee can just put on an intrasquad game for the TV audience Sept. 14."

In the case of UT fans, Siler wrote that Vol fans "accepted the news stoically."

The game ended 17-17, one of the "classic ties" in Tennessee history.

Then there was the battle of SEC teams going to Auburn, with no one, save Georgia, wanting to make the trip. Alabama fought that battle especially hard. It was 1989 before Alabama made its first trip to Jordan-Hare Stadium, and they've played there every other year since 1991. There were those in the Alabama camp who said "Never," but the Tide came anyway.

After the city of Birmingham put down artificial turf on Legion Field in 1970, Auburn again made overtures to Tennessee about leaving Birmingham, suggesting Tiger "home games" in the series be played at Cliff Hare Stadium. That didn't happen initially until 1974, Auburn 21, Tennessee 0, and happened for good in 1980, Tennessee 42, Auburn 0.

There was serious conflict surrounding the 1972 game. Auburn had apparently scouted the Vols twice that season, a violation of SEC rules, with the Vols responding by wearing orange jerseys against the Tigers, also a violation of conference rules.

When the dust settled, Auburn knocked off heavily favored Tennessee, 10-6, in a major upset that really wasn't. Auburn finished 11-1, despite meager pre-season expectations, Tennessee 10-2.

LSU and Tennessee created some major brinksmanship in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana around the start of the football season. When it came time for the Tennessee-LSU game Sept. 24, with the aftermath of Katrina seen in all locales around Baton Rouge, LSU was insistent on playing that Saturday night.

With forecasts of bad weather and Tennessee officials understandably concerned about the safety of their team flying to Baton Rouge, there were forthright words in the media, both schools seemingly hardening their position. At one critical juncture, there were thoughts the game might not be played at all.

Reason prevailed, eventually, and the game was played Monday night, Sept. 26. The Vols flew to Baton Rouge earlier in the day, played the game, and flew home. There wasn't quite a full house at Tiger Stadium, but the game was a keeper.

LSU fans were eager for football after all the turmoil, and the Tigers on the field created excitement by bolting to a 21-0 halftime lead. Tennessee was down but not out, hanging around long enough to eventually send the game to overtime.

LSU scored first on a field goal, but the Vols won, 30-27, on a short run by Gerald Riggs, concluding a wild week.

With all this in mind, the "C" in "SEC" really stands for "Controversy."

There's certainly been a great deal of it over the past 76 years.

For Vols, Athletes in Action camp emphasizes competitive 'spirit'

2009-08-03T08:48:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday, Tennessee opens its preseason football camp, sure to be replete with grueling conditioning drills and hard-hitting practices and scrimmages in the stifling heat and humidity of Knoxville in August.

Those occasional two-a-day practices can leave the participants drained.

For four members of the Volunteers’ football team, though, they might not seem so bad.

After all, they’ve been through “The Special.”

Chris Walker, Chad Cunningham, Daniel Lincoln and Nick Reveiz participated in an Athletes in Action camp shortly after spring semester finals at Tennessee.

“I can say it was the best experience of my life,” Walker said.

Held on the campus of Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo., the event drew athletes from colleges and universities around the country.

“There were guys there from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wake Forest, Florida State, kickers, athletes, football players, track, volleyball, whatever,” Lincoln said.

“Being able to share things with other athletes about adversity or hardships they’ve faced, you learn a lot.”

The football quartet was part of an 18-person contingent from UT that included Lady Vols basketball players Angie Bjorklund and Alicia Manning.

“We were competing every day,” Walker said. “They wanted us to use our competitive spirit in our sport for God.”

None of those competitions was more grueling than “The Special,” a succession of races, games and competitions that lasted more than 18 consecutive hours.

“You didn’t eat or sleep during it,” Lincoln noted.

“The Special” included basketball, a swimming relay, ultimate Frisbee, calisthenics and other relay races.

Walker, recovering from knee surgery at the time, could not participate in the actual competition.

“I did everything with them. I ran around with them and did the obstacle course,” Walker said. “I was with them for the whole 18 hours that they were doing stuff.

“It just broke us down to the point that we couldn’t depend on anything on this earth and no words could help anybody,” the Vols’ defensive end added. “Leaning on God was the only thing that we could do. It broke a lot of people down.”

The weeklong camp also included a run up a mountain then back down.

“That mountain is so steep and the elevation was crazy,” Walker recalled.

The experience forged a bond among the four UT football players. According to Walker, it also put the game in perspective.

“It’s easy to get caught up in sport, period, and putting sport at the top of everything, just because that’s all we know,” he said. “Easily, football gets put on a pedestal above everything else.”

Especially in the Southeastern Conference.

And while the Vols have a figurative mountain to climb to return to their previous level of prominence, for these four campers, how hard can that be after successfully ascending an actual mountain?

UT needs to fight on with ol' SC for recruits

2009-08-03T08:47:00.000-04:00

As you might have noticed, Tennessee keeps bumping into Southern California on the recruiting trail. That's both a compliment and a challenge for UT.

USC has one of the greatest programs in college football, and you don't have to study ancient history to appreciate it. The Trojans haven't won fewer than 11 games since 2001 and won back-to-back national titles in 2003 and 2004.

So when UT shows up alongside USC on a five-star recruit's list of official visits, that's quite a compliment since the Vols have had two losing seasons in the last four years. But the challenge is just as obvious. How does a program with UT's recent track record beat out one of the nation's premier programs for the best players?

Answer: Become more like USC.

First-year UT head coach Lane Kiffin, a former offensive coordinator under Pete Carroll at USC, got the Vols headed in the right direction when he installed USC's offense this spring. The same quarterbacks and wide receivers who are attracted to USC's offense will be drawn to the Vols'. The most recent example: wide receiver Kyle Prater from Hillside, Ill., says he will take official visits to UT and USC this fall.

Prater might already be aware that the programs have more in common than offense. Southern California offers Hollywood, the Pacific Ocean and Rodeo Drive. East Tennessee offers Dollywood, Loudon Lake, and Parkside Drive.

The similarities don't have to end there, but it's incumbent on UT to adjust. After all, it's the one playing catch-up.

I realize that many fans become nervous when you start tinkering with tradition. As a traditionalist myself, I certainly wouldn't encourage a program to discontinue any tradition, unless, of course, that tradition repels recruits.

But the UT program also could benefit from adding a few traditions. And it wouldn't be that difficult.

For example, what's one more song? Rather than have the band play "Rocky Top" every five minutes at games, it could do so every 10 minutes. With those extra minutes, it could work in "Fight On," one of USC's school songs.

The beauty of that addition: You would have to change only two words. Instead, of "Fight on for ol' SC," (which appears twice in the song) UT fans would sing "Fight on for ol' UT." How simple would that be?

It would be just as simple to add a victory bell, which the winner of the USC-UCLA game keeps for a year. Since UT doesn't have a crosstown rival, it could make do with cross-state rival Vanderbilt.

Another welcome addition would be a jeweled shillelagh, which goes to the winner of the USC-Notre Dame game. UT doesn't have an intersectional rival quite as prominent as Notre Dame but it does have Memphis, which it plays occasionally.

Don't ask, "What does a shillelagh have to do with UT vs. Memphis?" If a recruit can see a shillelagh when he visits USC, you want him to see one when he visits UT.

You also want him to see a white horse.

Every time USC scores a touchdown at a home game, Traveler gallops around the Coliseum. It's one of the great traditions in college football and would have to be modified only slightly to accommodate UT.

You could replace the Trojan soldier aboard the horse with someone wearing a coonskin cap, then substitute a musket for the sword. The only other change would be the name. Traveler would become Rocky.

Think ahead to UT's homecoming game in November. As the Vols score a victory-clinching touchdown over Memphis - and the coveted shillelagh that goes with it - a Davy Crockett look-alike rides a majestic white horse around Neyland Stadium while the UT band plays the theme song from "Rocky."

Don't you get goosebumps just thinking about it?

Then, imagine what that would do for a recruit.

Five biggest questions facing UT Football

2009-08-03T08:46:00.000-04:00

With football players reporting to campus at the University of Tennessee on Monday. We at InsideTennessee.com decided to look at the five biggest questions facing this 2009 Football Team as fall camp and practice gets underway here Tuesday. Go inside this FREE READ to see if you agree with our take as Fall Camp gets underway.

With football players reporting to campus at the University of Tennessee on Monday. We at InsideTennessee.com decided to look at the five biggest questions facing this 2009 Football Team as fall camp and practice gets underway here Tuesday.

Lane Kiffin enters his first fall camp as the Head Coach of the Volunteers, the former Oakland Raider head man has provided a lot of energy and excitement on the Rocky Top during the spring and off season.

That leads into question No. 1.

Will Kiffin’s Volunteers be as exciting and energized on the field as they have been off the field the past seven months.

If so all Volunteer fans are in for an exciting ride.

The players have shown they have bought into the new coaching staff, a more disciplined team has shown improvement in the classroom this past semester.

“We are the most talked about football team in the country,” Kiffin admitted at the SEC Media Days. “That was our plan. Not a lot going on in the spring, we wanted every young man in the country thinking about the University of Tennessee.”

If Kiffin’s Vols provides as much excitement and energy on the field, things could be very interesting this fall at Neyland Stadium.

This Tennessee team has everyone’s attention, now it’s time to see what kind of football team Kiffin will put on the field.

That takes us to Question No. 2.

Who will be the starting quarterback against Western Kentucky and more importantly the rest of the season.

The answer might be two different ones.

Some expect Jonathan Crompton to be the starter coming out of football camp, not if junior Nick Stephens has anything to say about it. If Crompton is the starter going into Western Kentucky, the next question will be how short of rope will he have throughout the season.

Will Stephens overtake from the start of camp or will take him a few weeks to do it, I guess you can that question 2 A.

You can’t have a successful quarterback without a solid wide receiving corp. That takes us to question No. 3.

How will the Volunteers cope with the early injuries of at least three key wide outs this summer?

Who will step up and provide the needed spark for whoever is quarterbacking to be successful?

Question No. 4 leads into the next important phase of the offense.

Everyone is expecting Tennessee to have a solid running game, the Vols did indeed sign the overall No. 1 player in the nation in Bryce Brown. Will Brown start the season opener, how much playing time will he get this fall. All important questions facing this team this fall.

Question No. 5, we have to leave one for the defense.

Yes everyone is aware of the dream team defensive staff that Lane Kiffin has assembled.

The key question will be how Monte Kiffin and staff be able to parlay their knowledge into this group of defenders. There is a lot of talent at several positions, but there also are a few key holes, especially at the linebacker position.

“Our ones will match up with the best of them on the defensive side of the ball,” Kiffin said in an earlier interview.”

So lets hope for no injuries because depth on the defensive side of the ball is definitely a question mark.

Offensive linemen Fulton, Pair commit to play for Vols

2009-07-01T09:45:00.002-04:00

Offensive linemen Zach Fulton and Marques Pair committed to University of Tennessee football coaches Monday afternoon, becoming the Volunteers' 10th and 11th public pledges for 2010.

Fulton, a 6-foot-5, 305-pounder from Homewood-Flossmoor High School near Chicago, is rated by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 21 guard prospect. Many Big Ten conference programs and Notre Dame have recruited him, but his only other confirmed scholarship offers so far were from Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota.

Pair, a 6-6, 255-pounder from Sumter (S.C.) High, just recently started getting major program interest. Southeastern and Atlantic Coast Conference schools have been recruiting him, but UT was the only one known to make a scholarship offer.

Fulton and Pair are the third and fourth offensive players committed to the Vols for 2010, joining Kentucky fullback Channing Fugate and Miami offensive lineman Jose Jose.

Four of Tennessee's five projected starters for 2009 are seniors: left tackle Chris Scott, center Josh McNeil and guards Vlad Richard and Jacques McClendon.

"I feel great; it's a big weight off my back," Fulton told Scout.com. "I felt there was no point in waiting anymore.

"There's not any place whose facilities can match Tennessee's. There was no competition, as far as camp, academics and everything else. Everything went right."

Fulton left a UT camp four weeks ago with an offer after consistently impressing scouts and coaches. Some said he was the top lineman at the camp, which included several of the nation's top line prospects -- including Nashville's James Stone, Rivals' No. 36 overall prospect and No. 4 offensive tackle.

Pair also turned heads at that camp, according to several analysts who were present that day.

"Probably the best overall day on the offensive line was Zach Fulton's," Rivals analyst Barton Simmons said then. "He really looked good playing left guard most of the day. He really showed great strength and a great initial punch (against) the pass rush. Really, it was just a complete effort by Fulton, a guy who really saw his stock rise a lot."

The Vols are recruiting several prospects in Illinois. Most notably, they have been battling dozens of big programs for wide receiver Kyle Prater of Hillside Proviso West -- another Chicagoland school.

Prater, a 6-5, 205-pounder, is rated by Rivals as the nation's No. 3 receiver and No. 19 overall prospect.

Tennessee and several other Bowl Championship Series programs have made offers to 6-6 receiver Matt Milton from Mascoutah, Ill., near St. Louis.

Vols land 13-year-old

2009-07-01T09:43:00.000-04:00

James Berry’s kids always have been precocious. But committing to a college football program in middle school?

Evan Berry, the 13-year-old brother of Tennessee All-America safety Eric Berry, told Rivals.com he has committed to the Volunteers. Schools can’t offer scholarships until a prospect’s junior year of high school, but that didn’t stop Evan, who will be an eighth-grader this fall at Bear Creek Middle School in Fairburn.

“He loves being at Tennessee [for practices and games],” said James Berry, who played running back for the Vols in the late 1970s. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard him say he’s going to Tennessee.”

Evan Berry plays safety and quarterback. LARRY HARTSTEIN

Trivia challenge

New Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez has worn No. 88 in his NFL career. But what number did he wear in college?

No Heatley, Hossa

Don’t look for Dany Heatley or Marian Hossa to be wearing Thrashers uniforms again.

Heatley has requested a trade from the Senators. Hossa becomes a free agent from the Red Wings today.

When asked Tuesday about the possibility of either returning to the Thrashers, general manager Don Waddell said he couldn’t speak specifically about either player because they are under contract with other teams.

However, Waddell added: “It probably doesn’t make a lot of sense for us.” CHRIS VIVLAMORE

News of the day

The NCAA rejected an appeal from former Indiana basketball coach Kelvin Sampson, who was slapped with five years of potential penalties for taking part in more than 100 impermissible calls to recruits while coaching the Hoosiers.

Sampson, now an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, is essentially barred from coaching in college until 2013.

Remember me?

Want to see how last year’s No. 1 pick in the baseball draft is doing? All it requires this week is a drive to Rome.

Former Griffin High star shortstop Tim Beckham will be in Georgia through Friday playing for the Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods. Game times each day are 7 p.m.

Before Tuesday night’s game against the R-Braves, Beckham was hitting .282 with three homers and 38 RBIs, but he has committed 24 errors.

Trivia answer

Gonzalez (below), who also played basketball at California, wore No. 44 in football for the Golden Bears from 1994-96.

One More Loss and Phil Fulmer Is Finished

2008-10-29T23:10:00.000-04:00

There is a strong consensus that University of Tennessee's head football coach Phil Fulmer will be finished after his next loss.

It was rumored that Fulmer would be out after the Alabama game. That rumor grew legs before the Mississippi State game, however the Vols ultimately crushed the Bulldogs after a second half surge sparked by two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

The remaining Tennessee schedule includes South Carolina on Nov. 1, followed by Wyoming, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. It is unlikely the Vols will escape unscathed, therefore, it is likely Fulmer will be finished in the coming weeks. This weekend alone poses a threat against Steve Spurrier.

At first blush one can see that Fulmer has a national title. In recruiting, the Vols have been fairly successful with three top five classes since 2002 and five top 20 classes during the same period. Now the Vols are on track to have another top 10 class this year.

Fulmer is also renowned for having greats such as Peyton Manning, Jamal Lewis, and Cedric Wilson.

On the field Fulmer's teams regularly have nine and 10 wins including bowl games, which seems exceptional, though a look at Vol losses reveals much more. Since 2002, the Vols have had three or more losses each season. Three losses will certainly exclude any team from the National Title, if not a BCS Berth in any BCS bowl.

The Vols are regular runner-up contenders or worse in the SEC under Fulmer. Fulmer had many great players with whom he couldn't attain that elusive undefeated season or national championship.

Will Tennessee fans settle for mediocrity? Those who hate Tennessee or play against them hope their fans will resign themselves to the obligatory three losses per year, but in the midst of a 3-5 record, it appears Vols fans have had enough and the stands are empty.

With one more loss, Vols' fans will get their wish, but who will lead the Vols' in the future? Will it be Cutcliffe, who was arguably the mastermind behind any Fulmer success? Will it be Gruden, who will doubtfully leave his spot at Tampa Bay and who grew up in the shadow of the Golden Dome at Notre Dame? Will it be another lesser known name, or will the Vols make a controversial move for Steve Spurrier?

Many questions surround the future of Tennessee, but one thing is certain: Phil Fulmer won't be coaching next year unless he wins every game left on the schedule.

Tennessee-MSU Report Card

2008-10-19T23:04:00.000-04:00

Tennessee was able to dominate the Mississippi State Bulldogs and get their first SEC win 34-3. So let's take a look at the report card and see how well the Vols improved:

Quarterback

Nick Stephens - 10-of-20 passing, 136 yards - continues to manage the offensive effectively, though not yet spectacularly. However, at this point I will take it.

Stephens also showed a good pocket presence and scrambling ability, breaking an 18-yard run to get the Vols in field-goal position. Stephens is showing great heart out on the field and the offense is starting to respond.

GRADE: B

Tennessee is still no where near expectations in the running game and Arian Foster has not been sharp at all, but he did have the longest run of the night for 19 yards.

Lennon Creer showed good vision and made nice cuts in leading Vols with 68 yards rushing on 17 carries. Creer also had good second effort on his 1-yard TD run. Fulmer should give the ball to Creer more often, as he seems to be the back who could give Tennessee the big play.

GRADE: C

Wide Receivers

Lucas Taylor made a clutch fourth-down grab while Denarius Moore reeled in a 45-yard strike from Stephens to stretch the defense. Moore has become Stephens' favorite target.

Gerald Jones didn't make a catch before his ankle sprain and had a pass go through his arms. Luke Stocker also had a drop. Clawson and Fulmer meed to get Brandon Warren more involved.

GRADE: C

Offensive Line

No penalties and adequate pass protection in only allowing Mississippi State one sack. The run blocking picked up in the second half but is still lacking and not getting the physical push typical of Tennessee lines of the past. Fulmer being a former lineman himself cannot be happy with their effort this season.

GRADE: C-

Defensive Line

Wes Brown, Chris Walker and Robert Ayers all recorded sacks, and the defensive tackles did an outstanding job clogging the interior running lanes, holding the Bulldogs to only 2.3 yards per carry.

A few missed tackles on sack opportunities, or it would have been an even better night. The line should still be recording more sacks to keep some of the pressure off the linebackers.

GRADE: B

Linebackers

Speaking of the linebackers, Nevin McKenzie recorded two sacks and Ellix Wilson tipped two passes that resulted in interceptions. Rico McCoy only had two tackles.

McKenzie, however, was faked out of his jock strap by the QB in the open field, leading to a first down. Missed tackles like that have cost Tennessee in games this season, and will not help when playing Alabama next week.

GRADE: B+

Secondary

Have I mentioned before that Eric Berry is awesome? Well he is!

Berry and Demetrice Morley each returned interceptions for touchdowns, and Berry had a QB sack and led the team with 10 tackles. DeAngelo Willingham atoned for a pass interference penalty with an interception. Strong coverage.

You cannot ask for a better game than that from the secondary.

GRADE: A

Special Teams

Not the best punting effort from Britton Colquitt. He shanked a punt for 26 yards and only averaged 44 yards a punt which is not good for him.

Daniel Lincoln made field goals from 28 and 36 yards, he missed a 34-yarder. Other than Dennis Rogan's 40-yarder, the return game was pedestrian. Good coverage on punts and kicks, and Ja'Kouri Williams forced a fumble.

GRADE: C

Coaching

Game balls definitely go to John Chavis and his defense. Sound game plan and preparation. Two interceptions were direct result of scheme.

UT's offense was 7 of 15 on third-down conversions and yardage was balanced. Offensive scores came on four drives of 10 plays or more. Coach Phillip Fulmer's fourth-down gamble in third quarter led to TD.

GRADE: A-

FINAL GPA: 2.77

While the first half was very pedestrian, the third quarter touchdown drive got the team and the crowd going and Tennessee was able to roll from there. Fulmer's fourth down gamble could be a turning point in the season if the wins keep coming.

Still lots of room for improvement but Tennessee was able to play well against a physical opponent. However, the Crimson Tide are next. I am anxious to see what the Vols can do.

Georgia-Tennessee: Who Wins?

2008-10-13T23:12:00.002-04:00

Two weeks after the debacle against Alabama, the Dawgs are apparently playing the Tennessee Vols this week. I say that because the buildup to this week's game is, for a better word, lacking.

Now the Vols have a tough, top 15 run defense, highlighted by Ellix Wilson and Rico McCoy, in what seems to be his 13th year at Tennessee.

The Dawgs have a deceptive rush offense ranking, only making the top 50. However, no one will deny the power and influence starting RB Knowshon Moreno has over the entire offense.

I was looking at how Knowshon could come back after getting hurt during said 'Bama game and seeing how effective he might be against the Volunteers defense.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Knowshon said he will “...be there [against Tennessee]. I’ll be ready to go.”

He "knows" it'll be a big game, so hopefully he won't lay an egg like he did two weeks ago. However, if he can't bring it all, backups Caleb King and Richard Samuel, who has been complaining for more touches in games, will step up.

This Dawgs offense is more than just run, as SEC total yards leader QB Matthew Stafford can attest to. The Dawgs' passing game is first in the SEC, and UT's top 15 pass defense, led by All-SEC safety Eric Berry, will be on high alert.

However, we have yet to touch on Tennessee's stagnant offense. Led by Dave Clawson, the Vols offense ranks 97th in the nation in total offense. Led by Jonathan Crompton and their 98th-ranked passing offense and Arian Foster and their 61st-ranked rushing offense, the Vols got a lot of explaining to do about their anemic ways.

I guess no matter how you spell it, the sound CLAW-SON just brings the Tennessee offense to a standstill—but this time it's the offensive coordinator and not two loudmouth quarterbacks.

This will be a huge game for head coach Phillip Fulmer, because a debilitating loss to Georgia could bring the final nail in the coffin for big Phil. Also, Tennessee could pull an Auburn and fire their new OC in the middle of the season.

Anyway, it'll be closer than the experts think. It'll take the Dawgs a half to shake off the Alabama game and the memories of the previous two games against UT, but the Dawgs prevail.

Georgia 31, Tennessee 19

GA vs. TN: The Silver Fox Forecast

2008-10-13T23:11:00.001-04:00

It’s October and that time of year. Georgia vs. Tennessee. Autumn. Mostly sunshine, a little rain, and a couple of times: monsoons.

Did you know that Tennessee holds a 20-15-2 edge in the all-time series with Georgia, and that the Vols crushed the Bulldogs by a 35-14 final last season?

At 2-3, underachieving Tennessee is desperate for a victory and, therefore, represents a dangerous opponent for the Bulldogs. The Volunteers will play four of their final six regular season games at home following this weekend's game, and the level of competition is somewhat favorable. Obviously, head coach Phil Fulmer does not want to attempt to climb out of a 2-4 hole.

Tennessee’s offense had to play better in Athens. For the most part, the Vols have been tough defensively this season.

This game may become a classic strong offense vs. strong defense battle.

Did you know that Georgia is averaging 424.8 total yards per game this season? With the obvious exception of the first half of the Alabama game, the Bulldogs defense has played well, particularly against the run.

However, Georgia made critical mistakes against the Crimson Tide and must correct them for its contest against Tennessee.

As for Georgia, it opened the season with four consecutive victories before falling to Alabama two weeks ago. The Bulldogs have had two weeks to prepare for this weekend's game and hope to move to 2-1 in conference. They are playing their second of what will be three straight home games against league foes, as nationally-ranked Vanderbilt comes to town next weekend.

The Silver Fox Forecast: Georgia 27, Tennessee 23.