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The Official Thread of the 2006 Tennessee Volunteers
Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee! I made a similar thread last year...and despite most likely missing most of the season due to being +7 hours to the eastern time zone, I'm going to do it again. GO VOLS! BEAT CAL! 
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It should be noted that Cody Pope, the true freshman listed above did not qualify academically and is no longer with the team.
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: MAPU IS BACK
The already-imposing Tennessee defensive front is bolstered even more this year by the return of two-time letterman J.T. Mapu (2002-03), who spent the past two years on a religious mission. The defensive tackle from Kahuku, Hawaii, has 24 games of experience under his belt. His career totals include 35 tackles, two sacks and 4.5 TFLs. This marks the fifth straight season that UT's roster has included a native of Hawaii.
Head coach Phillip Fulmer, banking on a talented squad to create a winning chemistry, has challenged the Tennessee Vols to make every moment count as they head for the 2006 season-opener Sept. 2 against California. The Vols' long-standing status as one of the nation's elite football powers took a poke to the midsection last fall in an uncharacteristically dreary season that left the team home for the holidays for the first time since 1988. Home may be where the heart is, but it isn't where you want to be when the calendar turns over from December to January in college football. With the team's 5-6 record banishing it from the list of bowl eligibles, Tennessee had more than enough time to analyze what went wrong in 2005. It was a season that left Vols loyalists, including the demanding Fulmer, looking for vast improvement. But rather than separate the good from the bad, Fulmer called for a rededication by all parties toward achieving the Vols' customary goals, which start with a drive for the Eastern Division championship of the Southeastern Conference. Although it suffered heavy graduation losses, especially in the linebacker corps, the defense ranked second in the nation last year against the run. Some intense patching is called for to determine a starting lineup. But coordinator John Chavis anticipates another strong performance by his charges. "The defense played well enough to win," was a frequently heard commentary among fans who watched in frustration as the Vols dropped five of their last seven games. The implication that the Vols were below par when it came to moving the football was borne out in the season statistics. Offensively, the Vols never achieved the consistent results that would have made the team a big winner. David Cutcliffe, who held the coordinator's portfolio before heading to Ole Miss as head coach in 1999, has rejoined his longtime friend, Phillip Fulmer. The obvious priority is for Cutcliffe, returned as coordinator, to shake up the offense -- shuffle personnel, adopt and discard plays and formations, do whatever if takes -- to remold Tennessee into a juggernaut to be greatly feared. VOLS TOP SEC OVER LAST DECADE Tennessee maintains its standing as the winningest team in the SEC over the last 10 years in terms of victories and percentage. The Vols are 95-30 during that span for a percentage of .760, ranking them fifth nationally in percentage and sixth in wins. COACHING STAFF BENEFITS FROM NEW ADDITIONS, SHIFTED ROLES In addition to the return of David Cutcliffe, UT's 2006 coaching staff also features newcomers Matt Luke and Kurt Roper. An eightyear veteran in the collegiate coaching ranks, Luke takes over as tight ends coach with additional offensive line duties and the title of recruiting coordinator. Roper boasts 11 years of sideline experience and is coaching the Vols' running backs. Greg Adkins, in his fourth season with the UT staff takes over as the primary offensive line coach, while third-year Tennessee coach Trooper Taylor moves over to guide the Vols' receiving corps. FULMER TO APPOINT GAME CAPTAINS For the first time in the Phillip Fulmer era -- and the first year overall since 1990 -- Tennessee enters a season without predetermined team captains. The Vols will name captains on a game-bygame basis to open the season, but Fulmer has left open the possibility of naming permanent captains during the year as leaders emerge. The last time a UT team utilized this approach to captaincy, the Vols won the 1990 SEC Championship and finished 9-2-2. SCORING STREAK Tennessee has scored in 146 consecutive games dating back to a 31-0 shutout by Florida in Knoxville in 1994. It is the secondlongest streak in the SEC, trailing Florida's 215. UT's home scoring streak is at 76, while it has scored in 141 straight games away from Neyland Stadium. The Vols' last road shutout was handed down by Georgia in 1981, 44-0. FOSTER SEEKING SIXTH STRAIGHT 100-YARD GAME After posting the fifth-best rushing total ever for a UT freshman tailback last season, Arian Foster enters the 2006 campaign as Tennessee's marquee ballcarrier. In addition, the San Diego, Calif., native is riding a streak of five straight 100-yard games. He closed out 2005 by reaching the century mark in each of the Vols' last five outings (his only five career starts). MEDIA TABS VOLS THIRD IN SEC EAST During July's SEC Media Days, 104 media voters in Birmingham, Ala., predicted a third-place finish for Tennessee in the 2006 Eastern Division race. Florida and Georgia were a close 1-2 in the voting, with South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt rounding out the East. SIX VOLS EARN PRESEASON SCHOLARSHIPS Since the start of preseason practice, Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer has awarded scholarship status to six student-athletes. The recipients include seniors David Yancey (TB), Matt McGlothlin (DT), Ryan West (DS) and Stanley Asumnu (WR) and juniors Michael Frogg (C) and Ben Greene (DB). Frogg, a native of nearby Kingston, Tenn., has been tabbed by Fulmer as Tennessee's starting center for the season-opener against California Sept. 2 in Knoxville. McGlothlin is also slated to start along the defensive front when the Golden Bears invade Neyland Stadium. Asumnu joined the football team this summer after lettering for four years as a member of the UT basketball team. NUMBER SWAP A number of returning Vols are sporting new jersey numbers this season. Those players and new numbers are as follows: No. 94 Wes Brown, No. 48, Adam Myers-White, No. 51 Vladimir Richard, No. 21 Austin Rogers, No. 55 Dan Williams and No. 23 Ellix Wilson. VOLS RETURN TO ESPN AIRWAVES Tennessee's last football appearance on ESPN was Oct. 2, 2004, vs. Auburn in Knoxville (L, 34-10). The Vols have played 20 games since that contest, marking UT's second-longest streak without appearing on "The Worldwide Leader in Sports" primary channel. Tennessee went 23 games between its inaugural ESPN appearance (a 6-6 tie with Georgia Tech Oct. 26, 1985) and its second (a 41-21 loss to Alabama Oct. 17, 1987). Since 1997, Tennessee has opened the season on ESPN four times. In three of those years (1997, 1998, 2004), the Vols advanced to the SEC Championship Game. QUARTERBACKS The Tennessee signal-callers should greatly benefit from the return of QB guru David Cutcliffe to the Vols' coaching staff this season ... Junior Erik Ainge enters the year holding the starter's role during spring drills and hopes to bounce back from a sub-par sophomore campaign ... Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton is the top backup candidate and a player who Vols fans are excited to see in action ... Depth at the position is provided by junior Bo Hardegree, senior Jim Bob Cooter and true freshman Nick Stephens. RUNNING BACKS After a breakout year in 2005, sophomore Arian Foster is primed for his first season as UT's showcase ballcarrier ... Hailed by his coaches as a dynamic back who is physical and will fall forward, Foster racked up a team-high 879 yards on the ground last year with 4.8-yard average per carry and five TDs ... Phillip Fulmer has announced that redshirt freshmen Montario Hardesty and LaMarcus Coker also will both see action in the backfield ... A stable of eager workhorse reserves includes senior David Yancey and sophomore Ja'Kouri Williams ... At the fullback position, Coach Fulmer has called on senior Cory Anderson to maximize his potential ... Anderson will surely prove up to the task, while talented junior David Holbert lurks just behind on the depth chart. WIDE RECEIVERS Senior WR Jayson Swain has emerged as a leader during the offseason and leads a talented corps of route runners under new position coach Trooper Taylor ... Junior Robert Meachem and senior Bret Smith both bring tremendous explosiveness to the line of scrimmage and will certainly factor in the Vols' aerial attack ... The sophomore trio of Josh Briscoe, Austin Rogers and Lucas Taylor adds depth to the position, as does true freshman Quintin Hancock. OFFENSIVE LINE Preseason All-America OT Arron Sears headlines a group that many have concerns about entering the season ... Coach Fulmer voiced optimism in his line's toughness, however ... Junior OT Steven Jones and sophomore OGs Anthony Parker and Ramon Foster each have game experience under their belts ... Junior Michael Frogg has earned the starter's role at center, and is likely to be sandwiched between Parker and senior David Ligon ... Junior Eric Young appears to be the opening-game starter at RT ... Greg Adkins has taken over as offensive line coach and faces the task of improving upon last year's 1,411 net rushing total (the lowest for a UT team since 1996). DEFENSIVE LINE Tennessee's defensive front lost three stalwarts to the NFL draft but remains steadfast under defensive assistants Dan Brooks and Steve Caldwell ... Senior DT Justin Harrell brings preseason All-America mention into his final collegiate campaign following a breakout junior season ... Fellow senior Turk McBride can line up at either tackle or end and is certain to disrupt the opponent's backfield ... Other power players along the front seven include ends Antonio Reynolds, Xavier Mitchell and Robert Ayers as well as tackles Demonte Bolden, Matt McGlothlin and J.T. Mapu ... Plenty of youngbloods are ready to enter the fray if called upon. LINEBACKERS All three 2005 starters have departed, but defensive genius John Chavis is plugging the gaps with typical top-tier talent once again ... Senior Marvin Mitchell will likely line up at MLB, flanked by Ryan Karl at SLB and Jerod Mayo at WLB ... Ellix Wilson and Rico McCoy are sure to see action as well ... UT's opponents rushed for just 906 net yards and eight TDs in 2005. SECONDARY Despite the loss of first-round draft pick Jason Allen, this unit may emerge as a strength of the Vols' defense due to talented veterans Jonathan Wade, Antwan Stewart and Jonathan Hefney ... Fulmer has vowed to find a way to get sophomore standout Demetrice Morley on the field consistently ... Junior Inky Johnson also is sure to bat down a few passes before all is said and done ... Opponents passed for 215 yards per game and nine total TDs a season ago. SPECIAL TEAMS Senior placekicker James Wilhoit returns as the SEC's active career scoring leader and looks to cement his UT legacy ... Sophomore punter Britton Colquitt will pin opponents deep ... Jonathan Hefney, Lucas Taylor and Austin Rogers are early favorites for kick- and puntreturn duties. |
7 wins tops. Enjoy your season. I wish I could escape all the orange crap that surrounds me.
Go Dawgs!!!!!! |
FBPro,
I knew you'd be posting in a Volunteer thread. You're a closet Vol fan...I know it. Speaking of wins, though, I'd be happy with 8. Though, mercy, they were good today. I read the play by play, and I won't get to see the game for another 7 hours, but 35-0 at one point? Rock on. GO VOLS! |
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Uh, not even close. The ONLY time that I would EVER be someone who pulls for the Vols to win is if it will benefit my beloved Bulldogs otherwise I hope that they lose every game and get blown out in the process. Last season was great because all of the "Vol crap" that I'm living in the midst of were quieted by the "title run" the Vols made last year. Here's hoping for a repeat of '05. |
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Hmm ... maybe we ought to look into swapping houses during football season or something. I'm (still) moving into the middle of what my son aptly describes as "Bulldog Hell". Oddly though, I've found that there's actually more football diversity in Athens than there is in the Hooterville I've lived in for the past 12 years. |
Nice game by TEN today. I thought they'd win, but not dominate Cal as much as they did. I'll be sure to bump them way up in my FOFC poll :)
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Well, I'd like to say I share the same view about your Bulldogs, but I don't. I'm like SkyDog, I guess. UT first, SEC second, South third, anyone who plays ND fourth.
Now if it's the Bulldogs and Gators, I'll root for the "underdog", because more muck in the SEC race is better for the Vols. How did UGA do today? I haven't seen. |
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They beat the Western Kentucky Little Sisters of the Poor 48-12. Most interesting thing from the game is the mini-QB controversy that's brewing. Starter Tereshinki went 7/17 for 90 yds & 1 TD Backup Cox went 2/3 for 29 yds & an INT 3rd QB Stafford was 3/5 for 40 yds & 1 TD. |
Yeah, poor Tereshinski won't be on the field for the UT game unless he's snapping the ball to the punter. :(
I actually like the guy. Team player. |
Damn...I need me one of these threads.
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I call copyright infringement. :)
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excellent game by the Vols today. That was a dominating performance against a team many hyped as a national championship contender.
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Thanks, I knew they were overhyped, though. There was a lot of talk about it a Vol boards by another poster and myself. Basically, Cal allowed an average of 35 points to teams with winning records last year. They overall average was 21 points allowed, but that included a 3 point game by 2-9 Sacremento State and a shutout of 2-9 Arizona.
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My guess is the reason I'm so "anti-Vol" is where I live the local's bleed orange....plus the fact that I was born and raised in GA.
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TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES
Tennessee 35, California 18 Sept. 2, 2006 Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2 Noting Tennessee Tennessee (1-0) won its 12th consecutive season opener ; California falls to 0-1. The Vols entered the game ranked No. 23 in both the Associated Press poll and the USA Today rankings; California was ranked No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 12 in the USA Today listings. It was the only matchup between two top-25 teams on the opening Saturday of the season. Today's victory marked the first time since Oct. 9, 1999, that the Vols defeated a top-10 opponent in Neyland Stadium (No. 10 Georgia 37-20) Tennessee returns to action Saturday vs. Air Force at 7 p.m. ET. Tennessee-California Series Tennessee now leads the all-time series vs. California 2-1, dating to 1977. All games have been played in Knoxville. The teams meet again next season at California. Phillip Fulmer's Record Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer's record now stands at 129-37 (.777) in 15 seasons with the Vols. Fulmer owns a 3-1 record against teams from the Pac-10, and today's win is his 40th career victory over a ranked team, as well as his 14th win over a top-10 foe. Ainge Has Career Day in Season Opener Junior quarterback Erik Ainge made the 12th start of his career and completed 11 of 17 passes for a career-high 291 yards and four touchdowns. Ainge opened his junior campaign in impressive fashion, hooking up with Robert Meachem on a 41-yard play-action pass on the Vols' first play from scrimmage. After rolling to his right midway through the first quarter, Ainge found Chris Brown from 12 yards out for the first UT touchdown of 2006. The TD was the second of Brown's career - first since South Carolina in 2004 - and the first touchdown by a Vols' tight end since Brown's against the Gamecocks. Ainge and Meachem hooked up again for a 42-yard touchdown to put UT up 14-0 in the second quarter. It was Meachem's first touchdown since 2004 against Kentucky and second career TD. The scoring play also put Meachem over 100 yards through the air. The duo struck again on the second play of the second half, as Meachem broke a tackle on the right sideline and took an Ainge pass 80 yards for his second touchdown grab of the game. Senior game-captain Jayson Swain also got into the touchdown act with a 50-yard reception in the third quarter from Ainge. Ainge tossed four touchdown passes for the game, the most scoring strikes by a Vol since Casey Clausen threw five against Mississippi State in 2003. Tennessee allowed no sacks in the game and had no plays that resulted in negative yards. Meachem Powers Offense, Delivers One of UT's Best-Ever Performances by a Receiver Meachem posted one of the best statistical games for a Vols' wide receiver in school history, catching five passes for 182 yards. He became the first UT receiver since Jayson Swain at Vanderbilt in 2004 to haul in multiple touchdowns. His second touchdown was also the 15th play of 80 yards or more in school history and ties for the ninth-longest pass play ever for the Vols. Noting the Defense Sophomore linebacker Jerod Mayo recorded his first career sack, bringing down California quarterback Nate Longshore for a nine-yard loss in the second quarter. He picked up his second sack two plays later, and Mayo added his third later in the game to become the first UT player with a hat trick since Kevin Simon against Marshall in 2003. Ryan Karl, making his first career start at LB, led the Vols with a career-high nine tackles. Numerous returning Vols set new career highs for tackles: Karl (9), J. Mayo (7), M. Mitchell (7), Gaines (2) Passes Defensed (9): I. Johnson (1), Karl (1), J. Mayo (1), M. Mitchell (1), Morley (1), Stewart (1), Wade (3) Senior safety Antwan Stewart intercepted Longshore for his third career pick and first since 2003 against Kentucky. Miscellaneous Notes Today's attendance was 106,009. The Vols donned striped pants for the first time since the 1996 Citrus Bowl against Ohio State. Michael Frogg, Antonio Reynolds and Ryan Karl all made their first career starts for the Vols. Montario Hardesty's 43-yard rushing touchdown was the first of his career. Junior placekicker James Wilhoit - the SEC's active career scoring leader - raised his career point total to 234 with five points today. Vols Tabbed for 7 p.m. ET Start on VideoSeat PPV Next Saturday Tennessee's game vs. Air Force next Saturday in Knoxville will be televised by VideoSeat. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET. The Vols won the only previous match-up against the Falcons, a 34-13 victory in the 1970 Sugar Bowl. |
Effin Cal. Looks like they'll be no problem for UCLAthis year
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Did people REALLY think some left coast punks could come into Rocky Top and play with an SEC team in the first week of the season??? Uh, no. Later in the year when we've beaten up on each other, maybe, but not before we've all taken each other down a notch or two.
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Actually, this "Vol-in-Law" thought that was very very possible. And so did a lot of the Big Orange Nation I think. Amidst all the clutter on local sports talk yesterday (live radio coverage of Moe's National Burrito Eating Contest for example) there were some pretty good short discussions (I was driving back from Jasper after seeing my HS alma mater trample Lumpkin Co. Friday night, so I had a lot of car radio time). One of those segments pretty much summed up my feelings on the possibilities in Knoxville yesterday: If they had lost the opener at home to a Pac-10 team not named USC, the only way Fulmer could have saved his job was to pretty much run the table afterwards (or at the very least go 2-1 vs Fla/Bama/UGA). |
Congrats to the Vols for kicking Cal's ass.
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Good to see the Vols win in such convincing fashion against Cal. I don't like seeing them struggle being a Colts fan. I never really followed them that closely when Peyton was a Vol, but still. I'd much rather see the SEC do well than the Crap-10. Heh.
And on a side note, a good day for Indiana football with IU, Purdue and ND all getting wins. Not that IU or Purdue beat anybody special, but its still not everyday you see IU do so well. I think I'm just excited in general for football season. I just wish I was in the states to watch it!! Hopefully the Colts / NYG game will be on TV next monday morning and I can go into work late. =D |
http://sports.myway.com/news/09042006/v6574.html
Vols Find Strength in An Empty Stadium Sep 4, 4:34 PM (ET) By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Tennessee players stood in an empty Neyland Stadium and watched clips of themselves on the Jumbotron. They saw scenes from last year's 5-6 finish, spring practice and preseason camp. There were no coaches at this meeting Thursday night. This signaled the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006. The Volunteers set the tone early Saturday night against ninth-ranked California, knocking out one of the Golden Bears' toughest players on the kickoff en route to a 35-18 victory. No. 23 Tennessee hosts Air Force this week. "We just got together as a team and went down to the stadium and watched some stuff we had been through as a team during spring and during fall practice and listened to a little passage from a movie mixed in with some highlights from last season," cornerback Jonathan Wade said Monday. "We prayed as a team and we looked around at an empty stadium and we looked at ourselves and told each other that this is our family, this is us. People in here right now are the people that believe in us." The movie was Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday." Quarterback Erik Ainge said he and receiver Jayson Swain asked Tennessee's video coordinator to put together a highlight - or in this case a low-light - reel for the players. The video included shots of the scoreboard after some games last year. "To put things into perspective and show everything we had worked for and that it was all coming together on Saturday. ...Thursday night on, it was all focus," Ainge said. "Guys were walking off the field jumping up and down like they were ready to go play a football game, and it was on Thursday. That kind of focus and intensity for two days until we played is always good." The focus showed on the very first play of the game when defensive end Robert Ayers charged into Cal tight end Craig Stevens on the opening kickoff. Stevens was slow getting up, and his legs were wobbly as the trainers helped him off the field. He did not play the rest of the game. "We were thinking 'Oh, man, these guys are probably in trouble today,"' said linebacker Jerod Mayo, who had all three of Tennessee's sacks. Before the game Saturday, the players gathered at midfield, many still wearing suits and ties. They lowered their heads while some spoke. "We're a lot closer than last year," Mayo said. "We just went out there with the mind-set that, 'Hey this is business time now. No time for jokes, no time for playing around. It's time to get the job done."' |
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I saw the game Sunday afternoon out here, although the video was sometimes a little choppy.
Just a great game. I knew Cal's defense was overrated. I was surprised at how well we stopped them defensively. Most of their points and yards were gained against our second teamers. I still a little disappointed our second teamers couldn't stop them, but I'll take it. :) Coach Trooper Taylor got a lot of press about his "5 receiver rotation" during the summer practices. Last year, UT used 8 when healthy. Taylor said this year only the top 5 would be playing receiver. If a 6th made the bus, it would be for special teams. With only two players leaving out of the original 8 from last yera, this led to a mini-competition for the 4th and 5th spots. With Meacham, Swain, and Smith tieing up 1-3, the 4 and 5 spots were between sophs Lucas Taylor, Austin Rogers, and Josh Briscoe. Also in the mix were redshirt freshman Slick Shelley, juniors Casey Woods and Bill Grimes, and true freshman Quintin Hancock. Finally, fomer UT basketball player Stanley Asumnu joined the team after his basketball eligibility ended. 5 receivers to play and 11 receivers. Lucas Taylor secured the #4 slot. Up to game time it was never truly revealed "who" the 5th man was going to be. Depth charts in the official press release of UT showed 9 receivers, so it didn't reveal anything. The two players left off were Hancock and Asumnu. It looked to me that Briscoe was our 5th receiver, though. He seemed to be playing early when the game was still close. I noticed Rogers, Hancock, and even Woods got in the game at receiver, though. I was a little surprised they didn't try to get Grimes and Asumnu in the game late. Grimes to my knowledge has yet to play a game at UT. I thought Asumnu was a sure bet to get in the game when it hit 35-0, at the very least to get his first game jitters out of the way. Asumnu hasn't played in a football game since 8th grade. |
Participation Report
 Participation Report (Final) 2006 Tennessee Volunteers #9 California vs #23 Tennessee (Sep 02, 2006 at Knoxville, Tennessee)Tennessee 28 Chris Brown LT 76 Arron Sears LG 66 David Ligon C 73 Michael Frogg RG 75 Anthony Parker RT 54 Eric Young WR 1 Jayson Swain WR 3 Robert Meachem QB 10 Erik Ainge TB 27 Arian Foster FB 45 Cory Anderson LE 90 Turk McBride LT 92 Justin Harrell RT 68 Matt McGlothlin RE 89 A. Reynolds SLB 39 Ryan Karl MLB 40 Marvin Mitchell WLB 7 Jerod Mayo LCB 4 Jonathan Wade RCB 29 I. Johnson FS 33 Jonathan Hefney SS 24 Antwan Stewart 2-M. Hardesty, 5-Rico McCoy, 8-J. Crompton, 9-Bret Smith, 12-Lucas Taylor, 14-Ben Greene, 15-Sinclair Cannon, 20-D. Morley, 21-Austin Rogers, 22-LaMarcus Coker, 23-Ricardo Kemp, 25-James Wilhoit, 30-David Holbert, 34-Dorian Davis, 35-Ellix Wilson, 37-Antonio Gaines, 38-Antonio Wardlow, 43-David Yancey, 46-Andre Mathis, 47-B. Colquitt, 48-A. Myers-White, 50-Josh McNeil, 55-Dan Williams, 58-James Turner, 65-J. McClendon, 69-Ryan West, 71-Steven Jones, 78-Ramon Foster, 79-Chris Scott, 80-Jeff Cottam, 81-Josh Briscoe, 85-Casey Woods, 86-Brad Cottam, 87-Quintin Hancock, 91-Robert Ayers, 93-Xavier Mitchell, 94-Wes Brown, 98-Demonte' Bolden, 99-J.T. Mapu.---------------- Grimes wears #82. Asumnu is #83. During summer practice Asumnu got some work in blocking kicks. I'm surprised he didn't enter the field at least for the XP try at the end of the game. |
Well, that formatting sucked. :)
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Missed the game because I was at the W&M at Maryland game.
Came back expecting to see that UT lost and instead we pummelled them! On Saturday night all of the talk was that UT was the best looking team of the day. Coming into the season I was going to be happy with a winning season this year. If Ainge can stay like this, I'd say we compete for the SEC East title. |
Counting the amount of players who actually played, it didn't appear there were that many that didn't play at all (QB Hardegree, S Parrish, newly moved to OL Richard are others that I can think of that didn't play). I'm surprised a they couldn't find a few snaps for the rest of them. Hardegree I can understand, since he's the 3rd QB behind a redshirt freshman.
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Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee! |
keep singing... hahahahahaha lucky win...
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We're 2/5's of the way to our win total from last year. I'll take it.
I hope Arian Foster and Inky Johnson are okay. I don't get to see the game for another 2.5 hours. |
A.E., this would be the perfect place to put info on the Fulmer Cup competition.
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/?p=2491 http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/?p=2363 |
Really dominated Air Force... :)
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Air force ran all over the Vols D.
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As a Vols fan, this is more like what i expected to see this season.
Although it looks like Ainge still played quite well, which I did not expect. |
:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( UT's Harrell, Johnson out for season
By CHRIS LOW Staff Writer KNOXVILLE – Tennessee announced tonight that starting defensive tackle Justin Harrell and starting cornerback Inky Johnson have both been lost for the season with injuries suffered in the Air Force game. Johnson’s injury to his right shoulder is especially serious. He underwent surgery at UT Medical Center this morning and was listed in stable condition. He was immobilized, placed on a stretcher and carted from the field during the fourth quarter following a collision on the sideline . Head trainer Jason McVeigh said Johnson's surgery was to repair blood vessels in his right upper extremity. Johnson will require additional surgery to correct nerve damage. McVeigh said Harrell ruptured a biceps tendon against Air Force and will undergo season-ending surgery in the coming days. |
I hate to hear that it's probably a career ender. I don't even care what it does to our secondary. As for the Vols...we came out with four injuries in the game against Air Force...Harrell and Johnson, obviously. Also injured were a pair of Fosters...Arian and Ramon. Both had ankle injuries...but I'd expect both to play against Florida. Even if both are out, I think we'll be okay at their positions. Hardesty has looked good in his limited action at running back, playing the rest of the game when Arian went out. Ramon is a 2nd team guard, and had Vladimir Richard behind him. Vlad's a converted DT. However, Jacques McClendon looks to benefit the most. Harrell's injury hurts the defensive tackle position. We'll be forced to move Turk McBride back inside and our ends will have to step up. Xavier Mitchell, who made the game saving tackle on the 2 point conversion, looks to benefit the most from this, though Robert Ayers could see the field more as well. Johnson's injury well, I don't want to say much about that. Anything I say would pale in comparison to what happened to him. I feel bad for the young man. Marsalous Johnson is still sitting out due to an offseason suspension. Fellows is out for the season with a torn pec muscle. DEMO, Demetrice Morley out of Miami, looks to get a significant amount of playing time because of the injury. The team was already looking at ways to get him on the field more. Morley finished the game at corner for us. Morley, Hefney, or Stewart could move to corner. The other two would stay at the starting safety positions. Gaines and Kemp, the listed backups, will have to step up. This isn't good news with Florida coming to Knoxville this week. |
I'm sick at my stomach. I just read this at a Volunteer football forum:
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Dear Lord, please look after him. |
As i said last night, from all descriptions I read, his shoulder basically exploded inside, that was a lot of force to cause that.
My prayers are out to him and his family. |
Not much more official information available as of yet. Vols rally around injured teammates By CHRIS LOW Staff Writer KNOXVILLE — The mood was somber, yet determined Monday at the Tennessee football complex. Coaches and players did their best to process the season-ending injuries to cornerback Inky Johnson and defensive tackle Justin Harrell. Johnson, who remains hospitalized at UT Medical Center, already has undergone one surgery to repair torn blood vessels in his right shoulder area. He faces additional surgery to correct nerve damage in his right shoulder and arm. He's had trouble moving his upper right extremity ever since a sideline collision in Saturday's 31-30 win over Air Force that landed him in the hospital. The possibility that he may never play football again has weighed heavily on the minds of his teammates, who said they would play for both Johnson and Harrell this Saturday when seventh-ranked Florida comes to town. Harrell, the Vols' All-SEC tackle, was lost for the season after suffering a torn left biceps tendon in the Air Force game. "It's tough, but at the same time, they want a ring on their finger at the end of the season," senior receiver Jayson Swain said. "That's what we're trying to do, get that for them and for ourselves." Coach Phillip Fulmer went to visit Johnson at the hospital late Sunday night. "I walked in the room, and he was just waking up again," Fulmer said. "We talked for a few minutes, and I told him everybody was praying for him and the team was praying for him. He said, 'I'm blessed. I'm very blessed.' He's just an amazing young man." |
http://knoxnews.com/kns/govols/artic...990598,00.html
Tennessee's Johnson released from hospital By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS September 13, 2006 Tennessee cornerback Inky Johnson was released from the hospital and visited the team at practice Wednesday, four days after he was hit hard and severely injured in the Air Force game. Johnson had surgery earlier this week to repair blood vessels in his upper right arm and shoulder area. Team officials have said Johnson would need surgery later to repair a nerve injury. "Inky came out to practice and that was a very emotional moment for all of us," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "He got them excited about the game. His spirits are really good. I told him we were all praying for him and he said, 'Coach, I'm blessed. He just had a lot of energy about himself. "He's tired, he's been through a lot, but he's got a tremendous attitude. He's a tremendous young man. Whatever he does in life, he will be very successful." Head athletic trainer Jason McVeigh said Johnson "is doing well," but didn't release any other information, including whether Johnson would be able to play football again or how much Johnson was able to move his arm. Teammate Jonathan Hefney, who is moving from free safety to Johnson's starting position, said he visited Johnson in the hospital on Monday. "He was like, 'Look, Hef, I'm moving my hand.' You know, like he was moving his fingers around and his arm was itching. He's got feeling in his arm I'm assuming," Hefney said. "I pray for him every night hoping that he will be all right. Maybe if he wants to play football again he can come back and play." Defensive coordinator John Chavis choked up when asked about Johnson on Tuesday and told reporters he'd rather not talk about it. Johnson was hurt in a collision with Air Force's Justin Handley after a catch. The players were running toward each other along the Falcons' sideline. Handley's helmet appeared to crash into Johnson's right shoulder under his chin as his head was turned. Johnson immediately fell limp. Medical personnel strapped Johnson to a board and took him away in an ambulance to University of Tennessee Medical Center. "I was running directly over there when he hit the guy. I was like, 'Ink, come on let's get up.' I knew something was wrong because he never says 'I'm just going to lay down,'" Hefney said. "They told him just to stay down because he tried. I seen him lift his head up trying to get up anyway." "As much as me and him talk and be around each other, to see him laying down on the field was like your brother or something getting shot or something. It like scared me to see him down on the field." Johnson played on offense and defense at Crim High School in Atlanta. According to UT's media guide, Johnson broke his collarbone in the first game of his junior season. It doesn't say which collarbone. The collarbone covers a system of nerves that runs from the neck down the arm. "He told me he's blessed to have the things he's got right now because he could be not walking, he could not be talking, he couldn't see. He tells me he's blessed and he told me he wants us to go out there and play ball. It don't even got to be for him, just to do it for ourselves," Hefney said. "I'm going out to play for him even if he don't want me to," he said. "I'm going out there to play for him and the team, as well." Fans who would like to send Johnson a card or letter should mail it to him in care of the UT football office, P.O. Box 15162, Knoxville, TN, 37901. Fans may send e-mail greetings to Johnson and defensive tackle Justin Harrell on the UT Web site at http://www.utsports.com |
I was glad to hear about Inky, I hear he will be attending the game as well.
I heard a few days ago Justin Harrell will play the game and then have surgery. That pumped up the Vol fans. Here's a Chuck Norris bit someone adapated for Justin Harrell: --Life doesn't give Justin Harrell lemons. Life asks him which fruit he wants. --Justin Harrell's calender goes from March 31st to April 2nd, no one fools with Justin Harrell. --If it tastes like chicken, looks like chicken, and feels like chicken, but Justin Harrell says its beef, then it's f'ing beef. --Justin Harrell once won a game of Connect 4 in 3 moves. --It's no use crying over spilled milk... Unless that was Justin Harrell's milk. Oh you are so screwed. --Justin Harrell is the leading cause of death in Florida offensive linemen. --Superman's only weakness is Kryptonite. Justin Harrell laughs at Superman for having a weakness. --The truth may hurt, but it doesn't hurt as much as Justin Harrell. --Justin Harrell once arm wrestled Superman. The stipulations were the loser had to wear his underwear on the outside of his pants. --Justin Harrell wasn't born, he was unleashed. --Justin Harrell once visited the Virgin Islands. They are now The Islands. --"Simon Says" should be renamed "Justin Harrell Says" because if Justin Harrell says something then you better fricking do it. --Every mathematical inequality officially ends with "< Justin Harrell" --When you open a can of whoop-ass, Justin Harrell jumps out. --When Batman is in trouble, he turns on the Justin Harrell signal. --When Justin Harrell pees into the wind, the wind changes direction. --You can lead a horse to water. Justin Harrell can make him drink. --The Incredible Hulk once got so angry that it turned into Justin Harrell. --Justin Harrell went out to the desert, and was bitten by a rattlesnake. The snake died. --Your attraction to Justin Harrell in no way affects your sexual orientation. --Justin Harrell tells Bob Barker when the price is right. --It is a known fact that when Time magazine awards "The Man of Year*", there is fine print on the bottom of the cover that says, " *besides Justin Harrell." --Justin Harrell doesn't make threats. He makes facts. --Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Franklin D. Roosevelt never met Justin Harrell. --Justin Harrell once went into a bar, and asked for a 'Justin Harrell'. He received three shots of Jack Daniel's, a shot of kerosene and four shots of tequila mixed. When seeing this, Chris Leak approached the bar and asked for a Justin Harrell. He got sacked. --When Justin Harrell turns on an Xbox the screen just says "You Win" and turns itself off again. --G.I. Joe has Justin Harrell action figures. and of course, --Superman wears Justin Harrell pajamas. |
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I'm going to miss the game because W&M has a home game. I have a headphone radio though, so it shoudl be on ESPN radio.
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Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee! |
2:30 in the morning. Woo freaking woo!
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Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee! |
WOOOOOO!
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GAHHH!!
COME ON VOLS! We need a first down! |
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Cory Anderson's missed block on the play action was critical in this loss. On the 39 at that point, the sack forced Ainge to try and make things happen on 3rd and 4th and long.
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There were a lot of missed blocks that contributed to this one, or at least failure-to-blocks. Zero yards rushing for the game, less than 1 ypc from the RB's.
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I wasn't able to see but the final minutes of the game, but the radio announcers were saying that as well.
However, I saw this missed assignment by Cory, who was turned around watching Ainge eat the turf. Montario could have at least tried to run into the guy. Ainge's decisions on 3rd and 4th down were questionable...but on 4th and 13 you have to try and make something happen. I'd rather they just put Stanley Asumnu in and lob the ball to the endzone. |
[gefl]Stupid friggin game. [/gefl]
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:) Go Gators!!
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GO to hell, FBPro.
Go Bulldogs, Beat Florida. |
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YeeHaw....... |
Go away. I can't stand you.
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Relax it's just a football game. |
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Thanks for your expert opinion, honestly I post what I post because if I walk out of my door and go practically anywhere near where I live I get "Vol-crap" or that sickeningly hick "Rocky Top" twang blared at me. I then come here and get some of the same so I dish my most natural response to both back. I give the same response back to anyone I see pubicly as well. No offense taken on my part it's just the way I feel.
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I believe the applicable phrase here would be "Delta is ready when you are". |
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Honestly, I love the area where I live just can't stand the obsession w/ "orange", otherwise it is a good place to raise family, etc.....besides most folks(friends, etc) know where I stand on the issue so it isn't an issue. AE is just taking it too serious. Relax. |
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Ahem. Marino "Godfather" Casem, of Alcorn State fame, is credited with summing it up pretty darned well. "In the East, college football is a cultural exercise. On the West Coast, it is a tourist attraction. In the Midwest, it is cannibalism. But in the South, it is religion." And, to that end, an interesting little article on just how connected the two are in the South. http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/l...n/15409753.htm |
Point well made and taken. I'd admit my guilt as well in being serious about UGA football as well.
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Well, I'm confused. During the week leading up to the game, it was reported that Jonathan Hefney would be moving from free safety to corner due to Inky Johnson's injury. There was even an article about the move including player quotes. I didn't see the game, but I assumed that was the case.
I read yesterday that it was Antwan Stewart started at corner instead. Hefney was at free safety and Morley at strong safety. Hmmph. I also heard that Justin Harrell had his surgery. I wish him the best. ---- If anyone could keep me updated in the coming weeks as to the Solecismic.com college football ratings here in this thread, I'd appreciate it. Solecismic made the Navy nazi's website cut list. Sigh. |
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Drew Tardy, the walk on mentioned, is a transfer from Marshall, if I'm not mistaken.
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I keep thinking about that 1st and 10 on the Florida 39. I still only have the image burned in memory, but I can't help but think of it. It's not irritating beyond irritating, as much of last season was. I have probably thought of it more this week because of the amount of boredom I've endured with most of my favorite sites blocked.
Still, dang it. 1st and 10 on the 39. 56 yarder from there for Wilhoit. That's probably too far...and I would like at least 5 more yards to even think about the chance at the win. Still, there's a reasonable amount of time on the clock. I felt pretty good, considering the relative ease we had passed the ball on the drive (sans the Ainge sneak the previous play). 1st and 10 on the 39, and we run play action. Obviously the linebacker, or whoever it was, was not fooled by either the fake or the play call. Maybe both. Maybe no one missed a block, but I have a feeling Cory did. See that big gaping hole on the right side? Maybe we want to fill that area? I'm disappointed Montario didn't give up on the fake and try to chip that guy as well. Was Cory turned around watching the end of the play? If so, that leads me to believe he realized he goofed. I'm not sure I agree with the call for play action there as well. It kind of reminded me of Alabama years ago if they fell behind. They'd still line up with 2 backs and a tight end or two, still run a play action fake...as if anyone would believe they'd actually run the ball. Fortunately, the Tide has updated their coaching staff and playbook to the 21st century. I liked Stallings et all, but sometimes being old fashioned doesn't work. Were play action passes working before? Maybe that's why the play was called. Perhaps that type of play had worked before. My problem is the timing of the call. We need at least 5 yards in 3 plays to at least try a boomer from Wilhoit. Our running game had only produced 5 yards one time if I recall correctly. I'm just not sure that anyone believed that play was going to be a run. If you can't fool the defense on a play action fake, you don't need to be running a play action fake. You should just take your chances with a drop back pass. We lost 14 yards on the play. 14. 2nd down and 24 we get 8 yards across the middle. I know the down and distance was different..but 8 yards on 1st down would have been really nice. 3rd and 16...I have no idea what Ainge was thinking on the play. Perhaps he had happy feet given the first down play. I wouldn't blame him. 4th and 16...well, dang. That's all I have to say. Now that I think of it, though, I wouldn't have been opposed to a jump ball to former UT basketball player Stanley Asumnu. I would have felt better about that than the forced interception. Asumnu did play at some point in the game, I just don't know when. |
I suppose the best I can hope for now is a mucked up SEC East.
I can only hope Florida loses 2 out of 3 against Georgia, LSU, and Auburn. If LSU and Auburn play like they did against each other this past week, that may not be a problem. Wishfully thinking, if Tennessee defeats Georgia...and Florida loses to both LSU and Auburn, we could be in the driver's seat without worrying about who wins between Georgia and Florida come October 28th. Maybe even Alabama could throw a wrench in there. --- Not getting ahead of myself here...beating Georgia and LSU (in November) are not things I expected to do before this season started. In fact, before the season started, I expected at best an 8-4 record...losing to Cal, Florida, Georgia, and LSU. Though I'll admit I did not do my homework on Cal till later. Had I done so, I may have predicted 9-3. Still, an 8-4 record is not out of the question seeing as Alabama and South Carolina are still around. |
Interesting bit at The Tennessean:
"The early departure of Tony McDaniel to the NFL certainly didn't help matters, even though he might have struggled to stay academically eligible had he returned. McDaniel, now playing with the Jaguars, is one of six defensive linemen in the last five recruiting classes who either left the program early, never made it to campus or is still trying to qualify academically. The Vols have struggled just as much recently when it comes to the recruitment, development and retention of offensive linemen. In the last four NFL drafts, only one Tennessee offensive lineman has been selected, and that was center Scott Wells in the seventh round of the 2004 draft. And in the last five recruiting classes, six offensive linemen have either left the program early, never made it to campus or are still trying to qualify. One of those was Rob Smith, who grew weary of some of the Vols' discipline problems last season and was upset over Fulmer's firing of former offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens. So instead of coming back for his senior season, Smith made himself available for the NFL draft. He wasn't selected and is still trying to catch on as a free agent with an NFL club." One thing I had thought about was our struggles in running the ball this season was the replacement of our offensive line coach. I wonder how much of an influence that is/was. |
Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee! |
I was able to sport UT orange last night when, for the 2nd night in a row, we were forced out of our tents around midnight for "an emergency". Seeing as I can't wear Tennessee orange at work (and the game is usually already over when I wake up), I wear it in the tent before I hit the hay.
Lee Smith, a 2006 Tennessee signee who was kicked off the squad for discipline problems, is with Marshall now. I had forgot about that until this morning. I began thinking about it when I thought about how UT and Marshall had cancelled the last two games they had scheduled against each other. That got me thinking about missing the "opportunity" to play against Smith. So, I googled Lee Smith and found this article. I was a little surprised: Dismissed Tennessee player lands at Marshall Print this | E-mail this | Comments on this article:   Posted: August 24, 2006 Associated Press HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- A player kicked off Tennessee's football team has transferred to Marshall three weeks after his arrest on drunken driving charges. Freshman tight end Lee Smith is the latest player to land at Marshall after being dismissed elsewhere. Smith, who practiced with the Thundering Herd on Thursday, has to sit out one season due to NCAA transfer rules, said Marshall sports information director Randy Burnside. Smith's father, Daryle, played at Tennessee and in the NFL. Smith, 18, was arrested Aug. 2, a few days before the start of preseason practice, after a Tennessee campus police officer saw him driving on the sidewalk. Smith, who had been attending summer school, told officers he was trying to turn around in the street. The officer who stopped Smith said the player failed four field sobriety tests and refused to take a breathalyzer test, according to an affidavit filed with the Knox County (Tenn.) General Sessions Court. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said there were other issues that led to the dismissal. The 6-foot-6 Smith attended Powell High in Knoxville, Tenn., the same high school as Marshall offensive lineman Zane Bruhin and the same hometown as former Marshall star and current New York Jets quarterback Chad Pennington. Bruhin, a redshirt freshman, was not allowed to dress with the team the entire 2005 season after being charged with drunken driving last September. In 2004, running back Ahmad Bradshaw joined Marshall as a walk-on after he was dismissed from the University of Virginia's team following his arrest. He later pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and underage drinking, received a suspended sentence and was ordered to attend alcohol awareness classes. Bradshaw led Marshall with 997 yards rushing last season. In the mid-1990s, Randy Moss walked on at Marshall and eventually became a Heisman Trophy finalist. Moss started out at Notre Dame, but his scholarship was revoked after he was charged with attacking another student at DuPont High School. He later landed at Florida State, but he never played there. He was kicked off the team for violating his probation by smoking marijuana and served a brief jail stint before coming to Marshall. |
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Rocky Top you'll always be
Home sweet home to me Good ol' Rocky Top Rocky Top Tennessee, Rocky Top Tennessee! |
I was going to go to bed, but I didn't realize the UT game was on this early. That's awesome!
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Wooo!!!
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Nice win. Memphis scores their only TD after a fumble gives them a short 20 yard field. Can't believe our backups allowed a quick TD, though. Didn't see it, but that's disappointing.
Go Vols! |
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I heard a few tidbits as well:
Arian Foster is healthy again and will play. M. Johnson, reinstated before the Memphis game (4 game suspension) but did not play, has been on the kickoff team practice. He should see some game time this week. Stanley Asumnu has been practicing with the kick return team. |
Offense, please.
Stop Georgia, please. :) Yeah, I know, it's early. |
That was intentional grounding, but I'll forgive the non-call since Bailey would have most likely hit it from the penalty mark as well.
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Hey, I'll take that. I heart Cutcliffe.
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Give ... him ... SIX.
Touchdown ... TENNESSEE. (You think you're in a hostile environment ... be glad you ain't where I am right now ;) ) |
Dear UT,
Please play some pass defense. Thank you. |
Dear Brad,
Catch the ball. Thank you. |
Dear punt team,
Tackle. Thank you. |
Garr.
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I had a hard time breathing after that 4th down call.
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Yeah, something to cheer about!
Touchdown, Tennessee! |
Dear special teams and defense,
Thank you. |
WOOO!
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We're fortunate to hold them to a field goal there.
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I'll take the field goal. We've looked pretty good on offense the last few drives.
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WOO!
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Nasty landing for Meach.
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MEACH!
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WOOT !
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