Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer never has been one to make a big deal over himself and, apparently, doesn't intend to start now. But Thursday after the Vols' last full practice at Haslam Field, after paying a verbal tribute to his 25 seniors and sending them one at a time through the line of teammates to their "Last Tackle," Fulmer decided to take matters into his own hands. "I kind of got in on a cleanup block," Fulmer said of his charge through the line on a beautiful Thanksgiving afternoon. "I didn't have to hit it. It was already on the ground so I just cleaned it up a little bit."
Asked if he had ever before taken part in the Tennessee tradition, Fulmer said in his typical unpretentious manner, "It wasn't my year to be the `Last Tackle.'"
This Saturday, however, Fulmer coaches his final game on the UT sideline when the Vols host Kentucky in a 6:45 p.m. Eastern time kickoff. A win against the Wildcats not only keeps alive UT's 23-game winning streak in the series but also raises Fulmer's coaching record in 17 seasons to 152 wins against 52 losses.
Knowing the circumstances, Thursday's post-practice wrapup involved lots of hugs, thank-yous and well-wishes from players current and past. "A lot of friends came out to see us," Fulmer said. "It was a good day and I'm looking forward to the weekend."
The Vols coach said Thursday he has not made a final determination for Saturday's starting quarterback, offering that it likely would be Jonathan Crompton and that B.J. Coleman has been limited this week by a foot injury. Coleman, who saw his first extensive action in last week's 20-10 win at Vanderbilt, is expected to play.
As for Thursday's workout, the Vols practiced 75 minutes in a good tempo.
"We had a much better day as far as offensive execution than we had Wednesday, which was encouraging," Fulmer said. "It was a fun day. The guys changed jerseys and that's fun for them -- although it's hard to see Gerald Jones out there in No. 75 running the football. "And the last tackle is always special."
Make that extra special; just don't make it that big of a deal.
Nov. 27, 2008 It probably had to do with winning college football's national championship. Things like that tend to make an impression.
But sometime in the late 1990s, Phillip Fulmer became synonymous with the Tennessee Volunteers.
The very mention of his name and listeners or readers immediately thought "Tennessee." As in, "Yes, Phillip Fulmer coaches the Tennessee Vols and they won the BCS national championship and always are on TV and his daughters run off the field with him after every game and, well, he's Tennessee. He is Tennessee."
Fulmer obviously hasn't been alone in that distinction. UT fans would place Peyton Manning in that category, although the guess now is that Peyton is known nationally more for his Indianapolis Colts success and Super Bowl victory than for his days at Neyland Stadium.
Pat Summitt meets the criteria and has become one of college basketball's true ambassadors. Eight national championships carry a great deal of exposure, and Summitt never fails to put a class product on the floor. This story just as easily could be about her and all the great things she's done for this university, city and state, as well as her status as an icon for the sport of women's basketball.
But Fulmer has been UT on its biggest sporting stage, a venue that seats more than 100,000 fans every Saturday. Home games or away games meant massive crowds and mind-numbing media scrutiny.
College football is not the nation's most popular athletics endeavor, but it's not 12th either. Coaches roaming the sidelines in the powerful Southeastern Conference in front of six-figure crowds carry a certain notoriety to say the least.
And Phillip Fulmer has been the face of the Tennessee Vols.
That meant whether it was during a nail-biter against Georgia or during a Big Orange Caravan stop in Germantown, Fulmer was the one Vols fans wanted to see.
But now he's leaving, stepping down after 17 seasons at the helm. Tonight's game against Kentucky marks his final appearance as head coach of the Volunteers.
So before kickoff, we say, "Thanks, Coach," for all you've done for UT fans and for what you've meant to the Tennessee football program:
Thanks for that 34-31 win at Georgia in 1992, your first road triumph. You broke out the white pants away from home for the first time in 10 years and started a winning streak against the Bulldogs that lasted the rest of the decade.
Thanks for your very first bowl game victory over Boston College in January 1993. Tampa's Hall of Fame Bowl -- now the Outback -- was the setting as Tennessee and quarterback Heath Shuler breezed to a 38-23 triumph. Tampa also marked your final bowl appearance, a 21-17 win over Wisconsin this past January.
Thanks for closing out the artificial turf era on Shields-Watkins Field with a 62-14 thumping of Vanderbilt. The Vols ended with a record of 125-38-7 at home on artificial turf, and your mark as head coach was a perfect 9-0.
Thanks for recruiting an amazing cast of footballers to UT in the spring of 1994. Names such as Jeff Coleman, Jeff Hall, Mercedes Hamilton, Steve Johnson, and Jarvis Reado were all future starters for the 1998 national championship team. Oh, and that Manning guy mentioned earlier played a down or two in the seasons prior, as did starters Terry Fair, Cory Gaines, Ron Green and Marcus Nash before leaving Big Orange Country. Out of the 22 signees in February 1994, Manning was selected All-America, five others made All-SEC and seven were chosen in future NFL drafts, including Manning and Fair in the 1998 first round. Such hauls helped cement your status as one of the nation's top recruiters and made Neyland Stadium a destination location for top high school talent.
Thanks for compiling that 45-5 record from 1995-98, culminating in the very first Bowl Championship Series title.
Thanks for patching those gaping holes in the 1998 lineup and guiding that team through a scheduling gauntlet, one that included seven ranked opponents at the time you played them and four teams ranked among the elite top 10.
The entire 1998 season was highlighted by the development of unsung quarterback Tee Martin, successful replacement of injured all-star tailback Jamal Lewis, a relentless defense led by Al Wilson that routinely came through with tide-turning big plays and a field goal kicker in Hall whose heroics salvaged victory in the first two games.
Coach-of-the-year honors cascaded one upon another into your trophy case, culminated by the Eddie Robinson National Coach of Distinction Award.
Thanks for the 2001 season. No it didn't end the way everyone would have liked, with an SEC championship and berth in another BCS national title game. But still it was a heck of a ride. Gritty wins that year over Arkansas, LSU, Alabama, South Carolina and Notre Dame, not to mention rallying from a 21-point deficit at Kentucky, only set the stage for a spectacular night in Gainesville. The Vols prevailed in a top-5 showdown, defeating the Gators 34-32 after entering the game more than two-touchdown underdogs. LSU won the rematch one week later in Atlanta, but a bowl win over Michigan -- the first meeting between these traditional powers -- capped an 11-2 campaign that saw the Vols finish fourth in the AP poll.
Thanks for the overtime experiences. It took six extra periods to topple Arkansas in 2002, five for the win at Alabama in 2003 and four more at Kentucky in 2007 to clinch the SEC Eastern Division title. You became a master motivator when the ball was placed at the 25-yard line, winning six straight OT games from 2002-07.
Thanks for the gutsy fourth-down calls. Like that steamy November Saturday in Miami when the Vols went for broke just before halftime and Derrick Tinsley swept around right end. You said leaving the field, "We came down here to win a football game!" Tinsley scored the afternoon's only touchdown in a 10-6 victory that ended the Hurricanes' 26-game home winning streak.
Thanks for believing in America's youth. Tennessee began the 2004 season with a pair of true freshman quarterbacks in Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge. The results were an appearance in the SEC Championship Game, a smashing Cotton Bowl victory and a 10-3 finish. Thanks for all the miraculous finishes. Rick Clausen rallying UT from 21-0 down on a Monday night at LSU in 2005 to win in overtime might have been the most impressive.
Other great come-from-behind wins in UT football history also occurred on your watch -- 18 down against Arkansas in 1998; 21 at Kentucky in 2001; 24 at Notre Dame in 1991 (when you were offensive coordinator); and 25 against Vanderbilt in 1987 (when you coached the offensive line). And though not among the top five, coming from 24-7 down at Georgia in 2006 to win 51-33, and rallying last season for the biggest fourth-quarter comeback in Neyland Stadium history to clip Vanderbilt 25-24, after trailing 24-9, are games that will go down in the annals of UT football lore.
Thanks for the great run against Alabama. An 11-5 career coaching record versus the Crimson Tide is no small accomplishment. Even sweeter was becoming the first school and head coach in history to post seven consecutive wins over Alabama (1995-2001).
And finally, thanks for the pageantry of the SEC Championship Game. The Vols have played five times in the league's premier event, all with Phillip Fulmer patrolling the sideline. You won two nail-biters and lost three heartbreakers, but over the final decade of your tenure you never went more than three years without taking a team to Atlanta. Over the last two decades -- really, for the last 40 years -- Phillip Fulmer has become synonymous with the Tennessee Volunteers. Fans this weekend from Memphis to Mountain City are saying "Thanks, Coach." You did it your way, the right way, the Tennessee way. To the end.
Berry Named Thorpe Award Finalist, SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Tennessee's Eric Berry saw his weekend exploits spill over into Monday as he was named both a Jim Thorpe Award finalist and the SEC's Defensive Player of the Week in the same afternoon. Berry is one of three finalists for the coveted Thorpe Award, presented to the nation's top defensive back by a selection committee of former players, coaches, journalists and representatives of the major conferences. His selection as a finalist means the UT sophomore is headed to Orlando, Fla., for The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards.
The program, hosted by ESPN's Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit, originates Dec. 11 from the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney's Boardwalk on the Walt Disney World Resort. The program airs live on ESPN from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Eastern time.
Other finalists are Ohio State senior Malcolm Jenkins and Southern California junior Taylor Mays.
Berry stands alone nationally with seven interceptions for the season. His 265 interception return yards this year are threatening the all-time NCAA mark of 302 set by Southern Cal's Charles Phillips in 1974, and his 487 career yards in just 24 games are within 14 of the NCAA career mark of 501 set by Florida State's Terrell Buckley from 1989-91.
The fierce-hitting safety also earned his second weekly SEC defensive honor of the season for his efforts in Saturday's win at Vanderbilt.
The sophomore returned an interception for a touchdown for the second time in five games to help Tennessee past the Commodores, 20-10. Berry's season interception return yardage total broke the 52-year-old SEC record of 242 set by Florida's Joe Brodsky in 1956. He added one sack in the game and also took four snaps at quarterback, rushing for 11 yards and a first down.
This week's other SEC recipients were Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon (offense), LSU placekicker Colt David (special teams), Mississippi center Daverin Geralds (offensive lineman) and defensive tackle Peria Jerry (defensive lineman), and Florida running back Chris Rainey (freshman).
187 YEARS OF RECORDS SHATTERED
Berry in less than two seasons has broken interception return yardage records that had been on the books for a combined 187 years. He now owns records for a UT season (previously stood for 37 years), UT career (39 years), SEC season (52 years) and SEC career (59 years).
"I'm going to really try and keep this on task as far as getting ready for Kentucky and our game against Vanderbilt if you want to talk about that. Obviously we have a very short week with Thanksgiving coming up. We're certainly glad to get the Vanderbilt win, but we didn't spend a lot of time even going through the tape except for plays that we felt like were relevant during the game. We wanted to get right onto Kentucky with all of our Sunday preparation. Where normally we would give corrections, we skipped so that we could get ourselves started on Kentucky because of the short week and because it's a very important game to our seniors and our football team.
"Kentucky presents a significant amount of problems on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Offensively, they have done a really good job as they've changed quarterbacks. I'm so impressed with Randall Cobb when you consider his youthfulness and look at his ability and what they've been able to do with him. We'll have to do a great job of containing him in this ballgame because a lot of what they're doing is built around him. The fact that they are a no huddle team, we've been able to see quite a bit of that during the course of the year. The practice time and the preparation are always a little bit more difficult because of that. It really makes you work.
"I think it's appropriate to say that the defense really has a challenge this week. I've been really proud of our defensive football team this year, particularly in light of some of our inefficiencies on offense. It's almost amazing what they've been able to accomplish this year getting that done.
"Last week was the first consistent time during the season our offense was able to take some of the burden off the defense by keeping the ball 34 minutes or so and scoring some points. Hats off to our defense and also to our offense to stay on the path that we're on. We obviously have to throw the ball better and more than nine times. You're not going to get away with that too often. That's certainly one of our priorities during the course of the week.
"When you look at Kentucky, at their kicking game, they've done a good job. Their punter is very good, their kickoff is very good. It's a good solid kicking game. That was another area where I felt like made a difference -- there were some hidden yardage plays that made a difference for us versus Vanderbilt. We will continue to address that during the course of the week.
"Our challenge has been our offensive team. They did take the challenge a bit better against Vanderbilt. We need to be able to continue to run the ball effectively. We must improve our balance. At this point right now, all of the quarterbacks are in the mix. We'll go here during the course of the week and decide exactly what we want to do. We'll continue to be creative a little bit with some of the things we do. Hopefully, we can do enough things well to keep Kentucky having to work to stop us.
"The guys started off well on Sunday night. Today and through the week it's going to be extremely important that we put the plan in place and execute to be able to do what we need to do."
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer didn't see a particularly sharp team during Wednesday's 90-minute workout at Haslam Field. Only one full practice date remains for UT before the 2008 season finale against Kentucky this Saturday night. "Hopefully in the morning we will pick up the slack there," said Fulmer, whose squad returns to practice on Thanksgiving. "Today wasn't as sharp as I'd like for it to be offensively. I thought we have had two good days defensively." Defense hasn't been the problem for Tennessee this season. The Vols rank sixth nationally in total defensive yards allowed and among the top 16 in all five major defensive categories. Thursday also marks the day of the "Last Tackle," a Tennessee tradition in which Fulmer uses the occasion to gather his seniors at one end of a double line of teammates and offer a few kind words about each individual. The players then take turns plowing into a tackling dummy one last time, to the cheers and salutes of their teammates. "We've done it this way for quite some time," Fulmer said of Thursday's annual ritual. TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR FULMER FAREWELL Individual game tickets for Tennessee season football finale -- and the final game for head coach Phillip Fulmer -- remain available for purchase online at utsports.com, via phone at (800) 332-VOLS and at Thompson-Boling Arena. Kickoff for UT-Kentucky is 6:45 p.m. from Neyland Stadium. Tickets for are $50 each plus shipping and handling.
Eric Berry has the athletic ability, swagger, size and mentality to be one of the greatest defensive players in SEC and Tennessee history.
I voted for Berry as a member of the defense for the 2008 Football Writers Association of America All-America team. This is why I won't leave Eric Berry off of the list. Compliments of http://www.youtube.com/
The decision on who will be the next football coach at Tennessee may still be many days away. The media is speculating about a variety of coaches who could come to Knoxville.
The Sporting News talked with the Tennessee Titans Albert Haynesworth and the Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten and asked them who they would hire to replace their former coach Phil Fulmer at Tennessee.
Here's what they told the Sporting News
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Choice: Jon Gruden, head coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "I heard they wanted to get (Steve) Spurrier, but I don't know about that. They need a new wrinkle, kind of how (Alabama did with) Nick Saban."
Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys tight end Choice: Gruden. "I played for Coach (Phil) Fulmer, and I hate to see him go down after all the success he's had. I heard Jon Gruden's name has been mentioned. Obviously he has a connection there. ... You see some programs across the country that go through slumps there and just had a bad couple of years, but Coach Fulmer did a great job over the years, and I hate to see this happen."
"I won't take too long talking generally; I'll answer your questions. We went back to work on Sunday getting ready for Vanderbilt. We did use the open week I think very effectively. We took a couple of days to work on fundamentals and also to get some guys time to heal up and get over the nine-game stretch that we had, whether it be physically or getting ourselves in better shape for the last couple of ballgames, which a number of guys needed. Also from an emotional and mental standpoint, (it allowed them) to get over the events of the prior week.
"Sunday would be one of our best practices. We don't particularly practice on Sunday in full gear or anything. We went out in shorts and shoulder pads and had a physical, good practice. I appreciate that from our coaches and our players.
"Regarding Vanderbilt, they're a good football team. Obviously, they played very well against Kentucky, particularly in the first half. Since Bobby (Johnson) has been there, they've done a really good job on defense. They're a defensive football team that's very sound and makes you work at moving the football.
"Offensively, the quarterback is making plays for them. They've done a good job of using their personnel, particularly when D.J. Moore comes over and gives them some plays from an offensive standpoint. He's certainly one of the best players in our league.
"Our struggles are pretty obvious. You can't just point to the quarterback, everybody wants to do that. That's been one of the areas where we haven't done nearly as well as anybody would like, but we've also had our inconsistencies in a lot of other places, whether it be running the ball, people stacking the line of scrimmage to stop that and making us throw the football and execute in the passing game. Whether it be protection, consistently catching the ball as we should or consistently throwing the ball as we should has been a real struggle for us.
"Our goal this week is to improve the consistency and be efficient. The defense has played well enough to win most of our football games this season. We need to play the kicking game extremely well in this particular ballgame and take the plan that's in place and execute it."
The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee's Nov. 29 season finale against Kentucky is being televised by ESPN2 and kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. UT has made two previous appearances this year on ESPN and one on ESPN2.
The Vols lead the series against the Wildcats 71-23-9, having won the last 23 consecutive games against their northern neighbor for the nation's longest active streak against the same opponent. Kentucky's last triumph in the series was by a 17-12 margin in Knoxville back in 1984. Three of the last four games in the series have been decided by six points or less, with UT winning 37-31 in 2004, 17-12 in 2006 and a 52-50 thriller in four overtimes last season in Lexington.
Other game being televised over the Thanksgiving weekend involving SEC teams include a pair of Friday games and five additional Saturday contests. Friday's twin bill features Mississippi State at Mississippi in the Egg Bowl on Raycom Sports (12:30 a.m. Eastern) and LSU at Arkansas on CBS (2:30 p.m. Eastern). Saturday's scheduled games are Georgia Tech at Georgia on CBS (noon Eastern), Auburn at Alabama on CBS (3:30 p.m. Eastern), and Vanderbilt at Wake Forest on ESPNU (7 p.m. Eastern).
Two additional Saturday games, Florida at Florida State and South?Carolina at Clemson, are part of the ACC television package and will be picked on a six-day selection. The Florida game will be televised at either 3:30 p.m. Eastern or in prime time (7:45 or 8) on ABC or ESPN, and the South Carolina game will be televised either at noon or 3:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU or Raycom.
SLADE FINALIST FOR NATIONAL SECONDARY COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Tennessee veteran assistant coach Larry Slade is one of three finalists for the FootballScoop Defensive Back Coach of the Year Award presented by Muscle Milk, it was announced Monday.
Slade is in his 10th season with the Vols and this year's unit might be his best ever. Tennessee has been among the nation's leaders all season in interceptions, currently standing 11th nationally with 15 interceptions.
Slade teaches man-to-man technique as well as anyone in the business. Over his career, he has coached a number of players who have gone on to become excellent NFL defensive backs. One of his current Vols, Eric Berry, might be the next to make it big on Sundays. Berry currently is tied for the national lead with six interceptions and leads the country with 220 interception return yards.
Key Tennessee Secondary Stats:
7th nationally -- Total defense (275.6 yards per game)
15th nationally -- Scoring defense (18.1 points per game)
7th nationally -- Passing defense (164.0 yards per game)
(Randall Cobb (Alcoa) played in the Toyota East vs West All-Star Classic in 2007. Today, he's the starting QB at Kentucky as a freshman)
The Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association and Toyota are proud to announce that the 2nd Annual Toyota East vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at Burke-Tarr Stadium at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City.
The game will feature approximately 90 of Tennessee’s top high school football seniors divided into East and West teams. Several Division I commitments are expected to play in the game, and it will also give other undecided seniors an opportunity to shine in front of college coaches and a state-wide television audience.
Player nomination forms have been sent to coaches and the teams will be announced in early December.
Toyota East Vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic Facts
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, Kickoff TBA
Site: Burke-Tarr Stadium (cap. 5,500) at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, TN
TV/Radio: The game will be broadcast on television in Knoxville (MyVLT-TV), and Nashville (WUXP MyTV30). Other TV stations across the state are expected to join the broadcast network.
Participants: Approximately 90 high school seniors from across Tennessee divided into East and West teams.
Team Practice Sites: West- Tusculum College, Greeneville East- Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City
Practice Dates: Tuesday afternoon, December 9-Friday, December 12
Head Coaches:East- Philip Shadowens (Middle Tennessee Christian), West- Kevin Ward (Camden)
Assistant Coaches: East: Tony Lambert (Oneida), Tim Daniels (Red Bank), Buck Coatney (Fulton), Eddie Courtney (Farragut). West: P.A. Pratt (Crockett Co.), Paul Wade (Davidson Academy), Joe Welch (Bolton), Chris Wiley (Arlington), Carey Craig (Jackson South Side)
Selection Process: Nomination forms were sent to high school coaches in October. The teams will be selected and announced in early December. Last Year’s Result: East All-Stars defeated West All-Stars 26-6.
Contacts: Bill Marbet, Executive Director, TACA, 1-800-837-8062, bill@mulemix.com
Nov. 27, 2008
Eric Berry has the athletic ability, swagger, size and mentality to be one of the greatest defensive players in SEC and Tennessee history.
