2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee
in the college football
season of 2007–2008
. They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference
before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers
in the SEC Championship Game
. The Vols capped off the season by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers
in the Outback Bowl
to finish with a record of 10–4.
The team was led by head coach Phillip Fulmer
. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium
in Knoxville, Tennessee
. The 2007 season was the last at Tennessee for four assistants on the staff. Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe
left to be head coach at Duke
, taking assistants Matt Luke and Kurt Roper with him, while wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor accepted a co-offensive coordinator's position at Oklahoma State
.
and also to LSU
. This year the team returned 11 starters (2nd fewest in SEC). The schedule was ranked 6th toughest in the country entering the year, with road games at California
, Alabama
and Florida
.
Tennessee also played key games against Georgia
, South Carolina
and Arkansas
at Neyland Stadium
.
Offensive Scheme: Multiple (I-Form, Shotgun and Singleback)
Player Development / Wide Receivers / Assistant Head Coach: Trooper Taylor
Offensive Line: Greg Atkins
Running Backs: Kurt Roper
Tight Ends / Off. Line / Dir. Recruiting: Matt Luke
----
Offensive recap
Coaches
Head Coach Phillip Fulmer hired David Cutcliffe, former 6-year head coach at Ole Miss, after being the Tennessee offensive coordinator from '93–'98. Tennessee scored 30+ ppg in each of his first 6 years as the offensive coordinator and went from 18.6 to 27.8 ppg in 2006. In 2007, Tennessee ranked 54th in total offense, 73rd in rushing offense, and 35th in passing offense. The scoring offense ranked 36th.
Quarterbacks
Senior Erik Ainge
suffered a knee injury in spring but started each game of the season. Ainge was hampered by a finger and shoulder injury suffered in the season opener at California. Ainge finished behind Heisman Trophy
winner Tim Tebow
and Andre Woodson
in all-conference voting, earning honorable mention honors.
Runningbacks
Arian Foster
saw the majority of time at tailback, with relief appearances by LaMarcus Coker
, Montario Hardesty, and Lennon Creer. Coker was eventually dismissed from the team following the South Carolina game for a violation of team rules. Foster finished the season with 1193 rushing yards.
Receivers
The Wide Receivers were led by Juniors Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe, along with redshirt Sophomore Austin Rogers. Taylor had 73 receptions for 1000 yards while Rogers caught 56 passes for 624 yards.
Offensive Line
The Offensive line returned three starters in T Eric Young, G Anthony Parker and C Josh McNeil. The remaining two positions were be filled by improved junior Ramon Foster (T) and Chris Scott (G). Young was injured late in the season and was replaced by Jacques McClendon at guard, while Scott moved to Young's tackle position.
Tight Ends
Chris Brown started most of the season at TE due to a preseason injury to Brad Cottam. Cottam returned late in the season when it appeared that the NCAA would deny his redshirt appeal.
----
Starters for the majority of the season.
Base Defense: Multiple (4–3 and 3–2–6 "Mustang")
Defensive Line: Dan Brooks
Defensive Ends: Steve Caldwell
Defensive Backs: Larry Slade
----
Position Outlook
Coaches
2007 Was the 13th season as Defensive Coordinator for John Chavis. The Defensive staff had been together and unchanged since the 1999 Season, with Dan Brooks, Steve Caldwell and Larry Slade.
Defensive Line
The Defensive Line was stabilized by senior DE's Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds, who started each game of the season. Senior DT J.T. Mapu started against California but was replace by Sophomore Dan Williams. Sophomore DeMonte Bolden started at the other tackle spot.
Linebackers
The Vols had a steady group at Linebacker for the 2007 season. Senior Ryan Karl and Sophomore Rico McCoy manned the outside spots, while Junior Jerod Mayo earned All-SEC honors at MLB.
Defensive Backs
The Defensive Backfield saw a slew of injuries and changes. The season started with Jonathan Hefney and Jerod Parrish at safety, while Antonio Gaines and Marsalous Johnson started at cornerback. However, only Hefney retained his spot, as injury and impressive play allowed Freshmen Eric Berry, Brent Vinson and Dennis Rogan to emerge for the unit. Junior College transfer DeAngelo Willingham also saw significant time.
----
Starters for the majority of the year.
Freshman Daniel Lincoln replaced departing Senior James Wilhoit
and earned All American Honors. Britton Colquitt returned as punter and took over Wilhoit's duties on kickoffs. Rogan emerged as the main kick and punt returner, with Lennon Creer joining him as kick return following Coker's dismissal.
----
Starters for the majority of the year
, CB, #14, 5'11", 194 lbs., Creekside HS (Fairburn, GA
)
2. Chris Donald, LB, #40, 6'2", 220 lbs., Huntingdon HS (Huntingdon, TN
)
3. Ben Martin, DE, #90, 6'5", 230 lbs., La Salle HS
(Cincinnati, OH
)
4. Gerald Jones, ATH, #4, 6', 185 lbs., Millwood HS
(Oklahoma City, OK
)
5. DeAngelo Willingham, CB, #24, 6', 205 lbs., College of the Desert [Palm Desert, CA]
(Walterboro, SC
)
6. Nevin McKenzie, S, #20, 6'3", 210 lbs., Trinity Valley CC [Athens, TX]
(San Antonio, TX
)
7. Brent Vinson, S, #13, 6'2", 180 lbs., Hargrave Military Academy [Chatham, VA]
(Hampton, VA
)
8. Lennon Creer, RB, #3, 6'1", 202 lbs., Tatum HS
(Tatum, TX
)
9. B.J. Coleman, QB, #18, 6'4", 210 lbs., The McCallie School
(Chattanooga, TN
)
10. Darris Sawtelle, OL, #76, 6'6", 290 lbs., Brother Rice HS (Brimingham, MI
)
11. Ahmad Paige, WR, #82, 6'3", 175 lbs., Sterlington HS (Sterlington, LA
)
12. Art Evans, ATH, #25, 6'1", 185 lbs., Evangelical Christian HS (Lakeland, FL
)
13. Donald Langley, DT, #58, 6'2", 295 lbs., Seneca Valley HS
(Germantown, MD)
14. Chris Walker, DE, #84, 6'3", 220 lbs., Christian Brothers HS
(Memphis, TN
)
15. Denarius Moore, WR, #83, 6'1", 180 lbs., Tatum HS
(Tatum, TX
)
16. William Brimfield, DT, #96, 6'6", 287 lbs., Hunter-Kinard-Tyler HS (Neeses, SC
)
17. Kenny O'Neal, WR, #1, 6', 195 lbs., City College of San Francisco [CA]
(Oakland, CA
)
18. C.J. Fleming, CB, #26, 5'10", 173 lbs., Highland Springs HS
(Highland Springs, VA
)
19. Anthony Anderson, CB, #36, 6', 175 lbs., Austin-East HS (Knoxville, TN
)
20. Savion Frazier, LB, #43, 6'1", 209 lbs., Gar-Field HS
(Woodbridge, VA
)
21. Cody Pope, OL, #77, 6'5", 275 lbs., Cathedral Catholic HS
(San Diego, CA)
22. Daryl Vereen, RB, #9, 6'1", 200 lbs., North Mecklenburg HS
(Charlotte, NC
)
23. Kevin Cooper, FB, #45, 6'1", 245 lbs., Baylor School
(Chattanooga, TN
)
24. Todd Campbell, WR, #11, 6', 183 lbs., Franklin HS
(Franklin, TN
)
25. Tyler Maples, WR, #11, 6'2", 180 lbs., Maryville HS (Maryville, TN
)
26. Dennis Rogan, RB, #41, 5'10", 175 lbs., Fulton HS (Knoxville, TN
)
27. Deshaun Barnes, S, 6'2", 195 lbs., Lincoln HS (Tallahassee, FL
) – DNQ
28. Rufus Williams, DE, 6'3", 225 lbs., Astronaut HS
(Titusville, FL
) – DNQ
Tennessee dropped its opening game for the first time in over a decade, losing on the road to California by the score of 45–31.
The Vols traveled to Berkeley
for the return trip in a home-and-home series with the California Golden Bears
. After Cal's loss to Tennessee the previous year, some observers and college football personalities such as LSU coach Les Miles had questioned the strength of the Pac-10. During the game, a plane with the banner "SEC rules, Pac-10 drools" flew overhead. With a solid lead in the fourth quarter, Cal fans chanted "Pac-10 football" to the Tennessee fans who had already begun leaving the stadium. Tennessee gave up the opening points when an Erik Ainge pass flew backwards, when he was hit while trying to release it. California's Worrell Williams, recovered the fumble and returned it 45 yards for the score. Cal WR
DeSean Jackson
also scored at touchdown on a 77 yard punt return. Cal QB
Nate Longshore
was 19-of-28 for 240 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown.
Tennessee traveled to California for the first time since playing UCLA
in 1994, Peyton Manning
's freshman year. Tennessee had won 12 straight season openers. The Vols opening game was on the road for the first time since 1998
, when they defeated Syracuse.
QB Erik Ainge played game despite suffering a broken pinky
in practice. He was 32-of-47 for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Jeff Tedford
commented on the "revenge
factor" before the game:
California had stressed "redemption" in this game, and ultimately came out the victors.
The Vols were led by TE/H-back Chris Brown, who had two touchdown receptions and Lucas Taylor who had 7 catches for 102 yards.
After trailing early on, Tennessee took a 17–16 second quarter lead against Southern Mississippi and never looked back. The lead was Tennessee's first of the season, having never taken the lead against California. The Vols were led on offense by receivers Austin Rogers (7 catches, 112 yards, 1 TD) and Lucas Taylor (5 catches 118 yards). Erik Ainge was 23-of-36 for 276 yards and 2 TD's. Kicker Daniel Lincoln made three field goal
s (38, 36, and 47 yards).
Tennessee hosted Southern Miss
for its 2007 home opener. Southern Miss, a Conference USA
foe, faced off against the Vols for the first time since a 19–16 loss in 2000. Tennessee now has a 49–12 record vs non-conference opponents under Fulmer. The Vols are 12–0 since 1998 vs current members of CUSA and 5–0 vs Southern Miss.
In all-time home-openers, the Big Orange have compiled an 88–18–5 (.791) record. The Vols’ last home-opening loss was a 31–0 setback against Florida on Sept. 17, 1994.
The game marks the first starts for Freshman Eric Berry
at safety, and Sophomore Dan Williams at tackle.
On the 1st possession of the game in the steamy Swamp
, the Tennessee Volunteers
went three and out. On the ensuing punt, Brandon James took the return 83 yards for Gator touchdown. Things never did get much better for the visiting team, as Florida rolled to an impressive 59–20 victory in the SEC
opener for both teams.
There was, however, a brief period when it seemed that the contest would be much closer. The Gators ran out to a 28–6 lead by late in the 2nd quarter on two Tim Tebow
touchdown passes and a Tebow touchdown run, along with the opening punt return. But then Tennessee QB Erik Ainge
got his team's offense moving, throwing a touchdown pass just before halftime to cut the lead to 28–13 at intermission.
The Gators mounted a long drive to start the second half, but freshman Volunteer cornerback Eric Berry
picked off a Tim Tebow pass (his first interception thrown in 2007) and returned it 93 yards for another Tennessee touchdown. When Florida's next drive ended in a punt, UT had the ball down only eight, 28–20.
But on the first play of the possession, Erik Ainge's handoff to running back Arian Foster was mishandled, and Gator linebacker Dustin Doe scooped up the loose ball and took it into the endzone for a Florida touchdown. Tennessee's momentum was washed away by the roar of 90,000 Gator fans, and the home team never looked back. Florida would end the game with 31 straight points, turning a close game into a runaway.
Several Gators had excellent afternoons. Tim Tebow finished 14–19 passing for 299 yards with 2 TDs and 1 INT and rushed for 62 yards and 2 more TDs. Receiver Percy Harvin
excelled as well, leading all players in rushing (9 attempts for 75 yards and 1 TD) and receiving (4 catches for 120 yards). The Florida offense rolled up 556 yards of total offense, 255 on the ground. Meanwhile, the Gator defense also did its part, holding Tennessee to just 38 yards rushing with no first downs on the ground and 293 yards total offense.
Overall, the Gators put together a historically dominating performance. Their 59 points scored was the second-highest total in the history of the series
(behind only UF's 62 in the 1995 contest), and the 39 point margin of defeat was the Vols' most lopsided loss to any opponent since 1981. After the game, Tennessee still led the overall series by a narrow 19–18 margin.
Tennessee grabbed the lead first for the first time this season, and never relinquished it, as the Vols beat Arkansas State by the score of 48 to 27. The Vols entered the game unranked following the loss to Florida and were playing their second home game of the season.
QB Erik Ainge set a career high with 334 yards passing and tied a career high with 4 TD's while going 27-of-39. Tennessee allowed 377 total yards on defense. Lucas Taylor had 7 catches for 104 yards.
Tennessee earned its first conference victory of the season by beating the Georgia Bulldogs by the score of 35–14. Tennessee dominated the first half, leading the game by the score of 28–0. Tennessee held Georgia to 243 total yards, while picking up 190 yards on the ground. The game was a sudden turnaround for both the Defense and the Running game, which both performed poorly in the Vols' only other conference game, Florida. The win, combined with Florida's losses to Auburn
and LSU
puts Tennessee back into the race for the SEC Championship Game
in Atlanta
.
The win came after head coach Phillip Fulmer came under fire by anonymous former players in an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel
. Fulmer called the article "an incredible cheap shot" in the post-game press conference. Fulmer had also been receiving criticism from several other writers that follow the program.
Individual performances were highlighted by Arian Foster, who carried the ball 17 times for 98 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Backup running back Montario Hardesty added 70 yards on 14 carries with 1 TD. LB Ellix Wilson blocked a punt in the 2nd quarter.
The Vols traveled to Starkville, Mississippi
for the first time since winning 35–17 in 2002. Phillip Fulmer commented on Mississippi State during the Tuesday press conference:
Tennessee took an early lead after stopping the Bulldogs on their first drive. Erik Ainge found Chris Brown on a 4 yard TD pass to cap off at 9 play, 78 yard drive. Mississippi State then answered. The Bulldogs forced the Vols to punt after backing them up. The short field paid off, when Wesley Carroll found Tony Burks for a 38 yard touchdown pass. State took the lead in the 2nd quarter when RB Anthony Dixon broke loose on a 30 yard touchdown run.
Tennessee followed with 17 unanswered points, coming on a Lucas Taylor 51 yard TD reception, a 47 yard Daniel Lincoln field goal
and an Arian Foster 1 yard touchdown run. Mississippi State would score one more touchdown to cut the lead to 3. However the Vols' Defense held firm for the last quarter and a half. Daniel Lincoln added 3 field goals of 29, 26, and 43 yards to provide the final 12 point margin of victory.
Erik Ainge ended the game with a 22-of-36 performance with 1 interception and 2 touchdown passes. Lucas Taylor had 11 catches for 186 yards. Arian Foster ran the ball 21 for 143 yards, while Montario Hardesty added 81 yards on 16 carries. Tennessee outgained Mississippi State 470 to 338 total yards.
Nick Saban
set a different tone for this year's "The Third Saturday in October" right from the get go. Saban elected to kick an onside kick
on the opening kickoff. Alabama recovered and scored 3 on Leigh Tiffen's 39 yard field goal. Bama extended their lead to 10 when QB John Parker Wilson
connected with Terry Grant on a 3 yard touchdown pass.
Tennessee then scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead early in the 2nd quarter. Arian Foster had a 2 yard touchdown run and Erik Ainge found TE Luke Stocker for a 3 yard touchdown pass. At that point Alabama took over. WR DJ Hall had 2 2nd quarter touchdown receptions. Leigh Tiffen added 3 more field goals to bring his total to four on the day. RB Terry Grant also had an 8 yard touchdown run. Tennessee was only able to add one field goal by Daniel Lincoln, shortly before halftime, as the Crimson Tide outscored Tennessee 17–0 in the second half.
WR DJ Hall and QB John Parker Wilson had career days for Alabama. Hall had 13 receptions for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wilson was 32-of-46 for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Tennessee used timely turnovers and clutch kicking to earn an ugly 27–24 overtime victory. South Carolina fought back from a 21 point deficit at halftime to take a 24–21 lead with 1:24 left. However, following a LaMarcus Coker
return to the 47 yard line, Tennessee put together an 8 play, 26 yard drive to set up freshman Daniel Lincoln for the game tying 48-yard field goal. In overtime, Lincoln hit another field goal from 27 yards, while South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop missed wide right from 40 yards to give Tennessee the victory.
It was a tale of two halves in regulation. Tennessee had touchdown scoring drives of 2 yards, 44 yards, and 72 yards in the first half, but did not score in the second half until Lincoln's field goal with 9 seconds remaining. South Carolina, who was held scoreless in the first half, put together touchdown drives of 39 yards, 86 yards, and 66 yards, also adding the late field goal by Succop. The Gamecocks actually outgained Tennessee by a margin of 501 to 317 yards. However, Tennessee capitalized on 3 Gamecock turnovers. Freshman Eric Berry
had a long fumble return to set up the Vols first score and added an interception in the second quarter. Berry also tipped a pass in the 4th quarter which was intercepted by Ryan Karl.
Tennessee rolled up it top point total of the season by scoring in creative ways en route to a 59–7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette. Tennessee scored on Defense when DE Antonio Reynolds intecepted a tipped pass and returned it for 70 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee scored on special teams when DB Antonio Wardlow returned a blocked punt 20 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee also had 3 touchdowns by freshmen late in the game: a 30 yard run by RB Lennon Creer, a touchdown reception by Kenny O'Neal. WR Gerald Jones ran for a TD after lining up at QB. Running back Arian Foster had 2 scores in the first half.
Tennessee used clock management and stout defensive play to stop Arkansas TB Darren McFadden
en route to a 34–13 victory over the Razorbacks. McFadden was coming off of a game in which he broke an SEC record for yards rushing in a game vs. South Carolina. Tennessee limited him to 117 yards on 22 carries. The Vols scored on their first drive of the game which culminated with a 16 yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Austin Rogers. Arkansas countered with a field goal after TB Felix Jones
put them in good position with a 48 yard kick return into Tennessee territory.
Vol freshman DB Dennis Rogan countered with a return of his own, 78 yards to the Arkansas 15, setting up a Daniel Lincoln 25 yard field goal to answer the score. Tennessee added another field goal from Lincoln and a second touchdown pass in the Second Quarter. This time Ainge found WR Josh Briscoe on third and goal from the 14, to score with 10 seconds remaining in the half to push the score to 20–3.
In the second half, Tennessee forced Arkansas to punt and then Arian Foster gave the Vols a three score lead by racing 59 yards for a touchdown. Arkansas would add a Third Quarter field goal by Alex Tejada and a Fourth Quarter touchdown run by TB Michael Smith to close to within 14. However, LB Jerod Mayo
sealed the game with a 34 yard interception return for a touchdown, and provided the final margin of 34–13.
SS Eric Berry had his first multi-interception game, picking off a pass at the end of each half. Tennessee won the time of possession battle 33:20 to 26:40. Foster ended with 13 carried for 88 yards. TB Montario Hardesty added 20 carries and 70 yards. Mayo led the team with 9 tackles. Dan Williams and Xavier Mitchell each had a sack.
Tennessee fought back from a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter to beat their in-state rivals by the score of 25–24. The issue was still to be decided with less than a minute in the game, when Vanderbilt kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt's 49 yard field goal attempt grazed the left upright and went wide left.
Tennessee started well on its opening drive, moving 75 yards on 9 plays. The Drive culminated with a 9 yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Lucas Taylor. The extra point, however, was blocked, giving Tennessee a 6–0 lead. Vanderbilt answered the score and then took the lead midway through the second quarter. QB Mackenzi Adams found Brad Allen for a 5 yard touchdown pass. Tennessee regained the lead on a Daniel Lincoln field goal from 33 yards. However, Vanderbilt scored twice in the final minute of the half, first with a 19 yard touchdown pass from Adams to Jeff Jennings, and then with 33 yard field goal by Hahnfeldt. The field goal had followed a fumble by Tennessee on a lateral pass from Ainge to Foster shortly before halftime.
Vanderbilt extended its lead after halftime to 24–9 by moving down the field on an 11 play, 75 yard drive that consumed 5:54 of the game clock. The Commodores would take that lead into the 4th quarter before Tennessee awoke. Tennessee actually punted the ball back to Vanderbilt with seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, but Commodore DE Broderick Stewart was flagged for roughing Vol punter Briton Colquitt. The Vols scored on that drive early in the 4th quarter when Ainge connected with Josh Briscoe for a 7 yard touchdown pass.
The Vol Defense held Vanderbilt to two "three and out" possessions after the Briscoe touchdown. Tennessee retook possession and drove 83 yards in less than 3 minutes, scoring a touchdown when Ainge found Austin Rogers in the end zone for a 5 yard touchdown pass. The Two-point conversion
failed, and Tennessee still trailed. The Volunteer Defense once again held strong, forcing another punt after a 3 play, 4 yard drive. Tennessee took possession at the Vanderbilt 33 yard line after Freshman DB Dennis Rogan returned a punt 45 yards. The Vols moved 17 yards to set up the go ahead field goal for Daniel Lincoln. Lincoln connected from 33 yards to give Tennessee the 25–24 lead.
Vanderbilt was not finished at this point. D.J. Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to the Tennessee 42 yard line. Vanderbilt moved the ball 11 yards (9 of which came on a pass interference penalty) to set up the field goal try by Hahnfeldt. Hahnfeldt pushed the kick left, grazing the outer half of the left upright, and giving Tennessee a 25–24 victory. The victory kept the Vols in the driver's seat for the SEC Eastern Division title. The Vols would need to win the next game against Kentucky to earn the spot in the SEC Championship Game
against LSU
.
The Volunteers (9–3, 6–2) earned a shot at LSU in the SEC title game by beating the Wildcats (7–5, 3–5) for the 23rd straight time, the longest active winning streak by one team over another in major college football.
The game started with a one-play, 65 yard touchdown for the volunteers as a pass was thrown to Arian Foster by Eric Ainge. The rest of the first half went well for the volunteers as they led 24–7 heading into the break. Ainge and the Tennessee Offense built the halftime lead with touchdown passes to Foster, WR Lucas Taylor, and WR Quintin Hancock.
The game looked to be in hand when the Vols led 31–14 near the end of the 3rd quarter following an Ainge touchdown pass to TE Jeff Cottam. However the Wildcats fought back behind a strong second half performance by QB Andre Woodson
, scoring 17 unanswered points to push the game into overtime.
The first overtime saw Kentucky score first when Woodson found Keenan Burton for an 8 yard touchdown pass. Tennessee answered with a touchdown pass of their own. Ainge connected with Gerald Jones, whose diving catch re-tied the score. In the second overtime, the game looked like it was over when Eric Ainge threw his third interception of the game. A tipped pass was corralled by Sam Maxwell, setting up Kentucky for a win with any score. However, a Kentucky 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Dan Williams to push the game into triple-overtime.
In the 3rd overtime, the Vols had a chance to end the game after an Austin Rogers touchdown reception, as they only needed a 2 point conversion. However Arian Foster was atopped short on an off tackle run and was also flagged for a personal foul for throwing the ball up in the air after the play was over. Kentucky had scored in the first half of that overtime period when Burton caught an 11 yard touchdown pass from Woodson. The two-point conversion failed, as Woodson's pass fell incomplete, setting up UT for the opportunity to win with a touchdown and two-point conversion. When they failed to cash in on that opportunity, Foster showed his frustration by slinging the ball, and was flagged for a 15 yard penalty.
The penalty put the Vols in a hole to begin the 4th overtime period, forcing them to start from the 40 yard line. Nevertheless, the resilient volunteers scored their final touchdown in another one-play, 40 yard drive as Ainge found Hancock wide open. The Volunteers scored the two point conversion as well, with Ainge hitting Rogers on a quick slant. Kentucky matched the score when RB Derrick Locke
ran in from the 2 yard line. Kentucky then needed to match the Vols' two point conversion. The game-winning play came as Woodson was tackled from behind by DE Antonio Reynolds and a forced fumble was recovered by the Volunteer Defense. That play ended the 5-hour thriller with the final score: 52–50.
Tennessee faced the LSU Tigers in its first SEC Championship Game
since 2004. The teams had also faced each other in the 2001 SEC Championship game. LSU won that game over the favored Volunteers, eliminating them from a trip to the Rose Bowl for the National Championship. LSU last played in the SEC title game in 2005, losing to Georgia.
This time, Tennessee led the contest for a majority of the game, before surrendering the lead following a late interception. The Vols took the opening kickoff to the 38 yard line and from there, the offense drove 62 yards for a touchdown. That drive was capped off by an 11 yard touchdown reception by Chris Brown. LSU answered in the first quarter with two Colt David field goal, to cut the deficit to 1 point. A scoreless second quarter made the halftime score 7–6.
LSU drove the field on the first possession of the second half to secure a short lived lead. Substitute QB Ryan Perriloux, filling in for injured Matt Flynn, led the Tigers on the 76 yard drive, finding WR Demetrius Byrd for the go ahead touchdown pass. The Vols missed a field goal on the following drive, but capitalized on a forced fumble to retake the lead. Ainge drove the Vols 66 yards on 9 plays and found Josh Briscoe on a pass into the endzone to move the score to 14–13.
Both Offenses stalled for the rest of the game. However, LSU found its winning score when DB Jonathan Zenon picked off an Ainge pass at the Tennessee 18 yard line and returned it for a touchdown. That forth quarter score, combined with Perriloux's two point conversion run gave the game its final 21–14 score. The win by LSU propelled them into the 2008 BCS National Championship Game
, while Tennessee accepted a bid to the Outback Bowl
to face Wisconsin.
Despite losing 3 starters to academic suspensions, Tennessee put together a solid performance to end their season with a 21–17 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers
in the 2008 Outback Bowl
. WR Lucas Taylor, DT DeMonte Bolden, and LB Rico McCoy (all starters) along with reserve LB Chris Donald and reserve WR Kenny O'Neal, were declared academically ineligible for the game.
Tennessee started the day's scoring on their second possession. WR Gerald Jones, lining up at QB in the aptly named "G-Gun" formation scored on a 3 yard run to cap off a 66 yard drive. Wisconsin answered on the ensuing drive, due largely to a 60 yard kickoff return by David Gilreath and a 15 yard facemask penalty. The 22 yard scoring effort found pay dirt with QB Tyler Donovan's 6 yard run on 3rd and goal. Donovan was hit at the goal line by Eric Berry, causing a mild concussion, but not forcing Donovan to miss any time. Tennessee drove deep into Badger territory on the following drive, only to turn the ball over by fumbling a trick play. Both offenses continued to sputter until the Vols retook the lead with 9:45 to go in the 2nd quarter. Erik Ainge hooked up with WR Josh Briscoe on a 29 touchdown pass to move the score to 14–7.
The Vols forced the Badgers backwards on their next drive and then capitalized on the field position. Tennessee took at 14 point lead when Ainge found TE Brad Cottam on a 31 yard touchdown throw. The score would be the last of the game for the Vol offense. Wisconsin would answer shortly before halftime as Donovan found Andy Crooks in the end zone with 1:03 remaining in the half.
The second half was a defensive struggle. Wisconsin held Tennessee scoreless, while the Tennessee defense limited the Badger offense to 3 points. The point came on a Taylor Mehlhaff 27 yard field goal with 9 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Wisconsin had a few opportunities to take the lead in the game's final period, but the Badgers fell short each time. The Vols forced an incomplete pass by Donovan on a 4th and 2 play from the Tennessee 10 yard line with 5:52 to go in the game. Wisconsin got one final chance with 1:26 to go on the clock, but that drive was ended by an Antonio Wardlow interception at the 1 yard line of Tennessee. Senior Erik Ainge took a knee is his final play as a Tennessee Volunteer to cap off the 21–17 victory. Ainge finished his career at Tennessee being named the MVP at the end of the Outback Bowl Game. Briscoe put in his best game of the season, filling in for Lucas Taylor and playing all 5 receiver positions at one point in the game. Brad Cottam showed that when healthy he can be a great player and look for him in the upcoming NFL draft.
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
season of 2007–2008
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
. They won the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
before falling to the eventual national champion LSU Tigers
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
in the SEC Championship Game
2007 SEC Championship Game
The 2007 SEC Championship Game was played on December 1, 2007 in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game determined the 2007 football champion of the Southeastern Conference. The LSU Tigers, winners of the Western division of the SEC, defeated the Tennessee Volunteers, who won the Eastern...
. The Vols capped off the season by defeating the Wisconsin Badgers
2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by head coach Bret Bielema, the Badgers completed the season with a 9-4 record, including a 5-3 mark in Big Ten Conference play...
in the Outback Bowl
2008 Outback Bowl
The 2008 Outback Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on January 1, 2008 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida....
to finish with a record of 10–4.
The team was led by head coach Phillip Fulmer
Phillip Fulmer
Phillip Fulmer is a TV college football analyst and the former head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, who compiled a 152–52 record from 1992–2008 as head coach, but was fired during a 5–7 season in 2008...
. The Volunteers played their home games at Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455...
in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. The 2007 season was the last at Tennessee for four assistants on the staff. Offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe
David Cutcliffe
David Cutcliffe is the head football coach of the Duke University Blue Devils. He is best known for coaching Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, and Manning's younger brother and fellow Super Bowl Champion Eli at the University of Mississippi...
left to be head coach at Duke
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
, taking assistants Matt Luke and Kurt Roper with him, while wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor accepted a co-offensive coordinator's position at Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
.
Preseason
Tennessee headed into the 2007 season looking to build on an average 2006 campaign to UT standards where the team went 9–4 with narrow losses to eventual national champion Florida2006 Florida Gators football team
The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season...
and also to LSU
2006 LSU Tigers football team
The 2006 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University in the college football season of 2006–2007. The team's coach was former Oklahoma State coach Les Miles. They played their home games at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana...
. This year the team returned 11 starters (2nd fewest in SEC). The schedule was ranked 6th toughest in the country entering the year, with road games at California
2007 California Golden Bears football team
The 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford....
, Alabama
2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a disappointing 6–7 record in the 2006 season. The Tide was led by its new head coach Nick Saban, a former head coach of rival LSU. Despite a...
and Florida
2007 Florida Gators football team
The 2007 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2007 college football season...
.
Tennessee also played key games against Georgia
2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team
The 2007 Georgia Bulldogs football team competed on behalf of the University of Georgia in American football against teams from other colleges and universities. The Bulldogs tied for first place in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference but lost a tie-breaker with the University of...
, South Carolina
2007 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2007 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference during the college football season of 2007-2008. The Gamecocks were led by Steve Spurrier in his third season as USC head coach and played their home games in Williams-Brice...
and Arkansas
2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 2007 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2007–2008 football season. The Razorbacks played six home games at Donald W...
at Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium
Neyland Stadium is a sports stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. It serves primarily as the home of the Tennessee Volunteers football team, but is also used to host large conventions and has been a site for several NFL exhibition games. The stadium's official capacity is 102,455...
.
Schedule
Offense
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks / Assistant Head Coach: David CutcliffeDavid Cutcliffe
David Cutcliffe is the head football coach of the Duke University Blue Devils. He is best known for coaching Super Bowl MVP Peyton Manning at the University of Tennessee, and Manning's younger brother and fellow Super Bowl Champion Eli at the University of Mississippi...
Offensive Scheme: Multiple (I-Form, Shotgun and Singleback)
Player Development / Wide Receivers / Assistant Head Coach: Trooper Taylor
Trooper Taylor
Trooper Taylor is an American college football assistant coach at Auburn University, serving as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach under head coach Gene Chizik. Prior to joining Auburn, Taylor served as co-offensive coordinator for Oklahoma State...
Offensive Line: Greg Atkins
Running Backs: Kurt Roper
Tight Ends / Off. Line / Dir. Recruiting: Matt Luke
----
Offensive recap
Coaches
Head Coach Phillip Fulmer hired David Cutcliffe, former 6-year head coach at Ole Miss, after being the Tennessee offensive coordinator from '93–'98. Tennessee scored 30+ ppg in each of his first 6 years as the offensive coordinator and went from 18.6 to 27.8 ppg in 2006. In 2007, Tennessee ranked 54th in total offense, 73rd in rushing offense, and 35th in passing offense. The scoring offense ranked 36th.
Quarterbacks
Senior Erik Ainge
Erik Ainge
Erik Douglas Ainge is a retired American football quarterback formerly of the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
suffered a knee injury in spring but started each game of the season. Ainge was hampered by a finger and shoulder injury suffered in the season opener at California. Ainge finished behind Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
and Andre Woodson
André Woodson
Andre' Woodson, Jr. is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and is currently a free agent. Woodson played collegiately at the University of Kentucky...
in all-conference voting, earning honorable mention honors.
Runningbacks
Arian Foster
Arian Foster
Arian Foster , is an American football running back for the Houston Texans. He was signed by the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and was added to their active roster from the practice squad on November 17, 2009. He played college football at Tennessee...
saw the majority of time at tailback, with relief appearances by LaMarcus Coker
LaMarcus Coker
LaMarcus Darnell Coker is a former college football player for the University of Tennessee and Hampton University who currently plays as a running back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.-College:...
, Montario Hardesty, and Lennon Creer. Coker was eventually dismissed from the team following the South Carolina game for a violation of team rules. Foster finished the season with 1193 rushing yards.
Receivers
The Wide Receivers were led by Juniors Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe, along with redshirt Sophomore Austin Rogers. Taylor had 73 receptions for 1000 yards while Rogers caught 56 passes for 624 yards.
Offensive Line
The Offensive line returned three starters in T Eric Young, G Anthony Parker and C Josh McNeil. The remaining two positions were be filled by improved junior Ramon Foster (T) and Chris Scott (G). Young was injured late in the season and was replaced by Jacques McClendon at guard, while Scott moved to Young's tackle position.
Tight Ends
Chris Brown started most of the season at TE due to a preseason injury to Brad Cottam. Cottam returned late in the season when it appeared that the NCAA would deny his redshirt appeal.
----
Starters for the majority of the season.
| Position | Number | Name | Height | Weight | Class | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
10 | * Erik Ainge Erik Ainge Erik Douglas Ainge is a retired American football quarterback formerly of the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft... |
6'6" | 220 lbs. | Sr. | Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro, Oregon Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the... |
| TB Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
27 | * Arian Foster Arian Foster Arian Foster , is an American football running back for the Houston Texans. He was signed by the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and was added to their active roster from the practice squad on November 17, 2009. He played college football at Tennessee... |
6'1" | 225 lbs. | Jr. | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
| TE/H-Back H-back An H-Back is an offensive position in American football, and is also known as power back. The position is a hybrid of a fullback and a tight end. The position was made notable in the NFL by the Washington Redskins under head coach Joe Gibbs who ran a two tight end system... |
28 | * Chris Brown | 6'3" | 250 lbs. | Sr. | Destrehan, Louisiana Destrehan, Louisiana Destrehan is a census-designated place in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2000 census. It was named after Jean N... |
| TE Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
86 | Brad Cottam | 6'8" | 270 lbs. | Sr. | Germantown, Tennessee Germantown, Tennessee Germantown is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee. The population was 38,844 at the 2010 census.Germantown is a suburb of Memphis, bordering it to the east. Germantown's economy is dominated by the retail and commercial service sectors; there is no heavy industry in Germantown... |
| WR Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
12 | Lucas Taylor | 6'0" | 185 lbs. | Jr. | Carencro, Louisiana Carencro, Louisiana Carencro[p] is a small city in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is a suburb of the nearby city of Lafayette. The population was 6,120 at the 2000 census. Its name comes from the Louisiana Creole word for buzzard: the spot was one where large flocks of buzzards roosted in the bald... |
| WR Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
21 | Austin Rogers | 6'2" | 185 lbs. | So. | Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home... |
| WR Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
81 | Josh Briscoe | 6'3" | 183 lbs. | Jr. | Lawndale, North Carolina Lawndale, North Carolina Lawndale is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, along the First Broad River. The population was 642 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Lawndale is located at .... |
| LT | 54 | * Eric Young | 6'4" | 305 lbs. | Sr. | Union, South Carolina Union, South Carolina Union is the county seat of Union County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 8,393 at the 2010 census.It is the principal city of the Union Micropolitan Statistical Area , an which includes all of Union County and which is further included in the greater... |
| LG | 75 | * Anthony Parker | 6'3" | 305 lbs. | Jr. | Jonesboro, Georgia Jonesboro, Georgia Jonesboro is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,724 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clayton County.... |
| C Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
50 | * Josh McNeil | 6'4" | 280 lbs. | So. | Collins, Mississippi Collins, Mississippi Collins is a city in Covington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,761 at the 2005 census. It is the county seat of Covington County.... |
| RG | 79 | Chris Scott | 6'5" | 325 lbs. | So. | Lovejoy, Georgia Lovejoy, Georgia Lovejoy is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,495. During the American Civil War, it was named Lovejoy's Station, and was the site of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864.During the 2000s,... |
| RT | 78 | Ramon Foster | 6'6" | 325 lbs. | Jr. | Henning, Tennessee Henning, Tennessee Henning is a town in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 970 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Henning is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.... |
- * – Denotes returning starter.
Defense
Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers / Associate Head Coach: John Chavis (20th year)Base Defense: Multiple (4–3 and 3–2–6 "Mustang")
Defensive Line: Dan Brooks
Defensive Ends: Steve Caldwell
Defensive Backs: Larry Slade
----
Position Outlook
Coaches
2007 Was the 13th season as Defensive Coordinator for John Chavis. The Defensive staff had been together and unchanged since the 1999 Season, with Dan Brooks, Steve Caldwell and Larry Slade.
Defensive Line
The Defensive Line was stabilized by senior DE's Xavier Mitchell and Antonio Reynolds, who started each game of the season. Senior DT J.T. Mapu started against California but was replace by Sophomore Dan Williams. Sophomore DeMonte Bolden started at the other tackle spot.
Linebackers
The Vols had a steady group at Linebacker for the 2007 season. Senior Ryan Karl and Sophomore Rico McCoy manned the outside spots, while Junior Jerod Mayo earned All-SEC honors at MLB.
Defensive Backs
The Defensive Backfield saw a slew of injuries and changes. The season started with Jonathan Hefney and Jerod Parrish at safety, while Antonio Gaines and Marsalous Johnson started at cornerback. However, only Hefney retained his spot, as injury and impressive play allowed Freshmen Eric Berry, Brent Vinson and Dennis Rogan to emerge for the unit. Junior College transfer DeAngelo Willingham also saw significant time.
----
Starters for the majority of the year.
| Position | Number | Name | Height | Weight | Class | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LE Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
93 | Xavier Mitchell | 6'3" | 255 lbs. | Sr. | Long Beach, Mississippi Long Beach, Mississippi Long Beach is a city located in Harrison County, Mississippi, USA. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
| LT | 55 | Dan Williams | 6'2" | 310 lbs. | So. | Memphis, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers.... |
| RT | 98 | Demonté Bolden | 6'6" | 290 lbs. | Jr. | Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County... |
| RE Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
89 | Antonio Reynolds | 6'3" | 270 lbs. | Sr. | Akron, Ohio Akron, Ohio Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan... |
| SLB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
39 | * Ryan Karl | 6'0" | 218 lbs. | Sr. | Franklin, Tennessee Franklin, Tennessee Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:... |
| MLB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
7 | * Jerod Mayo Jerod Mayo -2008 season:Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots with the tenth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was signed on July 24, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.9 million, including $13.8 million in bonuses and guarantees... |
6'2" | 230 lbs. | Jr. | Hampton, Virginia Hampton, Virginia Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts... |
| WLB Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
5 | Rico McCoy | 6'1" | 215 lbs. | So. | Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... |
| RCB Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
24 | DeAngelo Willingham | 6'0" | 205 lbs. | Jr. | Walterboro, South Carolina Walterboro, South Carolina Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Colleton County.-History:... |
| LCB Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
13 | Brent Vinson | 6'2" | 180 lbs. | Fr. | Hampton, Virginia Hampton, Virginia Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts... |
| FS | 33 | * Jonathan Hefney Jonathan Hefney Jonathan Jerrod Hefney is a Canadian Football Defensive Back who is currently playing for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2008... |
5'10" | 185 lbs. | Sr. | Rock Hill, South Carolina Rock Hill, South Carolina Rock Hill is the largest city in York County, South Carolina and the fourth-largest city in the state. It is also the third-largest city of the Charlotte metropolitan area, behind Charlotte and Concord, North Carolina. The population was 71,459 as of . Rock Hill has undergone rapid growth between... |
| SS | 14 | Eric Berry Eric Berry James Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in... |
5'11" | 195 lbs. | Fr. | Fairburn, Georgia Fairburn, Georgia Fairburn is a city in Fulton County, Georgia. The population was 12,950 at the 2010 census.- History :Fairburn is located along a railroad line and was once the county seat for Campbell County, Georgia, starting in 1870... |
- * – Denotes returning starter
Special Teams
Position OutlookFreshman Daniel Lincoln replaced departing Senior James Wilhoit
James Wilhoit
James Howell Wilhoit II was the placekicker for the University of Tennessee football team between 2003 and 2006.- High school :...
and earned All American Honors. Britton Colquitt returned as punter and took over Wilhoit's duties on kickoffs. Rogan emerged as the main kick and punt returner, with Lennon Creer joining him as kick return following Coker's dismissal.
----
Starters for the majority of the year
| Position | Number | Name | Height | Weight | Class | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P Punter (football position) A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a... |
47 | * Britton Colquitt | 6'3" | 205 lbs. | Jr. | Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region... |
| PR Punt returner Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while... |
41 | Dennis Rogan | 5'10" | 175 lbs. | Fr. | Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region... |
| KO Placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... |
26 | Daniel Lincoln | 6'0" | 204 lbs. | Fr. | Ocala, Florida Ocala, Florida Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala... |
| KR | 41 | Dennis Rogan | 5'10" | 175 lbs. | Fr. | Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region... |
| KR | 3 | Lennon Creer | 6'1" | 202 lbs. | Fr. | Tatum, Texas Tatum, Texas Tatum is a city in Panola and Rusk Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tatum is located at .... |
| PK Placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... |
26 | Daniel Lincoln | 6'0" | 204 lbs. | Fr. | Ocala, Florida Ocala, Florida Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala... |
- * – Denotes Returning Starter
Top newcomers for 2007
1. Eric BerryEric Berry
James Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in...
, CB, #14, 5'11", 194 lbs., Creekside HS (Fairburn, GA
Fairburn, Georgia
Fairburn is a city in Fulton County, Georgia. The population was 12,950 at the 2010 census.- History :Fairburn is located along a railroad line and was once the county seat for Campbell County, Georgia, starting in 1870...
)
2. Chris Donald, LB, #40, 6'2", 220 lbs., Huntingdon HS (Huntingdon, TN
Huntingdon, Tennessee
Huntingdon is a town in Carroll County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,349 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County.-Geography:Huntingdon is located at ....
)
3. Ben Martin, DE, #90, 6'5", 230 lbs., La Salle HS
La Salle High School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
La Salle High School is a Catholic, all-male, parochial high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.The school was opened September 6, 1960 and named in honor of Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, a French priest and educational reformer. The school was officially dedicated May 14, 1961...
(Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
)
4. Gerald Jones, ATH, #4, 6', 185 lbs., Millwood HS
Millwood Public Schools (Oklahoma)
Millwood Public Schools is a PK-12 district with an enrollment of approximately 1032 students in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The district covers an area of , with its boundaries between Lincoln Boulevard and Sunnylane/Coltrane Rroads on the west and east, and between NE 48th and NE 86th on the south...
(Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
)
5. DeAngelo Willingham, CB, #24, 6', 205 lbs., College of the Desert [Palm Desert, CA]
College of the Desert
College of the Desert is a public two-year community college located in Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California...
(Walterboro, SC
Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Colleton County.-History:...
)
6. Nevin McKenzie, S, #20, 6'3", 210 lbs., Trinity Valley CC [Athens, TX]
Trinity Valley Community College
Trinity Valley Community College is a community college in the state of Texas.TVCC operates four campuses serving the Texas counties of Anderson, Henderson, and Kaufman, southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex:...
(San Antonio, TX
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
)
7. Brent Vinson, S, #13, 6'2", 180 lbs., Hargrave Military Academy [Chatham, VA]
Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
(Hampton, VA
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
)
8. Lennon Creer, RB, #3, 6'1", 202 lbs., Tatum HS
Tatum Independent School District
Tatum Independent School District is a public school district based in Tatum, Texas .In addition to Tatum, the district serves rural areas in northeastern Rusk and northwestern Panola counties....
(Tatum, TX
Tatum, Texas
Tatum is a city in Panola and Rusk Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tatum is located at ....
)
9. B.J. Coleman, QB, #18, 6'4", 210 lbs., The McCallie School
The McCallie School
The McCallie School is a boys college-preparatory school located on Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. The school was founded in 1905 and now educates a student body comprising 230 boarding students in grades 9-12 and 660 day students in grades 6-12.- History :Brothers Spencer...
(Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
)
10. Darris Sawtelle, OL, #76, 6'6", 290 lbs., Brother Rice HS (Brimingham, MI
Birmingham, Michigan
Birmingham is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan and an affluent suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,103...
)
11. Ahmad Paige, WR, #82, 6'3", 175 lbs., Sterlington HS (Sterlington, LA
Sterlington, Louisiana
Sterlington is a town in northern Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,276 at the 2000 census.Actor Ed Nelson, a co-star of ABC's Peyton Place during the 1960s, retired to Sterlington from his native New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.-Geography:Sterlington is...
)
12. Art Evans, ATH, #25, 6'1", 185 lbs., Evangelical Christian HS (Lakeland, FL
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
)
13. Donald Langley, DT, #58, 6'2", 295 lbs., Seneca Valley HS
Seneca Valley High School
Seneca Valley High School is a public high school in Germantown, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools...
(Germantown, MD)
14. Chris Walker, DE, #84, 6'3", 220 lbs., Christian Brothers HS
Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, Tennessee)
Christian Brothers High School ' is located in Memphis, Tennessee, at 5900 Walnut Grove Rd. It is an all-male college preparatory school and Catholic school that has a strong Lasallian tradition that can be traced back to John Baptist de La Salle...
(Memphis, TN
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
)
15. Denarius Moore, WR, #83, 6'1", 180 lbs., Tatum HS
Tatum Independent School District
Tatum Independent School District is a public school district based in Tatum, Texas .In addition to Tatum, the district serves rural areas in northeastern Rusk and northwestern Panola counties....
(Tatum, TX
Tatum, Texas
Tatum is a city in Panola and Rusk Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 1,175 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Tatum is located at ....
)
16. William Brimfield, DT, #96, 6'6", 287 lbs., Hunter-Kinard-Tyler HS (Neeses, SC
Neeses, South Carolina
Neeses is a town in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 413 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Neeses is located at ....
)
17. Kenny O'Neal, WR, #1, 6', 195 lbs., City College of San Francisco [CA]
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco, or CCSF, is a two-year community college in San Francisco, California. The Ocean Avenue campus, in the Ingleside neighborhood, is the college's primary location...
(Oakland, CA
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
)
18. C.J. Fleming, CB, #26, 5'10", 173 lbs., Highland Springs HS
Highland Springs High School
Highland Springs High School is a high school located at 15 South Oak Avenue in Highland Springs, Virginia. First opened in 1907, it is among the oldest schools in Henrico County/Richmond, Virginia...
(Highland Springs, VA
Highland Springs, Virginia
Highland Springs is a census-designated place in Henrico County, Virginia, United States. The population was 15,137 at the 2000 census.- History :...
)
19. Anthony Anderson, CB, #36, 6', 175 lbs., Austin-East HS (Knoxville, TN
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
)
20. Savion Frazier, LB, #43, 6'1", 209 lbs., Gar-Field HS
Gar-Field Senior High School
Gar-Field Senior High School is a Senior High School in Woodbridge in unincorporated Prince William County, Virginia, USA, with students in grades 9 through 12....
(Woodbridge, VA
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
)
21. Cody Pope, OL, #77, 6'5", 275 lbs., Cathedral Catholic HS
Cathedral Catholic High School
Cathedral Catholic High School is a private coeducational Catholic High School in San Diego, California. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, and was originally founded as the University of San Diego High School in 1957...
(San Diego, CA)
22. Daryl Vereen, RB, #9, 6'1", 200 lbs., North Mecklenburg HS
North Mecklenburg High School
North Mecklenburg High School is a high school in Huntersville, North Carolina. The school was founded in 1951 as an all-white school. It integrated in the 1960s. With over 3000 students, it was the largest school population-wise in North Carolina during the 2005-2006 school year. The current...
(Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
)
23. Kevin Cooper, FB, #45, 6'1", 245 lbs., Baylor School
Baylor School
Baylor School is a private, coeducational prep school on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1893 and since 1915 has been located on the same hillside site by the Tennessee River. The school went through several incarnations: moving from an all-male military academy...
(Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
)
24. Todd Campbell, WR, #11, 6', 183 lbs., Franklin HS
Franklin High School (Tennessee)
Franklin High School is a Public High School located in Franklin, Tennessee, in Williamson County.-History:Franklin High School was established in 1910, with 2 teachers and 20 students in an upstairs room in the Franklin Institute, an old Elementary School, located in the center of Franklin,...
(Franklin, TN
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
)
25. Tyler Maples, WR, #11, 6'2", 180 lbs., Maryville HS (Maryville, TN
Maryville, Tennessee
Maryville is the county seat of Blount County, Tennessee, in the Southeastern United States. The city is located south of Knoxville. Maryville's population was 27,258 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Knoxville Metropolitan Area. Maryville has received a number of accolades for its...
)
26. Dennis Rogan, RB, #41, 5'10", 175 lbs., Fulton HS (Knoxville, TN
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
)
27. Deshaun Barnes, S, 6'2", 195 lbs., Lincoln HS (Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
) – DNQ
28. Rufus Williams, DE, 6'3", 225 lbs., Astronaut HS
Astronaut High School
Astronaut High School is located in Brevard County, in the city of Titusville, Florida, USA. It is part of the Brevard County School District. The school name comes from its location, near the Kennedy Space Center. The school was built in 1972...
(Titusville, FL
Titusville, Florida
Titusville is a city in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is the county seat of Brevard County. Nicknamed Space City, USA, Titusville is on the Indian River, west of Merritt Island and the Kennedy Space Center and south-southwest of the Canaveral National Seashore...
) – DNQ
- DNQ – Did Not Qualify
California
-
- Pregame line: California by 6
Tennessee dropped its opening game for the first time in over a decade, losing on the road to California by the score of 45–31.
The Vols traveled to Berkeley
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
for the return trip in a home-and-home series with the California Golden Bears
California Golden Bears football
The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to...
. After Cal's loss to Tennessee the previous year, some observers and college football personalities such as LSU coach Les Miles had questioned the strength of the Pac-10. During the game, a plane with the banner "SEC rules, Pac-10 drools" flew overhead. With a solid lead in the fourth quarter, Cal fans chanted "Pac-10 football" to the Tennessee fans who had already begun leaving the stadium. Tennessee gave up the opening points when an Erik Ainge pass flew backwards, when he was hit while trying to release it. California's Worrell Williams, recovered the fumble and returned it 45 yards for the score. Cal WR
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson
Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver...
also scored at touchdown on a 77 yard punt return. Cal QB
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Nate Longshore
Nate Longshore
Nate Longshore is an arena football quarterback for the San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League. He played collegiately at California, where he was a three year starter and led the Golden Bears to a share of the Pac-10 title in 2006.-High school:Longshore graduated from Canyon High School...
was 19-of-28 for 240 yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown.
Tennessee traveled to California for the first time since playing UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
in 1994, Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
's freshman year. Tennessee had won 12 straight season openers. The Vols opening game was on the road for the first time since 1998
1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team
The 1998 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. Tennessee entered the 1998 season coming off an 11–2 record in 1997...
, when they defeated Syracuse.
QB Erik Ainge played game despite suffering a broken pinky
Little finger
The little finger, often called the pinky in American English, pinkie in Scottish English , or small finger in medicine, is the most ulnar and usually smallest finger of the human hand, opposite the thumb, next to the ring finger.-Muscles:There are four muscles that...
in practice. He was 32-of-47 for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford
Jeff Tedford is an American football coach and the current head coach of the California Golden Bears football team, a position he has held since 2002. As a first-time head coach, Tedford has won wide acclaim for revitalizing the Cal football program...
commented on the "revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
factor" before the game:
It's not really revenge, I think, if anything, it's redemption. But it's more about us, it's not so much about Tennessee. We didn't play very well last year when we went there and probably got caught a little too much focusing on them and the environment and that type of thing. So at practice this year, we're really just focusing on ourselves if we go out and play to our potential then we'll have a chance to be successful. Last year we didn't come close to our potential so we had no chance. Of course it's a big game like it was last year, two ranked teams, so there's a lot of people watching it to see what's going on. It wasn't that we lost the game last year, I think it was the way we lost the game last year that was the devastating part of it, that hung with us so long.
California had stressed "redemption" in this game, and ultimately came out the victors.
The Vols were led by TE/H-back Chris Brown, who had two touchdown receptions and Lucas Taylor who had 7 catches for 102 yards.
Southern Miss
-
- Pregame line: Tennessee by 10.5
After trailing early on, Tennessee took a 17–16 second quarter lead against Southern Mississippi and never looked back. The lead was Tennessee's first of the season, having never taken the lead against California. The Vols were led on offense by receivers Austin Rogers (7 catches, 112 yards, 1 TD) and Lucas Taylor (5 catches 118 yards). Erik Ainge was 23-of-36 for 276 yards and 2 TD's. Kicker Daniel Lincoln made three field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
s (38, 36, and 47 yards).
Tennessee hosted Southern Miss
The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, informally known as Southern Miss, is a large public research university located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It is situated north of Gulfport, Mississippi and northeast of New Orleans, Louisiana...
for its 2007 home opener. Southern Miss, a Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
foe, faced off against the Vols for the first time since a 19–16 loss in 2000. Tennessee now has a 49–12 record vs non-conference opponents under Fulmer. The Vols are 12–0 since 1998 vs current members of CUSA and 5–0 vs Southern Miss.
In all-time home-openers, the Big Orange have compiled an 88–18–5 (.791) record. The Vols’ last home-opening loss was a 31–0 setback against Florida on Sept. 17, 1994.
The game marks the first starts for Freshman Eric Berry
Eric Berry
James Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in...
at safety, and Sophomore Dan Williams at tackle.
Florida
-
- Pregame line: Florida by 8
On the 1st possession of the game in the steamy Swamp
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at Florida Field is the football stadium for the University of Florida and the home field of the university's Florida Gators football team. It is located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The stadium was originally built in 1930, and has been regularly...
, the Tennessee Volunteers
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteers are the National Collegiate Athletic Association college sports teams at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mike Hamilton is the most recent Men's Athletic Director, but resigned on June 7, 2011, and Joan Cronan is the current Women's...
went three and out. On the ensuing punt, Brandon James took the return 83 yards for Gator touchdown. Things never did get much better for the visiting team, as Florida rolled to an impressive 59–20 victory in the SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
opener for both teams.
There was, however, a brief period when it seemed that the contest would be much closer. The Gators ran out to a 28–6 lead by late in the 2nd quarter on two Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
touchdown passes and a Tebow touchdown run, along with the opening punt return. But then Tennessee QB Erik Ainge
Erik Ainge
Erik Douglas Ainge is a retired American football quarterback formerly of the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Jets in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
got his team's offense moving, throwing a touchdown pass just before halftime to cut the lead to 28–13 at intermission.
The Gators mounted a long drive to start the second half, but freshman Volunteer cornerback Eric Berry
Eric Berry
James Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in...
picked off a Tim Tebow pass (his first interception thrown in 2007) and returned it 93 yards for another Tennessee touchdown. When Florida's next drive ended in a punt, UT had the ball down only eight, 28–20.
But on the first play of the possession, Erik Ainge's handoff to running back Arian Foster was mishandled, and Gator linebacker Dustin Doe scooped up the loose ball and took it into the endzone for a Florida touchdown. Tennessee's momentum was washed away by the roar of 90,000 Gator fans, and the home team never looked back. Florida would end the game with 31 straight points, turning a close game into a runaway.
Percy Harvin
William Percival "Percy" Harvin, III is an American football wide receiver, return specialist, and running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League...
excelled as well, leading all players in rushing (9 attempts for 75 yards and 1 TD) and receiving (4 catches for 120 yards). The Florida offense rolled up 556 yards of total offense, 255 on the ground. Meanwhile, the Gator defense also did its part, holding Tennessee to just 38 yards rushing with no first downs on the ground and 293 yards total offense.
Overall, the Gators put together a historically dominating performance. Their 59 points scored was the second-highest total in the history of the series
Florida-Tennessee rivalry
The Florida–Tennessee football rivalry, sometimes called the Third Saturday in September, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Florida Gators football team of the University of Florida and the Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee...
(behind only UF's 62 in the 1995 contest), and the 39 point margin of defeat was the Vols' most lopsided loss to any opponent since 1981. After the game, Tennessee still led the overall series by a narrow 19–18 margin.
Arkansas State
-
- Pregame line: Tennessee by 19.5
Tennessee grabbed the lead first for the first time this season, and never relinquished it, as the Vols beat Arkansas State by the score of 48 to 27. The Vols entered the game unranked following the loss to Florida and were playing their second home game of the season.
QB Erik Ainge set a career high with 334 yards passing and tied a career high with 4 TD's while going 27-of-39. Tennessee allowed 377 total yards on defense. Lucas Taylor had 7 catches for 104 yards.
Georgia
-
- Pregame line: Georgia by 1
Tennessee earned its first conference victory of the season by beating the Georgia Bulldogs by the score of 35–14. Tennessee dominated the first half, leading the game by the score of 28–0. Tennessee held Georgia to 243 total yards, while picking up 190 yards on the ground. The game was a sudden turnaround for both the Defense and the Running game, which both performed poorly in the Vols' only other conference game, Florida. The win, combined with Florida's losses to Auburn
2007 Auburn Tigers football team
The 2007 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Head coach Tommy Tuberville returned for his ninth season at Auburn, the third longest tenure among SEC head coaches in 2007. He was joined by returning offensive coordinator Al...
and LSU
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
puts Tennessee back into the race for the SEC Championship Game
SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
The win came after head coach Phillip Fulmer came under fire by anonymous former players in an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel
Knoxville News Sentinel
The Knoxville News Sentinel is a daily newspaper in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA owned by the E. W. Scripps Company. It operates , an award-winning news website....
. Fulmer called the article "an incredible cheap shot" in the post-game press conference. Fulmer had also been receiving criticism from several other writers that follow the program.
Individual performances were highlighted by Arian Foster, who carried the ball 17 times for 98 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Backup running back Montario Hardesty added 70 yards on 14 carries with 1 TD. LB Ellix Wilson blocked a punt in the 2nd quarter.
Mississippi State
-
- Pregame line: Tennessee by 7
The Vols traveled to Starkville, Mississippi
Starkville, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 21,869 people, 9,462 households, and 4,721 families residing in the city. The population density was 851.4 people per square mile . There were 10,191 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile...
for the first time since winning 35–17 in 2002. Phillip Fulmer commented on Mississippi State during the Tuesday press conference:
Mississippi State is a good football team at 4–2. They beat a good Auburn team at Auburn. They’re dangerous, physical, tough guys up front. The running backs and tight ends have my good friend Woodrow McCorvey’s fingerprints all over them. He is a tough guy.
Tennessee took an early lead after stopping the Bulldogs on their first drive. Erik Ainge found Chris Brown on a 4 yard TD pass to cap off at 9 play, 78 yard drive. Mississippi State then answered. The Bulldogs forced the Vols to punt after backing them up. The short field paid off, when Wesley Carroll found Tony Burks for a 38 yard touchdown pass. State took the lead in the 2nd quarter when RB Anthony Dixon broke loose on a 30 yard touchdown run.
Tennessee followed with 17 unanswered points, coming on a Lucas Taylor 51 yard TD reception, a 47 yard Daniel Lincoln field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
and an Arian Foster 1 yard touchdown run. Mississippi State would score one more touchdown to cut the lead to 3. However the Vols' Defense held firm for the last quarter and a half. Daniel Lincoln added 3 field goals of 29, 26, and 43 yards to provide the final 12 point margin of victory.
Erik Ainge ended the game with a 22-of-36 performance with 1 interception and 2 touchdown passes. Lucas Taylor had 11 catches for 186 yards. Arian Foster ran the ball 21 for 143 yards, while Montario Hardesty added 81 yards on 16 carries. Tennessee outgained Mississippi State 470 to 338 total yards.
Alabama
-
- Pregame line: Even
Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
set a different tone for this year's "The Third Saturday in October" right from the get go. Saban elected to kick an onside kick
Onside kick
In American and Canadian football, an onside kick is a type of kick used at a kickoff or other free kick, or scrimmage kick or other kick during play, in which the ball is kicked favorably for the kicking team to avoid giving away the ball...
on the opening kickoff. Alabama recovered and scored 3 on Leigh Tiffen's 39 yard field goal. Bama extended their lead to 10 when QB John Parker Wilson
John Parker Wilson
John Parker Wilson is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. college football at the University of Alabama, he went undrafted during the 2009 NFL Draft, before signing with the Falcons as a free agent.-Freshman:After leading Hoover High School to...
connected with Terry Grant on a 3 yard touchdown pass.
Tennessee then scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead early in the 2nd quarter. Arian Foster had a 2 yard touchdown run and Erik Ainge found TE Luke Stocker for a 3 yard touchdown pass. At that point Alabama took over. WR DJ Hall had 2 2nd quarter touchdown receptions. Leigh Tiffen added 3 more field goals to bring his total to four on the day. RB Terry Grant also had an 8 yard touchdown run. Tennessee was only able to add one field goal by Daniel Lincoln, shortly before halftime, as the Crimson Tide outscored Tennessee 17–0 in the second half.
WR DJ Hall and QB John Parker Wilson had career days for Alabama. Hall had 13 receptions for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wilson was 32-of-46 for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns.
South Carolina
-
- Pregame line: Tennessee by 2.5
Tennessee used timely turnovers and clutch kicking to earn an ugly 27–24 overtime victory. South Carolina fought back from a 21 point deficit at halftime to take a 24–21 lead with 1:24 left. However, following a LaMarcus Coker
LaMarcus Coker
LaMarcus Darnell Coker is a former college football player for the University of Tennessee and Hampton University who currently plays as a running back for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.-College:...
return to the 47 yard line, Tennessee put together an 8 play, 26 yard drive to set up freshman Daniel Lincoln for the game tying 48-yard field goal. In overtime, Lincoln hit another field goal from 27 yards, while South Carolina kicker Ryan Succop missed wide right from 40 yards to give Tennessee the victory.
It was a tale of two halves in regulation. Tennessee had touchdown scoring drives of 2 yards, 44 yards, and 72 yards in the first half, but did not score in the second half until Lincoln's field goal with 9 seconds remaining. South Carolina, who was held scoreless in the first half, put together touchdown drives of 39 yards, 86 yards, and 66 yards, also adding the late field goal by Succop. The Gamecocks actually outgained Tennessee by a margin of 501 to 317 yards. However, Tennessee capitalized on 3 Gamecock turnovers. Freshman Eric Berry
Eric Berry
James Eric Berry , nicknamed "The Fifth Dimension" is an American football safety for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-High school career:Berry played at Creekside High School in...
had a long fumble return to set up the Vols first score and added an interception in the second quarter. Berry also tipped a pass in the 4th quarter which was intercepted by Ryan Karl.
Louisiana-Lafayette
-
- Pregame line: Tennessee by 27.5
Tennessee rolled up it top point total of the season by scoring in creative ways en route to a 59–7 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette. Tennessee scored on Defense when DE Antonio Reynolds intecepted a tipped pass and returned it for 70 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee scored on special teams when DB Antonio Wardlow returned a blocked punt 20 yards for a touchdown. Tennessee also had 3 touchdowns by freshmen late in the game: a 30 yard run by RB Lennon Creer, a touchdown reception by Kenny O'Neal. WR Gerald Jones ran for a TD after lining up at QB. Running back Arian Foster had 2 scores in the first half.
Arkansas
-
- Pregame line: Even
Tennessee used clock management and stout defensive play to stop Arkansas TB Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
en route to a 34–13 victory over the Razorbacks. McFadden was coming off of a game in which he broke an SEC record for yards rushing in a game vs. South Carolina. Tennessee limited him to 117 yards on 22 carries. The Vols scored on their first drive of the game which culminated with a 16 yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Austin Rogers. Arkansas countered with a field goal after TB Felix Jones
Felix Jones
Felix Jones is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. After playing college football and majoring in kinesiology at the University of Arkansas, he was drafted by the Cowboys 22nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft...
put them in good position with a 48 yard kick return into Tennessee territory.
Vol freshman DB Dennis Rogan countered with a return of his own, 78 yards to the Arkansas 15, setting up a Daniel Lincoln 25 yard field goal to answer the score. Tennessee added another field goal from Lincoln and a second touchdown pass in the Second Quarter. This time Ainge found WR Josh Briscoe on third and goal from the 14, to score with 10 seconds remaining in the half to push the score to 20–3.
In the second half, Tennessee forced Arkansas to punt and then Arian Foster gave the Vols a three score lead by racing 59 yards for a touchdown. Arkansas would add a Third Quarter field goal by Alex Tejada and a Fourth Quarter touchdown run by TB Michael Smith to close to within 14. However, LB Jerod Mayo
Jerod Mayo
-2008 season:Mayo was drafted by the New England Patriots with the tenth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was signed on July 24, 2008, to a five-year contract worth $18.9 million, including $13.8 million in bonuses and guarantees...
sealed the game with a 34 yard interception return for a touchdown, and provided the final margin of 34–13.
SS Eric Berry had his first multi-interception game, picking off a pass at the end of each half. Tennessee won the time of possession battle 33:20 to 26:40. Foster ended with 13 carried for 88 yards. TB Montario Hardesty added 20 carries and 70 yards. Mayo led the team with 9 tackles. Dan Williams and Xavier Mitchell each had a sack.
Vanderbilt
-
- Pregame line: Tennessee by 11.5
Tennessee fought back from a 15-point deficit in the 4th quarter to beat their in-state rivals by the score of 25–24. The issue was still to be decided with less than a minute in the game, when Vanderbilt kicker Bryant Hahnfeldt's 49 yard field goal attempt grazed the left upright and went wide left.
Tennessee started well on its opening drive, moving 75 yards on 9 plays. The Drive culminated with a 9 yard touchdown pass from Erik Ainge to Lucas Taylor. The extra point, however, was blocked, giving Tennessee a 6–0 lead. Vanderbilt answered the score and then took the lead midway through the second quarter. QB Mackenzi Adams found Brad Allen for a 5 yard touchdown pass. Tennessee regained the lead on a Daniel Lincoln field goal from 33 yards. However, Vanderbilt scored twice in the final minute of the half, first with a 19 yard touchdown pass from Adams to Jeff Jennings, and then with 33 yard field goal by Hahnfeldt. The field goal had followed a fumble by Tennessee on a lateral pass from Ainge to Foster shortly before halftime.
Vanderbilt extended its lead after halftime to 24–9 by moving down the field on an 11 play, 75 yard drive that consumed 5:54 of the game clock. The Commodores would take that lead into the 4th quarter before Tennessee awoke. Tennessee actually punted the ball back to Vanderbilt with seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter, but Commodore DE Broderick Stewart was flagged for roughing Vol punter Briton Colquitt. The Vols scored on that drive early in the 4th quarter when Ainge connected with Josh Briscoe for a 7 yard touchdown pass.
The Vol Defense held Vanderbilt to two "three and out" possessions after the Briscoe touchdown. Tennessee retook possession and drove 83 yards in less than 3 minutes, scoring a touchdown when Ainge found Austin Rogers in the end zone for a 5 yard touchdown pass. The Two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
failed, and Tennessee still trailed. The Volunteer Defense once again held strong, forcing another punt after a 3 play, 4 yard drive. Tennessee took possession at the Vanderbilt 33 yard line after Freshman DB Dennis Rogan returned a punt 45 yards. The Vols moved 17 yards to set up the go ahead field goal for Daniel Lincoln. Lincoln connected from 33 yards to give Tennessee the 25–24 lead.
Vanderbilt was not finished at this point. D.J. Moore returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards to the Tennessee 42 yard line. Vanderbilt moved the ball 11 yards (9 of which came on a pass interference penalty) to set up the field goal try by Hahnfeldt. Hahnfeldt pushed the kick left, grazing the outer half of the left upright, and giving Tennessee a 25–24 victory. The victory kept the Vols in the driver's seat for the SEC Eastern Division title. The Vols would need to win the next game against Kentucky to earn the spot in the SEC Championship Game
SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
against LSU
2007 LSU Tigers football team
The 2007 LSU Tigers football team represented Louisiana State University during the college football season of 2007–2008, winning the Southeastern Conference championship and the national championship. The team's Head Coach was Les Miles who entered his third year at the helm of LSU Football...
.
Kentucky
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- Pregame line: Kentucky by 2.5
The Volunteers (9–3, 6–2) earned a shot at LSU in the SEC title game by beating the Wildcats (7–5, 3–5) for the 23rd straight time, the longest active winning streak by one team over another in major college football.
The game started with a one-play, 65 yard touchdown for the volunteers as a pass was thrown to Arian Foster by Eric Ainge. The rest of the first half went well for the volunteers as they led 24–7 heading into the break. Ainge and the Tennessee Offense built the halftime lead with touchdown passes to Foster, WR Lucas Taylor, and WR Quintin Hancock.
The game looked to be in hand when the Vols led 31–14 near the end of the 3rd quarter following an Ainge touchdown pass to TE Jeff Cottam. However the Wildcats fought back behind a strong second half performance by QB Andre Woodson
André Woodson
Andre' Woodson, Jr. is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and is currently a free agent. Woodson played collegiately at the University of Kentucky...
, scoring 17 unanswered points to push the game into overtime.
The first overtime saw Kentucky score first when Woodson found Keenan Burton for an 8 yard touchdown pass. Tennessee answered with a touchdown pass of their own. Ainge connected with Gerald Jones, whose diving catch re-tied the score. In the second overtime, the game looked like it was over when Eric Ainge threw his third interception of the game. A tipped pass was corralled by Sam Maxwell, setting up Kentucky for a win with any score. However, a Kentucky 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Dan Williams to push the game into triple-overtime.
In the 3rd overtime, the Vols had a chance to end the game after an Austin Rogers touchdown reception, as they only needed a 2 point conversion. However Arian Foster was atopped short on an off tackle run and was also flagged for a personal foul for throwing the ball up in the air after the play was over. Kentucky had scored in the first half of that overtime period when Burton caught an 11 yard touchdown pass from Woodson. The two-point conversion failed, as Woodson's pass fell incomplete, setting up UT for the opportunity to win with a touchdown and two-point conversion. When they failed to cash in on that opportunity, Foster showed his frustration by slinging the ball, and was flagged for a 15 yard penalty.
The penalty put the Vols in a hole to begin the 4th overtime period, forcing them to start from the 40 yard line. Nevertheless, the resilient volunteers scored their final touchdown in another one-play, 40 yard drive as Ainge found Hancock wide open. The Volunteers scored the two point conversion as well, with Ainge hitting Rogers on a quick slant. Kentucky matched the score when RB Derrick Locke
Derrick Locke
Derrick Locke is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011...
ran in from the 2 yard line. Kentucky then needed to match the Vols' two point conversion. The game-winning play came as Woodson was tackled from behind by DE Antonio Reynolds and a forced fumble was recovered by the Volunteer Defense. That play ended the 5-hour thriller with the final score: 52–50.
SEC Championship Game: LSU
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- Pregame line: LSU by 7.5
Tennessee faced the LSU Tigers in its first SEC Championship Game
SEC Championship Game
The SEC Championship Game refers to the game determining the Southeastern Conference's football season champion. The championship game pits the SEC Western Division representative against the Eastern Division representative in a game held after the regular season has been completed. Thus far, nine...
since 2004. The teams had also faced each other in the 2001 SEC Championship game. LSU won that game over the favored Volunteers, eliminating them from a trip to the Rose Bowl for the National Championship. LSU last played in the SEC title game in 2005, losing to Georgia.
This time, Tennessee led the contest for a majority of the game, before surrendering the lead following a late interception. The Vols took the opening kickoff to the 38 yard line and from there, the offense drove 62 yards for a touchdown. That drive was capped off by an 11 yard touchdown reception by Chris Brown. LSU answered in the first quarter with two Colt David field goal, to cut the deficit to 1 point. A scoreless second quarter made the halftime score 7–6.
LSU drove the field on the first possession of the second half to secure a short lived lead. Substitute QB Ryan Perriloux, filling in for injured Matt Flynn, led the Tigers on the 76 yard drive, finding WR Demetrius Byrd for the go ahead touchdown pass. The Vols missed a field goal on the following drive, but capitalized on a forced fumble to retake the lead. Ainge drove the Vols 66 yards on 9 plays and found Josh Briscoe on a pass into the endzone to move the score to 14–13.
Both Offenses stalled for the rest of the game. However, LSU found its winning score when DB Jonathan Zenon picked off an Ainge pass at the Tennessee 18 yard line and returned it for a touchdown. That forth quarter score, combined with Perriloux's two point conversion run gave the game its final 21–14 score. The win by LSU propelled them into the 2008 BCS National Championship Game
2008 BCS National Championship Game
The 2008 Allstate BCS National Championship Game was played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 7, 2008, and featured the #1 and #2 college football teams in the United States as determined by the BCS Poll to decide the BCS National Championship for the 2007...
, while Tennessee accepted a bid to the Outback Bowl
Outback Bowl
The Outback Bowl is an annual New Year's Day college football bowl game played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The event was originally called the Hall of Fame Bowl from 1986 to 1994 until being renamed in 1995 for its new title sponsor, Outback Steakhouse...
to face Wisconsin.
Outback Bowl: Wisconsin
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- Pregame line: Tennessee by 2.5
Despite losing 3 starters to academic suspensions, Tennessee put together a solid performance to end their season with a 21–17 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin Badgers football
The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football...
in the 2008 Outback Bowl
Outback Bowl
The Outback Bowl is an annual New Year's Day college football bowl game played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The event was originally called the Hall of Fame Bowl from 1986 to 1994 until being renamed in 1995 for its new title sponsor, Outback Steakhouse...
. WR Lucas Taylor, DT DeMonte Bolden, and LB Rico McCoy (all starters) along with reserve LB Chris Donald and reserve WR Kenny O'Neal, were declared academically ineligible for the game.
Tennessee started the day's scoring on their second possession. WR Gerald Jones, lining up at QB in the aptly named "G-Gun" formation scored on a 3 yard run to cap off a 66 yard drive. Wisconsin answered on the ensuing drive, due largely to a 60 yard kickoff return by David Gilreath and a 15 yard facemask penalty. The 22 yard scoring effort found pay dirt with QB Tyler Donovan's 6 yard run on 3rd and goal. Donovan was hit at the goal line by Eric Berry, causing a mild concussion, but not forcing Donovan to miss any time. Tennessee drove deep into Badger territory on the following drive, only to turn the ball over by fumbling a trick play. Both offenses continued to sputter until the Vols retook the lead with 9:45 to go in the 2nd quarter. Erik Ainge hooked up with WR Josh Briscoe on a 29 touchdown pass to move the score to 14–7.
The Vols forced the Badgers backwards on their next drive and then capitalized on the field position. Tennessee took at 14 point lead when Ainge found TE Brad Cottam on a 31 yard touchdown throw. The score would be the last of the game for the Vol offense. Wisconsin would answer shortly before halftime as Donovan found Andy Crooks in the end zone with 1:03 remaining in the half.
The second half was a defensive struggle. Wisconsin held Tennessee scoreless, while the Tennessee defense limited the Badger offense to 3 points. The point came on a Taylor Mehlhaff 27 yard field goal with 9 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter. Wisconsin had a few opportunities to take the lead in the game's final period, but the Badgers fell short each time. The Vols forced an incomplete pass by Donovan on a 4th and 2 play from the Tennessee 10 yard line with 5:52 to go in the game. Wisconsin got one final chance with 1:26 to go on the clock, but that drive was ended by an Antonio Wardlow interception at the 1 yard line of Tennessee. Senior Erik Ainge took a knee is his final play as a Tennessee Volunteer to cap off the 21–17 victory. Ainge finished his career at Tennessee being named the MVP at the end of the Outback Bowl Game. Briscoe put in his best game of the season, filling in for Lucas Taylor and playing all 5 receiver positions at one point in the game. Brad Cottam showed that when healthy he can be a great player and look for him in the upcoming NFL draft.