Tennessee Team Report
INSIDE SLANT
It probably wasn’t the way coach Lane Kiffin drew it up, but he won’t throw the result back.
Playing with a third-string middle linebacker and walk-ons at outside linebacker and placekicker, the Volunteers became bowl-eligible Saturday night with a 31-16 home win over hapless Vanderbilt.
Montario Hardesty ran for a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown, while Jonathan Crompton threw for 221 yards and two scores as Tennessee improved to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the Southeastern Conference.
It was a much-needed win after a tumultuous nine days in which four players were arrested—two were booted from the program—sandwiched around a blowout loss at Ole Miss.
“It was a pretty exciting day,” Kiffin said. “To be able to send our seniors out with a win was really special.”
The Vols never could put the Commodores away, but it set up a fairy-tale ending for defensive tackle Wes Brown, who intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards for a clinching touchdown with three seconds left.
The score was a just reward for a senior who has battled bad knees all season and played well, providing leadership on and off the field.
“I felt them hopping on my back, but I didn’t want to be denied,” Brown said. “I wanted to score, and I couldn’t have asked for a better ending.”
Except perhaps for a win in the regular season finale next week at Kentucky.
NOTES, QUOTES
• MLB Herman Lathers, starting because of season-ending injuries to Nick Reveiz and Savion Frazier, finished with a career-high 12 tackles.
• OLB Shane Reveiz saw his most playing time because of injuries. He made two tackles, as well as a quarterback hurry. Reveiz is the younger brother of Vols LB Nick Reveiz and the youngest son of former UT great Fuad Reveiz, a successful NFL kicker.
• PK Devin Mathis booted his first career field goal, a 25-yarder in the first quarter, and four extra points. The junior walk-on played in his first career game due to Daniel Lincoln’s injury.
Game Ball Goes To: RB Montario Hardesty—The senior gashed Vanderbilt’s porous run defense for a career-high 171 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries, helping Tennessee become bowl-eligible.
Keep An Eye On: OLB Greg King—Forced into extensive playing time due to injuries, King is clearly improving with each game. He produced six tackles and a pass break-up against Vanderbilt.
Quote To Note: “I’m happy to be playing in another game. I just added another game to my senior season.”—LB Rico McCoy, on Tennessee’s sixth win, making it eligible for a bowl game.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Looking Good: The Volunteers were balanced on offense, gaining 201 yards on the ground and 221 in the air against Vanderbilt. QB Jonathan Crompton threw two touchdown passes, giving him an unthinkable 25 for the season. He threw his first interception in 142 attempts, one short of Casey Clausen’s school record for most passes without a pick.
• While the defense gave up 297 yards to a bad offense and committed four penalties that led to first downs, it still did enough to win. It forced the Commodores to settle for three field goals.
Still Needs Work: Tennessee has had penalty problems in the last five games, and those issues were most notable Saturday night with nine flags for 95 yards, including four that gave Vandy first downs.
• The defense had some problems stopping the run, allowing 123 yards to the SEC’s worst rushing offense. That has to improve next week when the Vols face a good running team in Kentucky.
• PK Chad Cunningham continues to struggle with distance on kickoffs. His average kickoff only reached the 15-yard line—and that’s field position a beat-up defense can’t afford to give up.
Roster Report:
• FS Janzen Jackson (suspension) remains banned from all team activities while coach Lane Kiffin waits for further information. Jackson was one of three players arrested for an attempted armed robbery Nov. 12.
• DB Nyshier Oliver was arrested Nov. 17 and charged with shoplifting and theft. The freshman did not play against Vanderbilt and his status is up in the air.
• PK Daniel Lincoln (quadriceps) sat out Saturday after kicking in the past two games. Lincoln hasn’t been able to get enough height on his placements, getting four blocked on the season.


173 Comments
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He took over a DISASTER, from Phillip Fulmer and crew. In less than a year, he has coached them, within reach of a bowl game. Keep on hating him people! We LOVE him! Go Vols!
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What other reasons would he have for posting on a Yahoo board where the Tide was the subject of the article and subsequent discussion?
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Good Luck Old Miss Rebels for the rest of the year.
I more than likely won’t be able to write for the next two weeks but will be able to watch the games while on Leave (Vacation) in TN.
Go VOL’s you still have a change for a great bowl if you win out.
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Win/Lose: VOL’s lose in a close game earlier this week I would have picked the VOL’s but after the Thursday morning incident the VOL’s will be mentally unprepared to play this game. If the events of this week can be overcome the VOL’s can win, this unknown factor gives the Rebels the edge.
Reason: Old Miss Rebels has been up and down all year and need just like the VOL’s a win will make them bowl eligible. The VOL’s offence will move the ball and the defense will play well but the emotion of the arrest of three star freshmen will affect their play. The VOL coaches must try to keep the players motivated and focused which will be an almost imposable task.
Turnovers could determine the game; if Snead is pressured he is prone to throw interceptions. DE Hardy for Old Miss Rebels who was their best Defensive lineman is now out for the year this would have gave the VOL’s a big advantage if we hadn’t lose two Defensive backs on Thursday, so both Defensives are weakened for this game. Currently the Rebels are a 5 ½ favorite.
Old Miss Rebels was ranked 4th nationally earlier this year prior to SEC play, the reason even with 6 wins are not bowl eligible yet is only one sub division win counts toward bowl eligibility.
Things to watch: Vol's will run and pass equally at first and stick with what works, the VOL’s Offence has shown a completely balanced attack. Crompton now leads the SEC in touchdown passes and is forth in the nation after his 5 touchdown performance last week, there is no true number one receiver, and he has completed passes to 12 different receivers in the last two games and because of great offensive line protection has only been sacked 3 times in the last four games.
Hardesty, Brown and OKU all should have a big day rushing and receiving. The Offense line is improving and getting healthy and the receivers are catching and making big gains after the catch. Hardesty is now less than 100 yards away from the thousand yard mark and should make it this game.
The VOL's Defense has greatly improved each week and the VOL’s defense and has steadily moved up in the ranking, last week’s second half defense hurt the stats, but expect the team to be back in form for this game. The defense took some big blows on injury department and now the question and who will step up for the two players arrested on Thursday, the VOL’s are thin at Linebacker and now Defensive Backs and for the fifth game in a row the defensive will have to cover one of the top receivers in the nation, and without Jackson this will be a very big challenge.
The VOL's Special teams will have to improve and have the game of the year in this area Jackson was key on kickoff coverage and someone will really have to step up, Richardson will be missed returning punts and someone will have to fill his shoes.
For the VOL’s overcoming all the distractions and keeping focused in the game will be Very tough, if they can do this the VOL’s could win the game. On offensive and Defensive Stats there are less than 30 yards per game separating these two teams, with the VOL’s having the slight edge, so the determining factor came down to emotion and focus which now Old Miss Rebels has the advantage after Thursday.
The High School and Junior College season is winding down and recruiting starting to picking up, we received a commitment from one of the top Offensive tackles this week. Jawuan James the big four star Offensive Tackle (6-foot-6, 293 pounds) who enrolls in Jan which will aid with extra time working on school work and weight room.
A side note: the Old Miss Rebels prep song was banded this week by the Old Miss President because the student body was saying “the south will rise again” after the song. I would have thought there would be bigger things for the school president to worry about before a big game.
Let the new era continue
Just a prediction from Afghanistan, I get to watch this game on AFN
Go VOL's
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Yes you are correct Kiffins record of 11 months and 11 days without a off field problem is over , however were you received your information on Richardson is mistaken he was suspended a whole game because he missed (showed up late) for the first Sunday practice and showed poor attitude, because he wasn’t playing as much as though he should, Jackson was suspended a whole game because of violation of team rules, which could have been a marinate of many things. So where you bring up the weed is completely unknown.
Now yes I am very disheartened with this development and if they are found guilty then they should go to jail and never play for anyone again.
The fans, team and school are the ones well hurt by this news.
I knew you would be the one that would be the happies of this news, just the type of person you are.
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If I was a coach there is no way no matter how talented they would ever play again if found guilty.
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Jawuan James the big four star Offensive Tackle (6-foot-6, 293 pounds) from North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Ga. Just committed to the VOLs, what makes this so great is he has Agility and foot speed for a big man and will help the line dramatically, He should start next year next to Adams our Big Tight end commitment. The Offensive Line is looking up. Still need a couple more becuase we lose 4 this year.
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We have a great commitment in Bray and we also still have Stevens and Lamaison for quarterback so I really don’t see a dramatic need for going after Hendrix, we also are talking to Simms.
We however need one more running back commitment this year however we do have the commitment from a great highbred fullback Fugate but could use a true tailback.
Our biggest need however is Offensive lineman, and a Defensive back for the possible replacement of Berry and at least one if not two linebackers.
I hope that Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis doesn’t get fired and if he does the best of luck, but the VOL’s maybe able to fill some needs.
I was sorry to see that Memphis Coach Tommy West was fired and hope he finds a good job soon and great success.
Go VOL’s
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The Vols this year are one game from beating last year’s winning record that is about as far in the past as I go, did they improve? Have they improved this year? What does the future look like for the VOL’s?
Yes I try to be positive on the VOL’s and excited about what is happening, is there things they need to improve on Yes, have they improved on and off the field Yes, are they trying to improve and get better each day Yes.
So what’s to be down about, they played two #1 teams and lost, OK let look at the facts for both games, against the Gators they were 26 point under dogs and lost to the defending Champions by 10 points, the Defense kept us in the game the whole way and if the Offence had been where they are now who knows how the game would have ended, but the Gators were the ones that looked like they had lost after the game because the Gators wanted to beat the VOL’s by their own words 60+ points. Against the Tide the VOL’s again were underdogs by 16 points and lost by two on a blocked field goal that could have won the game, the VOL’s lost OK but the real question is have they improved? Also in both games I had predicted a lost but thought the games would be close, even the UCLA game I thought the VOL’s would win but knew that for some reason the VOL’s have a problem with Notre Dame and UCLA.
Some say that the PAC-10 is the best conference because the VOL’s lost to UCLA be forget that their starting QB had his jaw broken in the game and didn’t play for 5 more games and they lost all 5 and just now starting to get back on track.
I 100% support the VOL’s, Coaches, Fans and like seeing fans that support their team no matter who they are and what team or players they support and have no clue of why anyone would spend all their time bashing everything on any team, even if I didn’t like or care about a team, player or Coach I wouldn’t spend every post bashing them, there is a big difference in trash talking and Bashing.
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Again I had said many years ago and you said yourself BCS which is only 10 years old. Now you also have to face facts IF the money was large enough the BCS could and because they are greedy could arrange the re-match. It wouldn’t happen in a million years but would be fun to watch.
Now again you spend all your time bashing others, teams and coaches why don’t you even show a little support to anything.
Yes and as usual you missed the whole point we now have a offence that is playing well and I would as well as many more would like to see them play again, but you went again on one of your bashing sprees on one part of a comment.
So far this year on this site you have bashed every part of the VOL’s, coaches and fans you have talked about class but have shown none. You have supported no one are nothing and must be a very un-happy person at such a young age.
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I called it the BIGGEST MIRACLE THAT EVER HAPPENED IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HAPPEN IT WON’T. About four times that I can think of two teams from the same conference has played each other in bowl, but that happened many, many years ago.
Kenneth if you have nothing intelligent to say then please don’t. Go back to your Gator site.
All you have done all year is spout B.S.
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Crompton as you have probably read is forth in the nation for Touchdown passes and over the past four games, Crompton has thrown 14 TD passes and only two interceptions. That compares to seven TDs and eight interceptions in the first four games. After five touchdown passes against Memphis, Crompton has 21 on the season.
Key things to his new found success:
When the passing game was failing one player Gerald Jones came forward and asked and received permission from the coaches for extra work after practice after the Auburn game, soon after Jones and Crompton started doing extra work they were joined by all the other receivers and QB’s and the result was seen in the Georgia game. Jones wanting to improve has now motivated the entire receiving and QB corp. In the Memphis game he threw to 9 different receivers 4 of which were freshman one was a converted Defensive back. Against South Carolina he completed passes to 8 different players 2 to fullback and one to a freshman. So when you look at both games he has thrown to 12 different players 5 of which were freshman.
Offensive Line remember at the beginning of the season when there was no pass blocking the Offensive line has really turned around and dramatically improved. This has given him time to throw and build confidence.
Confidence, starting in the 4th quarter of the Auburn game he became a different player, prior to that game 90% of the fans were wanting a change and the pressure was getting to him, I think that he wasn’t playing that great and though the coach was going to pull him, somewhere in the 3rd quarter it hit him the coach wasn’t and if the coach and team believed in him then he would play, and so far he has.
Crompton had 3 new offensive coordinators in his career and whenever he struggled he was pulled which really hurt him and his confidence, now with a coach that believes in him and his abilities, he is showing us what he could have been for the last three years.
Coaching this has been a dramatic change the coaches teach and practice what they have been teaching no matter how unpopular the decision is, they have also instill discipline both on and off the field. The team as a whole is highly motivated and this can and is the result of the coaches. The biggest thing is they have stood by the players and the players have responded.
Crompton was picked at the beginning of the year as the worst starting QB in the SEC and because of these factors and his abilities he is now the best, what a difference a few games and confidence can make, I would bet several NFL teams are now looking at him and he could go in the draft, we will have to see how he finishes the season.
Too bad he can’t play again next year I would like to see what he would do, but we have two QB’s that have been training all year and standing by and Bray coming in who threw 5 Touchdown passes Friday and is one of the most accurate recruits in the nation and four more top receiver recruits have committed so it will be real interesting next year with the great Running backs we have and coming in (Fugate ran for 4 Touchdowns Friday) and receivers.
Go VOL’s
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The way the VOL’s have been playing as of late I would have liked to see then play FLA again, but unless the biggest miracle that ever happened in College football happen it won’t.
For this to happen the VOL’s would have to win out (Highly possible) and the Gators loss every remaining game (Highly improbable) and the bowl selection arrange the game (Very Doubtful)
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The Team looks ready for Mississippi next week.
I was happy to see Crompton passing so well, I expected more of a running attack but Memphis never went away from stopping the run, so the VOL’s continued to pass all night long. So I was wrong in my prediction of the running attack, but the VOL’s called a great game plan in working what the Tigers defense gave them. Mississippi will now need to work on a defense that can cover both the pass and the run if they expect to stop the VOL’s new attacking Offence.
Congratulations to Crompton for being selected player of the game and now leads all SEC QB in passing touchdowns as of the end of the game.
I was happy that nearly all players got to play in the second half but expected our second, third string defense to be better, however the goal line stance at the end of the game is something to build on.
I got to listen to the game via the net and was very exciting game
Good Luck Memphis for the rest of the year
Go VOL’s
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