The Tennessee Volunteers (6-3, 3-2 SEC) can point to the stretch run of Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Kentucky, knowing a sweep puts them in the SEC championship game on Dec. 1.
It's a good time to see an experienced fifth year senior return to the field.
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer said Vol fans should look for tight end Brad Cottam to hit the playing field Saturday. The Germantown, Tennessee senior injured his wrist in a preseason scrimmage. Cottamwas expected to team with fellow senior Chris Brown as anchors for the Tennessee passing game, which was dealing with the loss of all three starting wide receivers from 2006..
“We’re playing for a championship here over the next several weeks. Brad was ready and we were ready and he’s had his wrist re-evaluated. We’re glad to have him back. He wants to play now,” Fulmer said after Wednesday’s workout at Haslam Field. "We’re trying to get ready to play a really fine Arkansas team.”
Having Cottam back just might be the extra weapon Eric Ainge needs to keep the Razorbacks on their heels.
We have been here before. Eric Ainge is hurt! Will he play? Or will Jonathan Crompton lead the Volunteers? While it is certain Tennessee Football Coach Phillip Fulmer did not ask for this situation, it is just as certain that he is not going to show his entire hand to the California Golden Bear coaching staff either.
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday he expects his senior quarterback to play in Saturday’s opener at California, despite the latest news that Erik Ainge has a broken little finger on his throwing hand.
“He is going to play,” Fulmer said of Ainge. “He has thrown and it looks like he’s going to be able to throw just fine. I appreciate him showing the toughness to get himself back out there.”
Fulmer faced a similar situation last year when Ainge was injured late in an Oct. 28 win at South Carolina. Ainge started the next week against LSU, but Jonathan Crompton played most of the way in Tennessee’s last-season loss to the Tigers.
“If it doesn’t work out great, then obviously Jonathan will have to be ready,” Fulmer said. “I have the utmost confidence in Jonathan getting the job done. We have said all along we’re going out there to win this football game as a team, and that’s exactly what we’re going to try to do.”
Crompton, a junior, has one career start in seven appearances. He has completed 47-percent of his career passes (31-of-66) for 401 yards. The Waynesville, N.C., product passed for 183 yards last year in the LSU game, then followed that with a 174-yard effort in his start at Arkansas. Crompton had two TDs and one interception in each of those games.
The final BCS rankings put Florida in the National Championship Game LSU in the Sugar Bowl and Tennessee in the Outback. I never thought I'd say this but, uh, thanks Florida. Eck! That was like kissing your step-sister.
What a difference a year makes. Last year Tennesee spent the New Year in Knoxville watching other teams, well, like, uh, Florida, play in bowl games.
In 2005, the Vols were coming off of an SEC Eastern Division Championship and a huge Cotton Bowl win where Rick Clausen, playing in the place of an injured Eric Ainge, had led the team from Rocky Top to a demolishing of what had been a pretty good Texas A&M team. Then, beneath the radar, Eric Ainge won the job back in the spring. However, Eric struggled throughout the season leading to calls for Clausen who the fans loved. The team seemed to have its doubts about Eric too. Conversely, they seemed to have their spirits raised up when Clausen came in as he did when he led a tremendous fourth quarter comeback over LSU which ended up being the high point of the season.
Exit Randy Sanders as Offensive Coordinator. Welcome back David Cutcliff as Offensive Coordinator.
David told Eric to cut his hair and lose his earring. Eric called Peyton Manning to ask him what to do. Peytons advice?
Shut up. Do what he says. Listen to him. You will be a better quarterback.
Thanks Peyton.
Eric took Peyton's advice. He did what David told him to. He is a better quarterback. He has matured beyond the potential he showed as a Freshman and fortunately, only occasionally, do we get a glimpse of the harried Sophomore that simply threw the ball up in the air for an easy Nortre Dame interception and touchdown return in 2005.
In 2006 David, Eric and the Vols have come bouncing back.
2007 Outback Bowl Jan. 1, 2007 Tampa, Fla. - Raymond James Stadium - ESPN - 11 a.m. EST
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