Sept. 28, 2005
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College Football Preview: Week 5 |  |
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Volunteers pulled themselves out of a hole at LSU and in the Southeastern Conference race by rallying to win in overtime.
Now coach Phillip Fulmer wants the team to keep climbing, starting this week against Mississippi.
The Vols (2-1, 1-1) lost their chance to take control of the East division by losing at Florida, and the whole season looked bleak when they trailed No. 4 LSU 21-0 at halftime Monday night.
In one of Tennessee's biggest comebacks ever, the Vols took control in the second half to tie it and then won 30-27 in overtime.
"What it can mean is going to be determined by what we do with these next games we have in front of us. I believe they understand that completely," Fulmer said Wednesday.
"I think we'll get to celebrate it and enjoy it a lot more if we build on it and do the right things."
Tennessee has one less practice day this week to prepare for Saturday's home game against Mississippi (1-2, 0-1) because the LSU game was moved to Monday due to Hurricane Rita. The Vols are 21-point favorites over the Rebels, who have lost to Vanderbilt and Wyoming.
Fulmer does not believe a shorter practice week should be an issue, likening it to NFL teams that play on Monday night and then follow with the next game on Sunday.
"I think that's a mind-set. We're going to do our part to make sure we handle the time on the field and the physical part," he said. "Our conditioning is good. I don't have any doubts about that. We have a couple of guys banged up that need to get back to 100 percent. If we can do that, we'll be fine."
The coaches used extra time on Sunday and Monday to break down film of Ole Miss. Tuesday practice was spent mainly correcting mistakes from the game.
Coming out of the LSU game, Fulmer said the defense needs to continue playing the way it did against Florida and LSU. The Tigers were held to six points after halftime, including just a field goal in overtime that allowed Tennessee's offense to win with a touchdown.
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Jonathan Wade, who had four tackles and a fumble recovery at LSU, earned a starting spot at cornerback ahead of Roshaun Fellows, Fulmer said.
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TRIBUTE: Black helmet decals to honor the victims of the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast have been distributed to SEC teams.
The decals are in the shape of a map of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
The idea came from Arkansas assistant equipment manager Cory Jacobs, according to Arkansas sports information director Kevin Trainor.
Tim Cheney, the head equipment manager for Arkansas, got the decals processed and distributed to SEC teams.
LSU and Tennessee were wearing the decals on Monday night.
Trainor said Arizona State also wore them for its game against LSU and some other schools outside the SEC may be using them.
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CHANGING PLACES: Mississippi might have found a dependable running back in, of all places, the secondary.
Playing his third position this year, freshman Mico McSwain figures to be more involved in the Ole Miss offense after rushing for 114 yards on just seven carries in the loss to Wyoming.
"I think that whether he can do it on a consistent basis for 30 times a game is something we will have to see," coach Ed Orgeron said. "But we feel that with preparation that he will be able to do it."
McSwain was playing free safety for Ole Miss in the preseason after starting out as a receiver. He switched back to offense, made his first start at running back against the Cowboys and took his only carry of the first half 60 yards for a touchdown.
He leads the Rebels in rushing with 216 yards on just 19 carries - an average of 11.4 yards per attempt.
"He brings a lot to the offense, and we need to get him the football more in all aspects of the offense," Orgeron said.
Jamal Pittman, who lost his job to McSwain, could move to H-back for Saturday's game at No. 10 Tennessee.
"They're working me out over here, so anything I can do to help, I'm going to do it ... with a smile on my face," Pittman said.
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BULLETIN BOARD: Florida defensive end Jeremy Mincey gave Alabama plenty of bulletin board material this week.
Mincey said Tennessee, which the fifth-ranked Gators beat 16-7 two weeks ago, has more talent than No. 15 Alabama. He also said Florida could get a blowout victory in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
"I would say Tennessee has more talent than Alabama, both sides of the ball," Mincey said. "Alabama has a good defense, but I'd still say Tennessee has more talent.
"Tennessee's (offensive line) was big and athletic and we came out and played them pretty good. We were a couple of mistakes from beating the crap out of them. We were a couple of missed assignments from beating them pretty bad. The funny thing is we're going to get better and better."
Mincey didn't stop there, either.
"Our defense, if we come out with the right state of mind, playing hard, we should come out with a good victory," he said. "I can't say how (good). The way our defense has played the last four weeks, anything is possible. It could be a blowout or just a regular victory."
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LITTLE SAPP: South Carolina freshman Marvin Sapp had five tackles in his first start for the Gamecocks last weekend, doing a pretty fair impersonation of his second cousin, Warren of the Oakland Raiders.
"We don't really talk often at all," the inside linebacker said. "It's no big deal."
Marvin Sapp, who expected to redshirt after not seeing any playing time in the first three games, filled in for the injured Lance Laury in South Carolina's 45-20 win against Troy last weekend. Laury missed the game with an infection on his right elbow.
"They're both going to play" against Auburn, coach Steve Spurrier said.
Marvin Sapp, whose first cousin is former Clemson quarterback Patrick Sapp, recorded four solo tackles and assisted on another.
He was one of a handful of younger players Spurrier sprinkled into the lineup to jump-start the Gamecocks after a lackluster 37-14 loss to Alabama on Sept. 17.
"It's a great opportunity," said Sapp, of Jacksonville, Fla. "I'm glad that coach Spurrier chose to put me in."
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HONORS: Rick Clausen was SEC offensive player of the week for coming off the bench to lead Tennessee to a 30-27 overtime win over LSU.
Clausen relieved starting quarterback Erik Ainge in the second quarter. Clausen threw a touchdown pass and run for a touchdown as the Vols rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit.
Linebacker DeMeco Ryans of Alabama was the defensive player of the week. He had 15 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery in a 24-13 win over Alabama.
Alabama punter Jeremy Schatz averaged 45.8 yards on six punts, including a career-long 72-yarder, to win special teams player of the week.
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