Tennessee upset bid turned back by ‘Bama, 12-10

The Tennessee Volunteers made a serious bit at an upset but special teams was their downfall in a 12-10 loss to the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide.

The Volunteers missed a field goal and had two others blocked, including the game-winning attempt as time expired.

Tennessee probably could have pushed the ball down field a little harder on the final drive instead of settling for a 44-yard field goal attempt.

It was a very impressive effort from a young Volunteers squad to take the No. 1 team down to the wire on their home field.

If Tennessee can find more consistency on the offensive side of the ball, they are going to be a very dangerous team.

Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 7:03 am by steve

SEC Reprimands Kiffin for Ref Comments

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin was fined by the SEC on Monday for disparaging comments Kiffin made about the referees following Tennessee’s 12-10 loss to No. 2 Alabama on Saturday.

On Sunday, Kiffin complained that the officials working the game failed to call an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on ‘Bama defensive lineman Terrence Cody, as he removed his helmet and threw it on the field after blocking the potential game-winning field goal.

Kiffin also mentioned that the Volunteers ran the clock down at the end of the game instead of running another play, partly in fear of the officiating.

“You run another play and you throw an interception or they throw another flag on us — I wasn’t going to let the refs lose the game for us there and some magical flag appear,” Kiffin said.

This was the second time Kiffin has drawn attention from the SEC, and commissioner Mike Silve suggested that if Kiffin continues to behave unacceptably, he will face stiffer punishments. He received his first warning from the league after accusing Florida coach Urban Meyer of underhanded recruiting tactics.

“This is the second reprimand for Coach Kiffin in this calendar year,” Slive said in a statement. “Coach Kiffin is on notice that for any further violations of SEC policies will subject him to additional penalties including suspension.”

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 7:38 pm by bryan

Vols fall just short in upset bid at top-ranked ‘Bama

By Bud L. Ellis

The Tennessee Volunteers were this close to recording the first significant victory of the Lane Kiffin era Saturday.

Unfortunately for the Vols, Terrence Cody blocked two Daniel Lincoln field-goal attempts — including a 44-yarder on the final play of the game — as Tennessee fell just short of upsetting top-ranked Alabama, falling 12-10 in Tuscaloosa.

The Vols gave themselves a chance at the finish. Eric Berry recovered a fumbled, and Jonathan Crompton marched Tennessee downfield, finding Gerald Jones for an 11-yard touchdown with 1:19 left.

Tennessee then recovered the onside kick and the Vols moved into field-goal range, but Cody got a hand on Lincoln’s attempt at the finish.

The Vols’ defense held Alabama to four field goals, but the UT offense could only muster the late touchdown and one field goal, despite outgaining the Crimson Tide 341-256.

–30–

Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 6:46 pm by bud

Tags: Alabama, Daniel Lincoln, Eric Berry, Gerald Jones, Jonathan Crompton, Lane Kiffin, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee, Terrence Cody

Kiffin officially signs contract

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Lane Kiffin has finally officially signed his six-year contract worth $14.25 million.

Part of the contract states that Kiffin must inform the athletic department if he is interested in another job or approached by another school.

He would then owe the school up to a million dollars should he decide to take another job before his contract is up.

It has not become all that unusual for college coaches to work without first having signed their contract.

It has, however, caused problems in some cases. The most notable situation was that of Billy Gillispie and Kentucky after the school fired him.

Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 7:07 pm by steve

Kiffin Officially Signs Six-Year Contract

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who had been working under a memo of understanding, came to an agreement with Tennessee on Tuesday for a six-year, $14.25 million deal.

When he was hired in November, it was agreed that he would be making $2 million in 2009, including pay for broadcasting responsibilities and endorsements.

Now, his salary will increase annually through 2014, where it peaks at $2.75 million.

If Kiffin is fired without reason, he is due a buyout of between $5 million and $7.5 million from the school.

If he becomes interested in another college coaching job or a professional coaching job, he must inform Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton. He would owe the university somewhere between $200,000 and $1 million if he leaves Tennessee to take another coaching job.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11:10 pm by bryan

Tennessee surprises Georgia, 45-19

The Tennessee Volunteers picked up their most impressive win of the year with a surprising, 45-19 pounding of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Georgia is now slouch, having just taken the LSU Tigers down to the final minute before losing last week.

Neither team was able to put points on the board in the first quarter, which made it seem like we had another SEC defensive slobberknocker on our hands.

However, both teams exploded in the second quarter, with Tennessee taking a 21-12 lead into halftime.

From there, Tennessee continued to pour it on, and maybe Lane Kiffin is finally beginning to get through to his team.

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:49 am by steve

Next for UT is quite the challenge: No. 2 Alabama

By Bud L. Ellis

One could argue there is a line of demarcation in the Southeastern Conference this season.

On one side of that line are the top two teams in the nation: No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama.

On the other side are the contenders who wish to be at the top of the SEC and the nation in the years to come. In that batch of teams would be Tennessee, who certainly moved higher in the “second tier” of the SEC following its 45-19 blowout win over Georgia last Saturday in Knoxville.

With a bye this week, the Vols know they have a great opportunity once they return to the field to move closer to the penthouse of the conference. To do that, Tennessee faces quite a challenge when they take the field again Oct. 24, for a trip to face the second-ranked Crimson Tide.

So many things went right for the Vols against the Dogs, most notably the performance of embattled quarterback Jonathan Crompton. But for all that fell just right against Georgia, so much more has to unfold perfectly for the Vols to pull the upset in Tuscaloosa.

Certainly, a win over Alabama would really turn around Tennessee’s season. After the trip to Alabama, Tennessee finishes with three of its final five games at Neyland Stadium. A win would even UT’s SEC record at 2-2, and would position the Vols perhaps for a New Year’s Day bowl berth.

But it won’t be easy, upending a Crimson Tide team that looks every bit like a national championship contender. UT took a step back toward respectability with the blowout of Georgia last weekend, but there remains plenty of work to do to return the Big Orange back to the nation’s elite.

–30–

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 10:28 pm by bud

Tags: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, NCAA football, Southeastern Conference, University of Tennessee

Negedu Out For Season

Forward Emmanuel Negedu will not be with the team this season after suffering sudden cardiac arrest last week, but he will remain on scholarship.

“I just want to say thanks to all those people that care about me and show me they care,” Negedu said in a statement. “God is going to see me through this. With God, all things are possible. God is always in control.”
Negedu collapsed in the Vols’ indoor practice facility on September 28, when he had been racing a teammate around the indoor football field after a weightlifting session.

Athletic trainers Chad Newman and director of sports medicine Jason McVeigh performed CPR and used a defibrillator to revive the 20-year-old sophomore.

Negedu was then rushed to the hospital, where he underwent an assortment of tests for the next week before undergoing surgery on Tuesday. Doctors implanted a cardiac defibrillator in his chest to monitor the rhythm of his heart.

“Emmanuel is such a special young man,” coach Bruce Pearl said in a statement. “You don’t come across many like him. He’s faced a tremendously frightening obstacle with unbelievable courage. He is going to be an inspiration to many, and we all feel truly blessed that he’s still here with us.”

Monday, October 12, 2009 at 10:06 pm by bryan

Crompton shines as Vols blast Dogs, win first SEC game

By Bud L. Ellis

Lane Kiffin’s first Southeastern Conference victory couldn’t have come at a better time for Jonathan Crompton.

Crompton answered critics concerning whether he should still be the Vols’ starting quarterback, throwing for a career-best 310 yards as Tennessee won its first conference game under Kiffin, slaughtering Georgia 45-19 at Neyland Stadium.

Crompton, who some fans had wanted benched after a poor start to this season, has turned things around. Coming into the game Saturday, he had thrown four touchdowns in his past two games.

But Saturday, against a Georgia defense that already had given up 37 points to South Carolina and 41 to Arkansas this season, Crompton cut loose. He shredded the Georgia defense time and time again, going 20-for-27 passing with four touchdowns as the Dogs were unable to bring any pressure.

That should ease the pressure on Kiffin, a lightning rod of controversy himself since taking over as Tennessee’s coach. He promised in the offseason that the Vols would beat Florida — that didn’t happen.

But everything happened for the Vols Saturday. Defensively, Tennessee played well, holding Georgia to just 271 yards of total offense and no offensive touchdowns, keeping Georgia from reaching the red zone. The Dogs scored on a kickoff return, an interception return, a field goal and a safety.

Montario Hardesty led the Vols with 97 yards rushing on 20 carries and a touchdown.

Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 10:55 am by bud

Tags: Florida, Georgia, Jonathan Crompton, Lane Kiffin, Montario Hardesty, Neyland Stadium, Southeastern Conference, Tennessee

Warren Dismissed From Vols After Outburst

A shaky season just got shakier, as Tennessee wide receiver Brandon Warren has been dismissed from the Vols following an animated exchange with receivers coach Frank Wilson last Saturday during Tennessee’s 26-22 loss to Auburn.

Warren transferred to Tennessee after being named to the ACC’s All-Freshman team as a TE at Florida State two seasons ago. Warren, who has had several issues with the Vols since coming to the team, was seen throwing his helmet after the outburst at Wilson, causing Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin to end Warren’s Volunteer career.

“He has been dismissed for conduct detrimental to our team,” Kiffin said. “We wish him the best of luck. We will give him full academic support to keep him going in school, and that’s going to be my last comment on it. It’s very unfortunate.”

Warren, a 6’2”, 215-pound junior, had caught seven catches for 54 yards and two touchdowns this season for Tennessee.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 9:14 pm by bryan