University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday Practice Report
December 31, 2000 | Football
DALLAS - The No. 21 Tennessee Volunteers conducted a 45-minute walk through practice Sunday morning at the Cotton Bowl, site of the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic. The Vols will battle No. 11 Kansas State tomorrow in the 65th edition of the Classic.
With the game scheduled to kick off tomorrow at 10:12 a.m. CST, Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer wanted his squad to work out today at the same time as they will be playing tomorrow.
We certainly got everyone wake early this morning, Coach Fulmer said. We wanted to get started early and walk through early to get the players' body clocks in order. The kids were all on time for breakfast this morning and were anxious to get on the bus and come out here.
This will be the Vols fifth appearance in the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classic and its first since beating Arkansas 31-27 in the 1990 Classic. Tennessee brings a 2-2 record in Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl Classics into tomorrow's game.
Coach Fulmer is excited that this year's squad will become part of the Classic's history.
It's a beautiful stadium and a beautiful opportunity for our team to be a part of this Cotton Bowl history, Coach Fulmer said. I understand the tradition of the Cotton Bowl. I told our team that when I was a little kid there wasn't this much football on TV every week, and I remember watching Texas play in the Cotton Bowl back in the 1960s. It's a real thrill to be a part of it.
Tennessee comes into the game with quite a bit of youth, which has made the 2000 season a fun one for Coach Fulmer.
This is a team that I have enjoyed coaching, Coach Fulmer said. There is a giddiness and excitement about this team. There's enough youthful enthusiasm because this is all new to them that they are fun to be around. When you ask them to work and to practice, they've done a really good job. That doesn't guarantee that you're going to win, but it sure makes your opportunities better.
The Cotton Bowl field, complete with Tennessee's traditional orange-and-white checkerboard design in the south end zone, met with Coach Fulmer's approval.
The field's great, Coach Fulmer said. It's a good field. It looks fine to me.
Tennessee will be the designated visiting team in tomorrow's Classic. The game will be televised nationally on Fox.
