University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Continues Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Preparations in Atlanta
December 28, 2002 | Football
Dec. 28, 2002
ATLANTA -- A last-minute venue change did not prevent Tennessee from completing another solid day of practice in preparation for Tuesday's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl matchup against Maryland. The Vols shifted their workout site from The Marist School back to the Georgia Dome because of damp and slippery field conditions.
"We checked the field this morning and they thought it would be all right," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "But then when we checked it again just before we were set to drive out there and with the thaw of the day because of the warm temperatures, it had gotten muddy."
Tennessee practiced Thursday morning at the high school facility in DeKalb County and wanted to return outdoors to limit wear and tear from the Georgia Dome artificial surface. But wet field conditions at Marist could have led to groin and hamstring injuries, something Fulmer and the UT staff did not want to chance.
"We were fortunate the first day not to have somebody pull something," Fulmer said. "The kids were elated to stay here and work out at the dome, so it was easy enough and we actually got started 15 minutes early. This is the only glitch we've had. The kids are pretty resilient and we were careful with our guys who have injuries."
Good news on the injury front includes the probable return of freshman linebacker Marvin Mitchell. The Norfolk, Va., native played against Miami, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt and had eight tackles before suffering an ankle injury. His return eases the possible loss of senior captain Eddie Moore, who is attempting to recover from post-regular season knee surgery. Moore has not practiced since the surgery.
| "The only motivation we're using is when we were sitting there 5-4, everybody made a pact that we were going to try to the best of our ability to make this thing 9-4," "We've reached every rung on the ladder except the last one and Tuesday's our opportunity to reach that one." |
| Will Ofenheusle senior offensive tackle |
Tuesday's game will be Tennessee's first at the Peach Bowl since a January 1988 victory over Indiana. That contest drew a then record crowd of 58,737 to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, but the whole feel of this bowl has changed since the Vols' last appearance.
"I don't think there's any question this bowl has gained in notoriety," Fulmer said. "Everybody we talked to late in the season had nothing but great things to say about the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. It was good before and it's a great bowl now and we're glad to be here."
The Vols are riding a three-game winning streak and a victory Tuesday would mark their 50th triumph in the last five years and 100th in the last 10. In addition, UT could reach its revised goal of a 9-4 record.
"The only motivation we're using is when we were sitting there 5-4, everybody made a pact that we were going to try to the best of our ability to make this thing 9-4," senior offensive tackle Will Ofenheusle said. "We've reached every rung on the ladder except the last one and Tuesday's our opportunity to reach that one."
