University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Notes
December 31, 2002 | Football
Dec. 31, 2002
Tennessee vs. Maryland
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Dec. 31, 2002
Georgia Dome - Atlanta, Ga.
Bowl Notes
* Tonight's game was the Vols' 43rd bowl appearance, ranking second all-time in NCAA history
* UT's 23 bowl victories ranks second in NCAA history ... Vols have a 23-20 record in bowl games
* Vols are 11-6 in last 17 bowl appearances dating back to 1986 Sugar Bowl
* Tonight's game is UT's 14th consecutive bowl appearance ... Vols have garnered a postseason bid 20 of last 21 years
* Vols have a 1-2 mark in two Peach Bowl appearances ... (Previous Games: 1988: UT 27, Indiana 22; 1982: Iowa 28, UT 22)
* Vols 4-3 all-time vs. ACC schools in bowl games ... (Last: 1999 Fiesta: UT 23, Florida State 16)
* Tonight's Attendance: 68,330
Series Notes
* Tennessee leads the all-time series against Maryland 5-3, but trail 2-3 in bowl games
* UT holds a 2-0 mark vs. the Terps in Knoxville (1956, 1975) and a 1-0 mark at College Park (1957)
* Maryland is the Vols' most frequent bowl opponent, 5 games (2-3, Last: 1984 Sun Bowl: UM 28, UT 27)
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has a 103-25 (.805) mark in his 11th season at his alma mater
* Fulmer's teams are now 6-5 in bowl games ... He has led UT to a postseason game in each season as UT's head coach
* Each of Fulmer's Tennessee teams have won 8 or more games
* 11th fastest coach in NCAA history to 100 victories (123 games) ... Fifth fastest in terms of longevity (11th season--8th game)
* Fulmer is the only active coach (min. 10 seasons) to rank in NCAA's all-time Top 10 in winning percentage (10th)
* Fulmer has led Tennessee to more 11-win (3) and 10-win seasons (6) than any other coach in UT history
* Led UT to nation's best record (45-5) from 1995-98, including a 13-0 mark in 1998 and the National Championship
Clausen Moves Up Tennessee Passing and Total Offense Charts
* Completed 23-of-37 passes for 242 yards with 1 interception and 0 touchdown tonight
* Ranks No. 2 on Vols' career passing yardage list ... Clausen now has 6,839 passing yards
* Was MVP of Vols' 2002 Citrus Bowl win over Michigan last season, throwing for 406 yards and 3 TDs
* Clausen is now 24-7 as a starter at quarterback for the Vols, including a 1-2 mark in bowl games
* Clausen's Career passing stats now read: 544-of-858 (.634) 6,839 yards, 48 TDs, 22 INT
Colquitt Keeps on Booming Punts
* Finishes season averaging 43.5 ... Best for a UT punter since Kent Elmore averaged 44.3/punt in 1988
* Colquitt averaged 47.7 on 6 punts tonight
Fayton Sets Career-High Reception Marks
* Hauled in 5 pass receptions for 68 yards--both career highs (previous: 1 catch/6 times, 56 yards vs. Miss. State, 2002)
* Tony Brown had 5 receptions for a team-high 75 yards
* Brown's 44-yard catch in the second quarter is the second-longest of his career (previous: 48 vs. Georgia, 2002).
Witten Sets Tight End Season Reception Mark
* Witten set UT's single season reception record by hauling in 5 catches tonight, giving him 39, breaking Ken Delong's mark of 34 set in 1968
* Only Vol to catch a pass in all 13 games this season
* Ends season tied with Tony Brown, who also had 5 catches tonight, for the team lead with 39--lowest total to lead UT in a season since Joey Kent's 36 catches led the 1994 Vols
* Also set UT's single-season receiving yards for a tight end this season with 493 yards (previous: Jeff Smith, 416 in 1984)
Quickly...
* UT has a 6-2 mark in domes, including a 2-2 record in the Georgia Dome (3-2 in bowl games)
* Vols have played in three of the last six SEC Championship games at the Georgia Dome (2-1)
* With LB Eddie Moore (knee) missing tonight's game, the Vols have now had 19 different starters missing 71 total games
* Curome Cox's 54-yard interception return for TD is longest ever vs. UT in a bowl game (previous: Ed Fullerton/Maryland, 1952 Sugar)
* Vols are 2-3 this season when opponent scores first ... 30-22-1 since 1990
* Tonight's game is the first time the Vols have been held without a TD in a bowl game since a 3-0 win over Texas A&M in the 1957 Gator Bowl ... The 27-point loss is the largest ever for the Vols (previous: 25 in a 25-0 loss to USC in the 1945 Rose Bowl)
