University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Notebook - Vols vs. MTSU
September 07, 2002 | Football
Sept. 7, 2002
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Tennessee has won its last 17 regular season non-conference games
* Vols have won their last 26 non-conference home games dating back to 1990 (last loss: 34-29 to No. 1-ranked Notre Dame)
* Since 1989 the Vols are 48-8-1 in non-conference action (last loss: 21-17 at Memphis in 1996)
* Tennessee has next week off before hosting Florida Sept. 21 (3:30 p.m. - CBS)
* Tonight's attendance: 107,672 - sixth-largest in UT history
Tennessee is now 82-15-5 (.814) all-time in home openers, and has won its last eight dating back to 1995
* The Vols are 16-2-1 in their last 18 openers at Neyland Stadium ... Phillip Fulmer is 10-1 in home openers
* UT's last loss in a home opener was a 31-0 loss to Florida in 1994
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Tonight's game was the first meeting between the Vols and Blue Raiders
* UT now has an all-time mark of 3-1 against schools that make up the Sun Belt Conference
* UT is one of four SEC schools on MTSU's 2002 schedule (others: Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt)
* MTSU is now 1-20 vs. the SEC, 1-9 since going to Division I-A in 1999
* MTSU replaced Houston on the Vols' slate after the Cougars opted not to play the scheduled game
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has a 97-20 (.829) mark in his 11th season at his alma mater
* With tonight's win, Fulmer passes UT's Robert Neyland as the SEC's all-time winningest coach by percentage ... Fulmer is now 97-20 (.82905), while Neyland amassed a 173-31-2 (.82870) mark
* Fulmer has a 55-5 mark at Neyland Stadium ... Vols are 30-2 at home since 1997
* 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
QB Casey Clausen completed 24-of-29 for 263 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception
* Clausen is now 19-3 as a starter at quarterback for the Vols
* Moved to No. 5 on UT's total offense list (4903), passing Jimmy Streater (4807)
* He has a 14-2 mark as the Vols' QB when throwing for at least 200 yards (8-2 in 2001)
* Completed 15 of his first 18 passes tonight
Kevin Simon Has Big Game in First Start at Linebacker
* Recovered an MTSU fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, giving UT a 26-3 lead with 5:27 remaining
* Led the Vols with 9 tackles (5 solo, 4 assists), including 2 tackles for loss (-5 yards)
* Simon replaced Kevin Burnett who was lost for the season with a knee injury in the opener last week
PK Phillip Newman handles kicking duties; Walls injured
* Newman, a junior transfer from Georgia Tech, scored 4 points tonight (1-of-3 FGs-1 blocked / 2-of-2 PAT) - the last time UT had FG blocked was by Notre Dame in 1999 (a 38-14 UT victory)
* Walls (strained quad) has connected on 90 consecutive PATs, to rank seventh all-time in the SEC and second at UT ... Did not play
Big Play Defense Scores 9 Points
* LB Jason Mitchell blocked an MTSU punt for a safety in the fourth quarter--UT's first blocked punt since 2000 vs. La.-Monroe
* The Vols scored their first safety since last season's opener against Syracuse on a sack by Constanin Ritzmann
* Following the safety, UT's Jabari Greer sacked the MTSU quarterback and caused a fumble in the end zone that was recovered by LB Kevin Simon
* FS Rashad Baker caused and recovered an MTSU fumble at the Blue Raider 36 in the second quarter, to set up a 35-yard Phillip Newman field goal, putting the Vols up 17-0 ... It was Baker's first career fumble recovery
* DT Rashad Moore stopped an MTSU drive in the second quarter with a fumble recovery at the UT 4 (3:58 remaining in 1st half)--his first career fumble recovery
Tennessee Defensive Notebook
* Allowed just 209 total yards-- 100 yards rushing today on 38 carries ... First 2 games: UT defense giving up just 198 yards/game
* Recorded 3 quarterback sacks (-14) and 9 Tackles For Loss (-29)
* Julian Battle recorded his first career sack tonight (-10)
* Limited MTSU running back Dwone Hicks to just 33 yards on 17 carries...His lowest since a 28-yard effort last year at North Texas
Cedric Houston leads UT ground attack
* Scored the Vols' first touchdown on a 15-yard run in the first quarter
* Rushed For 74 yards on 13 carries
Passing It Around
* Clausen hit 9 different receivers tonight, three going for more than 20 yards--Witten (40), Tinsley (28), Jones (22)
* WR Tony Brown led the Vols with a career-best 8 catches for 75 yards
* Sophomore Montrell Jones established career-bests for catches (4) and receiving yards (47)
