University of Tennessee Athletics
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl Preview: Tennessee vs. Clemson
December 15, 2003 | Football
Dec. 15, 2003
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| Clemson (8-4) vs. Tennessee (10-2)
RADIO Clemson Network: Pete Yanity, Will Merritt and Chad Carson (sideline reports) THE COACHES: Clemson Tigers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TENNESSEE-CLEMSON SERIES The series, which began in 1901, saw the schools meet 12 times through 1920. The squads played three times in the 1930s and once in 1944 before games in 1974 and 1976. The last two matchups were exciting tilts decided by a total of three points, with the Vols winning 29-28 and 21-19, respectively. In the 1974 game, Tennessee had to come from a touchdown behind twice in a seesaw fourth quarter to set the stage for an unbelievable climax. Trailing 28-27 and needing a second two-point conversion to pull out a victory, Tennessee sent Condredge Holloway on an option to the right, the same play that seven minutes earlier had gained the Vols a 21-21 tie. This time Clemson was set and had the senior closed off on every option -- except for one. Holloway cut back and retreated to the 22. He spotted Larry Seivers at the goal and, just before he was hit, lofted a pass that the gifted Seivers caught over his shoulder. The 1976 game saw Tennessee catch fire for three second-period touchdowns then stave off a last-ditch comeback bid by the Tigers for a breathtaking win. The Vol defense came up with a crucial pair of saves on Clemson two-point conversion attempts. An interception by Danny Jenkins and a gang tackle by the right side of the line foiled the Tigers' efforts to post two-point conversions that could have produced first a victory and then a tie. FULMER IN ELITE COMPANY IN POSTSEASON Under Fulmer, the Volunteers have played 14 postseason games. They are 8-6 in conference championship and bowl games combined, going 2-1 in the SEC title game and 6-5 in bowl contests. TENNESSEE'S BOWL HISTORY This will be the 15th consecutive bowl game for the the Vols, which is a school record. UT has appeared in a bowl game in 21 of the last 22 years. The Vols are appearing in their eighth New Year's bowl game in the last nine years. Since 1989, UT has made 13 New Year's bowl games in 15 trips. Tennessee made a school record seven straight New Year's bowl appearances from 1995-2001. Tennessee has made 26 bowl appearances in January compiling a 12-14 record. UT is 2-2 on Jan. 2, defeating Oklahoma in the 1939 Orange Bowl and Indiana in the 1988 Peach Bowl. The two defeats came versus Nebraska in the 1998 Orange and 2000 Fiesta Bowls. Under Phillip Fulmer's direction, the Vols will be appearing in their 12th bowl game, compiling a 6-5 mark. TENNESSEE BOASTS SUCCESS IN DOMES
The Vols have posted 18 seasons with at least 10 wins in school history. Seven of those have come under Fulmer (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003). He has more 10-win seasons than any other coach in school history. Neyland (5), Battle (3), Majors (2) and Bowden Wyatt (1) all recorded 10-win seasons.
VOLS IN THE PEACH BOWL In the 1982 Peach Bowl, Iowa built a 21-7 halftime lead, keyed by three Chuck Long touchdown passes. Tennessee's second-half comeback was led by quarterback Alan Cockrell and running backs Chuck Coleman and Doug Furnas. The Vols came off the mat to register two touchdowns and a field goal to close to 28-22 late in the fourth quarter. With the clock winding down, the outcome hinged on two short yardage plays the Hawkeyes stopped at their own 7. On third-and-2, Cockrell's pass was deflected. On fourth down, the Vol signal-caller was stopped short on a counter-option. Cockrell was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Tennessee closed out the 1987 season by posting a come-from-behind win over Indiana, 27-22, in the 1988 Peach Bowl. The Vols exploded to a 21-3 lead early in the second quarter as quarterback Jeff Francis led three scoring drives and threw touchdown passes to Anthony Miller and Terence Cleveland. Indiana rallied in the second half and led 22-21 late in the fourth quarter. But the Vol defense stiffened and Francis and his offensive mates got the ball at the Hoosier 40. Tennessee took it for the winning score as Francis scrambled for a crucial first down and Reggie Cobb got the game-winner from 9 yards out. Charles Kimbrough's interception sealed the Vols' first Peach Bowl win. In 2002, Maryland took advantage of two key UT turnovers and used a balanced attack in defeating the Vols 30-3. Novak was perfect on two placements in the second half from 44 and 25 yards, as McBrien put the game away with a 6-yard scoring run in the fourth period. AGAINST THE ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE The 146 games played versus ACC teams are the most Tennessee has played against any other conference. UT head coach Phillip Fulmer is 3-1 against ACC teams. UT last played a team from the ACC Nov. 1 when it defeated Duke 26-3. The Vols are 4-3 against teams that make up the ACC in bowl games. Five of those meetings have come versus Maryland in five different bowl games. UT beat Virginia in the 1991 Sugar Bowl and defeated Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, securing the 1998 national championship. ALL-SEC VOLUNTEERS Five Vols were named second-team All-SEC by the coaches, while four earned second team honors by AP. Linebacker Kevin Simon and strong safety Gibril Wilson were named to the second team by both. Free safety Rashad Baker made the AP team, while linebacker Kevin Burnett, tailback Cedric Houston and offensive tackle Michael Munoz were selected by the coaches. Colquitt, a Ray Guy Award finalist, leads the SEC with a 45.9-yard punting average. Wells has made 48 consecutive starts at center, while Simon and Wilson tied for the team lead with 106 tackles this season. Baker, who earned first team honors last season, missed two games and still finished fifth on the tackle chart with 64. Burnett ranked fourth on the team with 83 tackles while Houston was the league's fourth leading rusher at 65.5 yards per game. Munoz started every game at left tackle. VOLS PLACE FIVE ON ALL-SEC FRESHMAN LIST Sears played in six games for the Vols. He broke into the starting lineup against Mississippi State at right tackle but suffered an ankle injury in that contest to keep him sidelined the last two games. Wilhoit made 17-of-23 attempts during the season and all 39 of his extra-point kicks, while Swain ranked fifth on the team with 18 catches for 247 yards. Stewart appeared in every game, starting five, and finished the year with 23 tackles, two interceptions and six pass deflections. Campbell saw action in the final seven contests, averaging five tackles per game, while intercepting a pass in his first two games.
Over the last six years, Tennessee has a 59-16 mark and a .786 winning percentage. The Volunteers have also compiled a 38-10 record in conference games during that stretch, winning three Eastern Division titles and one overall league crown.
COLQUITT NAMED ALL-AMERICA, RAY GUY AWARD FINALIST Because of his efforts, the two-time Ray Guy Award finalist was named to the Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp All-America and The Sporting News teams. He is the third Vol punter to garner All-America honors and the first since his cousin Jimmy Colquitt in 1983. Colquitt was twice named the SEC's Special Teams Player of the Week. His most recent honor came after the South Carolina game when he had a career-high five punts of 50 yards or more for a 51.7-yard average, including a 63-yarder. Even more impressive was the fact that he placed four of his seven boots inside the 20 with three settling inside the 5-yard line. He forced the Gamecocks to start consecutive drives on their 2- and 1-yard lines, respectively, in the third quarter. He first earned the honor following UT's win over Marshall when he punted four times for a 50.8 average, with two punts of 50-plus yards, including a 63 yarder. He pinned Marshall deep twice, turning the field position battle in UT's favor. He placed two punts inside the 20, at the Marshall four and three yard lines, respectively. Against Florida he placed two punts inside the 10 and three of the six kicks inside the 20 with a season-long boot of 67 yards, one yard shy of his career high of 68 yards set versus Miami last year. Colquitt placed 19 of 61 punts inside the 20, nine inside the 10 and five inside the 5. He has 18 punts of 50 yards or more, including five 60-yard kicks. Thanks to his booming punts, along with excellent placement and a great punt coverage team, Tennessee is second in the SEC and 11th in the nation in net punting with a 40.0-yard average. The Vols have allowed 36 punt returns for 353 yards (9.8-yard average). Over the last two seasons, Colquitt has averaged 44.71 yards per punt. His career average of 43.24 ranks second all-time at UT, while he has pinned opponents deep by placing 54 of 177 punts (30.5 percent) inside the 20. He has 43 punts of 50 yards or more in his career. Four times in his career he has had three punts in a game over 50 yards (Memphis & Kentucky 2001, Miami 2002, South Carolina 2003). He has had at least one 50-yard punt in 18 of the last 22 games and nine of 11. Colquitt ranks third in UT's record book with 7654 punting yards and 177 punts.
CLAUSEN HAS SOLID CAMPAIGN WITH 10-2 MARK AS STARTER He is fifth in the league in total offense (211.4 ypg), third in passing yards per game (215.3), third in completions per game (16.8) and fifth in passing efficiency (135.5). Clausen has only two interceptions in his last 181 pass attempts and has thrown for 714 yards on 47 of 90 passes over the last three games. His 2537 yards of total offense are seventh on UT's single season list, while his 202 completions are sixth, his 357 attempts are fifth and 2584 passing yards are sixth. He joins Manning as the only UT quarterbacks to throw for at least 20 touchdowns in a season twice in a career. The Vols are third in the league with 26 TD passes behind LSU (30) and Ole Miss (29). CLAUSEN SETS UT ROAD WINS MARK AT KENTUCKY Clausen, who has won 12 of his last 15 starts and compiled a 34-9 record as a starter (18-5 home, 14-1 road, 2-3 neutral), joins Peyton Manning as the only Vol quarterbacks to win at least 30 games. Manning compiled a 39-6 record from 1994-97. With one more win, Clausen would move into a tie for fifth place on the NCAA all-time Division I-A quarterbacks wins list. He would join Nebraska's Eric Crouch, Syracuse's Donovan McNabb, Alabama's Jay Barker and Toledo's Chuck Ealey. CLAUSEN SEASON NOTES In just two-and-a-half quarters, Clausen tied a personal best and school record with five touchdown passes against Mississippi State. It marked the third time in his career he had thrown five, doing it first against Arkansas in 2000 and again versus Memphis in 2001. It was the seventh time in school history the feat had been accomplished. He recorded his second 300-yard passing game of the season and sixth of his career with a 342-yard effort on 21 of 34 attempts versus Mississippi State. He passed for a season-high 355 yards earlier against Auburn. Clausen was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in UT's 51-43 five-overtime win over Alabama. He completed 23-of-43 passes for 283 yards and no interceptions. He completed 4-of-8 passes in the overtime for 65 yards, with three completions going for touchdowns. He connected with 10 different receivers and had five pass plays for more than 20 yards. He also earned the honor for his efforts in the 2001 Alabama game. His 1-yard scoring plunge and two-point conversion pass in the fifth overtime against the Tide put the Vols ahead for good. It was his first rushing tally since the South Carolina game last year. Against Auburn he connected on seven passes of at least 20 yards while tying his career-best of 30 completions on a career-high 47 attempts. The 355 yards was the third-best effort of his career and was his first 300-yard passing game since a career-high 393 yards against Michigan in the 2002 Florida Citrus Bowl. Clausen threw for 235 yards against Florida, including connecting on two of his four longest pass plays of the season. He hit James Banks on a 48-yard touchdown on the last play of the first half and then hooked up with freshman Bret Smith for a 57-yard gain in the third quarter, setting up UT's second touchdown. For the season, Clausen has hit 15 passing plays of at least 30 yards, including a school-record 90-yard touchdown against Georgia. CLAUSEN MOVES UP SEC CHARTS Clausen is the eighth SEC quarterback to have at least 70 scoring strikes. He has accounted for 79 total touchdowns in his career and needs one more to become the sixth SEC quarterback to reach 80. CLAUSEN NOTES
Mark Jones IS UT'S TRIPLE THREAT Jones is UT's second-leading receiver with 31 receptions for 490 yards. He leads the club averaging 15.8 yards per catch and has four touchdowns. Jones has led the team in catches in a game five times and receiving yards three times. He ranks second in the SEC and third nationally, averaging 15.7 yards per punt return (19-298). He leads UT in all-purpose yards at 75.3 yards per game and has made 17 tackles with two interceptions. At Kentucky, he was in on a season-high 92 plays. He posted season-highs in all three phases with 43 offensive snaps, 33 defensive snaps and 16 on special teams. Against Georgia, Jones mustered up enough strength to steal the ball away from a Bulldog defender and race 90 yards for a touchdown, setting a school record for the longest pass reception in school history. It bettered the 87-yard effort when Andy Kelly hooked up with Carl Pickens against Auburn (1991). It was the 14th pass play of at least 80 yards in school history and the first since Casey Clausen hit Donte' Stallworth for an 80-yard scoring strike versus Vanderbilt in 2001. Jones had 117 yards receiving on four catches against the Bulldogs, recording the first 100-yard receiving game of the season by a Vol and the first since Kelley Washington had 112 against Arkansas last season. The utility player came through in the clutch against Auburn, making a diving catch in the end zone for his first career touchdown catch while posting 56 yards receiving. Against Fresno State, he caught one pass for 12 yards while returning five punts for 56 yards. Jones made at least one big play in each quarter during that game. He made a touchdown-saving tackle on a punt return, took Fresno out of field goal range by forcing an intentional grounding on a blitz, made an open field tackle on third down and set up UT's final points with a 29-yard punt return. His versatility really came through against Florida as he intercepted his third career pass at the UT 31, stopping a Gator drive. He also had the longest run of the day on a 24-yard reverse. JONES RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN PUNT RETURN AVERAGE He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after accounting for 216 all-purpose yards against Vanderbilt. He had five punt returns for 120 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown return giving UT a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. It was the first punt return for a score since Donte' Stallworth against Vanderbilt in 2001. He also had returns of 25 and 23 yards. Jones also recorded a team-high three catches for 45 yards with a long of 17, and picked off his second pass of the season, returning it 51 yards to the Commodore 7 setting up UT's sixth score of the day. He had two pass breakups.
WILSON IS HOTTEST OF ALL DEFENDERS He was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles (nine solo) with a sack and three pass breakups against Kentucky Nov. 29. Over the last three games he has recorded 33 tackles with five tackles for loss including two sacks. He has also broken up nine passes with two interceptions in the last four. After making 15 tackles in his first four games, Wilson nearly doubled that total by registering 13 tackles at Auburn, beginning a string of four consecutive 10-tackle games. He has all three sacks recorded by the defensive backs this season. VOLS BOAST TRIO OF 100-PLUS TACKLERS Wilson paced the eight Vols who recorded at least 10 stops in a game with seven 10-plus tackle efforts. Simon was second with five, while Peace had four. Rashad Baker, Corey Campbell and Jason Allen had two apiece, while Kevin Burnett and Mondre Dickerson had one each. Wilson and Simon are among the league leaders with 6.25 and 6.17 solo tackles per game, respectively. Peace and Parys Haralson are tied for seventh in the conference with 1.04 tackles for loss per game. Simon tied for the SEC game-high with three sacks versus Marshall and was second in the league in game-high solo stops against Florida with 14.
The defense has seen marked improvement with two interceptions in each of the last four games and nine over the last six, compared to five in the first six games. UT has forced 14 turnovers over the last six games, compared to seven in the first half of the season. They have also held opponents to 156.8 yards passing over the last six games, compared to 205.3 in the first six. Pass efficiency defense has improved to 88.24 over the last six games compared to 125.05 in the first half of the season. Tennessee is third in the SEC and No. 18 nationally in pass efficiency defense at 105.7. It is second in the league and No. 15 nationally in passing yards allowed per game at 181.1. The Vols lead the SEC in fewest passing touchdowns allowed with 10. That total ties for 10th nationally. UT has allowed just one touchdown pass in the last five games. VOLS GET ON TRACK WITH OFFENSE But the stat that tells the real story is turnovers. This is where UT has seen its greatest improvement. The Vols are a plus-eight in turnover margin after being a minus-five through the first six games. Tennessee went from being a -0.83 in turnover margin to a +0.25. It went three full games and 16 straight quarters from the first stanza of the Alabama game through the first quarter of the Vanderbilt game without a turnover. The three consecutive games without a turnover tied the 1957 team for the longest streak without a turnover. UT's longest streak without an interception was five games in 1961 and 2002, while the longest stretch without losing a fumble was five games in 1990. BOWL SQUAD BOASTS 23 SENIORS 2003 seniors: Rashad Baker, DB; Casey Clausen, QB; Andrew Crossley, Guillaume Dumont, OT; FB; Troy Fleming, FB; Jabari Greer, DB; Kip Hartman, WR; Anthony Herrera, OG; Dusty Ishii, DB; Mark Jones, WR; Andy Kerr, PK; Steve Mugleston, LB; Philip Newman, PK; Robert Peace, LB; Chuck Prugh, C; Constantin Ritzmann, DE; Brad Sharp, FB; Terriea Smalls, DT; Chavis Smith, OG; Frank Taylor, DT; Scott Wells, C; Gibril Wilson, DB; Sean Young, OT.
O.J. Owens was the latest Vol to join the block party with a punt block against Mississippi State in the third quarter that set up UT's sixth touchdown of the day. The Vols tied a school record with two blocked field goals against Alabama. Jason Allen blocked a 26-yard attempt in the second quarter, and Mondre Dickerson blocked a potential game-winning 45-yard attempt with four seconds remaining in the contest. The two blocked placements tied the record set against Notre Dame in 1991 as Floyd Miley and Jeremy Lincoln combined to snuff out attempts. Marvin Mitchell's blocked punt on South Carolina's first possession set the Vols up at the Gamecock 10 for their first score of the game. WILHOIT ONE OF TOP FRESHMAN KICKERS Wilhoit is the most accurate kicker in the SEC from 40 yards and out, connecting on 7 of 10 for 70.0 percent. He started slow, going 1-for-4, but then hit on four of his next six before connecting on a season-high seven straight. He is perfect on all 39 PATs. ORANGE ZONE SUCCESS The five failures are three missed field goals (two against Fresno State, one vs. Duke), a fumble versus Georgia and end of half at Miami. UT had its best success against Miss. State, going 7-for-7 (6 TDs, 1 FG). The touchdown success rate is 70.5 percent, up from last season's 47.8 percent. UT has 31 touchdowns and eight field goals. Last year the Vols scored at a 75 percent clip (36-of-48), putting up 23 touchdowns and 13 field goals.
UT has 17 sacks over the last 10 games, including five multi-sack efforts. It recorded a season-high six versus Marshall. It was the most since recording nine against Southern Miss in 2000. Kevin Simon and Parys Haralson spearhead the attack with 4.5 sacks apiece. Constantin Ritzmann and Gibril Wilson follow with three each. Against Marshall, Simon registered a career-high three sacks, recording 29 of the 72 minus yards (40 percent) suffered during the game. UT's defensive line has 14 sacks, the linebackers have 10 and the secondary has three.
HOUSTON EDGES CLOSER TO UT'S TOP 20 He is the fourth-leading rusher in the SEC, averaging 65.5 yards per game which ranks him 84th nationally. Houston scored his first touchdown on a 3-yard run to give the Vols a 14-7 lead over South Carolina. He added his second score at Kentucky while rushing for 87 yards. The dependable pass catcher out of the backfield has 12 receptions for 116 yards. Against Fresno State, he carried the ball 19 times without a loss, doing most of his damage in the first quarter as he ran for 95 yards on 10 attempts, with long runs of 20 and 25. Versus Marshall he broke out in the third quarter by rushing for 102 yards on 10 carries with runs of 50 and 35 yards. He accounted for 74 yards on the Vols' 80-yard TD drive to open the second half. BANKS: UT'S LEADING RECEIVER Banks leads the club with nine catches of more than 20 yards, including five of at least 30. He has been on the receiving end of three of the eight longest TD pass plays and is the only Vol to catch a pass in every game. He has four games of at least 70 yards receiving. He scored a receiving touchdown in each of the first four games and was the first UT wide receiver to accomplish that feat since Donte' Stallworth in 2001. Banks fell two games shy of the record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception set by Joey Kent in 1995. Banks finished the Alabama game with a career-high 103 yards on a season-high tying seven catches with two touchdowns in overtime with a two-point conversion. His 20 points against Alabama are the most by a UT player since Jamal Lewis scored 24 against Kentucky in 1997. He scored his first touchdown of the game on his first play from the quarterback position this season as he sprinted up the middle for 25 yards to give Tennessee a 10-6 lead. Banks has had monumental catches all season: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tennessee claimed a share of the Southeastern Conference Eastern Division title with a 6-2 league mark. The Volunteers tied with Georgia and Florida, but the Bulldogs were chosen to represent the division in the SEC title game due to a higher Bowl Championship Series ranking.
