University of Tennessee Athletics
Postgame Notes
August 30, 2003 | Football
Aug. 30, 2003
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Vols Open 2003 Season With 24-6 Victory Over Fresno State
Season/Home Opener Notes
* Tennessee has a 79-22-6 mark in season openers ... The Vols have won their last 9 season openers
* UT has not lost a season opener since 1994--a 25-23 setback at UCLA
* In home openers, UT has an all-time mark of 85-18-5 ... Vols are 14-1 in last 15 home openers ... UT's last loss in a home opener was in 1994 (Florida 31, UT 0)
* UT has not lost a home opener to a non-conference foe since losing to Duke 31-26 in 1988
* Vols are 5-0-1 when opening a season in the month of August
* UT defeated Wyoming 47-7 in last season's opener at Nashville and Middle Tennessee in the home opener 26-3
* Today's Attendance: 103,860 (capacity - 104,079) ... First non-sellout for a home opener since 1974 vs. UCLA when the game drew 57,560 with a then-stadium capacity of 70,650
Series Notes
* Today's game was the first meeting between the two schools
* UT is now 14-1 all-time mark against schools that currently make up the Western Athletic Conference ... Only loss was a 8-0 setback to Rice in the 1947 Orange Bowl (Rice was a member of the Southwest Conference) at the time
* Vols began today's game ranked No. 16 in the coaches poll and No. 12 in the AP poll ... FSU entered the game unranked
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer has a 104-25 (.806) mark in his 11th season at his alma mater
* With today's win, Fulmer ties former UT coach/AD Doug Dickey for 13th-place on the SEC's all-time wins list with 104
* Vols are 59-8 under Fulmer at Neyland Stadium, including a 12-1 mark in home openers
* Under Fulmer Tennessee has a 36-8 mark in non-conference games
* 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 Passing Numbers
* Completed 18-of-31 passes for 159 yards with 2 interceptions and 2 touchdowns today
* Ranks to No. 2 on Vols' career passing yardage list (6,898 yds), completions (560) and touchdowns (50)
* Clausen is now 25-7 as a starter at quarterback for the Vols
* Clausen's Career passing stats now read: 560-of-889 (.630) 6,898 yards, 50 TDs, 24 INT
Houston Sets Career Rushing High
* Rushed for a career-high 161 yards today on 19 carries ... Had 120 on 11 carries in the first half
* Previous career-best was 149 yards on 32 carries at Mississippi State last season
* With today's effort, now has six career games of at least 100 yards
* Recorded five 100-yard games last season, including four consecutive games of topping the century mark
Banks Leads Receiving Corps
* Led Vols in receiving with 7 catches for 80 yards and a TD
* Hauled in 3 passes for 56 yards (36-long), including a 9-yard TD reception in Vols' opening 76-yard scoring drive
Ground Rules
* UT's 274 yards rushing today bettered last year's season-high 242 vs. Vanderbilt ... Most for UT since 290 vs. Arkansas in 2000
* Vols had five rushes of at least 20 yards or more today (Houston: 20, 23, 25), (Davis: 40), (Riggs (20)
Defensive Notebook
* Vols held FSU to -1 yards on the ground ... First time to hold opponent to minus rushing since defeating Florida (-13) in 1998 and just the seventh time in school history
* FSU's lone touchdown came on an interception return in the fourth quarter (81 yards)
* FSU did not record a first down until the 11:36 mark in the second quarter
* Vols recorded 3 sacks today
First Time Starters: TE Victor McClure (Jr.), PK James Wilhoit (RS-Fr.), DB Antwan Stewart (RS-Fr.); DT Greg Jones (So.)
Returning Players Seeing First Action: H John Henderson, DB Antwan Stewart, PK James Wilhoit, DB Brandon Johnson, LB Nick Wilson, DE Cory Anderson, DT Matt McGlothlin
Newcomers Playing in First Game: WR Jayson Swain, DE Turk McBride, LB Daniel Brooks, OT Arron Sears, DT Tony McDaniel, PK Ryan Fusco
Quickly...
* Mark Jones got his first career start at wide receiver today .... He had previously started four games as a DB ... He also played in the UT secondary and returned punts ... WR/DB Jonathan Wade also played on both sides of the ball today
* RB Jabari Davis raced 44 yards for a touchdown on his first carry of the season to give UT a 14-0 second quarter lead
* Corey Larkins recorded his first rush since Nov. 10, 2001 vs. Memphis today ... He played DB last season
