University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee Holds Annual Football Media Day
August 09, 2003 | Football
Aug. 9, 2003
COACH FULMER PRESEASON PRESS CONFERENCE
FULMER ON QB CLAUSEN
FULMER ON 2003 SCHEDULE
FULMER ON FRESNO STATE
FULMER ON BACKUP QUARTERBACKS
Tennessee held its annual media day to preview the 2003 football season. Head coach Phillip Fulmer began the event with a morning press conference followed by the players met with the media on the field at Neyland Stadium.
Below are comments from Fulmer's preseason press conference.
"Today we will have our first practice in pads. That will give us an opportunity to learn a lot more about our team. Our offseason went extremely well. Our leaders have stepped up well. We had a physical spring practice and a good summer. Credit our coaches, the training staff and the conditioning coaches for doing a great job. They had us ready for our first day of practice.
"Attitude is the best thing we have going for us. Many of the things we are accomplishing are attributable to having the right attitude. Our defense now must focus on the need of becoming fundamentally sound. On that unit, we have a good number of youngsters who have a chance to help.
"Offensively, we have some carryover strength as far as the number of returnees is concerned. An interesting situation is that our receiver corps right now is ahead of any place we were any time last year. We need a running back to emerge, somebody like a Jamal Lewis or one of the other fine backs we have had. All the tailbacks are lighter, and that should help in getting one of them to emerge.
"James Wilhoit is off to a good start as our new placekicker, and Dustin Colquitt is looking good as our punter. Steve Caldwell is now in charge of all phases of the kicking game, and Steve's enthusiasm is showing in the response he is getting from those teams.
"There are plenty of concerns, also.
"At defensive tackle, Mondre Dickerson is potentially as good a prospect as John Henderson or Albert Haynesworth. Justin Harrell's ankle injury is a disappointment. We hope he will be back in six to eight weeks. Greg Jones needs to come to the front, and Matt McGlothlin is another player who needs to make a mark. We moved J.T. Mapu and Cory Anderson in there because we need help.
"The cornerback opposite Jabari Greer is another concern. Sometimes Antwan Stewart and sometimes Jason Allen look like the man. But we need to solve the problems at tackle and cornerback because a team is only as good as its weakest link. We have to do away with the weakness.
"On offense, we need our guards to step up. We don't have anything final on Anthony Herrera. But that's on appeal. We will be ready whichever way it turns out. We hope Anthony will get his season back.
"The schedule is very difficult, with some really tough games on the road. We've had to go on the road before. It's always difficult. We need to develop the mental and physical toughness it takes to compete on the road.
"We need to be ready from the start, taking on a strong Fresno State team that perhaps has the best group of receivers we will face all season. They can stretch the field and make life miserable for a defense.
"The identity of the No. 2 quarterback is still up in the air. We are trying to give James Banks an opportunity, but he also needs to spend time at receiver. C.J. Leak is getting some work. Both Banks and Leak are looking better, but neither is the answer as things now stand. There's a possibility we will play both of them.
"The new receivers are a talented group, all of whom could help us this year. How they do after the snap in reacting to what the defense does, likely will determine who plays. Two or threee might see action this year.
"Casey Clausen is an incredible competitor. He showed courage to step in last year and keep playing despite injuries. He's smart, tough and has the respect of his teammates.
"Victor McClure is a tight end I have great respect for because of the way he works and because of his blocking ability. Coming from guard to tight end limits him as a receiver, but he is a tough and capable tight end. Young Brad Cottam could come into the picture and help McClure and Justin Reed.
"We will have to be cautious with players coming back from injury even though they have their speed and their skills back intact. We just have to be careful with them at this time in the early going. Kevin Simon in particular needs the work, but we still need to be careful.
"We don't know if James Wilhoit can go out there and kick a 55-yarder, but he is accurate from inside the 30. We have to remember he hasn't been in a game."
