University of Tennessee Athletics
Phillip Fulmer Press Conference Quotes
September 28, 2004 | Football
Coach Fulmer | Coach Fulmer 2 | Gerald Riggs | Cody Douglas
Coach Fulmer | Coach Chavis | Coach Sanders
"We are very excited about this football game. We certainly have a great challenge in front of us. Auburn has a really fine football team.
"As I said yesterday, the history of this game, having been part of it as a player, an assistant coach and now as a head coach, is that it's always been tough and hard-fought. I know I have a great respect for this series and this rivalry.
"The memory of being down there last year was not a whole lot of fun. Our team kind of got our butts handed to us on both sides of the ball. Our team kept fighting and, at the end, we had a chance to win. We understand that Auburn is a better football team this year than last, but I believe we have a better football team than we had at this time last year. It should be a heck of a match-up.
"So far, this team has been a lot of fun to coach, attitude-wise. They've tried to respond. They are a pretty darn tough group of guys overall. We've had a number of guys banged up and trying to get back out there any time they can and playing through some of those things. We'll do it again this week. We've had a tough early season schedule, both conference and non-conference games.
"Auburn, as coach Tuberville said, has obviously made a significant amount of improvement on their offensive side. They're still able to run the football as well as anybody in the country. Those two running backs have dealt out a lot of misery in this conference for the years they've been there. Their quarterback and their passing game are much improved and that makes them a much bigger threat to manage and trying to stop them.
"Defensively, it's an outstanding team. They lost five of their front seven, which is not unlike us in some ways with what we've been through, and they've picked right up where they left off. They're doing really well defensively.
"I told the team that, when you have challenges, you discover a lot about yourself you might not have known. The challenge should certainly push you beyond what's normal. That's where we are right now.
"We've really worked hard and have to play more consistently in certain spots. We can't help people quite as much as we have. We helped Florida on a couple of occasions with big plays and turnovers. We were able to fight and win the game. We cannot help this Auburn team in any way and expect us to do well.
"I expect we will play our hearts out, go out there and have our seniors be good leaders for us and the young guys following suit. With challenges come opportunities.
"I look forward to this game as much as any we've played in some time. We'll see what happens."
More Questions and Answers from Coach Fulmer:
1. Comment on the wealth of quality tailbacks who will be on the field for both schools when Tennessee and Auburn collide Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
A -- "It will be a collection of some of the finest talent imaginable. The Auburn kids have enjoyed very successful careers. Of late, our backs have been coming to the front. Their appearance on the field is a key factor since both teams have excellent running games."
2. What factors have allowed UT's Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge to minimize the number of mistakes normally expected of freshman quarterbacks?
A -- "Randy Sanders has done a good job limiting what they are expected to do, and the guys around them -- receivers, the line and running backs -- have helped take off some of the pressure. That said, both Brent and Erik are exceptionally mature and poised for their age and experience. They were well coached in high school and were no strangers to the passing game. You can't say too much based on what they have done."
3. With a 3-0 record and facing Auburn Saturday, where do you think the Vols need to make significant improvement this week?
A -- "The most obvious thing is to stop giving up big plays, which we have been prone to do the last couple of games. We can't afford to make any bad plays Saturday. We need work in the secondary, too. But, really, there's not an area where we can't make significant improvement, like third-down plays on both sides of the ball."
4. How well does Jason Campbell, a veteran quarterback, direct the Auburn offense to attain maximum results?
A -- "Jason is doing an exceptional job, and much of Auburn's success should be credited to him. He manages the game well, and he makes big plays. They let him do the kind of thing he's capable of."
5. Describe the strengths of the Auburn defense coach Tommy Tuberville will put on the field Saturday night against the Vols.
A -- "They lost a number of starters, but all those guys have played. They are talented. They talk about their youthfulness, but that's not really the way it is. They're good, and they're well coached. This will be our biggest challenge to date."
Comments of Auburn Head Football Coach Tommy Tuberville:
1. What have you seen from last year to this year in the play of your quarterback Jason Campbell?
A -- "He has come a long way to make up for the differences in his game. The one thing I like about Jason is that he never has lost his composure. He has been willing to accept coaching. Obviously with four different offensive coordinators the last four years, he has had the opportunity. He is a tough quarterback mentally. As I said, he seldom loses his composure. He really accepts the challenge of getting better each week. He has done that, I think. Two weeks ago he played his best game as an Auburn Tiger. It wasn't pretty, but he made some plays. With his athletic ability, we have to use it to the fullest."
2. Your thoughts on the play of your fine running backs that are among the leaders in the nation in rushing.
A -- "When I got here six seasons ago, I understood from being at Ole Miss that you had to have a running game to be successful in this conference. If you are consistent, then you can win some games. But if you are going to be consistent and have opportunities to win, and possibly win championships, then you have to be able to run the football.
"We started the first year here and didn't have a running back. When went out the next year and recruited Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown. Every year we go out and try and find a big physical running back. Not necessarily someone with speed, but one that can make plays and can move the chains. And the same thing with offensive linemen.
"We try and recruit offensive lineman. We try and teach them to be physical because that is the number one thing you have to do to play for Auburn. It has worked for us to some degree. You have to be able to throw the football some. Last year we saw numerous games where people said you are going to have to throw the football to beat us. We weren't able to be consistent at throwing the ball when we needed to. I think that is the biggest difference this year. Our running game is there, but we are also able to get the ball down field to receivers who have grown up the last couple of years and have been able to make more plays."
3. Defensively, you lead the nation in scoring defense and the improvements you have made.
A -- "That is a little deceiving since we have not played the schedule that Tennessee has to this point in the season. But I am proud of this team and the effort they have put in. It is kind of a no-name group. We have no stars, and we have four guys that have replaced players from our front seven from last year that are now playing on Sundays.
"We have had a lot of rebuilding to do and our coaches have done a good job. I think the best thing that we have done is play more people than we ever have. We have more depth and we'll play a lot of guys in the first quarter, second quarter and all the way down to the end. It gives us the opportunity to be a little bit fresher going into the second half and into the fourth quarter.
"But we'll get a true test this week obviously with the running game and the passing game, and the play-action passing game that Tennessee throws at you, our defense will get a true test. And again we are playing on the road. But I like the build and the nature of our defense in that we are playing more physical than we ever have. We might not be the biggest defense Tennessee will see this year, but we have got a chance to make plays. We have real quick guys that try to get off blocks and get to people as much as they possibly can. We try to gang tackle as much as we possibly can."
4. Talk about your kicking game and the role it has played for your team this team this early in the season.
A -- "It's improved, and I am really proud of our kick cover team. Our punter (Pete Compton) has done a good job of what we have asked him to do. Our kickoff guy (Phillip Yost) has been a bit more erratic than what I would like, but he has a very strong leg. Our field goal kicker is from Nashville, as John Vaughn played at Brentwood Academy, is improved from last year as I think his consistency is better. As we saw from the LSU game last week we missed an extra point, but that was mainly from a bad snap.
"I think all over the country with kickers and punters you are going to see things happen because of the time constraints we have on practice. We don't have as much time to emphasize special teams as you used to, and I think you see less and less time because of all the wide open offenses that you see, so that you have to spend more and more time on offense and defense. So if there is anytime where you cut back, it is on special teams. But we have good special teams right now, but it is not as good as I would like going on the road for the second time. I would hope it will improve. We will have to wait and see."
5. Your thoughts on Tennessee and what you expect to see from the Vols?
A -- "Offensively, I think it is a totally different team than what we saw last year in that they threw the ball to set up the run. They threw the ball down the field very well. Obviously, they went with the type of talent they had and were successful at doing it with a senior quarterback and with good receivers. And this year, they have obviously have two freshman quarterbacks, but you can tell they are getting better every week. They want to take the pressure off them by running the football more, and I think it has helped their football team because of it. They are moving the chains and making a lot of plays. But offensively, they have a lot of weapons.
"Defensively, I think John Chavis does one of the best jobs in the country in coaching. He has one of the best coaching staffs. They are very technique oriented and we know going into every game that we are going to have to be very sound offensively to move the chains and score points. They normally don't give up big plays and they tackle well. They are a physical defense and one that has a lot of talent. And with a punter like they have on the team that can really set up field position, it really helps out that defense tremendously."
