University of Tennessee Athletics
True Freshmen Schaeffer Gets Vols' Nod At Quarterback
September 03, 2004 | Football
Sept. 3, 2004
FULMER POST-PRACTICE
PRESEASON VIDEO |
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer tied up his final loose end Friday with the naming of Brent Schaeffer as starting quarterback for Sunday's opener against UNLV. Schaeffer gets the nod over fellow true freshman Erik Ainge, although Fulmer still considers them neck-and-neck.
"Truthfully, we've got co-starters and that's exactly the way we're looking at it," Fulmer said. "I know we're all going to have to be patient with them to some degree. The rest of the football is going to have to lift them up and help them in every way they can. But short-term and long-term, I think they're going to be very good players."
Schaeffer, a southpaw from Deerfield Beach, Fla., will be the first true freshman right out of high school to start at quarterback in the SEC since freshman eligibility was reinstated for the 1973 season. He's the first true freshman to start at the position for UT since James Banks turned the trick in 2002 against Mississippi State.
"I hope he does extremely well," Fulmer said. "Certainly, Erik Ainge will pay in the game. It may be after a couple of series. I think they both understand that if things start going really well for one, it might be hard to take that person out. But we'll play all that by ear."
Throwing a little pep into the Vols' step before practice, Tennessee's Pride of the Southland Marching Band paid its annual preseason visit to Haslam Field for UT's final full workout before the Sunday opener. "Rocky Top" and "Down the Field" had the team jumping from the opening practice whistle.
"The band coming by was a nice, little treat," Fulmer said. "Last year, they came during two-a-days and I asked Gary (Sousa, director of bands) to wait until today if it fit into their schedule. He worked it out and I think it was a nice lift for us."
ESPN SHIFTS UT-UNLV TO MAIN CHANNEL
ESPN announced Friday a late programming change that moves Sunday's telecast of the UT-UNLV game to its main network channel. The 8 p.m. Eastern time kickoff from Neyland Stadium originally was scheduled for an ESPN2 telecast.
The Vols are 25-12-2 all-time on ESPN.
BANKS, AYERS SIDELINED FOR 2004 AFTER SURGERIES
Junior playmaker James Banks and true freshman linebacker Robert Ayers underwent surgical procedures Friday afternoon at UT Medical Center and will miss the 2004 playing season.
Banks, who has played quarterback and wide receiver for the Vols his first two years and was working in the defensive secondary throughout August, had arthroscopic right knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus. Ayers had open right shoulder surgery after seeing only limited action during two-a-days.
"James was discharged Friday afternoon and we expect Robert to be released Saturday morning," said Keith Clements, head athletic trainer. "We anticipate both players will return for participation in spring drills."
UT team orthopedic surgeons Dr. Bill Youmans, Dr. Greg Mathien and Dr. Russell Betcher performed the operations.
INJURY UPDATE
( UNLV Week): Out -- WR Jomo Fagan (foot), TE Jake Finlayson (back), DE Jared Hostetter (ankle), DB Antwan Stewart (knee), OT Albert Toeaina (knee), OT Eric Young (knee);
Out for Season -- LB Robert Ayers (shoulder), DB James Banks (knee), LB Marvin Mitchell (knee).
VOL NETWORK TO MATCH BROADCASTS WITH NETWORK TELEVISION
The Vol Network announced Friday it will test a delay system across its network of stations for the upcoming football season in attempt to better match the radio play-by-play with the network television video broadcasts (i.e. CBS, ESPN and JP). The use of an adjustable delay system should help UT fans continue enjoying the time-honored tradition of turning down the TV volume and turning up the Vol Network radio broadcast of Big Orange football games.
In recent years, television networks have begun routing their video feeds through multiple steps rather than a straight uplink to satellite. Adding additional steps to the process causes delays in the telecast reaching consumers' homes. Radio broadcasts can sometime be several seconds faster than the delayed telecasts, making it hard for fans to follow and enjoy the radio and television broadcasts together.
The goal of the Vol Network will be to try to factor in the network television delay along with all individual delays of cable systems and home satellite dish providers to coordinate the radio broadcast as close to the television video as possible.
For home games in Knoxville, flagship station WIVK-FM 107.7 will air the game live without a delay so fans attending the game at Neyland Stadium can listen to the game on portable radios and not be affected. Sister station WNOX-AM 990 will run the game with a delay so fans watching the telecast in the Knoxville area can listen to a more coordinated radio broadcast. The delay will be in effect only during the game.
"KICKOFF CALL-IN SHOW" BEGINS AT 6:30 P.M. SUNDAY
Vol Network coverage of Tennessee football begins outside Neyland Stadium Sunday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time with the "Kickoff Call-In Show." from the base of "The Hill" just outside Gate 21.
Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Jeff Francis analyze the game, with college football news from around the country, interviews, special guests and reports. The Vol Network's John Wilkerson hosts the show from Vol Network control. Sunday's show features a guest appearance by new UT President Dr. John Petersen as well as former Vols in town for the 400-plus strong UT letterman's reunion weekend. Fans can access the show by dialing 1-800-688-8657.
The "Kickoff Call-In Show" and Vol Network coverage of Tennessee football can be heard statewide on more than 70-plus radio affiliates and around the world on utsports.com.
