COACH FULMER'S COMMENTS ON ALABAMA GAME

Oct. 18, 2005

| | |

"Well this is obviously a tremendously exciting week for the Tennessee football family - and I'm sure for the Alabama family - as we prepare for this game. We had an open date last week, and I think we certainly used that week well. We worked on a lot of fundamentals and did a lot of assignment/technique work to improve in areas we need to improve in and stay sharp in the areas in which we're doing well.

"I think we used the week well to heal up a few guys who were banged up after a very demanding beginning-of-the-year schedule. We also probably healed our souls a little bit from the standpoint of being disappointed with the beginning of the season. But if anything is going to get you excited, it's a chance to play against an Alabama football team that's very gifted and very talented. I talked to the team about the history of this game and the series and all the great players who have played in it and all the great games and many of the moments that people continue to talk about for years and years and years.

"I think our team certainly understands the magnitude of the game and the fact that every game stands on its own and how important this football game is for us as we approach this weekend. Our team has practiced well. We've continued to keep our focus. Those kids can say anything and people can say anything, but it's when you go back and watch the film that you really get excited about what we're trying to accomplish. I'm not disappointed at all in the way that we're approaching the game after a tough loss versus Georgia.

"As I told the team, you're not guaranteed anything. We should count our blessings that we have a chance to be in a game like this and an opportunity like we have. Out of the fires of adversity there's a lot of extraordinary accomplishment that can be had. That's the way I'm expecting our team to approach it. We've always been fighters - as a staff and as a football team, and we expect that we'll go down there and fight our rears off to get a win versus Alabama.

"On both sides of the ball Alabama is a very gifted football team, as is reflected in their record. People always want to talk about what teams have on offense but the place you want to start with Alabama is their defensive football team. They're leading the conference in many categories. They're a very experienced football team, which is their first strength that they have, but they're also a very talented football team. It starts up front - gifted guys, fast, physical, tough guys all the way across the front. They kind of go in and out of a four-down, three-down type of front, and that can create some issues if we're not doing a really good job of being aware and seeing and listening as to how to block those things.

"They've got a defensive tackle, defensive end Mark Anderson that I think is an exceptional football player. (Linebacker) DeMeco Ryans is an exceptional football player. The linebacker (Freddie) Roach is an exceptional football player. All around is experience. In the secondary, if you look around, there's a group of guys that have played a lot of football.

"It will be a challenge for our offensive team. We can not - can NOT - afford to go into the game and have some of the things going on that we had earlier - the dropped balls, missed assignments on occasion, snaps and penalties. We have to be able to keep the down and distance normal so that our quarterbacks can operate.

"Defensively, our challenge versus their offense will be - obviously first and foremost - stopping the run. They're really good at running the football. (Kenneth) Darby is one of the best backs - if not THE best back - in the league. He's a really, really good football player and they lean on him a lot. And they also have depth at tailback, so we have to do a very good job of working to stop the run.

"That's complicated by the fact that (quarterback) Brodie Croyle is very good off the play-action pass. He's very talented at throwing the ball where he wants to and throwing it on time. In almost every game they've had two or three big plays. So it will be a challenge for our defensive football team as well.

"When you look at their kicking game it's a very solid kicking game. Obviously it was a big loss for them when they lost (wide receiver and returner Tyrone) Prothro (to injury), but they have guys that have stepped up and a good kicking game. That young kicker of their's kicking that last-play-of-the-game field goal (last Saturday against Mississippi) probably did a lot for him and his confidence. He's very good. Their punter is good. The return team is fairly good.

"So we're looking at an all-around outstanding Alabama football team that we're facing. I'm excited about the challenge. Our team is working hard to get themselves ready. We plan to play really well - hopefully play our best football game down at Alabama."