University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLS NEED COMPLETE EFFORT TO TOPPLE UNDEFEATED TIDE
October 20, 2005 | Football
Oct. 20, 2005
Coach Fulmer's Practice Comments
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer liked what he saw of his Vols Thursday as full practice preparations came to a close for this weekend's SEC clash against Alabama.
"We had a good Thursday practice; one of the sharper Thursdays we've had," Fulmer said. "I'm certainly hopeful it carries over to the game. Both sides have to play really well in this football game for us to win it."
The Vols, 3-2 overall and 2-2 SEC, face the nation's fifth-ranked team in 6-0 Alabama. The Crimson Tide's last appearance in Bryant-Denny Stadium resulted in a 31-3 shellacking of Florida, which handled UT 16-7 earlier this season. The Vols also have a home loss to Georgia and an overtime win at LSU on their ledger.
All of which leads Fulmer to believe his Vols have performed under pressure -- the type of pressure sure to surface during Saturday's hostile environment.
"I think the mental and emotional preparations have gone well," Fulmer said. "The truth of it is we've played a very tough schedule. We haven't played as well offensively as we needed to but we've gotten better in some areas and we're a little healthier right now.
"We're playing another top-five football team and if we play really well, it'll be a heck of a football game."
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. Central time.
INJURY REPORT (Alabama Week): Probable -- WR C.J. Fayton (ankle).
