University of Tennessee Athletics
GAITHER NAMED VOL SCHOLAR OF THE WEEK
November 09, 2005 | Football
Nov. 9, 2005
Senior linebacker Omar Gaither is this week's Vol Scholar of the Week. The Charlotte, N.C. native graduates next summer with a bachelor's degree in sport management and a minor in business.
Gaither has been a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club since 1997. The past two off-seasons, he has been part of the Summer Reading Program with the Boys & Girls Club of Knoxville.
"He is a true student-athlete and has been a positive vocal leader for our team both on the field and in the classroom," said Dan Carlson, academic counselor for football in the Thornton Athletics Student Life Center. Gaither was a member of the 2002 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll and appears headed for Academic All-SEC honors this fall.
Currently second on the team in tackles with 61, Gaither was a second team All-SEC selection in 2004.
WILLIAMS POSES RUSHING THREAT TO VOLS
Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer knows the ground game will be key when his Vols face cross-state rival Memphis Saturday at Neyland Stadium.
UT has received a solid individual effort from freshman Arian Foster in place of senior Gerald Riggs Jr., who went down with season-ending injuries against Alabama. But All-America candidate DeAngelo Williams of Memphis will receive the lion's share of the attention heading into the 2 p.m. Eastern time start.
"He is a really fine player and they do a good job of getting him the football a lot of different ways," Fulmer said. "I expect his best effort. The defense will have to play well to contain him."
The Vols have allowed only Georgia to eclipse the 100-yard rushing barrier in eight games this season, and only two individuals -- UNLV's Dominique Dorsey (121) and Auburn's Carnell Williams (100) -- have reached 100 yards on the ground against Tennessee since the start of 2004.
Williams, meanwhile, has 17 100-yard games in the last two seasons -- seven straight this year since being held to 85 yards against Mississippi in the opener.
"The focus right now is to make sure we're ready to play against this running back," Fulmer said. "You're going to get some option, some screens and they make you defend the field. We have to do a good job managing all that."
INJURY REPORT (Memphis Week): Probable -- LB James Turner (knee); Questionable -- C Richie Gandy (knee), WR Chris Hannon (knee), DT Turk McBride (ankle), TB Ja'Kouri Williams (knee); Doubtful -- DE Xavier Mitchell (shoulder); Out -- Jerod Mayo (knee).
