 | | Gerald Riggs rushed for 110 yards against UAB, giving him seven 100-yard rushing games in his career. | SERIES HISTORY
Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer has guided Tennessee to victory in three of the last four games in the series, improving to 5-8 overall versus Florida. The Vols have won their last two clashes against the Gators, including the last two in Gainesville (where UT is 5-7 all-time). Four of the last seven tilts in the series have been decided by three points or less. Tennessee has five players who hail from the state of Florida: senior wide receiver Chris Hannon, senior tight end Justin Reed, freshman defensive back Demetrice Morley and freshman defensive tackle Vladimir Richard. Tennessee defensive line coach Dan Brooks worked as an assistant coach at Florida from 1983-87 and also earned his master's degree from UF in 1984. Vols offensive line coach Jimmy Ray Stephens played at Florida from 1973-76 and also served as an assistant coach there from 1977-78 and 1993-2001. HARRELL EARNS SEC D-LINEMAN OF THE WEEK HONORS
Junior defensive tackle Justin Harrell was named the Southeastern Conference Defensive Lineman of the Week Sept. 6 following a solid performance during the Vols' victory over UAB. The Blazers faced third-and-goal at Tennessee's 3-yard line when Harrell made what turned out to be a game-saving interception. He snatched a UAB pass attempt over the middle and returned it 29 yards late in the third quarter. Harrell, who added four tackles and helped limit UAB to 53 yards rushing for the game, finished last season with a flurry as well. He was named defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl for his play in Tennessee's 38-7 win over Texas A&M. J. MITCHELL & FAMILY PROVIDING RELIEF IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE KATRINA
University of Tennessee student-athletes will be helping senior linebacker Jason Mitchell support Hurricane Katrina victims through a donation drive at Cumberland Baptist Church in Knoxville last weekend. Mitchell's family, which founded the Mitchell Family Foundation to help single families in Abbeville, La., has teamed up with The Vermilion Faith Community of Care (VFCC) to help Hurricane evacuees who have been transported to Abbeville. The VFCC is currently caring for thousands of people who evacuated the hurricane-ravaged areas of Louisiana. VOLUNTEERS SHOWING SUPPORT THROUGH "ORANGEAID"
On Monday, Sept. 5, the UT football and men's basketball teams held the second annual "OrangeAid," raising $6,340 for Red Cross relief efforts. For a donation to the Red Cross, fans had the opportunity to get autographs from select players and coaches at Knoxville's West Town Mall. The football team sold t-shirts with the inscription "One Heartbeat" for $15. UTAD also donated $50,000 from concession sales at the Sept. 3 UAB game to the Red Cross' relief efforts. FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THE GULF COAST TRAGEDY
The tragic and devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina have impacted the lives of countless Americans, including Jason Mitchell and other UT football players from the Gulf Coast area. Freshman center Josh McNeil is a native of Collins, Miss., which is approximately 40 minutes north of Biloxi. The area near his family's home included nearly 100 pine trees, two of which hit the McNeils' house, and three of which hit and damaged the family's workshop. Sophomore defensive end Xavier Mitchell, from Long Beach, Miss. (the Gulfport-Biloxi area), has also endured hardships as a result of Katrina. His mother, Constance Ayres, lived in a house located just blocks from the coast, and the home sustained such an extensive amount of damage that it has been deemed no longer livable. Sophomore tight end Chris Brown is from Destrehan, La., which is just a 10-minute drive from New Orleans. His family was unharmed during the ordeal, but the house in which his parents and two bothers live sustained considerable damage to its roof. Redshirt freshman tailback Ja'Kouri Williams calls Plaquemine, La., home. That city, located about one hour's drive west of New Orleans, is also home to more than 15 of his relatives. None of them were hurt during the storm, but it took more than three days before anyone heard from his cousins, Veyond Williams and Veronique Verret. Other Vols from the areas affected include Lucas Taylor (Carencro, La.), Jonathan Wade (Shreveport, La.), Parys Haralson (Flora, Miss.) and Casey Woods (Starkville, Miss.). All of their family members were unharmed. FOSTER PERFORMS WELL IN SHUFFLED OFFENSIVE LINE
Redshirt freshman offensive guard Ramon Foster started in his collegiate debut vs. UAB Sept. 3. The 6-6, 340-pounder was a late addition to the Vols' starting offensive front after veteran left guard Rob Smith was forced to move to center (due to injuries to Richie Gandy and David Ligon). Smith took on opposing defenders with his trademark toughness, and Foster held up well under the pressures of playing his first college game (in front of 107,529). Foster did suffer a sprained foot during the contest, but is hoping to return to action and participate in preparations for the Florida game Sept. 17. RIGGS RUNS FOR TRIPLE-DIGITS ONCE AGAIN
Senior tailback Gerald Riggs Jr. carried the ball 23 times for 110 yards as the Vols downed UAB 17-10 Sept. 3. The triple-digit rushing performance by the Chattanooga native marked his seventh career 100-yard game (and his fourth in the Vols' last five contests, dating to last season). Former Vol and current Tennessee Titan Travis Henry holds the UT career record with 15 100-yard games and is one of just six Vols rushers who have surpassed the century mark in at least 10 games during their career (Jay Graham - 14; Jamal Lewis - 13; Johnnie Jones - 13; Reggie Cobb - 10; James Stewart - 10). CLAUSEN FINDING FAYTON, MEACHEM FOR BIG GAINS
Since an injury to Erik Ainge just before halftime of last season's Notre Dame game propelled Rick Clausen into a contributing role in Tennessee's offense, the left-handed quarterback has shown a tendency to hook up with receivers Robert Meachem and C.J. Fayton on a regular basis. From the second half of the 2004 Notre Dame contest through this year's season-opening win over UAB, Clausen has completed 14 passes to each wideout. Meachem has totaled 262 yards (18.7 ypc) and two touchdowns, while Fayton has totaled 238 yards (17.0 ypc) and two touchdowns from Clausen during that span. TENNESSEE BOASTS TRIO OF PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAS
Three different Vols earned 19 preseason All-America honors from various publications.
DB Jason Allen - Athlon, CBSsportline.com, Lindy's (2nd), Nationalchamps.net, Playboy, Rivals.com (2nd), Sports Illustrated, Street & Smith's
DE Parys Haralson - Athlon (2nd), Sporting News (2nd)
DT Jesse Mahelona - Athlon, Blue Ribbon, Lindy's, Nationalchamps.net, Playboy, Rivals.com, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Street & Smith's LEAGUE MEDIA PICKS VOLS TO WIN 2005 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP
Tennessee received 37 of 87 votes cast by media attending the 2005 Southeastern Conference Football Media Days to win the 2005 SEC Championship. In addition, nine Vols were named to the media's preseason All-SEC squads, including first-teamers Jason Allen, Parys Haralson, Jesse Mahelona, Gerald Riggs Jr. and Arron Sears. Cody Douglas, Omar Gaither, Kevin Simon and James Wilhoit were all selected as second-team honorees. 10 VOLS EARN COACHES' PRESEASON ALL-SEC HONORS
Four Tennessee Volunteers--tailback Gerald Riggs Jr., offensive lineman Arron Sears, defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona and defensive back Jason Allen--garnered first-team Preseason All-Southeastern Conference honors as voted on by the league coaches. Tennessee ranked third in the SEC with 10 total players named to the three teams, while UT's four first-team selections trailed only Auburn's six. A pair of Vols offensive linemen made the second and third teams, respectively, in Cody Douglas and Rob Smith. Defensive end Parys Haralson and linebackers Kevin Simon and Omar Gaither were each placed on the second-team defense. Placekicker James Wilhoit earned second-team special teams recognition. NUMBER SWAP
Preseason All-SEC performers Kevin Simon and Gerald Riggs Jr. highlight the list of Vols who are donning new numbers in 2005. Simon is wearing No. 2 instead of his old No. 5. Riggs switched from No. 31 to No. 21. Other Tennessee players with new uniform numbers include: No. 63 Ell Ash, No. 47 Britton Colquitt, No. 67 Cameron Mayo, No. 7 Jerod Mayo and No. 75 Anthony Parker. 10 SEASONS = 101 VOL VICTORIES
Tennessee's 100th series meeting against Kentucky to end the 2004 regular season resulted in the Vols' 100th overall victory in the last 10 years -- a figure that leads the SEC. The Vols are 101-25 since the start of the 1995 season and assured themselves of ending this season as the conference's top team over the last 10 years for the second year in a row. Tennessee went 99-26 in the 10-year period that ended after 2003. Florida sports the second-best record in the last decade, entering the 2005 season at 96-30. Georgia follows at 88-35 and LSU at 81-40. Auburn is 80-42 over that span. Other SEC schools in order: Mississippi 69-49, Alabama 69-52, Arkansas 69-52, Mississippi State 52-64, South Carolina 49-64, Kentucky 43-71 and Vanderbilt 25-87. NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Since 1989, Tennessee has a 61-13-1 (.820) record in non-conference games. Only five of those defeats have been in the regular season (Notre Dame in 1990 and 2004, at UCLA in 1994, at Memphis in 1996, and Miami [Fla.] in 2002). The other eight losses came in bowl games. Under head coach Phillip Fulmer, Tennessee is 43-10 (.811) against non-conference foes. Fulmer's home record against non-conference teams is a daunting 20-2, with the two setbacks coming vs. Miami (Fla.) in 2002 and Notre Dame in 2004. QUARTERBACKS
Sophomore Erik Ainge took the first snap in UT's season-opener vs. UAB but it was senior Rick Clausen whose statistics were particularly impressive ... The left-handed Clausen came off the bench to complete 17-of-24 passes for 217 yards, one TD and one INT ... Ainge finished 5-of-14 for 57 yards, one TD and two INTs ... While head coach Phillip Fulmer had indicated that Clausen will start at Florida Sept. 17, Ainge will also see action in the game ... The Vols' offensive players have voiced confidence in both talented signal-callers, stating that either QB can effectively lead the offense ... On another note, highly touted incoming freshman Jonathan Crompton will redshirt this season after undergoing shoulder surgery Aug. 10. TAILBACKS
Senior tailback Gerald Riggs Jr. racked up 110 yards on 23 carries vs. UAB, giving him at least 100 rushing yards in each of Tennessee's last three games (dating to last season) ... While Riggs is 171 yards from joining the ranks of UT's all-time top-20 career rushers, he needs just 286 yards to secure a spot in the top 15 ... Junior David Yancey gained seven yards on two attempts vs. the Blazers, and redshirt freshman Arian Foster totaled 23 yards on five rushes ... Junior fullback Cory Anderson caught three passes for 32 yards against UAB, continuing to exhibit the adept receiving skills he displayed in 2004 (17 catches for 157 yards and two TDs. WIDE RECEIVERS
Tennessee saw six different receivers and/or tight ends tally receptions vs. UAB ... Senior C.J. Fayton was the Vols' leading receiver with five catches for a career-high 97 yards and one TD ... Fellow senior Chris Hannon made a spectacular three-yard TD grab in the back corner of the end zone, connecting with QB Erik Ainge on Tennessee's first TD of 2005 ... Biletnikoff Award candidate Robert Meachem recorded a pair of catches for 35 total yards, and sophomore tight end Chris Brown had two receptions for 17 yards ... In total, the Vols posted 274 receiving yards on 22 catches (12.5 yards per reception). OFFENSIVE LINE
All eyes during the UAB game were on first-time starter Ramon Foster, who performed well at the left guard spot in his Big Orange debut ... Senior Rob Smith vacated his normal guard position to fill the void at center caused by injuries ... The Vols' O-line paved the way for 138 total rushing yards on 35 attempts (3.9 yards per carry) ... Also impressive was the fact that Tennessee's quarterbacks had ample time to find receivers downfield ... Tennessee QBs were not sacked at all and were only hurried twice by the Blazers' defense ... Injured center Richie Gandy, who was UT's projected starter at that position before suffering a knee injury in the preseason, is on track to return to full-speed workouts during Florida preparations. DEFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee's defensive front, in the opinions of some publications, entered the season as the best in the nation ... Preseason All-America defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona recorded the Vols' only sack of the day vs. UAB -- giving him six in 14 career games as a Vol ... Junior defensive tackle Justin Harrell earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after logging four tackles and recording his first career INT (which he returned 29 yards) ... Junior tackle Turk McBride tallied five tackles, including one for loss ... The Vols' posted three QB hurries in the win over UAB. LINEBACKERS
While starting linebackers Omar Gaither, Kevin Simon and Jason Mitchell were effective just as expected, redshirt freshman Jerod Mayo made a case for increased playing time with an outstanding collegiate debut vs. UAB, totaling six tackles in a backup role ... Mitchell was responsible for five tackles and one QB hurry, but his biggest play was a forced fumble on the Blazers' first offensive play (the fifth FF of his career) ... Mitchell was forced from the game with an ankle injury ... Backups Marvin Mitchell and Ryan Karl each accounted for two stops in the season-opener. SECONDARY
All-America defensive back Jason Allen led the Vols defensive efforts with a game-high 14 total tackles (13 solo) against UAB ... Sophomore Jonathan Hefney played his first game as UT's free safety (he was a CB last season) and made four stops ... Demetrice Morley made his Tennessee debut and saw significant action in the second half ... Morley finished with one tackle and a PBU ... The Vols' pass efficiency defense stands at 136.81 through one game. SPECIAL TEAMS
Junior placekicker James Wilhoit was good on a 46-yard FG attempt on UT's first offensive possession of 2005, but later missed a 47-yard attempt ... Freshman punter Britton Colquitt had just one punt in his collegiate debut, a 38-yarder that was downed inside the 20-yard line ... The elusive Jonathan Hefney is the Vols' No. 1 punt returner, while Robert Meachem and Inquoris Johnson fielded kickoffs in the opener ... Johnson gained 17 yards on each of his returns, while Meachem brought back one kick for 15 yards. UP NEXT
The Volunteers head to Baton Rouge, La., to face LSU at Tiger Stadium (capacity 91,600) Sept. 24. Tennessee leads the all-time series with the Tigers 19-5-3, dating to 1925. The Vols suffered a 38-31 overtime defeat in their last trip to Baton Rouge but have won four of the last six meetings in the series. LSU went 9-3 in 2004 and enters the 2005 season under the guidance of first-year head coach Les Miles. This season's game with the Tigers marks the first meeting between Miles and UT head coach Phillip Fulmer. The 2001 campaign marks the last season the Vols and Tigers faced off, with Tennessee posting a 26-18 regular-season win in Knoxville before LSU claimed a 31-20 victory in the 2001 SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. The SEC title-game loss cost UT a spot in the national championship game at the Rose Bowl (also the site of this season's national title contest). Tennessee senior quarterback Rick Clausen began his collegiate career at LSU. He played in three games for the Tigers as a freshman in 2002 before transferring to UT. WORKING OVERTIME
Since the NCAA established a tiebreaker system for Division I in 1996, Tennessee is 4-1 overtime contests. The Vols have won the coin toss three times and chosen to play defense twice. The only time UT chose offense after winning the toss was against Florida in 1998. Tennessee has played the second and third-longest overtime games in NCAA history at six (Arkansas 2002) and five periods (Alabama 2003). | Date | Opponent | OTs | Coin Toss | Game Winning Play | Final Score | | 9/19/1998 | Florida | 1 | W (off) | Hall 41 field goal | 20-17 W | | 9/30/2000 | at LSU | 1 | W (def) | Royal 25 pass from Davey | 31-38 L | | 10/5/2002 | Arkansas | 6 | L (off) | Witten 25 pass from Clausen | 41-38 W | | 9/27/2003 | S. Carolina | 1 | W (def) | Banks 4 pass from Clausen | 23-20 W | | 10/25/2003 | at Alabama | 5 | L (off) | Clausen 1 run (2pt conv.) | 51-43 W | | 
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