University of Tennessee Athletics
VOLS' SLATE AGAINST TOP TENS NOTHING NEW
September 12, 2005 | Football
Tennessee's upcoming schedule of Florida and LSU on the road continues the Vols' trend of playing top-10 opponents in consecutive games. UT, ranked fifth by Associated Press this week and tied for fourth in the USA Today coaches poll, visits No. 6 Florida Saturday before traveling to No. 3-ranked LSU Sept. 24.
It marks the eighth time in school history Tennessee has played such competition, including games against No. 8 Auburn (lost, 34-10) and No. 3 Georgia (won, 19-14) a year ago.
"In this league and especially on this side of the conference you know you're going to have tough football games, whether they're at home or on the road," head coach Phillip Fulmer said prior to Monday's practice. "You hope that each Saturday your team plays as well as it can and, hopefully, better than the other team."
The last time UT played top-10 opponents on the road in consecutive weeks was Sept. 5-12, 1981, when the Vols lost to No. 10 Georgia 44-0 and No. 5 Southern California 43-7. Head coach Phillip Fulmer owns a 3-1 record in such games, sweeping the 1999 twin bill against No. 10 Georgia (37-20) and No. 10 Alabama (21-7) in addition to last year's results.
"It certainly helps when you've got players who have gone to Georgia and won, Florida and won, Miami and won," Fulmer said of his upcoming roadblocks. "We've got guys on this team who have been a part of those games and we'll find out a lot about this team this week and next."
Other years of back-to-back meetings for the Vols against top-10 competition were 1948, 1964, 1966, 1988, 1990 and 1999.
The 11 opponents on Tennessee's 2005 schedule -- four of which currently reside inside the AP top 10 (No. 3 LSU, No. 6 Florida, No. 7 Georgia and No. 10 Notre Dame) own a combined 15-4 record after two weeks of play.
The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee's Sept. 24 matchup against LSU is being televised by ESPN and kicks off at 6:45 p.m. Central time. The game marks UT's first ESPN appearance of 2005 and the Vols' first trip to Baton Rouge since the 2000 season.
Tennessee leads the series by a 19-5-3 margin and is 7-3-2 in Baton Rouge.
TENNESSEE-LSU SCHEDULED FOR ESPN AND EVENING KICKOFF
CBS has elected to use a six-day selection for its Sept. 24 game, opting to choose next week between the Arkansas at Alabama or Florida at Kentucky games for a 3:30 p.m. Eastern time kickoff. Jefferson Pilot will televise the game not selected by CBS at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time. Georgia's contest at Mississippi State kicks off a 8 p.m. Central time and will be televised by ESPN2.
For Vol fans looking for transportation to the LSU game, two companies have created game day charter options.
Dodds Athletic Tours has arranged for a game day only charter scheduled to leave Knoxville the morning of Sept. 24. Immediately following the game, the group will return to Knoxville.
Included with the tour is: * Round trip charter air aboard Southwest Airlines between Knoxville and Baton Rouge including Southwest Snack Pack and cash bar. * Round trip deluxe motor coach transfers between the airport and game.
The cost is $550 per person. The deadline to sign up for this charter is noon Friday, Sept. 16. To signup for the Tennessee Game Day Charter Tour to LSU, call the Tennessee Hotline toll free at 888-367-5067 or log on to www.doddsathletictours.com/utlsu. Office hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Eastern time.
All Seasons Travel also is putting together a game day only charter that leaves Knoxville the morning of Sept. 24 and returns immediately following the game. For more information, log on to www.allseasontravel.com or call 800-289-9990.
UT STUDENT-ATHLETES SPEND WEEKEND HELPING VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA
More than a dozen members of the UT football team as well as members of the Lady Vol track, rowing and swimming and diving teams turned out this past weekend to aid those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The student-athletes spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Cumberland Baptist Church in Knoxville collecting items to send to aid the more than 1,000 people currently being cared for by the Vermilion Faith Community of Care in Abbeville, La.
The event, orchestrated by senior linebacker and Abbeville native Jason Mitchell, raised enough items to fill a tractor trailer that leaves Knoxville Tuesday morning.
