TENNESSEE VS. FLORIDA POSTGAME NOTES

Sept. 18, 2005

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery

Noting Tennessee

· Tennessee fell to 1-1 (0-1 SEC); Florida improved to 3-0 (1-0 SEC)
· The Vols entered the game ranked: Associated Press No. 5, USA Today tied for No. 4; Florida was ranked No. 6 by the AP and No. 7 in the USA Today poll.
· Tennessee returns to action Saturday against LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. (6:45 p.m. CT on. ESPN).
· Tonight's contest marked the Vols' first loss in its last three games in Gainesville.
· Tonight's game was UT's first conference (or overall) road loss since a 28-21 loss at Auburn Oct. 4, 2003 - ending a streak of seven consecutive road victories.

Tennessee-Florida Series

· Tennessee leads the all-time series vs. Florida 19-16, and has won two of the last three.
· Today's contest marked the first meeting between UT head coach Phillip Fulmer and UF head coach Urban Meyer.

Phillip Fulmer's Record

· Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer's record moves to 124-32 (.795) in 14 seasons with the Vols.
· Fulmer now owns a 5-9 record against Florida and a 50-13 record vs. SEC Eastern Division teams.

Smith Finds End Zone Once Again

· Junior wide receiver Bret Smith capped UT's first scoring drive with an 8-yard TD catch. Smith also had a TD grab vs. Florida last season but had not reached the end zone since the Mississippi game last Oct. 16.
· Smith's score capped Tennessee longest offensive drive of the year. The Vols drove 83 yards on 12 plays and used 5:17 of clock.

Multiple Signal-Callers See Action For Vols

· Senior QB Rick Clausen started tonight's game, but sophomore Erik Ainge saw the majority of action under center, including the entire second half.
· Ainge finished the game 14-of-27 for 147 yards and one touchdown. He was under center for UT's lone scoring drive.
· Clausen completed 2 of 5 passes for no yards.
· The Vols have played multiple quarterbacks in 11 of their last 15 games.

Nine Vols Log Receptions

· Nine different Vols logged receptions in the game. In total, UT completed 16 of 33 passes tonight.
· Bret Smith totaled four catches for 27 yards, including an 8-yard TD to lead UT's receivers tonight.

Defense Denies

· Sacks (5): Allen (1), Gaither (1), I. Johnson (1), Mahelona (1), McBride (0.5), X. Mitchell (0.5)
· Tackles for Loss (9): Hall (2), Allen (1), Gaither (1), Harrell (1), Hefney (1), I. Johnson (1), Mahelona (1), McBride (0.5), X. Mitchell (0.5)
· Passes Defensed (3): Reynolds (1), Simon (1), Stewart (1)
· Senior linebacker led the Vols with 11 tackles tonight, including a sack for a six-yard loss.
· Tennessee's five quarterback sacks tonight marked the most by UT in a single game since it logged six vs. Marshall on Sept. 6, 2003.
· Senior defensive back Jason Allen's first tackle tonight (Dallas Baker in the first quarter) was the 200th of his career. Allen led the SEC with 123 stops last year.
· Inquoris Johnson's first career sack was good for an 8-yard loss on Florida's first possession.
· Senior defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona came up with a key fourth-down stop on a second-quarter Gators drive.
· Sophomore linebacker Ryan Karl recorded a pair of special-teams tackles tonight, giving him a team-best three this season.

Initiation by Fire

· The following Vols saw their first career game action tonight: WR Josh Briscoe and C Anthony Parker
· Tennessee redshirt freshman Jerod Mayo made his first career start tonight (WLB). He finished with two tackles.
· UT freshman wide receiver Josh Briscoe made his first career reception (16 yards) in the second quarter.

Miscellaneous Notes

· Both starting quarterbacks in today's game are the younger brothers of former Tennessee quarterbacks. UT starter Rick Clausen's older brother, Casey, lettered at Tennessee from 2000-03. Florida starter Chris Leak's older brother, C.J., lettered on Rocky Top from 2002-04. Casey Clausen is now a graduate assistant at Mississippi State, while C.J. Leak is a G.A. at Florida.
· Instant replay was utilized for the first time in Tennessee football history with 4:03 remaining in the second quarter. The officials overturned what was originally ruled a catch by Tennessee's Bret Smith on the one-yard line. Florida blocked UT's 37-yard field-goal attempt on the following play.
· Sophomore wide receiver Robert Meachem surpassed the 500-yard career receiving mark with his first catch of the game (third quarter).
· Florida held the ball for 34:30, while Tennessee possessed the ball for 25:30.
· Tonight's attendance of 90,716 was the largest crowd in the history of Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and was also the largest crowd ever to watch a college football game in the state of Florida.
· Tennessee senior wide receiver C.J. Fayton joined the Vols' captains at midfield prior to tonight's game.

Vols Tabbed for 7:45 Start on ESPN Next Saturday

· Tennessee's game at LSU next Saturday will be televised nationally on ESPN. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m. CT.
· The Vols own a 19-5-3 all-time record vs. the Tigers and a 26-13-2 record in games broadcast on ESPN.

University of Tennessee Athletics

Related Videos