University of Tennessee Athletics
FULMER: VOLS DOING `RIGHT THING' IN DELAYING TRAVEL TO SATURDAY
September 20, 2005 | Football
Sept. 20, 2005
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Head coach Phillip Fulmer says Tennessee's revised travel plans for Saturday's trip to LSU are the right thing to do in wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster that struck the Gulf Coast three weeks ago.
"We have made some adjustments to our travel plans, as everybody's aware," Fulmer said. "With all the tragedy that's gone on there in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, for us to do anything different would not be right. Going down on the day of the game is the right thing to do.
"A lot of these players have driven five hours on a bus, gotten off the bus and played a high school football game. I'm hoping that it won't be a distraction and I don't think it will be."
Tennessee plans to depart Knoxville by the middle of Saturday morning and arrive before noon Central time in Baton Rouge. Athletics department officials have made arrangements for a limited number of hotel rooms -- rooms not in use during daytime hours by those assisting with recovery efforts in New Orleans -- for rest and relaxation prior to the 6:45 p.m. game.
"It's a very minor thing when you compare it to the suffering they've experienced," Fulmer said. "I am a bit concerned about the weather that's headed down there and traveling the same day, so we'll watch that as we go through the week."
The Vols practiced for just more than two hours Tuesday at Haslam Field, working in full pads as preparations for LSU continued. Tennessee faces another daunting task this week at a sold out Tiger Stadium.
"We know the circumstances we're going into down there from a noise standpoint, and I'm sure LSU is excited to play its first home game after all they've been through," Fulmer said. "We talked to our players about that.
"When you play in the Southeastern Conference -- particularly at the University of Tennessee -- and you go into those environments, you expect to get their best shot and their fans' best shot. So we'll prepare pretty well for the noise."
INJURY UPDATE (LSU Week): Probable -- DB Jonathan Hefney (shoulder), DE Jared Hostetter (knee), C David Ligon (ankle); Questionable -- C Richie Gandy (knee), LB Marvin Mitchell (shoulder); Doubtful -- OG Cody Douglas (ankle/knee); Out -- DB Jarod Parrish (knee); Out for Season -- QB Jonathan Crompton (shoulder), OL Cameron Mayo (knee), LB Rico McCoy (ankle).
