TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES

Sept. 27, 2005

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery

Noting Tennessee

Tennessee improved to 2-1 (1-1 SEC); LSU fell to 1-1 (0-1 SEC)
The Vols entered the game ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press poll and No. 9 in the USA Today rankings; LSU was ranked No. 4 in both polls.
UT outscored LSU 30-6 after halftime of tonight's game. The Vols totaled 90 yards of total offense in the first half before posting 230 yards of offense after halftime.
Tennessee's five all-purpose plays of 20-yards or longer were more than it had in its previous two games combined (4 plays).
Tennessee returns to action Saturday vs. Mississippi at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. (12:30 p.m. ET on JP Sports)

Tennessee-LSU Series

Tennessee leads the all-time series vs. LSU 20-5-3 and has won five of the last seven games vs. the Tigers.
The Vols are 8-3-2 all-time in Baton Rouge.
Today's contest marked the first meeting between UT head coach Phillip Fulmer and LSU head coach Les Miles.

Phillip Fulmer's Record

Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer improved his record to 125-32 (.796) in 14 seasons with the Vols.
Fulmer now owns a 3-2 record against LSU and a 32-9 record vs. SEC Western Division teams.
Tonight' win was the 125th head coaching victory of Fulmer's career.

Monumental Comeback

By overcoming a daunting 21-point halftime deficit, the Vols posted their largest come-from-behind win since they spotted Kentucky a 21-point lead on Nov. 17, 2001. Tennessee rallied to defeat Kentucky 38-35 in Lexington, Ky.

Riggs Provides Winning Rush

Senior TB Gerald Riggs Jr. was solid all evening, finishing the day with 89 yards on 24 carries. He scored his first two TDs of the season, including the game-winner -- a 1-yard run in overtime.
On the season, Riggs has rushed for 285 yards (three games) and a 95.0-yards-per-game rushing average.

Vols in Overtime

The Vols are 5-1 all-time in overtime games (2-1 on the road). Before tonight, Tennessee's most recent overtime game was a 51-43, five-OT victory at Alabama (Oct. 25, 2003).
Prior to tonight, the Vols' last regular-season game at Baton Rouge also went to overtime (Sept. 30, 2000). The Tigers posted a 38-31 win in that contest.

Clausen's Triumphant Return to Tiger Stadium

Senior QB and Vols co-captain Rick Clausen began his collegiate career at LSU, playing in three games -- and starting one -- for the Tigers as a freshman in 2002.
Clausen came off the bench in the second quarter and led the Vols' offense the rest of the game, finishing 21-of-32 for 197 yards and one TD. He was under center for all of UT's scoring drives.
Clausen scored on a 1-yard QB sneak in the fourth quarter. The play marked UT's first rushing TD of the season and Clausen's second career rushing TD.

Smith Scores Again

Junior WR Bret Smith caught his eighth career TD pass tonight. Among the players on UT's 2005 roster, Smith trails only senior WR Chris Hannon (10) for career TD catches.
Smith also recorded a TD reception last week at Florida.

Fayton Leads Vols' Receiving Efforts with Eight Catches

Senior WR C.J. Fayton gained 61 yards on a career-high eight catches tonight.
Fayton's eight catches were the most by a UT player in a single game since Kelley Washington caught 11 passes vs. LSU Sept. 29, 2001.

Big Orange Firsts

Redshirt freshman center Anthony Parker made his first career start, as did sophomore offensive tackle Eric Young.
True freshman wide receiver Lucas Taylor -- a native of Carencro, La. -- made his collegiate playing debut tonight. His first career touch was a first-quarter kickoff return, on which he gained 20 yards. The play marked UTs' longest return of the season to that point. He returned a kickoff 26 yards later in the game.
True freshman tailback Montario Hardesty also made his playing debut, logging two carries for four yards.
Redshirt freshman DE Robert Ayers saw the first game action of his career. True freshman DB Adam Myers-White and true freshman WR Austin Rogers also made their college debuts.
Junior DT Tony McDaniel saw his first action of the 2005 season.

Defense Denies

Fumbles: Senior DE Jason Hall recovered a Tigers fumble in the first quarter. It was Hall's first career recovery. In the second quarter, senior DB Jason Allen forced a Tigers fumble that was recovered by junior DB Jonathan Wade. It was Allen's fifth career forced fumble and Wade's first career recovery. Wade was credited with a forced fumble on LSU's first drive of the third quarter.
Interceptions: Sophomore DB Jonathan Hefney intercepted an LSU pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 25 yards to the LSU 2-yard line. It was Hefney's second career interception.

Vols, Tigers Meet After Another National Disaster

Tennessee's 2001 regular-season game against LSU marked UT's first home contest after the terrorist bombings on Sept. 11, 2001. The Vols won that nightcap at Neyland Stadium 26-18 (Sept. 26). Tonight marked LSU's first home contest since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast.

Miscellaneous Notes

Tonight's game was Tennessee's first contest played on a Monday since the 2001 Cotton Bowl (UT lost 35-21, Jan. 1, 2001). The Vols' last Monday game prior to the Cotton Bowl was the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, in which UT defeated Florida State 23-16 to win the 1998 National Championship.
For the first time in his career, sophomore QB Erik Ainge did not throw a TD pass in a game in which he played. Ainge started the game and completed 7 of 19 passes for 54 yards and one interception.
The Vols have played multiple quarterbacks in 12 of their last 16 games.
Tonight's attendance of was 91,986 was the eighth-largest crowd in the history of LSU's Tiger Stadium.
Tennessee officials estimated that less than 500 UT fans were present this evening. The Vols had previously sold their entire 7,000-ticket allotment while the game was scheduled for its original date of Saturday, Sept. 24. The contest was moved back two days to Monday as a result of Hurricane Rita.

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