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Tennessee has outscored its last four opponents 68-13 in the fourth quarter. The Vols won all four of those games, and two of them (Georgia and Alabama) were fourth-quarter comebacks. SERIES HISTORY & NOTES
After their 12-game win streak over South Carolina ended last year in Knoxville, the Vols look to rebound against the Gamecocks Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
Second-year Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier knocked off the Vols 16-15 last year in his first game against UT with his new SEC squad. The former Duke and Florida coach improved his all-time record against the Big Orange to 10-5.
Last year's loss was the first for UT head coach Phillip Fulmer against the Gamecocks, but the Vols have won 17 of the last 19 meetings with South Carolina (and six in a row in Columbia). UT won a shootout the last time the teams met at Williams-Brice Stadium, bouncing back from a slow start thanks to three Erik Ainge touchdown passes to pull out a 43-29 victory in 2004.
The 2006 UT roster features five players from the state of South Carolina: Robert Ayers (Clio), Sinclair Cannon (Greer), Jonathan Hefney (Rock Hill), Eric Young (Union) and walk-on Jake Brown (Conway). | BIG ORANGE TAILGATE TOUR HITS COLUMBIA | | | Join the Tennessee Alumni Association for the 2006 Big Orange Tailgate Tour when it rolls into Columbia Saturday, Oct. 28, 2006 from 4:45 - 6:45 p.m. Come and join fellow Vols fans at Seawell's Catering (on the state fairgrounds, next to stadium), 1125 Rosewood Drive, for a pre-game pep rally before cheering on the Vols in Columbia. We will have the UT pep band, cheerleaders, door prizes, games/trivia contests, a cash bar, tailgate style food and spirit buttons for sale. | MEACHEM PROVING WORTHY OF BILETNIKOFF CONSIDERATION
Junior wideout Robert Meachem has led the Vols in receiving yards each of the last two years. This season, the Tulsa, Okla., native is pacing a much larger group.
Meachem ranks third in the nation in receiving yards per game (108.9) through seven contests, as the junior has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's best receiver. Meachem has piled up 762 yards on 40 catches for six touchdowns to help pace one of the SEC's most potent offenses.
Meachem has also been one of the nation's biggest surprises. Despite leading UT in receiving yardage in each of his two previous seasons on Rocky Top, he wasn't even listed on the preseason "Watch List" for potential Biletnikoff Award finalists. He's leaped to the forefront, however, thanks to a record-breaking six-game stretch to begin the year that easily surpassed his previous season-bests (459 yards and four TDs in 2004). | NCAA's Top Receiving Duos | | (2006 Average Yards Per Game) | | Duo (School) | Yards | | 1. Williams-Dubois (NMSU) | 193.7 | | 2. Hall-Brown (Ala.) | 174.0 | | 3. Meachem-Swain (UT) | 168.1 | | 4. Bess-Dickerson (Hawaii) | 155.0 | | 5. Shelton-Zeigler (Baylor) | 152.7 | | Must have played in 75 percent of games | MEACHEM, SWAIN COMPRISE NATION'S THIRD-BEST RECEIVING DUO
Tennessee wide receivers Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain comprise the third-best receiving duo in NCAA Division I-A in terms of average yards per game this season. The two have combined for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, with Meachem totaling 762 yards and Swain gaining 415 for a per-game average of 168.1 yards. Their averages rank them third and 71st, respectively, amongst individuals in NCAA Div. I-A. The tandem's numbers are even more impressive when one takes into account that Swain suffered an ankle injury Oct. 7 at Georgia and did not catch a pass vs. the Bulldogs. TENNESSEE PLAYS 16th GAME WITH ESPN COLLEGE GAMEDAY ON SITE
Tennessee has appeared in 15 games when the crew from ESPN College Gameday was on site. The Vols' record in those contests is 6-9 (.400), including a 4-4 mark away from Rocky Top. Since the show hit the road in 1993, the higher-ranked team has won 70 percent of the time (101-44). This weekend's game marks the 40th time the show has broadcast from an SEC site (the most of any conference) and the first time it has been on site for a Tennessee-South Carolina game. CUTCLIFFE'S MAGIC NUMBER = 30
During David Cutcliffe's two stints as Tennessee's offensive coordinator (1993-98 and 2006), the Vols have been awfully tough to beat when they score at least 30 points. In fact, with Cutcliffe gripping the offensive reins, Tennessee has scored at least 30 points in 52 different games; and UT owns an impressive 50-2 (.962) record when that happens. Cutcliffe's UT teams score at least 30 points in 64.2 percent of their games (52 of 81). The Vols average 34.6 in those contests.
When Cutcliffe's UT offense totals at least 30 points, Tennessee outscores its opponents by an average of 25.9 points per game (43.04 ppg to 17.10 ppg).
Below are some of Tennessee's scoring breakdowns with Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator: - Home SEC Games: 34.5 ppg
- Home Non-Conference Games: 38.4 ppg
- Road SEC Games: 35.5 ppg
- Road Non-Conference Games: 29.0 ppg
- Neutral-Site Games: 27.5 ppg
VOLS OFFENSE LEANING HEAVILY ON THE PASSING GAME
Not since 1997 -- Peyton Manning's senior season -- has Tennessee's offense relied so heavily on the passing game as this year. Through seven games, the Vols are averaging 173.4 more passing yards than rushing yards per game (293.0 to 119.6). In 1997, UT averaged 180.7 more passing yards per game (331.8 to 151.1).
During UT's 1998 national championship season, the Vols actually averaged 23.8 more rushing yards than passing yards per game (211.3 to 187.5). But from 1999 through 2005, Tennessee has averaged 76.7 more passing yards than rushing yards per outing. That number has risen significantly this season by nearly 100 yards (96.7). SEARS ON PACE FOR AWARD-LADEN SENIOR SEASON
Senior offensive tackle Arron Sears entered the 2006 season as a preseason All-America selection, and through the Vols' first seven games, he's lived up to the hype.
Sears earned first-team status on both SI.com's and CollegeFootballNews.com's Midseason All-America squads. He is also a candidate for the Outland Trophy and the Jacobs Award, presented to the SEC's top blocker.
Sears neutralized Georgia's highly touted preseason All-America defensive end Quentin Moses during a 51-33 UT win at UGA Oct. 7, prompting Moses to state, "Sears is really that good." VOLS OFFENSIVE NUMBERS RANK AMONG NATION'S BEST
Tennessee ranks among the top-20 teams in NCAA Division I-A in four offensive stat categories this season.
UT's passing efficiency rating of 160.70 is 11th-best in the nation. The Vols rank eighth in the country with 293.0 yards of passing offense per game. Tennessee also ranks 18th nationally in scoring with 32.43 ppg and 17th nationally with 412.57 yards of total offense per game.
The Vols' offensive numbers place them atop the SEC rankings in three different categories: passing offense, red-zone offense (92.3 scoring percentage) and third-down conversion percentage (56.2). COLQUITT LEADING SEC IN PUNTING; WOULD PACE ENTIRE NATION
Sophomore punter Britton Colquitt's bid to lead the nation in punting is being hampered by the efficiency of Tennessee's offense. Colquitt's 46.9-yard average ranks him first in the SEC, and it is nearly a full yard better than the NCAA Division I-A leader. However, 3.6 punts per game are required to qualify for the NCAA stat rankings, and Colquitt is averaging only 3.2 per game.
Colquitt's career punting average currently stands at 42.6, which would be good enough for second on UT's all-time list (behind his cousin, Jimmy Colquitt, who averaged 43.9 yards per punt from 1981-84). VOLS VICTORIOUS ON THE ROAD
Since 1992, Tennessee owns the best road record among SEC teams, going 44-13 for a mark of .772. The Vols' 44 victories away from Rocky Top are the second most in the league during that span. CHAVIS'S CHARGES STEPPING UP
Since a sluggish opening half against Georgia, the Vols defense has stiffened and played like one of the best units in the SEC.
Over the last six quarters, Tennessee has allowed just 16 points (three field goals and a touchdown) while forcing four turnovers and 10 punts. UT has allowed a total of 317 yards in the last 90 minutes of game action.
The Vols hadn't allowed a touchdown for 78 minutes and 52 seconds until Alabama's Tim Castille's 2-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter Saturday.
Tennessee has been especially tough on opposing offenses on third down. Georgia and Alabama combined for just four conversions in 20 attempts against the Vols since halftime in Athens Oct. 7. VOLS YET TO ALLOW 200-YARD PASSER
Despite being hit hard by injuries, the Vols defensive secondary has hardly missed a step through seven games.
Even without the services of Roshaun Fellows and Inky Johnson -- both ruled out for the season due to injuries -- the defensive backfield has made life tough on opposing quarterbacks. The Vols haven't allowed a passer to throw for 200 yards yet this season, and including last year's season-ending win over Kentucky, haven't allowed a 200-yard day in their last eight games.
Some of the best passers in the country have struggled against the Tennessee defense this year, including two quarterbacks that currently rank among the top-20 in the nation in passing efficiency. - California quarterback Nate Longshore (19th in passing efficiency, 1,877 yards, 17 TDs and seven INTs) suffered the worst game of his season against UT, completing 11-of-20 passes for just 85 yards with no touchdowns and one interception before being benched in the second half of the Vols' 35-18 win. Since that game, the No. 12 Bears haven't lost, and Longshore has become one of the best passers in the country.
- Florida's Chris Leak (14th in passing efficiency, 1,503 yards, 15 TDs and six INTs) came the closest to 200, but his 199 yards against UT fell just short. Leak was sacked three times and threw an interception while completing 15 of his 25 pass attempts.
- Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson had thrown for at least 200 yards in all seven of the Crimson Tide's previous seven games before facing UT, but the Vols held him to 158 yards on 13-of-29 passing in a 16-13 Tennessee win.
UT DEFENSE EFFICIENT IN FOURTH QUARTER
During the fourth quarter in the last four games (Marshall, Memphis, Georgia and Alabama) Tennessee's defense has been on the field for 15 drives. In those drives, the Vols have surrendered only one touchdown (by Memphis, with UT holding a 41-0 lead) and have allowed only 10 first downs.
During that span, the Vols' opponents have struggled to sustain drives. The longest fourth-quarter drive against UT was eight plays and the drive that ate up the most yardage only went for 30 yards. Only two drives included multiple first downs, and the Vols have forced seven of the 15 drives to end as three-and-outs. Tennessee forced turnovers on three of the drives (two INTs, one fumble). QUARTERBACKS
Junior starter Erik Ainge ranks fourth in the SEC and 15th in NCAA Division I-A with a 157.03 passer efficiency rating this year ... Ainge ranks sixth on UT's all-time passing yards chart (4,148) and ninth on the school's all-time total offense list (4,014) ... Ainge set career-highs with 46 pass attempts and 28 completions last Saturday vs. Alabama, and his five best career games (yardage-wise) have all come this season ... Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton has played in three games this year. RUNNING BACKS
Redshirt freshman TB LaMarcus Coker made his third career start last Saturday vs. Alabama but suffered a knee injury that will sideline him for weeks ... Sophomore TB Arian Foster provided UT's only TD vs. Alabama and now has four TDs in the last two games ... Redshirt freshman Montario Hardesty (3.3 ypc) and senior David Yancey (4.6 ypc) maintain the Vols' depth at tailback ... The Vols are averaging 119.6 rushing yards per game and have scored 12 rushing TDs on the year while averaging 3.7 yards per carry. WIDE RECEIVERS
Robert Meachem continues to lead UT's receiving efforts, pacing the squad with 40 catches for 762 yards and six TDs ... Meachem ranks third in the nation with 108.9 receiving yards per game and has teamed with Jayson Swain to combine for the third-most average yards per game (168.1) in the country this year ... Swain re-aggravated an ankle injury vs. Alabama last Saturday ... Senior Bret Smith has emerged as of late and now ranks among the national top-100 receivers with 53.3 yards per game ... Starting TE Chris Brown ranks fourth on the team with 17 catches this year ... Tennessee averages 293.0 passing yards per game and 13.6 yards per catch this season. OFFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee's five sacks allowed this season are the fewest in the SEC ... Preseason All-America OT Arron Sears has made 30 consecutive starts (31 overall) ... Excluding Sears, UT's current offensive-line starters ( David Ligon, Josh McNeil, Anthony Parker and Eric Young) have just 31 starts between them. DEFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee is allowing 118.9 rushing yards per game this season and UT's opponents are averaging 3.5 yards per rush ... Starting DEs Antonio Reynolds and Xavier Mitchell shined against the Crimson Tide, combining for eight tackles and three TFLS, including a pair of sacks ... Preseason All-America DT Justin Harrell is out for the season with a ruptured biceps tendon ... In Harrell's absence, preseason All-SEC pick Turk McBride has moved from end to tackle and is performing well inside ... McBride's shift has increased playing time for DEs Robert Ayers and Wes Brown. LINEBACKERS
Senior Marvin Mitchell ranks third in the SEC with 8.7 tackles per game ... Sophomore Jerod Mayo ranks sixth in the league with 7.6 stops per game ... Mayo's five sacks on the year rank him fifth in the SEC (0.71 pg) ... SLB Ryan Karl averages 5.9 stops per game ... Redshirt freshman Rico McCoy is making the most of his playing time, as he has 14 tackles this year. SECONDARY
Tennessee has not allowed a QB to pass for 200 yards all season ... The Vols rank 19th nationally and third in the SEC in passing defense (160.0 ypg) ... Junior FS Jonathan Hefney ranks eighth in the SEC in tackles with 7.4 per game and has a team-high three INT this year ... Senior DB Jonathan Wade leads the Vols with 13 "big plays" on defense this year ... Sophomore SS Demetrice Morley has started the last five games and is performing well ... Ricardo Kemp and Antonio Gaines have seen their playing time increase as a result of the season-ending injury to Inky Johnson. SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker James Wilhoit totaled 10 points vs. Alabama to remain atop the SEC's active career scoring list with 286 points ... Sophomore punter Britton Colquitt is averaging 47.2 yards per punt this year to lead the SEC ... Jonathan Hefney gained 104 yards on six punt returns vs. Bama, including a return of 40 yards ... The Vols average 12.2 yards on punt returns and 16.2 yards on kick returns ... UT's opponents are averaging 14.8 and 22.1 yards on punt and kick returns, respectively. |
