University of Tennessee Athletics
AINGE TO GET START AGAINST COMMODORES
November 16, 2006 | Football
Nov. 16, 2006
This week's words of wisdom from the Tennessee football camp are: "Don't be deceived."
While the Vols have had their share of close calls go against them -- namely, losses to Florida and LSU by a combined five points -- Vanderbilt has played well enough to have won four or five more games than their 4-7 overall and 1-6 conference records would indicate.
"Vanderbilt is a tough challenge," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "They are a good offensive team, starting with the quarterback who is doing an outstanding job. They can run the ball well when they spread out, and their receivers are very talented.
"Their defense gives you lots of looks. They really make you work at finding the pressure, and they're a big pressure team. It's nothing that we haven't seen probably most of the year, just more of it as we prepare for them."
The Commodores have losses this year to Alabama by three, Arkansas by two, Mississippi by seven, Florida by six and, last week, to Kentucky by eight in a game in which Vanderbilt racked up 621 yards of total offense.
"Week in and week out in the Southeastern Conference, you better be ready to play," Fulmer said. "This year, I have seen more balance to the point where injuries and other factors have made a difference."
Injuries have played a part in Tennessee's fortunes of late, forcing quarterback Erik Ainge and tailback LaMarcus Coker to the bench. But Coker returned last week in a limited role and Fulmer announced Thursday that Ainge would get the start behind center. Fulmer hopes to see Ainge play significant minutes for the first time since the Vols. 31-24 win at South Carolina on Oct. 28.
"He's right at 100 percent," Fulmer said of Ainge. "We'll be a little bit careful with him. We'll try to be smart. I don't anticipate a problem.
"I would have liked to have him the last couple of weeks but he couldn't go. He knows the football team needs him and I hope we throw it and catch it like we were before he was injured."
UT, 7-3 overall and 3-3 SEC, was averaging 401.6 yards of total offense through eight games, but managed just 257.0 in consecutive losses to LSU and Arkansas.
INJURY UPDATE (Vanderbilt Game) -- Questionable: DE Antonio Reynolds (neck); Out: WR Austin Rogers (mononucleosis).
