Jonathan Hefney | DID YOU KNOW?
Tennessee's 410 all-time wins at Neyland Stadium make the venue the second-winningest college football stadium in the nation. Only Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium (which has 419 Yellow Jackets' wins) has hosted more victories for its respective team. Bobby Dodd Stadium is eight years older than Neyland Stadium, which opened in 1921. SERIES HISTORY & NOTES
Tennessee closes out its regular season Saturday, finishing up with SEC East rival Kentucky at Neyland Stadium.
The Vols have won the last 21 games over the Wildcats, most recently posting a 27-8 win over Kentucky in Lexington. UT won the last meeting in Knoxville 37-31 to clinch its last SEC East title in 2004.
UT head coach Phillip Fulmer is unbeaten in 13 tries against the Wildcats, and the Vols have never scored fewer than 20 points against Kentucky since Fulmer took over in 1993. In the Fulmer era, UT has averaged nearly 44 points per game while holding the Wildcats to fewer than 17 points on average.
Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks is 0-3 all-time against the Vols.
The 2006 UT roster features two players from the state of Kentucky: Luke Stocker (Berea) and Jared Hostetter (Louisa). VOLS' 21-GAME WIN STREAK OVER KENTUCKY SECOND-LONGEST IN NATION
Tennessee's current 21-game win streak over Kentucky is the second-longest active winning streak over a major opponent in NCAA Division I-A (among teams that have played every year). Notre Dame's current streak of 43 straight victories over Navy is the only longer active streak. | Tennessee's 1,000-Yard Receivers | | (single season) | | Player | Yards | | *Marcus Nash, 1997 | 1,170 | | Robert Meachem, 2006 | 1,149 | | *Joey Kent, 1996 | 1,080 | | *Joey Kent, 1995 | 1,055 | | ^Kelly Washington,2001 | 1,010 | | * QB was Peyton Manning; ^QB was Casey Clausen | MEACHEM ON VERGE OF UT'S SINGLE-SEASON RECEIVING RECORD & 2,000 CAREER YARDS
All-America candidate Robert Meachem is just 22 yards shy of breaking the school record for receiving yards in a season. Marcus Nash set the current mark of 1,170 yards in 1997, and Meachem needed just 11 games and 61 catches to total an SEC-leading 1,149 yards despite numerous double-teams this year.
Before he establishes a new single-season receiving standard, however, the junior from Tulsa, Okla., will become just the sixth Vol ever to log 2,000 receiving yards. His career total currently stands at 1,991 yards.
Meachem's penchant for catching touchdowns also has him sitting alongside some lofty company in UT's all-time records book. His 16 touchdowns rank tied for fifth all-time among Tennessee receivers (trailing Joey Kent with 25, Cedrick Wilson with 24, Marcus Nash with 20 and Peerless Price with 19 and tied with Alvin Harper). TENNESSEE'S 20 SENIORS TO BE HONORED DURING PREGAME
Saturday's 2006 home finale marks the final game at Neyland Stadium for 20 Tennessee seniors. This year's seniors have been a part of 41 UT victories since the 2002 season and have helped UT lay claim to at least a share of two SEC Eastern Division crowns (2003 and 2004).
Tennessee's 20 seniors are: Cory Anderson, Stanley Asumnu, Jim Bob Cooter, Ben Greene (a junior in terms of eligibility but a senior academically), Justin Harrell, David Ligon, Turk McBride, Matt McGlothlin, Marvin Mitchell, Arron Sears, Bret Smith, Antwan Stewart, Jayson Swain, Drew Tardy, Ian Vinson, Todd Vinson, Jonathan Wade, Ryan West, James Wilhoit and David Yancey. 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 54 different games; and UT owns an impressive 52-2 (.963) record when that happens. Cutcliffe's UT teams score at least 30 points in 63.5 percent of their games (54 of 85). The Vols average 34.2 in those contests.
When Cutcliffe's UT offense totals at least 30 points, Tennessee outscores its opponents by an average of 25.7 points per game (42.74 ppg to 17.09 ppg).
Below are some of Tennessee's scoring breakdowns with Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator: - Home SEC Games: 34.1 ppg
- Home Non-Conference Games: 38.4 ppg
- Road SEC Games: 34.7 ppg
- Road Non-Conference Games: 29.0 ppg
- Neutral-Site Games: 27.5 ppg
Robert Meachem (3), Jayson Swain (1) | 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 11 games, the Vols are averaging 155.1 more passing yards than rushing yards per game (276.8 to 107.8). 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 averaged 76.7 more passing yards than rushing yards per outing. That number has risen significantly this season by nearly 80 yards (78.4). THREE VOLS AMONG SEC'S TOP-10 TACKLERS
Tennessee has three defenders currently ranked among the top-10 tacklers in the SEC. Senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell's 7.8 tackles per game rank tied for fourth in the league. Junior free safety Jonathan Hefney ranks seventh in the SEC with 7.7 tackles per game, and sophomore linebacker Jerod Mayo ranks ninth with 7.5 stops per game.
The Big Orange trio has combined to total 253 tackles this season. That number accounts for 33.3 percent of Tennessee's team tackle total.
Mayo and Hefney both have remaining eligibility for UT. TENNESSEE PERFECT IN "ORANGE" ZONE OVER LAST SIX GAMES
Since turning the ball over on downs while holding a commanding 27-0, third-quarter lead at Memphis Sept. 30, Tennessee has been a perfect 23-for-23 on orange-zone scoring attempts (15 TDs and eight FGs).
For the entire season, the Vols boast a 94.6 scoring percentage in the orange zone; that number is strong enough to lead the SEC (more than eight percentage points better than any other league team). Tennessee's orange-zone totals this year include 25 touchdowns and 10 field goals in 37 trips inside the 20-yard line.
Aside from the turnover on downs at Memphis, UT's only other scoreless orange-zone trip this season was a turnover on downs while holding a 35-11 lead over ninth-ranked California in the closing minutes of the season-opener. WILHOIT, AINGE SELECTED TO ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM
Tennessee senior placekicker James Wilhoit and junior quarterback Erik Ainge have been voted onto the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV football teams. Wilhoit was a first-team selection and now earns a spot on the Academic All-America ballot, while Ainge was chosen for the second team.
Wilhoit actually is a graduate student at UT, having completed his communications degree last December with a 3.60 grade-point average. The Draddy Award and Lou Groza Award semifinalist and three-time Academic All-SEC pick has a 3.79 graduate school GPA in sports psychology.
Ainge made the 2005 Academic All-SEC squad and owns a 3.50 GPA in political science.
The Hillsboro, Ore., product has been named a semifinalist for both the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards, sporting a 68.0 percent completion rate. Ainge is 189-of-278 passing for 2,482 yards and 18 touchdowns.
The Academic All-District IV teams, selected by regional members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, comprise honorees from Division I-A and I-AA teams in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan. 
Jerod Mayo | WILHOIT SEC'S ACTIVE LEADING SCORER; RANKS THIRD ALL-TIME AT UT
Thanks to a career-high 15 points last Saturday at Vanderbilt, Tennessee senior placekicker James Wilhoit is the SEC's active career scoring leader with 316 points. His 87 points this year are the most in the SEC, and he also leads the league with an 84.2 field-goal percentage this season.
Wilhoit now ranks third on UT's all-time career scoring list and is one point away from tying John Becksvoort for second place among Vols scorers. Jeff Hall is Tennessee's career scoring leader, totaling 371 points from 1995-98. ACCURATE AINGE AUTHORING STREAKS, PILING UP TOUCHDOWNS
Quarterback Erik Ainge has enjoyed a tremendously productive junior season that has seen him rank among the national leaders in numerous passing categories and climb in the UT records book.
One impressive aspect of Ainge's season has been his ability to string together impressive completions streaks. In fact, two of the 10-longest completions streaks in school history have been authored by Ainge this season. He completed 15 straight tries against Air Force -- the second-longest streak in UT history -- and also completed 11 straight passes at Vanderbilt last Saturday.
Ainge has also thrown 18 touchdown passes this season to raise his career total to 40. Only two Tennessee quarterbacks have thrown more. Peyton Manning holds the school-record with 89 TD tosses, and Casey Clausen ranks second with 75. AINGE AIMING FOR UT'S SINGLE-SEASON COMPLETION-PERCENTAGE RECORD
Through 11 games this season (and with two left to play), Vols quarterback Erik Ainge is on track to set the Tennessee single-season record for completion percentage. He's completed 68.0 percent (189 of 278) of his throws thus far, and is on pace to attempt more than 300 passes by the end of the year. Tennessee's completion-percentage leaders (by attempts) are: - Min 100 Attempts - 64.9, Daryl Dickey, 1985 (85 of 131)
- Min 200 Attempts - 64.6, Heath Shuler, 1993 (184 of 285)
- Min 300 Attempts - 64.2, Peyton Manning, 1995 (244 of 380)
- Min 400 Attempts - 60.2, Peyton Manning, 1997 (287 of 477)
HEFNEY A SEMIFINALIST FOR RANDY MOSS RETURN MAN AWARD
Tennessee junior Jonathan Hefney is one of 18 semifinalists for the inaugural Randy Moss Return Man Award, presented by GameDay Consultants and Gulf Coast Events. The award, voted on by collegiate sports information directors, will be presented for the first time at the 2007 North South All-Star Classic in Houston to the Division I-A athlete who demonstrates exceptional talent and skill in returning punts or kickoffs.
Hefney, who returns punts in addition to his regular defensive back duties, ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference with a 12.8-yard punt return average on 16 attempts. NOVEMBERS TO REMEMBER
Tennessee has a 78-9 (.897) mark in the month of November since 1985. Since that season, the Vols are 44-5 (.898) at home and 34-4 (.895) on the road in November.
The rare November losses came in: 1990, 2004 and 2005 to Notre Dame; 1996 at Memphis; 1999 at Arkansas; 2002 vs. Miami (Fla.), 2005 vs. Vanderbilt, 2006 vs. LSU and 2006 at Arkansas.
Against Southeastern Conference opposition, the Vols boast a 56-4 (.933) record in November (including a 28-1 home mark). QUARTERBACKS
Junior Erik Ainge returned from an ankle injury to throw for 266 yards and two touchdowns at Vanderbilt last Saturday ... Ainge ranks second in the SEC and 10th in NCAA Division I-A with a 158.59 passer efficiency rating this year, and his 248.2 passing yards per game also rank second the SEC ... Ainge is 16-5 during his career as a starter ... Redshirt freshman Jonathan Crompton has 401 passing yards and four touchdowns this season with a pair of interceptions while seeing action in seven games. RUNNING BACKS
Redshirt freshman Montario Hardesty made his fourth career start last Saturday at Vanderbilt and split carries with fellow redshirt freshman LaMarcus Coker, who recorded his third career 100-yard game ... Coker broke loose for an 87-yard TD run (but it's not his longest of the year, as he had an 89-yard TD run vs. Marshall) ... Coker averages 7.0 yards per rush this year while Hardesty averages 3.7 ... Sophomore Arian Foster averages 3.3 yards per rush and has a team-high five rushing touchdowns ... UT is averaging 111.4 rushing yards per game and have scored 15 rushing TDs on the year while averaging 3.8 yards per carry as a team. WIDE RECEIVERS
Robert Meachem continues to lead UT's receiving efforts, pacing both the team and the SEC with 61 catches for 1,149 yards (along with 10 TDs) ... Meachem ranks first in the SEC and third in the nation with 104.5 receiving yards per game ... Seniors Jayson Swain and Bret Smith have 589 and 434 receiving yards this season, respectively, while combining for 11 TDs ... Starting TE Chris Brown ranks fourth on the team with 21 catches this year ... Tennessee averages 266.5 passing yards per game and 13.3 yards per catch this season. OFFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee's 14 sacks allowed this season rank third in the SEC, and the Vols' have proven quite adept at pass blocking ... Preseason All-America OT Arron Sears has made 35 career starts ... Excluding Sears, UT's current offensive-line starters ( David Ligon, Josh McNeil, Anthony Parker and Eric Young) have 47 starts between them ... The UT coaches have expressed confidence in the development of backups Jacques McClendon (OG), Chris Scott (OT), Ramon Foster (OG) and Vladimir Richard (OG). DEFENSIVE LINE
Tennessee is allowing 145.1 rushing yards per game this season and UT's opponents are averaging 4.0 yards per rush ... 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, totaling 56 tackles to lead the defensive front ... McBride's shift has increased playing time for DEs Robert Ayers and Wes Brown, and Ayers made his first career start last Saturday in place of the injured Antonio Reynolds. LINEBACKERS
Senior Marvin Mitchell ranks tied for fourth in the SEC with 7.8 tackles per game ... Sophomore Jerod Mayo ranks ninth in the league with 7.5 stops per game ... SLB Ryan Karl averages 5.0 stops per game ... Redshirt freshman Rico McCoy led the Vols with a career-high eight tackles at Vanderbilt and now has 27 tackles on the year ... Sophomore Ellix Wilson also has seen increased action over the last three games. SECONDARY
The Vols have 16 interceptions this season compared to just nine all of last year ... Junior FS Jonathan Hefney ranks seventh in the SEC in tackles with 7.7 per game and has a team-high five INTs this year ... Senior DB Jonathan Wade leads the Vols with 21 "big plays" on defense this year, including an SEC-best 15 passes defensed ... Sophomore SS Demetrice Morley has 39 tackles on the year ... Senior Antwan Stewart has three INTs this season from his cornerback spot ... Backups Ricardo Kemp and Antonio Gaines are seeing increased action as the season wears on. SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker James Wilhoit totaled 15 points at Vanderbilt to move into third place on UT's all-time scoring list ... Sophomore punter Britton Colquitt is averaging 45.1 yards per punt this year to rank first in the SEC ... Jonathan Hefney is averaging 12.8 yards per punt return this year ... For the year, UT averages 11.9 yards on punt returns and 16.3 yards on kick returns ... UT's opponents are averaging 10.8 and 19.2 yards on punt and kick returns, respectively. |
