University of Tennessee Athletics
'LAST TACKLE' HIGHLIGHTS VOLS' THANKSGIVING DAY PRACTICE
November 23, 2006 | Football
Nov. 23, 2006
Tennessee's Phillip Fulmer said the first of what will be several goodbyes to the 2006 senior class, thanking them for contributions to the UT football program with the honorary "Last Tackle" Thursday at Haslam Field.
The Vols head coach gathered his seniors at one end of a double line of teammates and offers a few kind words about each individual. The players then took turns plowing into a tackling dummy one last time, to the cheers and salutes of their teammates.
"It's tough to say goodbye to your seniors every year, but this has been a special group," Fulmer said. "You could see a couple of them really didn't want to participate" Turk (McBride) said, "It's hard to believe this is my last year here."
"It's always a sad time but you feel like you.ve prepared them for life and for the future. If they've made it through high school and made it through college, then they probably are going to have a good chance to be successful."
Seniors participating Friday were Cory Anderson, Stanley Asumnu, Jim Bob Cooter, Ben Greene, David Ligon, Matt McGlothlin, Antwan Stewart, Drew Tardy, Ian Vinson, Todd Vinson, Jonathan Wade, Ryan West, James Wilhoit and David Yancey. Captains making the run were Turk McBride, Marvin Mitchell, Arron Sears and Jayson Swain.
This same group runs through the "T" for the final time prior to Saturday's 12:30 p.m. kickoff.
"We have so much to be thankful for, all of us," Fulmer said. "I am really thankful for this football team and how they have handled themselves and worked. I hate to see this thing over, I really do.
"I'm looking forward to this ballgame and, hopefully, some good time practicing afterwards. This team will be well-remembered.
Tennessee, 8-3 overall and 4-3 SEC, enters Saturday's contest sporting the league's top two kickers. Senior placekicker James Wilhoit leads the SEC in scoring (7.9) and field-goal percentage (.842), while sophomore Britton Colquitt leads the conference with a 45.1-yard average.
"We know the kicking game is extremely important in this ballgame," Fulmer said. "And the thing Kentucky has done extremely well is take the ball away from their opponents, giving them the short field and more possessions."
The Wildcats, 7-4 and 4-3 SEC, are plus-12 in turnover margin, good enough for best in the SEC and seventh nationally.
