TUESDAY MEDIA DAY COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER

Nov. 7, 2006

"We went back to work (Monday) and reminded our football team that we are five points from being an undefeated team. We've played a very tough schedule and fought through some injuries, and basically we're looking at a three-game season right now to put an exclamation point on the outstanding job that they've done to this point.

"We'll certainly reinforce today our team goals, there are some areas that we have improved on considerably during the course of the year, as kicking coverage and returns, penalty discipline has been good all season long, we've improved our giveaway/takeaway ratio to a plus-five during the course of the year and that's been a key part to what we've been able to accomplish.

"Everybody is disappointed in the final results of the LSU game. But it's one of those things that we have to get over, and we have to get over it quickly. Our team understands the challenge that they have in going to Arkansas, but also the opportunity. If they don't already understand today, they'll understand by this afternoon. We're going to reiterate that again.

"Arkansas is a very fine football team. Needless to say, they have just outstanding running backs and they do an excellent job of running the football. They also get the ball down the field to their receivers, particularly Marcus Monk, who is a very fine receiver. He can mismatch a lot of people because of his size and physical ability. He's a good-looking player. Their offensive line is probably the best that we have played against this year. It's just a good-looking offensive football team.

"At quarterback, they're making the change. You can see that Casey Dick, having had some experience, also throws the football really well. Generally, it's surprising when you look at them statistically you would think they would be close to the top of the conference in time of possession because they are an outstanding running team, but the truth of is when you watch them they're a big-play team. They run the ball effectively, but they're going to get yards in chunks and they're very capable of scoring quickly. That's a tremendous challenge for our football team.

"Their defense, basically as everybody has evolved to in the Southeastern Conference, is very multiple, they're aggressive, play a lot of man-to-man coverage and bring lots of pressure. It'll be a challenge for our offensive team as well.

"I thought the mindset of our team was very positive as we went back to work (Monday). They moved around well, the coaches were excited about getting back on the field and had lots of energy, and that's what it's going to take during the course of our preparations this week.

"Our quarterback situation is really the same as (Monday). We need to see where Erik Ainge is today, and real soon this week we need to make a decision on a direction we're going to go for our team's benefit. I know Erik's doing everything he can to get himself back. He's spent a lot of time in the training room, and really did an outstanding job last week of showing a maturity and a toughness that you like to see in trying to get out there and lead the football team. I'm also very proud of what Jonathan Crompton did. He made some youthful mistakes during the game, but he competed really hard. Other than one tipped ball that was a turnover, he did a good job of protecting the football. If he gets the start, which we haven't decided yet, he will have his first opportunity to go on the road in the Southeastern Conference in a crucial game for both teams in a very hostile environment and have to show that same type of maturity beyond his years of experience and command the offense. It'd be a really great test for him.

"We're going to run the football better than we have. We have to take some pressure off the passing game, although the passing game has certainly been our strength. We have to take some pressure off our young quarterback and help our defense more. At the same time, when people challenge us in passing situations or man-to-man situations, our strength has been getting the ball to our receivers and we will certainly not change that. The emphasis from my standpoint is to be down there and see where we can get out running game better and focus on that.

"This has been an exciting team, a responsive team as I've said a number of times. There's a lot of pride in this group of young men and coaches, and I expect and believe that we will re-center ourselves and focus ourselves on what we need to get done these last three weeks. We will take the challenge that's in front of us and work like heck to get this win and go from there."