University of Tennessee Athletics
FULMER PLEASED WITH VOLS' ATTITUDE, WORK ETHIC AS PENN STATE MATCHUP LOOMS
December 29, 2006 | Football
Dec. 29, 2006
Chavis | Hefney | M. Mitchell
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer voiced optimism Friday afternoon about the attitude and work ethic displayed by the Volunteers since arriving in the Sunshine State to prepare for Monday's Outback Bowl against Penn State. The Vols continued their quest for improvement with a spirited 75-minute workout at the University of South Florida while temperatures topped 80 degrees.
"Going all the way back to the beginning of the season, this team has shown a physical toughness and a mental toughness," Fulmer said. "We've had our ups and downs with injuries, our ups and downs with a couple of disappointingly close losses. But the great thing about them is they haven't lost their will to get better.
"That's just a really positive thing for the coach to go to the practice field with everyday."
Fulmer stated that guarantees the Vols nothing leading into Monday's postseason date with the Nittany Lions (8-4).
"It does, however, give us a lot better opportunity to play well than if we had not had those good practices. I'm eager to see the polish put on it today and tomorrow."
The Vols (9-3) are staging what normally would be two Thursday practices in a typical game week.
"There were a lot of problems built into today's scripts on both sides to kind of see where we are," Fulmer said. "Saturday will be a day to clean that up. We're counting on some young guys in some places to come through, but that's kind of been the case all year. We definitely need our older guys to play well."
Among Friday's visitors at practice was Buck Fitzgerald (defensive back, 1998-2001), who might best be remembered for defensing Florida's failed two-point conversion attempt in the Vols' 34-32 win in 2001. Fitzgerald now works in the medical industry in Gainesville, Fla.
Also on hand was former Wichita State linebacker John Blazek (1975-76), who lettered for the Shockers during Fulmer's five-year tenure in the late 1970s as a WSU assistant coach.
WHAT'S AHEAD FOR THE VOLS
Tennessee's post-practice activities for Friday included a team visit to GameWorks in Ybor City. The Vols practice at 10 a.m. Saturday before heading to Clearwater, Fla., for Bowl Beach Day at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort. Players and staff also have the opportunity to take in a hockey game Saturday, as the Tampa Bay Lightning hosts the Montreal Canadiens at 7:30 p.m.
