University of Tennessee Athletics
MEDIA DAY COMMENTS FROM HEAD COACH PHILLIP FULMER
August 29, 2006 | Football
Aug. 29, 2006
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LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR AIR FORCE GAME
The University of Tennessee Athletics Department announced Tuesday that only a handful of tickets remain for the Sept. 9 game against Air Force.
Fans looking for tickets for any Tennessee home game are encouraged to check with the ticket office the Thursday before each home date to see if any tickets were returned from the student allotment. If tickets are returned, they will be available at utsports.com or by phone at (800) 332-VOLS (8657) beginning Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.
UTAD does not anticipate any student ticket returns at this time for the California game.
DAVIS TABBED FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Former Tennessee defensive back Charles Davis has been selected as an analyst for Fox's broadcast of the Fiesta Bowl and the Tostito's BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 8.
Davis, who played for the Vols from 1983-86, is in his fifth season as the lead analyst on TBS' Saturday football games.
PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM TENNESSEE HEAD COACH Phillip Fulmer
"Obviously this is a very exciting time of year for us, and for everybody in college football. This time of year you hear the band practicing in the background, you see the cheerleaders and the majorettes working at it, and our kids have worked really hard at it since January and now the game time is finally here.
"It seemed like it would never come, and I think all of us are anxious to play and see where we are. The players have worked hard and shown a willingness to be responsive as a football team, but they are still learning on an almost daily basis in some areas what it's like to play at this level and the commitment and effort that it takes.
"At some positions we have a significant drop-off, just from a maturity standpoint. We have guys that have been in the program three and four years that understand and have played and know what it takes to play at this level, then a group of younger guys that are still in the mode of figuring it out. That's an area that we have to continue to address and improve as we go along.
"We have a few special guys that showed up in the freshman class or redshirt freshman group, but not nearly enough yet that have come to the forefront that you can say they could go in the game and there not be a tremendous amount of drop-off. With that said, I'm hopeful that we'll be able to close the ground and be able to play a good number of people in this ballgame. When we've had our best football teams, we've been able to do that. It's a mindset, an attitude, it's a maturity-level that some reach on their own, but most of the time you have to push them to reach that level.
"We've worked diligently at improving this football team in areas of discipline, ball security, the kicking game and the fundamentals of blocking and tackling. We obviously have a tremendous challenge in playing a team like Cal in the opener to see where we are.
"I'm excited and pleased with the improvement in areas. I'm as anxious as you are or anybody else is to see how Erik Ainge plays in the game. We all saw the outstanding potential that he had as a freshman, and we saw the struggles that he had as a sophomore. I think between the work that he's done, the maturity that he's worked at and coach Cutcliffe's guidance, I think he's made some significant strides. I'm anxious to see him play in a game and be productive in a game.
"As is the case, perhaps, right now the most improved position on our team is the wide receivers. We certainly need them to play at the level that they're capable of playing. From where they came from at the end of last season to where they are right now, I think, bodes well for them. There's still work to be done. That's one of the places where the (talent) drop-off happens, and we're still trying to find that fourth, fifth and sixth guy that can be in the ballgame.
"I'm really happy with our running backs and the progress that they've made. There's still a lot of work to be done with the younger guys from a protection standpoint, from a blocking standpoint, from a consistently faking standpoint, but Arian Foster and David Yancey have shown a consistency that I like very much and Montario Hardesty, even fighting through the knee injury, has shown that he can help this football team along with LaMarcus Coker.
"The tight end position has made progress. It's a very competitive position right now as to who is going to start the game and who's going to play the most in the game. Chris Brown will start the game right now, but Brad Cottam is right there with him and that's good for our team when you've got two guys like that. The youngster, Jeff Cottam, has made good progress, and I'm pleased about that. He'll definitely play during the course of the game.
"The offensive line, I'm anxious to see what they can do in the ballgame. I showed some confidence in them in the spring that they would be the type of guys that would work together as a group and play as a unit. They have tremendous pride in what they're doing. I think they'll be more efficient and obviously more athletic than they were last year. They've shown signs of that, but we've yet to find the consistency in that area that I'm looking for from a start-of-practice standpoint to an end-of-practice standpoint. I'm not going to back off from that one bit until we get that done.
"The defensive side, the secondary is one of our strengths, although we need some young guys to continue to make progress and help us with our depth and our nickel packages and other things. Unfortunately at linebacker we've been slowed a little bit with an injury to Jerod Mayo. He was making significant strides. He practiced some (Monday), I believe he'll be available and ready to go this weekend, but I wish that we could have avoided that. In his absence, Rico McCoy has got a considerable amount of work with the first team. He's another guy that from an understanding that every play, every day, every drill is extremely important, he's got to make progress. But the linebacker corps with the first three, four or five guys has been consistent. We've got a couple guys that still need to come on.
"At defensive end, I'm very happy with all of their progress. We've got five guys that we can play in the game. At defensive tackle, we're working like heck to get some depth there. Justin Harrell and Matt McGlothlin, two senior guys, tough guys, have played extremely well and consistent for us. J.T. Mapu is getting back into a groove, and those three will play, and we're hopeful like heck that we can develop those two young ones, Dan Williams and Demonte' Bolden, that we can get them in the mix, because we definitely need them. I'm going to continue to challenge them along with coach Dan Brooks and coach John Chavis to get that done.
"Cal is an outstanding football team with 18 starters back. Heisman Trophy candidate at tailback and the younger one behind him is just about as darn good. Seven guys that are on somebody's All-American list, that bodes well for them. It's a very mature football team that we're playing against.
"Openers are always hard because of the unknown. Cal's defensive front and linebackers are very good, very multiple, and that's challenging in itself. You look at their offensive front and their tight ends, they've been very tough and consistent. What they will do offensively, being an opener, you don't really know how much they will change. Regardless, they'll be doing it with outstanding personnel. Our kids and staff understand that completely, and we have to take that challenge.
"The question that you always have in openers is whether we've prepared for everything or not. How will the young guys react and respond in the game? Are we ready to take on those challenges? We'll get to see and find out.
"I expect our team to play well. We've talked about energy and emotion, and I'm certain that it will be there. Minimizing our mistakes will be very important to us, and obviously being prepared to handle all the situations.
"Play one play at a time, one series at a time. Realize that it's going to be a battle from start to finish and take advantage of our opportunities, take advantage of our skill level, take advantage of our physical play as they come up offensively, defensively or in the kicking game.
"I do think that (punter) Britton Colquitt and (kicker) James Wilhoit can be weapons for us, and I'm looking forward to seeing them play and looking forward to seeing our team play.
"Needless to say, I'm real excited to get a chance to tee it up and play again, especially being here at home. It'll be an absolutely great test for us to find out where we are."
