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Tennessee football under head coach Phillip Fulmer has enjoyed great success throughout the Volunteer State. The Vols are 18-2 against in-state opponents under Fulmer, good for a .900 winning percentage. SERIES HISTORY & NOTES
Tennessee closes out its 2006 non-conference schedule Saturday. The Vols face their second Conference-USA opponent in as many weeks as they take on Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The Vols will be on the road for the first time -- although not out of the state -- after opening the season with four games in Knoxville.
UT leads the all-time series 19-1, with the lone loss coming in Memphis in 1996 by a score of 21-17. The Vols have won the last four contests with the Tigers, including a 20-16 win last year at Neyland Stadium.
Other than a 49-28 UT win in 2001, the games between the in-state rivals have been competitive and generally low-scoring in the Fulmer era (1993-present). The Vols have scored more than 24 points just once, and four of the six games have been decided by single digits.
Former Vol Tommy West (football 1973-75; baseball 1974-75), winless in two tries against his alma mater, leads the Tigers for the sixth year on the heels of three straight bowl appearances.
The 2006 UT roster features four players from the Memphis area: Dan Williams, Ellix Wilson and walk-ons Bram Cannon and Angelo Jones. FULMER FAMILIAR WITH CONFERENCE USA FOES
Memphis marks the second of two Conference USA opponents on Tennessee's 2006 schedule, continuing a trend in the Volunteers' scheduling. Including this year, Tennessee has faced at least one Conference USA team in 11 of UT head coach Phillip Fulmer's 14 full seasons on Rocky Top.
The only Fulmer-led campaigns that did not feature a Conference-USA matchup are 1993, 2002 and 2004. Tennessee is 14-1 against current members of Conference USA under Fulmer. | NCAA's Top Receiving Duos | | (2006 Total Yardage) | | Duo (School) | Yards | | 1. Meachem-Swain (UT) | 734 | | 2. Keller-Bryant (Purdue) | 710 | | 3. Brown-Hall (Alabama) | 653 | | 4. Baker-Cornelius (Florida) | 612 | | 5. McKnight-Carlson (UND) | 610 | | 6. Jackson-Hawkins (Cal) | 600 | MEACHEM, SWAIN NATION'S TOP RECEIVING DUO
Tennessee wide receivers Robert Meachem and Jayson Swain comprise the top receiving duo in NCAA Division I-A. The two have combined for 734 yards and seven touchdowns this season, with Meachem totaling 420 yards and Swain gaining 314. That ranks them third and 23rd, respectively, amongst individuals in NCAA Div. I-A receiving yardage.
Just six pairs in the nation have teamed to gain at least 600 yards receiving this year, and Tennessee's tandem is just one of two pairs in the country to have already eclipsed the 700-yard mark. Three of the six 600-yard duos are from the Southeastern Conference, and three of the duos are from teams on the Vols' 2006 schedule. HARDESTY SEEKING TOUCHDOWN RUNS IN FIVE STRAIGHT GAMES
Redshirt freshman tailback Montario Hardesty has rushed for one touchdown in each of Tennessee's four games this season. The last Vol to rush for at least one touchdown in four straight games was Travis Stephens, who pulled off the feat in seven straight games played (but just four straight UT games -- at Memphis, vs. Arkansas, vs. Kentucky and at Vanderbilt in 2000). Stephens did not play in the Cotton Bowl following the Vanderbilt game, but returned to rush for scores in the first three games of 2001. THREE VOLS RANKED AMONG SEC'S TOP-FIVE TACKLERS
With 46, 42 and 39 tackles respectively, Tennessee's Marvin Mitchell, Jonathan Hefney and Jerod Mayo all rank among the top-five tacklers in the SEC this season.
Mitchell ranks tied for first in the league (and fourth in NCAA Division I-A). Hefney ranks third in the conference, (11th in NCAA) while Mayo ranks fourth.
The trio has combined to account for nearly 40 percent (39.8) of Tennessee's total tackles this season. Mayo ranks second in the league with four sacks on the year. COKER BREAKS OFF THIRD-LONGEST RUN IN HISTORY OF UT FOOTBALL
Redshirt freshman tailback LaMarcus Coker's gaudy 10.5-yards-per-carry average this year is thanks primarily to a single play during last Saturday's win over Marshall.
In the fourth quarter vs. the Thundering Herd, with the Vols pinned deep at their own 11-yard line, Tennessee opened its drive with a rush off left tackle. Coker took the handoff -- just the 16th carry of his career -- and shook a pair of defenders before hitting the sideline and streaking 89 yards to paydirt.
The Antioch, Tenn., native's first career touchdown was the third-longest run in the history of Tennessee football. Only Kelsey Finch (99-yard run vs. Florida in 1977) and Dick Dodson (91-yard run vs. Transylvania in 1927) have had longer runs from scrimmage for Tennessee. NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Since 1989 (Fulmer's first season as UT's offensive coordinator), Tennessee has a 62-14-1 (.812) record in non-conference games.
Only six of those defeats have been in the regular season (Notre Dame in 1990, 2004 and 2005, at UCLA in 1994, at Memphis in 1996 and Miami [Fla.] in 2002). The other eight losses all came in bowl games.
During Fulmer's tenure as head coach, Tennessee is 47-11 (.810) against non-conference foes. Fulmer's home record against non-conference teams is a daunting 33-2 (.943), with the two setbacks coming vs. Miami (Fla.) in 2002 and vs. Notre Dame in 2004. | 2006 NATIONAL FOOTBALL AWARD CANDIDATES | | Manning Award - Erik Ainge | | Maxwell Award - Erik Ainge | | Outland Trophy - Arron Sears | | REGULAR-SEASON AWARD WINNERS | | Erik Ainge | (Sept. 2, California)
- O'Reilly Auto Parts National College Player of the Week
- USA Today's National College Player of the Week
- Wrangler (Sporting News) National College Player of the Week
(Sept. 9, Air Force)
- SEC Offensive Player of the Week
| | Jerod Mayo | (Sept. 2, California)
- CAREacter Star Athlete of the Week
- SEC Defensive Player of the Week
- VOLScholar of the Week
- Walter Camp Div. I-A National Defensive Player of the Week
| | Arron Sears | (Sept. 23, Marshall)
- SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week
| SEARS EARNS CONFERENCE HONORS
Senior offensive tackle Arron Sears was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after an impressive day vs. Marshall Sept. 23. It was his 27th straight start.
The Vols averaged 8.5 yards per play vs. the Herd. COLQUITT STARS AGAINST MARSHALL; MAINTAINS FAMILY LEGACY
He's not necessarily making a name for himself at Tennessee, as much as Britton Colquitt is trying to live up to one.
The first-family of punting at UT, Britton is the latest Colquitt to shine for the Vols -- and he enjoyed his finest day as a Vol against Marshall last Saturday.
The sophomore boomed three punts an average of 56.0 yards, with each of the kicks downed inside the Thundering Herd 10-yard line. Two punts were downed at the Marshall 8-yard line, and his last effort of the game was marked at the 2-yard line.
He now ranks second in the Southeastern Conference and sixth nationally among punters, averaging 47.33 yards per punt.
At Rocky Top, he's still chasing a family legacy. Colquitt family members rank 1-2-3 on Tennessee's career and season punting lists.
Jimmy Colquitt punted for a 43.9-yard average from 1981-84 and had the best season mark in UT history with a 46.9-yard showing his sophomore campaign. Dustin Colquitt, currently punting for the Kansas City Chiefs after a four-year (2001-04) Vols tenure, is next on Tennessee's career chart with a 42.6-yard average and also had the No. 2 season mark of 45.3 yards per attempt. The patriarch of the Colquitt dynasty, Craig, punted at UT from 1975-77 and stands third on the career chart at 42.5 per attempt. His senior season mark of 45.0 also is the third best average in school history.
The youngest Colquitt, Britton, has punted 71 times in his brief career for a 42.2-yard average. SWAIN'S STREAK: 16 GAMES WITH CATCH
Senior wide receiver Jayson Swain has caught at least one pass in his last 16 games played. That marks the 11th-best streak by a Vol since the 1989 season. Swain's streak dates to the 2005 Cotton Bowl vs. Texas A&M and includes 49 total catches. WILHOIT SEC'S ACTIVE SCORING LEADER
Tennessee senior placekicker James Wilhoit is the SEC's active career scoring leader with 256 points. He also ranks sixth on UT's all-time career scoring list. For his career, Wilhoit is 45-of-65 on FG attempts and 121-of-123 on extra-point tries.
The Hendersonville native has converted on his last 11 field goal attempts dating to 2005 and 14 of his last 15. Wilhoit also tied his career long with a 51-yarder against Florida -- the third time he has connected from that distance and the second time against the Gators.
A communications graduate slated to earn his master's in sports psychology this December, Wilhoit is a three-time Academic All-SEC selection coming off his best on-field season. Last year's field goal percentage of 73.7 (14-of-19) was a career best. OPPOSING RUSHERS STRUGGLE TO HIT 100
Tennessee's defense has allowed just three opposing ballcarriers to rush for at least 100 yards in the last 28 games. During that span, the opponents' top rusher has averaged 74.0 yards per game.
Florida's DeShawn Wynn is the most recent back to hit the 100-yard mark in a game against Tennessee, gaining 104 yards on 22 carries Sept. 16. Wynn's performance snapped a streak of 14 straight games in which the Volunteers defense held the opponents' top rusher to less than 100 yards on the ground.
UNLV's Dominique Dorsey (121 yards in the 2004 season-opener) and current NFL standout Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (100 yards in the 2004 SEC Championship Game) are the only other backs to reach 100 yards against UT in the last 28 games.
Among the backs who recently came up short in their quest for 100 yards are such names as Ronnie Brown, Kenneth Darby, Joseph Addai, Thomas Brown, Darius Walker and Marshawn Lynch. | BIG ORANGE TAILGATE TOUR HITS MEMPHIS | | | Join the Tennessee Alumni Association for the 2006 Big Orange Tailgate Tour when it rolls into Memphis Saturday, September 30, 2006 8:00 a.m. - 10 a.m. (CT). Come and join fellow Vols fans for a pre-game pep rally before cheering on the Vols in Memphis. We will have the UT pep band, cheerleaders, door prizes, games/trivia contests, a cash bar and spirit buttons for sale, full tailgate-style breakfast, and special appearances from former Vol student-athletes, John Finlayson (TE, 1998-01) and Aaron Hayden (RB, 1991-94). | QUARTERBACKS
Junior starter Erik Ainge ranks third in the SEC and 10th in NCAA Division I-A with a 165.91 passer efficiency rating this year ... He eclipsed the 3,000-yards passing milestone with 258 yards through the air vs. Marshall ... His total passing numbers this season (266.3 ypg) rank him second in the SEC and ninth nationally ... Ainge ranks 12th on UT's all-time passing yards chart but could move up to eighth with just 200 more yards ... Redshirt freshman backup Jonathan Crompton saw action late against Marshall but did not attempt a pass. RUNNING BACKS
RUNNING BACKS Redshirt freshman TB Montario Hardesty made his second consecutive start last Saturday vs. Marshall and had a 20-yard TD run to give him scoring runs in each of the last four games ... Sophomore TB Arian Foster sat out the game with an ankle injury ... Redshirt freshman LaMarcus Coker had his second TD in as many games, breaking loose for an 89-yard scoring sprint (the third-longest run in UT football history) ... Coker finished with 146 yards on eight carries and now averages 10.5-yards per rush this season ... The Vols are averaging 115.0 rushing yards per game and have scored six rushing TDs on the year. WIDE RECEIVERS
Senior Jayson Swain caught five passes for a career-high 98 yards vs. Marshall ... Swain has caught a pass in each of the last 16 games ... Junior Robert Meachem continues to lead the SEC with 105.0 receiving yards per game, which also ranks fifth in NCAA Division I-A ... Senior Bret Smith had three catches for a season-high 41 yards vs. Marshall ... Starting TE Chris Brown has seven receptions on the year for 70 yards and one TD ... Tennessee averages 280.0 passing yards per game and 15.3 yards per catch this season. OFFENSIVE LINE
Preseason All-America OT Arron Sears has made 27 consecutive starts (28 overall) and was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week after last week's Marshall game ... Excluding Sears, UT's offensive-line starters ( David Ligon, Michael Frogg, Anthony Parker and Eric Young) have just 23 starts between them ... Frogg started at center against Marshall, but redshirt freshman Josh McNeil played nearly half the game vs. the Herd ... Numerous underclassmen saw game action in the second half of the win over Marshall. DEFENSIVE LINE
DE Xavier Mitchell continued his streak of stellar play last weekend, logging five tackles and sacking Marshall QB Bernard Morris in the end zone for a safety ... DTs Demonte' Bolden and Dan Williams each set career-highs for tackles vs. Marshall, as did DE Antonio Reynolds ... 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 ... McBride's shift has increased playing time for DE Robert Ayers. LINEBACKERS
Senior Marvin Mitchell has had three straight double-digit tackle games and now ranks tied for first in the SEC and fourth in the country with 11.5 stops per game ... Sophomore Jerod Mayo has also enjoyed three straight double-digit tackle outings ... Mayo totaled a career-high 12 tackles vs. Marshall and now ranks fourth in the SEC in tackles ... SLB Ryan Karl averages 7.5 stops per game. SECONDARY
Junior FS Jonathan Hefney ranks third in the SEC in tackles after logging 12 vs. Marshall ... Hefney grabbed his first INT of the year last Saturday and returned it 16 yards ... Sophomore SS Demetrice Morley logged a career-high nine tackles in the Marshall game ... The Vols held the Thundering Herd to just 110 passing yards ... Ricardo Kemp and Antonio Gaines have seen their playing time increase as a result of the season-ending injury to Inky Johnson. SPECIAL TEAMS
Senior placekicker James Wilhoit totaled seven points against Marshall to remain atop the SEC's active career scoring list with 256 points ... Sophomore punter Britton Colquitt is averaging 47.33 yards per punt this year to ranks second in the SEC and sixth nationally ... Colquitt averaged a career-best 56.0 yards on three punts vs. Marshall ... Jonathan Hefney has taken over as UT's primary punt returner, and he also had a pair of kickoff returns vs. the Thundering Herd ... The Vols average 7.0 yards on punt returns and 12.6 yards on kick returns ... UT's opponents are averaging 11.6 and 21.6 yards on punt and kick returns, respectively. | 
