2006 TENNESSEE FOOTBALL SEASON REVIEW

Jan. 19, 2007

Complete Season Review in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Tennessee Volunteers (9-4, 5-3 SEC)
Home: 5-2 - Road: 4-1 - Neutral: 0-1

TENNESSEE CROWNED SEC'S ATTENDANCE LEADER FOR 33rd STRAIGHT SEASON

For the 33rd straight season, Tennessee was the Southeastern Conference attendance leader in 2006. The Volunteers led the league with a total attendance of 740,521 (seven games) and an average attendance of 105,789. UT packed Neyland Stadium to a 101.6 percent capacity this past season. The Vols ranked third in the nation in both total and average attendance, trailing only Michigan and Penn State in both categories.

FULMER STEERS VOLS TO 14th BOWL APPEARANCE IN 15 SEASONS

Steady at the top. In his 15th season directing the Big Orange program, UT head coach Phillip Fulmer guided the Vols to a postseason bowl game for the 14th time (the program's 46th all-time bowl bid). The former Tennessee lineman (1969-71) has posted a seven career bowl wins, including a triumph in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl that capped a perfect 13-0 season and earned the Vols the 1998 national championship. Fulmer stands in elite company alongside former Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne as the only coaches in college football history to lead a team to bowl games in each of their first 13 seasons.

MAKING HIS MARK: MEACHEM'S RECORD-SETTING SEASON

Junior wide receiver Robert Meachem entered the 2006 season with 54 career receptions for 842 yards. But during Tennessee's 13-game season, the Tulsa, Okla., native proceeded to post numbers that dwarfed his previous career totals while becoming the first UT wideout to earn first-team All-America honors since Carl Pickens in 1991. Meachem set a school record for receiving yards in a season with 1,298. In doing so, he became just the sixth Vol ever to total more than 2,000 career receiving yards. His 11 touchdowns are the third-most ever by a UT receiver in a single season. And his average of 99.8 receiving yards per game ranks first in the Southeastern Conference and fourth in NCAA Division I-A. Meachem's penchant for catching touchdowns has him sitting alongside some prolific scorers in UT's all-time records book. His 17 touchdowns rank fifth all-time among Tennessee receivers (trailing Joey Kent with 25, Cedrick Wilson with 24, Marcus Nash with 20 and Peerless Price with 19). Meachem's 125 career catches rank sixth all-time at UT. Among the organizations to label Meachem an All-America are the Football Writers' Association of America, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Rivals.com (3rd). He was also named first-team All-SEC by the Coaches and the Associated Press, and he was a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.

AINGE SETS UT'S SINGLE-SEASON COMPLETION-PERCENTAGE RECORD

Junior quarterback Erik Ainge set the Tennessee single-season record for completion percentage in 2006. He completed 67.0 percent (233 of 348) of his throws. Tennessee's previous completion-percentage leaders (by attempts) were: Min 100 Attempts - 64.9, Daryl Dickey, 1985 (85 of 131) Min 200 Attempts - 64.6, Heath Shuler, 1993 (184 of 285) Min 300 Attempts - 67.0, Erik Ainge, 2006 (233 of 348) PREVIOUS: 64.2, Peyton Manning, 1995 (244 of 380) Min 400 Attempts - 60.2, Peyton Manning, 1997 (287 of 477)

VERSATILE VETERAN: SEARS' SUPER SENIOR SEASON

One of Tennessee's most heralded players entering the 2006 season was senior offensive tackle Arron Sears, and he lived up to his preseason All-America billing throughout the year. The Russellville, Ala., native's honors haul this season included first-team All-America acclaim from the AFCA and Walter Camp as well as second-team laurels from the Associated Press and third-team status from Rivals.com. He was also a first-team All-SEC selection and the winner of the SEC's prestigious Jacobs Award, presented to the league's top blocker. The Vols' most versatile player along the offensive front, Sears made 32 consecutive starts and anchored an offensive line that has kept quarterbacks clean and allowed Tennessee to become the second-most prolific passing team in the Southeastern Conference. He missed just one start since freshman campaign, starting at every position on the line except center.

CUTCLIFFE'S MAGIC NUMBER = 30

During David Cutcliffe's two stints as Tennessee's offensive coordinator (1993-98 and 2006), the Vols have been awfully tough to beat when they score at least 30 points. In fact, with Cutcliffe gripping the offensive reins, Tennessee has scored at least 30 points in 54 different games; and UT owns an impressive 52-2 (.963) record when that happens. Cutcliffe's UT teams score at least 30 points in 62.1 percent of their games (54 of 87). The Vols average 34.2 in those contests. When Cutcliffe's UT offense totals at least 30 points, Tennessee outscores its opponents by an average of 25.7 points per game (42.74 ppg to 17.09 ppg).

Below are some of Tennessee's scoring breakdowns with Cutcliffe as offensive coordinator:

Home SEC Games: 33.5 ppg
Home Non-Conference Games: 38.4 ppg
Road SEC Games: 34.7 ppg
Road Non-Conference Games: 29.0 ppg
Neutral-Site Games: 25.6 ppg

WILHOIT LEADS SEC IN SCORING; RANKS SECOND ALL-TIME AT UT

Tennessee senior placekicker James Wilhoit finished 2006 as the SEC's active career scoring leader with 325 points. His 96 points this year were the most in the SEC, and tied for the seventh-most points in a season in the UT records book. He sported an 81.8 field-goal percentage this season, which was good for third in the league. Wilhoit's solid senior season landed him in second place on UT's all-time career scoring list. Former placekicker Jeff Hall is Tennessee's career scoring leader, totaling 371 points from 1995-98.

FOUR QUARTERS STRONG

One of the most noteworthy aspects of Tennessee's season was its ability to finish games with a flourish. The Vols scored 34.8 percent of their total points in 2006 in the fourth quarter (126 of 362) and came from behind to win four contests that they trailed entering the final stanza. In 13 games, UT averaged 9.7 points in the fourth quarter while limiting its opponents to just 6.0 points. All three of UT's October contests resulted in fourth-quarter comeback wins, as the Vols rallied at Georgia (51-33 on Oct. 7), vs. Alabama (16-13 on Oct. 21) and at South Carolina (31-24 on Oct. 28). Tennessee added another fourth-quarter rally to finish off Kentucky Nov. 25 in Knoxville by a score of 17-12. That victory was highlighted by three fourth-down stops by the UT defense.

VOLS OFFENSE LEANED HEAVILY ON THE PASSING GAME

Not since 1997 Peyton Manning's senior season has Tennessee's offense relied so heavily on the passing game as in 2006. In 13 games, the Vols averaged 156.5 more passing yards than rushing yards per game (264.5 to 108.0). In 1997, UT averaged 180.7 more passing yards per game (331.8 to 151.1). During UT's 1998 national championship season, the Vols actually averaged 23.8 more rushing yards than passing yards per game (211.3 to 187.5). But from 1999 through 2005, Tennessee averaged 76.7 more passing yards than rushing yards per outing. That number has risen significantly this season by nearly 80 yards (79.8).

SIX VOLS RECEIVE DEGREES AT FALL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

Six Vol football players were among Tennessee's contingent of student-athletes who graduated from the university Dec. 16. Cory Anderson, Stanley Asumnu, Drew Tardy, Todd Vinson and Ryan West all received their bachelor's degrees. Placekicker James Wilhoit received his master's degree in sports psychology. Four players on the Vols' 2006 roster James Wilhoit, Jim Bob Cooter, David Ligon and Casey Woods had already received their degrees prior to football season.

25 VOLS NAMED TO SEC ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL; UT LEADS LEAGUE FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

Tennessee placed 25 players on the 2006 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, as announced by the conference office. To make the list, each student-athlete must have a GPA of at least 3.00 for either the preceding academic year or have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. He or she must also be on scholarship, be a letterwinner or have participated on a varsity team for two seasons if he or she is a non-scholarship team member. Finally, he or she also must have completed 24 semester hours of non-remedial credit. The Vols' honorees for the fall semester were Erik Ainge, Bram Cannon, Jim Bob Cooter, Jeff Cottam, Morgan Cox, Stephen Darville, Dylan Dickey, Doug Edgar, Kris Fant, Brent Freeman, Adam Gillem, Bill Grimes, Bo Hardegree, Ryan Hill, Cameron Mayo, Adam Myers-White, Antoine Ott-Terrell, Jarod Parrish, Austin Rogers, Cody Sullins, Cory Sullins, Todd Vinson, Ben Weisensel, James Wilhoit and Casey Woods.

ACCURATE AINGE AUTHORS STREAKS, PILES UP TOUCHDOWNS

Quarterback Erik Ainge enjoyed a tremendously productive junior season that saw him rank among the national leaders in numerous passing categories and climb in the UT records book. One impressive aspect of Ainge's season was his ability to string together impressive completions streaks. In fact, two of the 10-longest completions streaks in school history were authored by Ainge in 2006. He completed 15 straight tries against Air Force the second-longest streak in UT history and also completed 11 straight passes at Vanderbilt Nov. 18. Ainge also threw 19 touchdown passes this season to raise his career total to 41. Only two Tennessee quarterbacks have thrown more. Peyton Manning holds the school-record with 89 TD tosses, and Casey Clausen ranks second with 75.

HELMET DECAL HONORS INJURED DUO

Tennessee defensive starters Justin Harrell and Inky Johnson both suffered injuries during the Sept. 9 Air Force game that brought their season to an early end (though Harrell managed to play in one more game the following week against Florida). As a way of honoring both players for the duration of the season, Tennessee added a decal depicting three interlocking circles to each helmet. The Nos. 92 (Harrell) and 29 (Johnson) are inside the outer circles, and the word "team" is inside the center circle. Banners bearing this logo were also placed in each end zone at Neyland Stadium.

COLQUITT RANKS AMONG TOP TEN NATIONALLY IN PUNTING; ENJOYS FOURTH-BEST SEASON IN UT HISTORY

Sophomore punter Britton Colquitt ranked second in the Southeastern Conference and seventh nationally with a punting average of 44.9 yards this season. His 2006 average was good enough for the fourth-highest season average in UT history. His cousin, Jimmy Colquitt, averaged a school-record 46.9 yards per punt in 1982. His older brother, Dustin (now with the Kansas City Chiefs), averaged 45.3 yards per punt in 2003. And his father Craig, averaged 45.0 yards per punt in 1977. For his career, Britton is averaging 42.8 yards per punt. That number would trail only Jimmy's career average of 43.9 yards.

OPPOSING RUSHERS STRUGGLE TO HIT 100

Tennessee's defense has allowed just six opposing ballcarriers to rush for at least 100 yards in the last 37 games. During that span, the opponents' top rusher has averaged 77.2 yards per game. Penn State's Tony Hunt is the most recent back to hit the 100-yard mark in a game against Tennessee, gaining 158 yards on 31 carries in the 2007 Outback Bowl. UNLV's Dominique Dorsey (121 yards in the 2004 season-opener), current NFL standout Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (100 yards in the 2004 SEC Championship Game), Florida's DeShawn Wynn (104 yards in 2006), Arkansas' Darren McFadden (181 yards in 2006) and Kentucky's Rafael Little (119 yards in 2006) are the only other backs to reach 100 yards against UT in the last 37 games. Among the backs who recently came up short in their quest for 100 yards are such names as Ronnie Brown, Kenneth Darby (twice), Joseph Addai, Thomas Brown, Darius Walker and Marshawn Lynch.

TWO VOLS AMONG SEC'S TOP-10 TACKLERS

Senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell and junior free safety Jonathan Hefney both finished among the SEC's top-10 tacklers in 2006 (in terms of tackles per game). Mitchell ranked fifth in the league with 8.0 tackles per game. His 104 total stops were the most of any Vol this season. Hefney tallied 96 total stops in 2006, and his 7.4 tackles per game tied for eighth-most in the SEC. Sophomore linebacker Jerod Mayo was the only other Vol listed among the league's top-20 tacklers, ranking 11th with 6.9 stops per game. Mayo ranked seventh in the league with 1.04 tackles for loss per game (12.5 TFLs total).

"VOL SCHOLAR" INSIGNIA RECOGNIZED ACADEMIC DILIGENCE

The VOLScholar program, an initiative of UT's Thornton Athletics Student Life Center in cooperation with the men's and women's athletics departments, is a comprehensive academic and citizenship-building program that has gained enthusiastic support from several of UT's athletic teams. Student-athletes earned the right to wear the VOLScholar patch by achieving a 3.0 grade-point average in the previous fall and/or spring semester. "We have a lot of outstanding young men and women in our program that are doing great things on and off the field of competition," said Mike Hamilton, men's athletics director. "This is just another way to recognize them for their behavior and prepare them for life after school."

SCORING STREAK

Tennessee has scored in 159 consecutive games dating back to a 31-0 shutout by Florida in Knoxville in 1994. It is the second-longest streak in the SEC, trailing Florida's 226. UT's home scoring streak is at 82, while it has scored in 147 straight games away from Neyland Stadium. The Vols' last road shutout was handed down by Georgia in 1981, 44-0.

FUTURE MATCHUPS SET WITH ELITE NATIONAL PROGRAMS

Never shying away from facing elite competition, Tennessee's future schedules feature matchups with some of the nation's top-flight college football programs. In the near future, UT hosts North Carolina State Aug. 30, 2007, and travels to UCLA Sept. 6, 2008. Tennessee also has an outstanding slate of non-conference opponents signed to contracts beginning in 2010. The Vols host Oregon that season, travel to North Carolina in 2011, host the Tar Heels in 2012, travel to Oregon in 2013, visit Oklahoma in 2014, host the Sooners in 2015, travel to Nebraska in 2016 and host the Cornhuskers in 2017. During the Fulmer era, Tennessee's non-conference schedule has included elite competition on an annual basis. The Vols have played Notre Dame four times, UCLA three times, Miami (Fla.) twice and Syracuse twice, along with meetings against California, Fresno State, Louisville, Washington State, Oklahoma State, Marshall and Texas Tech.

VOLS REGULARS ON TELEVISION

Since 1990, Tennessee has had 172 games broadcast on national or regional television (excluding pay-per-view). That's 81.5 percent of Tennessee's total games played since 1990 that have been televised.

FULMER TIED FOR EIGHTH ON SEC'S ALL-TIME WINS LIST

Phillip Fulmer's 137 head coaching victories put him in a tie for eighth place on the Southeastern Conference's all-time wins list, making him and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier the only active head coaches in the league's all-time top 10. Fulmer ranks even higher on the SEC regular-season victories list, as his 87 regular-season conference wins are good enough for sixth place all-time.

FULMER-COACHED TEAMS NEAR UNBEATABLE WHEN HOLDING LEAD AFTER THREE QUARTERS

Tennessee under head coach Phillip Fulmer is 116-6 in games in which it held the lead after three quarters of play. The last time the Vols lost a game in which they held the lead after three quarters was Sept. 16, 2006, as Florida rallied to post a 21-20 win in Knoxville.

FULMER RECORDS 75th HOME VICTORY IN 2006

Tennessee's 33-7 homecoming victory over Marshall Sept. 23 gave Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer his 75th career win at Neyland Stadium. Following the conclusion of the 2006 season, Fulmer's home record now stands at 77-16 (.828).

NON-CONFERENCE DOMINANCE

Since 1989 (Fulmer's first season as UT's offensive coordinator), Tennessee has a 63-15-1 (.804) 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 nine losses all came in bowl games. During Fulmer's tenure as head coach, Tennessee is 48-12 (.800) 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.

TENNESSEE'S SCHEDULE INCLUDED FIVE TOP-15 OPPONENTS IN 2006

Tennessee's Nov. 11 game at 11th-ranked Arkansas marked Tennessee's fifth game of the season against a team ranked in the top 15 at the time of competition. The Vols fashioned a 2-3 mark vs. those top-15 foes, with wins over ninth-ranked California (35-18) and ninth-ranked Georgia (51-33) and losses vs. sixth-ranked Florida (21-20), 13th-ranked LSU (28-24) and at 11th-ranked Arkansas (31-14). The 2005 schedule was just as grueling, as Tennessee faced five top-10 teams in the same year for the first time in school history (including postseason play).

NINE OF TENNESSEE'S 13 OPPONENTS PLAYED IN BOWL GAMES

Of the 13 teams Tennessee faced in 2006, nine of them earned postseason bowl bids. Those teams were: California, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Kentucky and Penn State. Seven of those nine teams won their respective bowls. Only Alabama and Arkansas suffered defeats.