University of Tennessee Athletics
Game Preview: Georgia vs. UT
October 01, 2007 | Football
Tennessee-Georgia Series History/Notes
Tennessee leads the all-time series with Georgia 19-15-2 dating to 1899, although the Bulldogs have won their last three visits to Neyland Stadium. UT rallied for a 51-33 triumph a year ago in Athens???the Vols second straight win at UGA???s Sanford Stadium.
The Big Orange own a 9-8-1 advantage over the Bulldogs in Knoxville, and UT head coach Phillip Fulmer boasts a 10-5 career mark against Georgia. Fulmer won his first eight games against UGA from 1992-99. Those eight triumphs were part of a nine-game win streak for Tennessee against Georgia that marked the longest such streak by either team in the series (1989-99).
A total of 11 players on Tennessee???s 2007 roster???Eric Berry (Fairburn), Chad Cunningham (Dawsonville), Stephen Darville (Rome), Brent Freeman (Suwanee), Orion Hall (Marietta), Roy Olasimbo (Riverdale), Anthony Parker (Jonesboro), Jarod Parrish (Summerville), Chris Scott (Riverdale), Brett Thomason (Dalton), LaMarcus Thompson (Lithonia)???hail from the state of Georgia. Berry, Parker and Scott have started every game for UT this season.
Vols offensive line coach Greg Adkins served as an assistant coach at Georgia under Jim Donnan from 1996-2000. Adkins coached defensive line in 1996 before shifting to tight ends and offensive line from 1997-2000.
Vols At 2-2 Sport .500 Records An Last Five Games
Tennessee is 2-2-1 (.500) in its last five games in which it entered with a record of 2-2. The Vols got off to 2-2 starts in 2000 (lost fifth game at Georgia, 21-10), 1986 (lost fifth game to Army, 25-21), 1983 (won fifth game vs. LSU, 20-6), 1982 (tied fifth game at LSU, 24-24) and 1981 (won fifth game vs. Georgia Tech, 10-7).
In both of the aforementioned wins, Tennessee was led by an experienced, upperclassman quarterback. Senior Steve Alatorre led the Vols to win at Georgia Tech in 1981 and eventually to an 8-4 overall mark. Junior Alan Cockrell guided UT to a victory over LSU in 1983, and Tennessee finished that year with a 9-3 record.
All other seasons in which Tennessee started 2-2, and the result in UT???s fifth game: 1980 (W), 1977 (L), 1976 (W), 1966 (W), 1961 (W), 1958 (L), 1955 (W), 1954 (W), 1941 (W), 1935 (W), 1933 (W), 1911 (T), 1903 (W), 1899 (W).
Ironically, in the first-ever gridiron meeting between Tennessee and Georgia???an 1899 contest in Knoxville???the Vols came into the game with a 2-2 record and shut out the Bulldogs 5-0. J.A. Pierce coached UT in that contest, which took place at Wait Field on Cumberland Avenue.
Lincoln Off To Best Start By Kicker In UT History
Tennessee placekicker Daniel Lincoln continued his sparkling debut to college football Sept. 22 against Arkansas State, converting both of his field goal attempts and all six of UT???s extra points to keep his perfect season to date intact.
A redshirt freshman from Ocala, Fla., Lincoln has made all eight of his field goal attempts this year and is 16-of-16 on PATs to lead the Vols in scoring with 40 points. Lincoln also has been consistent no matter the distance, having converted three kicks from the 20- to 29-yard range, three from the 30s and two from the 40s, including a 47-yarder against Southern Mississippi.
He stands tied for fourth nationally with 2.0 field goals made per game and is one of only three FBS kicker with at least eight field-goal attempts who has yet to miss. He ranks tied for seventh in the SEC in total points and third in points per game (10.0).
Lincoln???s fast start stands alone as the best in Tennessee football history, as no other Vol kicker has ever made his first eight field-goal attempts. Carlos Reveiz (1985) and Ricky Townsend (1972) shared the previous record, as both were perfect through six tries. Reveiz, the uncle of current Vols linebacker Nick Reviez, was the consensus All-SEC placekicker in 1985, and Townsend, UT???s barefooted specialist, twice earned All-America honors for the Big Orange.
Lincoln has replaced departed four-year starter James Wilhoit, who ranks second on Tennessee???s all-time scoring chart with 325 career points from 2003-06.
Ainge Nears Top 20 On SEC's Career TD Passes List
Senior quarterback Erik Ainge is on track to hold a prominent place on the SEC???s all-time chart for career touchdown passes.
Ainge needs just one passing touchdown to tie former LSU signal caller JaMarcus Russell for 20th place in SEC history with 52.
In doing so, Ainge would join a pair of former Volunteers on that elite list. Peyton Manning (1994-97) ranks second in SEC history with 89 touchdown passes, and Casey Clausen (2000-03) ranks seventh with 75.
2005 Wide Receivers Signees Coming of Age
Tennessee wideouts Josh Briscoe, Austin Rogers and Lucas Taylor were all members of UT???s 2005 signing class. Their collective impact on the Vols??? offense had been minimal prior to this season, but they have been clutch thus far in 2007.
All three players have already set new career-highs for catches and yards.
Taylor has 24 catches for 382 yards and two touchdowns this season. The Carencro, La., native is currently ranked second in the SEC with 95.5 receiving yards per game and tied for second with six receptions per game.
Rogers has 20 catches for 251 yards and one touchdown this season. The Nashville native is ninth in the SEC with 62.8 receiving yards per game and tied for seventh in the SEC with five receptions per game.
Briscoe has 23 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown this season. The Shelby, N.C., native is fourth in the SEC with 5.75 receptions per game.
The Vols were one of only three FBS teams to have three different players with over 20 catches through four games. The other two teams that had three or more different receivers with 20 catches were Hawaii and New Mexico State, which ranked second and seventh, respectively, in passing offense. Tennessee was 25th nationally in passing offense. UT???s wideout trio is arguably more vital to its offense than the receivers for those other pass-happy offenses. UT???s top-three account for 72.1 percent (824 of 1143) of the team???s total receiving yards while New Mexico State???s trio accounts for 63.0 percent and Hawaii???s accounts for 56.2 percent.
Career Starts Record Within Reach For Hefney
Senior free safety Jonathan Hefney has a chance to stand atop Tennessee???s all-time list for starts by a position player,* as he currently owns a streak of 40 consecutive starts.
Former center and current Green Bay Packer Scott Wells (2000-03) made a school-record 49 straight starts, but Hefney could potentially tie that mark if Tennessee makes a bowl appearance.
Should the Vols play in the SEC Championship Game prior to a bowl appearance, Hefney would have a shot at 50 straight starts.
Hefney has played in 41 career games. The 2004 season-opener against UNLV is the only game during his career in which he did not start.
*Placekicker Jeff Hall started 50 straight games from 1995-98
Berry's Intercetion Return Ties For Third-Longest In UT History
True freshman defensive back Eric Berry???s first career interception was a memorable one. Berry picked off a Tim Tebow pass at Florida and returned it 96 yards for a touchdown (also the first of his career).
The 96-yard return tied for the third-longest ever by a Vol. Art Reynolds hasd a return of equal distance against Memphis State in 1972. Ray Martin owns the Tennessee record with a 100-yard return against Louisville in 1953, and Morris Vowell ranks second with a 99-yarder against Sewanee in 1916.
Berry???s interception was the first by a Tennessee true freshman since current senior linebacker Ryan Karl picked off a pass against Texas A&M in the 2005 Cotton Bow (which also was returned for a touchdown).
19 Vols Have Made UT Debut This Season
A total of 19 Vols have made their Tennessee debuts so far this season. Included in that group are nine true freshmen: starting defensive back Eric Berry, tailback Lennon Creer, linebacker Savion Frazier, wide receiver Gerald Jones, defensive end Ben Martin wide receiver Denarius Moore, defensive back Dennis Rogan, wide receiver Brent Vinson and defensive end Chris Walker.
The other Vols who have taken the field for the first time in Orange & White this year are: punter/kicker Chad Cunningham, fullback Ryan Hill, placekicker Daniel Lincoln, defensive back Nevin McKenzie, wide receiver Kenny O???Neal, linebacker Nick Reveiz, tight end Luke Stocker, offensive lineman Cody Sullins, linebacker LaMarcus Thompson and defensive back DeAngelo Willingham.
