University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Kept Drive Alive During '07 Run
November 29, 2007 | Football
Seven words were a constant reminder -- ???The Road to Atlanta Runs Through Knoxville.???
The large sign wallpapered at the entrance to the Tennessee football locker rooms -- seen every day from the heat of August through the November chill, from early season games decided by no fewer than a dozen points to nail-biters down the stretch -- proclaimed the Vols??? 2007 business plan.
Head coach Phillip Fulmer and staff kept pointing the way toward a chance to play for the Southeastern Conference championship. Take care of the weekly workload and good things could happen.
It was quite a journey at times. But Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Eastern time, the 14th-ranked Vols pull in to the Georgia Dome prepared to face fifth-ranked LSU before a capacity crowd and national viewing audience (CBS, Vol Network).
???They???ve been very businesslike,??? Fulmer said of his squad???s demeanor since wrapping up the Eastern Division crown. ???This team has a penchant for drama, I guess.???
The reference was to Saturday???s 52-50, four-overtime classic against Kentucky that clinched the title spot. Or to the overtime victory against South Carolina, or perhaps the fourth-quarter rally past Vanderbilt.
???But Tuesday was all business and Wednesday was all business, and today looked like a very good practice,??? Fulmer said.
Which leaves a spirited Friday sendoff (noon to 12:45 p.m.) from the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center and a brief walk-through at the Dome the only road left before Saturday???s kickoff. Tennessee certainly hopes to enjoy the ride.
VOL NETWORK 'STADIUMCAST' SET FOR FM 99.1 AT GEORGIA DOME
The Vol Network's "StadiumCast" frequency for the Tennessee-LSU game Saturday inside the Georgia Dome is 99.1 on the FM dial. Fans attending the game can tune into the Vol Network broadcast by bringing a portable radio.
The ???Kickoff Call-In Show??? with John Wilkerson, Mike Stowell, Tim Priest and Bob Kesling begins coverage at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Central).
PARKER AMONG RIVALS.COM ALL-AMERICA PICKS; MAYO, LINCOLN, FOSTER DUO NAMED ALL-SEC
Tennessee???s ability to protect its quarterbacks better than any team in the nation has not gone unnoticed.
Junior Anthony Parker was named Thursday by Rivals.com as a third-team All-America and first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection. Other Vols on the 2007 All-SEC squad were first-teamers Jerod Mayo at linebacker and Daniel Lincoln at placekicker, with tailback Arian Foster and offensive tackle Ramon Foster claiming second-team positions.
The Vols have allowed only four sacks in 12 games this season en route to Saturday???s appearance in the SEC Championship Game. The next closest teams to Tennessee in sacks allowed are Rutgers with eight and California with nine, both in 11 games played.
Parker has experience all along the offensive front, having made 25 career starts. The Jonesboro, Ga., native???s versatility shows in the fact that his first career start came as a freshman center in a road win at LSU, followed by 12 starts in 2006 at right guard and all 12 starts this year at left guard.
Mayo was Tennessee???s defensive leader down the stretch. The junior earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his 19-tackle effort last weekend at Kentucky, one week after compiling a then-career high 15 tackles against Vanderbilt. The Hampton, Va., product leads the Vols and ranks sixth in the conference with 112 total hits.
Lincoln already has been named to the Rivals.com All-Freshman national second team and Sporting News SEC All-Freshman squad behind his 21-of-26 showing on field goals. He has game-winning kicks against South Carolina and Vanderbilt and added four field goals in the 12-point victory at Mississippi State.
Arian Foster already ranks in the top 10 among Tennessee???s career rushing leaders. The junior tailback enters Saturday with 1,107 rushing yards for the season and 2,308 for his career. He also is making a run at UT???s season all-purpose record with his 1,498 yards to date.
Ramon Foster is another reason for the offensive line???s tough-guy reputation in 2007. The junior tackle suffered a broken thumb in pregame warmups before the Vanderbilt contest, yet hasn???t missed a single down. Foster is adept at either the guard or tackle positions and has become a vocal leader in the locker room.
IT???S A BREEZE TO TAKE MARTA TO SEC FANFARE AND FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
MARTA makes it easy to catch the SEC game and related events this weekend with convenient service to the Georgia World Congress Center and the Georgia Dome.
For only $1.75 each way, patrons can take the East/West rail line to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station (W1) or to Vine City Station (W2) and walk directly into the Dome or the Georgia World Congress Center.
MARTA also offers customers the convenient and affordable option to purchase round-trip fare or daily passes from any of MARTA's 38 train stations.?? Throughout the weekend, MARTA will provide additional staff and rail service to assist customers.
Parking for less than 24 hours is free at all MARTA parking facilities.
Rail service runs daily from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. To schedule your trip, call MARTA's Customer Information Line at 404-848-5000 or visit www.itsmarta.com.
