University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Vow to Keep Roughing It Up
October 20, 2008 | Football
Oct. 20, 2008
Tennessee zipped through a 45-minute workout Sunday night inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, hoping to continue their recent practice habits and newfound good fortune.
The Vols are coming off a 34-3 victory over Mississippi State that followed a week of more rough and tumble practices. During Saturday's win, Tennessee claimed the turnover battle 3-0 and was flagged for only one penalty.
"I'm certainly proud of our football team and how they approached practice last week and how they've stayed the course with our coaches -- and our coaches have done a good job," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Now it's a matter of continuing to put it together and we're going to have to put it together really well as we play this outstanding Alabama football team."
UT (3-4, 1-3 SEC) hosts the second-ranked and undefeated Crimson Tide (7-0, 4-0 SEC) Saturday night at Neyland Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. Eastern time on the Vol Network and ESPN.
-- Reserve defensive back Derrick Furlow was last week's CAREacter Star Athlete of the Week. Furlow earlier this season was elevated to scholarship status after his strong showing in spring drills and preseason camp. The senior from Atlanta is majoring in legal studies.
UT-ALABAMA SET FOR EVENING KICKOFF
The Southeastern Conference announced Sunday that Tennessee's Saturday home game against Alabama is being televised by ESPN and kicks off at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Other SEC games being televised are Auburn at West Virginia on Thursday night ESPN (7:30 p.m. Eastern), Kentucky at Florida on Raycom (12:30 p.m. Eastern), Georgia at LSU on CBS (3:30 p.m. Eastern) and Middle Tennessee at Mississippi State on ESPNU (7 p.m. Eastern).
BERRY APPEARING IN A RECORDS BOOKS NEAR YOU
Tennessee safety Eric Berry continues adding his name to nearly every records book in sight. Here's a sample of his recent accomplishments:
-- Broke a nearly 60-year-old SEC record Saturday night with his 72-yard interception return for a touchdown in Tennessee's 34-3 win over Mississippi State. Berry's interception and runback put the Vols up 20-3 early in the fourth quarter.
-- Just a sophomore, Berry becomes the SEC career interception return leader with 397 yards on just 10 interceptions in his 21st career game. The yardage total breaks the previous mark of 379 set by Mississippi's Bobby Wilson from 1946-49. Florida State's Terrell Buckley (1989-91) holds the NCAA major college record for career interception return yards with 501.
-- Berry now has five interceptions this season for 175 yards and a touchdown. His interception returns this season have gone for 0, 1, 48, 54 and now 72 (TD). Berry leads the SEC and is tied for the national lead in interceptions. The Vols lead the SEC with 14 interceptions as a team and are tied for the national lead.
-- Berry has intercepted a pass in each of the last three games.
-- The Fairburn, Ga., native also had a season-high 10 tackles Saturday night to lead the Vols, along with his second career sack.
-- Last season, Berry broke a 37-year-old Tennessee record with 222 return yards on five interceptions. His interception returns went for 96 (TD), 13, 37, 61 and 15. The previous school mark of 177 was set by Bobby Majors in 1970. Only Florida's Joe Brodsky in 1956 with 244 had more interception return yards by an SEC player in a season.
-- Last weekend at Georgia, Berry broke a 39-year-old Tennessee record for career interception return yards with his 54-yard return. The previous school mark of 305 was held jointly by Mike Jones (1967-69) and Tim Priest (1968-70).
