University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Appear Focused for Another Top-Ranked Opponent
October 19, 2009 | Football
Oct. 19, 2009
The Tennessee football team returned from an off weekend with an intense, focused workout Monday inside the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center. After four full days off, head coach Lane Kiffin was worried his charges might return to the practice field more interested in their time off than on the week of work ahead.
"The guys came ready today at 2:30 and had a great practice," Kiffin said. "Probably the best Tuesday practice I remember being around since we've been here.
"They looked fresh; they looked revived. You're always nervous about that, about them coming out and being off because they've had so many days away. I did not see that at all today."
Tennessee has plenty of reason to be focused. The Vols travel Saturday to Tuscaloosa for a date with top-ranked Alabama. The rivalry is one of the most storied in the Southeastern Conference, but this edition has added significance because a No. 1-ranked team is involved. The Crimson Tide climbed atop the Associated Press poll following their win over South Carolina last week. It will be Tennessee's second game this season against a No. 1 foe and its 10th all-time.
The Vols' Sept. 19 contest with No. 1 Florida featured months of buildup. The days before Saturday's tilt will likely feature less talk and more preparation from the Vols and their head coach.
"Alabama is a great team," Kiffin said. "I love the style that they play with. They extremely physical; they play in your face; they come downhill at you. That's what we're going to be someday."
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. Television coverage will be provided by CBS.
UT-SOUTH CAROLINA SET FOR HALLOWEEN EVENING KICKOFF
The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that Tennessee's Oct. 31 game against South Carolina is being televised by ESPN and kicks off at 7:45 p.m. Eastern time. The Vols appeared on ESPN earlier this season against both UCLA and Auburn.
UT leads the series against the Gamecocks 21-4-2, including a 13-1 record in Knoxville. Tennessee's two most recent Neyland Stadium victories have been overtime thrillers -- 23-20 in 2003 and 27-24 in 2007. Former South Carolina assistant coach David Reeves now coaches the UT quarterbacks, while a pair of Gamecocks assistants have Tennessee ties. Jay Graham was a captain and played tailback for the Vols from 1993-96. He still ranks seventh on the UT rushing list with 2,609 yards and served as a graduate assistant in 2005. Shane Beamer also was a Vols graduate assistant from 2001-03.
Other games being televised that weekend involving SEC teams are Mississippi at Auburn on the SEC Network (11:21 a.m. Central), Georgia vs. Florida in Jacksonville on CBS (3:30 p.m. Eastern), Mississippi State at Kentucky on Fox Sports Net (7 p.m. Eastern), Eastern Michigan at Arkansas on ESPNU (6 p.m. Central), Georgia Tech at Vanderbilt on Comcast Sports Southeast (6:30 p.m. Central) and Tulane at LSU via pay-per-view.
STOCKER NAMED TO 2009 JOHN MACKEY AWARD MIDSEASON WATCH LIST
Manhasset, N.Y. - The 2009 John Mackey Award midseason watch list of 22 tight ends includes Tennessee's Luke Stocker, as released Monday by the Nassau County Sports Commission.
Stocker has 10 catches this season for 147 yards and two touchdowns, with a long reception of 40 yards.
2009 Mackey Award Midseason Watch List -- George Bryan, Soph., North Carolina State; Dorin Dickerson, Sr., Pittsburgh; Ed Dickson, Sr., Oregon; Charlie Gantt, Jr., Michigan State; Riar Geer, Sr., Colorado; Garrett Graham, Sr., Wisconsin; Ladarius Green, Soph., Louisiana-Monroe; Aaron Hernandez, Jr., Florida; Jeron Mastrud, Sr., Kansas State; Anthony McCoy, Sr., Southern California; Mike McNeil, Jr., Nebraska; Kavario Middleton, Soph., Washington; Tony Moeaki, Sr., Iowa; Colin Peek, Sr., Alabama; Dennis Pitta, Sr., Brigham Young; Andrew Quarless, Jr., Penn State; Jesse Rack, Sr., Buffalo; Kyle Rudolph, Sr., Notre Dame; Weslye Saunders, Jr., South Carolina; Cody Slate, Jr., Marshall; Luke Stocker, JR., TENNESSEE; D.J. Williams, Jr., Arkansas.
The winner will be announced Dec. 10.
VOL NETWORK 'STADIUMCAST' IN TUSCALOOSA SET FOR 89.7 FM
The Vol Radio Network's "StadiumCast" frequency for Tennessee's game Saturday against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium is 89.7 on the FM dial. Fans attending the game can tune into the Vol Network broadcast at the stadium by bringing a portable radio. The "Kickoff Call-In Show" begins coverage at 1 p.m. Central time (2 p.m. Eastern).
