University of Tennessee Athletics
Bray, Clausen Share Similarities
August 04, 2011 | Football
BRAY ANSWERS TWITTER QUESTIONS
KNOXVILLE -- Both grew up in Southern California. Both ushered in a new decade of Tennessee football.
Neither allowed a bowl game loss dampen an otherwise great second half to their freshman seasons. And both entered their sophomore years as the unquestioned starters at quarterback.
Ten years separate Casey Clausen and Tyler Bray as quarterbacks. But after their freshman seasons, the similarities are striking.
Bray and Clausen are two of only five true freshmen starting quarterbacks in Tennessee history. (Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer started as freshmen in 2004, as did Peyton Manning in 1994.) Clausen's tenure came smack in the middle of the five, and he has first-hand knowledge of UT's quarterbacking tree.And these days, Clausen likes what he sees from the latest branch.
As a true freshman, Bray started the last five games of the season and finished with 1,849 passing yards and completed 55.8 percent of his passes. What's more, he threw for more than 300 yards in four of those five games and finished with 18 touchdown passes.
"I am impressed by the way, physically, Tyler is able to throw the football and make plays with the young receivers they have," Clausen said. "With Coach (Jim) Chaney calling the offense, they should only get better week by week and year by year."
Clausen's first UT appearance came in the third game of 2000 against Louisiana-Monroe. The Northridge, Calif., native came off the bench and completed 12 of 15 passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns in that 70-3 cakewalk.
He played sparingly in losses the next two weeks at LSU and Georgia before starting his first game at home against Alabama, a 20-10 win.
Clausen went on to complete 121 of 194 passes (62.4 percent) that season for 1,473 yards and 15 touchdowns and just six interceptions. His yardage total was the highest by a UT freshmen -- until Bray eclipsed him last season.
More importantly, Clausen shook off an ugly Cotton Bowl loss to Kansas State and transformed himself during that offseason into a quarterback who in 2001 completed 64.1 percent of his throws for 2,969 yards - second only to Manning at the time - and 22 touchdowns. The Vols finished 11-2 and fourth in the final Associated Press poll.So what does Clausen see for Bray heading into 2011?
"The main thing is he will have a greater feel for how to prepare for that next weekend," Clausen said. "I knew better what to look for watching film and definitely took more of a leadership role, both on the offensive side of the ball and in the team aspect of it.
"Tyler will fill that role as well, and probably already has. Things are definitely moving in the right direction for them."
A direction that started in California and once again made its way to Tennessee, for the second time in a decade.
