Tennessee-NC State Postgame Notes (8/31/12)

Sept. 1, 2012

TENNESSEE CAPTAINS

#8 Tyler Bray, #71 Dallas Thomas, #34 Herman Lathers, #23 Prentiss Waggner

TENNESSEE TIDBITS

Alex Bullard is donning 88 tonight, not his normal 78

UT all-time record: 795-346-53

UT in August: 6-0-1

UT on Fridays: 12-7

UT in domes: 7-7

UT in the Georgia Dome: 3-6

UT vs. the ACC: 99-58-7

UT in season openers: 86-24-6

UT in season openers at a neutral site: 3-0-1

Tonight's attendance is 55,529

STREAK SNAPPER

Tennessee's win snapped a six-game losing streak in Atlanta and the Georgia Dome dating to 2001.

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak to ACC schools, including a two-game losing streak in neutral site games against the conference (2010 Music City Bowl vs. North Carolina and 2009 Chick-fil-A Bowl vs. Virginia Tech).

The win also marks UT's fourth consecutive win in a season opener since 2009 and the 16th win to open the season in the last 18 years since 1995.

BIG ORANGE DEBUTS

Five Vols started their first career contests today - Cordarrelle Patterson (WR), Antonio Richardson (LT), Darrington Sentimore (DE), Daniel McCullers (NG) and Byron Moore (SS).

Rajion Neal made his first career start at TB after previously starting three games at WR last season.

Herman Lathers made his first start since 2010 at WLB.

Five other Vols made their collegiate debuts in the first half today - J.R. Carr (DS), Deion Bonner (SS), Cody Blanc (WR), Jacob Carter (WR) and Geraldo Orta (DB).

Carter, who is celebrating his 21st birthday today, made his first career catch with a 20-yard reception for a first down in the second quarter.

PATTERSON PROVING IT

Cordarrelle Patterson scored a touchdown on the second catch of his collegiate career with his 41-yard grab in the first quarter. He also scored on his first rushing play, scoring from 72 yards out on a reverse later in the same quarter.

Patterson's rush was the longest by a Vol since LaMarcus Coker had an 87-yard rush on Nov. 18, 2006 vs. Vanderbilt.

No Tennessee player has ever had a 100-yard receiving game in their first game as a Vol.

With 160 all-purpose yards (67 rushing, 93 receiving), Patterson could close in on UT's single-game top-15 all-purpose yardage list. At 15th on the list is Tony Thompson with 236 (all rushing) vs. Vanderbilt in 1990.

Mr. ROGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD

Zach Rogers' 72-yard touchdown tied a career best. He also had a 72-yard catch against UAB on Sept. 25, 2010.

BIG FIRST QUARTER

Tennessee's 22 points were its most in any quarter since scoring 23 vs. UT-Martin in the third quarter on Sept. 4, 2010.

The 22 points were UT's most in a first quarter since opening its game against Arkansas with 35 on Nov. 11, 2000.

PRESTIGE WORLDWIDE

The first quarter was a big one for the Vols in the social media realm as well, as "Tyler Bray," "Cordarrelle Patterson," "Tennessee Touchdown" and "Go Vols" were all trending Worldwide on Twitter at various points.

SAFETY DANCE

The Vols recorded their first safety since Austin Johnson and Greg King tackled a Skyhawk in the endzone against UT-Martin on Sept. 4, 2010.

DARR DRILLS IT

Matt Darr's 51-yard punt in the first quarter was his fourth of 50+ yards in his career.

HUNT(ER)ING THE WOLFPACK

Justin Hunter's nine catches were one off his career high of 10 set vs. Cincinnati on Sept. 10, 2011.

Six of his nine catches came in the second half.

AIR BRAY

Tyler Bray was 27-of-41 for 332 yards, marking his seventh career 300-yard game.

He passed for two touchdowns, the 12th time he has thrown for multiple touchdowns in his career, all in the last 14 games. He is now 9-4 as a starter.

PICK-OFF ARTISTS

Tennessee had four interceptions against NC State, with Prentiss Waggner, Byron Moore, Eric Gordon and Marsalis Teague each picking off passes from Mike Glennon. Teague picked up his interception with five seconds left to seal the win.

It was the eighth career interception for Waggner, fifth for Gordon, first for Moore and first for Teague.

Moore also had eight tackles after recording six all of last season.

The last time the Vols had four interceptions in a game was November 13, 2010 against Ole Miss in Knoxville.

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