Spurrier still has lots to say - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 05/31/06 - Tennessean.com: "Spurrier didn't direct any zingers Tennessee's way, but he did have some subtle digs.

He was asked how realistic it was that another coach in the SEC would be able to survive and prosper at the same school for as long as he did at Florida.

Spurrier, who removed his shades only once to see the number of an incoming call on his cell phone, shrugged and reminded everyone of Phillip Fulmer's tenure at Tennessee.

'Heck, Coach Fulmer is on about No. 12, isn't he?' Spurrier said. 'What's he on? 15? 13? You give him that interim year now?'

Told that Fulmer counts those four wins during his interim season in 1992 when he was filling in for John Majors, Spurrier cracked, 'He counts the wins, and Johnny (Majors) gets the losses, right?'"

SEC coaches balk at new rules - Orlando Sentinel : College Sports

The Glimpse: Pearl’s system and former, current [and future?] Heisman candidates

Analysis of Bruce Pearl's system, Arian Foster and the Heisman watch list and more....

In the Booth, on the Field: "Here's a great rundown of the new-look college football announcement teams at ABC/ESPN this year via Michael Hiestand's Sports Television column at USA Today."

New faces all around the SEC - NCAAF - Yahoo! Sports: "In 2004, David Cutcliffe was on the sideline as Ole Miss' coach and Brent Schaeffer was under center as Tennessee's quarterback.

By the fall, they will have traded schools, but both are hopeful to revive each program. Tennessee and Ole Miss went 4-12 combined in SEC play last year.

While Cutcliffe returned this spring as the Volunteers' offensive coordinator, Ole Miss spent March and April learning how much it needed Schaeffer to arrive from junior college in the fall."

Summitt deal called 'landmark' - Nashville, Tennessee - Tuesday, 05/23/06 - Tennessean.com: "KNOXVILLE — Pat Summitt is the newest millionaire coach — and the first in women's basketball."

Under Construction: Hamilton on UT Athletics Program

Scout.com: All's well for Allen

Pretty Funny. This is from the NBC intro to the 1991 Game with Notre Dame


Via EDSBS >Via The Havasu King

Scout.com: Sears gets Playboy honor: "Tennessee offensive tackle Arron Sears made the preseason Playboy All-America team."

The State | 05/18/2006 | Spurrier, Fulmer friendly foes -- really: "THIS WAS THE true test of the sincerity of the respect/friendship/mutual admiration between football coaches Steve Spurrier and Phil Fulmer. The USC and Tennessee coaches claim to enjoy each other’s company despite their well-documented exchange of barbs through the years.

Whose telephone number shows up on my cell phone during an interview with Fulmer Wednesday afternoon at the State Fairgrounds?

Spurrier’s, of course."

The City Paper - Smart, Fast, Free

CHIP KELL NAMED TO COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME :: Kell was a two-time consensus All-America and three-time All-SEC selection: "Chip Kell, a two-time consensus All-America and three-time All-SEC selection during his playing days at Tennessee (1968-70), is the University's newest member of the College Football Hall of Fame, as announced today in New York City"

Scout.com: Vols, Gators overtaken?: "The bad news: Tennessee’s football program isn’t getting much love from the national media these days. The good news: Florida’s football program isn’t, either.

Writing in the “Speedreads” segment of the May 19 issue of Sporting News, college football analyst Tom Dienhart says the Vols and Gators – bona fide bullies of the Southeastern Conference during the 1990s – no longer qualify for such lofty labels.

He writes:

“Tennessee fans don’t want to admit it, and I know Florida fans don’t … but Georgia is the best program in the SEC. Auburn is No. 2. And LSU is No. 3.”"

What is your take?

Scout.com: Is Cut the key?: "The return of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, who molded the ultra-productive Tennessee attacks of the mid-1990s, has many Vol fans expecting a return to those high-scoring days of old. But is Cutcliffe alone enough to restore life to an offense that was virtually comatose last fall?"

AP Wire | 05/12/2006 | Two former Vols return to graduate: "KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Two former Tennessee football players who returned to school were among the 63 athletes who graduated on Friday.

Buffalo Bills defensive back Jabari Greer and Billy Ratliff, a defensive tackle on the 1998 national championship team, received their degrees through the Renewing Academic Commitment program for former players. Greer's last season was 2003.

Several Volunteers bound for the NFL this season graduated including linebacker Omar Gaither, who was drafted by Philadelphia; defensive end Jason Hall, who signed a free agent contract with Buffalo; and receiver Chris Hannon, who signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Three of Tennessee's other draft choices - defensive back Jason Allen, defensive end Parys Haralson and linebacker Kevin Simon - graduated earlier."

Scout.com: Diversion for Mitchell: "A Tennessee football player has received judicial diversion on a disorderly conduct charge. If he pays court costs and stays out of trouble for 30 days, the Class C misdemeanor will be expunged from his record. In other words, it will be as if the mishap never occurred.

Thursday morning’s ruling at Knoxville’s Fourth General Sessions Court means Marvin Mitchell should be back on the UT football team when preseason drills commence in August."

I'm a Realist: Tennessee: Football '06

Georgia Blogger I'm a Realist gives his thoughts on Tennessee's upcoming 2006 season. He does a good job of breaking down the team.

Coach Cut' At A West Palm UT Alumni Event - VolNation's Volboard

Posted on VolNation

Jackson Sun - www.jacksonsun.com - Jackson, TN

KRT Wire | 05/06/2006 | Marcus Vick not impressive in Dolphins camp: "First-round pick Jason Allen, who played cornerback the past two seasons at Tennessee, is being used exclusively as a free safety during this minicamp when Miami is in its base defense.

Allen also is getting snaps at nickel cornerback in pass situations, and Saban has said he wants the rookie to master those two spots first.

'Wherever Coach Saban feels I can help the team out more - whether it be corner, safety, whatever - I just want to be on the field playing,' Allen said."

EDSBS » THE EDSBS RELATIVE UNHAPPINESS SCALE, 2006 OFFSEASON

Pretty Funny Stuff....

Scout.com: Wingate suspended: "Less than a week after senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell was suspended from the Vol football team and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Raymond Henderson was dismissed for separate incidents, senior basketball player Major Wingate has been suspended from the basketball team.

Head coach Bruce Pearl did not specify the nature of Wingate’s transgression except to say it was a violation of team rules and university policy."

Scout.com: Wingate suspended: "Less than a week after senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell was suspended from the Vol football team and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Raymond Henderson was dismissed for separate incidents, senior basketball player Major Wingate has been suspended from the basketball team.

Head coach Bruce Pearl did not specify the nature of Wingate’s transgression except to say it was a violation of team rules and university policy."

Vols need local talent to return to national prominence

mgoblog: Rating The Raters: 2002 Rivals 100 Part I

mgoblog rates Rivals on how well they picked the class of 2002

Crackdown at UT must apply to all - Nashville, Tennessee - Thursday, 05/04/06 - Tennessean.com

KnoxNews: Govols: "Freshman defensive end Raymond Henderson has been dismissed from the University of Tennessee football team.

'I can’t go into details,' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said Wednesday morning. 'He didn’t get arrested or anything like that, but he just improperly represented our team.'"

When it rains it pours.......

WLTX Sports Fulmer Blasts Team After Player's Arrest: "KNOXVILLE — An infuriated Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer unloaded on his team during an emotional meeting Monday night following the arrest of fifth-year senior linebacker Marvin Mitchell."

Mitchell, a projected starter at linebacker was arrested for disorderly conduct. He has been indefinitely suspended from the team. I guess he felt bad that Tennessee had no Fulmer Cup points.

Scout.com: Vols get new trainer

Rebuilding Vols stress strength, conditioning - Nashville, Tennessee - Tuesday, 05/02/06 - Tennessean.com: "KNOXVILLE — Few offseasons have been more critical than the current one for the Tennessee football team.

Such is life when you're coming off a 5-6 season.

'As we continue through this summer, that will be one of the deciding factors on what kind of football team we have — how hard they use this cycle to work,' Coach Phillip Fulmer said.

'We actually moved spring practice back two weeks to give us a longer cycle. I've seen young people change their bodies during the summer, particularly young guys.'"

Scout.com: Baylor FB Commits to Vols: "Building Tennessee’s 2007 football class has been a whole lot like picking up bargains on the Home Shopping Network for Phillip Fulmer & Co.

That atypical trend continues with news of today’s verbal commitment from fullback/linebacker prospect Kevin Cooper of Chattanooga Baylor, who becomes the fourth home state player to pledge to sign with UT, joining Knoxville Austin East’s Anthony Anderson, Maryville High School’s Tyler Maples and Todd Campbell of Franklin High School. The fifth commitment is Darris Sawtelle of Bloomfield, Mich., whose grandfather is a native of Franklin and played for Tennessee."

Video of Nick Saban talking about the Dolphins 1st round pick of Jason Allen

WBIR.COM - 12 Vols prepare for NFL careers: "Seven more former Volunteers got to chose where they will play, and have signed free agent deals.

Chris Hannon signed with the Chiefs, Albert Toeaina is going to the Panthers, Cody Douglas is a Titan, offensive guard Rob Smith is going to the Browns, Gerald Riggs signed with the Dolphins, and Tony McDaniel is going to the Jaguars.

Jason Hall will join former Vols Jabari Greer and Rashad Baker in Buffalo. The Bills a have a need at defensive end, and this could be a nice fit for Hall."

Tennessee - 5 players drafted - 1 1st Round
Georgia - 7 players drafted - 0 1st Round
Alabama - 5 players drafted - 0 1st Round
Florida - 3 players drafted - 0 1st Round

ESPN.com - NCF - Carroll: USC must be wary of outside influences

More problems for USC

thedailytimes.com - UT, Vandy, Memphis land first-round picks: "Jay Cutler made a bit of Vanderbilt history, Jason Allen ended Tennessee's draft drought and DeAngelo Williams endured a long wait before rounding out the first round of the NFL draft Saturday with a bit of Tennessee trivia."