duckman398686
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Tennessee began its third week of spring football practice Tuesday with a sense of urgency from its head football coach. Phillip Fulmer knows only nine practice dates remain to find out who can make a difference for the 2005 Vols.
"Our goal is to get better," Fulmer said. "We've got a big separation between the guys who have played in games and know what they're doing and those who don't. There's too much of a drop-off between the next level of guys who have been here a couple of years and either should have been in the mix or are almost in the mix.
"They've got to close that ground so we can count on them a bit."
Fulmer also pointed out the progress being made by redshirt freshmen getting their first real taste of major college football.
"We've got a bunch of young guys who are very talented but haven't played a lick," he said. "A lot of them don't understand what it takes to play in the Southeastern Conference.
"Our goal over the next 10 days is to try to elevate all three levels. The starters, keep them sharp and try to improve. Our second line of guys, get them where we can count on them in games. And the guys who haven't played at all, some of them are potentially good players. They're trying, I believe, but the problem is they've never pushed themselves.
"It's going to be 95 or 100 degrees when we go to Florida and nobody's going to feel sorry for you when we go to LSU. Who's going to have it in the fourth quarter and have the toughness to be a Tennessee football player? Those are the things you're trying to answer here in spring practice."
Getting anxious for the orange-white game :rocks:
"Our goal is to get better," Fulmer said. "We've got a big separation between the guys who have played in games and know what they're doing and those who don't. There's too much of a drop-off between the next level of guys who have been here a couple of years and either should have been in the mix or are almost in the mix.
"They've got to close that ground so we can count on them a bit."
Fulmer also pointed out the progress being made by redshirt freshmen getting their first real taste of major college football.
"We've got a bunch of young guys who are very talented but haven't played a lick," he said. "A lot of them don't understand what it takes to play in the Southeastern Conference.
"Our goal over the next 10 days is to try to elevate all three levels. The starters, keep them sharp and try to improve. Our second line of guys, get them where we can count on them in games. And the guys who haven't played at all, some of them are potentially good players. They're trying, I believe, but the problem is they've never pushed themselves.
"It's going to be 95 or 100 degrees when we go to Florida and nobody's going to feel sorry for you when we go to LSU. Who's going to have it in the fourth quarter and have the toughness to be a Tennessee football player? Those are the things you're trying to answer here in spring practice."
Getting anxious for the orange-white game :rocks:
