The Notes: Good Night Canada

[orange+white=heaven]

Hello VolNationals!

I'll be making Thanksgiving into a four day weekend, and I hope each of you has the very best of holidays.

That means that this will be 2006's final edition of The Notes.
It's been a rollercoaster ride of a season and, while I'm still ticked about how poorly the Volunteers went into the Arkansas game, the rebound from 5-6 by this year's team and it's leaders has to be commended. From the ashes a team emerged this year and I took pride in watching that.

Kentucky remains on the docket... Lets all send these seniors out on a high note Saturday!


The Nation Rules! Y'all are the best.....:hi:

Now.... The Notes.


tfpOnline:Roper Faces Old Team / Other Bits

Phillip Fulmer isn’t too worried about secrets former offensive coordinator Randy Sanders could spill at Kentucky’s coaches meetings this week.

"He’ll know a little bit about our personnel," Fulmer said. "But we’ve got Coach (Kurt) Roper off their staff, so we know a lot about theirs, too."

Roper’s old job now belongs to Sanders, another interesting storyline behind Saturday’s regular-season finale between the two bowl-bound teams.
Both coaches become key components because of past experiences.

"Obviously, we both have more knowledge of the opponent, because we’ve been there and been a part of things," Roper said. "But the game is still played by the players. They’re still the ones that have to go execute and have to understand completely."

Jerod Mayo may not return in time for Tennessee’s bowl game.

"That’s kind of up in the air," Chavis said.


"There’s a lot of scenarios right now because they really haven’t just said, ‘This is what it is,’" Fulmer said Tuesday. "It wasn’t clear that it was a new injury or an old injury or a birth thing or what. So they’re going to let it settle down and make a better evaluation."

On next year's place kicker...

Britton Colquitt is currently the leading candidate to replace senior and four-year starter James Wilhoit as the Vols’ place-kicker next season.

"No, that’s not what I want," Fulmer said. "It’s something we’re going to address in recruiting, and we’ll address this spring."

Fulmer signed two kickers — Chad Cunningham and Daniel Lincoln — last February, but both have fallen short of expectations in practice so far. And Tennessee lost Knoxville resident Lones Seiber, who initially committed to UT but signed with Kentucky because he didn’t want to grayshirt.

Fulmer expects to use defensive back Antonio Wardlow on Saturday. Wardlow has served a two-game suspension stemming from an arrest on alcohol-related charges early in the morning after the LSU game.

"I don’t know how much playing time he’ll get," Fulmer said of Wardlow. "He’ll play on special teams, and he’ll play some in nickel packages, stuff like that."

Andre Mathis was actually seen around here at The Nation a bit, early on in his career.
If you're reading 'Dre, we're proud to hear your coaches speak so well of you...

Freshman linebacker Andre Mathis has been moved to defensive end to build depth on the Vols’ defensive front.

"He’s a talented athlete, and we’ve got to find a place to get him on the field," Chavis said. "He’s a big guy that can run, with great strength. It may be a good home for him. We’re kind of committed to doing that right now, and he’s committed to doing that."

UT coaches finally selected five permanent captains this week for the 2006 season. They are defensive linemen Justin Harrell and Turk McBride, linebacker Marvin Mitchell, receiver Jayson Swain and offensive tackle Arron Sears.

"I kind of liked it as we went through the year," Fulmer said. "If you’re established and have a whole bunch of really strong guys, it’s pretty obvious. But this group, I think, grew during the course of the year in their leadership."

Tennessean: Randy Sanders On His Return

If anything, he still holds his former team — and his former colleagues — in higher regard than most opponents.
"I don't have any hard feelings toward anyone at the university or anything that was done there," Sanders said. "I still have a lot of great friends that I still talk to and think a lot of.
"Tennessee is my alma mater. I spent a long time there, and it's a special place. I cheer hard for Tennessee every week but one. This just happens to be that one."

Sanders still isn't sure how he'll react when he steps onto the field and sees his old colleagues on the opposite sideline.
"Once we get to the game, though, it's football," Sanders said. "There will be time for friendships and everything else after the game's over. But we're going to be trying to win a football game."

"(Sanders) has done a tremendous job, and I knew he would," Cutcliffe said. "He's been able to go up there and focus on the quarterback and give that young man some confidence. Randy and I have talked off and on all year long, and I'm excited for him. I think he's having fun coaching football. He's happy, and when you're talking about a deep friendship, that's the bottom line. You just want your friends to be happy, and Randy's happy."

Tennessean: A Few More Notes

Arian Foster, David Holbert and Antonio Wardlow pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and underage alcohol consumption stemming from an altercation earlier this month at a Knoxville nightclub.

"I have the greatest respect for the authorities and court system involved," Coach Phillip Fulmer said Tuesday night in a statement. "These young men made a mistake. They have learned from it, and we will move on."

Senior left guard David Ligon said he plans to approach his home finale in a similar way to how he handled last year's home finale with then-senior guard Cody Douglas.
"At random points in the game, I'd be like, 'That was our last first down with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter' — something like that," Ligon said.
"I did that the whole game, and (Douglas) liked it and he laughed and we had a good time. So I think I'll be doing something like that with (senior tackle) Arron (Sears)."

At one point in preseason practice, offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said he didn't envision quarterback Erik Ainge completing more than 60 percent of his passes this season.
"We weren't doing it with consistency in practice, and that's all I could base it on at that time," Cutcliffe said. "But what was so pleasing was, right there at the end of two-a-days and the last bit of practice for California, I saw a difference in him and our offense and the receivers. The hard work started paying off."

Montario Hardesty, who has started the past two games, said he's made noticeable improvements throughout the season.
"Early in the season, a couple of the runs was just me running the ball," Hardesty said. "But now I can look at defenses and tell what they are doing and what they are going to bring and what coverage they are in. I think I am more in tune with the college game."

That's a wrap folks.
I'll try to do better next time you knuckleheads!

Go Vols!!!

 

[OrangeSquare]

Thanks for all these, and have a great Thanksgiving.

 

[volinbham]

Thanks as always. Great work this season - maybe Fulmer' time is up but your job is secure k:

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Proud of 5th place in the SEC o+w=h??? and that's assuming UT wins this week. Whatever floats your boat I guess. Thanks for the great "notes" posts.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

"...From the ashes, a team emerged this year and I took pride in watching that."

What I wrote is slightly different than what you gave me credit for saying there 'Billy....

There is more than enough reason for you to continue your campaign, and I'm certain you will.

This season was an improvement, and worthy of another year for your 'evil empire'. But don't mistake me for a happy camper who just wants us all to sing Kumbaya...

Oh and, your welcome. It was fun doing this deal.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I understand what you are saying o+w. I'm just long past seeing shades of gray at this point on the head coach issue.

 

[vader]

Thanks for all of the great posts throughout the season O+W=H :hi:

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

 

[VolTSX23]

Thanks for all the notes. Enjoyed reading them all year

 

[tmodaniel]

Thanks

 

[tidwell]

Thanks for the notes!

Sucks about Mayo... hopefully he can come back and actually make it through a season 100% healthy next year.

Looking forward to seeing Wardlow play too. He didn't look bad at all in his limited playing time.

 

[OWB]

That means that this will be 2006's final edition of The Notes.

Hey now, we still have basketball season..

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Hey now, we still have basketball season..

I'm not really qualified for hoops duty, besides that coverage is all over the place in the heat of the season...

I'll just sit over here with my glass of Koolaid..:shades:

 

[OWB]

I'm not really qualified for hoops duty, besides that coverage is all over the place in the heat of the season...

I'll just sit over here with my glass of Koolaid..:shades:

I bet you could pull it off, I have faith in ya.