The Notes:LSU Week-tgif Edition

[orange+white=heaven]

Good Morning All!! Congrats on surviving another work week! Time now to A)Pack the tailgate gear... B)Stock the fridge.

The most important game of the season draws 'nigh.

Players...Coaches.. If you're perusing this, please.
Kick Some Butt Tomorrow!!!!

On to the notes, Climer gets the lead today. He's got a commentary on Cutcliffe's presense helping the Chief....

Tennessean:Commentary:Cutcliffe Improves Defense

Never underestimate the value of being on the same page. Last year, all the coaches seemed to be reading from separate books. Not now. With Cutciffe and Chavis working immediately under Fulmer, there is a shared vision.

With Chavis and Cutcliffe as coordinators under Fulmer in 1995-98 and again this season, they have compiled a record of 51-6.
That's right — 51-6.
"It's a good working situation," Fulmer says.

You're not supposed to be able to go home again, at least not with this kind of result. This has been a seamless, hand-in-glove return. Cutcliffe probably sits at the same table at the cafeteria as he did eight years ago.
Chavis, the ultimate company man, is careful not to criticize Sanders. Clearly, though, he appreciates the differences between the way things were handled on offense under Sanders and the manner in which Cutcliffe takes care of business.
"David and I just have a comfort level because we've worked together before, and we know what to expect of each other," he says.
The two openly discuss strategy and expectations, both during the week and during games. If Chavis thinks he's in for a particularly challenging week, as is the case against LSU on Saturday, he'll say so. Cutcliffe will adjust accordingly. And vice versa.
"John and I are both big on the concept of 'team,' " Cutcliffe said earlier in the season. "We understand that it's all about winning the game, not who's putting up stats and who's getting all the attention."
Maybe that's why there are equal parts fear and loathing when Cutcliffe's name pops up in speculation about various head coaching jobs. The thought of breaking up a winning combination doesn't sit well with fans.
Cutcliffe has said he wants to be a head coach again, but likely will be very selective.
"I'm in a great situation right now," he says. "I like what we're doing as a football team."
Hold that thought.

Tennessean:Ainge GameTime Decision

"We still don't have any solid say exactly what we're going to do, but I'd say it certainly looks like he's going to play," Fulmer said of Ainge. "Jonathan is talented and has done extremely well and is ready to play. So either one of them that's out there, I expect them to do the job."
Ainge took more team reps Thursday than Wednesday, but most of the last two days has been geared toward getting Crompton ready. He's thrown four passes this season.
While clearly doing his best to keep everybody guessing, Fulmer indicated that both quarterbacks could end up playing in the game.
"Obviously, Jonathan with the experience level against the No. 1 defense in the country, that's not exactly how you want to start your career," Fulmer said. "He'll get some time.
"Erik being a little bit on the gimpy side, although I believe he'll be fine to play, that's not exactly the kind of defense you want to go against. But that's where we are, and I think we can take that and make it into a positive."

Tailback LaMarcus Coker is on the dress list for the LSU game, but he won't play.
Fulmer hopes the former Antioch High star can return from his knee sprain to play next week against Arkansas.
"I wanted him to get back around the team," Fulmer said. "He's going to host a prospect that we've got coming in, but I want him to be at the hotel and around all the meetings and get back into it before he just drops back in next week."

The Vols are scheduled to have at least eight official visitors on campus this weekend, highlighted by defensive tackle Marvin Austin of Washington, D.C.
Austin is rated as the consensus No. 1 defensive lineman in the country. He and Tennessee redshirt freshman Rico McCoy are friends.
Also scheduled to come in is receiver Terrance Toliver of Hempstead, Texas. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder is rated among the country's top-5 receiver prospects by most analysts.

Tennessean: On Swain Playing v.SCarolina

"If I feel like I can go out there and make some plays on a bum ankle, then I'll do that," Swain said. "But if I feel like I'm hurting this team with a bum ankle, then I won't go out there. It's anything I can do to help this team be successful."
Swain has practiced all week and expects to play again Saturday against LSU, but he came out of the South Carolina game with more injuries — a sore wrist and a tender thumb.
But Taylor has learned his lesson. He now knows better than to doubt whether Swain will play.
"Is he going to play this week? I would say yes, unless he's buried somewhere," Taylor said. "That's probably the only way you're going to keep that kid from playing."

This is pretty much the same piece as appeared in yesterdays notes from the tfp, so just the one quote.
But click it, it's a good read....

tfpOnline: 5-6 Still Drives Volunteers

Coaches don’t need to say it. No one has to describe the meaning of the numbers "fiveand-six" to the Volunteers. Two numbers carry all those bitter memories, all those boos and jeers, the pain of a Christmas at home instead of at a bowl game, the feeling of letting down a tradition and so many people, including themselves.

But finally, after seven redemption victories, a bowl trip in the bank and a top-10 national ranking going on a month now, Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer overshot his tolerance of recent history.

"I’ve taken pictures down of last year," said Fulmer, his voice rising in frustration. "I’ve taken videos out. Last year is last year. We’ve had a whole bunch of great seasons before last year with this kind of mentality."

"this kind of mentality," as Fulmer dubbed it, is about toughness, edginess, a confidence the Volunteers recaptured after discovering what happens when the swagger is absent. In a sense, last season was the best teaching tool Tennessee coaches could have wanted, and the results have been apparent week after week.

"Those guys, they don’t forget," Vols assistant coach Trooper Taylor said. "The thing that’s happening now is them making things happen rather than letting things happen. That’s big."

Most significantly, teams that quit on each other go 5-6. "We’ll do everything we can not to feel that again," receiver Jayson Swain said.
Once practice began, there was a fire in Fulmer unseen in previous seasons. Nothing was good enough, he’d grumble afterward.

Players weren’t tough enough. Injury was no longer an acceptable excuse, which is a lesson that has carried through a season when, seemingly every week, a key UT contributor takes the field when few thought he would.

"It comes from the head football coach and the coordinators, and I think it comes from the upperclassmen leading the way as to how it’s supposed to be," Fulmer said. "That’s the way it’s been since I’ve been here. I’m not trying to ring my bell, but that’s just the way I think."

"On the sideline, to hear the other teammates talk, ‘How can you act like you’re tired when Swain and (Arron) Sears are playing hurt? We’ve got to go. We have no choice,’" Taylor said. "Even when (tailback Arian) Foster turned his ankle, he got on the sideline, ran a couple of times, got it taped back up and went again.

"In the past, I think guys would have shut it down."

"That thought is never going to leave our mind," Swain said. "We’ve got something special with this team. I’m not sure everybody can see that, but this team is special. We’ve been in every kind of situation. We’ve blown teams out and been in close games and rallied in the fourth quarter. The defense is helping the offense. The special teams is helping both.

"You can just tell that this team’s got something about them."

"You can just tell that this team’s got something about them."-Jayson Swain

60 minutes worth of 'something special'. That'll do.

Go Vols!!!

 

[utvol0427]

The last quote by Swain gave me cold chills. I will be in attendace Saturday screaming my head off for the Vols.

Let's make LSU wish they were only getting beat by 3 in OT.

GO VOLS!!!

 

[hohenfelsvol]

TGIF and ready for gametime tomorrow. Tick tock.

 

[jakez4ut]

hope, it's what's for dinner....

i hope....that's all i can say right now.

Go Vols.

 

[tidwell]

Hope is a wonderful thing.

 

[volmanjr]

Bring It!!!!!!!!!!! Go Big Orange!!!!!!!!!!!! Ls Who??

 

[vader]

GO BIG ORANGE!!!

 

[jakez4ut]

Bring It!!!!!!!!!!! Go Big Orange!!!!!!!!!!!! Ls Who??

i admire the optimism...hope it's enough...i've got a bad feeling about this weekend...

 

[hohenfelsvol]

i admire the optimism...hope it's enough...i've got a bad feeling about this weekend...

Take some orange Pepto-Bismol

 

[vader]

Wash it down with some orange Kool-Aid

 

[OrangeEmpire]

Los Angeles State is going down!

 

[orange+white=heaven]

"You can just tell that this team’s got something about them."-Jayson Swain

Something special is going to happen!


it's the mirrors.

 

[TravisHenryCBlockedMe]

Also scheduled to come in is receiver Terrance Toliver of Hempstead, Texas. The 6-foot-5, 185-pounder is rated among the country's top-5 receiver prospects by most analysts.

Thats what Im talking about. We've gonna need guys like him considering we're losing probably our top three wr's and the guys behind them, while they have talent, no one has stepped up.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

Thats what Im talking about. We've gonna need guys like him considering we're losing probably our top three wr's and the guys behind them, while they have talent, no one has stepped up.

I'm always a little mystified by the implication of statements like this. I mean, it's not like a 12th grader is going to sign with us in the spring, and be the starter in the Fall....

Good for our depth and for the future, heck yeah.
But they won't sign their name and come replace Meach within five months....

Yeah, I'm bored and thinking aloud....

 

[VolinArizona]

BTW, thank you posting these threads every day, every week. It makesa great start to my day.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

BTW, thank you posting these threads every day, every week. It makesa great start to my day.

Welcome. :hi:

I figured, hey I'm reading it all anyway, why not compile it. Besides, nobody ever thinks to look at the Chattanooga paper, and there are some real talents over there....