VolNotes: BamaWeek vol.1

[orange+white=heaven]

So we have a soggy start to Bama week here in Tennessee.
Here's hoping by Saturday night, the storm drains are filled with elephant tears....

tfpOnline is screwed up at the moment, I'll come back to them later in the day....

Tennessean:Special Rivalry

"My freshman year, Coach (Phillip) Fulmer said that we get cigars if we win," Ainge said of the long-standing tradition for the winner of this game. "I was kind of like, 'We don't get cigars after any other game.'
"You can tell there's certain things that make this game a little more special than some of the other ones. Does it mean more? It doesn't mean any more than any of the other wins. There's just that little something extra that goes along with it."

"I don't think, personally, there's a better or more historical series in the South, and maybe in the country, than this game," said Fulmer, who's either played or coached in 32 games between the Tide and the Vols.

BCS talk: Similar to Fulmer, Ainge shrugged off Tennessee only being 11th in the first BCS standings.
"Obviously, we'd like to be higher than we are, but that's how it goes," Ainge said. "If we keep winning, then that will all take care of itself. We know that."

Refreshed Vols: Offensive tackle Eric Young said the open date was a chance to relax and go home to see family, but he started getting antsy toward the end of last weekend.
"I was ready to get back," Young said. "I was telling my mom (Sunday), 'Mom, I've been here too long. It's time to get back to work.' "

Injury update: Senior receiver Jayson Swain, who sprained his left ankle against Georgia, didn't practice Monday.

Defensive end Xavier Mitchell also didn't practice Monday.

Offensive tackle Arron Sears (ankle, elbow, toe) was back at practice on a limited basis, as was offensive guard Anthony Parker (ankle).

Rogers back: Austin Rogers, who hasn't played since injuring his shoulder in the Florida game, was working as the first-team punt returner Monday.
There was some question as to whether Rogers' shoulder injury would keep him out for the rest of the season, but Fulmer said he expects the former David Lipscomb star to return this season.

Tennessean:Vols New Attitude For Bama

"There's a difference between knowing that, 'Yeah, you can win' and knowing that when Alabama comes in, that we're going to win the football game," Ainge said.
"That's how we feel now. We are going to win the football game.
"That's the attitude we have, and we didn't have that attitude last year. We were kind of, 'Man, I hope we play good. I hope this. I hope that.'
"We hadn't earned the right to know that we were going to win."

Told that the Vols hadn't scored a touchdown against the Crimson Tide (5-2, 2-2) in the last six quarters dating to the 2004 game, Ainge's response summed up Tennessee's confidence right now.
"Well, we'll change that," he said.

Ainge said Alabama has played as much straight man-to-man coverage with its corners as any team the Vols have faced this season. He's sure the Tide will change up some things, but said Tennessee will attack every chance it gets.
"We're going to be aggressive," Ainge said. "That's one thing Coach (David) Cutcliffe says every week. We're not going to change anything. We're going to be the aggressive team.
"If they want to come out and blitz and blitz and blitz, then we're not going to call it safe. If they're going to blitz, we're going to call big-hitter plays and try to score touchdowns and not just control the blitz."

Tuscaloosa News: Injuries Won't Keep Tide Players Out

...coach Mike Shula said Sunday that the “early prognosis" on three of the Crimson Tide’s star offensive football players was that they would be ready to play against Tennessee on Saturday.

Running back Jimmy Johns missed the second half of Alabama’s 26-23 overtime win over Ole Miss with an ankle sprain. Wide receiver DJ Hall left the game with a recurrence of a nagging shoulder injury, but returned to play in the closing minutes against Ole Miss.

“Keith Brown had a mild sprain of his left knee and we are listing him as day-to-day right now," Shula said. “That’s better news than we initially thought after the game. Jimmy Johns sprained his ankle and he’s about the same as Keith, day-to-day.

“DJ hurt the shoulder, but he was able to go back in.

“The early prognosis is that those guys should be ready to play. We might have to rest them early in the week."

Shula added that sophomore running back Roy Upchurch, who has not played in the past two weeks due to an ankle injury was progressing slowly and that Upchurch could miss the rest of the 2006 season.

“There’s a possibility of that, yes," Shula said.

SHULA SAID that Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game against Tennessee would be the renewal of “a great rivalry," although different Tide players have different approaches to the game.

“To me, it’s the next game on the schedule," said Tide running back Kenneth Darby. “It’s a very important game because it’s the next game. That’s just the way I am. I don’t get into all that rivalry stuff."

Darby admitted that he made an exception at the end of the season.

“Auburn, on the other hand, I go in with a little chip on my shoulder," Darby said. “But I don’t know the whole story of [Phil] Fulmer and the NCAA. A lot of people know more about that than I do. So it’s just important to me because it’s the next game."

Darby did admit that he and cornerback Ramzee Robinson, prep teammates at Butler High School in Huntsville, would be playing for hometown bragging rights against UT wide receiver Jayson Swain, who played at Grissom High School in Huntsville.

“He did a lot of bragging after they won in 2003 and 2004," Darby said. “And we definitely did some last year.

“I haven’t talked to [Swain] yet this week, but I know that phone call will be made."

I hate Bama.

Go Vols!!!

 

[jakez4ut]

Loved Ainge's comments about the attitude change from hoping to win...to knowing we are going to win...that is great to hear.

now, hopefully (lol) we'll go prove it...

Bama's recievers are good too...JPW will be the key...

 

[hohenfelsvol]

Lets get ready to rummmbbbllleee!!!

 

[utvol0427]

It's gonna be a good ol' fashioned slobber knocker.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

My favorite comes from Ainge....

Told that the Vols hadn't scored a touchdown against the Crimson Tide (5-2, 2-2) in the last six quarters dating to the 2004 game, Ainge's response summed up Tennessee's confidence right now.
"Well, we'll change that," he said.

A little cocky in a kid goes a long way, but you gotta love that kind of talk this week....

 

[tidwell]

I was gonna quote that one too, owh. Good stuff. :rock2:

Now, just go out and do it.

 

[duckman398686]

My favorite comes from Ainge....




A little cocky in a kid goes a long way, but you gotta love that kind of talk this week....

As long as he doesn't pull a Clausen and say he can beat them with one arm we'll be ok.

 

[TN Vol 0320]

Rick or Casey??

 

[USAF_Vol]

Rick or Casey??

Uhhhhh Casey:crazy:

 

[VolinArizona]

I didn't remember my hatred for Bama until today. tidefans.com's board helped me get there.

Calling Fulmer "Devil Spawn" and everything. They had a weird thread about how Fulmer could be one of Bear's Boys or something. It made no sense.

Anyway, in one of the replies, someone said "Would one of Bear's Boys run to the NCAA and cry" blah blah blah.

I responded with, "One of Bear's Boys wouldn't freaking cheat, now would he?"

I got 3 warnings from mods within the next 10 minutes.

Bah well. I hate bammers and I hate Bama.