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The Tennessean:
Manning Back on UT Campus
KNOXVILLE It didn't take Peyton Manning long this week to hit up his favorite Tennessee haunt the film room.
The former Vols' quarterback is on campus to have his No. 16 retired prior to the Tennessee-South Carolina game set for 6:45 p.m. tomorrow, and he was already back studying film yesterday afternoon.
"If he's going to be around, he's going to be watching football," UT Coach Phillip Fulmer said. "That's what he did all afternoon. I told he and (former UT offensive coordinator David) Cutcliffe both I wanted some good notes."
Manning attended yesterday's practice and spoke with the team afterward.
"He talked about how tough times don't last," Fulmer said. "When you're at Tennessee, you're going to have a target on your chest, and everybody's thrilled to try to get after you when they can, and they have to rise to the occasion when they can. He did a good job with it."
The Vols retired the late Reggie White's No. 92 earlier this season. Fulmer said that Manning would join the team on the Vol Walk from the athletics complex to Neyland Stadium before the game.
"He's a great friend," Fulmer said. "If you have something that's tough and you need to talk, he's always a source of encouragement."
Manning's undefeated Indianapolis Colts have a bye this week.
Coker update: Fulmer said that the Vols were not heading into the South Carolina game with a plan specifically to use true freshman tailback LaMarcus Coker, but they know they need to have him ready to go as a contingency.
Running backs coach Trooper Taylor said on Wednesday that Coker, from Antioch, would likely play against the Gamecocks.
"We have to prepare that he might play," Fulmer said. "(And) he has to prepare that he might play. If we had another injury of any sorts, obviously he'd be pushed into the rotation.
"Rather than wait around and have something happen that you're not ready for, I'd much rather be prepared for it."
The original plan this season was to redshirt Coker who has missed stretches of practice with back injuries.
But with last week's loss of senior tailback Gerald Riggs, Jr. for the season, Coker was bumped up the depth chart.
Tennessee had already lost true freshman Montario Hardesty for the year earlier in the season.
Redshirt freshman Arian Foster will start against South Carolina.
Fulmer said Coker is healthy and recovered from his earlier injuries.
"We're not going put him in the game to waste a year, but we're going to be prepared if we have an emergency or something to get the guy ready to play," Fulmer said.
"The main thing for LaMarcus is it's not really his physical skills as much as it's just his mental maturity and approaching the game with a mental toughness. I think he's going to be a good player for us."
Hardesty surgery: Montario Hardesty underwent knee surgery yesterday in Charlotte, N.C., to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Pretty healthy: With the exception of Riggs, Fulmer said the Vols are heading into South Carolina with the same group that played against Alabama last week.
TIM VACEK
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Manning Back on UT Campus
KNOXVILLE It didn't take Peyton Manning long this week to hit up his favorite Tennessee haunt the film room.
The former Vols' quarterback is on campus to have his No. 16 retired prior to the Tennessee-South Carolina game set for 6:45 p.m. tomorrow, and he was already back studying film yesterday afternoon.
"If he's going to be around, he's going to be watching football," UT Coach Phillip Fulmer said. "That's what he did all afternoon. I told he and (former UT offensive coordinator David) Cutcliffe both I wanted some good notes."
Manning attended yesterday's practice and spoke with the team afterward.
"He talked about how tough times don't last," Fulmer said. "When you're at Tennessee, you're going to have a target on your chest, and everybody's thrilled to try to get after you when they can, and they have to rise to the occasion when they can. He did a good job with it."
The Vols retired the late Reggie White's No. 92 earlier this season. Fulmer said that Manning would join the team on the Vol Walk from the athletics complex to Neyland Stadium before the game.
"He's a great friend," Fulmer said. "If you have something that's tough and you need to talk, he's always a source of encouragement."
Manning's undefeated Indianapolis Colts have a bye this week.
Coker update: Fulmer said that the Vols were not heading into the South Carolina game with a plan specifically to use true freshman tailback LaMarcus Coker, but they know they need to have him ready to go as a contingency.
Running backs coach Trooper Taylor said on Wednesday that Coker, from Antioch, would likely play against the Gamecocks.
"We have to prepare that he might play," Fulmer said. "(And) he has to prepare that he might play. If we had another injury of any sorts, obviously he'd be pushed into the rotation.
"Rather than wait around and have something happen that you're not ready for, I'd much rather be prepared for it."
The original plan this season was to redshirt Coker who has missed stretches of practice with back injuries.
But with last week's loss of senior tailback Gerald Riggs, Jr. for the season, Coker was bumped up the depth chart.
Tennessee had already lost true freshman Montario Hardesty for the year earlier in the season.
Redshirt freshman Arian Foster will start against South Carolina.
Fulmer said Coker is healthy and recovered from his earlier injuries.
"We're not going put him in the game to waste a year, but we're going to be prepared if we have an emergency or something to get the guy ready to play," Fulmer said.
"The main thing for LaMarcus is it's not really his physical skills as much as it's just his mental maturity and approaching the game with a mental toughness. I think he's going to be a good player for us."
Hardesty surgery: Montario Hardesty underwent knee surgery yesterday in Charlotte, N.C., to reconstruct a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Pretty healthy: With the exception of Riggs, Fulmer said the Vols are heading into South Carolina with the same group that played against Alabama last week.
TIM VACEK
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
