Arclight
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Fulmer Staying Silent on QBs
KNOXVILLE Coach Phillip Fulmer said his quarterback situation is, in his mind at least, pretty straightforward.
He's just not giving any hints as to when sophomore Erik Ainge might end up on the field when UT travels to Alabama Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. game against the Crimson Tide.
"It's very clear to me," Fulmer said. "Absolutely clear. Totally clear. Rick (Clausen) is our starter, and Erik's going to play at some point in the ballgame if we get the opportunity. If he does really well, we'll see."
Clausen has been the starter since taking over for Ainge in the LSU game, but Fulmer and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders have said that Ainge would get into tomorrow's game in Tuscaloosa.
Fulmer just isn't revealing when that might be. In the past, when the Vols have rotated players at quarterback, Fulmer has given the media a rough idea of how the snaps would be split up. Not this time.
"I spoiled you guys by saying so-and-so is going in on the second series or third series," Fulmer said. "I ain't doing that anymore."
Tough schedule: Fulmer is not using the Vols' strength of schedule as an excuse for a 3-2 start.
He said yesterday he understands that fans are going to be unhappy with losses regardless of the opponent.
"(Strength of schedule) doesn't matter," Fulmer said. "The bottom line is wins. I understand that. I appreciate that."
No. 5 Alabama will be the fourth top-10 team the Vols have played this season, and all of them have involved conference opponents.
"That's the reason that people stack up with Louisiana Techs and some of those kind of folks on their schedule," Fulmer said.
"This is conference stuff. ... It's tough. It's been a tough year. We're one of those teams that I think hasn't played to that level offensively. We just haven't. We've got six more to see if we can, starting with this one."
Becoming special: The Vols have been anything but special on special teams so far this season, but Fulmer said they have improved in the two weeks since they last played, against Georgia.
The Vols rank last in the SEC in punting, kick returns and field goal percentage. They rank ninth in punt returns.
"I think we have less confusion in a couple of returns and those kinds of things," Fulmer said. "I think we're better. The proof will be in the pudding in what we do on Saturday."
Coker staying: With true freshman tailback Montario Hardesty lost for the season, following an injury against Ole Miss, Tennessee began working on getting fellow true freshman LaMarcus Coker ready to play.
But the Antioch native is still not deemed ready. Four tailbacks made Tennessee's 70-man travel roster for Alabama. Coker was not on the list.
The good news for him: he is still a candidate to redshirt.
"He's not really playing on any special teams right now," Fulmer said. "We've got four other tailbacks. He's still learning, got to grow up, be more mature. He'll be fine one day."
Orange slices: Fulmer said C.J. Fayton would play tomorrow, but he doesn't think the Vols' top receiver will be 100 percent. Fayton did not play against Georgia because of an ankle injury. True freshman Adam Meyers-White has been moved from defensive back to linebacker. He will make the trip to Alabama sporting his new No. 53. He was wearing No. 3, but he is playing some on special teams along with receiver Robert Meachem, who wears No. 3.
TIM VACEK
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Fulmer Staying Silent on QBs
KNOXVILLE Coach Phillip Fulmer said his quarterback situation is, in his mind at least, pretty straightforward.
He's just not giving any hints as to when sophomore Erik Ainge might end up on the field when UT travels to Alabama Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. game against the Crimson Tide.
"It's very clear to me," Fulmer said. "Absolutely clear. Totally clear. Rick (Clausen) is our starter, and Erik's going to play at some point in the ballgame if we get the opportunity. If he does really well, we'll see."
Clausen has been the starter since taking over for Ainge in the LSU game, but Fulmer and offensive coordinator Randy Sanders have said that Ainge would get into tomorrow's game in Tuscaloosa.
Fulmer just isn't revealing when that might be. In the past, when the Vols have rotated players at quarterback, Fulmer has given the media a rough idea of how the snaps would be split up. Not this time.
"I spoiled you guys by saying so-and-so is going in on the second series or third series," Fulmer said. "I ain't doing that anymore."
Tough schedule: Fulmer is not using the Vols' strength of schedule as an excuse for a 3-2 start.
He said yesterday he understands that fans are going to be unhappy with losses regardless of the opponent.
"(Strength of schedule) doesn't matter," Fulmer said. "The bottom line is wins. I understand that. I appreciate that."
No. 5 Alabama will be the fourth top-10 team the Vols have played this season, and all of them have involved conference opponents.
"That's the reason that people stack up with Louisiana Techs and some of those kind of folks on their schedule," Fulmer said.
"This is conference stuff. ... It's tough. It's been a tough year. We're one of those teams that I think hasn't played to that level offensively. We just haven't. We've got six more to see if we can, starting with this one."
Becoming special: The Vols have been anything but special on special teams so far this season, but Fulmer said they have improved in the two weeks since they last played, against Georgia.
The Vols rank last in the SEC in punting, kick returns and field goal percentage. They rank ninth in punt returns.
"I think we have less confusion in a couple of returns and those kinds of things," Fulmer said. "I think we're better. The proof will be in the pudding in what we do on Saturday."
Coker staying: With true freshman tailback Montario Hardesty lost for the season, following an injury against Ole Miss, Tennessee began working on getting fellow true freshman LaMarcus Coker ready to play.
But the Antioch native is still not deemed ready. Four tailbacks made Tennessee's 70-man travel roster for Alabama. Coker was not on the list.
The good news for him: he is still a candidate to redshirt.
"He's not really playing on any special teams right now," Fulmer said. "We've got four other tailbacks. He's still learning, got to grow up, be more mature. He'll be fine one day."
Orange slices: Fulmer said C.J. Fayton would play tomorrow, but he doesn't think the Vols' top receiver will be 100 percent. Fayton did not play against Georgia because of an ankle injury. True freshman Adam Meyers-White has been moved from defensive back to linebacker. He will make the trip to Alabama sporting his new No. 53. He was wearing No. 3, but he is playing some on special teams along with receiver Robert Meachem, who wears No. 3.
TIM VACEK
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