goodolerockytop2
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2007
- Messages
- 1,824
- Likes
- 0
Saturday, 09/22/07
Tennessee says this season isn't another 2005
Struggles are same but not attitude
By BRYAN MULLEN
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE The Vols are an abhorrent embarrassment.
It was a common assessment from fans, players and coaches in 2005.
The Tennessee football program disgraced its fan base, smeared its tradition, and mortified every player who ever wore a UT football jersey.
Off-the-field issues became normal. On the field? Similarly shameful.
The Vols finished 5-6 in 2005, were laughed at by Vanderbilt fans inside Neyland Stadium, and watched bowl games like laymen.
It is now 2007. UT is 1-2 and faces an upset-hungry Arkansas State team (1-1) at 6 p.m. today in Knoxville. After that comes a bye, then the bulk of the Southeastern Conference schedule.
A potentially slippery slope for sure.
But ask the players and the coaches, and the last thing on their minds is a repeat of 2005.
"In '05, a lot of the best players were worried about the NFL," quarterback Erik Ainge admitted.
"(They said): 'Well even if we lose, I still need to keep playing good so I can get drafted high.' That attitude killed us."
'Splintered' in '05
The Vols say it's different now. They say the selfishness that crept in two seasons ago has dissipated.
Now, they say, it's about "team" and "leadership" and restoring Tennessee football to its heyday.
"I really like this football team," Coach Phillip Fulmer said when asked to compare this group to 2005. "I don't like the fact that we've started 1-2. I don't like the fact that we've given up plays on offense and defense and the kicking game that gets you beat. I do know and understand that this is a youthful football team. I know there's a lot of football yet to be played and this team has a good spirit about it and a good work ethic about it. They're likeable people."
Likable is one thing. A winning team is quite another.
"In '05, we got splintered in a lot of directions," Fulmer said. "This staff is very much together; the players are very much together. We'll get this back to where we want it to be."
Regardless of what the coaches are saying or doing, what's clear is the players' pride. Earlier this week, a mix of seniors and juniors held a players-only meeting and hashed it out. Among the speakers were Ainge, senior offensive lineman Eric Young, senior defensive end Antonio Reynolds, junior running back Arian Foster, and senior defensive end Xavier Mitchell.
Selfless, not selfish
What was said in the meeting remains secret, but players acknowledged it was emotional. Mainly because each player who spoke experienced the sting of 2005.
"We had a couple of losses, and you could just see the difference," junior offensive lineman Anthony Parker said, referring to 2005. "You had a couple of guys who became selfish and worried about themselves, and it was just a bad environment to be around. People were just not so much focused on the team, and more on themselves. Now, we can't let that happen. We're just not going to let that happen."
The veterans know the words must be turned into actions. All the players-only meetings in the world can do only so much. Notching a "W" in the win column will be what's remembered most.
As it stands, 2005 serves as a constant reminder for this team's leaders. And to them, they know firsthand how a team's attitude goes hand-in-hand with the win-loss record.
"The players that are leading this team and the coaching staff that we have wouldn't allow the attitude to be '05," Ainge said. "You can't guarantee anything. I can't tell you that we're going to win the next nine games in a row and end up being 10-2. Or we're going to go 4-4. You don't know that. I know that we're going to be as prepared as we can and we're going to play as hard as we can and as smart as we can. You can control what you can control."
Tennessee says this season isn't another 2005
Struggles are same but not attitude
By BRYAN MULLEN
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE The Vols are an abhorrent embarrassment.
It was a common assessment from fans, players and coaches in 2005.
The Tennessee football program disgraced its fan base, smeared its tradition, and mortified every player who ever wore a UT football jersey.
Off-the-field issues became normal. On the field? Similarly shameful.
The Vols finished 5-6 in 2005, were laughed at by Vanderbilt fans inside Neyland Stadium, and watched bowl games like laymen.
It is now 2007. UT is 1-2 and faces an upset-hungry Arkansas State team (1-1) at 6 p.m. today in Knoxville. After that comes a bye, then the bulk of the Southeastern Conference schedule.
A potentially slippery slope for sure.
But ask the players and the coaches, and the last thing on their minds is a repeat of 2005.
"In '05, a lot of the best players were worried about the NFL," quarterback Erik Ainge admitted.
"(They said): 'Well even if we lose, I still need to keep playing good so I can get drafted high.' That attitude killed us."
'Splintered' in '05
The Vols say it's different now. They say the selfishness that crept in two seasons ago has dissipated.
Now, they say, it's about "team" and "leadership" and restoring Tennessee football to its heyday.
"I really like this football team," Coach Phillip Fulmer said when asked to compare this group to 2005. "I don't like the fact that we've started 1-2. I don't like the fact that we've given up plays on offense and defense and the kicking game that gets you beat. I do know and understand that this is a youthful football team. I know there's a lot of football yet to be played and this team has a good spirit about it and a good work ethic about it. They're likeable people."
Likable is one thing. A winning team is quite another.
"In '05, we got splintered in a lot of directions," Fulmer said. "This staff is very much together; the players are very much together. We'll get this back to where we want it to be."
Regardless of what the coaches are saying or doing, what's clear is the players' pride. Earlier this week, a mix of seniors and juniors held a players-only meeting and hashed it out. Among the speakers were Ainge, senior offensive lineman Eric Young, senior defensive end Antonio Reynolds, junior running back Arian Foster, and senior defensive end Xavier Mitchell.
Selfless, not selfish
What was said in the meeting remains secret, but players acknowledged it was emotional. Mainly because each player who spoke experienced the sting of 2005.
"We had a couple of losses, and you could just see the difference," junior offensive lineman Anthony Parker said, referring to 2005. "You had a couple of guys who became selfish and worried about themselves, and it was just a bad environment to be around. People were just not so much focused on the team, and more on themselves. Now, we can't let that happen. We're just not going to let that happen."
The veterans know the words must be turned into actions. All the players-only meetings in the world can do only so much. Notching a "W" in the win column will be what's remembered most.
As it stands, 2005 serves as a constant reminder for this team's leaders. And to them, they know firsthand how a team's attitude goes hand-in-hand with the win-loss record.
"The players that are leading this team and the coaching staff that we have wouldn't allow the attitude to be '05," Ainge said. "You can't guarantee anything. I can't tell you that we're going to win the next nine games in a row and end up being 10-2. Or we're going to go 4-4. You don't know that. I know that we're going to be as prepared as we can and we're going to play as hard as we can and as smart as we can. You can control what you can control."
