Mark Wiedmer
Commentary
KNOXVILLE Last Friday night, University of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer attended his daughter Courtneys wedding to former Vols linebacker Robert Peace.
Sunday evening, at the close of UTs lone open weekend this season, Fulmer welcomed his team back with a rousing cheer of War (Darn) Eagle, a gleeful reference to Auburns stunning victory at Florida, an upset to place the Vols squarely back in the SEC East hunt.
So what did the dean of SEC coaches do on his rare autumn Saturday off?
I watched a lot of football, Fulmer said with a grin.
What, no honey-do list from wife Vicky? No yard to mow, garage to clean out or furnace filters to change? Not even a few hours off with the guys to golf or fish?
Actually, she watched most of the games with me, he said. We had a great weekend.
UT assistant coach Trooper Taylor spent his Friday night in Florida recruiting. He spent his Sunday watching tape of Georgia, which visits Neyland Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. game Saturday.
But unlike his boss, Taylor mostly avoided the television Saturday.
Thats the only day of the season Ill have for my wife and kids, Taylor said. I spent the day with them. We went to see The Game Plan movie and hung around the house together.
Asked to critique the Disney film starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson, who plays a pro quarterback who discovers he has a daughter on the eve of the NFL playoffs, Taylor said of last weeks top box office draw, I recommend it highly. Really good family entertainment.
As for the Auburn game, Taylor had Tivod it, intending to watch it later when his 11-year-old son Blaise told him Auburn was winning late and he needed to watch.
And what was Trooper doing when Blaise pulled him away to the television set?
Combing my 9-year-old daughters dolls hair, Taylor said with a laugh.
UT quarterback Erik Ainge spent the weekend in San Diego with his girlfriend. He watched the Auburn-Florida game there.
It gave us a chance. That was my first thought, Ainge said. Before that game, even if we won the rest of them, Florida could lose once and we still couldnt win the East. But now if they lose again, weve got a chance to win the division.
Senior defensive end Xavier Mitchell spent his weekend off flying home to Long Beach, Miss., to enjoy some of his moms home cooking and briefly escape from football.
Ham, macaroni and tea, Mitchell said, thats probably my favorite. But everythings special. I love my moms chicken hash. Shell be up here this weekend for the Georgia game cooking me roast and some spaghetti to put in the freezer. She takes good care of me.
A reporter learned that media types should take good care to pronounce the players first name X-avier rather than Zavier.
Definitely, X-avier, Mitchell said. My mom would kill you if you called me Zavier.
Fulmer said he expects most folks will call the Vols much improved from their 2-2 start, thanks to a week off to rest his experienced players and an extra week of practice to instruct his numerous newcomers.
Our schedule doesnt always lend itself to getting (young) guys into the game as fast as youd like to, Fulmer said. Thats particularly true this year. So we spent a lot of the off week working on fundamentals. Tackling, blocking and the kicking game as well. Weve got to get better at the fundamentals if we want to compete for the SEC championship this year.
They compete for the SEC East championship most years. With a win Saturday over the Bulldogs, the Vols could strongly position themselves to reach the SEC title game for the fifth time since 1997.
This game certainly has championship implications, Fulmer said. The conference race is wide-open again.
Said Mitchell, still smiling over Auburns upset of Florida: Everybody needs a little help now and then.
In a conference as rugged as the SEC, getting a little help from your friends or enemies is a game plan thats always a No. 1 hit. Especially when you have a weekend off to enjoy it.
